James opted against going for a late drop-goal in atrocious conditions

Bath coach Brad Davis has defended fly-half Butch James after BBC Sport columnist Jeremy Guscott criticised the South African playmaker.

Guscott said James's Heineken Cup display against Toulouse as "brilliant one minute, total twaddle the next".

"Those are strong words and everyone is entitled to their opinion," Davis told the Bath Chronicle.

"But Butch is a fantastic presence on the field and I would rather have him in our side than on anyone else's."

Former Bath and England centre Guscott, who has tipped his old club to win the Heineken Cup, was highly critical of their performance in the 3-3 draw against Toulouse in his BBC Sport column.

And James was the focus of his ire. Guscott said: "They must have been camped inside Toulouse's 22 for about 20 phases of play - then enter Butch James.

606: DEBATE James is a fantastic playmaker, but his kicking lets him down badly PcPete999

Davis added: "Unfortunately for Butch, when he is playing well, it's so far above anyone else that everyone expects that he is going to maintain that all the time."

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