Matchday programme: Bristol Bears vs Harlequins - Play-Off Semi-Final

CHARLES PIUTAU
preview
BEARS DOMINATE
PREMIERSHIP AWARDS
Charles Piutau says the Bears will feed off the
energy of the crowd when they welcome Harlequins
to Ashton Gate for the club’s first ever home semifinal
in the Gallagher Premiership.
20 21
After finishing the regular season
top of the tree in the Gallagher
Premiership, the Bears have
been recognised for the most
impressive campaign in the club’s
history with a series of individual
gongs.
Pat Lam was named Global Reach Director of Rugby of the Season, beating Billy Millard,
Alex Sanderson and Steve Borthwick to the prize.
The Bears led the way from round six, earning a record 17 wins along the way, and this
impressive return saw more players selected in the BT Sport Dream Team than any other
club. Five of Lam’s squad were included - Charles Piutau was selected in the team at fullback,
with his club colleagues Semi Radradha and Piers O’Conor taking their place in the
midfield.
Prop John Afoa and second row Chris Vui also get the nod, making up the Bears’
impressive influence on the star-studded XV.
The last 18 months have played host to the meteoric rise of Ioan Lloyd, and the 20-yearold
has continued his upward trajectory, which already includes two Wales caps, with
the Land Rover Discovery of the Season award. Lloyd, who has starred at fly half, full
back and wing this season, saw off competition from Leicester Tigers’ Freddie Steward,
Wasps’ Alfie Barbeary, Harlequins’ Will Evans, Sale Sharks’ Bevan Rodd and London
Irish’s Ollie Hassell-Collins. The Land Rover Discovery of The Season award is designed
to recognise the most exciting young rugby players emerging during the 2020-21
campaign.
Elsewhere, the Bears’ electrifying brand of rugby saw them dominate The Famous
Grouse Try of the Season vote. Siva Naulago claimed the top prize for his stunning
effort against London Irish in the mouth-watering 34-34 draw in February. The Fijian
powerhouse notched his second score of the contest after a brilliant exchange of
passes with Charles Piutau, eventually racing away to cross for his third try of the
season.
Naulago’s effort narrowly edged out that of Bears teammate Semi Radradra against
Leicester Tigers for the end-of-season gong, with the latter finishing off a sumptuous
breakaway move initiated by Siale Piutau.
Finally, inspirational skipper, Steven Luatua and exciting back, Piers O’Conor both made
the shortlist for Gallagher Player of the Season, but were edged out by Exeter Chiefs’
record-breaking number eight, Sam Simmonds.
Pat Lam’s men finished the regular season at the top of the table,
but Piutau knows that counts for nothing when it comes to finals
rugby.
“The guys are very excited. It’s a goal that we’ve had since the
start of the season and we’ve worked really hard throughout a
long campaign, but there is a great buzz around the place and
we’re just enjoying our preparation.
“We’ve taken a lot of learnings along the way, and we know that as
a team, we’ve got to be at our best. We understand the occasion
and there’s a mentality and edge when it comes to semi-final
rugby.
“We’ve spoken about tomorrow not being guaranteed, so we’ve got
to go out there and put in a performance we know we’re capable
of, sticking to the work we’ve done all year, being on top of that
and nailing it to you give us the best chance of transferring that
on to the pitch.
“The atmosphere will be electric on Saturday – we experienced
3,000 against Gloucester and that felt like 27,000, so we know the
fans are really going to bring the energy and we’re going to feed
off that as a team, and hopefully put in a performance to make
them proud.”
BRISTOL BEARS VS HARLEQUINS | 2020/21 BRISTOL BEARS VS HARLEQUINS | 2020/21