ROSS Batty says that he’s relishing the special test put forward by the Amlin Challenge Cup as his side kick off their European adventures tomorrow night.

Bath are in the South of France to take on Bordeaux-Bègles and will be hoping to replicate their flawless form in last season’s pool stage, with the Rec outfit beating Agan, Bucharest Wolves and Calvisano both home and away before their quarter-final exit at the hands of finalists Stade Français.

Hooker Batty expects Bordeaux to throw up another tough physical challenge for Bath but says that he and his team-mates are ready to stand up and be counted on the European stage.

“As a rugby player, you want to have the opportunity to play in Europe and test yourself against the big teams that you don’t get the chance to play week in, week out,” said Batty.

“Every team that you face have a different challenge that they’re going to bring and Bordeaux will bring a typically French style of play.

“They’ve got a big, physical bunch of lads and they’ll play an attacking, driving game but we’re ready to meet that head on.

“We had a really good run in the competition last year and we’d absolutely love to do that well again if we can. Everyone wants to be playing on the European stage.”

With the row over the future of Heineken Cup and Amlin Cup rumbling on, Batty says that the players have no choice but to focus on matters on the pitch.

He said: “I think that the powers that be will decide what happens there. For us players, we’ve got to just keep putting our boots on and see what happens.”

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