¶ Analysis of Bristol vs. Leinster Match
So , Miles , we're back at your place , we're back for the gate . We sadly lost that game 35-12 , having been in the game for maybe 52 minutes . It was 7-0 until 52 . And , yeah , unfortunately that got away from us . I don't know what are your initial thoughts now that you're at home in the warm .
Yeah , I agree . I thought we were toe-to-toe with you could argue , one of the best teams in Europe until 52 minutes minutes , but losing AJ McGinty at what ? Five , six minutes into the game and Yancey Van Rensburg stepping up into a position which he's you know set up to do . But then we were Len lacking in the center , which he's an awesome player at .
It was always going to be a tough match , but I'm , you know , pleasantly surprised . We hit 52 minutes in parity'm , you know , pleasantly surprised we hit 52 minutes in parity with , you know , with Leinster .
But the benches showed the difference in quality , didn't they , between a side , a premiership side , that has a very reduced salary cap , and a European side , or Irish side , which has a European side or Irish side , which has a cap which is probably three , four times the amounts . And it certainly showed me .
Yeah , I mean I think it's . It did highlight a couple of things like that . I mean it highlighted to me that if we're serious about winning Europe as well as the premiership we we have , we will have to have a bigger squad . So it will be a miracle if we go anywhere in Europe this year . To be honest .
I mean , let's be honest , we've lost to Leinster at home . We've got a six-day turnaround La Rochelle with half our team on HIAs . It's not looking good . So , having said all that , there was a lot of positives from tonight that may be useful for next season .
But you're right , how you can't operate at the highest level , lose your fly half after five minutes and basically not have another fly half , specialist fly half , to take the place .
And and as you say , I mean not only was it difficult for for Yancey to Bernard sorry to uh to play in that position and he struggled a little bit with against the wind kicking his in touch , to be fair to him but at the same time we then took away our best inside centre .
So and of course , a fly half has a very subtly different sort of game in both in attack and defence , both in attack and defence . And actually , I think the fact that we were still 7-0 until 52 minutes and essentially won that first half and could well have been more than 7-0 ahead kind of shows how well we played , given those challenges we had .
Let's just quickly go back to the first half , because it was a really it was a really really good first half and , as you say , it started badly . Losing AJ McGinty and when we saw him on the ground , I mean I think most fans knew that the writing was on the wall . It took so long for him to get up .
But then we kind of took the game to them , didn't we ? And you know we soaked in a bit of pressure from them and then for most of the second half , the second part of the first half we were in there 22 and obviously led to a couple of yellow cards on their behalf and in a way I think we were .
It was a shame we only really got seven points from it .
Yeah , I mean , they were potentially . I think , I believe they were two men down , weren't they ? You know , it's the same 10 minutes of the game . We then subsequently managed to get over the line and score seven points , but after that , as is the Bristol way , we sadly conceded an immediate try , didn't we ? Within two minutes ?
Well , it's a classic case of score and concede , oh , absolutely , which is you know the Bristol way , as it were . But you know , we were seven points apiece , and then I feel like we didn't progress , did we ?
We didn't push on during that period of their men off the pitch to dominate the game , and that then was really a common theme throughout the rest of the game . They pushed hard , they defended a lot better than the 13 men Got to , you know , got to halftime with seven points apiece , and then , you know , it just got worse down the line .
Really , you're right . You know it just got worse down the line , really , you're right . I think I was really pleasantly surprised that we got to halftime and Leinster didn't really appear to break our defence at all .
They did that , you know , cheeky , you know cheeky sort of seven-pointer that seemed to be scored , but with AJ off and Yancey stepping up , we did brilliantly . Our defence was great , Our attacking you know , we tried to play De Brea's way . They knew their defence was extremely good . It wasn't like playing a quiz of last game .
Their rush defence was you know sublime . And we just couldn't , we couldn't break their line um , apart from that , one sort of you could argue lucky try towards halfway yeah , I mean it's .
It's a real shame . I think you're rightly so . Two couple of things came out that first half number one , our defense was was absolutely rock solid . They , they couldn't find a way through and , and you know , they tried everything . They , they tried to punch holes in it .
They , they kicked and we defended everything that was thrown at us and I think on that point I should say someone like fitzharding again , an amazing game it really is . I I genuinely think he's the best number eight in england in terms of what he does , both in defense and attack . Played a full 80 as well . Um , but yeah , I mean it's so frustrating .
I guess our red zone's efficiency just wasn't as good as theirs . They basically got into our 22 after we scored and then immediately scored . It's like Ian Madigan said when we spoke to him last week was that if Leinster get into your 22 , the problem you've got is they're going to get something , and unfortunately they got seven .
