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Hughes starts as Lam's shock Bristol selection dubbed 'greatest bench' in history

By Ian Cameron
Bristol Bears' Semi Radradra during the Gallagher Premiership Rugby match between Bath Rugby and Bristol Bears at The Recreation Ground (Photo by Bob Bradford - CameraSport via Getty Images)

Bristol Bears head coach Pat Lam has thrown a massive curveball in his selection for his side’s Heineken Champions Cup match with Sale Sharks, dropping his star players to the bench and bringing re-called loanee Nathan Hughes straight back into the team.

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Hughes had been sent out on loan by Lam earlier in the season, the former England No.8 seemingly unable to break into the Bristol first team after returning from a string of injuries.

However, Hughes shone in a brief loan spell for Bath, and was recalled Lam for the European duty. Hughes had not been listed for the Heineken Champions Cup for Bath, but had been for Bristol, triggering Lam’s decision to recall the in-form back row.

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He will be joined England tighthead Kyle Sinckler, who also returns for Champions Cup clash. Bryan Byrne is named at hooker, while Jake Woolmore returns to the front row and Sam Jeffries is named on the openside. Wallaby Luke Morahan joins Jack Bates and Alapati Leiua in the back three for the first time since February 5th.

In the midfield, Piers O’Conor teams up with Sam Bedlow, while at halfback, England scrum half Harry Randall is paired with Callum Sheedy.

What’s maybe more perplexing about the selection is decision to drop the team’s three All Blacks and team superstar Semi Radradra to the replacements bench.

Lam has selected John Afoa, Steven Luatua and Charles Piutau as replacements, as well as in form back row Fitz Harding, one of the finds of the season for the struggling Bears.

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Put simply, Lam has has huge firepower to call upon late in the game. One fan dubbed it the ‘Greatest bench in the history of union’.

BRISTOL BEARS: 15. Luke Morahan, 14. Jack Bates, 13. Piers O’Conor, 12. Sam Bedlow, 11. Alapati Leiua, 10. Callum Sheedy, 9. Harry Randall; 1. Jake Woolmore, 2. Bryan Byrne, 3. Kyle Sinckler, 4. Dave Attwood, 5. Joe Joyce (c), 6. Chris Vui, 7. Sam Jeffries, 8. Nathan Hughes.

REPLACEMENTS: 16. Harry Thacker, 17. Yann Thomas, 18. John Afoa, 19. Steven Luatua, 20. Fitz Harding, 21. Andy Uren, 22. Semi Radradra, 23. Charles Piutau.

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Bull Shark 39 minutes ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

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