Firstly, let us celebrate a contest for the ages, showcasing English club rugby in rude health, with scenes of intense drama at the iconic Recreation Ground, often voted the most picturesque rugby venue in the world. As someone who played there and lived in the city for a decade, I can certainly attest to that. The new stadium cannot come soon enough, but the playing conditions are now world-class, and the dreaming spires lining the view can inspire greatness on the field.

We may have seen the strengths and weaknesses of English rugby simultaneously encapsulated in a truly pulsating Champions Cup quarter-final. Players and coaches were in total harmony on how to approach the game: intricate but impactful gain-line tactics, but above all, pace and inch-perfect passing that did not check the running stride. Did anyone spot the lack of spin passes? I loved it. When I do (occasional) coaching with school kids, I ban the spin pass because it does not create space and it fosters inaccuracy. Keep the ball in the air and it confounds defences—ask Jerry Guscott. That said, as a defending centre, I would have been embarrassed by the ease with which the midfields were unlocked. Buy time, boys, and stay in the game through a fast drift… and if you don’t believe me, look at the videos.

Phil Dowson and Sam Vesty, the two leading Saints coaches, are rightly lauded because they clearly marshal and integrate quality resources. They speak with clarity and are impressive individuals in their messaging to the media. Another big challenge for rugby coaching management is allocating roles and responsibilities—when there is confusion, it shows. Dowson, as a leader, exudes class and common sense, and has unleashed the potential of the Saints squad through his coaching team. With limited resources, that is all you can ask.

However impressive it all was from the visitors—and it seriously took the breath away—as the Saints narrowly failed to hit the 40-point mark away from home against the league champions, through a contentious offside call, one felt that Bath were still in the contest. So it proved. Self-belief and togetherness are Van Graan’s greatest creations with these modern-day rugby gladiators.

The English contingent at the Saints must have experienced a déjà vu at the end—those key last few minutes. A clanger of a knock-on, Smith’s pass to no one, a Pollock yellow card, and needless territory conceded all resulted in the inevitable, when they had enough of a lead to see out the game. No one can compete with Bath’s resources, and their international bench finished it off. You can say you did well for 75 minutes, but in the end, who can handle the pressure—England in Paris…? The bottom line, though, is that to see these two champion sides operate with such class and ambition had heads shaking at what the national team served up in the Six Nations.

Benetton, the Italian national proxy, were similarly unable to see out their Challenge Cup tie against the Exeter Chiefs, the most improved side in Europe. Three critical penalties in the last few minutes undid much of their great work, including another stunning contribution by Menoncello in the centre. The Chiefs showed their new owners that they will be reckoned with as a force in the Premiership, alongside Bath and Northampton, and Rob Baxter’s achievement in knitting together his squad so quickly cannot be understated. To say Henry Slade kept his nerve at the end is to ask if the Pope is Catholic—he is pure class.

Two other national proxies, Leinster and Glasgow, failed to impress. For the former, the result was a foregone conclusion, despite the bravery of Sale’s effort. They will be more motivated for the Toulon semi-final, who ensured that the Scottish season remained something of a curate’s egg. They rely on so few players consistently outperforming, and the recurring theme of how to close out a contest under pressure came back to bite them when it mattered most.

In a tournament where you simply have to be inundated with internationals to have a chance, the heavyweight confrontation between Bordeaux and Toulouse bookended the Friday classic in England. Very different, though, with both sets of forwards rampaging at pace through a series of offloads, and their electric backs adding class—another level to anything else in the competition. Willis is the best No. 8 in the world; he was unplayable at times, and one corner-flag tackle was otherworldly. But I thought Lucu outperformed Dupont, as Jalibert did Ntamack—perhaps that was the difference. You had to earn the right to run through space, and the defence on both sides was outstanding. (NB: watch out for young Toulouse and France centre Kalvin Gourgues—what a prospect.)

Bath will not fear Bordeaux in the semi-final, but they know what is coming. My head tells me this is a year too early for the men in blue, black, and white, but the traditional excitement of quarter-finals will be replaced by pressure here. Jalibert v Russell—the two wily halfback wizards—could define the outcome. Perhaps the hard-headed planning of Van Graan, and the likes of Thomas du Toit, Underhill, and Ted Hill from the bench, will also be pivotal if they are still in the game after 70 minutes.

Those big little moments will matter in May, in the sunshine of Bordeaux, when the freewheeling, “loose as a goose” Premiership has paused for breath, and when the “international game in club jerseys” returns to quicken the pulse. I cannot wait—and of course, as a “Bath man”, I dare to dream of a Bilbao final.