Bears Beyond The Gate
A Bristol Bears podcast made by fans for fans. Each week your hosts Pete, Lee and Miles will take a light-hearted look at developments from Ashton Gate and beyond.
Bears Beyond The Gate
Ep 207 - 'Feisty one you are!' The derby does not disappoint as Bears battle hard but Bath are a bit better
It was a derby day to remember and although it didn't go our way for us, the effort was there.
Pete, Lee and Miles ‘deep dive’ into the heated clash with them down the road, where the Bears battled hard, created big moments, but ultimately found that Bath were just that little bit better on the day.
🔥 Key Talking Points:
- Early impact & momentum:
From the off, the Bears looked fired up: a charge-down leading to a try inside a minute set the tone. That fast start put Bath on notice, yet despite that spark, the boys found themselves under pressure as the first half progressed, with Bath creeping into the ascendancy. Was the Ben Spencer “not looked at deliberate knock on” a turning point?
- Defence showing heart:
The Bears defended really well when they needed to. Two Bath tries were disallowed thanks to our pressure and scrambled defence and even if the final scoreboard didn’t ultimately reflect it, the character was there.
- Bench depth & injuries exposed
With many first-choice names missing, the squad felt the effects. The Bears’ bench couldn’t quite match Bath’s firepower and depth and the gap that showed.
The hosts executed late and we paid for the small moments that went against us.
- Refereeing & derby tension
Derby matches bring emotion and this one was no exception. The officiating was under the microscope — scrums, scuffles, yellows, and debate. We consider whether the match officials were the right choice for this much-heated affair, whilst at the same time recognising that it can be a thankless task.
🤔 Looking ahead: can we build from this?
Yes, the result stings. But there is more to this performance than just the score. The Bears showed fight, structure and signs of promise. The focus now is to turn this into consistency.
🎖 Player of the Week:
Our pick: Matías Moroni — despite travel and squad changes, he produced several big plays and gave the Bears something to build on. Stay tuned for his full ratings in the episode.
🗣 Listener shout-outs:
Massive thanks to all the fans who weighed in but our top three contributions this week were:
- “Defence was incredible… Worsley more than held his own versus the overrated Russell.” — Morgan
- “Bears battled. Bath better.” — Huge Swede
- “You’ll get top 8. Fair Play’ - Tony Sarsby (a Bath fan)
Got views on the game? Send us your voice-notes or messages across our social media and you might feature int he pod.
✅ Final Word:
A valiant effort, full of heart, grit and individuality, but at the final whistle, Bath came out on top. If the Bears can keep the intensity shown here, tighten up when it matters, and improve depth, then this performance won’t feel like just a defeat but rather a stepping stone.
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💬 Share this episode with your fellow Bears fan — let’s keep the fan chat alive!
UP THE BEARS! 🐻
Hi, I'm Finn Russell and you're listening to Bears Beyond the Gate podcast.
SPEAKER_02:You're listening to Bears Beyond the Gate, the Crystal Bears podcast by Five Fans Four Fans with three friends who love to love the game and all things better. In this episode we discussed the 4015 defeat array. A really compacted match with key moments and momentum wings decided the result. It was a proper mix-up and no doubt reminiscent of Lee's formative years growing up in Vinnywood. After the first Prem block of fixtures, we listed in sixth position with three wins out of five, and having already played two of the more difficult away games. As we enter the Prem Cup and onto Autumn International Period, what does the next month hold in store for us? All this and more, I'm Pete, and I'm joined as usual by Miles and Lee for a cheeky beer and a bit of rugby banter. Well boys, we are in our spiritual home. It used to be the spiritual home used to be your flat, didn't it? And look where we are now. I mean, as Tom Taton said, it was like walking into the talk sports studios. We're all we've got headphones on, we've got our like our microphone stands.
SPEAKER_04:It's it's quite intimate as well with the lighting, isn't it? I know we I mean for us, yeah, because none of us can really see that well. So it's it's a little bit too intimate lighting, but it's uh it's it's a lovely setting, isn't it?
SPEAKER_02:And as and is as it's becoming known as the only rugby podcast in a lock-in. Yes. Absolutely.
SPEAKER_01:So we are as I think with a certainly smelly beer carpet to match.
SPEAKER_04:Absolutely love it, just for those of Vienna flight.
SPEAKER_02:Of course. And if there are any new listeners joining us this week, what we're talking about is the fact that we're at the Bristol Beer Factory Taproom Studio Bar. It is one of our it's the product of a massive sponsorship deal that we have with the Bristol Beer Factory. They let us use their toilet, their toilets, and uh they trust us to lock up and we mention them constantly.
SPEAKER_04:And I always get my money's worth of the toilets, didn't I?
SPEAKER_02:Yeah. Why wouldn't you? Quality of the beer anyway. Anyway, we digress. So um, yeah, big game, big game on Saturday. It was the last game in this block. Um, we all kind of had slightly different match experiences. So um Miles, where did you watch the game?
SPEAKER_01:Uh on TV at home, just around the corner.
SPEAKER_02:Are you telling me that the the Duchess was away again for a weekend?
SPEAKER_01:Partially, she I I feel a bit bad. I told her I was gonna get home with the kids and watch the game from the start. She rang me, and I still hadn't and I'd missed the start of the game. Bust her gut, and I did apologise and was home 20 minutes later.
SPEAKER_02:What are you apologising for, Miles? If she wants to watch the game, she could have come home.
SPEAKER_01:She did, she was away working, bless her, and I I dragged well, let's see, uh the children have dragged me into flipping the city centre to you know waste half a day shopping. I thought Miles was apologizing for busting her gut, but I obviously read that wrong. Anyway, then we then then yeah, then we enjoyed each other's company and and watch it on playback and we watched the whole game together.
SPEAKER_04:So it's still better than my viewing.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, so absolutely, mate.
SPEAKER_04:I had a an absolute nightmare. Saturday, I I would I knew I was going into work, but I thought, well, it was one of those days where I thought I'd probably be finished by two o'clock, home by three, showered, and a couple of beers in front of me watching the game. Um disappointed Miles didn't invite me around to his, but uh there we go. Well, in your overalls, not a chance, mate. But uh yeah, I had a nightmare. I had a I had a an afternoon of literally watching filler and paint dry. So um yeah, I I missed I missed the whole game, um which seemed to last for about a weekend anyway. But um uh so I'm I'm relying on YouTube to fill me in with the in the gaps. I I watched the highlights obviously.
SPEAKER_02:I'm sure you'll be fine. Um and then myself, I I managed to uh to get a ticket for the game boys. I actually went down. Um it was uh well I was kind of on pod media duties, okay, which is a bit of a new thing. Um it it sounds great, but basically I I was in the worst seat right in the corner uh with no cover and got absolutely soaked. So that Bath Rugby looked after you then.
SPEAKER_00:Not really looked after, yeah.
SPEAKER_02:Yeah.
SPEAKER_04:When we're going back there again. Well, I mean the only good thing was actually we sorry to but we should mention that, right? This is a big thing for me. A lot of the Bath supporters are saying, where are the Bristol fans? Where are the Bristol fans? Well, I'll tell you where the Bristol fans were, they weren't spending their hard-earned money going to that shit all of a ground scaffolding to to sit on a bit of scaffolding in the ring. So if any Bath fans are listening, Tommy Debs, I know you'll be listening, probably Lloyd as well.
