Bathtub head of rugby Johann van Graan feels his squad don’t carry the burden of expectation at ending the membership’s lengthy wait for an additional league title as they put together to face Leicester within the Gallagher Premiership remaining.
Having completed 11 factors away from the Tigers on the high of the regular-season desk, Bathtub then noticed off rivals Bristol to safe a return to the Allianz Stadium, the place they had been edged out 25-21 by Northampton final yr.
Van Graan’s facet ended the membership’s 17-year trophy drought earlier within the marketing campaign by lifting the Premiership Rugby Cup earlier than then profitable the European Challenge Cup final month with victory over Lyon in Cardiff.
Bathtub final received the league in 1996, fishing high of the desk forward of Leicester by only one level for the Somerset’s membership’s sixth title in a decade of dominance.
Regardless of the lengthy wait to once more be topped England’s greatest, Van Graan – who took over at The Recreation Floor forward of the 2022-23 season having left Munster – insists his facet stay centered on writing their very own chapter by finishing what can be a memorable treble.
“When I joined Bath, you look at the history, the tradition, you read up on the club, and you see that this club at a time was incredibly successful, specifically through the 1980s and the 90s,” the South African coach said.
“One thing that we all did together is we respect our history, but we started the club at zero in our minds on July 11, 2022.
“We respect everybody and everything that has gone before, but for us, it has been a journey of the last three years.
“It is all about this circle and this group of people, whilst loving the people that support this club.
“Ultimately, you do sport because you want to belong to something – and we belong to this club at this stage of our different journeys.
“This is an amazing club with an amazing support base, and we are very proud of that. We are very proud that we can belong to, and for, this group.
“It is another moment in time and we have got an amazing opportunity. There is no expectation and we don’t feel any burden.
“The only thing we feel is each other and inside of that circle, and that is what we are doing.”
Bath thrashed Leicester 43-15 in May, scoring seven tries, having also won at Mattioli Woods Welford Road Stadium in September.
Van Graan, though, has warned against any sense of complacency at Twickenham, which will be the last game in charge for Tigers head coach Michael Cheika and for Leicester stalwarts Dan Cole and Ben Youngs forward of their retirement.
“It’s positively a stand-alone fixture,” van Graan mentioned.
“Clearly, you do your homework and also you have a look at what’s labored for you, what didn’t, what labored for them, what didn’t.
“You have a look at each sport otherwise however a remaining is so distinctive, it’s the final sport of the season for each golf equipment.
“Leicester is a membership we respect however finally it’s about our efficiency and what we have to do, in order that’s been the only focus for us this week.
“It has been about ‘how can we get higher?’ Our course of is one thing that’s labored properly for us, so we’re going to stick with what we do.”
