Rinkadink

https://www.bristolbearsrugby.com/news/landmark-day-for-premiership-rugby-with-cvc-partnership/

Official Bears statement on CVC minority share...

2 hours ago, WessexPest said:

Well done Mackems! When the Gash went ahead you wondered if it was that post-sacking bounce, but no, another defeat for the Rent Boys.

Going down, Gastards!

I like it when they beat the snot out of the Gasman...

3 hours ago, cidered abroad said:

Good attendance for a rugby version of the Checkatrade cup.

Ticketing shambles with many home printed tickets not scanning. Those with them had to queue at ticket office for a reprint. So first twenty minutes or more, people still coming in, not regulars, and looking for seats.

Many already in their seats then leaving to get the next round of drinks or going to toilet.

Half time, the same as start of game with people wandering back in well after second half started.

Cheap tickets, too many non rugby fans just there for a Friday evening boozing social. Thus, impossible to watch the match, absolutely no atmosphere. Many of the crowd probably didn't even know the score.

So for me apart from the match result, a miserable evening. I cannot even comment on the Bristol performance because I saw very little if it.

@Mkelly The continual movement of people in and out of the seats at rugby is becoming a real nightmare. I understand the WRU are considering closing the bars during the match because it's the same problem at Wales matches.

I don't understand how so many people need to replenish drinks in forty five minutes. I don't object to alcohol in the seating areas so a dry area is not the answer. People at theatres, concerts and cinemas don't need to continually go to get drinks during the performance.

It doesn't happen at football because of the law but that law, brought in during the crazy hooligan days, is now a godsend as football crowds actually watch the game and create good atmospheres.

Are Bristol Rugby and Bristol Sport so desperate for the income from sales during the match? I think not. But this situation is fast becoming so uncomfortable that maybe the genuine rugby supporters will decide to watch it on TV and not bother to come to the stadium. As a dual ST holder, I'm seriously considering whether to renew the rugby one!

That's a bit shite, I do class myself as a rugby supporter and didn't go last night for a few reasons (watched on TV of course) so perhaps blame me and us other regulars who didn't make it... to be honest I've not had too many issues with continuous interruptions from people who can't handle their booze but my ST is in the Lansdown so maybe it's a bit better on the whole? Atmosphere isn't anywhere like the old darkside or bass terrace as a negative though but I do my best to be really loud and one-eyed as possible.

I would try a call to customer support and ask to move seats/area due to this? Be sure to tell them why and it's been raised in the past with Tom Tainton so it's not like they don't know.

Talking of tickets, Exeter ones selling fast, think over 12k already so should be a good crowd. Hope we get a performance to match.

11 hours ago, Dylan said:

You're not the only one not going as the stadium looks empty

Is this because it's not a league match and the ticket prices to high

10,000 there which given it is not included with season tickets, on TV, in a development cup nobody really cares about is pretty good. Oh and it looked even emptier at the start as hundreds of people who bought tickets went to the turnstiles only to find they wouldn't scan so missed 15 minutes of the match queuing for replacements. No idea what happened there, got the information from Bears forum. Not good and might well cost us floating support, only feedback they had at the time was there was a problem and Bristol Sport apparently sent out an email (that has yet to be seen by anyone affected).

As for the match, much improved but a lot of work needed as I'm not sure Glaws were up to much last night. Dan Thomas (and all the forwards really) put in a massive shift. Bris standing still too much in attack for my liking, rare to hit the line at pace which means collisions won't be won and we don't have many if any big players to punch holes from a standing start. Defensive line looked a lot better without people flying out. Young backs did okay, don't think they will be dislodging any of our current starters though. Piatau looked hungry but only got a couple of touches. Loved the scrum and maul dominance.

Don't think I've seen the word "rugger" used so much before, must be City's prawn sandwich brigade and/or Barfers? 

Anyway, "500,000 grand"? Aka 500,000,000 - five hundred million pounds? At 500 grand it's probably a bit too much, probably an agent fishing. At this rate largely irrelevant as we will be back in the championship if Pat can't fix his mess. Started off very well and we should be improving but the opposite is happening, started during second half of Glos away and it's been downhill since. Worrying and he's obviously been given much more of a budget than Robinson did who lost his job for a handful of similar results on the back of injuries.

Also unless we do a Barf/Sarries and break the salary cap (Bris aren't a favoured club like those and will be harshly punished instead of brushed under carpet) it is impossible to do a Man City. Pretty much every club is spending up to the cap.

On 10/09/2018 at 11:35, MichaelRobartes said:

In the modern game you have to play attacking rugby and score tries or pay the price. I'm all for a 9-6 arm wrestle but I believe that the game is far more expansive since the introduction of the bonus points which surely has to be a good thing. I'm not particularly interested in watching kicking pong, and I believe that most teams in Europe have been forced to give a lot more thought to attack as well as defence which I can only see as a positive. The losing BP also encourages teams who don't have time to take the win or draw to keep going because they can still take at least a point. If there weren't so many Premiership clubs violating the salary cap it would be a far more level playing field.

