Stevens and Bath out to defend Rec record

Child's play: Stevens will be hoping he can help take Bath to European glory

Bath have been there and done it in Europe, becoming the first English side to win the Heineken Cup in 1998. Yet ten years on they find themselves battling for a return to Europe's elite competition.

On Saturday they welcome Sale Sharks to the Rec in the second European Challenge Cup semi-final, and having lost in two previous finals they will be hoping to make it third time lucky this season.

In an exclusive interview with Planet Rugby Bath and England prop Matt Stevens revealed that playing Sale at home could be the deciding factor between the two sides.

Bath have been resurgent this season and the secret to their success has been an almost perfect home record - a solitary defeat against reigning European champions Wasps the only blemish on an otherwise perfect record.

"Obviously we are all looking forward to Saturday and could not be happier that the game is at home and hopefully that advantage will help see us through," said Stevens.

"I think it's always a massive factor for Bath playing at home. We've made the Rec a very difficult place to come and play this season and enjoy playing in front of our fans."

That said, the 25-year-old is the first to heap praise on Sale, a team that has beaten Bath on two of the three occasions the sides have met this season.

Despite a certain degree of familiarity between the opposing players, the 26-times capped England prop believes Bath's continuously evolving game will present Sale with plenty of surprises.

"Sale are a very good team and one we will have great respect for," he said.

"We have played them three times this season already and both sides know each other very well.

"I think it can be both good and bad. It will make it difficult for both sides to surprise each other but that said we are always looking to develop our game and will hope to have a few surprises in store for them."

One area devoid of surprises will be Sale's back row, and with Jason White and Sébastien Chabal back to full fitness Bath will face a formidable challenge in that department.

As well as power and pace, the returning Sale duo, who boast over 100 international caps between them, will pose a severe threat in the tight exchanges, meaning the Bath defence will have to be at its best. Given that Bath have only conceded seven tries in getting this far Sale will have their work cut out breaking down a resolute defence.

"They have a very good back row and a lot of depth all over the park," Stevens said.

"If you look at their teamsheet it's full of internationals and past internationals, as well as some top class game-breakers.

"We know our defence is going to have to be top drawer if we are to compete with them. If you look at our attack it is something we are constantly working on and developing and are confident of executing on Saturday.

"We are pretty sure it is going to be an absolute war of attrition, given that both sides are very physical and are well aware of what is at stake."

Whilst Sale have their own game-breakers Bath have one of their own, fly-half Butch James, a player Stevens hails for Bath's new-found killer instinct in attack.

Having arrived at the club with a newly acquired World Cup winners medal in his pocket there was a fear James was just another big name player looking to cash in on his success. Having seen him settle into life in the West Country the truth is quite the opposite.

Despite eleven weeks on the sideline with a dislocated shoulder James has proved to be one of the shrewdest signings in the club's history, and given the calibre of players to have donned the Bath jersey in the past that is saying something.

Such is his influence that Stevens attributes much of Bath's attacking prowess to the 26-times capped South African, who has played all but one of his international games at fly-half.

"Butch has been brilliant since arriving after the World Cup," Stevens enthused.

"He was injured for eleven weeks before our last two games and during that period it became evident as to just how much of an influence he has on the side.

"He adds such a great degree of control to the game, and that comes from being a player of his experience. He has played a hell of a lot of rugby in the Super 14 and at international level and that experience is priceless.

"As an attacking fly-half he is great to play with because he attacks the gain-line so well. He is a good kicker, and he will kick when needs must, but otherwise he is not afraid to use the ball, which is vitally important in today's defence-dominated game.

"This season you have seen Bath playing some rugby where we are really cutting defences to pieces and a lot of the time it is down to his willingness to play rugby."

Despite the magnitude of Saturday's game, Bath will continue to play rugby as they up their quest to make what would be a welcome return to the Heineken Cup.

By Marcus Leach