Donald destined to be Euro star

The All Black outside-half became one of the biggest signings of the summer when he agreed to join Bath Rugby on a three-year contract.

Donald's switch appeared to be in danger of collapsing when he was initially refused a visa but the Bath hierarchy remained confident they would get their man.

And now, with the transfer having been rubber stamped by the Home Office and the RFU last month, new halfback partner Michael Claassens, director of rugby Sir Ian McGeechan and coach Brad Davies are expecting big things in Europe's premier competition.

"He's an awesome player. He's only 27 yet I thought he was 32 or so already because he's been around so long," said Claassens, who is in line to link up with Donald when the 1998 European Champions begin their Heineken Cup campaign against Glasgow on November 13.

"He's played 22 games for New Zealand and that speaks for itself. To play for the All Blacks he must have something special.

"He's quite an attacking player and he's quite a big guy who likes to carry the ball and he puts his backline away.

"The young fly-halves like Paul Roberts and Tommy Heathcote will learn so much from him. It's going to be good for their rugby as well so it's a great signing."

Bath have produced some of the most scintillating attacking rugby in the Aviva Premiership over recent seasons but have failed to win any silverware since lifting the Amlin Challenge Cup in 2008.

A failure to close out tight games has often been their downfall and Davies believes their new man can help allay those issues this time around.

"His game management is pretty spot on," said Davies, who had South Africa's World Cup winning playmaker Butch James at his disposal last term.

"He controls things. Butchy could do the magical but I think Stephen will be a really steadying influence for our players.

"Just having him out on the training field, our young 10s, our older 10s and the players around him can just watch. Sometimes the best way you learn as a young player, or as any player, is just to see someone doing it on the field, seeing how they move and how they handle themselves.

"He's going to be a massive plus for us."

Those sentiments were echoed by legendary Lions coach and former Heineken Cup winner McGeechan who will be looking for a repeat of his 2007 continental success with London Wasps.

The former Scotland and Northampton boss insists Donald has exactly the right kind of mentality to succeed at Bath and that his presence should have a positive effect on everyone else at the Club.

"Talent's one thing but attitude and the trust that players build up, you need that - it's everything," added McGeechan.

"That's why I flew to South Africa to speak to him. We weren't going to sign anybody we hadn't actually met. I spent a day with him (when Donald was on tour with Super 15 side the Chiefs) and the outcome was that I was very happy that, knowing the players we have around, he will be a good fit.

"With Butch here, you look at who's come through the Club - Shontayne Hape, Banners (Matt Banahan), Bendy (Nick Abendanon).

"The knock on effect isn't just in one position. It's what it gives to the players who are here and have talent who then have good role models. That's the exciting bit of getting players of that calibre around the Club."

Saracens skipper wants European success

Steve Borthwick says Saracens' next challenge is to compete in the Heineken Cup as well as the Aviva Premiership.

Sarries claimed a first-ever English title at the end of May by beating reigning champions and European heavyweights Leicester Tigers at Twickenham, 12 months after losing to the same opposition in the country's domestic finale.

But while being crowned Kings of England was a massive milestone for the London club, Borthwick now wants to see similar success on the continent.

Having been drawn in a group of death alongside Leinster, ASM Clermont Auvergne and Racing Metro 92 last time out, Sarries recorded just a single victory in their first Heineken Cup campaign since their semi-final appearance of 2008.

They will be hoping for a better showing this season as they take on Biarritz Olympique, Benetton Treviso and the Ospreys in Pool 5, with Borthwick stressing the importance of seeking to replicate their domestic joys on an even bigger stage.

We continue to strive to be the best team that we can and improve on what we did last season.

"We learnt from our Heineken Cup experience last year where some areas of our game perhaps hadn't been exposed as much in the Premiership," said the Sarries skipper.

"We learnt from those experiences to be a better side in the latter part of the season. The challenge now is to compete in Europe as well as the Premiership.

"We've strengthened our squad. Our director of rugby's made some astute signings and the challenge is to improve."

One of those astute signings Borthwick mentions is South African legend John Smit.

The Springboks' World Cup winning captain will join the Vicarage Road outfit after the end of the forthcoming global gathering in New Zealand and Borthwick is convinced he will have a major impact at the Club.

"He brings a wealth of experience as one of the world's best players. He's also one of the world's best captains," added Borthwick.

"To bring all of that experience to strengthen such a key, specialist position and having a player of his ability and a person of his quality as part of the group is a great acquisition for us."