December 8, 2024 • 23 mins
In a very short late Sunday night post-match pod Pete and Miles reflect on the defeat to Leinster at a very windy Ashton Gate.
Lets be honest - they were lucky to be 7-7 at the break having lost two men to the bin and struggling to find a way through the Bristol's inspired defence that also had to contend with the loss on AJ MacGinty after 5 mins, and a reshuffle that put BJVR at fly half.
However, they were lucky enough to have both a World Cup winner and runner up on the bench alongside the probable Lions captain so inevitably they ended up winning.
That said, there were many positives to take from the game, not least yet another inspirational performance from Fitz '80 minute' Harding, but ultimately the second half reminded us that if we are serious about going deep in Europe now or in the future, let alone the Premiership, then we need a bigger squad. End of story.
And given the number of injuries we suffered, our trip to La Rochelle next week looks increasing like it might be a re-run of the Charge of the Light Brigade.
But hey, stranger things have happened and we will be eagerly looking forward to Joe Owen schooling Will Skelton and Fitz Harding humbling Gregory Alldritt!
Up the Bears!....
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:06):
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 thatgot away from us.
(00:27):
I don't know what are yourinitial thoughts now that you're
at home in the warm.
Speaker 2 (00:32):
Yeah, I agree.
I thought we were toe-to-toewith you could argue, one of the
best teams in Europe until 52minutes minutes, but losing AJ
McGinty at what?
Five, six minutes into the gameand Yancey Van Rensburg
stepping up into a positionwhich he's you know set up to do
(00:53):
.
But then we were Len lacking inthe center, which he's an
awesome player at.
It was always going to be atough 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 thedifference in quality, didn't
(01:15):
they, between a side, apremiership side, that has a
very reduced salary cap, and aEuropean side, or Irish side,
which has a European side orIrish side, which has a cap
which is probably three, fourtimes the amounts.
And it certainly showed me.
Speaker 1 (01:33):
Yeah, I mean I think it's.
It did highlight a couple ofthings like that.
I mean it highlighted to methat if we're serious about
winning Europe as well as thepremiership we we have, we will
have to have a bigger squad.
So it will be a miracle if wego anywhere in Europe this year.
To be honest.
I mean, let's be honest, we'velost to Leinster at home.
(01:56):
We've got a six-day turnaroundLa Rochelle with half our team
on HIAs.
It's not looking good.
So, having said all that, therewas a lot of positives from
tonight that may be useful fornext season.
But you're right, how you can'toperate at the highest level,
lose your fly half after fiveminutes and basically not have
another fly half, specialist flyhalf, to take the place.
(02:19):
And and as you say, I mean notonly was it difficult for for
Yancey to Bernard sorry to uh toplay in that position and he
struggled a little bit withagainst the wind kicking his in
touch, to be fair to him but atthe same time we then took away
our best inside centre.
So and of course, a fly halfhas a very subtly different sort
(02:39):
of game in both in attack anddefence, both in attack and
defence.
And actually, I think the factthat we were still 7-0 until 52
minutes and essentially won thatfirst half and could well have
been more than 7-0 ahead kind ofshows how well we played, given
those challenges we had.
Let's just quickly go back tothe first half, because it was a
really it was a really reallygood first half and, as you say,
(03:02):
it started badly.
Losing AJ McGinty and when wesaw him on the ground, I mean I
think most fans knew that thewriting was on the wall.
It took so long for him to getup.
But then we kind of took thegame to them, didn't we?
And you know we soaked in a bitof pressure from them and then
(03:27):
for most of the second half, thesecond part of the first half
we were in there 22 andobviously led to a couple of
yellow cards on their behalf andin a way I think we were.
It was a shame we only reallygot seven points from it.
Speaker 2 (03:43):
Yeah, I mean, they were potentially.
I think, I believe they were twomen down, weren't they?
You know, it's the same 10minutes of the game.
We then subsequently managed toget over the line and score
seven points, but after that, asis the Bristol way, we sadly
(04:03):
conceded an immediate try,didn't we?
Within two minutes?
Well, it's a classic case ofscore and concede, oh,
absolutely, which is you knowthe Bristol way, as it were.
But you know, we were sevenpoints apiece, and then I feel
like we didn't progress, did we?
We didn't push on during thatperiod of their men off the
pitch to dominate the game, andthat then was really a common
(04:27):
theme throughout the rest of thegame.
They pushed hard, they defendeda lot better than the 13 men
Got to, you know, got tohalftime with seven points
apiece, and then, you know, itjust got worse down the line.
Really, you're right.
You know it just got worse downthe line, really, you're right.
I think I was really pleasantlysurprised that we got to
(04:50):
halftime and Leinster didn'treally appear to break our
defence at all.
They did that, you know, cheeky,you know cheeky sort of
seven-pointer that seemed to bescored, but with AJ off and
Yancey stepping up, we didbrilliantly.
Our defence was great, Ourattacking you know, we tried to
(05:13):
play De Brea's way.
They knew their defence wasextremely good.
It wasn't like playing a quizof last game.
Their rush defence was you knowsublime.