SPEAKER_02:Um we were watching it oh, apart from Pete, we were watching it at home, watching paint dry, apart from me and also Debs and Big Jim. I do something.
SPEAKER_01:I I I I'm not entirely sure I ever want to pay my hard-earned money to go and sit at the wreck and watch a game. But under the current non-stadium, I'm with you.
SPEAKER_02:I feel like I have to go devil's advocate here because somebody did mention this to me. Is is but the flip that round and say, shouldn't money not be an object if you want to go and support your team?
SPEAKER_04:And uh we we've all got season tickets. So season cards, I should say. So I think we do pay our money. I mean you're just not gonna give it to them.
SPEAKER_02:Yeah, I suppose you could argue you could target Bath, you could save your money, you know, over the year.
SPEAKER_01:We went to you know proper rugby cub last week, didn't we?
SPEAKER_02:I lost her and enjoyed it. I mean, this is the thing, supporting a team is is uh well I hate to say this because that's their strap line, it's through thick and thin, isn't it? But um through through recession and boom and bust if it comes with with Brahm. Anyway, let's move on, boys. So we all we all saw the game in slightly different ways. And as I said last week, slightly controversially, and Lee got you got the hump with me last week. What I meant was when you're there watching it live, it's kind of different when you watch it on telly because you don't really know. I mean, I missed quite a lot of stuff, but what I did get was the kind of feel of the the the momentum, in a way, and the way and then obviously I did I did actually watch watch replay of it today and then filled in a few gaps um in the dry. In the dry, yeah. Um so I think the first question I'm gonna come come to you, Miles, is let's just go back a few days. We did speculate last week in the pod about what the the lineup was gonna be. We we kind of assumed Bath would have a really strong one, um, but we had a bit of a discussion about what we thought our lineup would be. So when the the team sheets did come out um on Thursday, um what were your thoughts?
SPEAKER_01:Um I I think we uh correctly speculated that Genji would be back in, wouldn't he? For sort of uh slightly odd HIA, but he was back in and I think we thought that potentially Bates and Carrington had had a a week break for HIA, and and other than that, I don't think there was any other controversy or much different in the sort of team sheets we we we guessed, I don't think.
SPEAKER_02:I mean we we there was one controversy, well a personal one, a pod one, was that there was no sign of uh Dunny.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah. We had no well, I had no absolutely no idea why. I absolutely agree.
SPEAKER_04:Well, none of us did, do we? No, and then we subsequently, yeah. Um I mean we now we know in you know in hindsight he's been he's injured, he's got a a peck injury. Something like that.
SPEAKER_02:I mean he was on the he was on the unavailable list on the website, and that always means that you're injured, yeah, or you're on international duty, and and we know that that's not the case, although he should be. He should be, but um so he's obviously got he's he's got some sort of injury, we don't know the extent of it. Um, but it's probably if he's gonna get injured, it's not a bad time to get injured because we've got a four-week break now.
SPEAKER_04:He would have been gutted personally, though, because I I well we all know 100% he would have been wanting to be out on that pitch, and and I mean we know the F causing some that in that semi-final was absolutely phenomenal. The amount of punch-ups on that pitch as well. That was pretty much.
SPEAKER_02:Could have been a few more, could they? He's I know, and also I mean let's uh in all seriousness as well. I mean, the the effort we know he made to get fit for the start of the season, I mean the Instagram reels were uh but yeah, so I'm sure let's fingers crossed that he'll be back fit as a fiddle to compete for his place again. Um so yeah, so I don't know, was there anything you thought, Lee? Was there any s I mean it wasn't the back line the only discussion? Lua tour for me.
SPEAKER_04:Yeah, Lua Tua. And and I I did kind of feel nothing against Santi Grandona, but I kind of lure to Bath Away is a game where you do want Captain Superman. Yeah, it's just that kind of level-headedness, you know, just just in the right place at the right time. Um, but obviously he was injured and he couldn't play.
SPEAKER_02:Um and we'll we'll probably discuss Santi's performance anyway. And actually, when you think about it, last year was his debut, wasn't it? And he scored two tries. So in some ways it was probably quite good that uh Grandona was um uh was there, but yeah, we'll talk a bit about him. I mean, for me, the only thing I'd say is we did have a discussion about Moroni. I think I was saying, oh, they they might rest him because bloody glad they didn't. It might he might be on a one game on, one game off contract. But to be fair, uh Miles, you were the one that was pushing him, saying I think you know he'll start at 13 again, and uh and he did, and he had another he went another full 80. He did, yeah, um and played well.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, and you've probably figured this out, but the the influence he had on the game was just out of this world, so yeah. Even if we did question it, I think we'll all eat eat humble pie and say flipping it was he needed at the weekend.
SPEAKER_02:And I suppose the only other thing I would say was that um we had bath bites on the pod or rich Matt Price Bath Bite. Sorry, yeah, yeah. And um he he sent me a WhatsApp message through the week saying that he was working with Genji's dad, Rich Genj, and Genji's dad had told him that Genji was going to be on the bench.
SPEAKER_04:Good lad.
SPEAKER_02:Yeah, good lad. And then obviously, when he wasn't on the bench, and he'd obviously bar fights probably told all his mates he he got stitched up right and proper. So let's have a massive, a massive uh shout out to Rich Genj.
SPEAKER_04:That's class, isn't it? I love it.
SPEAKER_02:He's gone Daniel Glenn Oll tactics route or unless the other narrative is that maybe Genji was on the bench and rang his dad to say, Can't believe it, I'm on the bench. And then a minute half an hour later he was off the bench because he got into Pat's office and said, This is not acceptable, Pat. So yeah, anyway. Um, yeah, I mean it I think you know, when we looked at their line out, I mean they we did suggest that they'd put in their strong side, and looking at their line out, they had Ubano, Dunn, DeTois, DeToy, sorry, back again. They had Rue Maloney, Bayliss, Pepperine. I think they pretty much had their first choice eight coming out Spencer, Russell, Redpath, Lawrence, Con Signer, Carreras, Arundel. It was just it's just name after name after name after. And they don't even look at the bench, it just gets worse, doesn't it? The bench was you know, many, many other sides.
SPEAKER_01:Well, I think they have like 14 out of the first starting 15 internationals of some some degree. I mean, yeah, I mean that's just Bath, isn't it?
SPEAKER_02:But the point is, I mean, we knew that was gonna happen because it doesn't make it any easier when you see those names listed. And I think I think the reality was I felt that there might be a you know a bit of trepidation. I you knew it was gonna be a tough, tough ask, of course. But I thought that my th thoughts were, you know, we had some confidence from that Gloucester game, the forwards had played well. We know that the one area we haven't really got that many injuries were the forwards. So if the forwards could get really stuck in um on grass, on grass, and and not on, you know, and and again it's it's it's probably easier to get stuck in on grass, then you know who knows what would happen. And um, when I got down the ground, I suddenly remembered our our mate Dave Atwood probably be there, um, and I thought well he might it'd be interesting to see what he thinks because obviously you know he has split loyalties, although we do suspect that that it's not a 50-50 split though, Lee, is it?
