Bath fighting fit for Tigers
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Bath coach Mike Ford has a full-strength squad to choose from for their first Premiership semifinal in five years against Leicester Tigers.
After finishing the season with a comfortable 50-30 victory having secured a home semifinal prior to kick off the pressure will be significantly higher when they host Leicester.
Ford said that he has been pleased with their campaign as a whole, and is hopeful that they can go on to make their home advantage count in the semifinal with no injury concerns to worry about.
"I know we conceded 30 and there was a bit of an end-of-season, nothing-at-stake feel to the game, but looking at the 22 matches, it's been a great season," he said.
"Last year we were one point off getting fourth place. This year we're one point off top.
"Everyone's fit. That includes Stuart Hooper – we could have played him – and Jonathan Joseph. Nobody's got any injuries.
"Matt Banahan came off as a precaution and the others came off just for a rest really. It's a fantastic position to be in, playing Leicester at home with a fully fit squad. We can't wait."
Leicester Tigers director of rugby Richard Cockerill insists all the pressure will be on Bath's shoulders after his side sealed third spot and a play-off place with a hard fought 22-14 victory over a much-changed Northampton Saints side at Welford Road.
"We have now got to delete that from our minds and prepare for Bath. We know what happened last time we were there so we will regroup, refresh and all the pressure is on them.
"They have had a good season, they are a great side, we've had a poor season by many standards and we are in the mix now and it is just one-off games," he said.
Bath coach Mike Ford has a full-strength squad to choose from for their first Premiership semifinal in five years against Leicester Tigers.
After finishing the season with a comfortable 50-30 victory having secured a home semifinal prior to kick off the pressure will be significantly higher when they host Leicester.
Ford said that he has been pleased with their campaign as a whole, and is hopeful that they can go on to make their home advantage count in the semifinal with no injury concerns to worry about.
"I know we conceded 30 and there was a bit of an end-of-season, nothing-at-stake feel to the game, but looking at the 22 matches, it's been a great season," he said.
"Last year we were one point off getting fourth place. This year we're one point off top.
"Everyone's fit. That includes Stuart Hooper – we could have played him – and Jonathan Joseph. Nobody's got any injuries.
"Matt Banahan came off as a precaution and the others came off just for a rest really. It's a fantastic position to be in, playing Leicester at home with a fully fit squad. We can't wait."
Leicester Tigers director of rugby Richard Cockerill insists all the pressure will be on Bath's shoulders after his side sealed third spot and a play-off place with a hard fought 22-14 victory over a much-changed Northampton Saints side at Welford Road.
"We have now got to delete that from our minds and prepare for Bath. We know what happened last time we were there so we will regroup, refresh and all the pressure is on them.
"They have had a good season, they are a great side, we've had a poor season by many standards and we are in the mix now and it is just one-off games," he said.
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