NEAL Hatley says Bath Rugby must not let their efforts of last season go to waste ahead of tonight’s crunch European Champions Cup clash away at Montpellier.

Bath’s fifth-placed finish in the Aviva Premiership in 2013-14 saw them return to the continent’s top-tier tournament after a two-season absence.

They have endured a nightmare start to the competition, however, and defeats at Glasgow Warriors and at home to Toulouse in the opening two matches sees them sit bottom of Pool 4.

Montpellier have also failed to register a victory so far in the competition, meaning the clash at Stade Yves du Manoir is crucial to keeping the hopes of qualification for the knockout stage alive for both sides.

First-team coach Hatley said: “If we have got any future ambitions in the tournament it is a must-win game.

“Everybody worked unbelievably hard for 42 weeks last year to get into this competition because we felt it was where we needed to be. We need to put in a performance worthy of that.

“Glasgow was the most disappointing game of the season because we didn’t perform anywhere near the level we are capable of.

“But we came back from that and to put in the sort of performance we did against Toulouse and come within one kick of winning it against a side of that quality was an unbelievable response considering the injuries that affected the side we were able to select.

“We know what we have to do and it’s tough to go to France and come away with a win but for us the most important thing is just trying to improve each week.”

If Bath are able to better their last performance then they should be well on their way to victory having romped to a 25-6 Premiership success at home to Harlequins last time out.

Hatley said that win was built on persistence and was the icing on the cake to an impressive run of results in the latest batch of league fixtures, which sees them up to second in the table.

“Patience was very important. It only takes 30 seconds to score a try and we just had to keep plugging away to find a way through,” said Hatley.

“We thought we’d had a really good first half but after 45 or 50 minutes it was still only 13-6 and they’d done unbelievably well to keep themselves in it.

“To get 13 of a possible 15 points from November is very pleasing and I think the most satisfying thing is the outcome in the last game.

“To get five points against a side who have been one of the best four in the country over the last few years and stop them having any real chances was an unbelievable effort from our guys.”

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