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'We scored five tries... but we have got to be a lot more clinical': Bristol far from satisfied

By PA
(Photo by PA)

Bristol boss Pat Lam hailed an unbelievable atmosphere as fans returned to Ashton Gate and his team moved twelve points clear as Gallagher Premiership leaders by beating Gloucester. An easing of coronavirus restrictions allowed Bristol’s first home crowd since March last year – 3,128 – and Pat Lam’s team eventually headlined the show with a 39-7 victory.

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A home Premiership playoff next month is now within touching distance and Bristol coach Lam said: “We have got to acknowledge the crowd – it was awesome. Both teams were probably taken aback. We knew there was going to be noise, but we didn’t expect that sort of noise. It was unbelievable and a real credit to the Bristol fans.”

Bristol often made hard work of it after Gloucester lock Matias Alemanno was sent off for a 16th-minute tip-tackle, seeing three first-half tries disallowed, full-back Charles Piutau wasting another golden opportunity and then substitute Alapati Leiua and Piutau having scores ruled out.

It meant that Bristol’s all-court game often stalled, yet they ultimately prevailed through touchdowns from Piutau, wing Max Malins, flanker Ben Earl, No8Nathan Hughes and centre Semi Radradra, while fly-half Callum Sheedy kicked two penalties and four conversions.

Lam added: “We will acknowledge the good things, but we have got to be a lot more clinical. I would be worried if we didn’t create opportunities and every game this season we have created plenty of opportunities. We still scored five tries today. We got ahead on the table in round six and to be top after round 19, we would be extremely disappointed if we got overtaken. It’s a credit to the players and all the staff. We need one more win to secure that home semi-final.”

Despite facing an uphill struggle for more than hour, Gloucester were admirable in adversity and they arguably deserved more than wing Santiago Carreras’ try that Billy Twelvetrees converted. “It is a disappointing result,” Gloucester head coach George Skivington said. “I was looking forward to 15 (players) on 15 and it would be a good benchmark for us to see where we are at against the best team in the league.

“Unfortunately, Matias got sent off and it became a bit of a dog-fight for us after that. I thought the sending-off was fair enough. I don’t think he meant to do it, he was falling back, and it was one of those unfortunate ones. I thought we made it hard for Bristol to get their bonus-point. I thought for the most part the defence was brilliant. Bristol are a class team and they found a way in the end.

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“It was one of those days. If you get a red card 16 minutes in, it is pretty devastating anywhere, but against Bristol away from home it is about as devastating as it is going to be.”

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J
JW 20 minutes ago
'Passionate reunion of France and New Zealand shows Fabien Galthie is wrong to rest his stars'

Where? I remember saying "unders"? The LNR was formed by the FFR, if I said that in a way that meant the 'pro' side of the game didn't have an equal representation/say as the 'amateur' side (FFR remit) that was not my intent.


But also, as it is the governing body, it also has more responsibility. As long as WR looks at FFR as the running body for rugby in France, that 'power' will remain. If the LNR refuses to govern their clubs use of players to enable a request by FFR (from WR) to ensure it's players are able to compete in International rugby takes place they will simply remove their participation. If the players complain to the France's body, either of their health and safety concerns (through playing too many 'minutes' etc) or that they are not allowed to be part in matches of national interest, my understanding is action can be taken against the LNR like it could be any other body/business. I see where you're coming from now re EPCR and the shake up they gave it, yes, that wasn't meant to be a separate statement to say that FFR can threaten them with EPCR expulsion by itself, simply that it would be a strong repercussion for those teams to be removed (no one would want them after the above).


You keep bringing up these other things I cannot understand why. Again, do you think if the LNR were not acting responsibly they would be able to get away with whatever they want (the attitude of these posters saying "they pay the players")? You may deem what theyre doing currently as being irresponsible but most do not. Countries like New Zealand have not even complained about it because they've never had it different, never got things like windfall TV contracts from France, so they can't complain because theyre not missing out on anything. Sure, if the French kept doing things like withholding million dollar game payments, or causing millions of dollars of devaluation in rights, they these things I'm outlining would be taking place. That's not the case currently however, no one here really cares what the French do. It's upto them to sort themselves out if they're not happy. Now, that said, if they did make it obvious to World Rugby that they were never going to send the French side away (like they possibly did stating their intent to exclude 20 targeted players) in July, well then they would simply be given XV fixtures against tier 2 sides during that window and the FFR would need to do things like the 50/50 revenue split to get big teams visiting in Nov.

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