I mean I know there was a penalty coming and then Prendergast kind of chipped it over towards Rich Lane , who kind of tried to slide in and catch it and kind of bounced it up into their guy's hands . I mean we knew a penalty was coming , but if the penalty goes back , at least there's a chance of defending it .
And I now , I mean , I now think it's really easy for me to say what he should have done , but in a way he should have just booted it like , booted it half , volleyed it into touch or something like that , just to get it . Yeah , it was unfortunate , but it was . You know , men , when that score , when they scored , and that's .
You're never going to win big games if you don't make the most of of your advantage , and then really they . I , I suspect what happened is they went into their changing room at half time thinking , boys , we're in a massive game here . These these guys are .
They're fearless , they're playing without fear , they're defending without fear , they're attacking without fear , they are pushing us to the limits . We've really got up the game , and it was fairly obvious after half time that not only did they up the game a little bit , but when , of course , they brought on their insane bench .
I mean , they started with Geordie Barrett at half time and then they brought Sneyman , kalen Dorris , andrew Porter on a few minutes later . And it's ridiculous , really , I've got to's ridiculous , really I've got to say .
Though , one thing I think was a massive turning point wasn't necessarily just that bench that came on , it was that bizarre double yellow card that the ref gave to both the props . So Lahif and Porter I mean Porter came on , gave away a penny and they got yellow carded , and that was it welcome to bear country . But it was a weird thing .
They got he sent off both the props . So then both teams had to bring on new props and then had to decide who to sacrifice . So Leinster sacrificed Jack Conan , so they took a forward off and Bristol sacrificed Ravobo . So completely different strategy and of course I guess our strategy was we'll keep it tight for a bit .
And I think we got a line out , we had a rolling ball and then we lost possession and then of course , then when we lose possession we're in trouble because they got one more in the back line and ironically they go and score pretty much score two tries , I think .
Brendarendergast and then Geordie Barrett scored and then , of course , at the same time , they had Doris , and , and , well then , they had Doris on and then they had van der Vlaar , who'd been on the whole time , so you're talking a back row of van der Vlaar and Doris got Geordie Barrett .
The fact that we weathered the storm really a little bit and only conceded 35 points and managed to score at the end was actually massive credit to us .
Yeah , absolutely , I mean , you know , I mean looking at the bigger picture . You're absolutely right , the , you know , the Leinsters of this world . They've got , you know , half the squad is Irish internationals , as we , you know , have hinted , the salary cap is huge , you know , massive compared to the premiership side .
And then , in addition to that , they've , they've signed an all-black yeah they just bring in and you know you might say that . You know , geordie barrett was on the bench . They brought him on in a floating position amongst the backs , but he just showed his quality he scored a try he flipped up and scored , you know um and allowed another try .
That is just the quality he brings and we're just not , you know , haven't just got the depth . Really we can face up to you know fantastic premiership sides and we we've learned now this season to sort of play the bristol bears way .
But if we're going to compete in Europe , I fear that any English side now this season looking over the whole weekend potentially is not going to progress past even the quarter or the semifinals . We just have not got the depth in squads , in English rugby , in money or talent to beat the likes of Leinster .
I mean , you know , they're runners-up in the last three years , they're championship winners . Yeah , it's absolutely brilliant that you go to Ashton Gate , as we tonight , and you see half the Ireland squad coming and that's the first time we've seen these such big names play Ashton Gateett in the European Cup and it's brilliant .
That's what fans we wanted , that's what Pat wanted , that's what the squad wanted . That's why we are at the top level in the Champions Cup , but it's just another level in which we just didn't quite on the night you know 52 minutes plus , have the oomph to get over the line .
Yeah , I mean some people might point out to the fact that northampton beat munster last year and harlequins went to bordeaux and beat them , but I think that was just moments . That was one of things . I think you're right .
We're english clubs are going to struggle in in europe and I think our biggest problem now is that we don't want to repeat of what happened last year , where we end up going out in both cups in one game .
And we don't end up in anything .
I mean , I know it sounds a bit depressing , but I think realistically . Now we're probably looking at having a little go at the Challenge Cup and that's pretty , you know , that's a very early prediction .
But having said all , that that got to focus on the positives because there were a lot of positives absolutely and given the context of what we've said , uh , I think a lot of people came away from that game saying , uh , saying that you know , leinster knew they were in a game .
I think we spoke to a few leinster fans afterwards and they were very , they were very positive about the whole experience , about coming to Ashton Gate , and one guy said , yeah , bristol is is his second favourite team because he they knew how he wanted to play .
