Claassens eyeing up big scalp.Byline: DUNCAN BECH CAPTAIN Michael Claassens insists Bath are determined to topple French aristocrats Stade Francais at the Recreation Ground today. Bath opened their Heineken Cup campaign with a 26-12 defeat at Ulster, while Stade demolished de·mol·ish tr.v. de·mol·ished, de·mol·ish·ing, de·mol·ish·es 1. To tear down completely; raze. 2. To do away with completely; put an end to. 3. Edinburgh 31-7 to emerge as early pacesetters Pacesetters is a project created by Facility Architects, a London-based design firm. Its aim is to harness the vibrations generated by activities within a city and generate electricity for lighting purposes. History The concept itself is not new. in Pool Four. It will be the first time the European rivals have met and Claassens stressed his side are desperate to take a major scalp. "Games like this are what I play rugby for. We have got them at home and it's the ideal opportunity for us to turn things around," he said. "They have always been one of the top teams in Europe. Everyone wants to play against them because they are the big money spenders, so it's a great opportunity for us. "I know for a game like the one against Stade Francais everyone will turn up and they will already be psyched up for it." Deflated de·flate v. de·flat·ed, de·flat·ing, de·flates v.tr. 1. a. To release contained air or gas from. b. To collapse by releasing contained air or gas. 2. Bath were left deflated by their emphatic defeat at Ravenhill, but Claassens is grateful for an early opportunity to atone for the performance. "The nice thing is we get a chance to turn everything around this weekend," he said. "We didn't start the way we would have liked and obviously we would have liked to have come away with a win." Bath boss Steve Meehan will be facing the club he served as assistant coach for four years, helping them claim two Top 14 titles and reach the 2005 Heineken Cup final. "A win would certainly be a confidence boost and Stade would be a big European scalp for us to take," Meehan said. The Ospreys threw away a commanding position as they slipped to a 32-32 draw with Leicester last weekend, leaving Wales Wales, Welsh Cymru, western peninsula and political division (principality) of Great Britain (1991 pop. 2,798,200), 8,016 sq mi (20,761 sq km), west of England; politically united with England since 1536. The capital is Cardiff. winger Shane Williams This article is about the Welsh rugby player. For the American actress, see Shanésia Davis-Williams. Shane Mark Williams (born 26 February 1977 in Swansea) is a Welsh rugby union footballer who plays as a winger for the Ospreys club and Wales but who can to outline what is at stake against Clermont Auvergne tomorrow. "At least, though, we feel we have some momentum from what we did at Welford Road to take into the clash with Clermont," he said. "It's a home game and if we win we can take control of the pool." In the Amlin Challenge Cup, Newcastle tackle French side Albi and Leeds are looking to bounce back from defeat to Bourgoin at home to Parma. CAPTION(S): BOOST: Steve Meehan |
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