Exeter vs Bristol

[jimKRFC]

Exeter:
15 Tommy Wyatt, 14 Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, 13 Henry Slade, 12 Tom Hendrickson, 11 Olly Woodburn, 10 Harvey Skinner, 9 Tom Cairns
1 Scott Sio, 2 Jack Yeandle (c), 3 Ehren Painter, 4 Rusi Tuima, 5 Lewis Pearson, 6 Ethan Roots, 7 Jacques Vermeulen, 8 Ross Vintcent

Replacements:
16 Dan Frost, 17 Nika Abuladze, 18 Josh Iosefa-Scott, 19 Dafydd Jenkins, 20 Aidon Davis, 21 Niall Armstrong, 22 Will Haydon-Wood, 23 Joe Hawkins

Bristol:
15. Rich Lane (21 apps), 14. Noah Heward (8 apps), 13. Virimi Vakatawa (3 apps), 12. Benhard Janse van Rensburg (6 apps), 11. Gabriel Ibitoye (23 apps), 10. Callum Sheedy (156 apps), 9. Kieran Marmion (7 apps); 1. Sam Grahamslaw (debut), 2. Will Capon (77 apps), 3. George Kloska (34 apps), 4. Josh Caulfield (7 apps), 5. Joe Batley (45 apps), 6. James Dun (19 apps), 7. Fitz Harding (c) (57 apps), 8. Magnus Bradbury (27 apps).

Subs: 16. Harry Thacker (105 apps), 17. Jake Woolmore (136 apps), 18. Max Lahiff (71 apps), 19. Ed Holmes (98 apps), 20. Dan Thomas (133 apps), 21. Harry Randall (107 apps), 22. James Williams (23 apps), 23. Piers O’Conor (125 apps).

Bristol have a made a few changes to the line up from last week with, most noticeably, Sam Grahamslaw and Kloska starting props. PL has stuck with the squad from the first few weeks though, with Malins, Ravouvou and Sinckler off till next week, Genge the weekend after and no word on when Vui will be fit again.

A sloppy, game against Quins last week with Bristol errors costing the win. With Exeter in good form, and at home, they have to be strong favourites for this one.

If Bristol lose this then I fear we may have another season like the ls two...

[fivepointer]

Bristol are OK. They have 2 good wins behind them and, with good players set to return soon, i think they'll be fine.

Exeter certainly the surprise so far. Their play has been eye catchingly good with several players looking in very good form.

[p/d]

Is Frost returning from injury or is the pony-tailed assassin Yeandle keeping him out on form?

[Epaminondas Pules]

Strong start from Exeter! Big efforts from the pack gets reward! Tuima scored from close range! 7 v 0 after four minutes!!

[p/d]

LANE!!!

[twitchy]

Rensburg has been getting hyped in the paper for england, when does he qualify?

[Epaminondas Pules]

Rensburg has been getting hyped in the paper for england, when does he qualify?

2026 when he’ll be 29.

[p/d]

Can’t LANE score a bit closer to the posts! Give Sheedy a chance

[twitchy]

Rensburg has been getting hyped in the paper for england, when does he qualify?

2026 when he’ll be 29.

Ok, so not exactly imminent then.

[fivepointer]

Even as LANE hat trick cant get Bristol a point. Dogged effort from them but they were under the cosh pretty much throughout.

Tuima a deserved MotM.

[Spiffy]

Bristol/Vakatawa : thought he retired from rugby in France a couple of seasons ago with a heart problem? What's the story?

[Scrumhead]

He was medically cleared to play, but can’t get insured to play in France.

They have different, stricter rules. Same reason Cowan-Dickie’s move to Montpellier was cancelled.

[Epaminondas Pules]

Even as LANE hat trick cant get Bristol a point. Dogged effort from them but they were under the cosh pretty much throughout.

Tuima a deserved MotM.

Tuima did lots of very good stuff, but his carrying reminded me a lot of Borthwick, except a much bigger bloke. For his size he carries really quite poorly. He doesn't fight through contact the way you'd expect someone of his size to.

[Puja]

Even as LANE hat trick cant get Bristol a point. Dogged effort from them but they were under the cosh pretty much throughout.

Tuima a deserved MotM.

Tuima did lots of very good stuff, but his carrying reminded me a lot of Borthwick, except a much bigger bloke. For his size he carries really quite poorly. He doesn't fight through contact the way you'd expect someone of his size to.

Agreed. I really want to like Tuima - there's a lot there to like in terms of the physical base - but he's not yet good at imposing that frame on contests. It could come, with time. I think the move to the second row is a good one for him.

Puja

[Oakboy]

Even as LANE hat trick cant get Bristol a point. Dogged effort from them but they were under the cosh pretty much throughout.

Tuima a deserved MotM.

Tuima did lots of very good stuff, but his carrying reminded me a lot of Borthwick, except a much bigger bloke. For his size he carries really quite poorly. He doesn't fight through contact the way you'd expect someone of his size to.

Agreed. I really want to like Tuima - there's a lot there to like in terms of the physical base - but he's not yet good at imposing that frame on contests. It could come, with time. I think the move to the second row is a good one for him.

Puja

Yet, unlike Borthwick, he can score from close quarters through heavy defensive traffic. Does that not indicate that when it really matters he can do it? In that respect he's a bit like Jonny Hill. Of course, those crunch single metre gains can look less spectacular than ten metre gains in the middle of the park. I think Tuima is making the right sort of progress but there is a fair way to go.

[Epaminondas Pules]

Tuima did lots of very good stuff, but his carrying reminded me a lot of Borthwick, except a much bigger bloke. For his size he carries really quite poorly. He doesn't fight through contact the way you'd expect someone of his size to.

