Bris v Quins

[jimKRFC]

Bristol Bears team to face Harlequins at Ashton Gate on Saturday, September 22nd (3pm KO):

15. Piers O’Conor; 14. Luke Morahan, 13. Will Hurrell, 12. Siale Piutau, 11. Alapati Leiua; 10. Ian Madigan, 9. Andy Uren; 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. Nick Fenton-Wells, 17. Jake Woolmore, 18. Jake Armstrong, 19. Joe Joyce, 20. Jack Lam, 21. Harry Randall, 22. Callum Sheedy, 23. Zane Kirchner.

Quins side;
1 Marler 2 Crumpton 3 Sinkler 4 Symons 5 Glynn 6 Wallace 8 Chisholm 7 Robshaw 9 Care 10 Lang 12 Tapuai 13 Marchant 11 Chisholm 14 Earle 15 Morris

16. Dave Ward, 17. Mark Lambert, 18. Phil Swainston, 19. Stan South, 20. Renaldo Bothma, 21. Charlie Mulchrone, 22. Marcus Smith, 23. Paul Lasike

Six changes from the Glaws game and Alapati back in the side, and (imho) Bristol should be more competitive against Quins than Sarries or Glaws. The ex-Bris guys in the Quins team wouldn't get in over their replacements.

[fivepointer]

Big game for Bris and one they would have targeted before the season started. Quins are terrible away from home.

[Peej]

I quite fancy Bristol for this actually.

[Mellsblue]

I quite fancy Bristol for this actually.

Me too.

[jimKRFC]

I quite fancy Bristol for this actually.

Me too.

Why does this feel like the kiss of death??

[Numbers]

I quite fancy Bristol for this actually.

Me too.

Why does this feel like the kiss of death??

Home advantage and a big crowd coupled with Quins's poor defence so far this season and I think you have reason for optimism.

[twitchy]

I think it should be a really open game.

[Digby]

It looks a great advert for dropping two teams from the GP

[Scrumhead]

I quite fancy Bristol for this actually.

Me too.

Why does this feel like the kiss of death??

Home advantage and a big crowd coupled with Quins's poor defence so far this season and I think you have reason for optimism.

Interesting you say that ... prior to our awful defensive display against Bath, we actually had the best defensive stats in the league for rounds 1 & 2.

As sad as I am to say it, I can see Bristol picking up the win here though.

[Stom]

Poor game truth be told. But we look like the worst bits of Jones England. Suggesting good things for England...

Not impressed with some of the marginal decisions by the ref.

[Stom]

Now that I don't get. Are hand offs not allowed anymore?

[Stom]

Absolutely mindless.

[Scrumhead]

Result pretty much as anticipated ... then again, spending a quarter of the match a man down isn’t ever going to help.

The only saving graces are the losing BP and Saints, Sale and Newcastle losing too.

[fivepointer]

Never in doubt....though Quins were 10-0 up. Bris arent going to be pushovers, particularly at AG. They have Saints at home next week. Another game they will regard as perfectly winnable.

[jimKRFC]

Happy with that! Sounds like PL's chat with the refs (Spreaders I assume) paid off. Pleased with the reviews as well:

Chris Jones BBC, @chjones9
With a bit more accuracy, slightly better game-management, and Charles Piutau fit, Bristol could wreak some havoc. Have a high-skilled, well-coached and enterprising attacking game. Better side by a distance today.

4 points from the next 2 games would be great.

[Puja]

Now that I don't get. Are hand offs not allowed anymore?

That was a bit of an elbow to the face!

Puja

[Stom]

Now that I don't get. Are hand offs not allowed anymore?

That was a bit of an elbow to the face!

Puja

Yet completely unintentional. His hand goes to push and the arm straightens.

But either way, the discipline was atrocious and the performance worrying for Quins and positive for England.

[twitchy]

Charles Piutau

Completely forgot you guys signed him.