The Bears blueprint: Go and play without fear

WHEN Bristol lost at Saracens last November, they were on a run of eight victories in 25 Premiership matches. For a club that had never hidden its ambition to occupy a prime place on European rugby's top table, it marked a watershed.

- PAUL REES

Owner Steve Lansdown, below, whose funding had enabled the Bears to attract sought-after players like Charles Piutau, Semi Radradra and Steven Luatua, made his frustration known, not just at the results but the performances which he felt were a world away from the running game that was at the heart of the club's playing philosophy.

His intervention proved transformative. Bristol, who had worked on their kicking game in the close season, won nine of their final 11 league games to mount an assault on the top four that had seemed unlikely at the turn of the year, missing out after Sale's victory at Saracens in the final round.

Bristol were at Harlequins that day, the club that had knocked the Bears off course three years before when, having topped the table in the regular season, they faced the Londoners in the play-off semi-final at Ashton Gate and were on their way to Twickenham when they took a 28-0 lead in the opening half.

Quins took the tie into extra-time and sealed victory with Joe Marchant's try in the biggest comeback in the history of the Premiership. They went on to win the title while Bristol were left nursing a hangover that took a long, long time to shake off.

The resurrection started with a 51-26 home victory over rivals Gloucester at the beginning of December and they started the new year with victory at Sale and defeated Bath 57-44 to go into the break for the Six Nations very much on the up.

The two-month break cost them nothing in terms of momentum.

They put 52 points on leaders Northampton on the resumption, and hit Newcastle for 85 either side of victories on the road at Gloucester and Leicester.

Their penultimate game was at home to Saracens who drew on all their experience to win by 21 points but going to Quins for the final game, the Bears were still in reach of the top four.