RugbyRebels

TV: Live on TNT Sports, 7.45pm kick-off
Venue: Ashton Gate
Referee: Craig Maxwell-Keys

Bristol Bears: 15. Noah Heward (17 apps), 14. Gabriel Ibitoye (35 apps), 13. Benhard Janse van Rensburg (19 apps), 12. James Williams (36 apps), 11. Siva Naulago (29 apps), 10. AJ MacGinty (32 apps), 9. Harry Randall (120 apps); 1. Yann Thomas (111 apps), 2. Gabriel Oghre (11 apps), 3. Kyle Sinckler (55 apps), 4. James Dun (28 apps), 5. Joe Batley (58 apps), 6. Steven Luatua (124 apps), 7. Fitz Harding (c) (66 apps), 8. Magnus Bradbury (39 apps).

System players: 16. Fred Davies (12 apps), 17. Ellis Genge (38 apps), 18. Max Lahiff (81 apps), 19. Joe Owen (11 apps), 20. Jake Heenan (105 apps), 21. Kieran Marmion (18 apps), 22. Kalaveti Ravouvou (7 apps), 23. Max Malins (28 apps).

Saints:
15 George Hendy
14 James Ramm
13 Burger Odendaal
12 Rory Hutchinson
11 Ollie Sleightholme
10 Fin Smith
9 Archie McParland

1 Emmanuel Iyogun
2 Sam Matavesi
3 Trevor Davison
4 Temo Mayanavanua
5 Alex Coles
6 Courtney Lawes
7 Lewis Ludlam (c)
8 Sam Graham

Replacements:
16 Curtis Langdon
17 Alex Waller
18 Paul Hill
19 Tom Lockett
20 Juarno Augustus
21 Jake Garside
22 Fraser Dingwall
23 Tom Litchfield

Not available for selection:
Callum Braley, George Furbank, Tom James, Elliot Millar Mills and Tom Seabrook.

First Prem start for McParland, will be good to see how he goes against Randall. Odendaal vs van Rensburg could be interesting.

Fingers crossed Saints can continue the momentum we had before the extended break. The friendly against Sale last week was decent enough

Normally an entertaining game when these 2 sides meet.

Good one to get the Prem restarted.

Good news Fin Smith didn't pick up a serious injury away with England. Certainly a boost for Saints with Furbank out.

Two cracking young scrum halves on display for Saints! Brilliant to see.

Epaminondas Pules wrote: ↑Fri Mar 22, 2024 9:16 am Two cracking young scrum halves on display for Saints! Brilliant to see.

Garside probs needs to move tho- his season has been very odd. Even the Bedford finishing school has seen him shunted from 9 to wing and back.

BTW...system players!!

Banquo wrote: ↑Fri Mar 22, 2024 11:32 am

Epaminondas Pules wrote: ↑Fri Mar 22, 2024 9:16 am Two cracking young scrum halves on display for Saints! Brilliant to see.

Garside probs needs to move tho- his season has been very odd. Even the Bedford finishing school has seen him shunted from 9 to wing and back.

He did spend nearly the full 80 last weekend at 9 and looked really good. Would be a shame to lose him, but he's behind Mitchell, James and probably McParland now. He does do a decent job on the wing- ridiculously strong for his size.

Adam_P wrote: ↑Fri Mar 22, 2024 11:50 am

Banquo wrote: ↑Fri Mar 22, 2024 11:32 am

Epaminondas Pules wrote: ↑Fri Mar 22, 2024 9:16 am Two cracking young scrum halves on display for Saints! Brilliant to see.

Garside probs needs to move tho- his season has been very odd. Even the Bedford finishing school has seen him shunted from 9 to wing and back.

He did spend nearly the full 80 last weekend at 9 and looked really good. Would be a shame to lose him, but he's behind Mitchell, James and probably McParland now. He does do a decent job on the wing- ridiculously strong for his size.

Interesting, he came off the bench for us at 9 and was pretty good. But he really needs to get some settled time at this stage imo.

Banquo wrote: ↑Fri Mar 22, 2024 12:06 pm

Adam_P wrote: ↑Fri Mar 22, 2024 11:50 am

Banquo wrote: ↑Fri Mar 22, 2024 11:32 am

Garside probs needs to move tho- his season has been very odd. Even the Bedford finishing school has seen him shunted from 9 to wing and back.

