What makes Anthony Watson green with envy about the current Bath setup

Former Bath star turned Premier Sports pundit, Anthony Watson, says his former club ‘might as well turn off the lights’ if they go more than two scores behind in Sunday’s Investec Champions Cup semi-final against Union Bordeaux-Begles (UBB) at Stade Atlantique Bordeaux Métropole.

Bath have made a habit of falling behind on the scoreboard in the knockout stages of the Champions Cup, before using their ‘Bomb Squad’ bench to overpower the opposition in the final quarter.

The 1998 European champions came back from 10-0 down at half-time to beat Saracens 31-22 in the Round of 16, while in the quarter-final against Saints, they twice had to overhaul 21-point deficits to win a Champions Cup thriller, 43-41.

But Watson, who made his European debut against Bordeaux in October 2012, during his early days at London Irish, insists there won’t be any second chances against the best attacking team on the planet if they repeat what they did in the last two rounds.

“Bordeaux are as good an attacking side as I’ve ever seen in European rugby,” he stated. “And that’s not to do with, you know, the neat and structured style of Leinster five/six years ago.

“It’s all just fundamentally French if I’m honest, you know, momentum based, keep the ball alive, keep it moving, get to the game breakers and let them make something happen – all of that on the back of a platform built by a niggly, an aggressive forward pack. So, yeah, they definitely cannot rely on their attacking game against Bordeaux.

“Equally, they have to have a good start because, I think against Northampton, and even against Saracens, the round before that, they’ve started poorly. But if you give Bordeaux a 14-nil head start, you might as well just say turn the lights off on your way out because they’re a different level.

“So yeah, there’s going to be a there’s a few keys to the game this weekend I would say from a Bath perspective: shutting off Louis Bielle-Biarrey and having a good start.”

Talking about stopping Bielle-Biarrey and doing it are two different things altogether. The French flyer has been top try scorer in back-to-back Six Nations and has bagged 17 tries in 18 club appearances this season, but only one in the last four.

“I think that Johann will go with Wil Muir and Henry Arundell as his two wings,” Watson said.

“I think Bath will have to try and force an aerial game, a structured game out of Bordeaux, set piece to set piece and aerial duels. And I think if you’re going to do that, you want Will Muir on the wing.

“And then, I think that you can’t argue with Henry Arundell’s finishing ability, and he’s improved a great deal in his defensive game.

“At full-back, I think he’ll probably go with (Santi) Carreras, and I’m basing that purely off his selection from last week.”

Van Graan’s hand may be forced anyway, as Joe Cokanasiga is battling to shake off a leg injury in time for Sunday.

Watson enjoyed a nine-season stay at Bath, which ended in 2022 when he joined Leicester. Disappointingly, silverware eluded him when in blue, black and white.

But rather than all the trophies they are rapidly gathering, with Bath chasing a double to go with last year’s treble, the thing he is most envious of is the home pitch the current stars get to play on.

With his ability to suddenly change direction at speed, Watson metaphorically ‘broke’ a fair few ankles in his pomp. But there would have been even more carnage had he been around today, given that the Rec surface, a mix of artificial fibres and real grass, is now fit for thoroughbreds.

“Mate, honestly, that’s the one thing that stresses me out. Me, JJ (Jonathan Joseph), Kyle Eastmond, Rocco (Semesa Rokoduguni) … all the boys running on a mud bath and now the lads are on a flipping unbelievable pitch. Yeah, I’m very jealous. is probably the politest way of putting it without getting too aggressive!”

Premier Sports is the home of Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup in the UK and Ireland hosting every minute of live action from four thrilling semi-finals this weekend plus Finals weekend in Bilbao on May 22/23. Tune into Premier Sports 1 from 2pm on Saturday for Leinster v RC Toulon plus on Sunday live coverage of Bordeaux-Bègles v Bath (Premier Sports 1 from 2pm). To join in visit www.premiersports.com from just £11.99 a month @PremSportsTV