Bristol v Harlequins Sat 2pm

[fivepointer]

Bristol Bears: 15. Luke Morahan; 14. Henry Purdy, 13. Semi Radradra, 12. Piers O’Conor, 11. Siva Naulago; 10. Callum Sheedy, 9. Andy Uren; 1. Jake Woolmore, 2. Bryan Byrne, 3. John Afoa, 4. Dave Attwood, 5. Chris Vui, 6. Steven Luatua (c), 7. Dan Thomas, 8. Ben Earl.

Replacements: 16. Will Capon, 17. Max Lahiff, 18. Kyle Sinckler, 19. Joe Joyce, 20. Fitz Harding, 21. Tom Kessell, 22. Sam Bedlow, 23. Alapati Leiua.

1. Joe Marler (216)
2. Scott Baldwin (33)
3. Wilco Louw (19)
4. Matt Symons (54)
5. Dino Lamb (38)
6. James Chisholm (107)
7. Will Evans (34)
8. Alex Dombrandt (67) - Captain
9. Danny Care (297)
10. Marcus Smith (101)
11. Cadan Murley (42)
12. Andre Esterhuizen (15)
13. Joe Marchant (103)
14. Tyrone Green (9)
15. Mike Brown (347)

Replacements:
16. Joe Gray (164)
17. Jordan Els (13)
18. Simon Kerrod (40)
19. Glen Young (34)
20. Tom Lawday (27)
21. Martin Landajo (29)
22. Brett Herron (18)
23. Luke Northmore (16)

Really looking forward to this one. Bris have a few returning, Quins in terrific form. Game of the round for me.

[Danno]

Yeah this one should deliver, roll on Saturday

[jimKRFC]

You've both jinxed this now - it'll pour with rain, both sides will kick repeatedly and the ref won't stop blowing now....

Should be good could go either way! Glad we're starting to get some of the missing players back into the squad now.

[Banquo]

Looking forward to seeing POC with Radrada, v Esterhuizen and Marchant

[Peej]

Radradra back ahead of schedule isn't he? Surprised Marchant has come straight back in, given Northmore's performance last week.

Dombrandt as captain is an interesting move too

[Danno]

Radradra back ahead of schedule isn't he? Surprised Marchant has come straight back in, given Northmore's performance last week.

Dombrandt as captain is an interesting move too

Dombrandt has captained a few times now and hasn't looked out of place. Agree somewhat on Marchant/Northmore, but it's not a bad problem to have

[Stom]

Radradra back ahead of schedule isn't he? Surprised Marchant has come straight back in, given Northmore's performance last week.

Dombrandt as captain is an interesting move too

Northmore is a very good player, but Marchant is excellent. He's faster, more athletic, more powerful, a better step, has a better eye and has some kind of telepathy with Marcus Smith.

We're really starting to look good now, and I like the look of this wing partnership, though they're the only 2 left standing, no? Earle is out again until when? Lynagh is injured and probably not a wing, Morris is injured, and someone has finally realised Ross Chisholm is only still at Quins because he's got a better, younger brother. He's our Guy Mercer, but not as good.

[twitchy]

Good start to the game.

[Banquo]

great stuff. i would pick o'connor based on just one pass i saw !

[twitchy]

Hilarious try from care. Cheeky.

[Oakboy]

great stuff. i would pick o'connor based on just one pass i saw !

I know his try was put on a plate for him but his acceleration and raw pace showed just what a running threat he is. He needs a run in the England 12 shirt.

[Banquo]

Earls had a triple mare there

[Oakboy]

What a great match. Marler is some scrummager - and for 80 minutes!

[Spiffy]

Earls had a triple mare there

I think he is quite overrated. Still waiting to see what all the hype is about.
Cracker of a game. Care/Smith would not look out of place at halfback for England.
Agree with you re. OConor. He has been consistently good all season. Pacy, strong and smart.

[fivepointer]

Quins had the game in their pocket only to lose control in the final minutes. Good effort by Bris to come back at the end but they were 2nd best for a lot of the game.
Earl had a game to forget. Evans was the outstanding back rower. The Quins half backs were excellent, Marler too and O'Conor was very good.

[Scrumhead]

Gutted to lose that, but at the same time, the fact we should have won it speaks volumes for how far we’ve come in the past couple of months.

[Danno]

I don't even mind the loss so much, watching that after the 6n turgidity was seriously refreshing

[Puja]

I have been consistently of the opinion that O'Conor is a player in good form in a good team, rather than of actual international quality, but that performance was pretty convincing.

Puja

[Banquo]

I have been consistently of the opinion that O'Conor is a player in good form in a good team, rather than of actual international quality, but that performance was pretty convincing.

Puja

Funnily enough, players like O'Connor do look better in quality teams, because he seems pretty content to do the basics of his job well. He has good hands, nice turn of pace, defends well, and as an ex 15, probably kicks well (not that I care too much about that in the centres). He certainly looks a better shout than those who have been tried at 12 for us. He is also a good part of why they are a good team....see Joe Simmonds.

[Doorzetbornandbred]

I have been consistently of the opinion that O'Conor is a player in good form in a good team, rather than of actual international quality, but that performance was pretty convincing.

Puja

Funnily enough, players like O'Connor do look better in quality teams, because he seems pretty content to do the basics of his job well. He has good hands, nice turn of pace, defends well, and as an ex 15, probably kicks well (not that I care too much about that in the centres). He certainly looks a better shout than those who have been tried at 12 for us. He is also a good part of why they are a good team....see Joe Simmonds.

A balance of Rock Stars and Roadies Banquo. O'Connor does look very good.

[fivepointer]

I have been consistently of the opinion that O'Conor is a player in good form in a good team, rather than of actual international quality, but that performance was pretty convincing.

Puja

Funnily enough, players like O'Connor do look better in quality teams, because he seems pretty content to do the basics of his job well. He has good hands, nice turn of pace, defends well, and as an ex 15, probably kicks well (not that I care too much about that in the centres). He certainly looks a better shout than those who have been tried at 12 for us. He is also a good part of why they are a good team....see Joe Simmonds.

The temptation would be to try and over play given the stardust in the Bristol side, but O'Conor manages to make important interventions without showing off. I really like that about his play.
He should be included in the England squad this summer.

[Banquo]

Gutted to lose that, but at the same time, the fact we should have won it speaks volumes for how far we’ve come in the past couple of months.

they have been a revelation; Gustard...oops.

Who is the head coach? I see Millard is a sort of General Manager.

[Digby]

New strategy in place, don't release the ball

[Stom]

Gutted to lose that, but at the same time, the fact we should have won it speaks volumes for how far we’ve come in the past couple of months.

they have been a revelation; Gustard...oops.

Who is the head coach? I see Millard is a sort of General Manager.

Millard's taken over as "de facto" HC, though apparently the other 4 coaches have taken on more responsibility.



Sounds like he's more like ensuring the 4 coaches are on the same page when it comes to overall strat.

Seems to be working.

[jimKRFC]

Another close one! Thought we'd lost that we 10 to go, thought Quins had played really well, kicked effectively and used Bristols errors and penalty count to control the game. Think Quins were lucky not to get yellows for Marler, his tip on Semi (beyond horizontal and dropped him), and Marchent for tackling Morahan in the air. But otherwise thought the ref did ok.

Earl had a proper stinker, but Care tapping him on the head after his score annoyed me though, and Semi showed he was bit rusty. Fingers crossed Luatua and Siva's injury with drawths were precautionary prior to the Euro games.

Still a wins a wins and when we're only playing for 20 minutes a game it'll do!