Bath head coach Steve Meehan says they still have it all to play for in this year's Heineken Cup despite losing 22-18 to Ulster.
Head coach hopes to reverse Saturday's result at The Rec
Bath head coach Steve Meehan says they still have it all to play for in this year's Heineken Cup despite losing 22-18 to Ulster on Saturday.
The 1998 champions lost to the Irish region, who succeeded them as winners of the competition, at Ravenhill having been ahead for three quarters of the match.
Bath's points came courtesy of an interception try from full-back Jack Cuthbert before an opportunist effort by England captain Lewis Moody appeared to put them on course for victory.
However, they then in turn gifted an interception try for Ulster, scored by number eight Pedrie Wannenburg, with five penalties and a conversion from fly-half Ian Humphreys ensuring it was Ulster who made the biggest stride towards qualification.
Meehan said: "We are disappointed, obviously, but if we don't go in with the intensity that we should, then we are going to give sides like Ulster opportunities.
"We have three matches to play. We need to work on two or three key areas this week and then host Ulster and turn around the result.
"The course of the next week will shape it (the competition). If you can win four out of the six games, you are in with a shout.
"There were a couple of individual performances which were good and we defended very well. When we look after the ball, there are opportunities that come along."
Attitude
Ulster head coach Brian McLaughlin will take his side to The Rec confident of increasing the pressure on leaders Biarritz, who suffered a surprise defeat to Aironi.
McLaughlin said: "There were a lot of mistakes in the first half but you can't fault the effort. The attitude the guys had on the field today was brilliant.
"You only have to look at the tackle of Andrew Trimble in the last play of the game to show what this competition means to us.
"Everyone fought tooth and nail for the pride of Ulster but we have to do the exact same thing again next week. We said last week that we needed a big game here - and we need another next week (at Bath). It's just the way the Heineken Cup is.
"We will check through how this game went during the week and put the wheels in motion for the return. It's just another game - but a huge game."