SPEAKER_04:No, I every time I listen to Dave, and we all love him to bits, don't we? We're all agreed, but he's he he always seems I don't know, 5248 Bath.
SPEAKER_01:Cover under his bar and get a nice warm lap around.
SPEAKER_02:And I'm sure he'd probably admit it, yeah, and he'd probably say they've paid him more money over his career. So yeah, he's Bristol and and and he did play for England when he was playing for Bath. So he does owe him a little bit, but he was born in Bristol. I know, I know. So anyway, Dave um very kindly um well actually I I texted him when I was at the ground and said, Are you at the bar? I might pop over because you you'd be interested to see what you think. And anyway, I then got a WhatsApp saying actually I've I'll he said I've sent you all a voice note because I was sort of sorting out the bars and everything, and actually it was quite interesting because he sent that he'd seen the the team arrive. Um and he said, Oh and so anyway, I thought, well, let's uh let's play Dave's um voice note. I did tweet it out actually like about a half an hour before the game, so some people might have heard this already. But I thought it was actually quite a nice way to start the game. So here's what Dave said.
SPEAKER_00:Hi Pete, I have got both the uh both the bars there, but unfortunately uh I um um I'm not there at the minute. Um but I thought I'd give you a little voice note sound bite and uh see who use it. I just as I was I was just setting the bars up, just as I was leaving the wreck and walking out, uh I passed all of the Bristol lot coming in. Um Pat and the lads, um Woolley's broken nose leading the charge, uh very stoic faces, but uh a little bit of bounce, a little bit of confidence, nice to see from the lads. So um obviously in uh in reasonable spirits. Um it's gonna be a rough one today, I think. Obviously, Bath reeling from the uh the loss last weekend up at Wellford Road, they are gonna be out for blood. Um Bristol obviously gonna be happy with that uh result up at uh up at Gloucester, how that went. Um, so the I would say the uh the momentum might be with um with Bath on this one. Um it's certainly gonna be a tough ask, but a great experience, and certainly for some of the young guys, people like Sam Worsley, this is uh a hell of an environment to to cut your teeth. So um hopefully, uh hopefully it won't uh pan out as as brutal for Bristol fans, but um I'm hoping uh it'll be a crack of a game.
SPEAKER_02:Okay, so uh yeah, I mean Dave always very very astute, very eloquent, isn't it? Very erudite, yeah. And and actually he gave me a bit of confidence because he said that the boys look focused, he said they you know it's clearly going to be a tough game, but they'll come with confidence. He said Woolley was looking focused with his broken nose. Um so yeah, and this was this was like this is a guy that had seen they he knows these boys, a lot of these boys, and you know, he could get the vibe from them. So yeah, um, and to be fair, Miles, he was kind of right because within one minute we scored we scored the fastest try of the premiership this season. So uh do you want to do you want to comment on on what happened?
SPEAKER_01:Uh I think I've missed that uh the revovo, wasn't it? Absolute absolute class. Was it 49 seconds? Something like that. But was that the fastest premiership try ever? Well it maybe, maybe obviously clearly this season. Um, but um sorry, um it was absolute, you know, absolutely brilliant out on the wing, um uh and pure class, and it it's absolutely silenced direct from what I heard on the television.
SPEAKER_02:But but more importantly, what I was trying to get at, and you're absolutely right, it was a good finish, but why did we get the ball? Can you remember? No, okay. Well, Lee can't remember because it's it's alright. So shall I tell everyone? Go on, every everyone's there going. What happened was straight from the kickoff, Yanssi van Rensberg charged down Finn Russell. Of course, Finn Russell. And of course, the question, and you can answer this question, Lee, even though you didn't see it. Do you think that the charge down was because of Finn Russell's slightly laxadaisical attitude to life, or was it because of Yansy Van Rensburg's boundless energy?
SPEAKER_04:I think it's probably a cross between the two, but but having said that, obviously the boys were fired up right from the start, right from the kickoff. That was that was pretty obvious if you watched the game or you didn't, and um I um I personally think that it was uh it was a case of Jansey's gone out there, he's you know, he's he's he's taking on the sheep, you know what I mean? He's rounding up the cow, cattle on the on the ranch. And um yeah, I I just I think and the thing is that I think that will we will talk about this a bit more, but I think it was a lot of that right from the kickoff. We've done that a lot this season.
SPEAKER_01:That's not the first time, because you remember he's done that at Ashton Gate where he actually scored himself by charging down the kickoff, didn't he?
SPEAKER_02:Yeah, and I think I think you make a really good point actually, Lee, is that it it was good it as an away fan there, it was exciting because we we were pumped and it and you know we knew from that moment on I knew we were gonna give it an absolute massive shot.
SPEAKER_04:And there's no better way to silence the the the wreck, is there, than scoring that early.
SPEAKER_02:And actually, uh Russell got charged down a couple of times in the first half. Um he did play quite well after that, I've got to say. But annoying.
SPEAKER_04:Yeah, he's a quality operator.
SPEAKER_02:So we we got possession early on. Unfortunately, it was right at the opposite end of the ground where I was watching. Oh, okay. And then actually, we kind of we did a couple of pick and goes and then quickly got it out. And and actually the the um pass from Moroney, he was kind of well under pressure, he kind of threw it with his eyes shut, and it it landed in front of a big pallet and then sort of did a little bounce forward and he ran onto it and straightened the corner. So it was a it was a really good try, and then unfortunately, despite having kicked seven in a row at Gloucester, Sam uh missed it by by a touch, but it was a it was a nice conversation.
SPEAKER_01:I can't like you because we were 5-0 up when we after one minute.
SPEAKER_02:So we're following, you know, we're brilliant.
SPEAKER_04:You know, we I mean and I should say I was I did have the um notifications, the score notifications on my phone. So at that point, I'm like your game off. That's a nice start.
SPEAKER_02:Yeah, so we go up, and then actually we carry on the momentum and we we're we're pumping uh you know, we we get big possession, and then then of course, inevitably buff um score no miles, they don't score straight away. So are you ready to answer? Are you ready to answer this question? Are you gonna come to you?
SPEAKER_01:I don't know, because I thought it was yesterday. He's got cheese on his top. So that's all washed off then.
SPEAKER_02:We we are under the pump and it very soon after, like minutes after, we're we're defending our line. And of course, you're thinking, well, this is inevitable. Barf are gonna score, pick and go, power play. Um but we we actually defend it really well and we clear it. And annoyingly, Miles, they do score.
SPEAKER_01:Do you remember what happened? Well they're annoyingly good. I think Miles Reed just picked up the ball from the back of a ruck, that's not what happened. Well, I don't know. Pepper ended up scoring, didn't he?
SPEAKER_02:Yeah, Pepper scored and he took it well.
SPEAKER_01:No, what happened was we cleared it.
SPEAKER_02:It there was quite a fortunate bounce. Finn Russell picked it up. Finn Russell popped it to Joe Cochrane Sigar, who hit it at pace. He then got tackled and he offloaded from the floor to Miles Reed, who picked actually, to be fair to him, picked it off his toes. Then he was the one that ran through, drew the man, drew El Zaldi, and passed it.
SPEAKER_04:I reckon actually Miles Reed might be the opposition player that I hate most in the whole league.
