Ahead of Bath’s key clash with arch rivals Bristol, full-back Nick Abendanon talks to www.rucked.com
What you been up to?
Just training really.
How you finding life in the Bath first XV?
I’m loving it, absolutely loving it, they’re a great bunch of guys here. It really helps when you’ve got a good group because it makes you want to play well for them. Last season went pretty well overall for me, and this seasons going well too.
Last year went more than ‘pretty well’ for you – man of the match in a crushing defeat of Leicester and an England call-up…
At the beginning of last season I never expected for it to turn out as it did, but it’s in the past now and I need to take my game forward. Your second season is never as potent as your first because teams find out about you and I’m definitely finding it lot harder. Although I’ve had a few games here and there where I’ve made some good line breaks, so I’m pretty pleased with the season so far.
It must be good to be a pro rugby player?
I love being a professional rugby player. You’ve got to sacrifice things as anyone does – I’m 21 and while all my student mates are going on the piss, I can’t. But I’m definitely willing to do that in order to play a sport I love.
How do you feel about missing out on the World Cup?
It was pretty close to call, Ashton was only going to take four back-three players and even without David Strettle involved it was going to be tough to get in. I was disappointed, but at the same time, the players who went were class.
You did get there in the end though?
Yeah, for the final week. I felt sure they could get by without calling someone up, so it was surprising they asked me. But as I knew I wasn’t going to be involved, I just enjoyed it and went with the flow.
So why did they call you up then?
They weren’t sure how Jason Robinson was feeling. It was awesome to be there though, the atmosphere was amazing and it was good just to be involved – I felt a bit like a fan but with privileged access to the players!
Presumably more England caps are on your list of aims?
Hopefully I can get a few more caps, my sight’s set on making the training squad for the Six Nations. Playing in one of those games is my ultimate goal.
Bristol this weekend… 
Even for someone who’s only been involved with the senior club for a couple of years, you can feel that Bath v Bristol is the biggest game of season. You can sense from the senior guys how much they want to beat Bristol, it’s a real grudge game for us. They beat us three times last season and we only beat them once, so we really want to make amends for that and we’ll go at it all guns blazing.
Second in the league, can you maintain your good start?
Yeah I’m sure we can, we’ve got a fantastic squad and now the England boys are coming back, I’m sure everyone’s pretty confident that if we keep performing as we are, we can stay where we are.
What’s changed to turn you into challengers?
I think it’s more to do with the boys knowing what their roles are on field. Last year we had a new coach and everyone wasn’t clear what they were doing, but Stephen Meehan’s done a great job and we’re now all on the same wavelength.