Banahan backs Bath to continue treble bid with Challenge Cup glory
Matt Banahan is backing treble-chasing Bath to go all the way in this year's EPCR Challenge Cup.
Johann van Graan's outfit travel to Hive Stadium to face Edinburgh on Saturday (live on Premier Sports 2 from 2.30pm) in a bid to reach the final in Cardiff and complete the second leg of what would be a historic hat-trick of trophies for the club.
Former player Banahan is part of the Premier Sports team bringing every minute of live action and all the analysis for the four box office EPCR semi-finals this weekend and believes Edinburgh must be aware of the strength of Bath's pack, as well as the star-studded backline, if they have a chance of success.
The Rec-based outfit powered past fellow Gallagher Premiership Rugby side Gloucester Rugby 61-26 in the quarter-finals to book their ticket to the Scottish capital after dispatching Pau 49-24 in the previous round, having dropped down from the Investec Champions Cup.
Meanwhile, Edinburgh enjoyed a pair of home victories over South African sides Lions and Bulls to book their spot in the last four, but Banahan believes his former side will have no fear when they get north of the border.
'Bath are the favourites for me, both for this game and the competition,' he said.
'I think they were probably upset with how they started in the Investec Champions Cup and with the loss at Treviso, because I think apart from sides like Leinster, Toulouse and Bordeaux, their squad is probably up there as one of the best in Europe.
'I think they know their favourites for Europe and the Premiership.
'As they say, pressure is a privilege, and they are performing well.
'And when you watch them play, they play like a very confident team that backs themselves, no matter what.
'Sometimes they ship 20 points, but they back themselves to score 40.
'That is where you see great teams grow, and at the moment, they are the team that everybody is trying to catch up with.
'They know they have got the favourite tag, but they deserve it, and now it is time for them to go out and perform.'
Bath currently sit top of the Gallagher Premiership and secured themselves a home semi-final with their win over Newcastle last weekend.
This week is all about international club rugby action as the semi-finals of the Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup take centre stage.
'Bath's forward pack is a huge weapon,' he continued.
'Edinburgh will need to nullify that if they are to have the edge in this game, and they must start the game well and manage it from there.
'The way Bath have got a lot of points this season is through sides trying to arm-wrestle their forwards, tiring out, and then at the end of the game, Bath bring on another five international-standard forwards.
'That is when teams open up the dam, and the water comes through, and the points flow.
'If Edinburgh want to be in the game, they have got to play smart at the start, move the ball around and not get caught out when the subs come on.'
Premier Sports is the home of Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup with 80 games live throughout the competition including this weekend's semi-finals and both Finals on 23 and 24 May live from Principality Stadium, Cardiff. Visit: www.premiersports.com to sign-up for all the action from URC, Top 14, MLR, Japan League One and EPCR rugby at just £11.99 per month.
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