League toppers Bristol blow lead over London Irish
Paddy Jackson completed a late conversion as London Irish staged a remarkable fightback to secure a 34-34 draw with Gallagher Premiership leaders Bristol.
Trailing 31-6 shortly before half-time, the Exiles stiffened their resistance in the third quarter before running amok with tries by Theo Brophy-Clews, Nick Phipps and Tom Parton.
Parton’s 77th-minute touchdown enabled Jackson to secure a share of the spoils from the kicking tee and Irish would have won it at the death but for a loose pass by Parton with players queuing up outside him to score.
The Exiles were galvanised by reinforcements from the bench, including man-of-the-match Phipps, Ireland flanker Sean O’Brien and Argentina hooker Agustin Creevy as Bristol fell away.
Fijian wing Ratu Naulago ran in two tries while Piers O’Connor and Chris Vui also touched down as part of a devastating first half from the Bears, who had wrapped up the bonus point before the interval.
Naulago was particularly dangerous with his speed and footwork a frequent menace, especially when dovetailing with full-back Charles Piutau, but the leaders had fired all their shots to allow Irish back in.
Bristol bounced back from the early setbacks of losing Dave Attwood to a calf injury before kick-off and Sam Bedlow to a yellow card for a tip tackle to run in two intercept tries inside the first 10 minutes.
Both scores came against the run of play with Irish attacking, but the Bears were alert to the opportunities with Piutau picking off Jackson for O’Conor to touch down.
And as the Exiles closed in on the visiting whitewash, the lurking Naulago pounced on Blair Cowan’s offload in heavy traffic and raced the length of the pitch to score.
With Callum Sheedy adding both conversions and a penalty, Bedlow returned to a team that was 17-3 ahead and beginning to dominate.
A second Jackson penalty interrupted Bristol’s flow of points but the relief was temporary as pressure began to build on their line once more and ended when Vui forced his way over from close range.
And the bonus point was delivered with five minutes remaining of the first half, Piutau and Naulago counter-attacking in tandem from 50 metres out with the Fijian wing weaving a path over the whitewash.
Exiles lock Steve Mafi picked up from the ruck and as tackles slipped off him he charged across the line, reducing the half-time deficit to 31-13.
Irish continued to show shoots of recovery in the third quarter as their pack began to trade on equal terms with one purple patch yielding a turnover and scrum penalty to keep Bristol pinned back in their own half.
But the balance tilted against them when a backs move broke down and then Ben Loader was sent to the sin-bin for a deliberate knock-on, allowing Sheedy to make it six from six from the kicking tee.
Replacement flanker Sean O’Brien offloaded to Brophy-Clews for the Irish centre to score in the 64th minute and when replacement scrum-half Nick Phipps slipped over shortly after, the comeback was on.
Parton finished a brilliant period of play from the home team to give Jackson his shot at goal, but the replacement back’s wayward injury-time pass ruined a final chance at glory.
Comments on RugbyPass
Four Kiwis in that backline. A solid statement on the lack of invention, risk-taking and joy in the NH game; game of attrition and head- banging tedium. Longterm medical problems aplenty in the future!
1 Go to commentsGood article, I learnt quite a lot. A big sliding door moment was in the mid 00s when they rejected Steve Anderson's long term transformation and he wrote Ireland's strategy instead.
2 Go to commentsHi Dr Nick! I'm worried that I've started to enjoy watching England and have actually wanted them to win their last two games. What would you prescribe? On a more serious note, I've noticed that the standard of play in March is often better than early February. Do you think this is because of the weather or because the players have been together for longer?
10 Go to commentsMy question in all this brett is who is going to wear the consequences of these actions? Surely just getting the sack isn’t sufficient? A teenager working the till at woolies would probably get taken to court if they took $20 out of the till. You mean to tell me that someone can spend $2.6 million and get away with it? Where was it spent? What companies/people were the beneficiaries etc? How is it just being talked about as an ‘oopsie’ and we all just move on and not a matter of the court for gross negligence, fraud, take your pick…
18 Go to commentslove Manu too but England have relied on him coming back from injury for far too long and not sorted the position with someone else long term . It will be a blessing he has gone . Huge shame he was so injury prone . God speed Manu .
3 Go to commentsI agree with Ben Smith about Brett Cameron. The No. 6 position has to be a monster and a genuine lineout option, like Ollivon, Lawes (now Chessum), Du Toit, etc. The only player who fits that bill right now is Scott Barrett. A fit and fizzing Tuipolotu together with one of the young towers, Sam Darry or Josh Lord, would give Razor the freedom to play Barret at 6.
15 Go to commentsOutstanding article, Graham. Agree with all of it. And enjoy the style of writing too (particularly Grand Slap!).
2 Go to commentsI wouldn't pay a cent for that loafer. He just stands around, waiting for play to come his way. He won't make the Wallabies.
1 Go to commentsGood bit of te reo maori Nic. Or is that Niko or Nikora? On the theme of trees the Oaks v Totara. Game plan would be key. I have one but it would cost you.
10 Go to comments> Shaun Edwards’ You should not have to score 30 points to win a game, as exciting as it is. This statement was surprising to me. It is nonsensical .I guess it is a defence coach speaking. But head coach, defence and attacking coaches all work together. They are inseparable. You score more than the opposition to win. It only needs to be one score. You score whatever the game demands, whatever the opposition demand. You defend whatever it takes. The attack coach needs to be able to clock up 30pts if need be.
10 Go to commentsWho’d have thought, not having Farrell & Youngs kicking the ball at every possible opportunity and playing flat and allowing your centres to run and pass would pay off? No one could possibly have seen this coming. FML. It took a LONG time coming but at least that time has finally come. England need to find a backup to Lawrence. Freeman is the best candidate for me, I see no reason why he can't play 12. He's big, strong, fast and has great hands.
10 Go to commentsLove Manu but he's not the player he was and I imagine Bayonne have paid too much money for him.
3 Go to commentsNew Zealand have not beaten England since 2018 and even that was a pretty close shave.
1 Go to comments“a renewed focus on Scottish-qualified players” Scottish-qualified is another way of saying English. England has development more players for the Scotland national Rugby team in the last 4 years, than Scotland has.
2 Go to commentsThis sounds a lot like the old Welsh rugby proverb “Wales never lose. Other teams just score more points.”
5 Go to commentsFinally,at last, Borthwick has done what the whole of England have been crying out for. Ditch the kick chase and let the players have freedom to attack and run with the ball. It was great to see. Ford played really well and for the first time in ages was 5 yards closer to the gainline which then allowed a more attacking position . Pity it has taken 90 odd caps to do so. However, this has to continue and not be a false dawn . One issue. Marcus. With Ford having one really good game in 5 ,is he the answer long term . Smith puts bums on seats and is terrific to watch . How can you leave him out before he departs for France in disillusion . England are in danger of Simmons , Alex Goode , Cipriani , Mercer and now Smith being unable to get a selection ahead of “favourites” of the management regardless of form . Great to see England play so well .
2 Go to commentsCockerill was an abrasive player in the mould of a Georgian front rower who will have the respect of that pack. Looking forward to seeing what he can do with this exciting team, hopefully they can send a message to unions like Wales that money alone doesn't buy you wins.
2 Go to commentsI like the look of those July matches. Hopefully they'll get some good tests in November too.
2 Go to commentsThis is a poor article, essentially just trolling six nations teams
22 Go to commentsConnaught man? How you can write that without blushing.
6 Go to comments