Bristol name their team to face Saracens

Starts at loosehead
By Duncan Wood
August 30 2002

Darren Crompton gets the nod at loosehead and Ross Beattie and Martin Shaw make league debuts. It's a strong looking Bristol team despite missing a couple of regulars through injury and the bench reflects the strength in depth.

There are some interesting selections in the Bristol side to face Saracens on Sunday.

Darren Crompton gets the nod at loosehead over Paul Johnstone who isn't even named on the bench. Also in the front row, Saul Nelson gets a big opportunity in the absence of the injured Neil McCarthy.

The rest of the pack is pretty much as expected with Ben Sturnham moving to blindside to accommodate the new captain, Ross Beattie, at number eight. Beattie will start his first league game for Bristol.

Shane Drahm gets the nod at outside half which may raise some eyebrows although, as Felipe Contepomi is only named on the bench, he may well still be coing back from the knock he picked up at the Middlesex Sevens.

Martin Shaw will start his first league game for Bristol alongside David Rees in the centre and, the in form Brendon Daniel partners Phil Christophers on the wing with Lee Best getting the nod at fullback.

It's a strong looking bench as well. Emi Bergamaschi has been in good form and every other player on the bench, with the exception of Chris Rowland, has started league matches (Peter Richards for Irish and Harlequins).

Darren Crompton, Saul Nelson, Julian White, Garath Archer, Alex Brown, Ben Sturnham, Michael Lipman, Ross Beattie (c), Agustin Pichot, Shane Drahm, Phil Christophers, Martin Shaw, David Rees, Brendon Daniel, Lee Best

Replacements:

Chris Rowland, Emiliano Bergamaschi, Andrew Sheridan, Matt Salter, Peter Richards, Felipe Contepomi, Matt Carrington