And we just couldn't, wecouldn't break their line um,
apart from that, one sort of youcould argue lucky try towards
halfway yeah, I mean it's.
Speaker 1 (05:35):
It's a real shame.
I think you're rightly so.
Two couple of things came outthat first half number one, our
defense was was absolutely rocksolid.
They, they couldn't find a waythrough and, and you know, they
tried everything.
They, they tried to punch holesin it.
They, they kicked and wedefended everything that was
thrown at us and I think on thatpoint I should say someone like
fitzharding again, an amazinggame it really is.
(05:58):
I I genuinely think he's thebest number eight in england in
terms of what he does, both indefense and attack.
Played a full 80 as well.
Um, but yeah, I mean it's sofrustrating.
I guess our red zone'sefficiency just wasn't as good
as theirs.
They basically got into our 22after we scored and then
immediately scored.
It's like Ian Madigan said whenwe spoke to him last week was
(06:19):
that if Leinster get into your22, the problem you've got is
they're going to get something,and unfortunately they got seven
.
I mean I know there was apenalty coming and then
Prendergast kind of chipped itover towards Rich Lane, who kind
of tried to slide in and catchit and kind of bounced it up
into their guy's hands.
I mean we knew a penalty wascoming, but if the penalty goes
(06:42):
back, at least there's a chanceof defending it.
And I now, I mean, I now thinkit's really easy for me to say
what he should have done, but ina way he should have just
booted it like, booted it half,volleyed it into touch or
something like that, just to getit.
Yeah, it was unfortunate, butit was.
You know, men, when that score,when they scored, and that's.
You're never going to win biggames if you don't make the most
(07:04):
of of your advantage, and thenreally they.
I, I suspect what happened isthey 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'replaying without fear, they're
defending without fear, they'reattacking without fear, they are
pushing us to the limits.
We've really got up the game,and it was fairly obvious after
(07:27):
half time that not only did theyup the game a little bit, but
when, of course, they brought ontheir insane bench.
I mean, they started withGeordie 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 amassive turning point wasn't
(07:49):
necessarily just that bench thatcame on, it was that bizarre
double yellow card that the refgave to both the props.
So Lahif and Porter I meanPorter 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 theprops.
(08:09):
So then both teams had to bringon new props and then had to
decide who to sacrifice.
So Leinster sacrificed JackConan, so they took a forward
off and Bristol sacrificedRavobo.
So completely differentstrategy and of course I guess
our strategy was we'll keep ittight for a bit.
And I think we got a line out,we had a rolling ball and then
(08:33):
we lost possession and then ofcourse, then when we lose
possession we're in troublebecause they got one more in the
back line and ironically theygo and score pretty much score
two tries, I think.
Brendarendergast and thenGeordie Barrett scored and then,
of course, at the same time,they had Doris, and, and, well
(08:53):
then, they had Doris on and thenthey had van der Vlaar, who'd
been on the whole time, soyou're talking a back row of van
der Vlaar and Doris got GeordieBarrett.
The fact that we weathered thestorm really a little bit and
only conceded 35 points andmanaged to score at the end was
(09:15):
actually massive credit to us.
Speaker 2 (09:17):
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 thesquad is Irish internationals,
as we, you know, have hinted,the salary cap is huge, you know
, massive compared to thepremiership side.
And then, in addition to that,they've, they've signed an
(09:40):
all-black yeah they just bringin and you know you might say
that.
You know, geordie barrett was onthe bench.
They brought him on in afloating position amongst the
backs, but he just showed hisquality he scored a try he
flipped up and scored, you knowum and allowed another try.
That is just the quality hebrings and we're just not, you
(10:01):
know, haven't just got the depth.
Really we can face up to youknow fantastic premiership sides
and we we've learned now thisseason to sort of play the
bristol bears way.
But if we're going to competein Europe, I fear that any
English side now this seasonlooking over the whole weekend
potentially is not going toprogress past even the quarter
(10:24):
or the semifinals.
We just have not got the depthin squads, in English rugby, in
money or talent to beat thelikes of Leinster.
I mean, you know, they'rerunners-up in the last three
years, they're championshipwinners.
Yeah, it's absolutely brilliantthat you go to Ashton Gate, as
we tonight, and you see half theIreland squad coming and that's
(10:48):
the first time we've seen thesesuch big names play Ashton
Gateett in the European Cup andit'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 toplevel in the Champions Cup, but
it's just another level in whichwe just didn't quite on the
(11:09):
night you know 52 minutes plus,have the oomph to get over the
line.
Speaker 1 (11:15):
Yeah, I mean some people might point out to the
fact that northampton beatmunster 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 goingto struggle in in europe and I
think our biggest problem now isthat we don't want to repeat of
what happened last year, wherewe end up going out in both cups
(11:39):
in one game.
Speaker 2 (11:41):
And we don't end up in anything.
Speaker 1 (11:42):
I mean, I know it sounds a bit depressing, but I
think realistically.
Now we're probably looking athaving a little go at the
Challenge Cup and that's pretty,you know, that's a very early
prediction.
But having said all, that thatgot to focus on the positives
because there were a lot ofpositives absolutely and given
the context of what we've said,uh, I think a lot of people came
(12:03):
away from that game saying, uh,saying that you know, leinster
knew they were in a game.
