Bristol v Bath: Line-ups - now Sat 5.30pm

[SDHoneymonster]

The season is upon us! Here's how the Avon derby is looking:

Bristol:
1. Ellis Genge
2. Bryan Byrne
3. Kyle Sinckler
4. Joe Joyce
5. Chris Vui
6. Sam Jeffries
7. Jake Heenan (c)
8. Magnus Bradbury

9. Harry Randall
10. Callum Sheedy

11. RICH LANE!!!!
12. Sam Bedlow
13. Piers O'Conor
14. Luke Morahan
15. Charles Piutau

REPLACEMENTS: 16. Will Capon; 17. Jake Woolmore; 18. Max Lahiff; 19. Ed Holmes; 20. Sam Lewis; 21. Andy Uren; 22. AJ MacGinty; 23. Jack Bates.


Bath:
1. Beno Obano
2. Tom Dunn
3. Aranos Coetzee
4. Dave Attwood
5. Josh McNally
6. Josh Bayliss
7. Chris Cloete
8. Jaco Coetzee

9. Ben Spencer (c)
10. Piers Francis

11. Matt Gallagher
12. Cameron Redpath
13. Will Butt
14. Gabriel Hamer-Webb
15. Tom de Glanville

REPLACEMENTS: 16. Niall Annett; 17. Lewis Boyce; 18. Johannes Jonker; 19. Will Spencer; 20. Ewan Richards; 21. Louis Schreuder; 22. Orlando Bailey; 23. Richard de Carpentier.

Pack Van Graan has gone with doesn't suggest they'll be looking to run it much...

[Mellsblue]

10. Piers Francis

Pack Van Graan has gone with doesn't suggest they'll be looking to run it much...

Would you with Francis at 10?!?!?

Thank you for using RICH LANE!!!!’s proper name in its proper format. The fact that you’ve almost certainly copied and pasted the team and then took the time to change it has brought a smile to my face!
On that note, it’ll be interesting to see whether time in the England camp has added to Jeff Rees’ game.

[FKAS]

I assume there's injuries to the likes of Underhill and Szyslak and so there isn't much choice for Bath but to go big up front. I also presume there's injuries in the backs given no Joseph or Ojomoh. Piers Francis at 10 not the best option either. Unsure how Bath will go but guess the plan is to squeeze the life out of Bristol.

Bristol have got a fairly hefty pack out themselves though no Luatau is a loss it looks considerably better with Genge in the front row. Error not making him captain.

Both sides lacking much offering from the bench bar the replacement 10s who are probably better than the starting options so could make the second half very interesting.

[SDHoneymonster]

Complicated game for me - I'm a Bath fan who lives in Bristol and has actually attended more games at Ashton Gate than I ever have at the Rec, and even I'm getting a little swept up emotionally in Big Ellis' homecoming. The King of Knowle West come back to rule us all.

[Which Tyler]

Very glad we're not just flogging our England players and sending them straight back into the breach.
Let's hope we stick with that attitude.

Less fond of the 6:2 split (3 of them locks), but again, good evidence that we won't be playing champagne rugby

I assume there's injuries to the likes of Underhill and Szyslak

https://www.bathrugby.com/news/bath-rug ... r-compeed/

[FKAS]

I assume there's injuries to the likes of Underhill and Szyslak

https://www.bathrugby.com/news/bath-rug ... r-compeed/

Ta. Ojomoh just not selected for this one then.

Agree about not rushing the England internationals back. I'm hoping Borthwick doesn't go in for that either. The season is long, better to have them as close to full fitness as possible before dropping the back in. The earlier reintroduction does tend to feel a little desperate, Pat Lam certainly have those vibes with his press conference on the subject and you can see why with a couple of the big names missing and a scrum that got pushed around a fair bit last season.

[jimKRFC]

Strongest looking Bristol front row for years!

Wet weather should make it a kick-fest though, but pretty happy that Morahan, Puitau and Rich Lane!!! will cope with high balls.

the replacement 10s who are probably better than the starting options so could make the second half very interesting.

"Adge" McGinty had a bit of mare against Scarlets and Sheedy came on turn things so think this is a form selection.

Not sure about Francis at 10 or RDC as a back replacement though....

[Mellsblue]

Rich Lane!!!

In capitals you heretic.

[FKAS]

Strongest looking Bristol front row for years!

