Team News: Bristol make six changes from Round Three - Ruck

Team News: Bristol make six changes from Round Three

Bristol Bears return to Gallagher Premiership action at Ashton Gate on Saturday, welcoming Harlequins to BS3 (3pm KO).

Pat Lam makes six changes from the side that suffered defeat to Gloucester as Alapati Leiua recovers from a back injury to start in the backline.

Will Hurrell also earns a start in the midfield, while Bristol-born Academy product Andy Uren comes in at scrum half.



In the pack, Harry Thacker starts in the front row, while Ed Holmes and Jordan Crane are also listed.

“We’re hugely excited to return to Ashton Gate. It seems like a while since we played Bath on an amazing night with huge support, so everyone is looking forward to getting back home and trying to get the points versus Harlequins,” said Lam.

“While effort and character was awesome at Kingsholm, what has impressed me most about this week is the determination by the players to take a lot of learnings around our skills and decision making, which we know will have to be spot on. I’m confident we will see improvements in that area.”

Nick Fenton-Wells is listed among the replacements and could make his first competitive outing of the 2018/19 campaign on Saturday.

Bristol Bears team to face Harlequins at Ashton Gate on Saturday, September 22nd (3pm KO):

15. Piers O’Conor; 14. Luke Morahan, 13. Will Hurrell, 12. Siale Piutau, 11. Alapati Leiua; 10. Ian Madigan, 9. Andy Uren; 1. Yann Thomas, 2. Harry Thacker, 3. John Afoa, 4. Ed Holmes, 5. Chris Vui, 6. Steve Luatua (c), 7. George Smith, 8. Jordan Crane.

Replacements: 16. Nick Fenton-Wells, 17. Jake Woolmore, 18. Jake Armstrong, 19. Joe Joyce, 20. Jack Lam, 21. Harry Randall, 22. Callum Sheedy, 23. Zane Kirchner.

Unavailable: Sione Faletau (calf), Lewis Thiede (knee), Aly Muldowney (neck), John Hawkins (thumb), Joe Latta (shoulder), Tiff Eden (shoulder), Jack Tovey (knee), Mat Protheroe (knee), Charles Piutau (shoulder), Luke Daniels (hamstring).