1
'I think it's unfair to speak about me after a gritty win like that'
Pat Lam says Bristol remain “pretty relentless” in terms of chasing a top-six Gallagher Premiership finish and Champions Cup qualification this season.
ADVERTISEMENT
But Lam’s team once again underlined their Premiership title play-off credentials by claiming a first league win at Bath since 2006.
Bristol’s 19-13 victory moved them third in the table, one point behind second-placed Sale Sharks.
And with play-off spots wide open this term, they continue to mix it amid the Premiership’s higher echelons.
“Top six was our goal right from the very beginning, and it hasn’t changed,” Bristol rugby director Lam said.
“Every year, the squad is getting better, the team is growing.
“We want to play at the highest level – the Champions Cup – and we are pretty relentless in terms of that being our goal this season.
“The main thing is we are inside our target, but there is a long way to go.
“That was the result of a lot of work today. We had a clear game-plan because we were coming to the toughest conditions in the Premiership.
ADVERTISEMENT
“We talked about not getting bored of playing the game we needed to play to win this game, and we selected the group accordingly. It was a very good win.”
The Six Nations have told RugbyPass that they are refusing to rule anything out following reports that they are to go behind a paywall.
– @chrisjonespress with the latest #GuinnessSixNations https://t.co/Yezkg6vYhW
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) March 1, 2020
Architect of the success was fly-half Callum Sheedy, who delivered a performance that once again confirmed his considerable ability.
Cardiff-born Sheedy is qualified to play for Wales; Ireland via his parents; and England on residency.
ADVERTISEMENT
Wales fly-half Dan Biggar has suffered an injury ahead of next Saturday’s Guinness Six Nations clash against England at Twickenham.
And with Biggar’s fellow Wales number 10s Gareth Anscombe, Rhys Patchell and Owen Williams all out of the selection picture through injuries, 24-year-old Sheedy could conceivably prove an option.
“I am just trying to play my best rugby for Bristol. Whatever happens after that, happens,” he said.
“My main focus is playing well for Bristol, keep winning and keep climbing that table.
“I think it’s unfair to speak about me after a gritty win like that.
Will he go Wales ??????? or will he go England ????????
Bristol's Callum Sheedy talks: Test rugby, @BristolBears rivalries and what it'll be like playing with Semi Radradra – with @heagneyl ???https://t.co/JxDKYXk4Pf
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) March 1, 2020
“We are constantly growing. The growth in the group is unbelievable, so it is really special and exciting to see where this group can go.
“It’s been 14 years since we won at The Rec, so it’s massive to get the win.”
Tries by flanker Chris Vui, wing Alapati Leiua and substitute scrum-half Harry Randall shaded a tight and tense west country derby in Bristol’s favour.
Sheedy kicked two conversions and, although Bath replacement Will Chudley touched down in the second period, it was a case of too little too late.
Rhys Priestland slotted two penalties and a conversion, yet it was Bristol’s day.
Bath suffered a first Premiership home defeat for a year, but Bristol’s fourth league win on the bounce kept them firmly in the play-off mix.
Bath rugby director Stuart Hooper said: “A defeat at home is tough, and to your local rivals is even tougher.
“Ultimately, we weren’t clinical when we had the opportunities to score, and we paid the price for that.
“This league is incredibly tight. It was a one-score game today, and the league is like that. You have got to convert, you have got to get those scores.”
Press Association
Comments on RugbyPass
Thanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
11 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
9 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
11 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
9 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
5 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
6 Go to comments