[RinTin]

Just setting up a separate thread to discuss all things 25/26 season.

First point - TC back for the premiership photo ops at Twickenham and sporting the blindside shirt. No surprises there really.

[SSR]

Team for Bristol
Starting XV:

15.Ollie Davies, 14. Tom O’Flaherty, 13. Rob du Preez ©, 12. Rekeiti Ma’asi-White, 11. Obi Ene, 10. Tom Curtis 9. Nye Thomas; 1. Simon McIntyre, 2. Nathan Jibulu, 3. James Harper, 4. Ernst van Rhyn, 5. Ben Bamber, 6. Jacques Vermeulen, 7. Sam Dugdale, 8. Dan du Preez.

Replacements:

16. Ethan Caine, 17. Tumy Onasanya, 18. Patreece Bell, 19. Hyron Andrews, 20. Jos Gilmore, 21. Dom Hanson, 22. Sam Bedlow, 23. Tristan Woodman.

[RinTin]

Is Luke James injured again?? What is going on with that kid. No Louw once again either.

Like the team a lot. Keep giving the younger lads minutes and exposure.

[Dave L]

Is Luke James injured again?? What is going on with that kid. No Louw once again either.

Like the team a lot. Keep giving the younger lads minutes and exposure.

Do we know if we have access to our England Summer Internationals for the Gloucester game?

If not, Louw and Luke might be being held back to play the opener. Louw probably on the bench, Luke to start at FB.

[SSR]

No sign of the Bears side yet on Bristol website but some talk of using it as a warm -up.
So expecting a more senior side .

[Altishark2222]

Matthew Carley ref tomorrow- doesn't look like there'll be a TMO !

[RinTin]

BEARS
15. Josh Carrington (debut), 14. Aidan Boshoff (3 apps), 13. Joe Jenkins (26 apps), 12. Benhard Janse van Rensburg (50 apps), 11. Gabriel Ibitoye (59 apps), 10. AJ MacGinty (53 apps), 9. Kieran Marmion (52 apps); 1. Jake Woolmore (169 apps), 2. Harry Thacker (133 apps), 3. George Kloska (65 apps), 4. Joe Owen (35 apps), 5. Joe Batley (75 apps), 6. Luka Ivanishvili (debut), 7. Fitz Harding (c) (97 apps), 8. Ben Grondona (20 apps).

System players: 16. Tomas Gwilliam (5 apps), 17. Sam Grahamslaw (12 apps), 18. Lovejoy Chawatama (5 apps), 19. Kenzie Jenkins (3 apps), 20. Kofi Cripps (3 apps), 21. Max Pepper (debut), 22. James Williams (55 apps), 23. Louis Rees-Zammit (debut).

Strong side with a good mix of senior and youth. Similar to our set up if I'm honest.

[Stoke Shark]

Is Luke James injured again?? What is going on with that kid. No Louw once again either.

Like the team a lot. Keep giving the younger lads minutes and exposure.

Do we know if we have access to our England Summer Internationals for the Gloucester game?

If not, Louw and Luke might be being held back to play the opener. Louw probably on the bench, Luke to start at FB.

Louw tweaked a hamstring in Portugal - one of my mates spoke to him at Haywood Road. All the internationals with the exception of the Lions can play in R1 of the Prem

[Olyy]

DDP doesn't make kick off,
EvR goes to 8, which is interesting considering Dugdale is at 7 - would've thought 6. EvR, 7. Vermeulen, 8. Dugdale

Andrews into the row, Burrow onto the bench

Club not bothering with social media updates, so other than the Prem Rugby app saying it's still 0-0, who knows what's happening

[Surbiton_Shark]

I looked at the Bristol website

Seems to be 0-0 and we replaced Rob DP with Sam Bedlow after 7 mins which is somewhat concerning - assuming match started at 15:00 - my update is 20 mins in

[Surbiton_Shark]

I looked at the Bristol website

Seems to be 0-0 and we replaced Rob DP with Sam Bedlow after 7 mins which is somewhat concerning - assuming match started at 15:00 - my update is 20 mins in

Must have blood reserval - Rob now back on after 17 mins

[Surbiton_Shark]

Bears score after 24 mins and AJ converts 0-7

[DavenportSharky]

Try To’F. Conversion by Curtis missed.
Listening to BBC Bristol on my sun lounger on Mahe.

[Surbiton_Shark]

Try To’F. Conversion by Curtis missed.
Listening to BBC Bristol on my sun lounger on Mahe.

