BENNETT BRACED FOR THE BATTLE OF BATH
THERE was no hesitant, media-savvy response when one of Glasgow’s most talented youngsters was asked how he might prepare to face England’s on-form side and, potentially, their new ‘Golden Balls’ Sam Burgess this afternoon.
Mark Bennett’s eyes widened and his smile turned into a laugh as he said: ‘It’s just the kind of opportunity you want and if he plays, well, I’m not going to be running anywhere near him, that’s for sure. The best thing for evasion is fear.’
The mere suggestion of fear is generally not encouraged in rugby quarters and, had it been anyone but Bennett, Glasgow coach Gregor Townsend might have had a word at the end of the press conference.
But Bennett is not like most players. He tends to act on impulse.
He says the word ‘ fear’ with genuine excitement. It is a challenge and the lad from Cumnock seems to buy wholly into the mantra ‘the bigger they come, the harder they fall’. And it is that which the Warriors have missed over the past month.
There is much to get excited about in Glasgow’s bid to claim a first-ever quarter-final place in the European Champions Cup, which has brought them to Bath requiring a victory — and perhaps four tries — in the den of one of Europe’s most potent sides right now to qualify.
The bookies have it down as a comfortable home win and it is easy to see why. Bath have been spending again, and far more than in the 1980s and ’90s, when dominating the final decade of ‘shamateurism’ in England.
After winning the European Cup in 1998, with Scotsman Andy Nicol scrum-half and captain, they slid down the ranks as England kept stealing their coaches — Jack Rowell, Clive Woodward, Andy Robinson and Brian Ashton.
But, as they enter their 150th year, Bath are building into title contenders again under the ownership of Bruce Craig, a Bristol businessman who sold his pharmaceutical services company Marken for £975million.
He swooped in, bought Bath in 2010 and moved the club from portable cabins to a refurbished 17th-century manor house 15 minutes drive from the Rec, with new state-of-the-art training facilities.
Ian McGeechan may not have lasted long as director of rugby and there have been intriguing signings — Gavin Henson’s announcement this week that he is heading to Bristol at the end of the season failed to spark even a ripple of interest — but the on-field momentum has only increased.
Head coach Mike Ford has brought a new competitiveness to the squad, with his son George pulling the stand-off strings, and arguably the biggest name in English Rugby League, Burgess, lured back from Australia, with a mission to help Bath to the Premiership crown and England to a home World Cup.
At 6ft 5in and over 18 stones, the former Bradford Bulls second-row/ prop is a powerful figure. Add in impressive acceleration, slick hands and bone-jarring defence and it is no surprise the fans are licking their lips. Where he is most effective in union is the big question, back-row or centre, but Glasgow’s Bennett is eager to see him in the midfield.
Burgess starts on the bench after Bath’s demolition of T oulouse last week, with their back-row back in harness and Kyle Eastmond and Jonathan Joseph making it clear they will not step aside for the newcomer.
Bennett is unfazed after he carved lines between Eastmond and Joseph to score twice in the first meeting at Scotstoun last October.
Bath came to Glasgow in round one with a host of forwards missing and were dismissed by a Warriors team that showed no mercy in a stunning 37-10 win.
Bennett’s form continued to rise into the Autumn Tests with bristling play on his international debut in the win over Argentina before he was forced off with a torn hamstring.
He was not expected to return until March but Townsend was informed that his work ethic in rehab was such that he was fit to resume a fortnight ago. A game for the A team followed by a run off the bench in last week’s win over Montpellier has brought him back to the front line six weeks early.
Bath have found their form, their forwards are all back fit and firing and Glasgow, ironically, have lost their first-choice back-rowers Josh Strauss, Rob Harley, Chris Fusaro, Ryan Wilson and Adam Ashe into the bargain.
That could be decisive but Bennett is having none of it.
‘I was delighted with how it went in the first game — scoring two tries in any game is great, never mind a huge game like that — and we know they had a few injuries and they are going to be stronger now,’ he said.
‘That win was not what anyone was expecting, so they are going to be ready for it, and at home they are not going to want to lose this one.
‘I think they have the best defence in the Premiership, so it is a massive task. But it is great for us. We want to put ourselves up against the best and, if we win, we are putting ourselves in the position to qualify.
‘It is great to beat any English side. They are always talked about in the press, so it was nice to silence them. And it’s no different now.
‘They have been playing really well these past few weeks, but I don’t think it’s one we can’t overcome. We’ve just got to take it to them.’