SPEAKER_02:Why do you hate him?
SPEAKER_04:I d just because he's so good.
SPEAKER_02:Anyway, we'll come back to Reed because he did cause a little bit of a scuffle later on. So uh a point I'm trying to make, Miles, was that it was or both of you was really frustrating because we'd done really well, we'd actually won the ball back in the place where we wouldn't expect to win it back, which was against forwards, and then kind of conceded the try. Yeah, that was just a bit it just felt a bit cheap. Um so you know it was it was kind of then I thought uh five all, you know, we're this is gonna be a long afternoon. It felt like it. Um and then you know, we we but then we kept at it. Um I think 16 minutes we had a massive break into their um 22. I think Morone, I think uh Marmion broke, Moroni Fitz pop broke, and then Pepper made a last-itch tackle and then got a penalty for hold for you know for us holding on. And I I looked at it, and it literally, this is why I don't like him. Literally, I didn't think there was any clear release in the tackle whatsoever. Um, so that was a bit frustrating. Um, but then 19 minutes later, in and I think three minutes later, Moroni did a turnover on Carreras, which I thought was quite was quite apt. So Carrera got isolated, Moroni's on it. Now, here's my question to you, Lee. Yeah, what do you think Moroni said to Carrera's while they were grappling on the floor? International teammates, what do you reckon?
SPEAKER_04:I kill you.
SPEAKER_02:Well, something like that, yeah. Do you remember what happened off that one? I'll give you a clue, Marmion. What did he do?
SPEAKER_04:Miles being being interrogated. Pete can't go to a game again, can he? That's not what just because you've been there and you've seen it and you've done it. I'm never walking a Saturday again.
SPEAKER_01:I just I've just discorded through the boring bit.
SPEAKER_04:Sorry for trying to earn a cross from my family, Pete.
SPEAKER_02:I've just I've just it's not you, I'm not blaming you. Yeah, you've got an excuse. I've just thinking all the listeners out there saying, Did they actually watch this game at all that we're talking about? Tell you what, and I'll give you a better question afterwards. So it was a quick tap and go from Marmion. So we had a quick tap and go, he then grubbered it. Um, and actually Calavetti was through, and the ball bounced again the wrong way. Calavetti tried to kick it and missed it because it was a complete air shot. Uh, we got the ball and then we got a penalty uh for side entry, and and then on the back of that there was the we went blind, and that was when um uh Spencer knocked it on. The ref then went back for the side entry and they didn't appear to look at Spencer's knock on. Now, my my argument was we then scored with Gabs.
SPEAKER_04:And it still wasn't brought back in the city. Well, it was a yellow, it was a potato it was a yellow card.
SPEAKER_02:We had it like a we had a two-man overlap. Just because he's Ben Spencer and he's at baff doesn't mean that he was you think, oh well, he was trying. It's like it's like when you give a penalty away for handball in football and saying, Oh, the defender was doing his best, but he still stuck his hand out, and and also those those one-handed ones, I mean, generally they are a yellow card straight away. And when you're in your own 22 with a two-man overlap. So the point is we then scored from Gabs, and that was controversial because it looked like a dummy throw. So, and then the irony was Ben Spencer was arguing with moaning about that about a dummy throw, and I was thinking, mate, you're lucky to be on the pitch to even argue. Exactly. So, Miles, what do you think about that whole situation? You tell me what you thought.
SPEAKER_01:Well, I yeah, I think you're right. I think I was sort of like followed the sort of leader of the the comms, and there was an sort of accident or knocking in the air, nothing he could have done. But you're right, in the in the letter of the law he did try and sort of tap it, didn't he, with no attempt to sort of grab it. Anyway, it transpired that we scored a try from it, so I guess we can't argue too much. Do you not think that's a massive turning point?
SPEAKER_04:Yeah, I'm about to see in the game is really difficult for me to say. From the facts that were presented before me, my lord. Yeah, I mean, Spencer goes off for 10 minutes, then potentially, like I know we scored from that incident.
SPEAKER_01:We get more.
SPEAKER_04:Yeah, yeah. Potentially we score more. And then going into the you know, going into that second half, maybe we've got a big leap. I I maybe I'm just clutching it, straws.
SPEAKER_02:I think, but I mean, we all know that rugby's about moments, momentum is massive. I don't know, and then obviously, very quickly, I mean, then they did score through Lawrence. That's quite a good try. Finn Russell, little chip through. Yeah, Lawrence scores, then there's a massive scuffle. Tempo loses his rag, gets Fitz and Spencer and says, Look, and I on comms, I I then when I listened to it, he said, look, if that happens again, people are leaving the pitch. But then we find out that then they score seven points and then they get a penalty on the restart. So I'm there thinking at the game, like, why's that? Why have they got because I know I saw Finn Russell kick it into touch, and I'm thinking, why is he kicking the ball? It should be us kicking the ball. Anyway, it turns out that Elisalde had had done some afters on Lawrence, but you know why he did after Lawrence because Lawrence got up and threw his head and laughed at him. It's like and like the TMO yeah, I did. I saw that TMO like said, Oh, it this was all started by by White 15. And I was like, it wasn't started by White 15, it was started by blue and white 13. He's an arrogant twat.
SPEAKER_04:We never got that in in Hotcliff uh school playground, you know, we would in North West. It was there was never that there's there was never an umpire or uh referee judging, you know, or rug people, yeah.
SPEAKER_02:So I suppose what this is leading, let's get a question that the more general question, Miles, because you you you know, because you allegedly watched the game, but but I get I get it that you aren't that you were obviously having to deal with your kids trying to cook them tea and whatever. Let's talk about tempo a little bit. I mean, we don't like to talk about refs and officiating, but I think it's worth mentioning it because I thought it was a it was quite a difficult game for him to officiate because it was especially the weather comes in, there's a lot going on, there was a lot of chirping going on, a lot of scrapping, and he was already saying, Stop telling me what like there were people shouting at him, and I heard him say I could hear him because the atmosphere was so flat after the first ten minutes because we scored that I could hear the players shouting, they're screaming for offside pepper, like a little petulant schoolboy was like screaming, oh, he's lying on the ball. What's your thoughts on the officiating? Because he has been he's been given some pelters elsewhere for for certain decisions, but we should mention it. We but he you know, we've talked about the the Spencer thing, but it is an officiating team. So, I mean, like what's your balanced thoughts?
SPEAKER_01:Well, listen, it it it's you know, uh a high tempo, high energy, quite literally, high literally uh derby match. I mean, it was inevitable, you know, and the two teams absolutely detest each other. So I I think it was going to be a tough gig for Tempo to manage anyway, and lo and behold, on the day, um you could argue an outsider's point of view, because we were watching on the TV that uh at points that the the game lost control of the game later on, more so than in in but did he though?
SPEAKER_02:Well, I think he carded, but you say later on.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, alright, but well, I think when he got to 85, 90 minutes, that it was just farcical.
SPEAKER_02:Why you can't stop a game just because it's like it's gone beyond 80 minutes. I I I don't know, Lee, you dump in, you want to say something.