Agreed. I really want to like Tuima - there's a lot there to like in terms of the physical base - but he's not yet good at imposing that frame on contests. It could come, with time. I think the move to the second row is a good one for him.

Puja

Yet, unlike Borthwick, he can score from close quarters through heavy defensive traffic. Does that not indicate that when it really matters he can do it? In that respect he's a bit like Jonny Hill. Of course, those crunch single metre gains can look less spectacular than ten metre gains in the middle of the park. I think Tuima is making the right sort of progress but there is a fair way to go.

He does utilise his size well otherwise. His clear outs were really good, obvious grunt in the scrum but also in the maul both attack and defence. That close carry was an excellent. My main gripe is whe. He carries with momentum he doesn’t generate much momentum / make much of a dent. What he does do well however is spin out to still make positive yards. I’d just like to see a bit more oomph in those carries.

And totally agree there is real progress.

[Puja]

Tuima did lots of very good stuff, but his carrying reminded me a lot of Borthwick, except a much bigger bloke. For his size he carries really quite poorly. He doesn't fight through contact the way you'd expect someone of his size to.

Agreed. I really want to like Tuima - there's a lot there to like in terms of the physical base - but he's not yet good at imposing that frame on contests. It could come, with time. I think the move to the second row is a good one for him.

Puja

Yet, unlike Borthwick, he can score from close quarters through heavy defensive traffic. Does that not indicate that when it really matters he can do it? In that respect he's a bit like Jonny Hill. Of course, those crunch single metre gains can look less spectacular than ten metre gains in the middle of the park. I think Tuima is making the right sort of progress but there is a fair way to go.

Giving someone a pass for having failings but doing a good thing when it really matters is how you get Owen Farrells. Do you want Owen Farrells?

I'm not against him as a concept, but he has got a fair amount of improving to do before I'll even start to get excited about him in an international context. Mind, like you said, he's on the right track and he has got time.

Puja

[Oakboy]

Agreed. I really want to like Tuima - there's a lot there to like in terms of the physical base - but he's not yet good at imposing that frame on contests. It could come, with time. I think the move to the second row is a good one for him.

Puja

Yet, unlike Borthwick, he can score from close quarters through heavy defensive traffic. Does that not indicate that when it really matters he can do it? In that respect he's a bit like Jonny Hill. Of course, those crunch single metre gains can look less spectacular than ten metre gains in the middle of the park. I think Tuima is making the right sort of progress but there is a fair way to go.

Giving someone a pass for having failings but doing a good thing when it really matters is how you get Owen Farrells. Do you want Owen Farrells?

I'm not against him as a concept, but he has got a fair amount of improving to do before I'll even start to get excited about him in an international context. Mind, like you said, he's on the right track and he has got time.

Puja

Farrell? Who's he?

I have to say I wasn't thinking of Tuima in international terms yet.

[FKAS]

He's had a good start to the season, let's see how he's doing in a few months time. There's a few locks that have had decent starts to the season so could be the England fourth choice.

Ibitoye had a good all round game again. Got to be in the 6N conversation on current form.

[Puja]

Ibitoye had a good all round game again. Got to be in the 6N conversation on current form.

I'm impressed by the howitzer of a boot that he's managed to develop from somewhere. Not usually a trait that you expect from a fleet, steppy winger.

Puja

[Mikey Brown]

Ibitoye had a good all round game again. Got to be in the 6N conversation on current form.

I'm impressed by the howitzer of a boot that he's managed to develop from somewhere. Not usually a trait that you expect from a fleet, steppy winger.

Puja

I feel like I remember him very occasionally showing a big boot at Quins. You just didn’t have the slightest clue what direction it would be going.

Glad to hear he’s doing well.

[jimKRFC]

Ibitoye had a good all round game again. Got to be in the 6N conversation on current form.

Haven't watched it yet, but this is the opposite of the reviews he's getting on the Bristol board. Might need to watch it now (don't usually put myself through games that will annoy me) to see for myself!

[FKAS]

Ibitoye had a good all round game again. Got to be in the 6N conversation on current form.

Haven't watched it yet, but this is the opposite of the reviews he's getting on the Bristol board. Might need to watch it now (don't usually put myself through games that will annoy me) to see for myself!

I watched it on the train whilst entertaining a 6 year old so I wouldn't say I was being analytical or anything but I was impressed by his work rate. Got very involved in defence, kicked and chased well. Ran back a few kicks to passable effect. No magic moments this week but a solid all round game.

Bristol generally got beaten up front, particularly in the second half. Lane's tries tended to come from Bristol picking out space on the outside of the Chiefs defence. The Chiefs were using almost a Sinfield style defence where they denied the opposition carriers space close in, defending narrow and aggressively. Did leave space further out after some phases.

[Banquo]

Ibitoye had a good all round game again. Got to be in the 6N conversation on current form.

Haven't watched it yet, but this is the opposite of the reviews he's getting on the Bristol board. Might need to watch it now (don't usually put myself through games that will annoy me) to see for myself!

I watched it on the train whilst entertaining a 6 year old so I wouldn't say I was being analytical or anything but I was impressed by his work rate. Got very involved in defence, kicked and chased well. Ran back a few kicks to passable effect. No magic moments this week but a solid all round game.

Bristol generally got beaten up front, particularly in the second half. Lane's tries tended to come from Bristol picking out space on the outside of the Chiefs defence. The Chiefs were using almost a Sinfield style defence where they denied the opposition carriers space close in, defending narrow and aggressively. Did leave space further out after some phases.

I was going to say that Ibitoye didn't look all that, but like you I wasn't paying full attention. He looked a bit iffy under kicks tho.

[Mikey Brown]

I've always kind of hated Ibitoye for leaving Quins.

I'm glad to hear he's playing so badly.