Video: The 90-metre 'total rugby' team try that Bristol delivered on Tuesday
Title-chasing Bristol were in their element on Tuesday night at Ashton Gate, putting seven tries on an inexperienced Northampton to lift them into second place in the Gallagher Premiership ahead of the round's remaining five matches on Wednesday evening.
The Bears scored some lovely tries but the pick of the bunch was the team effort finished off by Piers O'Conor on 66 minutes, the third in a four-try burst in a nine-minute second-half spell which pushed the winning margin out to 47-10.
After Callum Sheedy had just landed the conversion of Ben Earl's try, Bristol lined up to receive the restart kick and what unfolded was delicious, seven different players handling (one player twice) and seven passes being seamlessly executed in the single-phase play which enabled Pat Lam's side to go nearly the whole length of the Premiership pitch.
With the ball dropping from the skies on the 22-metre line, it deflected into Earl's hands and he quickly flashed a pass away left to Sheedy, who just as quickly transferred the ball to his left to Daniel Thomas.
Now deep in his 22, the replacement back row briefly embarked on a straight run before finding Semi Radradra to his left who passed to Alapati Leiua. The winger checked inside from the touchline crossing the 22 before passing to the supporting Thomas.
The forward carried the ball on and at the ten-metre line, he passed to Chris Cook, who then found O'Conor on halfway. The centre pinned back his ears to pace clear outside James Grayson and from there he had a straight run to the line.
"Total rugby. Total rugby," enthused Ugo Monye, the 2009 British and Irish Lion who was on punditry duty for live broadcaster BT Sport. "They just travelled up the pitch, 90 metres, not a single phase."
Lawrence Dallaglio added: The awareness of where the men are, where the space is. The switch looks good as well, just lovely work down the channel."
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I think the best 15 we have is DMac. Jordan at 14.
Go to commentsIt 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).
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