And the fact that we didn't compromise on that game plan showed , showed , you know , like you remember a few years ago when we , all we can , moaned about the fact we always tried to change our game plan when Saracens came to try and play like Saracens did and it never worked .
I think that's such a sea change this season is we have our own game plan and we follow it through and for 55 minutes it worked tonight . And if we had not lost AJ McGinty and if we had a proper backup fly half , who knows what might happened ? So I think we have to be really positive about it .
And again , people like James Dunn , joe Owen , jack Bates , rich Lane , they all stepped up against these serious , serious players . So it was kind of 15,000 .
It's a shame .
I mean it is a shame We've got a 27,000-seater stadium yeah , and we get scheduled on a shame . We've got a 27,000-seater stadium yeah , and we get scheduled on a Sunday afternoon or Sunday evening . But I still think could they have done more to get more people there ?
Could they have given away a load of free tickets , or given away £10 tickets to the Atio just to get more atmosphere ?
Yeah , I agree .
Just to even give kids the opportunity to see some of these amazing players . I mean , you know , some of us can't afford to go to World Cup or go to Twickenham for Autumn International , so we don't get to see the likes of Geordie Barrett or Caelan Dorris that often . So I just do wonder whether we could have done a bit more to try and fill a few gaps .
But you know , I don't want to be negative . I think it showed us that we are at the top table . We deserve to be .
I suspect that , given the fact we're going to be bolstering the squad next season with Ruby Olo , we've signed Tom Jordan and I think people like Jack Bates , rich Lane , joe Jenkins , james Dunn , joe Owen and Fitz Harding to be honest , honest they know they can compete at this level and in a year's time they're going to be a year stronger , a year more
experienced . So I now think that actually our real reality is , if we're going to make a real assault on the champions cup , it's probably going to be next year we , just we , because in a way , what we did tonight is we played our game plan against a team that was a notch up from Harlequins .
And it actually showed that you're going to have to be a little bit smarter and a little bit cleverer about how to use it . And of course we've got to say the conditions didn't help either . That's not going to help . We probably didn't appreciate that where we were sat
¶ Reflections on Bristol vs. Leinster Match
.
Yeah , it was flipping , cold , wet and windy , wasn't it ? We were playing against the wind in the first half . You know , bernard had sort of you know kick on his right foot to some left-handed kicks , but he was trying to slice it from the right-hand side with his right foot .
I said to you all the way through , like why is Rich ?
Lane , not taking it with a left-footer . That was a bit odd .
It felt as though there was a bit of no one quite knew what to do in that situation , and I mean the poor bloke he was trying to kind of spin it sideways off at the outside of his boot , you know you're right .
We were trying to play the Bristol Bears way , the way we played last Friday against Quinns , and it came off against a team that don't play the way Carla Quinns do . We were having to adapt somewhat , kick it somewhat .
I mean , prendergast was just great wasn't he , such a young lad his sort of kicks .
Some of them were a bit giffy but he was pretty much , I thought , playing with a match . I thought he was a match but he was doing some great kicks down . We were having to defend , run from long period , run from the back in the 22 into a great defence that we were just not penetrating at all and it's just not the way we play .
You could have argued we had to try and adapt against a European in our own side kicking over the top , but nothing was really working and that's just a testament . Really . You know , we've been there , we tried it and we know what we need to do , potentially next season with a different squad , If we're going to face these big European sides .
It's not premiership and the style of play potentially has to just alter somewhat on the day .
Yeah , I mean , I think the thought of going to La Rochelle on Saturday . But , as Pat said , in his post-match interview , he said , you know , he kind of snorted and laughed when he said we've got a six day to La Rochelle .
But then he also said , you know , when he said we've got a six day to La Rochelle , but then he also said this is where we've got to be . We have to be here and we have to experience this , and with a better squad , who knows . But actually a couple of people had put some stuff on Twitter .
Actually , just to finish off , there is an argument to say that we might need to buy in an emergency flyer for the next month . And again it comes back to our little thoughts about DMACC . End of the season , new Zealand , offer him a bit of cash for a month , say come over to Europe for a month .
Damien McKenzie for those who don't know what I'm talking about , he's the sort of player that would slot in quite quickly . But seriously , if AJ's on an HIA for a week or two , we haven't really got any options .
He's going to be missing La Rochelle next season next week's away for sure .
We can't go to La Rochelle without a recognised 10 . I mean , it's insane .
It's insane . You know , we don't know how far off Worsley is from coming back .
But you know , and out and out number 10 . With even one 10 . We need to go with two 10s .
