Bristol excited to be facing a 'fully-loaded' Saracens
Bristol boss Pat Lam is relishing the challenge that awaits his team against a “fully-loaded” Saracens on Saturday. The Gallagher Premiership’s second-placed side head to Allianz Park without an away victory over Saracens since 2006.
Saracens’ significant points deduction for breaching Premiership salary cap regulations sees them sitting exactly the total they were punished – 35 points – behind Bristol. Lam’s men could go top of the table if they win and current leaders Northampton are beaten by Sale Sharks, and the Bears are currently on an undefeated seven-match run.
“They [Saracens] will be fully-loaded because of the situation they are in,” said Lam on his club’s official website. “There is no reason for them to be complacent at all, so if we manage to pull off the victory, it’s going to be a huge achievement.
“This is another good barometer that we look for to see how we are going and how we’re going to deal with this challenge, and that’s what I’m excited by.”
Saracens, 22 points adrift of eleventh-placed Leicester, are fresh from reviving their Heineken Champions Cup campaign by defeating Munster last weekend. And they parade many of their star names – including Owen Farrell, Jamie George, Maro Itoje and Billy Vunipola – for Bristol’s visit.
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Exeter will be waiting for any slip-ups from Northampton and Bristol, knowing that victory over Leicester at Welford Road could see them climb into first spot. The Chiefs have rested internationals such as Jack Nowell, Nic White and Luke Cowan-Dickie, but their squad strength is such that they parade a powerful line-up captained by England centre Henry Slade.
Chiefs head coach Ali Hepher is taking little notice of Leicester’s league position as they target a fourth win of the Premiership campaign. “You only have to look at Leicester’s teamsheet to see they have quality running throughout their team,” Hepher said.
“They are a massive threat, and they’ve had time to recharge themselves and get ready to go again this weekend. The World Cup probably didn’t help them at the start of the season, losing so many players like they did.
The team Leicester have chosen to face Exeter has started a debate that even the Tigers' social media team have got involved in https://t.co/YQKrCAMhrF
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) December 20, 2019
“You can see, though, they are now starting to put together some partnerships and some combinations which are extremely dangerous. That means we have to make sure we are organised and aware of the threats, but also look for opportunities ourselves.”
Northampton have scrum-half Cobus Reinach and lock Courtney Lawes back for the trip to face Sale, with Sharks bolstered by returning star backs Chris Ashton and Faf de Klerk. Sale boss Steve Diamond said: “Chris Boyd has done a fantastic job with Northampton in his short time with the club.
The RugbyPass series continues with @alexshawsport taking an in-depth look at the @SaintsRugby stars who have lit up Franklin's Gardens over the last decade
https://t.co/bAD1MJy08P— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) December 20, 2019
“The Saints will provide a great test for us this weekend. We will have to be at our best to come away with a result against the in-form team in the league.”
Elsewhere on Saturday, Wasps host Harlequins at the Ricoh Arena – Chris Robshaw makes his 200th Quins appearance – while Sunday’s Premiership action sees London Irish hosting a Bath team boosted by Anthony Watson’s return from injury.
– Press Association
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Comments on RugbyPass
Pick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
15 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
4 Go to commentsYes Sir! Surprising, just like Fraser would also have escaped sanction if he was a few inches lower, even if it was by accident that he missed! Has there really been talk about those sanctions or is this just sensational journalism? I stopped reading, so might have missed any notations.
4 Go to commentsAI is only as good as the information put in, the nuances of the sport, what you see out the corner of the eye, how you sum up in a split second the situation, yes the AI is a tool but will not help win games, more likely contribute to a loss, Rugby Players are not robots, all AI can do if offer a solution not the solution. AI will effect many sports, help train better golfers etc.
45 Go to commentsIt couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
26 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
15 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
26 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
15 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
84 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
2 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
4 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
15 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
14 Go to commentsI like this, but ultimately rugby already has enough trophies. Trying to make more games “consequential" might prove to be a fools errand, although this is a less bad idea than some others. Minor quibble with the title of the article; it isn’t very meaningful to say the boks are the unofficial world champions when it would be functionally impossible for the Raeburn trophy not to be held by the world champions. There’s a period of a few months every 4 years when there is no “unofficial” world champion, and the Raeburn trophy is held by the actual world champions.
15 Go to commentsIts a great idea but one that I dont think will have a lot of traction. It will depend on the prestige that they each hold but if you can do that it would be great. When Japan beat the Boks (my team) I was absolutely devestated but I wont deny the great game they played that day. We were outclassed and it was one of the best games of rugby I have seen. Using an idea like this you might just give the the underdog teams more of an opportunity to beat the big teams and I can absolutely see it being a brilliant display of rugby. They beat us because they planned for that game. It was a great moment for Japan. This way we can remove the 4 year wait and give teams something to aim for outside of World Cup years.
15 Go to commentsHi, Dave here. Happy to answer questions 🥰
15 Go to commentsDon’t think that headline is accurate. It’s great to see Aus doing better but I’m not sure they’ve shown much threat to the top of the table. They shouldn’t be inflating wins against the lousy Highlanders and Crusaders either.
3 Go to comments