Bath under no illusions about size of Toulon test, says van Graan

Johann van Graan says Bath Rugby are under no illusions about the size of their task when they do battle with RC Toulon on Sunday 14th December – despite the French side being beaten by Edinburgh Rugby last time out.

Santi Carreras, left, and Johann van Graan talk to the press at Bath Rugby’s pre-Investec Champions Round 2 media session on Wednesday 10th December | Photo © Bath Rugby

The Blue, Black & White will take on the Riviera club at Stade Felix Mayol in Round 2 of the Investec Champions Cup.

And van Graan’s outfit will go to the Mediterranean city in buoyant mood after dismantling Munster Rugby 40-14 in the competition’s opening stage on Saturday 6th December, whereas Toulon are smarting from a 33-20 setback in their Round 1 clash at the Hive Stadium.

But at Bath’s pre-Round 2 press conference on Wednesday 10th December, head of rugby van Graan said of Toulon’s reverse in Scotland: “I think that game was a lot closer than the scoreline suggests.

“I think that game turned on the yellow card [for Toulon captain David Ribbans] in the second half.

“We’ve paid no attention to that loss for Toulon, they’ll be right up there on Sunday afternoon.

“Baptiste [Serin], in my view, is one of the best players around, and who knows if some of their injured players will be back?

“They’ve got so much speed, they’ve got power, they’ve got height.

“We just took the detail out of the [Edinburgh versus Toulon] game. We’ve got a tough challenge on our hands on Sunday.”

Of Bath’s preparations for turning out against Toulon – who are third in the Top 14 – at the 17,500-capacity Stade Felix Mayol, van Graan said: “A fascinating place to go and play rugby at.

“I think if you look at most of the French sides, not all of them but most of them, there’s a clear difference in home and away.

“Toulon’s fantastic at home. They’ve averaged 41 points per game there.

“They’ve played some fantastic rugby at home. They’ve got some fantastic players.

“From an emotional point of view, the walk in, when you run out, the way that they try and start games, that’s true to them.

“You don’t just go to France, specifically a place like Toulon, and go and get points, but that’s the challenge that we have in front of us and I think that’s the amazing thing about Europe.

“It’s a team that we don’t play often. And we’re going to enjoy it and, similar to every week, never too high, never too low, and see what we go and do on Sunday afternoon.

“We’ve been together now for three-and-a-half years, we’ve gone through many different experiences.

“In Europe, we’ve gone away against Toulouse two years ago, which was one of my all-time favourite games even though we lost, because of the performance that had been delivered.

“We’ve gone away to the Aviva [Stadium in Dublin, to play Leinster Rugby last season], which was a fantastic experience.

“There’s not only in the Premiership, but across Europe, so many times that so many of these players play in different stadiums and we’ve got a team that a lot of players are playing international rugby. So, whether that’s the All Blacks at Eden Park, Argentina in Mendoza or South Africa at Ellis Park, there’s so many different occasions.

“I respect the history of Toulon, and when they had that purple patch – what was it, 2013/14-ish, when Bryan Habana, Jonny Wilkinson, Matt Giteau, Bakkies Botha, Danie Rossouw and Joe van Niekerk were there – they had some team, and we went there a few years ago and Toulon were better than us on the day.

“We love a challenge and we’re looking forward to Sunday.

“We just take every game the way that it comes.

“The factual bit about Europe is you’ve got two home [games] and two away. The more you can win at home, the more it takes the pressure off away from home.

“We’re coming up against the side who in the last year there’s only been one side that have beaten them there and that’s Toulouse. So we’re under no illusions as to what awaits us.

“It doesn’t matter where we play in the world. We as a group have become comfortable that we want to perform wherever we play.

“We’ve got a massive challenge on Sunday afternoon, but it’s not something that we fear, it’s not something that we’re worried about.

“We look at our game, respect our opposition, and then just go and have a real crack on Sunday afternoon.

“If we’re good enough after Round 4 to progress, then that’ll be great.

“As we learned last season, we lost our first game against La Rochelle in the rain and that gave us a route into the Challenge Cup, and what a fantastic journey that was [Bath went on to win the trophy].

“So you just never know what’s ahead. We’ll just enjoy this weekend, have a real crack at them.

“Let’s see where we’re at just before Christmas, and then whatever we need to do away to Castres [Olympique in Round 3 on Friday 9th January] – what a challenge that is, I’ve been there a few times on a Friday evening, in the cold, in the winter. So who knows? Fantastic games.

“I love the Champions Cup, some of the games at the weekend [Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th December] were brilliant.

“Northampton’s [35-27] win at Pau was very, very good. For Bordeaux to go and beat the [Vodacom] Bulls [46-33] in Pretoria in the heat, that takes some doing, [DHL] Stormers to go and beat Bayonne [26-17] in Bayonne… I could speak about every game because I watch every game. But great competition to be part of.”

The weather in Toulon on Sunday afternoon is forecast to be sunny and 15C – a big contrast to the torrential rain and much cooler conditions at The Rec for Bath’s evening encounter with Munster.

Van Graan said: “If the team could choose, which I think is the same for most teams, we’d want a beautiful, fast, Rec pitch, 3pm [every week], but there’s different seasons.

“We started the season in sunshine in good conditions. And I take you back to the Gloucester game [on Saturday 11th October] when we started fantastically. And then you go into the winter, and then you’ve got to be adaptable.

“La Rochelle have got to fly to Port Elizabeth and they’ve got to play in the South African sunshine [against Stormers in Round 2 on Saturday 13th December].

“So the competition gives you different bits. I think our biggest bit this week is the pitch is very different in Toulon.

“And obviously different weather conditions and we’ve just got to make sure we control as best as we can.

“It was lovely training outside today. So hopefully we get the sun on Sunday.”

Without wanting to name his side to face Toulon, van Graan did confirm – when asked to highlight some of his leading players possibly facing the Red & Blacks – that Argentinian ace Santi Carreras will be in the matchday 23.

And van Graan dropped hints about some other players who might be involved.

“Santi will be in the 23 on the weekend,” said van Graan. “Santi’s been himself since he arrived at the club. He gives us some incredible decision-making, some real speed. He glides over the field.

“He’s got speed and he’s calm under pressure.

“I think that 20 minutes against Scotland [when Carreras orchestrated Argentina’s recovery from 21-0 down to win 33-24 in Edinburgh on Sunday 16th November] is potentially one of the great impact performances of all time. So we’re so lucky to have him.

“Our front row have become a cornerstone, whether it’s the starting front row or the impacts. And we use our impact players. Some of our ball carriers, Sam Underhill, Alfie Barbeary, Ted Hill, Miles Reed, some of them will play on the weekend.

“Our centres, which we’ve got many good ones… [their] decision making and being the extra eyes and ears of our 10s, whether it’s Santi or Finn [Russell].

“I think Henry Arundell has had a fantastic season, both for Bath and England, and what has impressed me so much about Henry is the work that he does off the field, which clearly translates onto the field on game day.”

Carreras echoed van Graan’s belief that Bath will face a very tough test at Toulon.

He said: “I think it’s a different side of rugby [in France], compared to here. It’s so emotional as well.

“I think it’s a good side to go to, Toulon. So we’re looking forward to going there, enjoy the crowd, the atmosphere and play rugby.

“They’re so physical, I think we are as well, so it’s going to be a big challenge.”