Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

Pat Lam talks up Harry Randall for England after Bristol derby win

Bristol's Harry Randall (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Bristol boss Pat Lam believes Harry Randall is the right man for England if Alex Mitchell is unavailable for the upcoming Autumn Nations Series. Steve Borthwick’s national team open their four-match programme with a November 2 clash with the All Blacks in London.

ADVERTISEMENT

As it stands, there are fears that first choice No9 Mitchell will be unavailable as he has yet to play this season for Northampton due to a neck injury that is still under investigation.

With no date yet set for Mitchell’s return to play, Borthwick named Randall, Bath’s Ben Spencer and Leicester’s Jack van Poortvliet in his squad of 36 for the three-day training camp which starts on Monday.

Before that Pennyhill Park assembly, Randall did his chances the world of good by playing a prominent part in Bristol’s deserved 36-26 Gallagher Premiership win over Bath at The Rec, a game where he eclipsed his opposite number Spencer.

This delighted Lam. “One on the feedbacks from Steve was he wanted the nines to be quicker,” explained the Bears director of rugby. “100 per cent, Ben Spencer is a really good player, but his teams tend to kick more. Harry’s strength is his speed, his sniping and his ability to put teams under pressure.

Attack

144
Passes
114
113
Ball Carries
81
295m
Post Contact Metres
258m
5
Line Breaks
6

“I saw that when I first watched him playing for Hartpury and thought, ‘Who is this kid’? If they want a like-for-like for Mitchell, if he is out, then Harry’s that man. But I understand if you want to kick a bit more, I still believe Harry can do it but probably Ben is the best one in that sense.”

The foundation for Bristol’s derby win was laid by their bonus-earning, four-try first-half performance which was lit up by the debut-making Santiago Grondona. Signed 15 months ago, this was the first time that the Argentina back-rower was available for a Bears’ competitive match following serious injury and he scored two well-taken tries.

ADVERTISEMENT

Full-back Max Malins, centre Benhard Janse van Rensburg and hooker Gabriel Oghre also chipped in, with fly-half AJ MacGinty kicking four conversions and a penalty. It all left Lam feeling very chuffed.

“The most satisfying thing is we are predicted to finish down the bottom and Bath, with their squad and their season last year – Johann (van Graan) has done a brilliant job – are expected to win it. So for us to perform like that and play the way we did was pleasing. This game was always a big game for us, and particularly here.”

Behind 7-26 at the break, Bath hit back and closed to 21-29 before a yellow card to Sam Underhill handed Bristol the initiative to finish strongly. Van Graan said: “We conceded too many points in the first-half, then got ourselves back in the game and unfortunately went down to 14 players and left ourselves too much to do at the back end of the game.

“We backed up some errors today. We were not at our best… The Premiership is a phenomenal competition, and anybody can beat anybody. If you are 90 per cent on your game you will get beaten, like we did today.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Women's Rugby World Cup 2025 tickets

The Women's Rugby World Cup 2025 is coming to England. Click here to buy tickets.

ADVERTISEMENT

LIVE

Singapore SVNS | Day 1

Boks Office | Episode 39 | The Investec Champions Cup is back

Argentina v France | HSBC SVNS Hong Kong 2025 | Men's Match Highlights

New Zealand v Australia | HSBC SVNS Hong Kong 2025 | Women's Match Highlights

Tokyo Sungoliath vs Shizuoka BlueRevs | Japan Rugby League One 2024/25 | Full Match Replay

Reds vs Force | Super Rugby W 2025 | Full Match Replay

The Rise of Kenya | The Report

New Zealand in Hong Kong | Brady Rush | Sevens Wonders | Episode 4

The Fixture: How This Rugby Rivalry Has Lasted 59 Years

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

f
fl 2 hours ago
Why Les Kiss and Stuart Lancaster can lead Australia to glory

“A succession of recent ex-players going straight back into the game as coaches in their early 40’s would prob be enough to kill it stone-dead. Innovation would die a death.”

Would it? I do think one of the major differences between rugby and most other sports - which we’ve been overlooking - is the degree to which players are expected to lead team meetings & analysis sessions and the like. Someone like Owen Farrell has basically been an assistant coach already for ten years - and he’s been so under a variety of different head coaches with different expectations and playing styles.


“The most interesting ppl I have met in the game have all coached well into their sixties and they value the time and opportunity they have had to reflect and therefore innovate in the game. That’s based on their ability to compare and contrast between multiple eras.”

I don’t doubt that that’s true. But having interesting insights doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be the best able to inspire a team, or the best at managing the backroom staff.


“Wayne Smith winning the WWC in his mid sixties three years ago prob means nothing to you but it meant a lot to him. It took him back to the roots of is own coaching journey.”

I don’t doubt that! But I don’t think coaches should be hired on the basis that it means a lot to them.


“The likes of Carlo Ancelotti and Wayne Bennett and Andy Reid all have a tale to tell. You should open your ears and listen to it!”

I agree! Never have I ever suggested otherwise!

176 Go to comments
LONG READ
LONG READ Why NZR's Ineos settlement may be the most important victory they'll enjoy this year Why NZR's Ineos settlement may be the most important victory they'll enjoy this year
Search