If the noises emanating from the Bristol Bears camp this week are something to go by then the Premiership Girls’s Rugby [PWR] report books would possibly have to be up to date come Sunday night.
Since England’s top-flight was rebranded, initially because the Premier 15s again in 2017, every of the ten semi-finals contested have gone the best way of the upper seeded group.
Which means Bristol and Exeter Chiefs, who each hit the street this weekend having completed the common season third and fourth respectively, might want to make historical past if they’re to safe their place within the PWR remaining at Sandy Park on June twenty second.
Bears head coach Dave Ward wanted no reminding of that truth or the duty dealing with his group as they put together to kick-off the play-offs towards Saracens at StoneX Stadium on Sunday.
Ward has guided the Bears into the semi-finals in every of his three seasons in cost, but their two earlier appearances at this stage each resulted in away defeats, at Exeter in 2022 and Gloucester 12 months in the past.
“We’re moving into as huge underdogs, you already know, we are able to’t escape that truth. I don’t assume I’ve heard one particular person predict a Bristol win but,” Ward informed reporters.
“However that’s music to my ears in a manner as a result of most likely the 2 earlier seasons, individuals gave us extra of an opportunity and we didn’t fairly present up.
“The truth that individuals aren’t giving us an opportunity means we are able to go underneath the radar no downside, after which hopefully shock and awe a number of individuals on Sunday.”
Ward shouldered a lot of the duty for final season’s semi-final exit at Kingsholm, through which his facet didn’t land a blow till the second half earlier than happening to lose 21-12.
Drawing on his personal experiences lining up at hooker in huge knockout matches for Harlequins, the coach is hopeful he can create a profitable ambiance this weekend.
“I most likely over-coached in that Gloucester recreation and drove a little bit of concern into the gamers,” Ward admitted.
“[You’ve got to] take pleasure in these events, take pleasure in working arduous. I performed in some fairly huge video games, and I all the time loved it.
“You possibly can be one minute to kick-off within the European Problem Cup semi-final and also you’ve received Joe Marler and Kyle Sinckler subsequent to you. You understand, you’re not going to be targeted [with] these two idiots messing round, telling jokes.
“So, I believe there’s that a part of it as effectively but additionally then understanding that the following time you’re subsequent to those guys is the primary scrum of the sport.
“So, I believe simply understanding that dynamic of who must get to the place they should get to as a coach, and never placing an excessive amount of stress on individuals. However as I mentioned, sustaining that focus and our function.”
The Bears actually don’t must make the journey south with any concern. The group has carved out a popularity as the nice entertainers of PWR – even topping quite a lot of attacking metrics in defeat to Sale final weekend – and so they have latest expertise of beating Saracens.
Ward insists the gamers haven’t spoken about their Allianz Cup remaining defeat by the hands of the identical opponents on the finish of April, a match performed with out Six Nations stars, however the league victory in March has been mentioned.
Bristol began that match at 100 miles per hour, scoring two tries within the opening six minutes after which saved their opponents scoreless within the second half whereas crossing the whitewash one other 3 times to win 35-10.
“I believe the blueprint is there,” mentioned Ward, who insisted Bristol “needed Saracens” within the semi-finals.
That may be a sentiment echoed by Bears co-captain Abbie Ward, who is aware of what it takes to beat Saracens in a play-off match having helped Harlequins to victory within the 2021 Premier 15s remaining.
“It does provide you with confidence [but] the ultimate with Harlequins and profitable the Premiership shouldn’t be one thing that I really need to actually speak about as a result of we’ve achieved it as Bristol,” she mentioned.
“It’s not even like you might want to return three years; this season we’ve crushed Saracens. Sure, they had been lacking sure gamers however any group on any weekend are lacking sure gamers.
“So, I believe the gamers know that Saracens are beatable. You possibly can watch them, sure, they’ll play some incredible rugby however I believe we again ourselves within the model and elegance and the rugby that we are able to play too.”
And the England second row doesn’t consider taking part in the semi-final in north London presents as huge a concern issue because it maybe would have achieved in earlier years.
“It’s not one thing to me that’s notably daunting,” she mentioned. “And I believe that’s additionally one thing the ladies really feel now.
“I believe beforehand, Saracens at StoneX appeared like an unbeatable facet, a recreation that you just simply couldn’t win. Whereas now I don’t assume that’s the case.
“However I believe that comes from the best way that we’ve performed, our outcomes over the previous seasons, different ends in the [past] seasons and in addition it’s that perception, it’s that confidence and it’s how we’ve grown as a squad.”
Abbie Ward suggests this season, her third on the membership, has been about “finessing” the work that was achieved within the first two years underneath Dave’s stewardship.
Bristol struggled for kind within the early stage of the season, dropping three of their first 5 PWR matches – towards every of their fellow semi-finalists – as new recruits, together with Holly Aitchison and Hannah Botterman, bedded in.
Aitchison and Botterman will return to Saracens this weekend as a part of a buoyant facet that misplaced solely one among their subsequent 10 league matches earlier than remaining day defeat at Sale.
“That was all the time going to be the best way when it comes to how we discovered to develop with one another and mesh, how we discovered the best way to play with one another,” Abbie Ward mentioned.
“We’ve achieved that now, so we’ve received the groundwork, we’ve received the squad depth and expertise. We’ve been via these experiences about determination making, and we’ve grown our decision-making group and our technique.
“So, it’s about placing all of it collectively and I believe if we get all these bits proper on the weekend, then we’ll be completely positive.”
