News
Borthwick's third time lucky?
May 21 2008
Bath Rugby have done and dusted their Heineken Cup qualification for next season; now they want to get their hands on the trophy that has twice eluded them when they appear in their third European Challenge Cup final.
The all-England clash with Worcester Warriors at Kingsholm on Sunday provides the chance to make it third time lucky after defeats by London Wasps in 2003 and ASM Clermont Auvergne 12 months ago and captain Steve Borthwick is determined to leave a club for whom he has made almost 250 appearances with a trophy on display.
"We were certainly very disappointed to lose two European Challenge Cup finals," said Borthwick, who has been named as England captain for the summer tour to New Zealand and will be playing for Saracens next season.
"To put in so much hard work and preparation only to fall at the final hurdle is always really tough. Having said that, we've learned massively from our defeats, particularly last year's against Clermont and we have developed into a stronger side this season.
"We made some good acquisitions this year and the players are ready for the challenge.
"In terms of the Heineken Cup place, this competition is always about silverware, that's what rugby players are all about and having the Heineken Cup qualification in the bag doesn't change anything for us. This is a cup final and we want to win it."
Borthwick departs for Saracens next season after ten long years of service, and is desperate to present his team-mates with the fondest of farewells after the disappointment of last weekend's Guinness Premiership demi-final defeat to Wasps.
"It would be massive for me personally to leave Bath with the European Challenge Cup trophy in the clubhouse. Rugby is a sport of team-mates and it's always about the guys around you. Obviously I want this for myself but most of all I really want it for them," he said.
"We have played together for a long time and I think as a team you get what we deserve. We have earned our place in the final and, for all of us, I want us to take the trophy home.
"The European Challenge Cup is a great competition. If you look at Bath this season, they qualified for the semi-finals of the Guinness Premiership play-offs and the final of the European Challenge Cup - that is a great season for us without playing Heineken Cup."
Ironically, Borthwick's move means he will miss out on the heineken Cup again next season, while Bath will be strutting their stuff with the big boys, but that is hardly a disappointment for the 27-year-old.
"You can still be successful without being in the top tournament and we need to go on and capitalise on our momentum as the season closes but I certainly won't be disappointed to be playing this tournament again next season with Saracens.
"But at the moment we are totally focussed on Sunday because the most striking thing about Worcester is how they have improved this season. They are now a quality side, having really come into form and have been scoring a lot of tries.
"To beat teams like Gloucester and Leicester shows their calibre and, with world class players like Rico Gear in the side, as well as the strong young talents they have coming through, shows they are a serious contender.
"In terms of players who have stood out for us this season, you have to look at Matt Banahan. He has developed massively as a player and is playing some great rugby at the moment. Then there are players of the quality of Michael Lipman and Olly Barkley who have had very strong seasons. It's great to be playing alongside players of this quality.
"I joined Bath back in 1998 just after they had won the Heineken Cup so that was clearly a very strong side. To be honest, I think you can only judge a team by what they win so this season's team can't be measured until the end of the season."