Bristol and Harlequins Face in a Repeat of an Epic Semi-final
Last weekend, the competition for a spot in the 2021-22 Gallagher Premiership Rugby semi-finals heated up even more, and we should count on so many more twirls and rambles in Round 20. On Sunday, March 13, one of the round’s highlights will be a rematch of last season’s thrilling semi-final between the Bristol Bears and Harlequins.
Bristol Bears’ chances of making it to Top-4 this season were further harmed last week as they let a 24-5 half-time advantage slip in a 29-27 loss to West Country rivals Bath Rugby. At The Rec, keeping men on the pitch was a problem, and they’ll have to improve their discipline when they host champions Harlequins at Ashton Gate. ‘The Quins’ have a history of bouncing against the Bears in previous games, and on Sunday is going to be the first meeting among these two adversaries in Bristol since the Bears’ spectacular 43-36 semi-final victory last season.
The crucial individual, team, and overall form numbers and facts for the Gallagher Premiership Rugby match between Bristol and Harlequins at Ashton Gate can be found in the following article, which might be helpful for betting on the encounter on top rugby bookmakers.
Bristol Bears’ Current Form
Prevailing over Wasps 31-19 at Ashton Gate on February 25 was Bristol Bears’ sole win in their last four Premiership matches. In 2022, in any competition, the Bears have only fallen one time at home: to London Irish in R16 by a score of 32-49. Out of the recent four duels in the domestic elite at home, the Bristol Bears have turned three into their favor, with all of those games ending with more than 11 points separating them and losers.
The Bristol Bears (103) and Harlequins (120) have made the most clean breaks in the English top-flight this season; nevertheless, counting two line breaks against Leicester Tigers in Round 11, the Bristol Bears’ two line breaks over Bath Rugby last weekend were the fewest combined they’ve done in this season’s match.
In last weekend’s round of matches, Harry Thacker, Bristol Bears hooker, has had the third-highest line-out throwing success percentage comparing to any player who has thrown at least 30 times this season (95%), with 13 successful line-out throws without a loss.
What to Expect from Harlequins?
Since losing to Saracens on February 13, Harlequins have won their previous three English top-flight matches, all with maximum points. This season, the Londoners have four Premiership away wins, with victories over Newcastle in Round 1, Wasps in Round 8, Gloucester in Round 12, and Worcester in Round 18.
Harlequins have won their last two Premiership games against Bristol Bears, but they were behind 17 or more points at halftime in both of those games. Harlequins have won their previous three Premiership games in a row, and a win against Bristol Bears would give them four in a row for the first time this season; they’ve also earned a bonus point in each of those three games.
In last weekend’s round of matches against Newcastle Falcons, Harlequins missed 45 tackles, the most any Premiership team has missed in a game while still winning since they missed 46 tackles away (43-36) to Bristol Bears in June 2021.
Tyrone Green of the Harlequins has made more carries (232), carry meters (2,032), and defeated more defenders (68) this season than any other player in the Premiership; additionally, no player has made more clean breaks this season than his teammate Cadan Murley (17).
Harlequins scrum-half Danny Care (2), who also leads the competition’s leaderboard in try assists this season, produced the most chances to his teammates in the round of fixtures held last weekend (13).