I don't know if there is some provision for this (as you say unlikely) scenario but I do know that in the Six Nations they provide the Grand Slam winners with three bonus points for winning all their matches to ensure that they don't miss out on the title to another team who racked up a ton of bonus points. I don't doubt that you know as much as me, we simply have different opinions.

Does anyone know why Smith was red carded for Bristol? I haven't been able to find a clip. In other news, did anyone see Bastardeaud's "clearout" whilst playing for RCT at the weekend? Surely a long ban incoming given his long list of previous:

 

In the Sarries match Will Hurrell was on the receiving end of pretty much this exact thing whilst trapped in a ruck. Skelton was the culprit yet Sarries try stood and no citing or card. Weird.

Team's Up for Glos; 

Quite a few changes again. If we play like we did vs Sarries a win is on the cards.

Also premiership shield (Or whatever the A league is now called) game on Monday is being broadcast - Freesports channel on DTV/Sky.

Team is up;

15. Piers O’Conor; 14. Luke Morahan, 13. Will Hurrell, 12. Siale Piutau, 11. Alapati Leiua; 10. Callum Sheedy, 9. Andy Uren; 1. Jordan Lay, 2. Harry Thacker, 3. Lewis Thiede, 4. Ed Holmes, 5. Joe Latta, 6. Steve Luatua (c), 7. George Smith, 8. Jack Lam. 

Replacements: 16. Shaun Malton, 17. Jake Woolmore, 18. John Afoa, 19. Joe Joyce, 20. Nick Haining, 21. Harry Randall, 22. Ian Madigan, 23. Tom Pincus. 

Unavailable: Jack Cosgrove (foot), Sione Faletau (calf), Aly Muldowney (neck), John Hawkins (thumb), Sam Jeffries (head), Chris Vui (groin), James Dun (knee), Tiff Eden (shoulder), Mat Protheroe (knee), Aaron Chapman (achilles), Charles Piutau (shoulder), Luke Daniels (hamstring), Ryan Edwards (hip). 

No idea what Pat has planned regarding rotation, needs to keep the belief going.

Looking at how we played on Friday I believe for the first time in about 10 years. C'mon Bris.

Best atmosphere we've had since the move, shows it can be done again with rugby at AG!

Glad everyone had a good time. 'kin yeeeeeees, still grinning and it's Sunday.

24 minutes ago, MichaelRobartes said:

Heyneke Meyer? Seen his name linked on twitter but not from anyone I'd know to be reputable.

This is what the unofficial forum have been saying. 

But then we had unsubstantiated Hogg rumours and the like too. Hard to know what's BS and what is not at the moment . Meyer might be a very good choice , especially if he immediately drafts in emergency fringe-Bokke cover. Worst fear is that this is purely reactionary to fans grumbling and hasn't been part of a plan prior, leading to us having no DoR/HC lined up at all. 

4 hours ago, BITW said:

Suspended from his role? Is that the norm in rugby?

No. 

Interesting wording for sure but what we can infer from it I don't know. 

On 01/11/2016 at 21:00, RedM said:

Yes he personally fell out with Robinson. Bristol's loss for sure. 

No that wasn't the reason, in fact Robinson helped him get game time at Tiggers. He still comes to watch us when he can, proper Bris boy. 

Anyhoo , thanks to Robinson and all the best. Hope this doesn't make things worse (doubtful tbf) and quality replacement(s) are found to keep us up. 

We are Bristol . . . 

4 minutes ago, RedRaw said:

"if 3k city supporters were there then I didn't hear them once, even before kick off."

I'm curious as to what this was supposed to mean then

It's pretty obvious if you read the thread? 

Not pointing the finger at anyone in particular, just the collective at AG today bar some stand out individuals who shouted and tried regardless. 

7 minutes ago, Bristol Rob said:

I'm pleased I somehow managed to miss the promotional guff that would have allowed me a free ticket.

Usually I take advantage of the offer; but I'm far from annoyed that I missed it.

I'm glad that you did to be fair and I'm sorry to any City fans that came because it was a terrible advert for Bristol Rugby. 

Things can only improve from here I guess. 

3 minutes ago, RedRaw said:

So what, city fans are responsible for creating an atmosphere for the rugby now??

ive been to a few rugby games over the past few years and the atmosphere is always crap unless it's an end of season play off game 

Not what I'm saying at all, don't straw man me please.

To be fair to Slick (the PA guy ), I've never in I don't know how many years heard him do that before. 

Neither have I seen our support so shit either so evens out I guess? 

Today was easily the worst atmosphere I've ever seen at AG, possibly ever. It's not normally like that to be fair and if 3k city supporters were there then I didn't hear them once, even before kick off. 

Embarrassed to be a Bris supporter after that and it's not because of the product on the pitch although it doesn't help. 

Sad reading some of these comments though, support is needed more than ever. 

Sweet, the big weekend was a success.

Get in.

Come on you reds.

Would love to have gone today but had my time off yesterday for the rugby.