Bristol raise the bar in Premiership with record victory at Leicester

Kalaveti Ravouvou scores Bristol’s eighth and final try at Welford Road with an incredible solo effort. Photograph: David Rogers/Getty Images

First, a simple stat: Bristol notched a 10th consecutive away win in the Premiership. A record for the league. Impressive. Second, another: they scored the most points any team have ever registered against Leicester at Welford Road, as much as any have ever scored against the Tigers anywhere in the Premiership. Impressive again, and this time beginning to hint at what went on here.

But, really, numbers are inadequate. In an extraordinary era of attacking rugby in the Premiership, Bristol must be ranked the most outrageous of them all. They should be listed as a national treasure. Rugby when played like this becomes an art, an entertainment that does not require any grounding in the sport to enjoy.