European Champions Cup: Ben Spencer says Finn Russell gives Bath more confidence
Written by I Dig Sports
Scotland fly-half Finn Russell has given players "more confidence", says Bath scrum-half Ben Spencer.
The fly-half joined the Premiership side from Racing 92 after Scotland's exit from the Rugby World Cup.
Russell, 31, who is set to face Ulster on Saturday in Bath's return to the European Champions Cup, has helped his side rise to second in the Premiership.
"His mannerisms and the way he goes about things filters through the club," Spencer told BBC Rugby Union Weekly.
"He is a very relaxed guy and it doesn't come from a place where he doesn't care.
"It is just his personality and it filters amongst the group and gives everyone more confidence. He has been brilliant."
Bath, who finished eighth in last season's Premiership, have won five of their opening eight league games, which include a victory at defending champions Saracens in Russell's first start and a 41-24 win over Exeter last weekend.
"There have been moments in games this year when we have conceded or gone behind. The calmness within the group is clear for everyone to see," added Spencer.
"There is one highlight when we went to Sarries [Saracens] and conceded in the first minute.
"We thought it was going to be a long day, but then five minutes later we go down the other end of the pitch and Finn pulls a rabbit out of the hat with a worldie offload and we score in the corner."
We have 'under-achieved' in the Champions Cup
Bath, who won the European Cup in 1998, have not appeared in the knockout stages since 2015.
Last season, the former winners did not even get out of their pool in Europe's second tier competition, the Challenge Cup.
"This is a tournament we have definitely under-achieved in over the past few years," said Spencer, who won the European Cup three times with Saracens.
"It's a competition we want to push hard in this year and hopefully make it out of the group."
Alongside star signing Russell, Bath's other standout signing, South Africa prop Thomas du Toit, has scored four tries in as many starts.
But it is new South African director of rugby Johann van Graan who Spencer believes will help make the difference in Europe.
"This is his competition having been at Munster and taking them to late knockout stages," Spencer added.
"This is the competition that he loves and wants to go far in."
Bath will also face Cardiff Rugby, Russell's former side Racing 92 and Toulouse in Pool Two.
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