SPEAKER_04:I just thought was Tempo the right guy to referee a game like that. I I can kind of see where Miles is coming from. For me, maybe a Christoph Ridley would have been that kind of just slightly cooler head who would have just said, look, lads, for God's sake, you just pack it in. Yeah, just calm it down. You know, it's a game of rugby, let's get on with it. Tempo's very hot-headed.
SPEAKER_02:I mean, we all know, like you're right, but he did get a bit pissy at times with the players. Um, I mean, do you think the players were playing up to the narrative of the derby as well, a little bit? To me, some of that scrapping looked a little bit premeditated.
SPEAKER_04:I think it might Miles is hitting the nail on the head. I think Bath and Bristol hate each other. As a Bristolian, right, as a kid from a council state, Genji hit the nail on the head the other day when he said it is it's literally a class war, and that's exactly how I see it. We know loads of brilliant BAF supporters, right? But there is the element, the body bashing element of BAF support that I just can't stand. I personally cannot stand them, and they're just so up their own horses. I this is the game I always want to win. Yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_02:And I think I think you're both right. I mean, I think Tempo had a tough game, there's no doubt about it. And he did he did make but I think he did disallow two of their tries as well. You've got to remember that. And I mean, I know that was the TMO help. And you know, he did reverse a penalty. So going back, you know, when there was a scrap and Miles Reed pushed.
SPEAKER_04:Well, it it sounded like he was equally kind of inconsistent on both sides. So it was you can't see everything. We remember the the Sarris team that were like, you know, the that they did that chiefs. I mean, how how straight moved Chiefs to watch at times?
SPEAKER_02:I think if we yeah, and I think you're right, you're actually right about do they actually think about refs, who's gonna ref games because refs all have different personalities, and that's a good thing because they're they're not all robots, and maybe you're right, maybe there is a debate on was he the right person. The one thing we could say actually is that the Spencer thing was debatable, but I think the TMO has to come in on that.
SPEAKER_03:I don't agree with that.
SPEAKER_02:But they're meant to be a team, aren't they? Yeah, agreed. Um, and it was like they just didn't seem to have a conversation, right? So, anyway, let's move on quickly. So we're 15-19 down at half time. I mean, Miles, what you know, what what was you must have been quite happy, I would have thought. 15-19, actually quite disappointed that we were behind, I would have thought.
SPEAKER_01:Well, absolutely, I think you know, we were um you know, 5-0 up, five, you know, five all 12-5 up, um, and then to go in sort of 19-15 down. I was just very disappointed. It just sort of felt a little bit against the run of play. Probably only based on, to be fair, the first 22 minutes, but uh I felt that Bath were already getting the ascendancy, and it would be quite a tough second half to really sort of not necessarily turn it around, but keep Bath at bay, knowing what what was to come with their bench. But quietly confident that we could keep within a try at half time.
SPEAKER_04:See, that's the difference between Miles watching the game on TV, you watching it live, I've been getting score notification. So I'm thinking at halftime, 1915, we're only four points down.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah.
SPEAKER_04:But I have no concept of the game that you've watched to get, you know what I mean? So for me, I'm thinking, oh, actually, we're only four points down at half time. We're in this game.
SPEAKER_01:I guess we're I guess for the yeah, they scored two quick tries, four minutes apart, leading up to half time. Yeah, going in, you know, um head above shoulders, thinking and confidence. I thought it it the second half is gonna is gonna be very tight.
SPEAKER_04:So for you guys, momentum had swung then. Yeah, I think so.
SPEAKER_02:I I don't I hate to say it, and I was actually proved wrong for about 20 minutes. I I felt that those the the the red path tribe, particularly, and so that was a direct result of that scuffle, and actually that was a bit of a killer blow because it was against the runner play, and I but I just felt I did feel at the time, I thought you know, our forwards have put in a massive shift this first half. We can't expect all of them to carry on the same, and and we know that some of them are gonna have to. Rubio, Low Grandona are probably gonna go the full 80, Batley's gonna go the full 80. You know, I is our bench up to this, and this is no disrespect to the bench. I've just say relative to what their bench was, and so I was quite I felt a little bit depressed at halftime. I thought, again, it felt like that semi-final, we should have been ahead, and we we just didn't take the chances we had. And a couple of times we just made a couple of decisions that you know, get getting ourselves isolated. There was one where Fitsi went, we had a quick line out, Fitzy broke, popped a matter, it was it looked good, but then Matter got enveloped, and then Ubano got up, you know, got his hands on the ball, and he just think that we that we didn't need to do it at that point.
SPEAKER_04:That's happened a few times this season, and the way we play, we are open to players getting isolated, and I think we have to work on that. Yeah, coaching.
SPEAKER_01:You could get away with that with maybe a couple of teams, but you're absolutely right. When you're going just a pair down the other end of the field, uh you're right, it was inevitable that we're going to get isolated.
SPEAKER_02:I think I think it's credit to us that it wasn't until the 62nd minute, I mean, we that we in the end the kind of strength and the power came through.
SPEAKER_04:And I mean I just ask, what was the like from 40 minutes to 60 minutes, what was the game?
SPEAKER_02:We were under pressure, we were under a lot of things.
SPEAKER_04:So we were just literally scored twice.
SPEAKER_02:Ethereum scored twice, and both of them were were chalked off. Tempo had to run the whole length of the wreck to the one screen at the other end, and then Josie Mourinho and he twice he then embarrassingly had to say to the whole stadium, there was a clear knock-on. Like you're thinking, but you were right there, you didn't see it. I think the first one was Detoy knocked it on picking and driving. The second one that Lawrence scored, but there'd been a knock on in the rug. Knock on in the ruck. Now, my question to you, Lee, which didn't matter whether you're there or not, is when a when a team knocks on when they're being you know when they're being defended against, is that just bad luck or is it good defending?
SPEAKER_04:I would say it's good defending because it is the pressure. I mean these are professional rugby players, they don't knock on willy-nilly, do they? They if there's a knock-on, it's been forced generally.
SPEAKER_01:I mean you're right. I think we should commend Bristol that you know, two out of two tries, they had such pressure against us, and our defence was so good that it was I I mean, admit they were marginal, but they were clear knock-ons. Um and I was bored stiff by that point by bars pick and go, pick and go, pick and go. But hats off to the Bristol boys. Uh they put enough pressure on that both were disallowed.
SPEAKER_02:Um but then after eventually, I think what happened was 61 minutes, Genji and Ogre went off. They'd put massive shifts, they can't do that, and then and then they emptied their bench, and then you know, they did then finally score. I think it was a chip uh Lawrence um Russell, little cross kick to Big Joe.
SPEAKER_01:We had Gwandana sent off at sixty. Yeah, we were then down. We were down one man. I mean, by but by that point, I think we'd had eight eight penalties against in a row. We were under the pump, under the pump.
SPEAKER_02:It was it was it it was kind of frustrating, but it wasn't frustrating in a bad way. It was like we we basically emptied the water. We'd emptied the well, yeah, we'd done everything we could. A lot of things had gone against us, and yeah, I mean ultimately they won 49.
SPEAKER_04:Well, I mean, we should say that I mean they scored two tries in the last what couple of minutes, yeah. So, really, that game, you take it take away the two tries. What was that? They're both converted tries, yeah, yeah. So that's 14 points off of 40. So we'd 26. 26-15 was a bad score. I mean, against a BAF team where we've got what 19 now injuries in our squad. And uh I mean that's um like we've got a squad of what 38 players this year. No, I think that's half our squad injured for Christ's sake.
