Barnes is chairman of the Professional Rugby Players Association

Bath prop David Barnes has praised the impact of head coach Steve Meehan who has just signed a two-year contract extension at the club.

"I think he's done very, very well and transformed the way we play," the 33-year-old told BBC Points West.

"Things aren't going great at the moment but that's not a reflection on his coaching ability.

"Bath rugby want to be back up there winning silverware and signing Steve is an important step to do that."

Bath, who face Stade Francais at home in the Heineken Cup on Sunday, will be under pressure after losing their opening game to Ulster last week.

"If we've got serious ambitions to qualify out of this group then we have to win our home games," said Barnes.

"If we don't win we can still qualify but we will make it very hard for ourselves.

"We'll come here on Sunday full of excitement and an opportunity to really show how Bath can play."

The former Harlequins player, who joined Bath in 2000, admits that they have had a slow start to the 2009/10 campaign.

"This season we've not played for 80 minutes in any of our games, we've not put a full performance in," he said.

"The players that have come in, Julian Salvi, Matt Carraro and Ben Skirving have been outstanding in what they've bought to the side.

"I think we're just slightly lacking in confidence in the final third of the field but we're not far away.

"We realise that if we do put our chances away we can really put a performance that will make ourselves proud and but also make the city proud of Bath Rugby."

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