Bristol Bears’ players will get the valuable opportunity of testing themselves against some of the best players in the Southern Hemisphere on Friday night when the Premiership side take on Australia XV in a must watch exhibition game.
A day later England will take on the Wallabies at the Alliance Stadium, Twickenham in the Autumn Nations series with Bears stars Ellis Genge and Harry Randall named in Steve Borthwick’s squad. And then the following weekend the Australia XV squad assembled to face Bristol will take on England A at the Twickenham Stoop, with Bears trio Joe Batley, Gabriel Ibitoye and Gabriel Oghre called up by the home side.
READ MORE: Pat Lam names his Bristol Bears side to face Bath in the Premiership Rugby Cup
Here are all the ways you can follow all the action from Friday night’s game…
When is the game?
Bristol Bears v Australia XV is being played on Friday, November 8 at Ashton Gate.
What time is kick-off?
The kick-off time is at 7.45pm.
Is the game on TV or being streamed?
No. Unlike when Bristol Bears played South Africa, the club have opted not to stream Friday night’s game.
How else can I follow the game?
If you are not going to be inside the stadium, and even if you are, BristolLivewill be live blogging the match bringing you all the build-up, team news, live play-by-play match updates, reaction, stats, analysis, interviews and highlights from inside the ground.
Will there be live radio commentary of the match?
BBC Radio Bristolwill also be providing live commentary of the game.
What’s the team news?
Bristol Bears: 15. Toby Fricker (34 apps), 14. Siva Naulago (37 apps), 13. Kalaveti Ravouvou (11 apps), 12. Benhard Janse van Rensburg (30 apps), 11. Gabriel Ibitoye (47 apps), 10. Sam Worsley (10 apps), 9. Kieran Marmion (31 apps); 1. Jake Woolmore (156 apps), 2. Harry Thacker (118 apps), 3. Lovejoy Chawatama (1 app), 4. Joe Owen (18 apps), 5. Joe Batley (69 apps), 6. Jake Heenan (113 apps), 7. Fitz Harding (c) (78 apps), 8. Benjamin Grondona (8 apps).
Replacements: 16. Gabriel Oghre (23 apps), 17. Max Lahiff (93 apps), 18. Sam Scott (debut), 19. Ethan Surrey (debut), 20. Tom Doughty (1 app), 21. Oscar Lennon, 22. Gethin O’Callaghan (debut), 23. Jacob Cusick (debut).
Australia XV: 15 Andy Muirhead – ACT Brumbies Substitutes, 14 Lachlan Anderson – Queensland Reds, 13 Josh Flook (vc) – Queensland Reds, 12 Joey Walton – NSW Waratahs, 11 Corey Toole – ACT Brumbies, 10 Hamish Stewart – Western Force, 9 Issak Fines-Leleiwasa – Western Force; 1 Tom Lambert – NSW Waratahs, 2 Lachlan Lonergan – ACT Brumbies, 3 Rhys van Nek – ACT Brumbies, 4 Angus Blyth – Queensland Reds, 5 Darcy Swain (c) – Western Force, 6 Tom Hooper – ACT Brumbies, 7 Rory Scott – ACT Brumbies, 8 John Bryant – Queensland Reds.
Replacements: 16 Tom Horton – Western Force, 17 Harry Hoopert – Western Force, 18 Tiaan Tauakipulu – Western Force, 19 Josh Canham – Queensland Reds, 20 Luke Reimer – ACT Brumbies, 21 Ryan Lonergan – ACT Brumbies, 22 Ollie Sapsford – ACT Brumbies, 23 Jock Campbell – Queensland Reds