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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.
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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.
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“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.”
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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
The shoulder is a “joint” with multiple bones. You don’t “fracture” a shoulder, you fracture any one or more of the bones that make up a shoulder.
2 Go to commentsOh dear, bones too suspect to continue?
2 Go to commentsBold headline considering the Canes and Blues are 1 and 2 and the Brumbies were soundly beaten by the Chiefs and Blues. Biggest surprise is Rebels 4 Crusaders 12 - no one saw that coming. If Aus are improving that’s great 👍
1 Go to commentsAnna, You are right, we need to have patience whilst the others catch up to England and France. Also it is the PWR that has been the game changer for England. the RFU put money into that initially at the expense of the Red Roses. I was sceptical at first but it has paid off in spades.
1 Go to commentsI think Matt Proctor became a 1 test AB in the same fixture. Cameron is quality and has been great this season, can’t believe’s he only 27. Realistically how would he not be selected for ABs squad this year. Only Dmac is ahead of him as a specialist 10. With Jordan out, it will come down to where and when Beauden Barrett slots back in, and where they want to play Ruben Love. Cameron seems an absolute lock in for the wider squad though. Added benefit of TJ-Cameron-Jordie combination at 9, 10, 11 too.
1 Go to commentsFarcical, to what end would someone want to pay to keep this thing going.
1 Go to commentsHavili, our best 12 by a mile, will be in the squad, if he stays fit. JB is the most overrated AB in the last 50 years.
61 Go to commentsWe had during the week twilight footy, twilight cricket, tw golf plus there was the athletics club. Then the weekend was rugby 15s plus the net ball, really busy club scene back then but so much has changed and rugby has suffered. And it was all about changing lifestyles.
6 Go to commentsIn the 70s and 80s my club ran 5 Senior sides plus a Vets. Now it is 2 sides with an occasional 3rd team. Players have difficulty getting to training now, not sure why and the commitment is not there. It seems to me more a problem of people applying themselves and not expecting to turn up and play whenever they want to.
6 Go to commentsROG’s contract is until 2027. The conversation about a successor to Galthie after RWC 2027 may be starting now. We can infer that Galthie’s reign stops then. He is throwing the Irish Coaching Job angle in because he is Irish. The next Irish coach MUST be Leo Cullen. As well as being the best coach available, coaching the vast majority of Irish Internationals week in week out, he has shown incredible skill at recruiting the best coaching staff for the job in hand. That was a failing in France. Cullen is a shrewd guy and if there is a need for foreign coaches underneath him he won’t hesitate. Rightly so. Ireland does need to start to bring Irish coaches through. Not just at the professional level but we need to train coaches to man new pathways for developing kids from schools/clubs up through the divisions.
8 Go to commentsNo Islam says it must rule where it stands Thus it is to be deleted from this planet Earth
18 Go to commentsThis team probably does not beat the ABs sadly Not sure if BPA will be available given his signing for Force but has to enter consideration. Very strong possibility of getting schooled by the AB props. Advantage AB. Rodda/Skelton would be a tasty locking combination - would love to see how they get on. Advantage Wallabies. Backrow a risk of getting out hustled and outmuscled by ABs. Will be interesting to see if the Blues feast on the Reds this weekend the way they did the Brumbies we are in big trouble at the breakdown. Great energy, running and defence but goalkicking/general kicking/passing quality in the halves bothers me enormously. SA may have won the World Cup for a lot of the tournament without a recognised goalkicker but Pollard in the final made a difference IMO. Injuries and retirements leave AB stocks a bit lighter but still stronger. 12 and 13 ABs shade it (Barret > Paisami, Ione = Ikitau, arguably) Interesting clash of styles on the wings - Corey Toole running around Caleb Clark and Caleb running over the top of Toole. Reece vs Koro probably the reverse. Pretty even IMO. 15s Kelleway = Love See advantage to ABs man for man, but we are not obviously getting slaughtered anywhere which makes a nice change. Think talent wise we are pretty even and if our cohesion and teamwork is better than the ABs then its just about doable.
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
6 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
56 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
8 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
11 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
61 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
11 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to comments