I think we spoke to a fewleinster fans afterwards and
they were very, they were verypositive about the whole
experience, about coming toAshton Gate, and one guy said,
yeah, bristol is is his secondfavourite team because he they
knew how he wanted to play.
(12:23):
And the fact that we didn'tcompromise on that game plan
showed, showed, you know, likeyou remember a few years ago
when we, all we can, moanedabout the fact we always tried
to change our game plan whenSaracens came to try and play
like Saracens did and it neverworked.
I think that's such a seachange this season is we have
our own game plan and we followit through and for 55 minutes it
(12:45):
worked tonight.
And if we had not lost AJMcGinty and if we had a proper
backup fly half, who knows whatmight happened?
So I think we have to be reallypositive about it.
And again, people like JamesDunn, joe Owen, jack Bates, rich
Lane, they all stepped upagainst these serious, serious
players.
So it was kind of 15,000.
Speaker 2 (13:09):
It's a shame.
Speaker 1 (13:09):
I mean it is a shame We've got a 27,000-seater
stadium yeah, and we getscheduled on a shame.
We've got a 27,000-seaterstadium yeah, and we get
scheduled on a Sunday afternoonor Sunday evening.
But I still think could theyhave done more to get more
people there?
Could they have given away aload of free tickets, or given
away £10 tickets to the Atiojust to get more atmosphere?
Speaker 2 (13:26):
Yeah, I agree.
Speaker 1 (13:27):
Just to even give kids the opportunity to see some
of these amazing players.
I mean, you know, some of uscan't afford to go to World Cup
or go to Twickenham for AutumnInternational, so we don't get
to see the likes of GeordieBarrett or Caelan Dorris that
often.
So I just do wonder whether wecould have done a bit more to
try and fill a few gaps.
But you know, I don't want tobe negative.
(13:49):
I think it showed us that weare at the top table.
We deserve to be.
I suspect that, given the factwe'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
(14:10):
Dunn, joe Owen and Fitz Hardingto be honest, honest they know
they can compete at this leveland in a year's time they're
going to be a year stronger, ayear more experienced.
So I now think that actuallyour real reality is, if we're
going to make a real assault onthe champions cup, it's probably
going to be next year we, justwe, because in a way, what we
(14:31):
did tonight is we played ourgame plan against a team that
was a notch up from Harlequins.
And it actually showed thatyou're going to have to be a
little bit smarter and a littlebit cleverer about how to use it
.
And of course we've got to saythe conditions didn't help
either.
That's not going to help.
We probably didn't appreciatethat where we were sat.
Speaker 2 (14:49):
Yeah, it was flipping , cold, wet and windy, wasn't it
?
We were playing against thewind in the first half.
You know, bernard had sort ofyou know kick on his right foot
to some left-handed kicks, buthe was trying to slice it from
the right-hand side with hisright foot.
Speaker 1 (15:07):
I said to you all the way through, like why is Rich?
Speaker 2 (15:09):
Lane, not taking it with a left-footer.
That was a bit odd.
Speaker 1 (15:12):
It felt as though there was a bit of no one quite
knew what to do in thatsituation, and I mean the poor
bloke he was trying to kind ofspin it sideways off at the
outside of his boot, you knowyou're right.
Speaker 2 (15:24):
We were trying to play the Bristol Bears way, the
way we played last Fridayagainst Quinns, and it came off
against a team that don't playthe way Carla Quinns do.
We were having to adaptsomewhat, kick it somewhat.
Speaker 1 (15:38):
I mean, prendergast was just great wasn't he, such a
young lad his sort of kicks.
Speaker 2 (15:45):
Some of them were a bit giffy but he was pretty much
, I thought, playing with amatch.
I thought he was a match but hewas doing some great kicks down
.
We were having to defend, runfrom long period, run from the
back in the 22 into a greatdefence that we were just not
penetrating at all and it's justnot the way we play.
(16:08):
You could have argued we had totry and adapt against a
European in our own side kickingover the top, but nothing was
really working and that's just atestament.
Really.
You know, we've been there, wetried it and we know what we
need to do, potentially nextseason with a different squad,
If we're going to face these bigEuropean sides.
(16:30):
It's not premiership and thestyle of play potentially has to
just alter somewhat on the day.
Speaker 1 (16:39):
Yeah, I mean, I think the thought of going to La
Rochelle on Saturday.
But, as Pat said, in hispost-match interview, he said,
you know, he kind of snorted andlaughed 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 healso said this is where we've
got to be.
We have to be here and we haveto experience this, and with a
(17:00):
better squad, who knows.
But actually a couple of peoplehad put some stuff on Twitter.
Actually, just to finish off,there is an argument to say that
we might need to buy in anemergency flyer for the next
month.
And again it comes back to ourlittle thoughts about DMACC.
End of the season, new Zealand,offer him a bit of cash for a
(17:22):
month, say come over to Europefor a month.
Damien McKenzie for those whodon't know what I'm talking
about, he's the sort of playerthat would slot in quite quickly
.
