By Harry Mottram: The Blue Black and White army will be looking ahead to three matches in May that may define the season in the league – the Gallagher PREM.
Exeter, Bristol and finally the Leicester Tigers in June – all potentially able to overhaul Bath in the run in to the season’s end.
To emulate last season’s treble they cannot afford to lose any of their remaining games including the match away in France.
It would help their cause if the Saints could slip up and stumble to defeats which would if Bath gained maximum points would mean another glorious end to the season for the Blue Black and Whites.
For fans who regularly pack the Rec it seems extraordinary that only four years ago the team finished bottom of the then 13-team top-flight. In those few seasons since 2022 Bath have emulated their glory days from 1988 to 1996.
They finished top in 2004 but were denied the trophy due to the knock-out set up and picked up Champions Cup in 2008 but these were sporadic achievements in an era that saw all the clubs become highly professional and well funded.
Much has been written and commentated on why Bath have in a space of a handful of seasons come to dominate the Gallagher league but few would argue against the importance of the appointment of the South African Johann Van Graan (pictured) in 2022.
The 64-0 loss to rivals Gloucester Rugby galvanised Van Graan and the club into making the team a ruthless outfit who refused to be beaten. That and new players joining the squad began to see an improvement.
Since then the team have continued to rise in PREM culminating last season with the treble. At the time of going to press Bath were in second spot in the league with a chasing pack behind them so it will need all the skills of Van Graan and his team to hold their nerve and claim another title.
Bath is obviously more than their South African manager with some of the world’s best players and a band of brothers mentality.
Finn Russell’s kicking game, solid full back Tom de Glanville, the barreling runs of Ollie Lawrence and Sam Underhill along with so many other heroes of the team – including the popular Alfie Barbeary who leaves The Rec this summer.
There is another factor and that is the ownership of the club by Bruce Craig – now joined by James Dyson – who has invested in the team – and of course are driving ahead with the plans to rebuild the stadium.
Finally the clincher – the loyal and very loud Blue Black and White army who now have a team to support to bring back the glory days to the city and banish the ghosts of the past.
Bath Voice Sports News: Bath Rugby look to end the season on another high
