01-05-2025
Bath not asked Scots trio for Edinburgh insight
European Challenge Cup semi-final: Edinburgh v BathWhere: Hive Stadium, Edinburgh When: Saturday, 3 May Time: 15:00 BSTCoverage: Follow live updates on the BBC Sport website and app
Bath have not asked their Scottish players for any insight on their national team-mates says Johann van Graan, ahead of their Challenge Cup semi-final with Edinburgh on Saturday. The Premiership league leaders head to Scotland's capital on Saturday with a place in the European final in Cardiff on 23 May at stake. Bath have Scotland regulars fly-half Finn Russell, centre Cameron Redpath and back row Josh Bayliss among their squad."We just keep to what we believe in and the way that we want to play. We haven't asked any specific questions around the Edinburgh team," Van Graan told BBC Radio Bristol. "I know Gregor [Townsend, Scotland head coach] very well, I know Franco [Smith, Glasgow head coach] very well, and I know Sean [Everitt, Edinburgh head coach] very well - a good rugby friend of mine. "But we've just stuck to what we believe in and let Finn, Josh and Cam focus on the way that we want to play."Huge respect for Edinburgh and Scottish rugby but the focus has been on us this week."
Bath are 15 points clear at the top of the Premiership with three matches to go and have secured a home semi-final in the league play-offs next have also already clinched one trophy this season after winning the Premiership Rugby Cup in February, as they chase a Graan said there would "definitely be changes" from the team that was fielded in the 55-19 win against Newcastle last week, with Russell and scrum-half Ben Spencer among those rested. And while Bath have experience playing against Edinburgh in pre-season warm-ups in recent years, Van Graan is expecting a different experience this weekend."They've played really well at home, they've got a very different pitch to what we're used to," he added."We're in a knock-out position now and whoever is the winner in this game gets to the final in Cardiff in a few weeks' time. "Lots on the line and that's why we coach, that's why we play, that's why we support, is for big games and this certainly counts as a big game."
