50 up for Muir as he sets sights on a podium finish

■ By JON NEWCOMBE

PREVIEW…

Today. Kick-off 3pm, The Recreation Ground

SHRUGGING off defenders has proved far easier than his nickname for Will Muir, the man they call “Horse” for his galloping runs to the line.

Muir has scored 20 Premiership career tries at a strike rate of one every other game, including three this season, while on the other flank, Joe Cokanasiga has matched him try for try after belatedly hitting his stride.

But those two aren't the only thoroughbred wingers on show at The Rec today and Muir is looking forward to the prospect of coming up against Gloucester's celebrated back three, which includes the likes of Louis Rees-Zammit, Jonny May and Ollie Thorley.

“Looking at their back three, they have got really good players and they move it from side to side really well,” said the 28-year-old former England 7s international.

“Whoever is out there, it'll be a good match up.

“So, personally, it will be a matter of containing them in their attack and then backing what we can do with the players we have got and getting on the right result.”

Bath got the right result when the sides last met at Kingsholm in November, Muir getting on the scoresheet in a stunning 45-27 win. It was redemption for Muir and the rest of the Bath team who had lost 64-0 there 18 months earlier.

“Winning the last game (against Gloucester), it gives you a taste of what we want so it's sort of our motivation to go and get another win,” he said.

“I remember the game, a good few years ago, when we were on the receiving end of a big loss against Gloucester so it's good we managed to get on the other side of the result.”

Muir, who today makes his 50th appearance for Bath, missed the majority of last season with a serious knee injury but hit the ground running in his comeback game, the Premiership Cup defeat against the new defunct Jersey Reds, scoring one and getting an assist for another on the two occasions he ran the ball back.

Knowing that he was in the right place, physically and mentally, was a massive boost for the Yorkshireman, who hasn't looked back since.

“Because it was such a long rehab you are sort of thinking about that first game for quite a while. But as soon as I was in it and among the play, it wasn't at the back of my mind at all. It felt like, I am back, I have played that game so move on to the next one. Once you are dropped in, you soon acclimatise.

“Watching on the sidelines for a full year and missing all those games, I'm hungry to play as much as I can and do my best to make up for last year.

“I just feel like I want to get my hands on the ball as much as possible and have a crack. As a winger you never really know how many opportunities you are going to get in a game so it is about taking each one as it comes.”

Sounding more northern than ever after returning home for a few days break over Christmas, Muir didn't hesitate when asked if Bath can end a 28- year long wait and win the league title this year.

“We can win it, I think more people are realising that. It's tight, there's six teams right up there, and every point counts,” he said. “We are all pulling in the same direction so that we can be at the top at the end of the season.”