But seriously, if AJ's on anHIA for a week or two, we
haven't really got any options.
Speaker 2 (17:37):
He's going to be missing La Rochelle next season
next week's away for sure.
Speaker 1 (17:42):
We can't go to La Rochelle without a recognised 10
.
I mean, it's insane.
Speaker 2 (17:48):
It's insane.
You know, we don't know how faroff Worsley is from coming back
.
Speaker 1 (17:53):
But you know, and out and out number 10.
With even one 10.
We need to go with two 10s.
Speaker 2 (18:03):
But how do we turn that around?
I?
Speaker 1 (18:05):
don't know.
Speaker 2 (18:06):
With loan signing inside of a six-day turnaround.
Well, I'll tell you what you dois you get on the phone.
Speaker 1 (18:11):
Pat will be on the blower tomorrow and he'll have
his checkbook out and it'll be avery simple conversation.
It's like we need you.
This is how much it's going tocost.
Speaker 2 (18:25):
Job to cost job done.
Yeah, can you fly?
Speaker 1 (18:25):
in on monday, which is to analyze the game and get
you in playing for saturday.
Speaker 2 (18:27):
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 whopotentially oven ready, but they
potentially you know sign forother clubs, haven't they have?
No, this is the problem I don't, yeah.
Speaker 1 (18:40):
I mean, if they're in contract, what?
What can we do it's?
I don't know.
I mean I was just thinkingCaleb Muntz, he's with the Drua.
I can't.
They're not playing at themoment.
Speaker 2 (18:55):
So are you allowed to ?
Speaker 1 (18:55):
buy someone out their contract.
Speaker 2 (18:57):
It's almost a shame that, like Tiff Eden, signed
that little short term contractwith Saracen.
Speaker 1 (19:02):
Good point.
Tiff Eden, who knew the Bristolgame, could have done a job for
us, couldn't he anyway?
Speaker 2 (19:07):
well, we will see the team sheet on Friday for the
for the away leg at La Rochellenext week.
We wish fans well who areplaying 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.
Speaker 1 (19:25):
On that note away fans.
It was great to see all theLeinster fans with.
Leinster flags Because as soonas they scored.
Obviously it took a long timefor those flags to be shown, but
when those flags came up and itmade me think, like you know,
big game like that, why didn'twe have any flags?
Speaker 2 (19:47):
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 flagsunder the chairs?
I don't know if it'scost-saving measure, but many
moons ago there were flags onevery seat.
Yeah, big games.
This is our first big europeancampaign of the season, why, why
?
Speaker 1 (19:58):
didn't they make an effort with the new, the?
Speaker 2 (20:00):
kit for the European game the red on the black.
Yeah, we could have had inevery single seat, I know it's.
Speaker 1 (20:10):
I feel like French teams would have would have done
that, yes, but we had quite agood 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 quitecoordinated, they'd obviously
decided all to have at my butjust a thought, and at 15 000 a
(20:30):
little bit disappointing, butthat'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.
Speaker 2 (20:42):
Yeah, it's getting a bit late.
Speaker 1 (20:43):
I think it's not been .
It's not a long pod, but I justwe felt that we ought to put
something out and, I'm sure, ifonly just for a few people just
to to listen and relive theirown thoughts of the game.
Speaker 2 (20:57):
Something to do on a Monday morning, yeah.
Speaker 1 (20:59):
I can't apologise.
Not many gags, not many bellylaughs.
Speaker 2 (21:02):
No Berlin time in the house.
Speaker 1 (21:06):
But I feel kind of excited about the fact that I've
actually seen some properinternational players in the
flesh that I don't get to seebecause I can't afford to go to
Twickenham or I can't afford.
I haven't got the time or themoney to go to World Cup, so
I'll cherish that.
I'll also cherish the fact thatI believe that fitzharding is
the best number eight in thecountry.
(21:27):
If, if people don't starttalking about him at england
level, then yeah, like thegame's gone yeah what an
absolute legend.
So, and also one other thing I'dlike to say, it was great to
see harry coming back.
He's been away with england forgod knows how long he's probably
box kicking boring structure,that first half, the way he was
(21:49):
skipping over players to get tothe ruck.
He was loving it because hehasn't done any of that for the
last month.
So it was great to see Harryback, great to see him giving
his effort, giving his all,skipping over bodies.
The only other thing I'dmention is the ref.
I mean we were quite pleased,great to see him giving his
effort, giving his all, skippingover bodies.
The only other thing I'dmention is the ref.
I mean we were quite pleasedwith the ref in the first half
because he gave us a lot ofpenalties.
(22:10):
But, as I said to someone, hewas a bit like a kind of Mr Bean
character.
I'm sure it was because he'sFrench and obviously not many of
the players could speak, but hewas really overemphasizing a
lot of his decisions with handsignals.
His hand gestures were out ofthis world, but he kind of
strutted around and then the twoliners just didn't look that
(22:31):
they were right.
They were both in tights andthey both sort of seemed a
little bit unathletic.
Speaker 2 (22:36):
But you know we got to play these things.
Speaker 1 (22:39):
We did actually see the ref as he left through the
sports bar and I gave him alittle merci, merci, au revoir,
and he seemed quite happy.
