Bristol Bears produced a statement 48-24 victory away at Harlequins on Friday night in one of the most devastating attacking displays ever produced in the Gallagher Premiership. While there have been greater scorelines, this was a mesmerising display of running rugby in a match between two top teams.
Bristol scored six tries through Gabriel Ibitoye, Kalaveti Ravouvou, Kieran Marmion, Bill Mata, Benhard Janse van Rensburg and Santiago Grondona to extend their perfect record of securing an attacking bonus point in every Premiership game this season, and AJ MacGinty kicked 18 points. Quins still bagged an attacking bonus points thanks to tries from Alex Dombrandt, Cadan Murley, Luke Northmore and Tyrone Green, with Jarrod Evans adding a pair of conversions, but a yellow card for Simon Kerrod shortly after half time proved the decisive moment of the match as the Bears exploded into action.
South West rugby writer John Evely takes a closer look at the individual performances from the Bristol Bears players…
15. Rich Lane – 8
The full-back’s pace caused serious trouble for the Quins defence as he joined the line well to add numbers in attack. He did well under the high ball and gave the scoring pass for Ravouvou’s try. Unable to stop Green for his strange try in the second half when everyone seemed to stop for a knock on which never happened.
14. Jack Bates – 8
Handed a start on the wing over Siva Naulago who is fit and at The Stoop as a travelling reserve, the academy graduate delivered, spinning his way over the gainline. He showed great skill in a clutch moment to take and then return a flat pass from Janse van Rensburg to put the centre away for the Bears’ fifth try.
13. Kalaveti Ravouvou – 8
The Fijian international had a superb game because as well as coming up with moments like his impressive finish down the left touchline for the Bears opening try – showing all the speed of a top end winger – he also generally executed the basics well with a couple of thunderous tackles. The only black mark was when he got turned over by Northmore having fallen awkwardly and the centre ran in from 70m out.
12. Benhard Janse van Rensburg – 9
What England would give to have this man in their midfield. Playing with 12 on his back today the South African, who will soon qualify for England, is currently the best centre in the Premiership by some distance. He is a constant source of go forward ball but has the skills to do it all as displayed with his excellent flat pass out to Jack Bates which the winger returned to him to run in for a second half try.
11. Gabriel Ibitoye – 9
Running out for the Bears at the Stoop having starred for England A here earlier in the month, the winger walked away with yet another player of the match award as he dazzled on the turf of his old club, with his combination of footwork, pace, power and handling ability wreaking havoc. Post-match his director of rugby Pat Lam praised his work rate, coming off his wing to pop up on the opposite side of the pitch to provide support to Marmion after a break down the blindside which resulted in a try for Ibitoye who celebrated wildly before he got to the line for his sixth try of the season. Arguably the best winger in the league right now.
10. AJ MacGinty – 9
Back from USA duty, the veteran fly-half continued where he left off a month ago as his double pump passes bamboozled the Harlequins defence to repeatedly put runners into dangerous positions.
9. Kieran Marmion – 8
Fit after a minor calf tightness, the Irish international was an absolute livewire and out-shone Quins’ scrum-half Will Porter who started for England A a couple of weeks ago. He was sharp in the opening half as he showed and broke down a four metre blindside to catch the home defence by surprise and then perfectly drew the final defender before putting Ibitoye away to score. His ability to hit wide passes off the base of rucks helped the Bears attack wide quickly throughout the match although Quins did become wise to it with Murley intercepting one of his passes to run in and score a 95m try. Good tracking support just before half time meant Marmion was on hand to take a pass from Ibitoye to finish another smart blindside break from the Bears.
1. Jake Woolmore – 7
Handed the start with Ellis Genge rested after his England exploits, the Bears veteran was a solid figure at the scrum to provide the visitors with a strong platform to attack from.
2. Gabriel Oghre – 8
Given the starting spot ahead of Harry Thacker, the hooker had an all action display despite taking a knock to his leg which required strapping and he eventually came off the pitch early but not before establishing himself as a seriously dangerous ball carrier once again. Missed a tackle on Jarrod Evans to allow Quins the linebreak for their opening try.
3. Max Lahiff – 8
Friday night was meant to be the Joe Marler show with the England prop retiring from the game after the match, but he was a non-factor in the scrum thanks to Lahiff’s strong display. He also provided some real go forwards in the loose with a couple of powerful carries. At 34 it feels like he is still growing as a player.
4. James Dun – 7
The lock ran himself into the ground in a match that tested the lungs of everyone involved. He was key to providing parity across all the setpiece areas and securing ball at the breakdowns.
5. Joe Owen – 9
Making his first start in the Premiership, the 23-year-old speedster of a lock was on paper the weak link in the Bears side going into the game but ended up being within a hair of being named the player of the match after a simply sensational display on both sides of the ball. His raw speed, which has to make him one of if not the fastest second row in the Premiership, caused serious damage as he burst down the left wing in the first half before linking with Ibitoye who put Marimon in to score. He also has a great engine, popping up in the 55th minute to give a scoring pass to Grondona. But this was a well rounded display, winning and stealing the ball in the line and causing damage with powerful, dominant tackles in defence.
6. Santiago Grondona – 8
The Argentina international continues to shine in a Bears jersey and he was a prominent carrier again, scoring a brilliant try in the corner to cap his display.
7. Fitz Harding – 8
The captain’s silky hands were on display on Friday as he played a pivotal role in creating Mata’s debut try from a training ground move off a 5m tap penalty. Harding took a pass from Marmion, deceptively pulled it back without looking for MacGinty who delivered a flat pass for the number eight to burst onto and run under the sticks. Showed good leadership to keep the scoreboard ticking in the second half and take a couple of penalties when they were on offer which ensured Quins were kept at arms length.
8. Viliame Mata – 8
Making his debut for the club after a headline move from Edinburgh this summer only to suffer a hamstring injury in pre-season, the Fijian star showed no sign of rust as he used his size to blast in and beyond the Harlequins defence with every carry and opened his try scoring account with a display of his nice hands to scoop up a pass from MacGinty that was slightly behind him and touched down under the posts.
Replacements:
16. Harry Thacker – 8
17. Yann Thomas – 7
18. Lovejoy Chawatama – 7
19. Steven Luatua – 7
20. Benjamin Grondona – 7
21. Oscar Lennon – 7
22. Joe Jenkins – 7
23. Benjamin Elizalde – 7