Exe vs Bris, Sandy Park, Sat Jan 8th 16.30

[Doorzetbornandbred]

Enjoyed that!
Pat, and the coaches, had the team spot on physically and mentally. Attwood was huge, he has been the last few games as well, but he and Joyce go through a ton of work. Randell grabbed headlines again but Hughes is key for us at the moment in driving forward.

Most pleasing is that the side had 6 Bristolians in it (last weeks had 7) so the young players are starting to come though.

We're also looking ok for the 6Ns, we'll lose Malins and Sheedy, but let us run Lloyd at 10 with CP at 15.

Final point - very odd looking down the table rather than up!

As talented as Randall is(and he is and I really hope Jones picks him for England) the pack are giving him a nice ride this season. O'Connor is an unsung hero in that side with all the adoration going to Semi and C Piatau. I was lucky enough to meet Pat and have a chat with him for a couple hours last year at Clifton. Interesting character and the way hes got the whole club united is bloody great(I know a lot of clubs do the same but Ive not been lucky enough to speak to any of them). He made some interesting remarks on creating a story with a vision as such and uniting the club as he said it was easy many years ago. Back in NZ the tribalism between for example Auckland and Canterbury just kept people united but since professionalism has come in players move around a lot so your not indoctrinated into some almost cult like group to hate anything in Red n Black for example if your an Aucklander.

[Digby]

Creating a theme for a side is becoming a bit of a theme. Wayne Smith went with that idea, Scott Robertson themes each season at Crusaders, Venter brought a lot of that thinking into Sarries

[jimKRFC]

Sinckler now cited - https://www.bristolbearsrugby.com/news/ ... -sinckler/

Low end is 2 weeks, don't think he's got previous so minimum one week with a guilty plea.

[chris1850]

Sinckler now cited - https://www.bristolbearsrugby.com/news/ ... -sinckler/

Low end is 2 weeks, don't think he's got previous so minimum one week with a guilty plea.

Glad such conduct is still frowned upon enough to merit more than a ticking off

[FKAS]

Sinckler now cited - https://www.bristolbearsrugby.com/news/ ... -sinckler/

Low end is 2 weeks, don't think he's got previous so minimum one week with a guilty plea.

Glad such conduct is still frowned upon enough to merit more than a ticking off

I hope they give him more than a minimum ban. The authorities need to show a zero tolerance approach to this. Dickson bottled the call during the game.

[jimKRFC]

More than 2 weeks for "are fucking serious"? Appreciate I've an interest but seems harsh given a blatent shoulder to the back of the head got 3 & LCD gets nothing for clear no arms tackle that the TMO stated was dangerous.....

[Adam_P]

Hartley copped a decent ban and missed a Lions tour for similar, having received a red card in game.

[twitchy]

I can see both sides. Sink was quite rightly annoyed but you also have to have a zero tolerance policy to protect the ref.

[Puja]

Hartley copped a decent ban and missed a Lions tour for similar, having received a red card in game.

To be fair, Hartley got that for calling the ref a "f*cking cheat," which is significantly worse. But I agree that Sinckler should be missing a good deal more than 2 weeks.

Puja

[16th man]

Hartley copped a decent ban and missed a Lions tour for similar, having received a red card in game.

To be fair, Hartley got that for calling the ref a "f*cking cheat," which is significantly worse. But I agree that Sinckler should be missing a good deal more than 2 weeks.

Puja

To be fair, from memory, Hartley called someone a "f*cking cheat" after getting pinged from a scrum collapse. The ref then decided that, wwithout a great deal of evidence iirc, that it was directed at him and sent Hartley off.

There's plenty of other players, and other offences where that would have drawn more criticism for the ref making himself the centre of attention.

[fivepointer]

Need to send a message that carrying on like that isn't acceptable. We do hear a good deal of bad language from players, some you can forgive but this wasn't in that category as it was clearly directed towards the ref. Sinckler was out of line and a 3/4 week ban would seem to be in order.

[jimKRFC]

he'll get a ban and he deserves it. But I can't see how his offence is worse than the two head/shoulder hits in the Sale/Glaws game...

Worth bearing in mind that by the time of the hearing he's likely to be in the England camp for the 6N (if it happens) so think it'll be low end.

[Adam_P]

Hartley copped a decent ban and missed a Lions tour for similar, having received a red card in game.

To be fair, Hartley got that for calling the ref a "f*cking cheat," which is significantly worse. But I agree that Sinckler should be missing a good deal more than 2 weeks.

Puja

To be fair, from memory, Hartley called someone a "f*cking cheat" after getting pinged from a scrum collapse. The ref then decided that, wwithout a great deal of evidence iirc, that it was directed at him and sent Hartley off.

There's plenty of other players, and other offences where that would have drawn more criticism for the ref making himself the centre of attention.

+1. I'm definitely biased but I think it makes more sense that he was calling one of the Leicester front row a f*cking cheat rather than Wayne Barnes.

[Timbo]

If it’s not low end I’m not sure what would be. To me it’s a bit ludicrous that what he did would constitute a sending off offence. Besides, Dan Biggar must say words to the effect of “ref, you can’t be serious” about 10 times a game. What’s the difference?

