Bristol Sign Dynamic Duo
Bristol have signed dynamic duo Sean Marsden and Richard Bolt from Exeter, the side that beat them to go up the Premiership.
Bristol have been doing very well during the close season in making sensible additions to their squad, which they believe will help them go up to the Premiership at the very next time of asking.
Bristol's coach has already said that everyone at the club is completely focused on making sure that promotion happens next season. Therefore there will be a great deal of pressure on these two players before they have even had a chance to come through the door and settle down at their new club.
They both possess some very positive attributes, which are going to make the side very strong next season. However, there are other good sides in the Championship trying to go up such as Worcester who have just suffered the feeling of Premiership relegation.
Attributes
Marsden arrives at his new club with a great deal of experience. He played over one hundred games for Exeter and during this time he seems to have built up a great deal of knowledge. He will have to show every part of this when he plays as he lacks a little bit of pace now he is getting older.
However, he is a very good player in the wide areas of the pitch and can pass the ball very neatly. This will be important as Bristol look to go forward in wide areas before switching the ball back inside to look for a gap through the middle to score.
Bolt will be more involved in the heart of the team because he plays at scrum-half. This will mean that a lot of the play goes through him and his kicking ability will be turned to at various points. He could be asked to take penalties and conversions or just clear ranks as Bristol look to get up the field.
Bolt is much younger at 22 and has a number of years ahead of him. He will benefit from a strong sense of ambition and energy that he can pass to other members of the team.
Other Sides
Bristol are one of the bigger and better teams in the Championship but they are not going to have everything their own way. Worcester will be going all out to go back up to the Premiership at the first time of trying.
Worcester know what it takes to play rugby in the Premiership and nobody at the club will want to dwell on what it felt like to be relegated. There is bound to be a lot of ambition and drive between the two South West rivals but it will come down to who wants it more than the other.
Bristol have to prepare and focus on their opposition intensely, more so now than ever before. This should give them an edge during important matches that they will have to win to stay at the top of the table.
Betting Advice
Bristol have shaped up as a very good bet to win promotion next season. They seem up for the fight and they have developed a good squad that can rival any other in the Championship. Don't be afraid to have a punt on them.
If you want to back one of their new arrivals then go for Bolt because he will have more chances and opportunities to score. Marsden will score the odd try but his lack of pace is something that is going to hold him back as he competes against some very quick players.
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