Bath will be the aggressors – Reid

Blue, Black & Whites abandon ‘containing’ tactics in favour of attacking approach

MILES Reid believes Bath Rugby will present a vastly different challenge than they previously have to West rivals Bristol Bears when the two sides collide at Ashton Gate this evening.

Both clubs have lost their two Gallagher Premiership matches so far this season – the Bears without so much as a bonus point as consolation – but Bristol have certainly had the upper hand in recent derbies.

Pat Lam’s men triumphed 40-20 at the Rec last season, following a record 48-3 home success over the Blue, Black & Whites at Ashton Gate.

Back rower Reid, right, however, insists that Bath will be a different animal this time around.

He told the official Bath website: “Our whole focus has been on our style and how we want to play.

“We tried to contain a lot last season and soak up what teams threw at us, but this year we’re going to be the aggressor, find teams out and make sure they don’t attack for long periods.

“You have to be ruthless with it. If you can bang teams physically and control them physically, you’re more than likely going to have the upper hand on them in defence.

“The mindset has to be about getting the ball back to attack again – we always want to be attacking them and that fits with our style.

“We want to defend for as short a time as possible, whether that’s blasting through breakdowns and getting counter rucks, or we’re stealing or ripping the ball, that’s always the most dangerous ball to attack from. We don’t want to defend for long and that’s going to show.”

Reid will begin the game on the