James: 'We have made some positive steps, but we can still improve'
Bath have won four of their last five games as they prepare to take on Durham this week
©Team Bath/BUCS
Aaron James admits there is still work for the University of Bath to do, but he insists his side are having a positive BUCS Super Rugby campaign.
The Bath boss believes his team can improve on their discipline and tighten up their defence despite the club sitting just two points off the top.
Bath have won four of their last five games in BUCS Super Rugby, which has certainly pleased James after the university had a disappointing 2017/18 season.
The Blue and Golds now sit fourth in the table and they are firmly in the mix for domestic honours in what is rapidly becoming an enthralling BUCS Super Rugby title race, but James knows his side can still get better.
“We have had a stronger start this year,” said James. “We were towards the bottom of the table last year and now we’re near the top four which is pleasing.
“We are conscious that we are only a third of the way through the season, but we have made some real positive steps and we are probably playing better rugby than we were last year. The boys have seen some success from our hard work.
“We only won four games during the league season last year so we are pleased with where we are now, but we are grounded. We’ve scored a lot of bonus-points and in most games, we have scored four tries so that has been good, but we have also leaked a number of them!
“We are pleased with the way the boys are working and the approach to the games, but we are still reflecting on some areas where we can improve in terms of discipline and the amount of tries we are letting in.”
James highlighted Bath’s discipline as one of the factors which led to their 29-26 home defeat against Cardiff Met last Wednesday evening.
However, with the BUCS Super Rugby games coming thick and fast, Bath have a chance to immediately bounce back when they take on Durham in tonight’s live match.
James said: “They are always close games against Cardiff Met, expect for last year in the semi-finals [where they lost 55-21]. It was a very physical game last week. Our discipline wasn’t where we would have liked it to be overall.
“You don’t get time to reflect too hard because you are on to the next one. In terms of our game with Durham this week, we lost to them in London, but we have no problem in getting ourselves together.
“We have a game plan for the match which we think can work. The boys are really positive, even though we got a knock back last week. You have just got to be. We are looking forward to coming up against a strong Durham side.”
Fourth-placed Bath and Durham (6th) come into their Round Seven fixture separated by just five points and in fact, there is only seven points between the top six sides in the division.
BUCS Super Rugby is continuing to become even more competitive, which James admits his healthy for the university game.
He said: “It [BUCS Super Rugby] has taken another two or three big steps from last year. It is really good. We said last year that every team fancies beating each other and capable of beating each other and that has been on show again this year!
“There’s only really a win between sixth and second so it can change around which makes it quite exciting.
“Again, we are seeing some high scoring games which makes for some pretty good highlights packages each week!
“BUCS Super Rugby is showing its quality compared to some of the other leagues in the country and it is showcasing a number of teams including players who have been or who are involved higher up.”
Expectations maybe high within the Bath camp after a strong start to the season and they can really enhance their title ambitions by claiming a home victory over Durham this week.
Since losing to the North-East side 30-24 earlier in the season, Bath have suffered just one defeat which has helped them stay in the race for top spot.
Bath haven’t lifted silverware for a number of years and while James admits his side are striving to be the best, he also insists the Blue and Golds are not getting too far ahead of themselves.
“After that loss with Durham, we have learnt massively, but in this league, you have just got to keep learning,” James said,
“When it was Premier A, you needed plans A and B, but now you need A to G! Which one are we going to use this week?!
“It just means the players are learning and it is great for the development of our coaching and right across the board as well. Each team is same, but different.
“We have always had some ding-dong encounters with Durham. They are well coached and they have some talent there linked to Newcastle Falcons, but so do we with our link to Bath Rugby so it will be another exciting game on Wednesday.
“We always have ambitions to be in the top four, if we can. We have to set goals which are realistic and achievable and that is what we have aimed towards for the last five or six years, even before BUCS Super Rugby.
“That includes our teams across the board and if we can get that, it will be a pretty good season. Of course, we’d like to win one. We haven’t won a trophy for ages so we are very realistic and grounded, but also ambitious.”
