Bristol vs Worcester: Andy Robinson backs his team to end play-off misery

The sides are bidding for promotion to the Premiership

Chris Hewett
Monday 25 May 2015 17:25 BST
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Andy Robinson
Andy Robinson

Bristol expect two of their big-name captures from the veteran ranks - Gavin Henson, the celebrity centre from Wales, and the back-five forward Ryan Jones, his countryman and fellow Test Lion – to play major roles in next season’s business, irrespective of the division in which they find themselves. Their approach to further major signings depends entirely on events at Worcester on Wednesday night.

Coached by Andy Robinson, the former England boss who ran the Scotland team at the last World Cup in 2011, the West Countrymen must beat their Midlands rivals at Sixways if they are to end a long and depressing run of play-off calamities and win promotion to the Premiership. Worcester won last week’s first leg at Ashton Gate by a single point and will start as favourites on home soil, but Bristol continue to fancy their chances.

“It’s set up as a final,” Robinson said on Monday, “and while there were things we got wrong last week – you really can’t go round conceding five tries if you’re serious about winning an important game – there were some positive aspects too. For 39 minutes of the second half we were the better side: testament to the quality of our fitness and of our replacements’ bench. We can also draw confidence from the fact that we were on the ropes in the first half, yet finished within a point. Last season in the same circumstances, we were on the ropes against London Welsh in the first leg and were beaten by 19 points.”

Neither Henson nor Jones will be on view at Sixways. Henson, one of Bristol’s more conspicuous successes last week, suffered a busted fibula during the second half, underwent surgery a couple of days ago and will be lucky to play again this side of November. Jones was left nursing a serious shoulder injury, although he may be back for the start of the 2015-16 campaign.

Robinson said he had competed the vast bulk of his squad-building work, but hinted at significant new spending if promotion is secured. There are such no “ifs” or “maybes” at Wasps. The former European champions have transformed themselves into a financial powerhouse since moving from High Wycombe to Coventry late last year and yesterday, they added to their roster of internationals by signing the 34-year-old Australian flanker George Smith, the most decorated forward in Wallaby history, from the relegated French club Lyon.

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