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Gallagher Premiership

Steven Luatua passed fit for Bristol's season opener

Steven Luatua of Bristol Bears looks on during the Gallagher Premiership Rugby match between Bristol Bears and Gloucester Rugby at Ashton Gate on December 02, 2023 in Bristol, England. (Photo by Ryan Hiscott/Getty Images)

Bristol Bears veteran Steven Luatua has overcome a wrist injury sustained in pre-season to make his side’s starting XV against Newcastle Falcons in their opening match of the Gallagher Premiership season.

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The Samoa international will start at blindside flanker on Friday night at Kingston Park as he embarks on his eighth season with the Bears.

Luatua will be partnered in the back row with Jake Heenan at openside and captain Fitz Harding at No.8 as the club wait for summer signing Viliame Mata to recover from a hamstring injury.

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    Bristol have seen plenty of change in the back row over the summer, with Magnus Bradbury and Dan Thomas both leaving.

    The club have recently issued an update regarding the Fijian’s recovery, saying: “Viliame Mata continues his rehabilitation on a hamstring injury, having undergone successful surgery. The Fijian back rower will be out of action until November.”

    Fixture
    Gallagher Premiership
    Newcastle
    3 - 24
    Full-time
    Bristol
    All Stats and Data

    Bristol Bears XV
    15. Max Malins
    14. Siva Naulago
    13. Benhard Janse van Rensburg
    12. James Williams
    11. Gabriel Ibitoye
    10. AJ MacGinty
    9. Harry Randall
    1. Ellis Genge
    2. Harry Thacker
    3. Max Lahiff
    4. James Dun
    5. Joe Batley
    6. Steven Luatua
    7. Jake Heenan
    8. Fitz Harding (c)

    Replacements
    16. Gabriel Oghre
    17. Jake Woolmore
    18. George Kloska
    19. Josh Caulfield
    20. Benjamin Grondona
    21. Kieran Marmion
    22. Joe Jenkins
    23. Rich Lane

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    Comments on RugbyPass

    J
    JH 41 minutes ago
    Chiefs make championship statement in Christchurch heavyweight bout

    Didn’t particularly care who won, but then realized a final at the Crusaders ground would have everyone having to listen to their awful PA who can’t seem to shut up or play his spotify playlist every moment of the game.


    Now he graces us with his ‘singing’ too. He should be going before Penney.

    11 Go to comments
    J
    JS 54 minutes ago
    As the balance of power shifts away from Ireland, has Andy Farrell got his Lions calls right?

    Ireland actually reminds me a bit of Australia after Larkham retired in 2007. Team was never really able to adjust to losing their most important player, despite the quality that remained. It has been almost 20 years that Australia has been trying to replace Larkham now. Hopefully Ireland doesn’t need to wait as long.

    128 Go to comments
    T
    TM44 2 hours ago
    Leo Cullen 'completely, 100 per cent' understands Leinster fan frustration

    You & I have certainly had a few run ins, but I have to say when you're not involved in personal unpleasantries (takes two to tango I know, but man you take offense so easily) you actually write really good insightful interesting posts. Hopefully more of the latter.!

    3 Go to comments
    D
    DH 2 hours ago
    British and Irish Lions squad 2025: 10 losers from Andy Farrell's selection

    Mack Hansen is a really good bloke, I'm sure Darcy Graham is a good man too but I think we all know why Hansen is on tour.

    13 Go to comments
    D
    DH 2 hours ago
    British and Irish Lions squad 2025: 10 losers from Andy Farrell's selection

    I was talking about the manager.

    13 Go to comments
    R
    RedWarriors 3 hours ago
    Jordie Barrett produces man-of-the-match showing after benching drama

    Serious mistake omitting Barrett for NH. Serious questions remain why the predictable curve balls available to NH against the rush defense were not mitigated for in advance. Leinster did not get tested for the first two rounds but the test was coming.

    Look also at the incorrect decision re taking 3 points after the O’Brien ‘penalty where it lands’. The same conference has been happenning for years with the correct decision not often found.

    In the URC v Connaught a kick to the corner refusing ane asy kick lead to a Connacht turnover and yellow for Leinster. Connacht scored a try and attacked again for the match against 14. They created an overlap and the tackle of the match saved them before the overlap could be cashed in. Leinster had another kickable penalty and amazingly the conference started again. Barrett ordered a kick at goal to put it out of reach. He was the man who had also saved/won the match for them with that penalty.


    Why was this botched decision making not reviewed and eliminated in that match?

    It honestly looks like the leadership hole left by Johnny Sexton has not been filled by the coaching group.

    3 Go to comments
    B
    BA 3 hours ago
    An England 23 Borthwick could pick after the Lions squad announcement

    If England can beat Pumas over there without their top guns would be big scalp especially if Pumas are at full noise

    8 Go to comments
    C
    Carlos 5 hours ago
    Why ‘the curse of the Bambino’ is still stronger than ever at Leinster

    Felipe and Manuel went to Cardinal Newman school and rugby club, ran by Irish priests. One of them left to found St Brendan’s. Newman, St. George’s and St Andrew’s are the traditional upper class Anglo schools of Buenos Aires. Only Newman now sustains great rugby. St George’s previously did and St Andrew’s was a feeder to many clubs.

    In 1970 Ireland toured Argentina and the team visited Hurling Club near the city and left them their kits at the end of the tour. The party was memorable. My mother and three brothers played field hockey for Hurling. Also, some of the players visited St Brendan’s.