He seemed quite happy that hegot at the end of the day boys
have got to do a job, yeahabsolutely.
Speaker 2 (22:50):
You know, in France next week we'll probably get an
international ref of a differentcalibre, won't we?
Speaker 1 (22:55):
we'll see and in the first half he did alright for us
.
On that note, the Mr Bean-esqueFrench ref is a nice place to
finish this podcast so au revoirau revoir, stay safe.
My A-level French is gone.
It's too late on a Sunday nightand up the bears, up the bears.
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 thatgot away from us.
(00:27):
I don't know what are yourinitial thoughts now that you're
at home in the warm.
Speaker 2 (00:32):
Yeah, I agree.
I thought we were toe-to-toewith you could argue, one of the
best teams in Europe until 52minutes minutes, but losing AJ
McGinty at what?
Five, six minutes into the gameand Yancey Van Rensburg
stepping up into a positionwhich he's you know set up to do
(00:53):
.
But then we were Len lacking inthe center, which he's an
awesome player at.
It was always going to be atough 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 thedifference in quality, didn't
(01:15):
they, between a side, apremiership side, that has a
very reduced salary cap, and aEuropean side, or Irish side,
which has a European side orIrish side, which has a cap
which is probably three, fourtimes the amounts.
And it certainly showed me.
Speaker 1 (01:33):
Yeah, I mean I think it's.
It did highlight a couple ofthings like that.
I mean it highlighted to methat if we're serious about
winning Europe as well as thepremiership we we have, we will
have to have a bigger squad.
So it will be a miracle if wego anywhere in Europe this year.
To be honest.
I mean, let's be honest, we'velost to Leinster at home.
(01:56):
We've got a six-day turnaroundLa Rochelle with half our team
on HIAs.
It's not looking good.
So, having said all that, therewas a lot of positives from
tonight that may be useful fornext season.
But you're right, how you can'toperate at the highest level,
lose your fly half after fiveminutes and basically not have
another fly half, specialist flyhalf, to take the place.
(02:19):
And and as you say, I mean notonly was it difficult for for
Yancey to Bernard sorry to uh toplay in that position and he
struggled a little bit withagainst the wind kicking his in
touch, to be fair to him but atthe same time we then took away
our best inside centre.
So and of course, a fly halfhas a very subtly different sort
(02:39):
of game in both in attack anddefence, both in attack and
defence.
And actually, I think the factthat we were still 7-0 until 52
minutes and essentially won thatfirst half and could well have
been more than 7-0 ahead kind ofshows how well we played, given
those challenges we had.
Let's just quickly go back tothe first half, because it was a
really it was a really reallygood first half and, as you say,
(03:02):
it started badly.
Losing AJ McGinty and when wesaw him on the ground, I mean I
think most fans knew that thewriting was on the wall.
It took so long for him to getup.
But then we kind of took thegame to them, didn't we?
And you know we soaked in a bitof pressure from them and then
(03:27):
for most of the second half, thesecond part of the first half
we were in there 22 andobviously led to a couple of
yellow cards on their behalf andin a way I think we were.
It was a shame we only reallygot seven points from it.
Speaker 2 (03:43):
Yeah, I mean, they were potentially.
I think, I believe they were twomen down, weren't they?
You know, it's the same 10minutes of the game.
We then subsequently managed toget over the line and score
seven points, but after that, asis the Bristol way, we sadly
(04:03):
conceded an immediate try,didn't we?
Within two minutes?
Well, it's a classic case ofscore and concede, oh,
absolutely, which is you knowthe Bristol way, as it were.
But you know, we were sevenpoints apiece, and then I feel
like we didn't progress, did we?
We didn't push on during thatperiod of their men off the
pitch to dominate the game, andthat then was really a common
(04:27):
theme throughout the rest of thegame.
They pushed hard, they defendeda lot better than the 13 men
Got to, you know, got tohalftime with seven points
apiece, and then, you know, itjust got worse down the line.
Really, you're right.
You know it just got worse downthe line, really, you're right.
I think I was really pleasantlysurprised that we got to
(04:50):
halftime and Leinster didn'treally appear to break our
defence at all.
They did that, you know, cheeky,you know cheeky sort of
seven-pointer that seemed to bescored, but with AJ off and
Yancey stepping up, we didbrilliantly.
Our defence was great, Ourattacking you know, we tried to
(05:13):
play De Brea's way.
They knew their defence wasextremely good.
It wasn't like playing a quizof last game.
Their rush defence was you knowsublime.
And we just couldn't, wecouldn't break their line um,
apart from that, one sort of youcould argue lucky try towards
halfway yeah, I mean it's.
Speaker 1 (05:35):
It's a real shame.
I think you're rightly so.
Two couple of things came outthat first half number one, our
defense was was absolutely rocksolid.
They, they couldn't find a waythrough and, and you know, they
tried everything.
They, they tried to punch holesin it.
They, they kicked and wedefended everything that was
thrown at us and I think on thatpoint I should say someone like
fitzharding again, an amazinggame it really is.
(05:58):
I I genuinely think he's thebest number eight in england in
terms of what he does, both indefense and attack.