Ah thanks for that - I'll put the radio on

5-7 after 28 mins

[Surbiton_Shark]

Gave away a bunch of pens...Bristol score but missed conversation now half-time

5-12

We seem to be playing Nye Thomson on the wing due to an injury to our 11 who I haven't heard of

[Olyy]

Will be defending against LRZ at some point in the second half, hell of a first game on the wing!

I would've thought Bedlow on and RMW to wing maybe (think he played there once or twice for Caldy, maybe?)

[Surbiton_Shark]

LRZ on
Yellow for Bristol
Our new signing from Quins scored - he looks a great prospect - saw him play for Quins against us last season
We got the conversion - I think the score is 12 all after 50 mins

[Surbiton_Shark]

Another try/conversion for us 24-17 - Hanson the scorer60 mins

[Surbiton_Shark]

4th try - originated from a massive scrum penalty - 10 mins left - seems to be all ours (famous last words)

[Surbiton_Shark]

24-15 Final score

[Olyy]

Wow, was not expecting that - especially with the early injuries

Well done team, and great to see Hanson and Davies on the scoreboard

[Evo]

Great result...

A note of caution though re our potentially threadbare back 5 resources...DDP pulls up lame in the warm up, add another and we surely will be exposed in Game Week 1.versus Gloucester.

Surely we need to acquire some experience, as as much as our youngsters have potential, they do not have the nous and physicality to handle the Prem...

[Clutch]

Rather back the kids than sign some random squad depth blocking youngsters. If DDp goes down we will have injury dispensation. Back row is fine anyway. Just second row but Burrow had one of the best sale debuts I’ve seen from a jet. And we are playing more hybrid 4/6 anyway so should be ok.

[FarnhamShark]

The no. 11 who went off was Obi Ene. I was impressed by Jos Gilmore, who I haven't seen before. As you say, not ready for the Prem yet, but well on the way. A real game of 2 halves. In the first half Nye Thomas persisted in box-kicking into the wind. Very little territory gained but possession lost. In the second half, no box-kicks, 3 tries scored, and a bonus point win. Don't know if that was coach's instructions or Dom Hanson playing 9, but it was good to see.

[Clutch]

Gave away a bunch of pens...Bristol score but missed conversation now half-time

5-12

We seem to be playing Nye Thomson on the wing due to an injury to our 11 who I haven't heard of

I hate to be that guy but he’s played about 6 times, scored at least 5 tries for us and is our 5th choice winger. Signed him in 2023 so been round a while.

Not sure if he will make it but a decent prospect.

[Dave L]

So Dan Du Preez was injured in the warm up? Jeez that’s not an auspicious start to the year. Who thought it was a good idea to have only one specialist Number 8 in the squad?

Did EVR play well there? Pound for pound he’s probably the best signing of the Axe era.

Well played to the lads who turned out though. Very decent win.

[SSR]

Good win, but not sure how much we can read into it. First half sounded like Bears were
on top ( based on the poor Bristol commentary ).
We are going to have to be at our best for the Glos game.
Sounds like they had a proper warmup against Chiefs with two pretty much full teams
out in the first half. Glos drew away in the second half.
Injuries this early are not going to help. I know the England boys are back but they are
going in cold.

[East Stand Shark]

Was at the game.
Thought team played really well after a somewhat slow start and thoroughly deserved the win.
Jibulu looks an excellent signing. We have a surfeit of riches at hooker yet a lack of depth in the engine room! That I think will be the worry as many have noted. All the substitutes seemed to make telling contributions and at the end we shoved the Bristol pack around for fun.
Tom Curtis had some nice touches and seemed to control the game well.
Tom O'flaherty also does some good stuff but he seems unable to pass the ball, which can be very frustrating when support options are available.
That withsaid a nice start to the season which will give the team confidence going into the game with Gloucester.

[SSR]

If DDP is injured and the England boys are back, what does the backrow look like if
we have Bamber, Van Rhyn and Andrews as potential second rows. Does Vermuelen fill
the 8 slot, does Ben C come in as openside flanker with Dugdale ( or Van Rhyn ) at blindside ?
I don't know if we are moving to speed or heft in the pack.
Nathan J looks like a class signing, really pleased with that.
What about centres for Glos ? Will we have Louw available and up to speed, or do we
persist with Rikki and RDP as first choice ?
God I hope we go well whatever happens, don't want a banana skin first league game.

[RinTin]

https://www.rugbypass.com/news/pat-lam- ... ntroduced/

Was it something that occurred yesterday, or just a musing? Makes sense in my mind.