Bristol v Harlequins: Winners and losers as England discard shines while Bears should question ‘investment’ in Pat Lam after ‘catastrophic’ defeat
Alex Dombrandt in action for Harlequins against Bristol and Bears head coach Pat Lam.
Following a stunning 18-14 victory for Harlequins over Bristol Bears at the Principality Stadium on Saturday, here are our winners and losers from the Gallagher PREM clash.
Winners
Jason Gilmore
There was much criticism from Harlequins fans, and a fair few eyebrows raised elsewhere, when their so-called ‘worldwide’ search for a head honcho effectively ended in the status quo as Gilmore was promoted to that role.
A fine defence guru, it will be intriguing to see how the Australian fares, but this performance suggested that the decision of the Quins hierarchy has the support of the players. They put everything on the line on Saturday and were absolutely magnificent in defence, deservedly getting the win.
Alex Dombrandt
Out of the England squad with seemingly no return in sight, this was a statement performance to suggest that Dombrandt can still be a useful option for Steve Borthwick. With Tom Willis not available, they don’t have too many bigger units at number eight, but the Harlequins star offers that.
Dombrandt was absolutely magnificent in the Welsh capital – from his carrying to his breakdown work – and it was apt that it was his steal at the contact area which effectively secured the victory for the Londoners.
Guido Petti
It has not been the easiest season for Quins’ big-name addition but this was an encounter in which the Argentine star showed his international class. Brilliant at the lineout, where he caused all sorts of problems for the Bears set-piece, and a ubiquitous presence in the loose, it was a superb display from the lock.
Bryn Bradley
Wales may have just found another hard-running centre. In fairness, Bradley has shown plenty of potential when he has played, but the Londoners’ struggles have rather overshadowed his displays. However, in a victory which will surprise most people around the PREM, the ex-Wales U20 representative well and truly shone.
Perhaps inspired by playing at the Principality – a place he might be featuring at far more often – Bradley was a focal point in midfield, getting over the gain line, making big hits and winning turnovers. It was like having Andre Esterhuizen back.
Fitz Harding
In a quite frankly dreadful and incredibly loose performance from Bristol, the captain was perhaps the only player to emerge with real credit. Harding did everything in his power to get his side over the line, but it just was not quite enough.
The flanker was a nuisance at the breakdown, carried superbly in traffic and didn’t lack accuracy – unlike his teammates – when moving the ball through the hands. Harding has been mentioned in the England equation and he certainly would not let them down.
Losers
Gabriel Oghre
Like Harding, Oghre has been tipped for international honours and on the evidence of his performance against Leicester Tigers, those calls were founded. However, a week is a long time in sport and the hooker wilted under pressure in Cardiff.
The lineout was a real issue throughout the game for Bristol and, although people are far too quick to blame the hookers, the Bears man failed to hit his targets. There were also some uncharacteristic mistakes in the loose, despite the energy he brought, in what was a game to forget.
Harry Randall
The scrum-half is a wonderful player but it was all rather manic at the base as the decision-makers completely lacked composure. There was still some nice things from the number nine but there were times when Randall needed to calm it down and he quite frankly didn’t. Instead, he tried to make it even quicker and, as a result, there were even more mistakes.
Tom Jordan
The Scotland international is another fabulous rugby player. Capable of also playing at 12 and 15, he is a supremely gifted individual whose penchant for taking chances in attack suits Bristol’s game, but we’re not sure if he is someone who can control a game.
It is why AJ MacGinty is the first-choice fly-half when fit as his calm demeanour and ability to pick the right options enables those runners around him, like Jordan, to thrive. It was all too frantic from the gifted playmaker.
Pat Lam
They are not out of the play-off conversation just yet but this defeat could well be catastrophic for their chances. Considering the money invested and the big names they have at their disposal, it would be unacceptable for them to lose out on the chance of silverware once again.
Lam was famously handed a seven-year contract in 2021 but, since that announcement, they have reached the play-offs just once – fourth in 2024/25. The Bristol hierarchy should ultimately be asking whether they have got a good enough return for their investment in the head coach.
Kalaveti Ravouvou
The Fijian was a threat every time he touched the ball but there were too many errors and his final mistake rather summed up Bristol’s day. They had done so well to win the restart and gave Ravouvou some space on the left, but he bizarrely decided a speculative kick ahead with the clock in the red. It duly went into touch and ended the a dreadful afternoon for the Bears.
READ MORE: Leicester boss fumes shoving TNT Sports presenter in viral pre-match exchange