Wet weather should make it a kick-fest though, but pretty happy that Morahan, Puitau and Rich Lane!!! will cope with high balls.

the replacement 10s who are probably better than the starting options so could make the second half very interesting.

"Adge" McGinty had a bit of mare against Scarlets and Sheedy came on turn things so think this is a form selection.

Not sure about Francis at 10 or RDC as a back replacement though....

Sheedy on form is a great flyhalf to be fair, he's just a bit predictable and looked to really be struggling last season. McGinty is really good option as a mentor as he's quite handy at controlling territory and easing the pressure on his forwards if things aren't going his team's way. Areas Sheedy needs assistance with.

[fivepointer]

Obviously the RICH LANE!!!! selection is the standout.

Francis at 10 is a touch surprising.

Fascinating to see how these teams go. They really need a decent start after last season.

[Banquo]

Obviously the RICH LANE!!!! selection is the standout.

Francis at 10 is a touch surprising.

Fascinating to see how these teams go. They really need a decent start after last season.

didn't they say they saw him playing 10 when he was signed?

[fivepointer]

Just didnt see him starting ahead of Bailey.

[twitchy]

[Tigger]

Been told tonight's game have been postponed....no idea about the rest.

[Puja]

Said this on the SMB, but it's really weird that Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales are all too sad to have ball sports this weekend, whereas it appears that both English football and rugby are more worried about finances putting on a stiff upper lip.

I'm in favour of carrying on, mind - feels like performative rectitude to stop the country outright.

Puja

[Puja]

Ah - the football have just made the decision to postpone all the weekends' fixtures. I suspect rugby will be making a volte face very shortly, out of fear of being seen to be disrespectful.

Puja

[Tigger]

Now been told they are still discussing it and no decision has been made....

[FKAS]

Ah - the football have just made the decision to postpone all the weekends' fixtures. I suspect rugby will be making a volte face very shortly, out of fear of being seen to be disrespectful.

Puja

Personally I'd rather have the games go ahead so that rugby as a whole has chance to pay tribute and show respect to Her Majesty. By not doing anything it just feels a bit empty.

What would be really good was if the clubs all had shirts with a memorial message on them and those could then be signed and auctioned off with the money given to one of the Queen's designated charities.

[FKAS]

Now been told they are still discussing it and no decision has been made....

Seems to be what the Tigers Twitter feed is suggesting.

[Tigger]

There is a statement from RFU that all games can go ahead this weekend....down to PRL now

[fivepointer]

Following the decision by the Premiership Rugby board, #BristolBears can confirm that tonight’s fixture against Bath Rugby has been postponed.

The game will now be rescheduled for Saturday, September 10th (5.30pm KO).

[SDHoneymonster]

Bris v Bath moved to tomorrow, all Saturday games going ahead. No word on a Sale/Saints reschedule yet though.

[jimKRFC]

Don't get the point of just moving it 24 hours..

Alex Lowe from The Times
"Bristol understood to be pretty hacked off at having to reschedule their game. They argued the case to play tonight but were outvoted in the board meeting, a decision that could cost them up to £200k"

[Puja]

Don't get the point of just moving it 24 hours..

Alex Lowe from The Times
"Bristol understood to be pretty hacked off at having to reschedule their game. They argued the case to play tonight but were outvoted in the board meeting, a decision that could cost them up to £200k"

None of it makes any sense. It's performative. If it was on the day itself, then I could understand, but 48 hours seems like a weird arbitrary line to draw.

I'd imagine it'll probably cost them more than £200k - they'll be unlikely to get the same crowd back that they would have had for a Friday night, season-opener, against their main rivals, with the local hero returned to the city.

Puja

[FKAS]

Don't get the point of just moving it 24 hours..

Alex Lowe from The Times
"Bristol understood to be pretty hacked off at having to reschedule their game. They argued the case to play tonight but were outvoted in the board meeting, a decision that could cost them up to £200k"

None of it makes any sense. It's performative. If it was on the day itself, then I could understand, but 48 hours seems like a weird arbitrary line to draw.

I'd imagine it'll probably cost them more than £200k - they'll be unlikely to get the same crowd back that they would have had for a Friday night, season-opener, against their main rivals, with the local hero returned to the city.

Puja

Potentially it could be better. I knew a lot of fans don't like the Friday night games because they can be a pain to get to after work and you can't take the family because of the late finish. Market it right and they could shift some extra tickets.

I appreciate that logistically it's an absolute nightmare though.