Played a full 80 as well.
Um, but yeah, I mean it's sofrustrating.
I guess our red zone'sefficiency just wasn't as good
as theirs.
They basically got into our 22after we scored and then
immediately scored.
It's like Ian Madigan said whenwe spoke to him last week was
(06:19):
that if Leinster get into your22, the problem you've got is
they're going to get something,and unfortunately they got seven
.
I mean I know there was apenalty coming and then
Prendergast kind of chipped itover towards Rich Lane, who kind
of tried to slide in and catchit and kind of bounced it up
into their guy's hands.
I mean we knew a penalty wascoming, but if the penalty goes
(06:42):
back, at least there's a chanceof defending it.
And I now, I mean, I now thinkit's really easy for me to say
what he should have done, but ina way he should have just
booted it like, booted it half,volleyed it into touch or
something like that, just to getit.
Yeah, it was unfortunate, butit was.
You know, men, when that score,when they scored, and that's.
You're never going to win biggames if you don't make the most
(07:04):
of of your advantage, and thenreally they.
I, I suspect what happened isthey 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'replaying without fear, they're
defending without fear, they'reattacking without fear, they are
pushing us to the limits.
We've really got up the game,and it was fairly obvious after
(07:27):
half time that not only did theyup the game a little bit, but
when, of course, they brought ontheir insane bench.
I mean, they started withGeordie 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 amassive turning point wasn't
(07:49):
necessarily just that bench thatcame on, it was that bizarre
double yellow card that the refgave to both the props.
So Lahif and Porter I meanPorter 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 theprops.
(08:09):
So then both teams had to bringon new props and then had to
decide who to sacrifice.
So Leinster sacrificed JackConan, so they took a forward
off and Bristol sacrificedRavobo.
So completely differentstrategy and of course I guess
our strategy was we'll keep ittight for a bit.
And I think we got a line out,we had a rolling ball and then
(08:33):
we lost possession and then ofcourse, then when we lose
possession we're in troublebecause they got one more in the
back line and ironically theygo and score pretty much score
two tries, I think.
Brendarendergast and thenGeordie Barrett scored and then,
of course, at the same time,they had Doris, and, and, well
(08:53):
then, they had Doris on and thenthey had van der Vlaar, who'd
been on the whole time, soyou're talking a back row of van
der Vlaar and Doris got GeordieBarrett.
The fact that we weathered thestorm really a little bit and
only conceded 35 points andmanaged to score at the end was
(09:15):
actually massive credit to us.
Speaker 2 (09:17):
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 thesquad is Irish internationals,
as we, you know, have hinted,the salary cap is huge, you know
, massive compared to thepremiership side.
And then, in addition to that,they've, they've signed an
(09:40):
all-black yeah they just bringin and you know you might say
that.
You know, geordie barrett was onthe bench.
They brought him on in afloating position amongst the
backs, but he just showed hisquality he scored a try he
flipped up and scored, you knowum and allowed another try.
That is just the quality hebrings and we're just not, you
(10:01):
know, haven't just got the depth.
Really we can face up to youknow fantastic premiership sides
and we we've learned now thisseason to sort of play the
bristol bears way.
But if we're going to competein Europe, I fear that any
English side now this seasonlooking over the whole weekend
potentially is not going toprogress past even the quarter
(10:24):
or the semifinals.
We just have not got the depthin squads, in English rugby, in
money or talent to beat thelikes of Leinster.
I mean, you know, they'rerunners-up in the last three
years, they're championshipwinners.
Yeah, it's absolutely brilliantthat you go to Ashton Gate, as
we tonight, and you see half theIreland squad coming and that's
(10:48):
the first time we've seen thesesuch big names play Ashton
Gateett in the European Cup andit'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 toplevel in the Champions Cup, but
it's just another level in whichwe just didn't quite on the
(11:09):
night you know 52 minutes plus,have the oomph to get over the
line.
Speaker 1 (11:15):
Yeah, I mean some people might point out to the
fact that northampton beatmunster 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 goingto struggle in in europe and I
think our biggest problem now isthat we don't want to repeat of
what happened last year, wherewe end up going out in both cups
(11:39):
in one game.
Speaker 2 (11:41):
And we don't end up in anything.
Speaker 1 (11:42):
I mean, I know it sounds a bit depressing, but I
think realistically.
Now we're probably looking athaving a little go at the
Challenge Cup and that's pretty,you know, that's a very early
prediction.
But having said all, that thatgot to focus on the positives
because there were a lot ofpositives absolutely and given
the context of what we've said,uh, I think a lot of people came
(12:03):
away from that game saying, uh,saying that you know, leinster
knew they were in a game.
I think we spoke to a fewleinster fans afterwards and
they were very, they were verypositive about the whole
experience, about coming toAshton Gate, and one guy said,
yeah, bristol is is his secondfavourite team because he they
knew how he wanted to play.
(12:23):
And the fact that we didn'tcompromise on that game plan
showed, showed, you know, likeyou remember a few years ago
when we, all we can, moanedabout the fact we always tried
to change our game plan whenSaracens came to try and play
like Saracens did and it neverworked.
