'Every team has weaknesses' - Obano says Bath up to Bordeaux challenge

Breaking news from the world of sport: 'Every team has weaknesses' - Obano says Bath up to Bordeaux challenge Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Johann van Graan and Beno Obano are hoping to help Bath to a first European Champions Cup final since 1998 By Sophie Hurcom Sport England, West of England Published 4 hours ago There are few arenas in world rugby as high pressure as a trip to Bordeaux Begles. The reigning Champions Cup holders have a galaxy of France international stars at their disposal and brushed aside another juggernaut team in Toulouse to get to Sunday's European semi-final, which also will played right down the road from their home stadium, in their home city. But during the past three seasons under head of rugby Johann van Graan, Bath have become a team that are used to handling pressure and, even more than that, thriving in it.

"Before Johann came I remember someone showed us a clip of Saracens and it was Mako talking after the European final about how calm they were, and I feel like this group feels that way," prop Beno Obano said. "Shout out to Johann, he's done that with this group. "In these big games we're just so calm - everything we need is in the team, everything we need is in the circle.

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"We've played in those games and whatever happens, wherever the chips may fall, we'll be calm and composed and we'll land on what we have to do quite nicely. " Bath could call on teenager Mears for semi-final Published 23 hours ago Bath embracing Prem and Champions Cup challenge - Van Graan Published 16 April Bordeaux boast world-class players such as Matthieu Jalibert, Louis Bielle-Biarrey, Damian Penaud, Maxime Lucu and Yoram Moefana. A French team has also won the Champions Cup in each of the past five years.

But Bordeaux have not had everything their way this season, especially in the league where they have stuttered and lost 10 of 22 Top 14 games, leaving them sixth - 17 points behind leaders Toulouse. Bath also have world-class talent of their own - including Scotland fly-half Finn Russell, England centre Ollie Lawrence, Argentina back Santiago Carreras and South Africa prop Thomas du Toit. And the experience of winning three finals last season - the Premiership, European Challenge Cup and Prem Rugby Cup - has got the monkey off the back in terms of bringing silverware back to a city consumed by its love of rugby.

"Every team has weaknesses - we have weaknesses - but the team that we're coming up against has more strengths than most," Obano said. "They're a great team but we think we're a good team. It's just about going out there and trying to be the best version of ourselves.

" Investec Champions Cup semi-final: Bordeaux Begles v Bath Sunday.

The story has climbed to the top of the sports agenda, with fans and analysts following closely.