Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

Bristol Bears make one change for Monday night game in front of crowd

By PA
Kyle Sinckler /Getty Images

Bristol Bears director of rugby Pat Lam is hoping the returning fans can help his side strengthen their grip on the Gallagher Premiership when Gloucester visit Ashton Gate on Monday night.

ADVERTISEMENT

The South-West derby is one of two Premiership fixtures pushed back from the weekend to take advantage of the easing of lockdown restrictions with the go-ahead to host socially-distant crowds.

“It’s massive and something we are all excited by,” Lam said. “We are ready for a lot more than the 3,000 but this is the beginning stage to eventually a situation where we will have a few more and a few more.

Video Spacer

The Spirit of Rugby | Episode 1 | RugbyPass

Video Spacer

The Spirit of Rugby | Episode 1 | RugbyPass

“My understanding is that they will be spread around the ground, with social distancing, so there will be noise coming from everywhere. It’s fantastic.

“It’s another incentive to have that home semi-final. We really want that for our fans as well and, if we can get that, then hopefully the crowd number will be higher.”

Bristol hold a seven-point lead over second-placed Sale but they were beaten in their last game at Ashton Gate by Exeter and are hoping to avoid back-to-back home defeats for the first time since November 2018.

“We understand it’s another derby with Gloucester and they will be dangerous,” Lam added.

“They had a great win (against Northampton) and they are improving every time under George (Skivington) and their new coaching regime.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Newcastle have been restricted to a sold-out crowd of 1,750 at Kingston Park for the visit of Northampton in Monday’s other game but coach Dave Walder says there is a buzz about the fixture.

“It’s going to be absolutely brilliant,” said Walder, whose side are looking to build on last week’s 52-27 home win over London Irish.

“It’s been a long time coming but we’re just so excited about getting some of our supporters back inside the stadium.

“From the moment the game got pushed back to the Monday there’s been a real buzz around the place because everyone knows fans are coming back and the boys are all looking forward to it.

ADVERTISEMENT
Bristol Bears
(Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

“It’s going to be strange because we’ve all got used to just having the two sets of replacements and coaching staff in the stands but sport is about fans and this is the moment that everyone has been waiting for.”

Northampton’s scheduled home game against the Falcons in February was cancelled due to a spate of positive coronavirus tests but they boast a proud record at Newcastle, having won on six of their last eight Premiership visits to Kingston Park.

Saints have won their last three away matches in all competitions and are aiming to make it four in a row for the first time since 2014.

BRISTOL BEARS TEAM: 

15. Charles Piutau; 14. Luke Morahan, 13. Semi Radradra, 12. Siale Piutau, 11. Max Malins; 10. Callum Sheedy, 9. Andy Uren; 1. Yann Thomas, 2. Jake Kerr, 3. Kyle Sinckler, 4. Dave Attwood, 5. Chris Vui, 6. Steven Luatua (c), 7. Ben Earl, 8. Nathan Hughes.

System players: 16. Will Capon, 17. Jake Woolmore, 18. John Afoa, 19. Ed Holmes, 20. Jake Heenan, 21. Tom Kessell, 22. Ioan Lloyd, 23. Alapati Leiua.

ADVERTISEMENT

LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

S
SK 45 minutes ago
Why England's defence of the realm has crumbled without Felix Jones

The way they are defending is sometime pathetic to be honest. Itoje is usually on the inside of the rush and he is paired with a slower tight forward. Unable to keep up with the rush we have seen the line become disconnected on the inside where the big boys are. How many times have we seen Earl rush past the first receiver almost into no mans land covering no attacker. It looks like a system without any guidance. Tome Wright, Ikitau and a number of Wallabies went back to this soft centre as did Williams, Jordan and several others. Also when the line is broken the multiple lines of defence seems to be missing. The rush is predicated on a cover and recovery system with multiple lines of defence but with England you dont see it any more. Fitness and conditioning seems to be off as well as players are struggling to keep up with the intensity of the rush. Felix Jones has left a huge hole. The whole situation was and is a mess. Why they insist on not letting him go and having him work remotely is beyond me. Its leading to massive negative press and is a hot button issue thats distracting from the squad. Also the communication around Jones and his role has been absolute rubbish and is totally disjointed. While some say he is working remotely and playing a role others are saying theres been no contact. His role has not been defined and so people keep asking and keep getting different answers. England need a clean break from him and need to start over. Whatever reason for his leaving its time to cut the rope before the saga drags the whole Borthwick regime down. As for Joe El Abd well good luck to him. He is being made to look like an amateur by the whole saga and he is being asked to coach a system thats not his and which has been perfected and honed since 2017 by Nienaber, Jones, Erasmus and Co and which was first started by White in 2004. He is literally trying to figure out a system pioneered by double world cup winning coaches at the highest level and coach it at the same time. Talk about being on a hiding to nothing.

28 Go to comments
LONG READ
LONG READ 'England's blanket of despair feels overdone - they are not a team in freefall' 'England's blanket of despair feels overdone - they are not a team in freefall'
Search