The last game cometh
By Monkey1
April 14 2013
Our regular season is over & done with, nothing really matters now except winning through the play-offs, so will Saturday’s game at Kingston Park be a dead rubber or a thriller?
We do of course expect Deano to put out a team to win, the man always wants to win, and as Catterick said a few weeks ago, if we lose a game he honestly thinks the world will end. Having said that however, there is also the possibility that we are already in preparations for the play-offs, and that includes resting some key players. Yesterday saw Jimmy G rested due to “some sort of buttock injury”, the more precise details of which I do not want to know, but under different circumstances would he have played?
The key to this game of course is not what we need from the game, but what Bristol want to make of it. At present they are one of three clubs battling for two remaining places, and that is where it is going to get interesting. Leeds are currently 3rd on 63 points, Bristol & Bedford both on 61, so it is all to play for, and I for one want them to play for it.
Too many games this season have been sheer drudgery. We have established a reputation as the club to beat, and some clubs have brought us a game and a half such as Jersey & Pirates, but I will refrain from naming those who have brought teams with key players rested for games they are more likely to win, and a strategy of kicking the leather off the ball & playing a dead game of defence with no attack. It has been boring, tedious, and pointless, but ironically it has been some of these games that have found our weak spot & nearly caught us out. From a supporter’s point of view, these games have been simply awful, and no wonder the crowds have not come flooding back to Kingston Park to watch such tripe.
So Bristol will be looking to win this one, new boss Andy Robinson will want to get his team into the play-offs, of that I have no doubt. They have the resources in place to handle a pop at premiership rugby next season, given even a sniff at promotion they will take it. By now he will already have done his homework on us and will be looking for a strategy that is likely to work. Will that be the sort of heavy defensive game with nothing but the odd opportunistic attack that has nearly worked against us a few times, or a gung ho full on attacking game to score more points than us in a game of fast & skilful rugby?
I am hoping for something in between. Pirates gave us the best game, more like a Super 14 side than Championship, and some of their backs play was sublime, a pleasure to watch, but they paid the price by leaking tries. The dull slogging games have worn us down but despite coming close have never defeated us. They sap energy from both sides in spades, and one obvious weakness at Bristol that he has to work on this summer is a lack of stamina for the full 80 minutes, so that strategy is unlikely to work effectively.
I think he only has one choice, to play a good all round game, giving it the beans to get ahead early then retain the lead by good defence. That means our lot have to be awake and on the ball from the off, not feel their way in as they have so many times of late. If Bristol bring a game like that next weekend with their best available team it will be well worth turning up to watch. They have everything to play for, and so have we, as if we don’t go in to beat Bristol soundly, our preparations for the play-offs must be looking very shaky.
Hoping for a good game on Saturday.
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I think it's going to be us v Leeds in the semis & Notts v Bedford
I've been following the Bristol forum, and they seem very positive about their prospects for the game and even more so for next season. Overall Robinson seems to have been welcomed by their supporters, and has already started to nurture a more open, off loading type of game. Whether they will still have a chance of the play offs by Saturday depends somewhat on what transpires mid week, but whatever happens I think we'll see an excellent game of rugby. Bristol have the infrastructure, support base and history to be a Premiership club, and I would love to see them back where they belong - just not this year!
So, Saturday here we come. I hope the weather is warm and dry and conducive to some flowing rugby. Would be nice to see a respectable increase in the gate, as a mark of intent for what is to come in the play offs. There will doubtless be a reasonable influx of loyal and vociferous Bristolians to add to the atmosphere. I think they will give us a good game, but I think defensively we'll be too strong for them.
Quote:Dick Godfrey
...we have a chance of ending the normal season with an unbroken run of wins. This should be the cause for much celebration....
Indeed Dick, Despite some of the sneering comments by some this season, the record of 100% wins is testimony to a great achievement. Add in factors such as Deano giving the squad a thorough testing & taking risks by not playing the obvious teams each week and it has indeed worked well. Many teams have pulled all the stops out to try to unsettle us but not a single one has managed it (yet).
Overall, Deano has made the best tactical use out of this season as preparation for next, and despite accustations of arrogance, that is ultimately what this season has been about, as I expect next season will be for Bristol in very similar circumstances and for exactly the same reasons.
Quote:Dick Godfrey
I expect to see the South Stand in joyous mood.
I hope to be in particularly joyous mood, as for a change I might not be driving.