SPEAKER_02:Yeah, and I think I think um I mean the only downside was Closker went off with a looks like an upstream that's not good. Everyone else seemed to be okay, so it was a glorious defeat.
SPEAKER_01:There was a lot of good stuff in there, and uh yeah, that scoreline doesn't represent the the massive effort that the boys put in. I mean, it was you know, it was flipping feisty, but if that's not a derby match is against Bath, isn't it? And I'd expect nothing less. A massive valiant effort from the Bristol boys. Um and I'm just yeah, I'm absolutely gutted that 40-15 to an outsider just looks like a bit of a jrubbing, doesn't it? So yeah, and I'm gonna reflect that.
SPEAKER_02:I don't care because ignorant people will think that, but anyone who knows anything about rugby and reads the reports will probably know that that you know Bristol I think I think a lot of teams will look at that and think, you know, we've got to be wary of Bristol's pack. Yeah, yeah, yeah. They you know they'll there'll be other teams. I mean Gloucester will tell you, yeah, Tigers will tell you, Chiefs will tell you, they're no mugs.
SPEAKER_04:No, and I'll I'll tell you another thing that's really impressed me already this season, only five rounds in, is the togetherness. I know you get that with a smaller squad, I'm appreciating that, but they fight for each other, and that's something that kind of grit. I think we've got to big up the Argentinians for bringing that into the into the squad.
SPEAKER_02:Well that m moved me on nicely to what I was gonna finish off with just to wrap it up. Individual performances. Is there anyone you want to mention from from your your kind of variable watching on telly?
SPEAKER_01:I thought you know, inevitably um Jancy van Rensberg put in an absolute sh absolute shift. Yeah, again, eight out of ten minutes. Eight out of ten, you know, block blocking kicks by Finn Russell, attacking. Um, and and and you know, someone we said might need a rest this week, Maroni. I mean, that's gotten to be an 11 out of 10. I feel like you've got a bit of man. I I have got a bit of I've got a I've got to eat some humble I ate some Marone. I ate some humble apple and blackcurrant pie for tea with custard, but flipping it, was I glad he is absolutely plucking chinder at the weekend.
SPEAKER_02:There's some chat that they'd he'd only on a really short contract.
SPEAKER_01:Well, Pat said he'd like to keep it.
SPEAKER_02:I'd say get the money out, so would I.
SPEAKER_01:I mean, the the the class that he put in, the shift at the weekend was through the roof.
SPEAKER_04:We seen him for Tigers, didn't we? He was just he was brilliant, wasn't he? He was always really consistent against us.
SPEAKER_02:I'd add both of the Argentines, Rubiolo, Grandona, they do add a lot of heft, and Rubiolo. I mean, he's he's even Dunny said he was a beast, didn't he? And he was him and Pepper went head to head a few times, and that was quite good to see. And then I think Elizalde, he whilst he probably feels a bit disappointed about you know letting the team down for that restart. I really like you know what, we haven't said this for a long time. But I love the cut of his chip. Yeah, I knew you could say that.
SPEAKER_04:I agree, and also I mean these guys are that they're they're integrating into the squad as well, so they'll only get better.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, I think yeah, you're right. El Zalde he didn't look out of place at all. I mean, he gives us another option, he's got a huge left boot, hasn't he? And I thought his slight misdemeanour that's got an infringement was you know par the course against Bar. But I thought he had a pretty decent game. And um if someone throws a ball at your head, you're gonna retaliate.
SPEAKER_02:I mean, all he did, I mean his knee throw a stake back at his foot. I mean the irony was that he the irony was that the when the Lawrence, it was arrogant, actually, it was hubris. It was hubris. Genji saw it, and he came in, and actually I'd say if anyone did a bit more, it was Genji on his own bloody England teammate. And Ellis Alde was just kind of he reacted to you know I just thought it was disrespectful. It's disrespectful.
SPEAKER_04:Are we are you boys gonna talk about the scrap at the end then? Well, quickly, I quite like that.
SPEAKER_02:Yeah, I liked it. So basically, they're on the line, there's a big picture. Come in together. Underhill scores, Fitz gets up to get out of the ruck just to go behind the line and pushes him, yeah, and it and then they all pile in. And the thing, I think the reason Tempo got upset about it was because they kept on piling in, and it's such a small goal area there that they were literally spilling over into the crowd. And I think that is constantly, you know, whatever you say, that that has got to be a red line that you're starting to go into the crowd, and there were some old guys in there, anyway. So then what happened was they weren't. I think Tempo had to go and look not only to check the try was good, but also to check what the hell had happened. So there was a long wait, and of course, it's right on that short area, everyone's baying, and I'd I'd move round to there, so I was like, You were baying as well, were you? We're all wondering what the hell's going on, and then he comes back and he basically says try's good, um, but you and you and um Ben Grondona, yeah, yellow card, but Bristol gonna get a penalty from the restart. And then, of course, the point is when you get a penalty, it doesn't matter if it's in the red, you keep playing until it's a knock-on or it goes out of play. And it didn't, we got a penalty, they then got a penalty, they carried on play, we got the ball back, and then it intercepted to Arundel, he scored, and then eventually that was the end of the game. It was farcical in the sense that it just all happened at that time, but I don't think Tempo personally did anything wrong.
SPEAKER_04:The reason I bring it up is because for me, something like that is it's a derby game. It's the the tensions obviously it was going throughout the game, the whole 80 minutes.
SPEAKER_03:Yeah, it was.
SPEAKER_04:Could he because could Tempo not have just said, look, lads, it's the end of the game, just like knock on the head.
SPEAKER_02:What we're talking about, the farce here. So what are you saying was farcical, Miles? Because you said it was farcical. So what are you farcical yellows or farcical that carried on going to the 90 minutes? Because it that's the rule. The game was done. But it isn't done, it's done when the ball is out. Yeah, yeah. But it wasn't, but it was like it was a it was a restart penalty. Okay, but the game we have a line out, we get possession.
SPEAKER_01:Okay, but it resulted in We didn't choose to put it out. It resulted in us losing another try. I know, but that's not fast.
SPEAKER_04:That's our fault, though, isn't it? It's not fast. We should have kicked it out.
SPEAKER_01:We should have kicked it out. That's my point. We should have flipped and kicked it out and instead of persisting and then getting another intercept try. The situation was a fast cycle, but we you know, it it now looks like you know, we got schooled by that score line by a silly decision at the end that we kept going. Um I'm sorry, it's personal opinion, and we flipping didn't need to.
SPEAKER_02:Yeah, no, I agree with 100% agree with you. We should have kicked out, we should have kicked it out. But what I'm saying is that you can't just stop a game because it's like 85th minute. You the ref has to wait for the game to stop.
SPEAKER_04:And the point I was trying to make is tempo just what didn't you just say like the cards thing is knocked on the edge, yeah. You're right. But the commentary as well, I listened to the obviously the highlights were out. Commentary was like, oh no, this has gone, you know, this has gone too far on our speech, it's it's disgraceful. It's a rugby match, mate. It's Bristol back. Did he not see anything in the 80s? Hell no, you know what I mean.
