Had things panned out differently 12 months ago, the hunger which Will Muir feels might have been less persistent.
Bath were in their first Premiership final for nine years, level at 3-3 against Northampton Saints after a cagey opening quarter at Twickenham.
But then came the turning point.
A red card shown to Beno Obano for a high tackle on Juarno Augustus tipped the scales in Northampton’s favour, who scored two tries in four minutes to seize the initiative.
To Bath's immense credit, they kept plugging away with 14 men and the boot of Finn Russell and tries from Thomas du Toit and Muir himself remarkably put them 21-18 up heading towards the final 10 minutes.
However, their gallant effort proved to be in vain as Alex Mitchell sniped over to clinch the title for the Saints, leaving the Blue, Black and White crestfallen.
While Northampton celebrated their first Premiership crown since 2014, anticipating Bath's return to Twickenham this season would hardly have been a far-fetched prediction at the time, and sure enough, Muir and company are back at the big dance.
“For me personally, it [last year’s loss to Northampton] did eat into pre-season a bit,” Muir tells TRU.
“It was such a big moment, sort of losing that in the last couple of minutes but as soon as the Premiership started again, it was looking forward to getting an opportunity to put things right.
“There is a little bit of ‘getting so close last year’. I think I speak for everyone when I say we thought about that for a long time after that final, so it is obviously something we want to rectify.”
Shortly after signing for Bath in 2020, Muir was interviewed byLuxe Magazine. In the Q&A, it suggested the galloping winger was an admirer of former heavyweight champion of the world Tyson Fury.
When asked whether Bath ‘rising from the canvas’ this year - after last season’s disappointment - can relate to Fury in any way, Muir, with a laugh, sees the connection: “Yeah, I guess so! Against Deontay Wilder isn’t it, when he got up and everyone thought he was done?! Maybe a bit like that!”
While you can label that night in 2018 as a resurrection moment for Fury, you could describe Bath’s turnaround in fortunes over the past few seasons as a revival.
In 2021/22, the Blue, Black and White finished bottom of the table and only avoided the trapdoor to the Championship because of a moratorium on relegation.
Fast-forward to the present day, and Johann van Graan’s side are now into successive Premiership finals.
Collectively, they didn’t view last year’s loss to Northampton as a knockout blow. Instead, the upward trajectory they generated in 2023/24 has been maintained.
What used to be hope has now manifested itself into belief as Bath seek their first Premiership title since 1996 when they take on old foes Leicester Tigers on Saturday.
“We are taking this week as any other week,” Muir says. “We don’t want to change too much or deviate from what we have been doing over the last couple of years. This season, we have done 18 rounds of the Premiership now, plus a semi-final, so we have been doing something right, I guess!”
Back in March, Bath landed their first trophy for 17 years when they won the Premiership Rugby Cup before brilliantly securing the European Challenge Cup against Lyon three weeks ago.
When it comes to the Premiership, they spent a significant portion of this campaign in top spot and ended the regular season 11 points ahead of the chasing pack and 16 points clear of fifth-placed Gloucester.
And after last week’s storming second-half fightback to seal a 34-20 win over Bristol Bears in a compelling semi-final, Bath are now on the verge of a historic club treble.
Whereas some teams would have revelled in the celebrations of beating a rival to leave them on the cusp of something special, Bath’s focus on not deviating from their goals was evident at a jubilant Rec.
Whilst those in the stands soaked up the occasion and atmosphere last Friday, there was no whooping or hollering from those on the pitch. Instead, there was just a humble acknowledgement between coaches and players that it was ‘job done’.
And that reaction gave you an insight into what Bath’s mindset has been like across the course of this season.
“There might have been little bursts of celebrations as well as after moments in the game, but then it is ‘next job mentality,’” Muir explains. “The job is not done and even after the final whistle, we knew the job was not done so it was about reviewing things [from the Bristol game] and looking ahead to this week.”
The overriding desire to get their hands on the Premiership trophy ultimately means there hasn’t been much reason for Bath to reflect. It is the same for Muir, whose attention is on what is coming rather than what has gone before.
But the 29-year-old does recognise the journey Bath have been on since he made his debut for the club in 2020.
After they finished bottom of the pile in 2021/22, van Graan walked through the doors of Farleigh House [Bath’s training base] determined to implement a vision: “You’ve got to know where you’re going,” he said in one of his first press conferences for the club.
After finishing eighth in his first year, Bath went on to reach Twickenham last season and now they are back in the Premiership final, aiming to fulfil the vision of their Head of Rugby.
