RugbyRebels

Bristol Bears team to face Exeter Chiefs at Ashton Gate on Saturday (5.30pm KO, live on TNT Sports):

15. Rich Lane (54 apps), 14. Jack Bates (49 apps), 13. Benhard Janse van Rensburg (42 apps), 12. James Williams (48 apps), 11. Kalaveti Ravouvou (24 apps), 10. Harry Byrne (6 apps), 9. Harry Randall (138 apps); 1. Jake Woolmore (164 apps), 2. Gabriel Oghre (35 apps), 3. George Kloska (58 apps), 4. James Dun (47 apps), 5. Joe Owen (30 apps), 6. Santiago Grondona (10 apps), 7. Fitz Harding (c) (89 apps), 8. Viliame Mata (10 apps).

System players: 16. Harry Thacker (127 apps), 17. Ellis Genge (55 apps), 18. Max Lahiff (103 apps), 19. Josh Caulfield (31 apps), 20. Steven Luatua (146 apps), 21. Kieran Marmion (44 apps), 22. Benjamin Elizalde (16 apps), 23. Siva Naulago (40 apps).

Exeter Chiefs:

15 Dan John
14 Paul Brown-Bampoe
13 Henry Slade
12 Will Rigg
11 Josh Hodge
10 Ben Coen
9 Tom Cairns
1 Will Goodrick-Clarke
2 Max Norey
3 Jimmy Roots
4 Dafydd Jenkins (c)
5 Christ Tshiunza
6 Martin Moloney
7 Richard Capstick
8 Greg Fisilau


Replacements:
16 Jack Yeandle
17 Scott Sio
18 Josh Iosefa-Scott
19 Lewis Pearson
20 Kane James
21 Niall Armstrong
22 Harvey Skinner
23 Ben Hammersley

They're trialling broadcasting the refs decisions over the PA for this. Hopefully will make everything a bit clearer for supporters!

Chiefs fans, on their bb, are not positive. For Bristol it's nice to see the injuries clearing!

If Exeter's heads drop early this could quickly turn into a massacre. Morale looks to be low there and their fans are less than pleased.

FKAS wrote: ↑Fri Mar 21, 2025 3:39 pm If Exeter's heads drop early this could quickly turn into a massacre. Morale looks to be low there and their fans are less than pleased.

That Exeter pack is hugely underwhelming. Capstick used to be a 7 a while back, but he's been bulking and playing as a lock, so that's going to be interesting against Grondona, Harding, and Mata who are very mobile indeed.

Puja

Capstick is a good player and a natural 6.

Exeter used to be a team you could name most of their starting XV who would play most weeks. I'm not sure they know what their best team is, hence you get repeated shuffles in the pack and particularly at centre.

Hard to see past an emphatic Bristol win.

Puja wrote: ↑Fri Mar 21, 2025 4:23 pm

FKAS wrote: ↑Fri Mar 21, 2025 3:39 pm If Exeter's heads drop early this could quickly turn into a massacre. Morale looks to be low there and their fans are less than pleased.

That Exeter pack is hugely underwhelming. Capstick used to be a 7 a while back, but he's been bulking and playing as a lock, so that's going to be interesting against Grondona, Harding, and Mata who are very mobile indeed.

Puja

It feels like a Tigers backrow from our shite period. Lock at 7, big blindside who lacks mobility and asking the 8 to do the hard carrying and cover all the ground in the loose.

WTF is going on. TMO review might chalk it off but otherwise 5 tries in under ten and a half minutes.

Bristol 3-2 Exeter, this game is bat shit crazy so might as well just scored based on tries.

Coen not trusted with kicking? Thought that was about the only good thing of his game

FKAS wrote: ↑Sat Mar 22, 2025 5:45 pm Bristol 3-2 Exeter, this game is bat shit crazy so might as well just scored based on tries.

4:3

Now Bristol concede a red card. Grondona for a poor high tackle.

Now 5:4 as well in 30 minutes. Madness.

Premiership offy match centre has broken

Which Tyler wrote: ↑Sat Mar 22, 2025 6:10 pm Premiership offy match centre has broken

Probably can't update fast enough

6:4 half time ….. ding dong

Exeter look gassed after the first half. Even with a man up they can't keep hold of Bristol.

That was utterly mad. And utterly brilliant. Hugely entertaining match played at high tempo from first to last.

So much good stuff from Bristol with Randall running the show. Credit Exeter for actually playing more rugby than they've managed most of the season.

Wasn't going to watch it. So pleased I did. Fisilau is going to be burnt out at 25 if he is not managed well.

Not worth another thread, but watching exe today they are so bad. Just constant errors and low quality. Really tough to watch.