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Dan McKellar to probe 'very flat' Leicester Tigers opener
Leicester’s new head coach Dan McKellar accepted that his side were comfortably second best as they lost 25-14 at Bristol in the Gallagher Premiership’s opening fixture.
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Tigers trailed 25-0 after a one-sided first 50 minutes, before showing some fight to score two tries and give the final scoreline some respectability at Ashton Gate.
Dan Kelly and Hanro Liebenberg scored those tries, with Charlie Atkinson and Jamie Shillcock each adding a conversion.
For Bristol, man of the match Gabriel Ibitoye scored two tries and Harry Thacker also crossed, with AJ MacGinty adding two conversions and James Williams kicking two penalties.
McKellar said: “In that first 40 minutes we were well beaten in all areas. We were slow out of the blocks and very flat and will have to review it thoroughly and find a solution to it.
“There were too many individual errors to gift them field position but there is nothing major that we are not able to fix.
“We will learn plenty from tonight and we showed plenty of fight in the second half as there were some really good contributions from the bench.
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“Kyle Hatherall got us moving forward with some good carries and had we managed another try, there could have well been a grandstand finish.
“A number of our bench players put their hands up for selection next week.”
Bristol director of rugby Pat Lam was disappointed his side failed to pick up a bonus point by being unable to add to their 25-point tally in the final half hour.
He said: “I am frustrated as we sat back on our lead and played within ourselves.
“We were kicking when we should have been running and therefore putting ourselves under pressure when all the pressure had been on them in the first half.
“However it was a great start and it was particularly pleasing that we were able to execute well a number of pre-season ideas that we worked on, including the pre-planned move for our first try.
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“I was impressed with our physicality, which you always need against Leicester, and our kicking game was really good.”
Ten minutes from the end their star signing, former France international centre Virimi Vakatawa, was introduced for his club debut.
Lam said: “He will be a star in the Premiership and that’s what people want to see.
“He only arrived last week and has had just training sessions so his involvement was obviously limited tonight.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Kinda strange that he wasn’t with a premiership team or a higher level of rugby? Start playing late or something? With that kind of size and athleticism you’d think someone would have picked him up?
2 Go to commentsShows how much attitude matters. Last week the Brumbies got done, this week they dominated the tournament leaders, who were likely thinking they could cruise to victory.
4 Go to commentsA Turtle has more pace and leg drive than Owen Franks, so it’s a good thing he only had to run 90 metres for that try.
2 Go to commentsOh Tamati Tua was in the vastly over-rated Leon MacDonalds Blues system? Well, no wonder he was wasted, much like Emoni Narawa and Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens under MacDonald. now look at them. Good thing Tua isn’t eligible, the Aussies latch on to any player who isn’t tied down.
4 Go to commentsMark Telea is a lot of things, but a defensive juggernaut has never been one of them. There will be far bigger tests in that regard for the youngster.
10 Go to commentsLove and respect to Fiji but not a chance outside of 7s
4 Go to commentsGood summation Ned. Agree the Canes were out-muscled for once (except at the scrum!) by a focused Brumbies outfit. Tua deserves consideration for higher honors after the way he humbled Jordie and the Canes defense. Thankfully, his lack of eligibility for Oz keeps him from Joe’s plans. While I also agree the injuries affected the Canes performance, some players seemed to lack focus and intensity for this match. Perhaps after the Blues demolished the Brumbies, they thought it was going to be easy? A good reminder that any slip up in preparation can have a big affect on the result. Brumbies deserved that win.
4 Go to commentsKarl Dixon should never have been appointed this fixture, absolute disgrace, He’s not much of a referee anyway, didn't have the balls to send his mate care off
5 Go to commentsBrilliant article! Harry of 8/9
2 Go to comments‘UK athletes' have been in the NFL from the start.
2 Go to commentsIt’s going to be Scott Barrett. He’s the coaches mate and captain of a previously elite team. Ardie a great option but scooter has worked with the coach and Ardie still as big a leader as needed.
23 Go to commentsI commend Colin Scotts bio All Balls. He was the first Aussie to make it to NFL. But he was poached and did a full apprenticeship at the University of Hawaii. He was 130kgs surfed played 1st grade cricket etc. big guy by normal but not NFL standards and a top athlete. Even then the nfl were picking up Tongans and Samoans for their natural size and explosive power. They want explosive power not cardio from the big boys so a guy like Taniela Tupou would have been good if picked up young enough. He has fast twitch and they’d bulk the little lad up and give him something to do. soccer teams set up academies and look for Over Sara’s talent eg Messi was at Barcelona since a teenager and harry kewell went to Leeds as a teenager like 16 or something.
11 Go to commentsThe article alludes to the fact that this isn’t about picking a captain. But picking a great captain. So who would make for a great All Black captain - not just an obvious or safe shoo-in? I’m not sure Ardie’s the guy and Barret doesn’t stand out either.
23 Go to commentsI guess we may all agree on the fact, that the ABs and Boks are the two in contest for No 1 in rugby history (the triple-A sort of) …. the Wallabies, England and France are the next tier, with Ireland being the new kid in town (AA) …. in my view it makes little sense creating imaginary competitions (unless you have too much time to waste)
45 Go to commentsWhat a joke. Total joke and the pundits commentating, all of whom know a bit about the game, could barely disguise their contempt. Reaching for the card then pulling back when he realised a red card would carry further match suspensions is simply not his decision to make. A clear and obvious influence on the outcome of this match and indeed, the championship path.
5 Go to commentsI like the idea, in NZ the Ranfurly Shield and NPC coexist, both having their own bragging rights. The World Cup would be the pinnacle, but the competition and travels of these trophies would be interesting.
45 Go to commentsDon’t worry Sonny bill Williams leave that awkward situation about the curfew in the pass whoever it was it doesn’t matter its no big deal we back our All Blacks through the storm and the thunder until we see the Sun light again.
42 Go to commentsWho listens to this retard? He was a massive liability as a player but obviously a media sensation
42 Go to commentsI’m not surprised by such ‘virtue signalling’ by Sonny Boy. Butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth. He’s such a pious Islamic muppet, imo.
42 Go to commentsI’ve actually never heard of the guy (then I don’t watch League as it is boring). But if he is good enough.. then good luck to him. If not, well, he can always return to league.
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