Saints v Bristol 26th April 2025 - Teams Up

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2025:04:30:11:21:00 by Saint Ted.

Furbank?

Bristol have looked a little off the boil in recent weeks so it feels like a winnable game but will they want it more than Saints?

Unavailable for Bristol: Lovejoy Chawatama, Steele Barker, Joe Batley, James Dun, George Taylor, Jake Heenan, Harry Byrne, Sam Worsley, Noah Heward, Harry Rowson, Max Malins.

Bristol are depleted in the second row.

Saints have gone as strong as we can which I’m pleased/relieved to see. But our injuries are hurting us with 7 matchday best 23 players out injured and a lot long-term.

It’s a big ask for Furbank to go into a European semi-final with just one game under his belt 3 weeks before. Doesn’t say he is injured. But I suspect whilst he could play they are giving his arm max time to strengthen given the discomfort he showed in his first game back so can understand the approach. I’m sure he’ll be desperate to play in the semi.

COYS!!!

Furbs didn’t look too rusty when he came on the Hendy last week, anything but in fact. So I’d back him to slot back in for the big one! More worried by Burger’s abesence, I didn’t realise he was injured.
A good side though and we really should be too good for a misfiring Bristol

Hope you are correct about being cautious with Furbs, Maul. Odendaal out is a miss as well - the luck with injuries this season has been absolutely terrible.

This should be a winnable match, four on the bounce going into the Leinster match would, for about the first time this season, give us a bit of momentum.

Wonder who is marking Harry Thacker

Quote:

Deesaint
Wonder who is marking Harry Thacker

That's done it! now you've mentioned him, he's definitely going to score!

When's he out of contract? I don't care how old he is, how much he'd cost, just sign him so he can't score against us... again!

Quote:

St Marcus
Hope you are correct about being cautious with Furbs, Maul. Odendaal out is a miss as well - the luck with injuries this season has been absolutely terrible.
This should be a winnable match, four on the bounce going into the Leinster match would, for about the first time this season, give us a bit of momentum.

Completely agree Odendaal is a big miss, particularly against Bristol’s midfield!

Quote:

St Stokey.

Quote:

Deesaint
Wonder who is marking Harry Thacker

That's done it! now you've mentioned him, he's definitely going to score!

When's he out of contract? I don't care how old he is, how much he'd cost, just sign him so he can't score against us... again!

Once I mentioned him

I did go outside turn round three times spit and curse
Before knocking to be let back in

Should do it

With Mata (an 8) the second row cover on Bristol’s bench given Barkley, Batley and Dun are all injured; targeting the Bristol scrum and lineout may be a fruitful tactic that pays dividends as the game goes into the latter stages.

Burger was originally on the bench when the team was first announced on the socials but replaced minutes later by Glister

So we have a centre on the wing and two wingers on the bench?

Quote:

Deesaint

Quote:

St Stokey.

Quote:

Deesaint
Wonder who is marking Harry Thacker

That's done it! now you've mentioned him, he's definitely going to score!

When's he out of contract? I don't care how old he is, how much he'd cost, just sign him so he can't score against us... again!

Once I mentioned him

I did go outside turn round three times spit and curse
Before knocking to be let back in

Should do it

Did you happen to count and/or salute the magpies?

Maul,

I suspect Luatua would move into the Second Row and Mata come on in the Back Row.

5pts to Nil please

Quote:

Sir Hector
So we have a centre on the wing and two wingers on the bench?

It signals that the likes of Seabrook and Haffar are going to get limited game time before they depart for Tigers. An exceptional player like Augustus should still get picked but, personally, I like players who are staying being picked over leavers if it helps their development without significantly diminishing the team.

Quote:

St Stokey.

Quote:

Deesaint

Quote:

St Stokey.

Quote:

Deesaint
Wonder who is marking Harry Thacker

That's done it! now you've mentioned him, he's definitely going to score!

When's he out of contract? I don't care how old he is, how much he'd cost, just sign him so he can't score against us... again!

Once I mentioned him

I did go outside turn round three times spit and curse
Before knocking to be let back in

Should do it

Did you happen to count and/or salute the magpies?

Maybe it's how we were raised, or more importantly where we were raised. In my world, if you want to proof yourself against a curse or search for good luck, everyone knows you have to sacrifice a chicken. And not one already in a KFC order. That's what they told me in med school.

Bit fowl mate

When you’ve finished stirring the giblets can you give a score prediction?

The chicken told me I need to keep it quiet. So strange, even after the sacrifice, he still talks to me. Tells me to do....things...

Looking like a hood win

Hopefully no injuries

Some really nice phases of play by both sides. That said, I'm glad there are more nice phases by Saints. Bristol has given us fits in the past.

Quote:

Saint Gordo
Some really nice phases of play by both sides. That said, I'm glad there are more nice phases by Saints. Bristol has given us fits in the past.

+1

We need to tighten up defence before next week

But I really think if we don’t get stage fright

We are in with a good chance

Nice prep.

Poor attempt at an Ash Splash by Young Master Pollock. I thought he got nervous about possibly dropping the ball. But a nice win, none the less....

Did M1 pass his HIA?

Quote:

Sir Hector
When you’ve finished stirring the giblets can you give a score prediction?

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