    Some years ago, I met Barry Bresniham at a rheumatology meeting. Sadly he passed away of a brain tumor. Barry was a very charming man and we spoke about that 1970 visit. St Brendan’s posted a picture of him on the front door of the school.


    I do know about the Irish. I sincerely appreciate and enjoy Mzilikazi here, for example. But you sound like the Aussie fan OJ. Angry and defensive. Be like the Irish I know and not like a sourpuss.

    200 Go to comments
    C
    Carlos 5 hours ago
    Why ‘the curse of the Bambino’ is still stronger than ever at Leinster

    I’m an Argie. We first scrum.

    200 Go to comments
    D
    DC 5 hours ago
    Farrell puts his reputation on the line knowing tougher challenges lie ahead

    The Lions are a scratch team of players who rarely ever play together. For them to win, they need to be based on the best Home Nation (which still probably Ireland) with a smattering of players from the other nations.


    Bare in mind that in 2001 they played the world champions. 2005 they played the greatest NZ team in the history of the All Blacks. 2009 and 2021 SA were the world champions. And NZ were the world champions in 2017. The only series the Lions have won in recent years was against Australia, who were significantly weaker than the other SH teams.

    11 Go to comments
    E
    Ed the Duck 5 hours ago
    Leo Cullen 'completely, 100 per cent' understands Leinster fan frustration

    Hard to test them when they’re rested the week before or left on the bench, don’t you think?

    3 Go to comments
    J
    JD 7 hours ago
    Marcus Smith backed to beat rivals to Lions Test jersey

    They are, except when it comes to 10.


    Assuming Russell starts as test 10 you have no back up on the pitch. The only option is Kinghorn, but he would need to fill in there during warm up matches which is unlikely.


    Only option is Smith in the 23 shirt. This again assumes Kinghorn starting 15. Based on current form that is the case.


    Personally I prefer the conventional 5:3 split for the most part.

    8 Go to comments
    R
    RedWarriors 7 hours ago
    Leo Cullen 'completely, 100 per cent' understands Leinster fan frustration

    The point is the ‘Team are not pushing forward’. The team are better in absolute terms but the tactical coaching is poor. If Leinster are not being challenged and weaknesses exposed in matches then that has to be done in the training ground.

    That said individual players must take flak. A lot of ire was directed at Snyman, but McCarthy must take flak too. That said what on earth was Keenan doing attempting to rush against Freeman (first try) and Ramm last try. Both times he was caught in no mans land leaving a field of green behind him. For the first try he just needs to hold his ground a little to cover the kick. An overlap was not on. Keenan would have easily reached Freeman, but rishing up made the grubber 100% on.

    The Ramm one was equally bizarre. Now NH had caught Leinster short, but they have alot of work to do if Keenan holds his ground. Again he rushed up meaning one pass to Ramm makes the try.

    Some players can be rested for 3 weeks, some get rusty. Keenan is one of the latter. But he must do better. All Leinster needed was one of those tries to be averted. Just one.

    3 Go to comments
    E
    Ed the Duck 7 hours ago
    As the balance of power shifts away from Ireland, has Andy Farrell got his Lions calls right?

    Cant say I’ve seen it personally but more than happy to take Simmons reliable word for it! 🤣

    128 Go to comments
    f
    fl 7 hours ago
    Marcus Smith backed to beat rivals to Lions Test jersey

    People who only watch highlights

    8 Go to comments
    f
    fl 7 hours ago
    Marcus Smith backed to beat rivals to Lions Test jersey

    Kinghorn and Daly are better utility options.

    8 Go to comments
    R
    Rafel Olszewski 7 hours ago
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    Rafel Olszewski 8 hours ago
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    The Initial Coin Offering (ICO) I invested in appeared flawless, its website was sleek and authentic, the whitepaper was detailed and convincing, and the team boasted impressive credentials in cryptocurrency.I was eager to capitalize on a golden opportunity. Confident in my research, I invested $200,000, only to watch in horror as the entire operation vanished days later. Just as I was resigning myself to the loss, I discovered Muyern Trust Hacker by searching online ( web: ht tps://muyerntrusthacker . o r g /  ). Taking a leap of faith, I reached out, and from the very first interaction, their team stood out for their professionalism and urgency. Their experts meticulously followed the digital trail across multiple wallets and exchanges, leaving no stone unturned. After a week of relentless effort, they achieved the impossible: $175,000 was recovered. While not the full amount, it was a staggering victory considering I had assumed everything was lost forever. The relief was indescribable. Thanks to Muyern Trust Hacker,  I could repay a significant portion of what I owed my mother and regain some financial stability. This has taught me a harsh lesson about the risks of crypto investments but it also showed me the power of expert intervention. For anyone who has fallen victim to a scam, Muyern Trust Hacker ( Tele gr am: muyerntrusthackertech ) is the rescue team in an otherwise bleak situation. Their recovery services turned my crypto disaster into a second chance.

    3 Go to comments
    N
    NB 8 hours ago
    As the balance of power shifts away from Ireland, has Andy Farrell got his Lions calls right?

    Good one😆👍

    128 Go to comments
    N
    NB 8 hours ago
    As the balance of power shifts away from Ireland, has Andy Farrell got his Lions calls right?

    Did Turlough ever have the same rare combo of rudeness and ignorance? I thought he was better than that!🤣

    128 Go to comments
    LONG READ
    LONG READ As the balance of power shifts away from Ireland, has Andy Farrell got his Lions calls right? As the balance of power shifts away from Ireland, has Andy Farrell got his Lions calls right?
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