SPEAKER_02:Anyway, right, let's knock it on the head because we're we're going around in circles.
SPEAKER_01:But we're yellow card ourselves.
SPEAKER_02:Yeah, so we always like to fit in a little bit of listener comment. So we're gonna quickly run through it. I think most of them are gonna cover it, but I always feel it's like nice to do it. So we've had a few newbies this week. So, first off, um we had um where are we? Here we are. We had our first contribution via WhatsApp to my own personal WhatsApp is my my colleague actually, Morgan, Mr. Baylon.
SPEAKER_01:Oh, someone got your number.
SPEAKER_02:Yeah, but he so I had a personal comment and I said I'd I'd read it out, and he was quite chuffed. So he said, and he was watching it on tell, he was literally he was actually watching it on telly, yeah, right. Not like my old. So he said, This has been an unbelievable performance. He's a Bristol lad. Yeah, yeah, yeah. This has been an unbelievable unbelievable performance, considering considering the mitigating factors. You can tell he's a history teacher. Yeah, um, defence was incredible. Worsley more than held his own versus the overrated Russell. Oh, nice. Argentinians were supreme with strength in contact. Bath is so good at making the ruck picture so chaotic that it's almost impossible to referee. And Tempest has very much got had very much got lost in the whole storm. So I think you know he's covered covered a few things we've mentioned. So cheers, Morgan. Um, and then Andrew Pearson emailed me. Andrew Pearson's the guy that got us when he said that his shirt hadn't turned up for six weeks. So he is him, he's a email. Oh, he's got his shirt. No, he still hasn't. But he said he's got over it. But anyway, he wrote, he said, What a great effort from the Bears today. Really proud of their effort all round. Where Bath get their money from to manipulate the salary cap, I don't know. Cannot wait to get them to Ashton Gate when we are fully loaded. Yeah, always bear country, giant oak. That's his name. He's it's his nickname is Giant Oak, Andrew Pearson. And then we had uh regulars, Nick Howell. He said, We would have loved the win, but the boys played their hearts out. That's a good first set with defeats away to Sarisenbaf, who will be top four at the end of the season. Plenty of reason to be cheerful. And then we had a new guy on Twitter, Richard Hedges. I think he's new. He said the effort was immense today. All the players who are out, and we pushed a full strength bath all the way. Personally, I cannot wait for May the 30th return match with all our players back in fires.
SPEAKER_04:That's a couple of listeners saying the return lake are return lake.
SPEAKER_02:Oh man, I'm already the juices are flowing. Exactly. Um, we then also had a comment from somebody called Tony, was A at Asarzby 14411. And he said you'll get top 10, fair play. Anyway, I then did some I didn't investigation and he was a BAF supporter. So I thought I was gonna say what an idiot, but then I actually looked at some of his tweets and he'd been quite complimentary about us against Gloucester. So I thought, fair play.
SPEAKER_04:I mean, and and all you know, all sell and done, right? We we should say congratulations, BAF. Yeah, right. They deserve to win.
SPEAKER_02:They're a great side, they deserve to win, and you know, as much as we debate it and having said that, Debs came in, Debs from K Town, she said we came with fight, we gave our all, we go again. But then she came in with a secondary tweet about half an hour later. One more time Bants with the crowd. She said, Public school boy idiot yesterday, offside, sir, all day, sir. How many times, sir? Me, I've got a sharpie, sir. Can I have an extension on my essay, sir? Then she said, It was all just Bants. So Deb's got stuck in in the in the east stand, as she always does, as she always does, so when I'm bant, and then Huge Sweed. He came in. So Tango Tango Romeo Son. Tango Romeo had got involved with some comments last time. Huge Swede has come in, but he has sent me the shortest, sweetest summary ever, and it goes like this Bath battled. Oh sorry, start again. Goes like this Bears battled, Bath better. Oh, I oh I like that. Good one. Love it in Sweet and then The Swede is back, and then it takes us quickly on to our poetry club. I feel like Hambleys. We had two first timers. So at CycleFan Anthony Baxter. This is his first time. Do you like champagne? And it was a very quick um uh it was a quick short acrostic. So listen carefully, boys. Go so proud of the team today. Officials were poor, defending was brilliant, international pack bath, two tries unfair, return for effort. Sod it? Two tries unfair return for effort. Yeah, sod it. So I read that. You know what they say about poetry, it's all about how you read it, and I got that completely wrong. Two tries is unfair. Two tries, yeah. Okay, and then we had JP Holden. I've never come across two P Holden.
SPEAKER_04:Mate, that's a good quote.
SPEAKER_02:And this is quite this is a single acrostic, and it goes like this boring, attritional, rugby focus. Yeah. Bath Bax Overlooked ruins entertainment. Bore Bears Response Inspires supporters. Briz. Passionate, resilient, immense defensive effort, pride. Bears bore sorry, bath bore, Briz pride. Nice one, JP.
SPEAKER_04:Yeah, that's good.
SPEAKER_02:Um massive friend of the pod, Gerald Wood. Oh in his retirement has been penning a bit of palatry. Yeah, he's been looking for the five. He's been looking after the lit, then 100%. Um, and here it goes. Again, it's quite a long one, but short, so listen up. Fearless, inspired leadership, thunderous tackles, zeal for all 90 minutes. That's the first word. Yeah, heart and soul amidst handbags galore, resolute as the Bath Bomb squad arrived, driving the team in the thick of the action, navigating tempestuous refereeing. Nice one, John. Glory earned in defeat. Miles You got it, Lee?
SPEAKER_04:No, nowhere near it. Fitz Harding. Ah, nice. He was we didn't mention, did we? But he was again immense. Yeah, because you didn't ask me what what players that on the ratings. Oh, I see on the ratings. Fitz Harding and um Calavetti were were the yeah.
SPEAKER_02:But controversially, only one Hambley has submitted a poem. Is it Robin? It's not Robin, it's Hammy. Well, right rare rang now and he has said, got it to lose, but the better team won. Here's my non-rhyming SSS. He got a bit of Hambly. Yeah, because you got you mixed them out on his brother from Christmas. Here we go, you ready? So it goes like this derby win was not ours this week, intensity was good, but not enough. Realistic it was going to be difficult, evidently squad depth made a difference, stupid squabbles did not help us, excited for players to return. Can't dispute, have a great Bath, have a great squad, Ogre scored again, never say never say dire attitude from the lads. Defence was at times was good, hard fought game at times, amazed with some of the officiating, lots of time left before we say season over, forget about it and we move on. We're three and two.
SPEAKER_01:Dire second half.
SPEAKER_02:Dire second half.
SPEAKER_04:I didn't know that was an acrostic. I thought it was just too much. A non-rhyming poem.
SPEAKER_02:That's what you told me. It's a non-rhyming acrostic. So, boys, we've got to crack on quickly. We've just done it. So we we've dealt with that. I mean, we've got no prem game. We've got Prem Cup and Autumn International. We're having a week off next week. Um we we'll see, we haven't decided yet.
SPEAKER_01:We'll probably got a pre- We only got a Prem Cup, have we?
