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Bristol prop Kyle Sinckler on the charge in the Heineken Champions Cup
Bristol Bears will be hoping that the trend of their Heineken Champions Cup meetings with Stade Français Paris continues when they entertain the TOP 14 club in Pool B on Saturday.
They have faced each other twice previously in the competition, clashing in the pool stage in 2007/08, with each club recording a home victory.
The match kicks off at Ashton Gate at 8pm and viewers can watch it on BT Sport or beIN Sports.
Other key facts:
- Bristol have lost their last two home games in the Heineken Champions Cup (excluding cancelled fixtures), after losing only one of their previous five.
- Bristol’s last six home games in the competition have all ended with margins of more than 13 points separating the sides.
- Bristol have faced TOP 14 opposition on six occasions in the Heineken Champions Cup. They won their initial three such fixtures but have lost their most recent three, including defeats to ASM Clermont Auvergne and Union Bordeaux-Begles in last season’s competition.
- Stade’s two heaviest defeats in the competition have come in their most recent two away games, 41-13 against Leicester Tigers in April 2016 and 36-9 against Connacht Rugby in Round 1 this season.
- The Parisian club have made 131 tackles in the Heineken Champions Cup this season and missed just seven. Their tackle success rate of 95% is the best of any club in 2021/22.
𝗣𝗢𝗪𝗘𝗥𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗢𝗩𝗘𝗥 💥
Join us on Saturday night for the @ChampionsCup clash 🆚 @SFParisRugby 🇫🇷
🎟️ https://t.co/A4tko7I7Ae pic.twitter.com/r1iSWfPY62
— Bristol Bears (@BristolBears) January 13, 2022
Quotes:
Bristol director of rugby Pat Lam: “We are eager to get going. We have got some flash gear as well with our European jersey and we want to wear it and get out and play.”
Harry Randall scores Bristol's third try
Bristol Bears overcame Stade Français Paris 28-17 in a breathless Heineken Champions Cup contest at Ashton Gate on Saturday night.
The Gallagher Premiership side’s bonus point win saw them book a place in the Round of 16 and ended a two-game losing streak at home in the European Cup.
Bristol were excellent in the first half of the Pool B encounter, crossing for tries through Henry Purdy and Piers O’Conor as they showcased some of their best attacking rugby.
But a lack of concentration cost them on the stroke of half time, as Stade Français centre Leo Barre was allowed to nip in under the posts.
✅ @BristolBearsW
✅ Under 18s
✅ #BristolBears Men𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗱𝗮𝘆 certainly delivered 🚚
𝗨𝗣 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗕𝗘𝗔𝗥𝗦! 🐻 pic.twitter.com/cenN3Y5sfG
— Bristol Bears (@BristolBears) January 15, 2022
The TOP 14 side’s fly-half Nicolas Sanchez struck first at the start of the second half, nudging a penalty to reduce the deficit to four points.
But Bears would extend their advantage on 49 minutes as the excellent Harry Randall crossed, before O’Conor’s second just before the hour mark secured the bonus point.
Stade Français replacement Antoine Burban made a powerful dive over the line to close the gap with 15 minutes to go, but Bristol ultimately held on to claim a crucial win.
Bears visit Scarlets in Round 4 next weekend while Stade Français are at home against Connacht Rugby.
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