Bristol vs Exeter

[jimKRFC]

Bristol team to face Exeter Chiefs at Ashton Gate on Friday night (7.45pm KO, live on TNT Sports):

15. Max Malins (24 apps), 14. Noah Heward (12 apps), 13. Virimi Vakatawa (10 apps), 12. Benhard Janse van Rensburg (13 apps), 11. Rich Lane (28 apps), 10. Callum Sheedy (163 apps), 9. Harry Randall (114 apps); 1. Max Lahiff (75 apps), 2. Gabriel Oghre (7 apps), 3. Kyle Sinckler (50 apps), 4. James Dun (25 apps), 5. Joe Batley (52 apps), 6. Steven Luatua (118 apps) (c), 7. Dan Thomas (139 apps), 8. Magnus Bradbury (33 apps).

Subs: 16. Will Capon (81 apps), 17. Jake Woolmore (142 apps), 18. George Kloska (40 apps) 19. Josh Caulfield (14 apps), 20. Joe Owen (6 apps), 21. Kieran Marmion (12 apps), 22. James Williams (30 apps), 23. Kalaveti Ravouvou (4 apps)

Exeter:
15 Ben Hammersley, 14 Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, 13 Henry Slade, 12 Ollie Devoto, 11 Olly Woodburn, 10 Harvey Skinner, 9 Stu Townsend, 1 Nika Abuladze, 2 Dan Frost, 3 Josh Iosefa-Scott, 4 Rusi Tuima, 5 Dafydd Jenkins (c), 6 Ethan Roots, 7 Ross Vintcent, 8 Greg Fisilau

Replacements:
16 Max Norey, 17 Alec Hepburn, 18 Marcus Street, 19 Lewis Pearson, 20 Jacques Vermeulen, 21 Tom Cairns, 22 Joe Hawkins, 23 Zack Wimbush

Referee: Christophe Ridley
Assistant Referees: George Selwood and Alex Thomas
TMO: Dean Richards

[jimKRFC]

Thacker missing is a blow for Bristol, but Exeter don't seem to be traveling well at the moment. A big crowd (23kish) and should be a decent game!

[FKAS]

That's a rotated Chiefs side. No Sio, Yeandle and Painter in the side. Vermulen and Cairns on the bench.

Chiefs are wobbly away from home and resting their best scrummaging front row probably won't help.

[jimKRFC]

Just heard my two boys were in before tonight's game!

[FKAS]

Howard with a hell of a finish.

[jimKRFC]

Think Lam has to heading to the door now... 3 seasons of bumping along the bottom and the same issues never getting better (re-starts, game management and a game plan that mostly doesn't work). He's had the time and money to make it work but apparently can't.

[FKAS]

That Bristol team on paper should be fireworks. Really aren't showing all they have. Lam is on a big whack of a salary as well. He does have a contract until 2028 though, could still be a big pay off for Bristol.

[jimKRFC]

That Bristol team on paper should be fireworks. Really aren't showing all they have. Lam is on a big whack of a salary as well. He does have a contract until 2028 though, could still be a big pay off for Bristol.

Unless he resigns I can't see Bris paying him off so we're stuck as we are.

ldeally he'd be gone tomorrow so the care-taker/new DoR can manage the recruitment for next season.

[Mikey Brown]

Think Lam has to heading to the door now... 3 seasons of bumping along the bottom and the same issues never getting better (re-starts, game management and a game plan that mostly doesn't work). He's had the time and money to make it work but apparently can't.

Seeing what’s just happened with Bath might well add a bit of perspective there too.

[FKAS]

That Bristol team on paper should be fireworks. Really aren't showing all they have. Lam is on a big whack of a salary as well. He does have a contract until 2028 though, could still be a big pay off for Bristol.

Unless he resigns I can't see Bris paying him off so we're stuck as we are.

ldeally he'd be gone tomorrow so the care-taker/new DoR can manage the recruitment for next season.

I suppose the way round it is to manage him up. Make him head of rugby operations or something and bring in a head coach to oversee the first team. Either knocks Pat's nose out of line and he walks it he's in it for the cash and takes a much more administrative role so the team have a chance to change.

[fivepointer]

For all of Bristol's failings - there were a few - it should be noted that this was a very controlled and professional performance by Exeter.
They've exceeded expectations this season and several unsung players are producing consistently.

[Mellsblue]

That Bristol team on paper should be fireworks. Really aren't showing all they have. Lam is on a big whack of a salary as well. He does have a contract until 2028 though, could still be a big pay off for Bristol.

Unless he resigns I can't see Bris paying him off so we're stuck as we are.

ldeally he'd be gone tomorrow so the care-taker/new DoR can manage the recruitment for next season.

I suppose the way round it is to manage him up. Make him head of rugby operations or something… Either knocks Pat's nose out of line and he walks it he's in it for the cash and takes a much more administrative role so the team have a chance to change.

Not really how it works. You can’t force someone in to a ‘promotion’ if they don’t want to. Nose out of joint = constructive dismissal.

[FKAS]

Unless he resigns I can't see Bris paying him off so we're stuck as we are.

ldeally he'd be gone tomorrow so the care-taker/new DoR can manage the recruitment for next season.

I suppose the way round it is to manage him up. Make him head of rugby operations or something… Either knocks Pat's nose out of line and he walks it he's in it for the cash and takes a much more administrative role so the team have a chance to change.

Not really how it works. You can’t force someone in to a ‘promotion’ if they don’t want to. Nose out of joint = constructive dismissal.

You can have a corporate re-organisation where job titles are redefined. You have to be careful but it's not an impossibility.

[Mellsblue]

I suppose the way round it is to manage him up. Make him head of rugby operations or something… Either knocks Pat's nose out of line and he walks it he's in it for the cash and takes a much more administrative role so the team have a chance to change.

Not really how it works. You can’t force someone in to a ‘promotion’ if they don’t want to. Nose out of joint = constructive dismissal.

You can have a corporate re-organisation where job titles are redefined. You have to be careful but it's not an impossibility.

They’d better redefine quite a few other roles at the same time if they want to get away with it…
How much to payout his contract because what you’re suggesting causes a lot of upheaval, takes a lot of time and costs a lot of money.

[FKAS]

Rumours Lam is the highest pair DOR in the Prem on £800k and has a contract until 2028.

[Banquo]

Rumours Lam is the highest pair DOR in the Prem on £800k and has a contract until 2028.

or 5 champ clubs RFU funding 24/25