Bristol Bears Vs Tigers

[FKAS]

Bristol Bears team to face Leicester Tigers on Sunday (3.30pm KO) in round one of the Gallagher Premiership:

15. Tom Jordan (1 app), 14. Louis Rees-Zammit (2 apps), 13. Joe Jenkins (28 apps), 12. Benhard Janse van Rensburg (51 apps), 11. Gabriel Ibitoye (60 apps), 10. AJ MacGinty (55 apps), 9. Harry Randall (147 apps); 1. Jake Woolmore (170 apps), 2. Gabriel Oghre (44 apps), 3. George Kloska (66 apps), 4. James Dun (53 apps), 5. Joe Batley (76 apps), 6. Steven Luatua (153 apps), 7. Fitz Harding (c) (99 apps), 8. Benjamin Grondona (22 apps).

System players: 16. Harry Thacker (134 apps), 17. Sam Grahamslaw (14 apps), 18. Lovejoy Chawatama (7 apps), 19. Joe Owen (37 apps), 20. Viliame Mata (18 apps), 21. Kieran Marmion (53 apps), 22. Kalaveti Ravouvou (32 apps), 23. Josh Carrington (1 app).

Unavailable: Will Capon, Ellis Genge, Max Lahiff, Pedro Rubiolo, Steele Barker, Paddy Pearce, Will Ramply, George Taylor, Santiago Grondona, Sam Wolstenholme, James Williams, Jack Bates, Benjamin Elizalde, Noah Heward, Rich Lane.

STARTING XV
15 Freddie Steward [111]
14 Adam Radwan [12]
13 Will Wand [13]
12 Joseph Woodward [35]
11 Ollie Hassell-Collins [49]
10 Orlando Bailey [1]
9 Jack van Poortvliet [96]
1 Nicky Smith [25]
2 Jamie Blamire [1]
3 Joe Heyes [163]
4 Cameron Henderson [65]
5 James Thompson [1] **
6 Hanro Liebenberg (c) [133]
7 Emeka Ilione [49]
8 Olly Cracknell [67]

REPLACEMENTS
16 Charlie Clare [125]
17 Tarek Haffar [1]
18 Will Hurd [51]
19 Joshua Manz [10] **
20 Joaquin Moro [2] **
21 Tom Whiteley [42]
22 Billy Searle [1]
23 Solomone Kata [44]

** Gallagher PREM debut

Leicester and England lock George Martin is also unavailable following shoulder surgery this summer. On Martin's rehabilitation, Parling said: “As with any nerve injuries, the timeframe on George’s availability is slightly unknown, but to give George the best chance to perform, we know it won’t be during the first half of this season.”

Other players not available for selection for the PREM opener are: Finn Carnduff, Lewis Chessum, Kesena Izu, Jack Kinder, Tonga Kofe, Tom Manz, Wilf McCarthy, Cameron Myall, Izaia Perese, Tommy Reffell, and Samuel Williams.

[Puja]

That's a good starting team for Tigers and some interesting evidence of how Parling's thinking in the midfield - Wand and Woodward ahead of Kata is very promising. Look forward to seeing them go outside of Bailey. A bit disappointed that we've gone for Thompson at 5, but in fairness I haven't actually seen him play yet and have just taken against him as a purported journeyman.

Puja

[fivepointer]

Interesting to see how Jordan and LRZ get on. No Rich Lane but you cant have everything.

Like what ive seen of Wand and Woodward was very good last season. Could be a good mix.

[FKAS]

That's a good starting team for Tigers and some interesting evidence of how Parling's thinking in the midfield - Wand and Woodward ahead of Kata is very promising. Look forward to seeing them go outside of Bailey. A bit disappointed that we've gone for Thompson at 5, but in fairness I haven't actually seen him play yet and have just taken against him as a purported journeyman.

Puja

The only other for lock is Wells and as he's not on the bench he might not be that fit or have a different issue. Looks like should a lock go down it's Liebenburg to lock and Manz as the third jumper onto the blindside.

Kata only arrived from Tonga's international games recent so wouldn't hold out too much hope Wand is ahead.