“There was obviously the big shift around in coaching staff and things at that time,” Muir says. “We’ve just sort of been growing game on game and I think a part of that has been about looking for continuous improvements each week.
“That first season, we climbed up and finished eighth after finishing rock bottom the year before. Since then, it has been little increments of improvement.
“Right now, it is hard to reflect because we haven’t sort of reached where we want to get to. There is one week to go, one more job to do and then we can sort of reflect on things.”
But it is not just the impact of van Graan which has transformed Bath.
Whilst the South African has made a major impression on all those affiliated with the club, he will be the first to tell you the work of his backroom staff - which includes the likes of JP Ferreira [Defence Coach], Lee Blackett [Attack Coach] and Richard Blaze [Forwards Coach] - has contributed enormously to turning Bath into a force to be reckoned with.
To describe Bath as a Swiss army knife might even be doing them a disservice. As seen against Bristol last week, van Graan’s troops can seemingly adapt to any situation which comes their way.
Whether it is accurate free-flowing rugby, bundles of power up front, trust in defence or serious strength in depth, the favourites for the title have all the attributes to be successful, not only this term, but perhaps in the years to come.
“You can’t have one without the other,” Muir says when asked about the blend of the squad. “As a team, we complement each other quite well. Our forwards take a lot of credit because they are doing a lot of work, hard yards and creating opportunities for us out in the backs. We all just work really well together and that is credit to the coaches too.”
Yes, Bath have built a sensational squad full of stars and emerging talent, but van Graan and his coaches have still had to mix together a fruitful on-the-pitch understanding between their players.
Once again this term, Muir has played his part in Bath being on song, as has fellow wing Joe Cokanasiga. Both crossed the whitewash in last week’s win over Bristol and in doing so, continued to underline their qualities.
The latter hasn’t shied away from his ambition to pull on an England shirt again, while Muir - who has represented England ‘A’ over the past two seasons - has been in the conversation for further international honours due to his skillset and consistency.
Steve Borthwick has already named Immanuel Feyi-Waboso (Exeter), Cadan Murley (Harlequins), Tom Roebuck (Sale) and Ollie Sleightholme (Northampton Saints) in England’s training squad as they continue their preparations for this summer, with those involved in the Premiership final absent for now.
Alongside Muir and Cokanasiga, Leicester wingers Ollie Hassell-Collins and Adam Radwan are also reasonable shouts to be included in the touring party for Tests against Argentina and the USA, with Borthwick announcing his squad on Monday.
“Our position [winger] is one of the most competitive positions for England at the moment, isn’t it? Muir admits. “Wingers and back three, I think. I know people will say it but to be honest, it [England] is right at the back of my mind with Saturday on the horizon.
“I have sort of been kept in the loop with things, checking in, seeing how the body is, you know the usual stuff. I have a good relationship with him [Steve Borthwick] so he just touches base now and again, but Saturday is the job at hand.”
And no one can argue with Muir’s approach.
The outpouring of emotion before, during and after last week’s win over Bristol hammered home how important lifting the Premiership trophy is for Bath and its people.
The passion of their fans, thrilled by what they have witnessed over the last 12 months, is something Muir became instantly aware of when he arrived in the West Country five years ago.
He likens it to Newcastle, the city which he used to call home during his time at Northumbria University, and the fervour which surrounds their football team.
But instead of black and white, it is blue, black and white everywhere you look.
“It is crazy! When I first came in here, you see it straight away,” Muir says. “The whole city just lives and breathes rugby. There is merchandise on everyone just walking around. They stop you and speak to you. I don’t know many places like it, to be honest.
“What we saw last Friday night was unbelievable. The whole gameday, the build-up, the fireworks and everything going off before the game. The crowd were just so loud and I am sure there will be a fair few of them there on Saturday, bringing the same sort of energy.”
While there will still be the same level of excitement amongst those supporters making the journey to Twickenham this year (including a loyal following from Muir's hometown club Guisborough RUFC) as there was last year, they will travel in expectation rather than hope because of Bath’s dominance across the board this term.
After cruising to a home semi-final with three rounds to go of the regular season, general admission tickets for the final were sold out weeks ago, with the majority potentially hoovered up by those of a Blue, Black and White persuasion.
Despite bitter rivals Leicester winning the Premiership on nine occasions since Bath last won the trophy, the West Country side have been favourites for the title for almost all of this season as they look to recapture the glory days of the early and mid-90s when they ruled the roost.
So with that in mind, Muir and Bath will be desperate to experience drastically contrasting emotions to what they felt 12 months ago.
