What we have to do is play for 80 minutes the way we played for the first 30 at Twickenham.” Roll on the Five Nations.. The Family is functioning again That is ominous news for the rest of the rugby fraternity. He is no Godfather, but when the Bath coach Andy Robinson announces: “We are still a family,” you can be assured that they have succeeded in putting all their trials and tribulations of the last year or so well behind them. The fly-on-wall has been swatted away, the webs of intrigue and innuendo have been brushed off and the setbacks on the field are now mere memories. They are still off the pace in the Allied Dunbar Premiership, but they cannot be written off, and they have done what no other English side managed, they have reached the semi-finals of the Heineken European Cup.
No wonder Robinson was relaxed as he reflected on the goings-on of a turbulent year at the helm “The documentary The Rugby Club did not get to us And it showed that at least we learn from our mistakes It wasn’t nice. And what happened to John Hall was unpleasant, but that is part of professionalism In some respects there is no room for sentiment. But we are still a family at Bath, just as we were under Jack Rowell.

But you always get losses in families.”Losses on the field have been something of a concern but Robinson is in the middle of something he sees as vital, not just for Bath but for England – player development No one can accuse of him of not producing the goods either. The 20-year-old Matt Perry played a key part in all four of England’s demanding Tests against Southern Hemisphere opposition. The hooker Andy Long, another 20-year-old, started the match against Australia, although he was dropped. But the evidence of up-and-coming talent is there.Robinson is a committed patriot, who sees himself and other club coaches as working for a common cause. He is concerned about the dearth of promising youngsters in certain positions but he sees hope ahead. “I am a passionate Englishman,” says the flanker who won eight caps for his country.

“There are odd positions where we are a bit thin on the ground internationally. But we are still trying to get the right development programme in place. We have only been professional for two years and we need to start it at 16 in the schools Clive Woodward has to remember that it is a long process. But my aim is to develop the players for the benefit of Bath, then the success that we enjoy can benefit England as well.”But as he points out, it cuts two ways.