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Challenge Cup: Pat Lam's Bristol ease past Zebre
By PA
Bristol ran in five tries as they recorded a comfortable 35-19 European Challenge Cup victory over Zebre.
The Bears, who won at Perpignan in their opening Pool A fixture last weekend, produced a first-half blitz to lay the foundations for a bonus-point victory at Ashton Gate.
Second row Joe Batley, scrum-half Will Porter and centres Semi Radradra and Ioan Lloyd, who had earlier received a yellow card for a deliberate knock-on which resulted in a penalty try, all crossed before the break.
AJ MacGinty converted on each occasion to send the home side in 28-7 to the good at half-time, and he added a fifth kick 15 minutes after the restart following replacement Yann Thomas’ try.
Winger Kobus van Wyk touched down to reduce the deficit and after Batley’s exit to the sin-bin, replacement Jacques du Toit added a third try for the visitors, although Tiff Eden’s conversion left them still 16 points adrift.
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It certainly needs to be cherished. Despite Nick (and you) highlighting their usefulness for teams like Australia (and obviously those in France they find form with) I (mention it general in those articles) say that I fear the game is just not setup in Aus and NZ to appreciate nor maximise their strengths. The French game should continue to be the destination of the biggest and most gifted athletes but it might improve elsewhere too.
I just have an idea it needs a whole team focus to make work. I also have an idea what the opposite applies with players in general. I feel like French backs and halves can be very small and quick, were as here everyone is made to fit in a model physique. Louis was some 10 and 20 kg smaller that his opposition and we just do not have that time of player in our game anymore. I'm dying out for a fast wing to appear on the All Blacks radar.
But I, and my thoughts on body size in particular, could be part of the same indoctrination that goes on with player physiques by the establishment in my parts (country).
Go to commentsHis best years were 2018 and he wasn't good enough to win the World Cup in 2023! (Although he was voted as the best player in the world in 2023)
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