I think that's such a seachange this season is we have
our own game plan and we followit through and for 55 minutes it
(12:45):
worked tonight.
And if we had not lost AJMcGinty and if we had a proper
backup fly half, who knows whatmight happened?
So I think we have to be reallypositive about it.
And again, people like JamesDunn, joe Owen, jack Bates, rich
Lane, they all stepped upagainst these serious, serious
players.
So it was kind of 15,000.
Speaker 2 (13:09):
It's a shame.
Speaker 1 (13:09):
I mean it is a shame We've got a 27,000-seater
stadium yeah, and we getscheduled on a shame.
We've got a 27,000-seaterstadium yeah, and we get
scheduled on a Sunday afternoonor Sunday evening.
But I still think could theyhave done more to get more
people there?
Could they have given away aload of free tickets, or given
away £10 tickets to the Atiojust to get more atmosphere?
Speaker 2 (13:26):
Yeah, I agree.
Speaker 1 (13:27):
Just to even give kids the opportunity to see some
of these amazing players.
I mean, you know, some of uscan't afford to go to World Cup
or go to Twickenham for AutumnInternational, so we don't get
to see the likes of GeordieBarrett or Caelan Dorris that
often.
So I just do wonder whether wecould have done a bit more to
try and fill a few gaps.
But you know, I don't want tobe negative.
(13:49):
I think it showed us that weare at the top table.
We deserve to be.
I suspect that, given the factwe'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
(14:10):
Dunn, joe Owen and Fitz Hardingto be honest, honest they know
they can compete at this leveland in a year's time they're
going to be a year stronger, ayear more experienced.
So I now think that actuallyour real reality is, if we're
going to make a real assault onthe champions cup, it's probably
going to be next year we, justwe, because in a way, what we
(14:31):
did tonight is we played ourgame plan against a team that
was a notch up from Harlequins.
And it actually showed thatyou're going to have to be a
little bit smarter and a littlebit cleverer about how to use it
.
And of course we've got to saythe conditions didn't help
either.
That's not going to help.
We probably didn't appreciatethat where we were sat.
Speaker 2 (14:49):
Yeah, it was flipping , cold, wet and windy, wasn't it
?
We were playing against thewind in the first half.
You know, bernard had sort ofyou know kick on his right foot
to some left-handed kicks, buthe was trying to slice it from
the right-hand side with hisright foot.
Speaker 1 (15:07):
I said to you all the way through, like why is Rich?
Speaker 2 (15:09):
Lane, not taking it with a left-footer.
That was a bit odd.
Speaker 1 (15:12):
It felt as though there was a bit of no one quite
knew what to do in thatsituation, and I mean the poor
bloke he was trying to kind ofspin it sideways off at the
outside of his boot, you knowyou're right.
Speaker 2 (15:24):
We were trying to play the Bristol Bears way, the
way we played last Fridayagainst Quinns, and it came off
against a team that don't playthe way Carla Quinns do.
We were having to adaptsomewhat, kick it somewhat.
Speaker 1 (15:38):
I mean, prendergast was just great wasn't he, such a
young lad his sort of kicks.
Speaker 2 (15:45):
Some of them were a bit giffy but he was pretty much
, I thought, playing with amatch.
I thought he was a match but hewas doing some great kicks down
.
We were having to defend, runfrom long period, run from the
back in the 22 into a greatdefence that we were just not
penetrating at all and it's justnot the way we play.
(16:08):
You could have argued we had totry and adapt against a
European in our own side kickingover the top, but nothing was
really working and that's just atestament.
Really.
You know, we've been there, wetried it and we know what we
need to do, potentially nextseason with a different squad,
If we're going to face these bigEuropean sides.
(16:30):
It's not premiership and thestyle of play potentially has to
just alter somewhat on the day.
Speaker 1 (16:39):
Yeah, I mean, I think the thought of going to La
Rochelle on Saturday.
But, as Pat said, in hispost-match interview, he said,
you know, he kind of snorted andlaughed 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 healso said this is where we've
got to be.
We have to be here and we haveto experience this, and with a
(17:00):
better squad, who knows.
But actually a couple of peoplehad put some stuff on Twitter.
Actually, just to finish off,there is an argument to say that
we might need to buy in anemergency flyer for the next
month.
And again it comes back to ourlittle thoughts about DMACC.
End of the season, new Zealand,offer him a bit of cash for a
(17:22):
month, say come over to Europefor a month.
Damien McKenzie for those whodon't know what I'm talking
about, he's the sort of playerthat would slot in quite quickly
.
But seriously, if AJ's on anHIA for a week or two, we
haven't really got any options.
Speaker 2 (17:37):
He's going to be missing La Rochelle next season
next week's away for sure.
Speaker 1 (17:42):
We can't go to La Rochelle without a recognised 10
.
I mean, it's insane.
Speaker 2 (17:48):
It's insane.
You know, we don't know how faroff Worsley is from coming back
.
Speaker 1 (17:53):
But you know, and out and out number 10.
With even one 10.
We need to go with two 10s.
Speaker 2 (18:03):
But how do we turn that around?
I?
