Callard impressed by Bath coaches

BATH legend Jon Callard believes two of the best signings Johaan van Graan has made as the club's head of rugby are not Finn Russell and Thomas du Toit but the forwards and backs coaches, Richard Blaze and Lee Blackett.

-  JON NEWCOMBE

Blaze and Blackett almost came together as a package at the start of this season having worked together previously at Wasps before they were forced to go their separate ways when the club went bust, and their reunion at Bath has been one of the reasons behind the team's transformation.

Until six weeks ago, when his role as a two day-a-week kicking consultant came to an end, Callard saw at first-hand how the pair worked together as key members of a slick behind-the-scenes operation that blew the club's former full-back away.

"I was blessed to be a part of the coaching group and to see how coaching has changed as well from the first time I was at Bath to where we are now; you see the level of detail and organisation and the planning and diligence that is put into the whole of the year, not just the week. I was amazed," said the ex-England fullback and hero of Bath's 1998 Heineken Cup win.

"I can't speak highly about enough Johann and JP Ferreira (defence coach). I said this to Johann, and I meant it genuinely, that for all the talk about his signing of Thomas du Toit and Finn Russell being the best signings he's made, and as good as they have been, and they have been very good, I think his best signing was bringing in Richard and Lee together.