Steven Luatua stars in Bristol's comeback win over Harlequins
Captain Steven Luatua inspired Bristol Bears to a 27-19 victory at Harlequins in the Gallagher Premiership as they came from behind at the Twickenham Stoop.
The former New Zealand international’s try gave the Bears the lead for the first time, after an earlier break from him had helped drag them back into the picture following a difficult first half.
Quins led 9-0 approaching the break but they rarely got out of their own half after it, as Bristol ultimately scored four tries in recording their third league win in a row.
Fijian centre Semi Radradra was making his first Premiership start of the season for Bristol, while winger Louis Lynagh – son of Australia great Michael Lynagh – was making his full league debut for Harlequins.
It was Quins who claimed the game’s first points through a penalty from Marcus Smith and he then doubled his side’s advantage to 6-0 with another effort from the tee after 18 minutes.
It was a much better defensive showing from the hosts in the first half than in their Heineken Champions Cup thrashing at the hands of Racing 92 last week – they certainly had the air of a side that were keen to restore pride.
They were further ahead following Smith’s third penalty in the first 25 minutes before Wilco Louw came within a TMO decision of scoring, with replays unable to prove any grounding had taken place.
Bristol then roared back into the game with the final play of the first half when Luatua broke clear off Dan Thomas’ pass before giving the ball back for his fellow back-rower to score.
Callum Sheedy’s missed conversion left the Bears a 9-5 deficit to try to recover from after half-time, something they took just five minutes to achieve.
It came after Harry Randall caught Quins napping, as the scrum-half took a tapped penalty before passing to give Luatua an easy run-in from a few metres out, with Sheedy adding the extras.
Smith momentarily levelled the match with his fourth penalty, but Sheedy quickly restored Bristol’s lead with a kick of his own before missing the chance to extend it from long range just a few minutes later.
But the Bears scored their third try after 56 minutes following a strong carry from Nathan Hughes, as Randall picked up from a ruck and sped through a gap with Harlequins’ defence no longer looking as sharp.
"Yeahhh. He's alright!" ??
'Man of the Match' Dan Thomas dishing out the compliments to the captain @StevenLuatua ?
Some showing from the @BristolBears duo against Harlequins ?#GallagherPrem pic.twitter.com/HgByMs0reY
— Rugby on TNT Sports (@rugbyontnt) December 26, 2020
The visitors then bagged the bonus point with 13 minutes left when the outstanding Luatua’s off-load sent Niyi Adeolokun scampering clear down the left.
Smith, who scored all Harlequins’ points, kept plugging away until the last and his lovely solo effort down the right wing off the final play gave the hosts a consolation try.
Comments on RugbyPass
Always reluctant to blame a coach when losses rack up, but Penney must go. The backline is dysfunctional and the coach must carry the can. No cohesion, no idea and in many cases, minimal skill. The trains out of Roma St depart faster than the ball from Crusaders’ set pieces. Wouldn’t be surprised if the forwards went on strike.
1 Go to commentsAdding to earlier comment. Cullen Grace has been playing great at no6. Lio-Willie , who was on fire a few weeks ago, had a bad game. I think Cullen should have been moved to 8 earlier, Dominic Gardiner on earlier. Feel for Quinten Strange , put in a big shift .
2 Go to commentsWe dominated the scrums Ben Curry was all over pitch again .Surely James Harper got to be one of best English tightheads
1 Go to commentsRoos is a better option at 6 than 8 for the boks. Needs to work on his windgat though.
1 Go to commentsThe Sharks’ 2nd team maybe?
1 Go to comments‘radical’
1 Go to commentsCome back to Christchurch Robbie, please!
1 Go to commentsI think there is zero chance Sam Cane will be selected for another Test. There is simply no point except sentimentality. Razor is not sentimental- ask Wyatt Crocket. Razor is a ruthless selector
4 Go to comments> It would be best described as an elegant solution to what was potentially going to be a significant problem for new All Blacks coach Scott Robertson. It is a problem the mad population of New Zealand will have to cope with more and more as All Blacks are able to continue their careers in NZ post RWCs. It will not be a problem for coaches, who are always going to start a campaign with the captain for the next WC in mind. > Cane, despite his warrior spirit, his undoubted commitment to every team he played for and unforgettable heroics against Ireland in last year’s World Cup quarter-final, was never unanimously admired or respected within New Zealand while he was in the role. Neither was McCaw, he was considered far too passive a captain and then out of form until his last world cup where everyone opinions changed, just like they would have if Cane had won the WC. > It was never easy to see where Cane, or even if, he would fit into Robertson’s squad given the new coach will want to be building a new-look team with 2027 in mind. > Cane will win his selections on merit and come the end of the year, he’ll sign off, he hopes, with 100 caps and maybe even, at last, universal public appreciation for what was a special career. No, he won’t. Those returning from Japan have already earned the right to retain their jersey, it’s in their contract. Cane would have been playing against England if he was ready, and found it very hard to keep his place. Perform, and they keep it however. Very easy to see where Cane could have fit, very hard to see how he could have accomplished it choosing this year as his sabbatical instead of 2025, and that’s how it played out (though I assume we now know what when NZR said they were allowing him to move his sabbatical forward and return to NZ next year, they had actually agreed to simply select him for the All Blacks from overseas, without any chance he was going to play in NZ again). With a mammoth season of 15 All Black games they might as well get some value out of his years contract, though even with him being of equal character to Richie, I don’t think they should guarantee him his 100 caps. That’s not what the All Blacks should be about. He absolutely has to play winning football.
4 Go to commentswhat’s happening to Ian Peel?
1 Go to commentsAs a Crusaders fan , so disappointed , again.But I think Fergus Burke was all class for the Crusaders in his first game since October last year. Fletcher Newell , was so good at prop. Johnny McNicoll has been gold since returning from Wales. Noah Hotham brilliant , in a coming of age second season for the Crusaders.Jone Rova did really well at centre. The end of the game was tough.Sevu Reece , what a game/season in tough times.
2 Go to commentsFellas a balloon
3 Go to commentsBlues B team on display and made no race of it. By far the best team in SR with the Hurricanes barely getting past the winning post. Up the Blues 💙
7 Go to commentsWould be amazing to have Servette Genève reaching this level
3 Go to commentsThe Crusaders can't buy a win this season. Surely Penney's contract won't be renewed. There's still enough talent in the squad that they oughta be winning more.
1 Go to commentsABs captain for 23 seasons. Decent record. Surely nobody will surpass it. Legend. But alas a typo…
4 Go to commentsJust FYI Rugbypass, I for one am tired of your clickbait titles and thumbnails and will be clicking them no longer. Good day.
1 Go to commentsI think Farrell despite all of the stick he gets in the media is still one of if not the best fly half in the world. He is literally the full package. He can kick one of the best in the world, probably has the best defensive game of a fly half in the world and if he wants to he can run, take contact and find an offload to keep the pace of the attack. I dont know why he isnt spoken more about still being one of the best in the world with the likes of dupont. Farrell is the ultimate captain and team leader and is experienced- he has been in nearly any situation you can think of. I still believe due to these reasons that he is England’s best ever player and is still one of the best players in the world.
48 Go to commentsBlues are dominating up front and that’s been a long time coming. They have won the up front confrontation which is where canes, hilanders and act brumbies are also strong.
7 Go to commentsJust watched brumbies v safas game sadly not a show in he’ll thryr anywhere near quarters or semi contention. Admittedly some issues around new comers bot what stands out for me is coaching management, poor game planning and accuracy.
5 Go to comments