WHAT a fantastic coup and big statement Bath have made with the signing of rugby league’s Sam Burgess.

Bath owner Bruce Craig and the club’s coaching team deserve a huge pat on the back over the signing.

Although Burgess is arriving from a different sport, it’s the sort of signing that gives everybody in the squad a massive boost.

With this signing, Bath really capture the imagination, not least because Burgess is a superstar of the 13-a-side game.

I’m reminded of my playing days with Gloucester when they signed the All Blacks lock forward Ian Jones.

When someone of that stature arrives it gives the whole club a lift.

To top things off, Bath are going really well as a team at the moment.

To go to Exeter and show a lot of character to close out a victory shows a lot of class.

All these events go to show that we can finally say that, after a few false starts over the years, Bath are a club back on the right path.

It’s back to the Six Nations this weekend and England’s clash with Ireland at Twickenham tomorrow is not going to be for the faint-hearted.

I said last week that my head favoured Ireland and my position has not changed.

Before Dan Cole’s loss to injury, you felt England might have had a slight edge in the scrum. David Wilson is a good operator for Bath but he hasn’t played in a while and it’s a big ask so things may have evened out a bit.

England are going to need a lot of possession and, from that, a lot of quick ball, but Ireland are going to have seen them coming and are not the sort of side likely to give them that.

That said, I’m pleased to see George Ford included by England.

When he arrived at Bath I felt it was a masterstroke and, given playing time, it would prove a shrewd signing.

Hopefully we’ll get the chance to see what he can do.