RugbyRebels

Bristol side;
15. Max Malins (34 apps), 14. Siva Naulago (36 apps), 13. Benhard Janse van Rensburg (26 apps), 12. James Williams (43 apps), 11. Gabriel Ibitoye (42 apps), 10. AJ MacGinty (38 apps), 9. Harry Randall (127 apps); 1. Ellis Genge (45 apps), 2. 16. Gabriel Oghre (18 apps), 3. George Kloska (44 apps), 4. James Dun (35 apps), 5. Joe Batley (64 apps), 6. Steven Luatua (131 apps), 7. Jake Heenan (110 apps), 8. Fitz Harding (c) (73 apps).

Subs: 16. Will Capon (87 apps), 17. Jake Woolmore (151 apps), 18. Max Lahiff (88 apps), 19. Josh Caulfield (25 apps), 20. Benjamin Grondona (2 apps), 21. Kieran Marmion (25 apps), 22. Joe Jenkins (12 apps), 23. Rich Lane (36 apps).

Unavailable: Harry Thacker, Steele Barker, George Taylor, Santiago Grondona, Viliame Mata, Sam Worsley, Kalaveti Ravouvou, Noah Heward.

Glaws;
15 George Barton
14 Christian Wade
13 Chris Harris
12 Seb Atkinson
11 Max Llewellyn
10 Gareth Anscombe
9 Tomos Williams (C)
1 Mayco Vivas
2 Jack Singleton
3 Kirill Gotovtsev
4 Freddie Thomas
5 Matias Alemanno
6 Jack Clement
7 Harry Taylor
8 Zach Mercer

16 Seb Blake, 17 Jamal Ford-Robinson, 18 Afo Fasogbon, 19 Freddie Clarke, 20 Ruan Ackermann, 21 Albert Tuisue, 22 Caolan Englefield, 23 Charlie Atkinson

Referee: Tom Foley
Assistant Referees: Matthew Carley & Simon Harding
TMO: David Rose

Just the one change for Bristol with Kloska starting at THP. A few changes for Gloucester.

Hopefully a home win!

Llewellyn the wing? I suppose that's one option that's available to them!

Initial reaction was disappointment that Fasogbon's been rotated out, but I suppose we don't want to put too many minutes into a young prop, especially since he was only 20 last month. Shame he doesn't get to test himself against Genge though.

You'd have to fancy Bristol from the teamsheets there. Looking like a strong start to the season.

Puja

Fasogbon will need careful management. Glos being sensible.

Good to see Atkinson at 12.

Got to favour a home win.

Some nice tries so far.

Both sides throwing the ball around. This could be a fun one.

Wow, that's a nice try from Gloucester.

Another one.

Well Tomos Williams had a slow start but he's cooking now.

Bristol's discipline has been dire.

6 try first half. Can't say this isn't entertaining. Hopefully same again in the second half.

These Friday night games are supposed to be boring???

MacGinty has great hands and his penalty kicks to the corner are spectacularly accurate.

Ha, that's a brilliant kick by Wade but Malins makes a hash of that and one of the easiest finishes Wade has ever had.

RICH LANE! With the crucial try to equalise.

What a game that was. In the balance right down to the end. Bristol gambled at the end going for the full five points instead of taking the draw.

This I the hill I will die on, but Seb Atkinson is the best English 12 by a distance! Everything he does is just a second sharper than the players around him. Ok two offsides and the kick to the wing being marginally overcooked. But he’s just class! Lawrence would thrive off him as he does Redpath!

Fasogbon embarrassed Genge. That's no mean feat.

Epaminondas Pules wrote: ↑Fri Sep 27, 2024 9:58 pm This I the hill I will die on, but Seb Atkinson is the best English 12 by a distance! Everything he does is just a second sharper than the players around him. Ok two offsides and the kick to the wing being marginally overcooked. But he’s just class! Lawrence would thrive off him as he does Redpath!

He is pretty good, would like to see him get a run in white

Epaminondas Pules wrote: ↑Fri Sep 27, 2024 9:58 pm This I the hill I will die on, but Seb Atkinson is the best English 12 by a distance! Everything he does is just a second sharper than the players around him. Ok two offsides and the kick to the wing being marginally overcooked. But he’s just class! Lawrence would thrive off him as he does Redpath!

I have been saying it for a few seasons now…..I will die on that hill with you EP

Danno wrote: ↑Fri Sep 27, 2024 10:15 pm Fasogbon embarrassed Genge. That's no mean feat.

He did get a bit of a tuning from Woolmore in return though - the grizzled old man using his experience to wait for Fasogbon to go aggressive, absorbing it and countering. Incredible young talent though and you'd hope he learned a bit from that game.

