Bris v Bath, Friday night

[jimKRFC]

Bristol Bears team to face Bath Rugby at Ashton Gate on Friday, August 31st (7.45pm KO):
15. Luke Daniels; 14. Luke Morahan, 13. Will Hurrell, 12. Tusi Pisi, 11. Alapati Leiua; 10. Ian Madigan, 9. Nic Stirzaker; 1. Yann Thomas, 2. Harry Thacker, 3. John Afoa, 4. Ed Holmes, 5. Chris Vui, 6. Steve Luatua (c), 7. George Smith, 8. Jordan Crane.

Replacements: 16. Shaun Malton, 17. Jake Woolmore, 18. Jake Armstrong, 19. Joe Latta, 20. Jack Lam, 21. Andy Uren, 22. Callum Sheedy, 23. Ryan Edwards.

Unavailable: Jack Cosgrove (foot), Sione Faletau (calf), Aly Muldowney (neck), John Hawkins (thumb), Dan Thomas (knee), Sam Jeffries (head), James Dun (knee), Siale Piutau (dead leg), Mat Protheroe (knee), Aaron Chapman (achilles), Charles Piutau (shoulder).

[twitchy]

That's a strong line up from bath. Looking forward to watching this.

[Which Tyler]

15. Homer
14. Rokoduguni
13. Willison
12. Roberts
11. Cokanasiga
10. Priestland
9. Cook

1. Catt
2. Walker
3. Thomas
4. Attwood
5. Garvey (c)
6. Mercer
7. Underhill
8. Faletau

16. Dunn; 17. Vaughan; 18. Perennise; 19. Stooke; 20. Louw
21. Green; 22. Burns; 23. Brew

[Tigersman]

Tight 5 will be key.

1. Catt
2. Walker
3. Thomas
4. Attwood
5. Garvey

IMO will give Bristol a bit of a wake up call, as I don't think that their tight 5 is big enough or good enough as a unit.

[twitchy]

Yep very interesting to see what attwoood looks like.

[Puja]

Walker starting! That's good news. Interesting to see that Mercer and Underhill are keeping Louw on the bench.

Bristol look worse than Bath man for man - I think their only hope is that Lam-transformation-through-the-power-of-teamwork that every news agency appears to have a story on this week.

Puja

[twitchy]

I think he isn't fully fit.

[Which Tyler]

I think he isn't fully fit.

He's just been playing in the QN - poorly in his last game.
As far as I'm aware he's fit, just fatigued.

[Mellsblue]

Bristol are expecting 25,000 through the gates. That’s a good way to start the season. I suspect the vast majority will watch their team lose.

[Which Tyler]

Bristol Cubs
15. Jack Tovey
14. Matt Welsh
13. Piers O’Conor
12. Sam Bedlow
11. Tom Pincus
10. Tiff Eden
9. Harry Randall

1. Jordan Lay
2. Tom Lindsay
3. Lewis Thiede
4. Joe Joyce
5. Ehize Ehizode
6. Sam Graham
7. Jake Heenan (c) 8. Nick Haining.

16. Will Capon, 17. Tom Rowland, 18. Ollie Dawe, 19. Joe Batley 20. Nick Fenton-Wells
21. Reiss Cullen, 22. Jack Bates, 23. Ioan Lloyd.

Bath United
1. Arthur Cordwell
2. Michael van Vuuren
3. Sam Nixon
4. Levi Douglas
5. Charlie Ewels
6. Tom Ellis
7. Josh Bayliss (c)
8. Miles Reid

9. Alex Davies
10. Tom de Glanville
11. Ruaridh McConnochie
12. Max Clark
13. Max Wright
14. Levi Davis
15. Darren Atkins

Replacements
16. Tom Doughty, 17 Geraud Clermont, 18. Kieran Verden, 19 Rhys Davies, 20. Paul Grant
21. Jack Davies, 22. Will Butt, 23. Will Partington


Good to see Ewels and Ellis fit enough for united - we reported as missing the first XV match through minor injuries

[fivepointer]

Should be a sell out which is great news for Bristol. They wont lack for support. But really Bath look infinitely stronger, with an eye catching pack bursting with power, mobility, strong runners and ball handlers.

[Peej]

For all the talk of big money signings, Briz still look pretty underpowered.

Interesting to see how Ehizode is developing. He left Wasps' academy to go to University, and is pretty highly rated.

[Peej]

Also, I can't believe Bath are even playing Louw on the bench tonight. Give the bloke a week off.

[Renniks]

Yeah, if that's the team Briz have to put out for most of the season, I'm not quite sure why people think they have a better chance than Worcester

We'll see though! (25k attendance will be great, sadly unable to make it down this week)

[Which Tyler]

Also, I can't believe Bath are even playing Louw on the bench tonight. Give the bloke a week off.

I can only think it's to prove a point on behalf of PRL (or possibly TO PRL given the Faletau release clause).
He really should have stayed in SA; with Bayliss or Grant on the bench.


Oh, and "Brizzlies" ha!

[Tigersman]

Also, I can't believe Bath are even playing Louw on the bench tonight. Give the bloke a week off.

I can only think it's to prove a point on behalf of PRL (or possibly TO PRL given the Faletau release clause).
He really should have stayed in SA; with Bayliss or Grant on the bench.


Oh, and "Brizzlies" ha!

Tigers in same boat with the aussies.

[Peej]

Wasps have left Le Roux out

[Timbo]

Wasps have left Le Roux out

I read that Wasps have a deal with Erasmus that they won’t recall him, but he’s not going to complete the Champonship or play all of the Autumn.

[Which Tyler]

TFFT. Last patient didn't turn up, so I'm home 60 minutes earlier than expected.

Just sat down, and can't wait!

[Mellsblue]

I was so looking forward to it until informed we are having drinks with the neighbours.

[Which Tyler]

Do the neighbours not have BT then?

[twitchy]

Great seeing a normal prem game with such a big crowd.

[Mellsblue]

Do the neighbours not have BT then?

The only bloke in the history of education who went to Sedbergh School and doesn’t like rugby.

[Mellsblue]

Great seeing a normal prem game with such a big crowd.

Yep. Great way to start the season.

[twitchy]

I hope they don't get smashed here.