It's time for Bath to take control

BATH need to make a statement against Benetton at the Stadio Monigo today if they are to progress to the last 16 of the European Cup, and have a realistic hope of a home draw.

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Following last weekend’s narrow loss to La Rochelle at The Rec it is a must-win match – and it will not be a stroll in the park against a Benetton 23 which includes 13 internationals. The 10 Italian caps include star centre Tommaso Menoncello and lock Federico Ruzzo, and their line up-also features Argentine flyhalf Tomas Albernoz and veteran All Black centre Malakai Fekitoa.

Benetton are bit like Italy in the Six Nations, because every now and then they get results that catch the eye. From the outside it is hard to tell what Bath’s European strategy will be for this season, apart from that they will want to stay in the race.

The only problem is that as beaten Premiership finalists last season, Bath’s main focus this time will probably be on winning the league. My guess is that will be at the top of their agenda, with a good run in the European Cup an added bonus.

All clubs which are fighting on both fronts, like Bath, know that those squads that have the fewest injuries, and get their rotation policy right, will have found two of the most important keys to success – and luckily for Johann van Graan he should have enough quality players to be able to put out good sides in each competition.

The question is whether he can call on the same depth as the big French clubs, and Leinster, which is difficult given that they have much more money to spend on players.