'He's a tough bugger': Bristol's verdict on the progress of 79kg scrum-half Harry Randall
Pat Lam has given a vote of confidence to young Harry Randall, claiming that the 23-year-old Bristol scrum-half – who is eligible for both England and Wales – can go all the way and become an international level regular.
It was in the Championship, during Bristol’s one-season stay at the start of the Lam era, when the coach first clapped eyes on the half-back. Attached to Gloucester at the time, Randall faced Bristol twice when playing for second-tier feeder club Hartpury College.
Lam was smitten. Come Bristol’s return to the Premiership, he made a successful play to get Randall on board and the relationship has gone from strength to strength, the No9 even scoring the fastest European try in history when he touched down after just 15 seconds against Toulon in the October final of the 2019/20 Challenge Cup final.
Bristol now head to reigning champions Exeter on Saturday for a top of the table Gallagher Premiership clash that will provide Randall – who tips the scales at 79kgs – with his 64th appearance after he was included in a selection looking to build on the New Year’s Day home win over Newcastle.
“I’m absolutely pleased with Harry,” enthused Lam heading into the meeting of two teams who have won four out of five matches are and level on 20 points apiece. “When he played for Hartpury against us in the Championship I said straight away who is this kid?
“The beauty is having a clear plan”
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“We did a bit of homework and were really keen to get him here. I loved the way that he played. A couple of things when he got here: we realised that while he is an unbelievable student of the game and tempo and all that, fitness needed to improve, key skills needed to improve.
“The lockdown, we got everyone to do certain skills. I have video footage of him box kicking and the quality of the kicking that he did. He was given certain drills. He had his partner and people videoing it and he sent it in for us to debrief and give him feedback.
“He’s reaping the rewards of the work that he has put in. He has naturally been a good rugby player, understands the game well, but he has put a massive effort in growing his game. But also his understanding of the Bears way and how we wanted him to play.
“When to bring tempo, when to slow it down, how his running lines link with the strike power that is around him, where is the best place to be to be in support. We have seen him score a few tries or set up a few. He just takes a lot of stuff on board, but he has a great feel for the game.
“Pound for pound he is one of the best tacklers I have seen. You will struggle to see him miss tackles and you see him do double, triple efforts. If you have a look at the Connacht game, in the corner they were hammering us and their second-rower (Eoghan) Masterson was carrying for the line.
“Him [Randall], Callum Sheedy and Ioan Lloyd, three of the smallest guys in our team, and all you see is the second-rower go up, driven back and loses the ball. It gets stripped by Callum Sheedy but when you look closely it’s Harry Randell who has picked him up and is driving him back.
“So he’s a tough bugger and I believe without a doubt he has got a huge future in the game and certainly will one day grace the international stage.”
Sheedy, Randall’s half-back partner, was one player who recently put to bed the speculation about which country he might play for at Test level, the out-half getting capped in the Autumn Nations Cup by Wales having turned out for England in their 2019 non-cap international versus the Barbarians at Twickenham.
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There's just no chance of catching Harry Randall! ??
The @BristolBears scrum-half combines with Nathan Hughes to clinch the try ?#GallagherPrem pic.twitter.com/pyqorbWli8
— Rugby on TNT Sports (@rugbyontnt) December 26, 2020
Born in England to English parents, Randall has Welsh connections but Lam isn’t hung up on which allegiance his player might eventually adopt. He just wants Randall, a 2016 Junior World Cup winner with England at U20s, to keep developing with Bristol to ensure he is ready to make the step-up when a call eventually comes.
“We have had a few of the boys that have dual nationality but one of the things I was talking to them about is they don’t have to make a decision, it’s up to the coaches of those teams to make the decision. Those guys have been blessed that they have connections like a lot of players in the world do just the way the world is.
“Whether you are a Polynesian growing up in the UK or whether you have an Irish father, a Welsh mother, it’s just the way the world is, but ultimately those decisions are more made by the selectors, the coaches of those teams.
“We saw that with Callum. Wayne (Pivac) was keen for Callum to be involved. He spoke to him and Callum jumped at the opportunity. All those guys I always say to them you have got to be selectable and what that means is play well for your club, keep growing.
“I always put a caveat when I say these guys have the ability to play at the next level – as long as they keep growing and improving. The moment they stop they become average again.”
TEAM NEWS ?
Here's how they line up for the fascinating top-of-the-table battle between @ExeterChiefs and @BristolBears ?