SPEAKER_02:I mean, I might go to that. It's Friday night at the gate, it's on the season card, so I might I've paid for it. So I'm probably gonna go a couple of AOBs before we finish. Um, first one, it was mentioned on Rugby Pass. So in and the Fizzler Confidential, there was a little sentence that put fear into our hearts, and it said James Dunn has been approached by Harlequins.
SPEAKER_04:Yeah.
SPEAKER_02:So what do we think about that, boys?
SPEAKER_04:Well, I mean, this one's summed up quite short and sweet. Um James Dunn is a Bristol Bears player, he's a Bristol Bears fan, and if Bristol pay him the money that he's deserved, he will stay at Bears. Yeah. I have no doubt whatsoever about that.
SPEAKER_02:And also he's the only player that comes on.
SPEAKER_04:We need him, but we do we we've always said Pat Lamb's always said about homegrown players. Well, we've got one right there, and actually we've got a cornerstone now. We've got we've got Dunny, we've got Batley, and we've got Joe Owen coming up now. I mean, that's three really top quality operators, and we need to keep them, yeah, all three of them, yeah, in my opinion.
SPEAKER_02:So I'm sure these things in the papers are always rumours, but I mean, whenever anyone's contract is up, there's always rumours, but I I I totally endorse what you say. Dunny needs to stay at Bristol, and whatever that takes, he has to stay at Bristol because he he's got 50 over 50 appearances, and he's he's a Bristol boy, and you know, also he's a bloody good player. Well, we need him.
SPEAKER_04:We're five rounds in now. I know he missed the the the bath game, but actually, those first four rounds, he's been one of the best players.
SPEAKER_01:And he's had both shoulders, he's superhuman, he's had both shoulders done. He's you know, yeah, came on the pod, he's come back earlier than expected and put in blinding performances, obviously, unfortunate injury, but you know, Bristol bears through and through. We should be biting our biting his hand off to keep him at Bristol.
SPEAKER_04:And I'm not just saying that it's like because we we love Dunny, I'm not saying that for that reason, actually like father to son sort of love. On a cold hearted basis, like we need him. We absolutely need him.
SPEAKER_02:Okay next thing women, the women, it's been a long time. Great weekend, they start their campaign next weekend, next weekend.
SPEAKER_01:CWR started this weekend, yeah. But they had the bye. Yeah, bye.
SPEAKER_02:So I know there's been a sort of cup cup competition that we got to the semis, didn't we? Yeah, that's it. Um but the big the big guns are back, the the roses are back. Um are they playing? Second of November, no tigers, tigers, tigers away, I think it is. So yeah, we'll we'll we'll keep a track of of the women's game. Me and Miles might go and watch a few like we did before. We enjoyed it and and that. And um, and then finally, just last thing came in, they announced the England squad. And whilst this is a Bristol Bears pod, I think we need to recognise well done again for Genji for getting into the England squad, holding literally the only Bristol Bear in there. Um, my comment is three hookers have been picked Luke Cowandicke, yeah, Theo Dan, and Jamie George Lee. What do you think about that?
SPEAKER_04:Well, I'll tell you what I think about that. Gabe Ogre. That's what I think about that. It's an absolute farce that Ogre's not in that team.
SPEAKER_02:It's one of the jobs of a hooker is to throw the ball in straight and accurately all the time. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Just checking. Jamie George does that, but he's about 50. But Luke Cowendicki and Theo Dan are definitely variable with their darts.
SPEAKER_04:Absolutely. I mean, they they they are as inconsistent as me trying to trying to hit a ball's eye.
SPEAKER_02:And how many tries has Gabs Ogre scored this this term?
SPEAKER_04:To me, mate, is a no-brainer, but it does go along with the same ethos of I think Steve Borswick has definitely got something against Bears. Like, I know you two might disagree, but I I genuinely do feel can I can there's another check.
SPEAKER_01:Well, we know why. Don't lie, Buck! Don't lie! Anyway, Miles. There's a bit more criteria. Um, does the does the player that should be picked have played every single minute of the first five games of the premiership? I reckon so. Yeah.
SPEAKER_02:Have the others? And I wonder what his line out success rate is. And has one of them been sent off and then had his red card rescinded? No. So Theo Dan, I I quite like Theodan, but he's not the finished article. Omre looks like the finished article to me.
SPEAKER_04:I mean, I do feel we need to be banging on this door a little bit more because it's almost like if we don't make a point of this, like it will it will never get mentioned.
SPEAKER_02:And I mean I get it, there are lots of good players in in England, and that's really good for English rugby. And I you know I disagree. But but they've thrown that Blooming, they've thrown that winger and the Saracens winger in, he's now in that squad. Now, I watched the game against Saints on Friday night.
SPEAKER_01:Isn't that clear, yeah?
SPEAKER_02:He didn't do anything, and the reason he does anything because he wasn't playing at home on a plastic pitch where the ball bounces ten foot in the air. Freeman scored four tries. I mean, it was very telling that Freeman showed what real class is. Yeah. And I mean the guy's good, but why are you throwing him into a senior squad when, like, if I was Joe Carpenter at sale, I'd be gutted that I'm not in that squad.
SPEAKER_04:This is but it's it's ridiculous that we're even talking about someone who's who's made his debut. I don't know. Admittedly, probably the best debut ever. Yeah, yeah, yeah. But then throwing him in into an England squad is ridiculous. It's just it's it's actually disrespectful to a lot of other players who've been around the circle.
SPEAKER_02:And let the kid grow. Yeah. And and he did. I mean, all Saints did was. I mean, he can't grow much, he said. No, he can't grow, can he? And and Saints, I mean, Saints proved that all you've got to do is just you know, you shut him down. They they they put him under pressure, he did nothing. And that's exactly what international teams are gonna do.
SPEAKER_04:My old mate Andy Moore, I think he won a few quid on that. Did he? Good luck.
SPEAKER_02:Well, I just think I I think it's I mean, in some ways it's it's a you know, it's good because we then then don't lose loads of players, but it's it's just not good for Bristol.
SPEAKER_01:Disrespectful, isn't it, to the players that are week in, week out playing out of their skin, you know, um like like Ogro.
SPEAKER_02:I tell you who else I'd be, and this has nothing to do with Bristol, and this is the final thing. I'll tell you what also I'd be annoyed, Gus War. So Rafi Quirk gets into the England squad, and Gus War is the number one at sale.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, and he's a proper pro you literally missed like one match in the last hundred.
SPEAKER_04:Yeah, it it kind of just I don't know, it doesn't feel right, does it?
SPEAKER_02:It doesn't feel right. It I just don't understand I know anyway, right, it's not a pod. Right. I've on that note. Have we got anything we haven't we finished on quite a negative there? Let's finish off a positive three from five, ten minutes into that Tigers game. We I don't think we would have expected three from five given what happened. No, no, no. Another positive, we've got a few weeks, Grace now, where we can get players back fit, and we have got a few games that we've got um we've got a Prem Cup game, we've got extraway, and then we've got the Argentina games. Let's hope that that is a good game and is done right, not the Queensland Reds Queensland Reds thing from last season. But we are under a bit of pressure with players, it's got really kind of feel like it is going down that same road. Anyway, I'm gonna be there, having a glass of Malbec and a and a nice steak, and uh celebrating yet again Bristol's connection with Argentinian rugby. So, on that note, I think everybody have a great week, stay safe, and up the road.
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