European Rugby Cup : Meehan backs prop after storming semi-final

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Meehan backs prop after storming semi-final

27 April 2008, 4:12 pm

Bath coach Steve Meehan hailed Matt Stevens as 'the best prop in England' after his side thrashed Sale Sharks to reach the European Challenge Cup final.

New England supremo Martin Johnson watched on as Stevens produced a man-of-the-match display opposite international team-mate Andrew Sheridan.

And Meehan reckons Johnson would have been impressed by the tight head’s rampaging cameo ahead of he summer tour to New Zealand.

Meehan said: “The award could have gone to several of my players because they were superb.

“But Matt was excellent again. He has been different class in the last six weeks and has developed into the best prop in England.“

The West Country giants now face Guinness Premiership rivals Worcester in the final at Gloucester’s Kingsholm on May 25 as they bid to end a ten-year trophy drought at the Rec.

Tries by Michael Claassens, Michael Lipman, Danny Grewcock, Andrew Higgins and Matt Banahan ensured a safe passage to a second successive Challenge Cup final spot.

Bath were edged out in last year’s final by French outfit Clermont Auvergne but Meehan insists his players have learnt their lessons.

He added: “We’re absolutely delighted to reach the final but we want to go one step further than last season.

“We didn’t perform in the final and we want to make amends by bringing silverware back to the club.”

Sale director of rugby Phillips Saint-Andre said: “We made a lot of mistakes but we must accept we were beaten by the better team.”

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