Author

Will Carpenter writes

Posted Friday, June 18th 2021 @bristolsportwkc

Match preview: Harlequins (h) - Gallagher Premiership SF

Friday, June 18th 2021

Everything you need to know ahead of the Gallagher Premiership play-off semi-final clash with Harlequins at Ashton Gate.

Complete your remortgage through Langley House Mortgages’ and get a video message from your favourite Bristol Bears player.

Get the home advantage!

HARLEQUINS LINEUP

15. Tyrone Green, 14. Louis Lynagh, 13. Joe Marchant, 12. Ben Tapuai, 11. Aaron Morris, 10. Marcus Smith, 9. Danny Care; 1. Joe Marler, 2. Scott Baldwin, 3. Wilco Louw, 4. Matt Symons, 5. Stephan Lewies (c), 6. Tom Lawday, 7. Jack Kenningham, 8. Alex Dombrandt

Impact Players: 16. Joe Gray, 17. Santiago Garcia Botta, 18. Will Collier, 19. Dino Lamb, 20. James Chisholm, 21. Martin Landajo, 22. James Lang, 23. Luke Northmore.

WHEN AND WHERE

The Bears' Gallagher Premiership play-off semi-final clash with Harlequins at Ashton Gate is on Saturday, June 19th, with kick-off at 1.30pm (UK).

In the UK, the game will be televised on BT Sport 1 HD and broadcast live on BBC Radio Bristol - and you can also follow all the action in our Matchday Centre on bristolbearsrugby.com and on Twitter: @BristolBears, whilst highlights will be available to watch from 10am the following day.

FORM GUIDE

This is Bristol Bears third appearance in a Gallagher Premiership semi-final, having lost on both previous occasions, both away from home at Leicester in 2007 and at Wasps at this stage last year. Bristol did not play last weekend with their home game to London Irish being called off due to Covid-19. The Bears have been defeated just once since the end of April: 12-22 at Sale in Round 20 of Premiership Rugby. Bristol have lost only once at Ashton Gate since early February: 12-20 to Exeter on April 23rd.

Harlequins have appeared in four previous Gallagher Premiership semi-final fixtures, winning just once, at home to Northampton in 2012. Quins have not appeared at this stage for seven years. The Londoners last five encounters in Premiership Rugby have all been won by the home side on the day whilst Harlequins only away win since early February came on the short trip to London Irish on April 24th.

Bristol have won their last three matches against Harlequins since Quins 22-17 victory at Twickenham Stoop in October 2019. Harlequins only previous victory at Ashton Gate was 42-8 in February 2017. The two clubs have met just once before in a semi-final with Bristol running out 21-18 victors at Memorial Stadium in the old John Player Cup in March 1984.