Match Preview: Bristol Bears vs Crusaders

Bristol Bears take on 12-time Super Rugby champions Crusaders at Ashton Gate on Friday night in a historic exhibition match (7.30pm KO, live on Bears TV).

Siva Naulago makes his first start of the season as Pat Lam names an extended 26-man matchday squad for the blockbuster clash against the New Zealand based Super Rugby side, featuring 20-year-old Academy duo Sam Worsley and Paddy Pearce among the replacements.

Willi Heinz will lead the Crusaders at Ashton Gate, with Kershawl Sykes-Martin and Seb Calder joining George Bell in the front row and Quinten Strange (vice captain), Jamie Hannah, Dominic Gardiner, Corey Kellow and Christian Lio-Willie rounding out the forward pack.

MATCH INFO

TV: Live on Bears TV, 7.30pm kick-off
Venue: Ashton Gate
Referee: Hamish Smales
ARs: Charlie Gayther & Ryan Collier

Bristol Bears: 15. Rich Lane (32 apps), 14. Noah Heward (16 apps), 13. Benhard Janse van Rensburg (18 apps), 12. James Williams (35 apps), 11. Siva Naulago (28 apps), 10. AJ MacGinty (31 apps), 9. Harry Randall (119 apps); 1. Sam Grahamslaw (8 apps), 2. Fred Davies (11 apps), 3. Kyle Sinckler (54 apps), 4. Steven Luatua (123 apps), 5. Joe Batley (57 apps), 6. Joe Owen (10 apps), 7. Fitz Harding (65 apps), 8. Magnus Bradbury (38 apps).

System players: 16.⁠ ⁠Tomas Gwilliam (1 apps), 17. Andrew Turner (8 apps), 18. Jonny Benz-Salomon (13 apps), 19. Ed Holmes (101 apps), 20. Paddy Pearce (6 apps), 21. Dan Thomas (143 apps), 22. Kieran Marmion (18 apps), 23. Sam Worsley (6 apps), 24, Kalaveti Ravouvou (6 apps), 25. Virimi Vakatawa (14 apps), 26. Gabriel Ibitoye (34 apps).

Crusaders: 15. Chay Fihaki, 14. Manasa Mataele, 13. Jone Rova, 12. Ryan Crotty, 11. Macca Springer, 10. Rivez Reihana, 9. Willi Heinz (capt), 1. Kershawl Sykes-Martin, 2. George Bell, 3. Seb Calder, 4. Quinten Strange (ice-capt), 5, Jamie Hannah, 6. Dominic Gardiner, 7. Corey Kellow, 8. Christian Lio-Willie.

Replacements: 16. Ioane Moananu, 17. George Bower, 18. Ryan Coxon, 19. Antonio Shalfoon, 20. Fletcher Anderson, 21. Noah Hotham, 22. Taha Kemara, 23, Levi Aumua, 24. Taine Robinson, 25. Jack Gray, 26. Gus Brown.