[Puja]

To be fair, Hartley got that for calling the ref a "f*cking cheat," which is significantly worse. But I agree that Sinckler should be missing a good deal more than 2 weeks.

Puja

To be fair, from memory, Hartley called someone a "f*cking cheat" after getting pinged from a scrum collapse. The ref then decided that, wwithout a great deal of evidence iirc, that it was directed at him and sent Hartley off.

There's plenty of other players, and other offences where that would have drawn more criticism for the ref making himself the centre of attention.

+1. I'm definitely biased but I think it makes more sense that he was calling one of the Leicester front row a f*cking cheat rather than Wayne Barnes.

I have to say, I still think Hartley's defence that he was saying it to a Leicester player is utter mince. He's been warned for getting stroppy with the referee a minute earlier, then there was the shenanigans with Myler thinking the ref said for the 22 that "You can kick it straight out" instead of "You can't", which turned it from the end of the half to a Leicester scrum in the middle of the 22*. Hartley confronts Barnes about this and they have a very strident conversation before the scrum which leads to the penalty. Hartley picks himself up from the scrum, looks directly at Barnes in what can only be described as a hateful glower, and then says, "Fucking cheat" before walking away.



It's a nice story that he's talking to a Leicester player, but it's patently untrue.

Puja


*I do actually have a lot of sympathy for Myler, Northampton, and Hartley on that point. Barnes's accent was not clear and if he'd said the word "No," then it would've been clear. However, it is Myler's job to know the laws. It's the right decision, but it is unfair.

[Raggs]

He did say the game has to restart before saying he can't kick it out. I do agree, No, would have been clearer though.

[Adam_P]

Ah the good old days of Wayne Barnes putting in a collection of awful refereeing displays in East Mids derbys

[FKAS]

Ah the good old days of Wayne Barnes putting in a collection of awful refereeing displays in East Mids derbys

Sending Hartley off was absolutely spot on though.

I think it was the TMO in the game where Alessana and Ashton both got red carded that was the best. Overlooked Geordan Murphy running in from miles away and throwing more punches than anyone, I'm pretty sure he must have dished out some friendly fire in there as well.

[Puja]

Ah the good old days of Wayne Barnes putting in a collection of awful refereeing displays in East Mids derbys

Sending Hartley off was absolutely spot on though.

I think it was the TMO in the game where Alessana and Ashton both got red carded that was the best. Overlooked Geordan Murphy running in from miles away and throwing more punches than anyone, I'm pretty sure he must have dished out some friendly fire in there as well.

I think the Manu and Ashton one was the classic. Before the days of the TMO being able to rule on anything outside of the tryzone and the on-pitch officials just saw a scuffle, rather than Manu belting Ashton twice in the face to be underpunished and Ashton doing not much but getting punched for his yellow.

Puja

[Adam_P]

Ah the good old days of Wayne Barnes putting in a collection of awful refereeing displays in East Mids derbys

Sending Hartley off was absolutely spot on though.

I think it was the TMO in the game where Alessana and Ashton both got red carded that was the best. Overlooked Geordan Murphy running in from miles away and throwing more punches than anyone, I'm pretty sure he must have dished out some friendly fire in there as well.

I think the Manu and Ashton one was the classic. Before the days of the TMO being able to rule on anything outside of the tryzone and the on-pitch officials just saw a scuffle, rather than Manu belting Ashton twice in the face to be underpunished and Ashton doing not much but getting punched for his yellow.

Puja

It was Wood who saw red with Alessana, after Ashton pulled him into touch by his hair. I remember it being comical as I'm sure there were at least 3 or 4 players on each side throwing punches, but don't remember anything clear from Wood.

The Manu Ashton one still remains the worst decision I've ever seen... And it was 3 punches! Still impressed Ashton stayed on his feet.

I do miss the days of both Saints and Tigers being in the top 4 mix consistently and therefore having real firey derby games. The last few years have been a bit tame

[Mellsblue]

I do miss the days of both Saints and Tigers being in the top 4 mix consistently and therefore having real firey derby games. The last few years have been a bit tame

What this man said.

[Doorzetbornandbred]

Im pretty sure Rugby League banned the sort of tackle LCD was performing a few years ago. Rollerball or some such name they gave it, an awful lot of careers were being finished with wrecked knees.

[jimKRFC]

The result should be out by now but Jonny Fordham (Sun rugby) tweeted last night that the verdict wasn't going to be released last night, and has just tweeted that it's not clear what the hold-up is, or when the decision is likely to be made. Smells like England related fudge....

[Raggs]

The result should be out by now but Jonny Fordham (Sun rugby) tweeted last night that the verdict wasn't going to be released last night, and has just tweeted that it's not clear what the hold-up is, or when the decision is likely to be made. Smells like England related fudge....

2 weeks has been announced.

[jimKRFC]

The result should be out by now but Jonny Fordham (Sun rugby) tweeted last night that the verdict wasn't going to be released last night, and has just tweeted that it's not clear what the hold-up is, or when the decision is likely to be made. Smells like England related fudge....

2 weeks has been announced.

Saw that - came in to change my post!

Free to play on the 9th Feb, so misses the Bath and Sale game.