Premiership Rugby is back for the 2023/24 season, but we don’t start with the current champions, Saracens, but in Bristol at Ashton Gate.
Bristol Bears host the opening fixture to this year’s instalment of top-tier rugby, welcoming the 2021/22 champions Leicester Tigers in a mouth-watering encounter.
For both teams, expectations are high, and whoever takes victory today will highlight their credentials in this tightly contested season.
Bears hoping to bounce back into the playoffs with Vakatawa’s power
Last season was a disappointment for the Bristol Bears. After finishing tenth in the 2020/21 season, the Bears could only finish in ninth, taking eight wins out of 20, a far cry away from the team that topped the table in 2019/20.
In 2019, Director of Rugby Pat Lam drove them to the top with his fantastic brand of rugby, and this is something they hope to find again as the New Zealander enters his seventh season with Bristol.
“We all know the importance of a good start in this competition, and we’re up against a tough opponent in Leicester, but we’re relishing the challenge and can’t wait to get started in front of our own supporters at Ashton Gate,” said Lam.
The England internationals of Ellis Genge, Max Malins and Kyle Sinckler will be key in Bristol’s title charge, along with the marque signing of powerhouse Virimi Vakatawa.
The French centre returns from injury, but the former Racing 92 man can add another dimension to a potent Bears attack. If he returns to his scintillating form from two years ago, he could power Bristol back to the top half of the table.
Tigers hoping to add another title to their tally
Conversely to the Bears, it was another positive season for the Leicester Tigers, who earned their second playoff season as many seasons.
But after falling at the semi-final hurdle last year, pre-season at the Mattioli Woods Welford Road Stadium shifted into a different gear for Leicester.
They lost Premiership-winning head coach Steve Borthwick, who filled the void as England head coach, along with their defensive and attack coaches Kevin Sinfield and Richard Wigglesworth.
However, new head coach Dan McKellar now takes the reigns, and he is relishing in this new challenge after coaching in the Super Rugby with the ACT Brumbies.
“We’ve worked really hard for 15 weeks to put ourselves in the right place on and off the field with our game and our connection, and now, it’s about performing against a really good side on Friday night,” said McKellar.
The Australian has plenty of talent with this Leicester Tigers squad, headlined by the South African duo of Handre Pollard and Jasper Wiese. Fly-half Pollard will be influential to the Tigers and their attack, and number eight Wiese is dynamic in both attack and defence, and with this talent, a third top-four finish in a row is well within reach for Leicester.
Strong starting XV’s despite the loss of World Cup players
Both clubs are missing major players on international duty at the World Cup in France, but both matchday squads are still littered with talent.
For Bristol, Harry Thacker will earn his 102 appearances for the Bears as hooker, as Fitz Harding will captain the side. Vakatawa will make his Bears debut from the bench, and Steven Luatua returns from the World Cup as he is also on the bench.
On the selected squad, Lam said, “We’re all excited to get going after a long pre-season, which has all been geared towards this Friday night against Leicester Tigers. “We’ve prepared well over the last 16 weeks. I believe that will stand us in good stead on Friday night.”
Leicester have the experienced Mike Brown debuting at fullback, along with former London Irish winger Ollie Hassell-Collins, who will add lightening speed to the Tigers attack.
Flanker Hanro Liebenberg will take the captaincy, and Harry Well will earn his 178th appearance for Leicester to open up the 2023/24 Premiership Rugby season.
On the selected squad, McKellar stated, “There’s plenty of quality in the team that will represent us, who have earned their opportunity this week, and are intent on delivering a performance we can all be proud of.”