There's some real positives in that side, Moro, Haffar and Kata offer real bench impact. Against a stronger scrummaging side I'd worry about the lack of sizeable lock cover and the heavy reliance on Hurd to come good. Haffar as some set piece work to do as well.

Also Whiteley on the bench . If JvP picks up and injury our season could go down the crapper quickly.

[Puja]

That's a good starting team for Tigers and some interesting evidence of how Parling's thinking in the midfield - Wand and Woodward ahead of Kata is very promising. Look forward to seeing them go outside of Bailey. A bit disappointed that we've gone for Thompson at 5, but in fairness I haven't actually seen him play yet and have just taken against him as a purported journeyman.

Puja

The only other for lock is Wells and as he's not on the bench he might not be that fit or have a different issue. Looks like should a lock go down it's Liebenburg to lock and Manz as the third jumper onto the blindside.

Manz can play lock as well, can't he? Or is that just his brother?

Puja

[FKAS]

That's a good starting team for Tigers and some interesting evidence of how Parling's thinking in the midfield - Wand and Woodward ahead of Kata is very promising. Look forward to seeing them go outside of Bailey. A bit disappointed that we've gone for Thompson at 5, but in fairness I haven't actually seen him play yet and have just taken against him as a purported journeyman.

Puja

The only other for lock is Wells and as he's not on the bench he might not be that fit or have a different issue. Looks like should a lock go down it's Liebenburg to lock and Manz as the third jumper onto the blindside.

Manz can play lock as well, can't he? Or is that just his brother?

Puja

Tom Manz is definitely a lock. Josh could potentially play lock as he's got the height, not sure he's got the weight you'd normally want.Liebenburg played lock during pre season/PRC which is why I'm assuming he'll slot in there more than the youngster playing his first Prem game.

[Puja]

The only other for lock is Wells and as he's not on the bench he might not be that fit or have a different issue. Looks like should a lock go down it's Liebenburg to lock and Manz as the third jumper onto the blindside.

Manz can play lock as well, can't he? Or is that just his brother?

Puja

Tom Manz is definitely a lock. Josh could potentially play lock as he's got the height, not sure he's got the weight you'd normally want.Liebenburg played lock during pre season/PRC which is why I'm assuming he'll slot in there more than the youngster playing his first Prem game.

Yeah, a quick look at all.rugby suggests I'm getting the brothers Manz confused in my head. In which case, I withdraw my Thompson objection - clearly a forward-thinking bit of recruitment if we're down to our last few available locks.

Puja

[FKAS]

Manz can play lock as well, can't he? Or is that just his brother?

Puja

Tom Manz is definitely a lock. Josh could potentially play lock as he's got the height, not sure he's got the weight you'd normally want.Liebenburg played lock during pre season/PRC which is why I'm assuming he'll slot in there more than the youngster playing his first Prem game.

Yeah, a quick look at all.rugby suggests I'm getting the brothers Manz confused in my head. In which case, I withdraw my Thompson objection - clearly a forward-thinking bit of recruitment if we're down to our last few available locks.

Puja

The older Manz is Tom who's 6ft8 and was George Martin's lock partner in the academy pushing out Ollie Chessum. Nasty injuries seemed to derail his development. He's injured again.

Josh Manz was in the same England under 20s side as Carnduff and featured off the bench quite a bit during that 6N. Looked very good in the PRC during the world cup season before a nasty leg break (Manz family do seem cursed) left him out for a year. PRC and loan to Notts second half of last season. His ability to play both openside and blindside does make him a useful option. We aren't exactly flush with players who are handy at the breakdown, could be a Kenningham style player.

[Oakboy]

Just a matter of time till a Leicester player passes to the ref. Why is the tosser wearing white?

[twitchy]

LRZ is only 24? My clock is completely off. He has been around for so long I thought he was early 30's.

[FKAS]

Bristol scoring from a scrum penalty and two penalties made from attacking close to the breakdown. Tigers score three tries from sweeping backs moves. What in the hell of parallel universes is going on?!?

Tigers can't stop Bristol on the gainline, far too easy for them to gain momentum and then make those offloads to get ground. In the 22 they know they can just bludgeon their way forward and man mark Ilione then just be patient to force their way over. Tigers need to find some extra physicality and start knocking those runners back.

