It’s the best against the best, says Van Graan

BATH head of rugby Johann van Graan says huge games like the one in Toulouse tomorrow are the “exact reason” for being in the European Champions Cup.

The Blue, Black & Whites have so far hoovered up maximum points from pool matches against Ulster, Cardiff and, last weekend, Racing 92, but now face their toughest test as they head to France.

Van Graan told the official club website: “You are in the Champions

Cup for this exact reason; it’s the best against the best.

“For us as a group, we’ve qualified, we can’t control what happens in other games, it’s about looking forward to Toulouse.

“I’ve been part of some special rugby days and Toulouse is just incredible. The walk to the stadium at Toulouse is absolutely special and what a brilliant end to our pool phase in the Champions Cup; 15 out of 15 points, coming up against arguably the form side in Europe currently.

“If you look at what they did against Cardiff, Quins and Ulster, none of them actually played bad rugby, Toulouse were magnificent, so what a brilliant test for us to go out there and give it everything we’ve got. We want to win in this competition and we’re looking forward to it.”

Fresh from his call up to England’s Six Nations squad, Beno Obano retains his loosehead jersey after a solid performance against Racing 92.

Niall Annett comes in at hooker, with Thomas du Toit starting at tighthead and Quinn Roux and Charlie Ewels partnered again at lock.

Josh Bayliss gets his first start of the season at blindside, Chris Cloete is on the open side and versatile Miles Reid moves to number eight.

Another England call-up, Ben Spencer leads from scrum-half, while Finn Russell is at ten.

Ollie Lawrence moves to inside centre, with Max Ojomoh coming in at number 13.

Will Muir and Joe Cokanasiga are the men on the wings, with Matt Gallagher starting the match at fullback.

On the bench are Juan Schoeman, Hame Faiva, Will Stuart, Elliott Stooke, Ewan Richards, Louis Schreuder, Orlando Bailey and Cameron Redpath.

Bath Rugby:

David Rogers/Getty Images M Gallagher; J Cokanasiga, M Ojomoh, O Lawrence, W Muir; F Russell, B Spencer (capt); B Obano, N Annett, T du Toit, Q Roux, C Ewels, J Bayliss, C Cloete, M Reid. Replacements: H Faiva, J Schoeman, W Stuart, E Stooke, E Richards, L Schreuder, O Bailey, C Redpath. England call-up Beno Obano is in the Bath Rugby starting line-up for tomorrow