He did spend nearly the full 80 last weekend at 9 and looked really good. Would be a shame to lose him, but he's behind Mitchell, James and probably McParland now. He does do a decent job on the wing- ridiculously strong for his size.

Interesting, he came off the bench for us at 9 and was pretty good. But he really needs to get some settled time at this stage imo.

Looks a good sniping 9, imo. Great cheatlines and great pace to back it up. A quality system player, as Banquo would say.
I’m not sure exactly where the power lies in the Northampton - Bedford player share agreement but I’d reckon, from piecing tit bits together, Saints hold the whip hand on how their players are used when playing for Blues.

Mellsblue wrote: ↑Fri Mar 22, 2024 12:28 pm

Banquo wrote: ↑Fri Mar 22, 2024 12:06 pm

Adam_P wrote: ↑Fri Mar 22, 2024 11:50 am

He did spend nearly the full 80 last weekend at 9 and looked really good. Would be a shame to lose him, but he's behind Mitchell, James and probably McParland now. He does do a decent job on the wing- ridiculously strong for his size.

Interesting, he came off the bench for us at 9 and was pretty good. But he really needs to get some settled time at this stage imo.

Looks a good sniping 9, imo. Great cheatlines and great pace to back it up. A quality system player, as Banquo would say.
I’m not sure exactly where the power lies in the Northampton - Bedford player share agreement but I’d reckon, from piecing tit bits together, Saints hold the whip hand on how their players are used when playing for Blues.

yep, despite the payola

Not the start McParland wanted. Charge down leading to a try for Bristol, very much against the run of play so far

Don't know how Bristol's second isn't being checked for the pass from MacGinty to Randall - looked very questionable

Unbelievably strong finish from Sleightholme

Poor first half generally for Saints. McParland hasn't been great, slow to get the ball away from scrum and breakdown which is causing problems.

On re-watching, Bristol's second try definitely shouldn't have stood.

Banquo wrote: ↑Fri Mar 22, 2024 11:35 am BTW...system players!!

Yeah, I've edited that every time.. someone even noticed the "bin juice" I changed it for once.

There are so many forward passes ignored in this game

Hendy off for HIA after being clattered on the head with a reckless clear out- also ignored

Adam_P wrote: ↑Fri Mar 22, 2024 8:06 pm Don't know how Bristol's second isn't being checked for the pass from MacGinty to Randall - looked very questionable

Well that was fucking shit

Adam_P wrote: ↑Fri Mar 22, 2024 9:21 pm

Adam_P wrote: ↑Fri Mar 22, 2024 8:06 pm Don't know how Bristol's second isn't being checked for the pass from MacGinty to Randall - looked very questionable

Yeah can see what you mean. That looks like it definitely needs a check.

Adam_P wrote: ↑Fri Mar 22, 2024 8:21 pm Unbelievably strong finish from Sleightholme

Adam_P wrote: ↑Fri Mar 22, 2024 8:37 pm Poor first half generally for Saints. McParland hasn't been great, slow to get the ball away from scrum and breakdown which is causing problems.

On re-watching, Bristol's second try definitely shouldn't have stood.

To be fair Bristol targeted him well and you offered him no protection whatsoever and you did next to nothing to negate Bristol at the breakdown. Also got to say as much as I like Maaxwell Keys he was bloody awful tonight. I love to watch saints lose but he did them no favours whatsoever!!

Epaminondas Pules wrote: ↑Fri Mar 22, 2024 9:32 pm

Adam_P wrote: ↑Fri Mar 22, 2024 8:37 pm Poor first half generally for Saints. McParland hasn't been great, slow to get the ball away from scrum and breakdown which is causing problems.

On re-watching, Bristol's second try definitely shouldn't have stood.

To be fair Bristol targeted him well and you offered him no protection whatsoever and you did next to nothing to negate Bristol at the breakdown. Also got to say as much as I like Maaxwell Keys he was bloody awful tonight. I love to watch saints lose but he did them no favours whatsoever!!

CMK was poor, as was the TMO. I don't get the point in having a TMO when they won't pull things up that are obvious in real time. Scoreline was a solid humping in the end, but rule out the second try and the game runs differently.

Being tmo is a thankless task.