Match preview: Leicester Tigers vs Bristol Bears

Leicester Tigers

• Jasper Wiese is in relentless form. For the fourth consecutive round, he made the most carries in the Premiership. In Round 20 he made 24, one shy of his personal best this season.
• Mike Brown made more carries than any other back in Round 20 (18) and more contact metres than any other player (46).
• The Tigers have the best rate of ball retention at the ruck (96.6%). In fact, 14 of their 56 tries have come in the sixth phase or later.
• Leicester Tigers have the second-highest rate of tackle dominance in the league (8.4%) and also the second-highest percentage of low tackles (47.6%).

Like every great full back, @mikebrown_15 does it with a pick-and-go.

pic.twitter.com/VZ0ABdqPg2

— Leicester Tigers (@LeicesterTigers) March 12, 2023

Bristol Bears

• Scoring another in Round 20, Harry Thacker’s season total for tries is now nine - the highest of any forward and just three short of the league-leading Mateo Carreras. He has scored four tries in his last five Premiership matches.
• The Piutau/Radradra partnership continues to blossom at Bristol Bears. Piutau scored two tries against Harlequins and Radradra made more metres than any other player (123) and four offloads. Both players produced a try assist and beat five defenders apiece.
• Gabriel Ibitoye beat a round-high seven defenders in Round 20, also making three clean breaks.
• The Bears have made more offloads than any other team (212).

Best stepper in the game? 🌍

Just a @CPiutau ankle-breaker montage for your enjoyment 🧨 pic.twitter.com/IG1l2vteU8

— Bristol Bears 🐻 (@BristolBears) March 23, 2023

Historical

• Bristol Bears scored 50 points in their last two Premiership outings. This is only the tenth instance of a half-century in successive rounds. Of those only Saracens in 2018 went on to add a third!
• Leicester Tigers haven’t lost to Bristol Bears since June 2021. They drew 26-26 in their most recent meeting in December.

• Leicester Tigers have won their last four Gallagher Premiership Rugby matches since their 18-19 loss at home to Northampton Saints at the end of January.
• The Tigers other home defeat in Premiership Rugby this season was 16-26 to Sale Sharks in Round 5.
• Bristol Bears have won their last four Gallagher Premiership Rugby encounters since their defeat by a solitary point to Saracens at StoneX Stadium on January 28th.

Shifting through the 𝗴𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 ⚙️@CPiutau was 𝘂𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 in round 2⃣0⃣

Can we make it 5⃣ wins on the bounce❓ pic.twitter.com/XjsRaSvcEd

— Bristol Bears 🐻 (@BristolBears) March 21, 2023

• The Bears have not won five in succession for almost two years.
• Bristol won their most recent away game in Premiership Rugby, 15-13 at Bath Rugby on February 24th and have not won back-to-back matches on their travels since May 2021.
• The two clubs drew 26-all at Ashton Gate in Round 12, their first tie since an 11-all draw at Memorial Stadium in 1969.
• The Bears have won on two of their last four visits to Mattioli Woods Welford Road.