Bristol Bears secured their place in the knockout stages of the 2021/22 European Heineken Champions Cup with a 28-17 win at home against Stade Franais in the third pool stage game of the competition on Saturday.
A brace of tries from Piers O'Conor, plus scores for man of the match Harry Randall and Henry Purdy saw the Bears secure a bonus point win.
Stade crossed the line twice through Léo Barre and Antoine Burban.
Bristol Bears rugby writer John Evely takes a closer look at the individual performances at Ashton Gate.
15. Luke Morahan - 8
The Australian made the key break for the Bears’ fourth try of the day, straightening up after some sideways running from his teammates on the ege of the 22, bursting 40m before feeding Piers O’Connor to score.
Looking comfortable and accomplished at full back in Charles Piutau’s absence.
14. Ioan Lloyd - 8
The winger stepped Stade players for run as he was a lively presence throughout.
13. Semi Radradra - 7
The Fijian is still a long way off his best form but put in a powerful display with glimpses of his stunning physical capabilities, making breaks, running through attempted tackles and giving unbelievable offloads on his way to 92m in attack.
Heading in the right direction.
12. Piers O'Conor - 8
The centre scored a brace of tries to cap a very versatile performance that often saw him lining up on the wing in attack having come into the starting side to replace Sam Bedlow who suffered a shoulder injury against Sale.
Finished with a game high 115m in attack as his confidence is being rebuilt.
11. Henry Purdy - 8
One of the most understated wingers in the country.
Purdy looks to have found an extra gear in terms of his speed and was rewarded for his good trail running with a try following a break from Harry Randall.
10. Callum Sheedy - 7
The fly-half had a strong display as Bristol looked to play their ‘KBA’ (keep ball alive) style of rugby to run Stade Francais off the pitch.
The Welshman’s ability to improvise was vital in some of the crazy phases of play that pulled the pink-shirted defence from side to side at Ashton Gate.
Finished with eight points from four conversions on a perfect night from the tee and looked to be getting some extra distance when kicking for touch.
Rediscovering his form.
9. Harry Randall - 9
What didn’t Randall do? The scrum was an absolute catalyst for the Bears, scoring one try and setting up another two.
Had Luke Morahan have passed right rather than left following his second half break, Randall would also have scored the fourth try.
The scrum half brought scintillating pace to the game, making the defence splitting break from a quick tap penalty inside his own half before putting Purdy in for the opening score of the game.
Randall then played a vial linking role as the Bears scored down the blindside through O’Conor off a lineout move, giving the scoring pass to the winger.
The third try was a stunning solo effort, quick tapping from a penalty at a scrum about 8m out and stepping three Stade defenders on his way to the line.
Marvelous.
1. Max Lahiff - 7
The prop helped provide a decent attacking platform at the scrum and even made a couple of strong carriers although he got turned over.
2. Will Capon - 7
Capon really caught the eye with some powerful bursts, continuing the proud tradition that has been established by Bristol hookers in recent years however he was replaced after just 45 minutes by Jake Kerr.
His best moment with ball in hand came as he cannonballed through the Stade line off the back of a lineout before offloading to Joe Joyce.
3. Kyle Sinckler - 8
The England star carried and hit harder than we have seen for weeks as he cut out some of the intricate tip passing in a pivot position, as he often does, to make the hard yards, taking the ball on the crash.
4. John Hawkins - 7
Hawkins’ emergence in the last month has been a huge boost to Pat Lam and the Bears with the likes of Dave Attwood suffering with an injury niggle and Chris Vui playing at blindside to cover the absence of Steven Luatua.
5. Joe Joyce - 8
Leading the side in Europe for the first time, the skipper sets the standard with his energy and commitment and despite getting manhandled on a couple of occasions against the huge Stade locks, battled on.
6. Chris Vui - 8
The versatile forward has really flourished playing at blindside in recent weeks with Steven Luatau out injured, being named man of the match in the Premiership win against Sale the previous week and putting in another eye-catching display in Europe with his long hair flowing behind him.
Without the energy-draining work of a second row, Vui is a bigger threat around the pitch, showing nice hands in attack on his way to 28m in attack while also earning three turnovers in defence.
7. Daniel Thomas - 8
The Welshman is another player who was central to Bristol’s success last season who seemed off the pace early in the season but looks to be getting back to close to his best form.
Bristol targetted striping the ball in contact at the weekend and Thomas had considerable success in turning over the ball, winning three turnovers as well as making a team-high 17 tackles and played a yet role in Piers O’Conor’s first try, showing great deception breaking down the blindside from a lineout.
8. Fitz Harding - 7
The number eight took a bit of a battering at times against Stade’s huge pack but never stopped providing the Bears with a carrying option in another all-action performance.
Replacements:
16. Jake Kerr - 7, 17. Jake Woolmore - 7, 18. John Afoa - 7, 19. Ed Holmes - 6, 20. Steven Luatua - 6, 21. Andy Uren - 6, 22. Antoine Frisch - 7, 23. Jack Bates - 6
