Following last weekend’s narrow loss to La Rochelle at The Rec it is a must-win match – and it will not be a stroll in the park against a Benetton 23 which includes 13 internationals. The 10 Italian caps include star centre Tommaso Menoncello and lock Federico Ruzzo, and their line up-also features Argentine flyhalf Tomas Albernoz and veteran All Black centre Malakai Fekitoa.
Benetton are bit like Italy in the Six Nations, because every now and then they get results that catch the eye. From the outside it is hard to tell what Bath’s European strategy will be for this season, apart from that they will want to stay in the race.
The only problem is that as beaten Premiership finalists last season, Bath’s main focus this time will probably be on winning the league. My guess is that will be at the top of their agenda, with a good run in the European Cup an added bonus.
All clubs which are fighting on both fronts, like Bath, know that those squads that have the fewest injuries, and get their rotation policy right, will have found two of the most important keys to success – and luckily for Johann van Graan he should have enough quality players to be able to put out good sides in each competition.
The question is whether he can call on the same depth as the big French clubs, and Leinster, which is difficult given that they have much more money to spend on players.
Denne historien er fra December 15, 2024-utgaven av The Rugby Paper.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra December 15, 2024-utgaven av The Rugby Paper.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Ring fence has made English rugby go soft
THE most positive aspect to come out of the opening round of the European Cup was that, despite six out of the eight English clubs losing, it can get better and relatively quickly.
The global travellers who light up game
THERE is nothing especially funny about short-term memory loss, but it may just have an upside when it comes to rugby.
Battling Bath looking to revive cup campaign
JOHANN van Graan is braced to take on the Italian national team in all but name as Bath look to revive their Champions Cup campaign.
Off-target Gloucester get lesson in finishing
KIWI Michael Ruru scored two early tries and put in a silky display as Vannes created a famous night in their history, securing a first ever Challenge Cup win over a misfiring Gloucester.
We're happy to be the hunted, says Beckett
SARAH Beckett admits Gloucester-Hartpury have made an underwhelming start to their title defence but believes that's partly due to competition across the PWR being at an alltime high.
Heard takes charge to keep out Sarries
GLOUCESTER-HARTPURY secured a pulsating victory over Saracens to leapfrog the Londoners in the PWR table.
Hellfire Corner gives a warm welcome to all
RUGBY was undergoing a massive boom 150 years ago so we shouldn’t be surprised so many teams are celebrating their sesquicentennial anniversary as those who glory in long words like to call it.
My fierce Tigers are roaring-Howison
A RUTHLESS second-half display saw Sheffield Tigers come from behind to score 29 unanswered points and seal a vital bonus point win against bottom of the table Billingham.
Brave Lupus banking on Mo'unga class
THE fourth season of Japan Rugby League One kicks off this week, with the tournament opening with the clash between Mie Honda Heat and Ricoh Black Rams Tokyo on December 21.
Oyonnax must live without El-Abd
OYONNAX’S seven-try 53-10 bonus-point win over ProD2 rivals Soyaux-Angouleme on Friday – their first victory since October 25 – was a relief in more ways than one. In fact, relief probably doesn’t cover it.