Tigers backs looking really good in attack, 9-15 all English as well so Simply Ballkick will be happy.

[FKAS]

Ball at the back of the scrum and then the ref makes a call for a 50/50 boring in. That not the standard anymore, are times changing or a one off?

[twitchy]

Really enjoyable game as a neutral. Two good sides.

[FKAS]

Really enjoyable game as a neutral. Two good sides.

I'm finding it very frustrating, how the breakdown and scrum is reffed changes every five minutes. I keep saying "well we've been turned over there" and the ref gives it to us or " that's a stonewall steal" nope been pinged.

Tigers have been woefully inaccurate this half. Badly, badly missed some of the big lads from the second row.

[Epaminondas Pules]

I hate being that guy, especially as a one eyed Tigers fan but I’d love to see the penalty count. My favourite being him shouting no hands, no hands, no hands, Dun keeps his hands on so he give Bristol a penalty.

[FKAS]

I hate being that guy, especially as a one eyed Tigers fan but I’d love to see the penalty count. My favourite being him shouting no hands, no hands, no hands, Dun keeps his hands on so he give Bristol a penalty.

Well Bristol have just batted the ball out of the ruck and LRZ has scored. That's appalling officiating. What the fuck is the TMO doing?

Smales was awful but Bristol adapted to his lack of consistency far better. Tigers badly missed a Montoya style captain to be in the ear of the ref. No Wells on the bench was a huge error it seems, Thompson was out of his depth and Tigers could have done with more physicality.

A scrappy second half really played into the hands of Bristol who scored some very nice tries.

[fivepointer]

Breakdown was a bit of a lottery. Its clear that refs have abandoned any attempt to keep players on their feet and stop sealing off.

Good battling effort from Bristol to overcome the loss of 4 key players. I doubt any of them are going to be in action any time soon.

LRZ showing at the end what he can bring to the team.

[Puja]

I hate being that guy, especially as a one eyed Tigers fan but I’d love to see the penalty count. My favourite being him shouting no hands, no hands, no hands, Dun keeps his hands on so he give Bristol a penalty.

Yeah, Woodthorpe gave us absolutely nothing there - I think JVP annoyed him with acting like it was a Leicester free-kick from that first 50:50 collapsed scrum, so he gave the penalty to Briz and that set the tone for the afternoon.

Still, some good signs - Radwan is ridiculous, Bailey looked very handy, Ilione was a monster, and our defence looked good even with the late departure of Forshaw. Not clinical enough in the red zone and need a bit more luck with refereeing decisions, but overall, not a bad first hit-out.

Puja

[FKAS]

I hate being that guy, especially as a one eyed Tigers fan but I’d love to see the penalty count. My favourite being him shouting no hands, no hands, no hands, Dun keeps his hands on so he give Bristol a penalty.

Yeah, Woodthorpe gave us absolutely nothing there - I think JVP annoyed him with acting like it was a Leicester free-kick from that first 50:50 collapsed scrum, so he gave the penalty to Briz and that set the tone for the afternoon.

Still, some good signs - Radwan is ridiculous, Bailey looked very handy, Ilione was a monster, and our defence looked good even with the late departure of Forshaw. Not clinical enough in the red zone and need a bit more luck with refereeing decisions, but overall, not a bad first hit-out.

Puja

Our scramble defence was exceptional and we shackled the Bristol backs very well for most of the game. Up front was fecking dire though. Ilione was brilliant but again our openside is our only real threat at the breakdown, though Heyes did throw his weight around well to legally slow some down. We missed a lot of tackles and were dominated on the gainline. More physical sides will rip us to pieces if we allow easy metres from hard carries. Line speed was gentle as opposed to aggressive, got to improve there.

[jimKRFC]

Expensive win for Bristol! AJ has had surgery on his Achilles, about 9 months out (given his age he may not return), Randall out untill the new year, and Ibitoye awaiting surgery and not known how long he's out for.

Oscar Lennon back training with the team apparently but would expect some injury cover to come in.

[twitchy]

That is brutal for briz.

[FKAS]

Big blows for Bristol. They brought in Byrne on loan last season as injury dispensation. Wouldn't be surprised to see them dip into the market again.