Bristol Bears v Exeter Chiefs

What do you think? You can have your say by posting below.
If you do not already have an account Click here to Register.

Exeter Chiefs

15 Ben Hammersley

14 Immanuel Feyi-Waboso

13 Henry Slade

12 Ollie Devoto

11 Olly Woodburn

10 Harvey Skinner

9 Stu Townsend

1 Nika Abuladze

2 Dan Frost

3 Josh Iosefa-Scott

4 Rusi Tuima

5 Dafydd Jenkins (c)

6 Ethan Roots

7 Ross Vintcent

8 Greg Fisilau

Replacements:

16 Max Norey

17 Alec Hepburn

18 Marcus Street

19 Lewis Pearson

20 Jacques Vermeulen

21 Tom Cairns

22 Joe Hawkins

23 Zack Wimbush

Confidence and momentum is with us so hopefully we can get another win, Briz have some very dangerous players so think it could be close, Briz 18 - 24 Chiefs.

Bristol Bears:

15. Max Malins
14. Noah Heward
13. Virimi Vakatawa
12. Benhard Janse van Rensburg
11. Rich Lane
10. Callum Sheedy
9. Harry Randall
1. Max Lahiff
2. Gabriel Oghre
3. Kyle Sinckler
4. James Dun
5. Joe Batley
6. Steven Luatua (c),
7. Dan Thomas
8. Magnus Bradbury


Replacements:

16. Will Capon
17. Jake Woolmore
18. George Kloska
19. Josh Caulfield
20. Joe Owen
21. Kieran Marmion
22. James Williams
23. Kalaveti Ravouvou

Match Officials

Referee: Christophe Ridley
Assistant Referees: George Selwood and Alex Thomas
TMO: Dean Richards

Weather Forecast as at midday Thursday

Light rain showers and a gentle breeze from the west.
Temperature 6 degrees but will feel like 3 degrees.
Chances of Precipitation are low

TV Coverage

Channel 408 TNT Sports 1 SD
Channel 430 TNT Sports 1 HD

I really like the look of that chiefs side. I'm sure that we will have learned the lesson from the Sheedy Lane that trick and expect us to win up front.

Bristol 22 Chiefs 31

Hopefully Wyatt, Painter and Sio are just being rested.

That's a great looking back row. And a great looking second row. And a great looking front row . Shame that Painter isn't playing but it's an impressive pack.

Bristol 19 chiefs 24

Bears 21-31 Chiefs

Sio and Wyatt picked up injuries against Tigers. Reckon Painter being saved for the Saints game.
Think our bench looks stronger so will go for Chiefs 34 Bristol 27

We had our 1 win there last season scoring over 50 points. Or maybe it was the season before.

Anyhow we have a strong team on a great winning streak, interesting to see Hammersley at 15 and good to see manny FW back, as well as Alec on the bench.

Bears 18 Chiefs 27

Hopeful that we will win a try fest so :
Bristol 34 - 41 Exeter

I can see it being high scoring and I’ll go for Chiefs out of loyalty.

Bris 33 Ex 37

Malins, Sheedy and Randall three outstanding players who can turn a game, keep them quiet and we should do this away.
Be a big crowd in the footy stadium, but the youngsters are getting used to pressure now, it’s been a tight learning curve and boy have they learned.
Yet another short turn around, with luck the second half of the season will see us treated more fairly.
We have pace to burn on the wings and that will worry them as much as their speedsters did us in the past.
Chiefs win would not be a surprise.

A bit pessimistic. We have consistently been vulnerable to cross field kicks out wide, and Hammersley will find it very tricky at full back covering, tackling and positionally. They nearly won it at Sandy Park because of it. Very sensible to rest Painter but worry re scrum because of this. Consistency and interpretations of Mr Ridley may be key. Wyatt will be missed. Bristol 38 Chiefs 32

Bearing in mind our wonderful away record (sarcasm) , Bears 35 Chiefs 28

Bristol 25 Chiefs 30(lean towards optimism...

A must win game for big spending Bristol and expect them to come out fast. If we can be in the match with 20m to go I expect our fitness will tell and we could nick it. We have a great record at their ground as well.
Stood next to Hammersley’s family a couple of games ago, told me he has played all his college and Uni rugby at full back or centre so think he will be fine positionally. Yes we have a few more injuries but that’s why we have a squad and great experience for the rookie players. Think it will be close Briz 34 Chiefs 31 and the only reason this way round is that we never appear to come out the right side of a result with this ref. Let’s all hope he can let the game flow like Foley did last week with next to no TMO involvement.