But how do we turn that around ? I ?
don't know .
With loan signing inside of a six-day turnaround . Well , I'll tell you what you do is you get on the phone .
Pat will be on the blower tomorrow and he'll have his checkbook out and it'll be a very simple conversation . It's like we need you . This is how much it's going to cost .
Job to cost job done . Yeah , can you fly ?
in on monday , which is to analyze the game and get you in playing for saturday .
At the corner phrase , it's going to have to be someone who's oven ready and , uh , who knows , who knows there's a few ex-bristol players who potentially oven ready , but they potentially you know sign for other clubs , haven't they have ? No , this is the problem I don't , yeah .
I mean , if they're in contract , what ? What can we do it's ? I don't know . I mean I was just thinking Caleb Muntz , he's with the Drua . I can't . They're not playing at the moment .
So are you allowed to ?
buy someone out their contract .
It's almost a shame that , like Tiff Eden , signed that little short term contract with Saracen .
Good point . Tiff Eden , who knew the Bristol game , could have done a job for us , couldn't he anyway ?
well , we will see the team sheet on Friday for the for the away leg at La Rochelle next week . We wish fans well who are playing on travelling to La Rochelle next week . It's not the easiest to get to , so hats off to those who are making the effort .
On that note away fans . It was great to see all the Leinster fans with . Leinster flags Because as soon as they scored . Obviously it took a long time for those flags to be shown , but when those flags came up and it made me think , like you know , big game like that , why didn't we have any flags ?
Why couldn think , like you know , big game like that ? Why ? Why didn't we have any flags ? Why couldn't ? Why couldn't actually get ? Why couldn't we have some flags under the chairs ? I don't know if it's cost-saving measure , but many moons ago there were flags on every seat . Yeah , big games . This is our first big european campaign of the season , why , why ?
didn't they make an effort with the new , the ?
kit for the European game the red on the black . Yeah , we could have had in every single seat , I know it's .
I feel like French teams would have would have done that , yes , but we had quite a good light show yeah , we had a good light show , but you know , it was almost like they out did us as a way .
They'd obviously were quite coordinated , they'd obviously decided all to have at my but just a thought , and at 15 000 a little bit disappointing , but that's still 15 000 people , technically , that were there , which is a bad , you know , that's not bad for a sunday night , uh , on a rainy , windy night in bs3 . So , mate , you just yawned there .
Yeah , it's getting a bit late .
I think it's not been . It's not a long pod , but I just we felt that we ought to put something out and , I'm sure , if only just for a few people just to to listen and relive their own thoughts of the game .
Something to do on a Monday morning , yeah .
I can't apologise . Not many gags , not many belly laughs .
No Berlin time in the house .
But I feel kind of excited about the fact that I've actually seen some proper international players in the flesh that I don't get to see because I can't afford to go to Twickenham or I can't afford . I haven't got the time or the money to go to World Cup , so I'll cherish that .
I'll also cherish the fact that I believe that fitzharding is the best number eight in the country
¶ Rugby Talk
. If , if people don't start talking about him at england level , then yeah , like the game's gone yeah what an absolute legend . So , and also one other thing I'd like to say , it was great to see harry coming back .
He's been away with england for god knows how long he's probably box kicking boring structure , that first half , the way he was skipping over players to get to the ruck . He was loving it because he hasn't done any of that for the last month . So it was great to see Harry back , great to see him giving his effort , giving his all , skipping over bodies .
The only other thing I'd mention is the ref . I mean we were quite pleased , great to see him giving his effort , giving his all , skipping over bodies . The only other thing I'd mention is the ref . I mean we were quite pleased with the ref in the first half because he gave us a lot of penalties .
But , as I said to someone , he was a bit like a kind of Mr Bean character . I'm sure it was because he's French and obviously not many of the players could speak , but he was really overemphasizing a lot of his decisions with hand signals .
His hand gestures were out of this world , but he kind of strutted around and then the two liners just didn't look that they were right . They were both in tights and they both sort of seemed a little bit unathletic .
But you know we got to play these things .
We did actually see the ref as he left through the sports bar and I gave him a little merci , merci , au revoir , and he seemed quite happy . He seemed quite happy that he got at the end of the day boys have got to do a job , yeah absolutely .
You know , in France next week we'll probably get an international ref of a different calibre , won't we ?
we'll see and in the first half he did alright for us . On that note , the Mr Bean-esque French ref is a nice place to finish this podcast so au revoir au revoir , stay safe . My A-level French is gone . It's too late on a Sunday night and up the bears , up the bears .