Bath have it ‘all to play for’ after Champions Cup win over Clermont
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Bath 40-21 Clermont: Johann van Graan’s side travel to Leinster on the final weekend of the pool stage with their chances of progressing to the last 16 alive. Johann van Graan says it is “all to play for” after Bath put themselves firmly in the mix for an Investec Champions Cup last-16 place.
![[Johann van Graan is confident his side can challenge Leinster in Dublin]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/01/12/21/newFile-2.jpg)
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 were up against it after an early red card]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/01/12/21/newFile-3.jpg)
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. “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.