Nice as well to see Genge having a friendly word and joke with him after the final whistle after there having been a bit of aggro and words on the pitch. Right spirit.

Fair play to Glaws in general - they looked very sharp and surprised me.

Puja

To be fair his loosehead and hooker were a yard behind him having been royally fucked, so he was largely holding the ready of the Bristol pack on his own. They pinpointed Woolmore though Lahiff won that pen by a mile on the other side.

Epaminondas Pules wrote: ↑Fri Sep 27, 2024 11:00 pm To be fair his loosehead and hooker were a yard behind him having been royally fucked, so he was largely holding the ready of the Bristol pack on his own. They pinpointed Woolmore though Lahiff won that pen by a mile on the other side.

Not just that one - he was continually taken to places he didn't want to be when Woolmore came on. That's not a criticism, mind, just him not being used to playing against a 33 year old who knows all the tricks and was patient enough not to try and outman him like Genge did.

You're not wrong that JFR looked very off the pace on the other side though - didn't surprise me when they said he'd been down with a virus midweek, as he absolutely looked it.

Puja

Puja wrote: ↑Fri Sep 27, 2024 10:51 pm

Danno wrote: ↑Fri Sep 27, 2024 10:15 pm Fasogbon embarrassed Genge. That's no mean feat.

He did get a bit of a tuning from Woolmore in return though - the grizzled old man using his experience to wait for Fasogbon to go aggressive, absorbing it and countering. Incredible young talent though and you'd hope he learned a bit from that game.

Nice as well to see Genge having a friendly word and joke with him after the final whistle after there having been a bit of aggro and words on the pitch. Right spirit.

Fair play to Glaws in general - they looked very sharp and surprised me.

Puja

Yeah it was a good back n' forth. Hell of a game in general, and a joy to watch, but the D coaches must be going mad

Puja wrote: ↑Fri Sep 27, 2024 11:06 pm

Epaminondas Pules wrote: ↑Fri Sep 27, 2024 11:00 pm To be fair his loosehead and hooker were a yard behind him having been royally fucked, so he was largely holding the ready of the Bristol pack on his own. They pinpointed Woolmore though Lahiff won that pen by a mile on the other side.

Not just that one - he was continually taken to places he didn't want to be when Woolmore came on. That's not a criticism, mind, just him not being used to playing against a 33 year old who knows all the tricks and was patient enough not to try and outman him like Genge did.

You're not wrong that JFR looked very off the pace on the other side though - didn't surprise me when they said he'd been down with a virus midweek, as he absolutely looked it.

Puja

Also looked like Fasogbon bound very short, pretty much on the arm and the used that to lever Genge down so he could drive through him. No chance the analyst isn't showing that to Woolmore before he came on so he knows what's coming. I think Genge went overly aggressive, got taken off balance with the short bind and was then stuffed.

To be fair to Genge he likes to give it but can take it as well. Fasogbon appears to be a bit of a character and that is only good for the game.

p/d wrote: ↑Fri Sep 27, 2024 10:24 pm

Epaminondas Pules wrote: ↑Fri Sep 27, 2024 9:58 pm This I the hill I will die on, but Seb Atkinson is the best English 12 by a distance! Everything he does is just a second sharper than the players around him. Ok two offsides and the kick to the wing being marginally overcooked. But he’s just class! Lawrence would thrive off him as he does Redpath!

I have been saying it for a few seasons now…..I will die on that hill with you EP

I can't see it myself. He looks like a solid club player only to me. BUT, he needs to get a chance to prove things one way or the other.

I'm probably on my own in not rating Lawrence at 13 but thinking him adequate, for now, at 12.

It may turn out that we need new blood completely at 12/13 because none of the current young contenders are beyond ordinary. Arguably, it has been the same at 9/10 with the team only moving up a grade once the older Youngs, Care, Farrell, Ford were replaced.

I feel like he has a really outstanding running game at 13, though still concerns over his handling/retention, while he doesn’t really have an outstanding quality In a crash ball role at 12. It also magnifies that weakness.

I like Atkinson and the Redpath comparison is fitting, he really compliments Lawrence’s skills, but every time I see him being praised it comes with the caveat that he also made 3 big mistakes in that game.

Are we sure he’s not another Billy Twelvepoints?

Mikey Brown wrote: ↑Sat Sep 28, 2024 9:24 am I feel like he has a really outstanding running game at 13, though still concerns over his handling/retention, while he doesn’t really have an outstanding quality In a crash ball role at 12. It also magnifies that weakness.

I like Atkinson and the Redpath comparison is fitting, he really compliments Lawrence’s skills