The National Times - Bath seek end to Premiership drought against old rivals Leicester

The West Country side were the dominant force from the 1980s until the mid-1990s before Leicester took charge, becoming champions in four straight seasons around the turn of the century.

The clubs have been English champions 17 times between them, Leicester most recently in 2022, but Bath have not been top dogs for 29 years.

Bath suffered an agonising 25-21 loss to Northampton at Twickenham last year -- their third defeat in play-off finals.

Bath and Scotland fly-half Finn Russell said to his coach, Johann van Graan, after the game: "We'll just have to do it next year now."

Van Graan's side have already ended their 17-year wait for silverware by winning this season's Premiership Rugby Cup and the Challenge Cup.

But the Premiership title is the one they really want.

South African Van Graan, whose team reached Saturday's final at Twickenham with a 34-20 victory over local rivals Bristol, said last year's disappointment would not change his approach.

"We'll stick to the same process this week," he said. "A final is a one-off.

"We have worked incredibly hard to get back to this position to go back to Twickenham, a year on from Northampton."

This time, there is greater expectation on Bath given their dominance in the regular season -- they finished 11 points clear of second-placed Leicester.

- Bath belief -

Bath captain Ben Spencer insisteed his side are now better-prepared to win the final.

"Everyone feels different. This group's been through enough now and played in enough big games to know how the week needs to feel and look," he said.

"It's taken a lot of hard work from the group. That's one huge thing that Johann brought in, turning hope into belief and this group believes now and believes we can win big games."

Leicester, Bath's great rivals during their glory years, are hunting a record-extending 12th English title in the first Premiership final between the two giants.

Michael Cheika's men booked their place with a 21-16 victory over Sale in the play-off semi-finals.

It is a dramatic improvement from the 2023/24 campaign, when they finished eighth in the table.

The former Australia coach, who will be leaving his role at the end of the season after one campaign in charge, admitted Bath are favourites.

Bath humbled the Tigers 43-15 last month to complete a league double this season.

"I know we will be doubted and probably for good reason from the results and the table," the 58-year-old Australian told BBC Radio Leicester.

He added: "We have strong self belief internally and that will be something that will be really important. That is something we have built up over the season.

"But this is a good opportunity for us to use that belief in ourselves, because what that gives you is a hand in knowing what you will have to do."

S.Cooper--TNT