Speaker 1 (18:05):
don't know.
Speaker 2 (18:06):
With loan signing inside of a six-day turnaround.
Well, I'll tell you what you dois you get on the phone.
Speaker 1 (18:11):
Pat will be on the blower tomorrow and he'll have
his checkbook out and it'll be avery simple conversation.
It's like we need you.
This is how much it's going tocost.
Speaker 2 (18:25):
Job to cost job done.
Yeah, can you fly?
Speaker 1 (18:25):
in on monday, which is to analyze the game and get
you in playing for saturday.
Speaker 2 (18:27):
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 whopotentially oven ready, but they
potentially you know sign forother clubs, haven't they have?
No, this is the problem I don't, yeah.
Speaker 1 (18:40):
I mean, if they're in contract, what?
What can we do it's?
I don't know.
I mean I was just thinkingCaleb Muntz, he's with the Drua.
I can't.
They're not playing at themoment.
Speaker 2 (18:55):
So are you allowed to ?
Speaker 1 (18:55):
buy someone out their contract.
Speaker 2 (18:57):
It's almost a shame that, like Tiff Eden, signed
that little short term contractwith Saracen.
Speaker 1 (19:02):
Good point.
Tiff Eden, who knew the Bristolgame, could have done a job for
us, couldn't he anyway?
Speaker 2 (19:07):
well, we will see the team sheet on Friday for the
for the away leg at La Rochellenext week.
We wish fans well who areplaying 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.
Speaker 1 (19:25):
On that note away fans.
It was great to see all theLeinster fans with.
Leinster flags Because as soonas they scored.
Obviously it took a long timefor those flags to be shown, but
when those flags came up and itmade me think, like you know,
big game like that, why didn'twe have any flags?
Speaker 2 (19:47):
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 flagsunder the chairs?
I don't know if it'scost-saving measure, but many
moons ago there were flags onevery seat.
Yeah, big games.
This is our first big europeancampaign of the season, why, why
?
Speaker 1 (19:58):
didn't they make an effort with the new, the?
Speaker 2 (20:00):
kit for the European game the red on the black.
Yeah, we could have had inevery single seat, I know it's.
Speaker 1 (20:10):
I feel like French teams would have would have done
that, yes, but we had quite agood 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 quitecoordinated, they'd obviously
decided all to have at my butjust a thought, and at 15 000 a
(20:30):
little bit disappointing, butthat'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.
Speaker 2 (20:42):
Yeah, it's getting a bit late.
Speaker 1 (20:43):
I think it's not been .
It's not a long pod, but I justwe felt that we ought to put
something out and, I'm sure, ifonly just for a few people just
to to listen and relive theirown thoughts of the game.
Speaker 2 (20:57):
Something to do on a Monday morning, yeah.
Speaker 1 (20:59):
I can't apologise.
Not many gags, not many bellylaughs.
Speaker 2 (21:02):
No Berlin time in the house.
Speaker 1 (21:06):
But I feel kind of excited about the fact that I've
actually seen some properinternational players in the
flesh that I don't get to seebecause I can't afford to go to
Twickenham or I can't afford.
I haven't got the time or themoney to go to World Cup, so
I'll cherish that.
I'll also cherish the fact thatI believe that fitzharding is
the best number eight in thecountry.
(21:27):
If, if people don't starttalking about him at england
level, then yeah, like thegame's gone yeah what an
absolute legend.
So, and also one other thing I'dlike to say, it was great to
see harry coming back.
He's been away with england forgod knows how long he's probably
box kicking boring structure,that first half, the way he was
(21:49):
skipping over players to get tothe ruck.
He was loving it because hehasn't done any of that for the
last month.
So it was great to see Harryback, great to see him giving
his effort, giving his all,skipping over bodies.
The only other thing I'dmention is the ref.
I mean we were quite pleased,great to see him giving his
effort, giving his all, skippingover bodies.
The only other thing I'dmention is the ref.
I mean we were quite pleasedwith the ref in the first half
because he gave us a lot ofpenalties.
(22:10):
But, as I said to someone, hewas a bit like a kind of Mr Bean
character.
I'm sure it was because he'sFrench and obviously not many of
the players could speak, but hewas really overemphasizing a
lot of his decisions with handsignals.
His hand gestures were out ofthis world, but he kind of
strutted around and then the twoliners just didn't look that
(22:31):
they were right.
They were both in tights andthey both sort of seemed a
little bit unathletic.
Speaker 2 (22:36):
But you know we got to play these things.
Speaker 1 (22:39):
We did actually see the ref as he left through the
sports bar and I gave him alittle merci, merci, au revoir,
and he seemed quite happy.
He seemed quite happy that hegot at the end of the day boys
have got to do a job, yeahabsolutely.
Speaker 2 (22:50):
You know, in France next week we'll probably get an
international ref of a differentcalibre, won't we?
Speaker 1 (22:55):
we'll see and in the first half he did alright for us
.
On that note, the Mr Bean-esqueFrench ref is a nice place to
finish this podcast so au revoirau revoir, stay safe.
My A-level French is gone.
It's too late on a Sunday nightand up the bears, up the bears.
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