Bath fighting talk ahead of crucial Aviva clash

Johann van Graan says it is "all to play for" after Bath put themselves firmly in the mix for a Champions Cup last-16 place ahead of a trip to Aviva Stadium.

Bath's first win of this season’s Champions Cup campaign – a 40-21 success against Clermont Auvergne – came in bonus-point fashion at the Recreation Ground after Clermont had prop Giorgi Akhaladze sent off for a dangerous 25th-minute tackle.

Bath could need at least a point from a testing Pool Two finale against Leinster in Dublin next Saturday to stay on course for one of three remaining qualifying places alongside the Irish heavyweights.

Clermont, La Rochelle, Bristol and Benetton also remain in the mix, yet Bath made it an initial job done by claiming the five-point maximum they required.

"It is all to play for – I think that’s why this competition is so great," Bath head of rugby Van Graan said.

"You can make two choices. You can speak about how good Leinster are, because they are a phenomenal side, or you can just focus on yourselves," said the former Munster head coach.

"I have had some fond memories in the Aviva, and some big disappointments, and what a great place to go and play against one of the best teams in world rugby, certainly from a club point of view.

"It is a massive task. They are sitting way in front in the United Rugby Championship, and they are in front in our pool, and we are in front in the Premiership."

Touchdowns from Thomas Du Toit (2), fly-half Finn Russell, full-back Tom de Glanville, wing Joe Cokanasiga and centre Ollie Lawrence saw Bath home, while Russell kicked five conversions.

Clermont, despite being a player down for almost an hour, kept plugging away and were rewarded with tries from Folau Fainga’a, Anthony Belleau and Peceli Yato, while