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'Coach's dream' Benhard Janse van Rensburg returns for Bristol
By Jon Newcombe
Benhard Janse van Rensburg and Pacific Island duo, Fijian Kalaveti Ravouvou and Samoan international Steven Luatua, have recovered from injury to hand Bristol Bears boss Pat Lam a triple boost ahead of Friday night's visit by Northampton Saints.
Centre Ravouvou is yet to play a competitive game this season after suffering a shoulder injury against the Dragons in pre-season, but is back to form a top-quality midfield partnership with Janse van Rensburg, who had been on top form until a tight calf saw him miss last weekend’s 37-35 defeat to Saracens.
"I've used so many superlatives for that guy, he is a coach's dream," Lam said of the South African, who is English qualified in 2026.
"I have said this many times before. If you want him to present the ball this way, he'll do it; if you want him to pass this way, he'll do it."
To accommodate the change in the centres, Jack Bates moves out to the wing.
Former captain Steven Luatua also missed the agonising defeat to the league leaders because of a calf issue but returns to take his place in the number six jersey.
Joining Luatua in the back row is 21-year-old Benjamin Grondona, who will make his first Premiership start, replacing his brother Santiago who misses out through injury.
Luatua's selection has resulted in James Dun shifting to the second row in the absence of Josh Caulfield, who will undergo surgery on a torn pectoral muscle sustained against Saracens.
Jake Woolmore and Kieran Marmion start at loose-head and scrum half respectively with Ellis Genge and Harry Randall on international duty, with Yann Thomas set for his first appearance of the season off the bench.
Bristol Bears: 15. Rich Lane; 14. Jack Bates, 13. Kalaveti Ravouvou, 12. Benhard Janse van Rensburg, 11. Gabriel Ibitoye, 10. AJ MacGinty, 9. Kieran Marmion; 1. Jake Woolmore, 2. Gabriel Oghre, 3. Max Lahiff, 4. James Dun, 5. Joe Batley, 6. Steven Luatua, 7. Benjamin Grondona, 8. Fitz Harding (c). Replacements: 16. Harry Thacker, 17. Yann Thomas, 18. George Kloska, 19. Joe Owen, 20. Jake Heenan, 21. Sam Wolstenholme, 22. Sam Worsley, 23. Benjamin Elizalde.
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Latest Comments
More poor selections from Schmidt. Not clear that he knows what he is doing. Simply impossible to win big games with a weak scrum and lineout. He should have added:
- Sio and Ainsley both scrummaging well for Exeter and Lyon respectively. The Aus scrum is poor without Thor and Bell on. Not selecting good scrummagers is going to cost them big.
Latu is also our best scrummaging hooker and our best jackler. McReight lacks the power to disrupt the breakdown and has a poor turnover record at international level cf super. Latu has improved a lot at La Rochelle.
- Arnold and Amatosero for lineout dominance and size with Skelton. Also helps the poor scrum without Bell and Thor on.
- Hodge has one of the biggest boots in the game and is solid in D. When bringing on a new 10 you need another kicking in general play option to help take the pressure off. He should be in to help with 13 or 15 kicking options.
Go to commentsNobody brought the Italians to this conversation. Why you?
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