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Page last updated at 11:57 GMT, Thursday, 14 January 2010

Bath's Matt Carraro still focussed on European success

Matt Carraro
Carraro has scored four tries in 15 appearances for Bath this season

Centre Matt Carraro says Bath's Heineken Cup tie at Stade Francais on Saturday is anything but a dead rubber.

Bath have won just one of their four group games and have no chance of progressing but the Australian has set his sights on another prize.

"We can get into second place in our group and qualify for the quarter-finals of the European Challenge Cup," Carraro told BBC Radio Bristol.

"That's the target now and hopefully we can still win some silverware."

Bath have had a disappointing first half of the season but have recorded back-to-back wins against Gloucester and Leeds in their last two games.

"We've just got to keep this role going and keep on track in the Premiership," said Carraro

"Hopefully get three wins in a row and then get another win at home to Ulster."

The 25-year-old joined Bath in the summer on a two-year deal from Australian side ACT Brumbies and has formed a strong centre partnership with England's newest recruit Shontayne Hape.

"It was always going to take a while especially as pre-season is so short here, back home we get three months," he said.

"We've pretty much worked things out. I've worked out what Shontayne does well and it's about turning up in the right positions outside him."

And Carraro is optimistic about an upturn in fortunes for the second half of the season.

"We lost by less than two points in four of five games. It's not a write-off at all. Another 10 points and we're in the play-offs so it's really really close," he said.

"Fortunately it's only half-way through the season so we've got lots of time to get it back on track."



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see also
Leeds 15-20 Bath
01 Jan 10 |  Rugby Union
Bath 24-8 Gloucester
27 Dec 09 |  English


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