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Bath Rugby Director of Rugby Todd Blackadder is set to name an unchanged side for his team’s final European Rugby Challenge Cup clash with Pau.
The French side arrive at the Rec rock bottom of Pool 4 with Bath at the summit and knowing a win would most likely secure them top spot and qualification for the quarter-finals.
A bonus-point success would definitely seal a last-eight spot and with that in mind, Blackadder will name a strong team.
Bath thrashed near rivals Bristol in the last round with England ace George Ford producing an impressive attacking display at fly-half and Blackadder is hoping for a repeat performance.
“Our European destiny is really in our hands now – five points against Pau on Saturday will give us a home quarter-final, but we need the loud and passionate backing of our fantastic supporters to help make that happen,” said the New Zealander.
“We want to back up the performance from last week on our home turf, and it should be a great afternoon at the Rec.
“The weather is forecast to be a dry, winter’s day and we want our supporters to create an intimidating atmosphere – it really adds an extra edge to the game in our favour.”
Bath are firm favourites to record their fifth win of the tournament – their only loss has come away to Cardiff Blues – and with that return to the Rec for the knock-out stages.
The Blues can still beat them to top spot if they beat Bristol and Bath lose, but that’s not an outcome the English side are contemplating.
“We're gunning for another bonus-point victory against Pau because securing a home quarter-final is really important to us,” said Bath flanker Guy Mercer.
“Taking away that bit of unknown you get with an away fixture is a big deal, although we've got a few guys who've been there and done it in the Challenge Cup when we got to the final in 2014.
“We want to give ourselves the best chance of going all the way this year and the boys get a huge boost whenever we play at home.”
Bath Rugby secured their place in the European Rugby Challenge Cup quarter-finals with a convincing 69-10 win over Pau.
Paul Grant and Anthony Watson both scored two tries each as Todd Blackadder’s men ran in 10 in total at the Rec to seal a home tie in the last eight.
It did not take long for Bath to get on the board – a minute and 25 seconds to be precise – after Tom Dunn powered his way over in the corner.
Pau were on the back foot and it took just four minutes for the hosts to double their lead. George Ford hopped in as temporary scrum-half and found No 8 Grant who crashed over.
It was not Pau’s day as three injury replacements in one minute hampered their progress and when Bath came knocking once again, Ford had to settle for a simple penalty.
Watson found his first and his team's third when he collected Jonathan Joseph’s kick, before Pau climbed their way into Bath territory for the first time 28 minutes in.
Pierre Dupouy, however, spilled on the try-line as Tom Homer intercepted a loose pass to run the length of the field to score at the posts.
At that stage the hosts were running riot, averaging a point a minute after Ford’s conversion.
Giovanni Kueffner was sent to the bin for retaliation, but the visitors got themselves on the board courtesy of a Brandon Fajardo penalty.
Grant bagged his second with ease one minute after the interval, but Ford hit the uprights for the second time with his attempt at the extras.
Bath were well on top and Watson soon had his second after diving over at the posts. Rhys Priestland then gathered his own kick to cross six minutes later for Bath’s seventh.
But Pau had their reward for a slightly improved second-half display when Mosese Ratuvou crossed in the 61st minute.
Homer was on hand to tee up Zach Mercer who raced away for try number eight – matching last week’s tally against Bristol.
Ben Tapuai was on hand to surpass that haul as he slid in for the ninth, with Ross Batty securing the tenth at the death.
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