Who are you backing for the W?#GallagherPrem match preview ?? https://t.co/Hn5HdHLXQ5 pic.twitter.com/0H0zHoKCV8
— Premiership Rugby (@premrugby) January 8, 2021
Comments on RugbyPass
I reckon it may be Jordan at 10 and Nohamba at 9, both players have played together alot and both have been on the Radar for a long time. After Pollard got injured in 2022 with Elton sidelined on a path of self destruction Erasmus and Nienaber indicated that the other options in the country at the time were thin but that Jordan and Manie were the 2 they were looking at. In the end Frans steyn played flyhalf, Willemse slotted in there on the end of year with Libbok as back up. Jordan was right there in the thinking back then so expect him to take the Jersey either as the starter.
1 Go to commentsHaha did he also* say it in a sarcastic teacher sort of manor or was it the petulant English snob sort of wail?
44 Go to commentsWell said Mils. It is a big boost at last having Fergus Burke back at 10 for the Crusaders. Had a great season last year as the article says. Mils is also right about captain Codie Taylor’s performance in his return to the Crusaders last week. He was all class.
4 Go to commentsLet’s make them both Capt. I think we'd get the best of both of them and it would help alleviate some of the pressures of the role. They'd have to confer over on field decisions which should lead to “ learnings “ for both. They are our two best consistent performers.
16 Go to commentsOur best player by far..but not a good Captain..poor tactician cost the AB'S and Canes games by not taking the easy points and going for tries when the lineouts were a shambles..can he read a game? And his throat slitting gesture should disqualify him from the AB Captaincy..it is not the appropriate behaviour of an AB Captain.
16 Go to commentsForget what was said or how many players said it. TONY BROWN IS THE NEW ATTACK COACH. That’s the only story worth freaking out over. The springboks are going to grow their game an awful lot over the next cycle and it’s not just the 19 disgustingly arrogant Irish players who refused to shake Ebens hand and said “see you in the final if you can cheat your way past France” who will find that out first hand.
124 Go to commentsOn one hand I think it's a bit ridiculous that this gar into the season and with only 2 wins the Crusaders may make the finals. On the other hand if it was only top 4 or 5, then that last several weeks may be mainly dead rubbers. Nope, 8th place after round robin shouldn't be able to lift the trophy.
4 Go to commentsI do think the media in NZ treated him badly. Sam is a legend. He is humble, a great rugby mind and leader. What happened in the final could happen to anyone. The margins is so fine these days. I lay blame at the feet of the coaching staff and NZ rugby. The stats tell’s all. The AB’s was the worst disciplined side in the WC with more red and yellow cards than anyone else. Problem is NZ rugby is not training their players to play safer. And thats the danger a fast game brings. More yellow and red cards. But Sam Cane in my eye was and still is a great ambassador for the game, that just had a stroke of bad luck.
6 Go to commentsI hope Jim and co. Add this to their list of icebreaker questions they can ask all their guests going forward. So we can eventually hear what everyone thinks about this subject. “What do you think Ireland meant…”
124 Go to commentsHe’s a dominant personality. That might be both a good and bad thing in team dynamics. Certainly it ruined Smith’s first crack at 10 with Owen at 12. BTW, Bristol flatter to deceive. When things really matter, they tend to deliver less rather than more. Farrell would have been good for them
44 Go to commentsGot a lot of over the top abuse from Crusader fans, in particular, who thought every 7 they had was miles better. Now we will see if anyone is better? Laid his body on the line every game so finishing early makes sense. A lot of life left after rugby.
6 Go to commentsA poor decision to appoint Carley as not only is Pearce a better referee but also importantly speaks French.
2 Go to commentsHe is 100 % on the mark. Malicious arrogance with a lack of respect for the other teams mostly the south. they must learn from True rugby nations like the Boks and Kiwis
124 Go to commentsThis Outiniqua boy has played sublime rugby and deserves a spot in BI LIONS team. Well played son
4 Go to commentsI don’t like to see players miss big matches but this ban looks to be tailored to allow him to compete in the final. In principle a suspension for a very dangerous tackle in a semi should warrant missing the relevant final. Done now. One the flip side having both teams with very strong squads/teams available for the final will add to the occassion hopefully.
1 Go to commentsTalent to burn and a huge engine..hope he gets a shot at higher honours
2 Go to commentsIf anything like his dad he has a bright future, Soane was the best ball carrying props ive ever seen using a combination of pace power and footwork.
1 Go to commentsThose who saw Sharks vs Clermont and Ox N'Che vs Rabah Slimani should have a good idea of the best scrumagers… May be not the best props…
2 Go to commentsIt's been an unusual era of unpopular, highly competitive, domineering, fairly big fly halves in the home nations with Farrell, Sexton and Biggar. Russell is different in personality and player I think. I'd rank Sexton first of the three because he is just as good a game controller but also has a great passing game. And his competitiveness never seems to cause problems with refs.
44 Go to commentsThank goodness he wasn't born in Scotland, he'd have been a great candidate for the Scottish Barbarians. I wouldn't put it past them to push for a “where the player was conceived” rule 😂
2 Go to comments