I think this may well be a tight game Bears 28 Chiefs 31

Hi Andy 15.1 Good to hear Hammersley knows the fullback challenges having played in that position - it will be a tough test for him.

Safe travels to anyone coming to Ashton Gate. Looking forward to a very close and exciting game, hopefully. We are really going to miss Thacker and Harding.

Just to balance a few comments here. Bristol spend no more on their playing squad than most teams in the prem (not even sure we have a marquee this season). We all have the same cap.

The average age of our squad (known to be one of the older in the Prem) is only about 2.years more than this "young" Chiefs squad.

Good luck!

Bristol 24 - Chiefs 28

Hammersly has looked good under the high ball in recent games and is a brave tackler. Malins and their two big centres are quality so we need to keep them quiet.

This will be very tough game but I have confidence that we can go there and get a result, my only slight concern is Hammersley at 15. Although he is showing real promise as a winger I fully expect Sheedy, Malins et al to put him to the test.

I know Wyatt is having a well earned rest, and Hodge is injured but we really could do with another experienced option at fullback.

On the other hand great to see our bench looking strong, Hawkins, Cairns, Vermeulen, and to a lesser extend Pearson could give us a vital boost in the second half.

If their centres click they could be very dangerous and we all know about Sheedy’s precision with the cross field kick. Even so, I’m going to be optimistic and go for Bears 26, Chiefs 29

It's worth remembering that we've beaten them five times this year already...

Hoping the monkey on their backs has well and truly been buried ... Briz 21: Chiefs 35

In Rob we trust.
By the way - cream on first. There's nothing to debate.

Bears will want to put on a show for their fans, still worried that the x- field kick will hurt us.
Bears 32 - 28 Chiefs

Brizz 27 - 34 Exe but I could be wrong

Bears 25 Chiefs 30

Allowed out to the pub for this one so going with heart to mark the special occasion! Bris 32, chiefs 36

Bristol 27 Chiefs 29.

If our forwards gain dominance then we have an excellent chance of getting a result. My only concern is the half-backs. If they can play to the ability the coaches believe then we can definitely get a good result as our backs can do damage.

Chiefs 29 Bristol 24

Bears 21 - 26 Chiefs

I think it may well be a close game but that we'll come out on the wrong side of it - Bears 24 Chiefs 21

Every time I predict a Chiefs defeat they produce a match winning performance, so here I go again
Bears 29 Chiefs 22

So, Bears at home with a big crowd ,scoring lots of points recently. We have made a lot of changes from Saturday and without Painter, Sio and Wyatt in particular. Everything in our favour is against us as someone once said.

If we are close in the las 20, I think we can do it with our strong bench. Here’s hoping for a proper game without cards deciding the outcome.

Bears 24 Chiefs 28. Everything crossed

Quote:

Andy15.1
A must win game for big spending Bristol

No more so than big spending Exeter.

Big spending Exeter am i missing something rinkadink think we are well under the salary cap

I game I'd love us to win, I'm not a great fan of Bris! Unfortunately, with home advantage and a bumper crowd I think Bris will win. Hoping to be wrong!! Bris 30 Chiefs 20

Quote:

Rinkadink

Quote:

Andy15.1
A must win game for big spending Bristol

No more so than big spending Exeter.

Is Lansdowne getting bored with no trophies? 😇

They were big spenders like Sarries in some ways but now Bristol are choosing a different route no the million pounds players have left, probably spending a lot more than us but less than others I expect and well within the rules.

Quote:

clalan
They were big spenders like Sarries in some ways but now Bristol are choosing a different route no the million pounds players have left, probably spending a lot more than us but less than others I expect and well within the rules.

Vakatawa, van Rensburg and Mailins won't have come cheap; nor will the England players: Genge Sinkler Randall. Add in McGinty (and his goat - for readers of a certain age) and they must be spending pretty well up to the Salary Cap; so not exactly a rebuild with Senior Academy/first contract players all over the park as we currently have.

Last table of the year - congratulations to ExTeddChief for leading at this time

Thank you, still getting vertigo at this point in time, also interesting that the only thing keeping me top is that I straight up forgot to put a prediction in for the home game vs Bristol(I think)...was heading accross the Severn that weekend!