Ronan O'Gara: Park Vannes. We are going to sink or swim in Bath

Right now, where we are idling, I’d bite anyone’s hand off for a big performance on Friday night against Bath at The Rec.

Pictured, left to right, La Rochelle’s UJ Seuteni, Bristol Bears’ Bill Mata, Leinster’s Caelan Doris, ASM Clermont Auvergne’s Rob Simmons, Benetton’s Sebastian Negri and Bath Rugby's Max Ojomoh

IF one could construct the worst set of circumstances to be going to the leaders of the English Premiership in the first round of Europe’s Champions Cup, we stacked them high last weekend.

A defeat at home to Vannes. The freshest newbies in the Top 14, lying dead last but with some key attributes in their locker that La Rochelle seem to have misplaced.