Johann van Graan: Bath tough to beat and know how to win, says boss
- Published
The win against Racing 92 at the Recreation Ground continues Bath's unbeaten run in the Champions Cup this season
Bath have become "so much better" in knowing how to win, says head coach Johann van Graan, as they remain unbeaten in the Champions Cup after beating Racing 92 on Sunday.
The victory sealed Bath's place in the last 16 of the European competition for the first time since 2015.
They were 22-8 down to the French side before Alfie Barbeary, Joe Cokanasiga and Will Muir tries saw them win 29-25.
Bath travel to pool leaders Toulouse in their final group game this weekend.
"When I started this journey with Bath I said we've got to be tough to beat, and at 22-8 down we are certainly tough to beat," Van Graan told BBC Radio Bristol.
"I've got so much belief in this group, we've got so much better in terms of understanding how to win.
"All I can ask for is in terms of effort, and if you lose to a better team on the day you've got to give them credit.
"We stuck it out and I've got so much respect for Stuart Lancaster and Racing. What a privilege it is to be the coach of this club in the Champions Cup."
The win continues what has been an impressive campaign so far for Bath under the South African's tutelage, after a disappointing number of seasons previously.
They sit third in the Premiership - level on points with second-placed Harlequins - and return to the league on 27 January with an away derby against Bristol.
Van Graan says he has been rotating the team and making player selections with both "important" competitions in mind.
"If we want to become the team we want to you've got to fight in both competitions," he said.
"We've got to go to Toulouse - potentially the in-form team in Europe in the Champions Cup. We'll have to adapt our plan, we'll have to see what our injuries are, what the outcome of Alfie's red card is, and then we'll adapt accordingly.
"I'm going to keep backing our squad. It's not about what [those on] the outside say it's about what we in the inside say, and we're three out of three in Europe."