European Champions Cup Rugby returned to BS3 in impressive style with a visit from our Parisian friends Stade Français.
The 8pm Saturday kick-off may have been strange but there was an old familiar feel to some of Bristol’s play as we were treated to some fantastic running rugby, out of hand no-look passes and at times, breath-taking wizardry.
I had a feeling it might be our day when I saw the Stade team coach cruise past me on Coronation Road around midday with a seemingly bewildered driver heading in the opposite direction to Ashton Gate.
Maybe Gonzalo Quesada the head coach had heard about the delights of East Street in Bemmy and wanted to show his players some real South Bristol culture to help prepare his squad for what they were about to face on the field of play.
Anyway, back to the action.
Harry Randall was undoubtedly the star of the show; his performance was packed full of va va voom and the je ne sais quoi that has now distinguished him as Bears starting 9. Eddie Jones would have been impressed by his performance and let’s hope he returns to Bristol in one piece this time!
Luke Morahan played a blinder at full back, assured in defence and providing twists and turns that wouldn’t have looked out of place on the ski slopes of Chamonix or Val d’Isère.
If the Wizard epitomised silkiness then Henry Purdy was pure filth, he is simply unstoppable with ball in hand and has to be one of the best signings Pat Lam has made.
Of course, none of this could happen without the solid platform created by the forwards. Each man put in a shift and I have to put in a special mention in dispatches to the King of Southmead, Joe Joyce, who led from the front wearing the captain’s armband and epitomises Lam’s ethos of having local lads as the spine of the team.
We still have a number of big name players to return and with qualification for the last 16 of the Champions Cup now guaranteed; maybe that top four slot in the Premiership isn’t such a distant dream after all? Up The Bears!
