Bristol 22-24 Saracens
Jones calls for cup shake-up
Scrum.com
November 1, 2008

Saracens director of rugby Eddie Jones would like to see the EDF Energy Anglo-Welsh Cup turn into an under-23 competition so that clubs can nurture their young players.

Jones watched his side complete a league and cup double over Bristol but despite the 24-22 victory, Northampton Saints go through to the semi-finals after their try-scoring bonus point victory over the Scarlets at Franklin's Gardens.

"If the EDF have any money left over during this credit crunch then I think they should invest it in an under-23 competition, with perhaps five over-age players in the match-day squad," said Jones. "It would be so important not just for us but also for England rugby and I'm sure the Welsh clubs would like it too. You need regular competitions for these young guys. Perhaps they could be played mid-week."

David Lemi scored two tries for Bristol with fly-half Adrian Jarvis and replacement centre Chris Ashwin kicking two penalties each. Wing Noah Cato and full back Alex Goode scored a try each for Saracens with fly-half Glen Jackson adding a conversion and four penalties. Jones added: "The first half penalty count was 14-4 against us and it is always difficult to play well when you have that amount of possession against you.

"Certainly we were architects of our own poor effort in the first half and we were lucky to be in the game. The good thing is that we are developing some consistency. In the second half we were methodical - we played how we needed to play and I was pleased with our second half. We have now played ten games and we are pretty consistent."

Bristol lost three of their key players in the defeat which will leave their resources stretched when they face three games against Northampton, two against west country neighbours Gloucester plus one each against London Irish and Worcester before the end of the year.

Head coach Richard Hill said: "We lost hooker Mark Regan (knee) who runs our scrum, lock Nathan Budgett (dislocated fibula) who runs our lineout and centre Neil Brew (hamstring) who runs our defence. These are the three personnel that we could least do without and we have lost them through injury. This has been a very costly game for us.

"The players have got next week off but they will be asked to get their head right ahead of our next Premiership game at home to Northampton [November 16] but it will certainly test our resources to the full. They will need to roll up their sleeves because we haven't got much experience in reserve at centre. We are on our backside a bit and things are not going too well."

Bristol had control of the game until the 56th minute when replacement wing Mat Turner, who had only been on the field for less than five minutes, was yellow carded when they were leading 19-6. Hill added: "He had only been on the field a few minutes before the incident. Saracens to their credit capitalised on the extra man scoring two tries and we lost our grip on the game.

"We didn't play well. There were lots of errors and we didn't get anyway near what was expected of the team but we did go into the break 16-6 in front. The second half was again error strewn and we didn't look after the ball. We have got to learn to scrap out and win these games especially when it becomes a two-point game, which it was, we have got to win those games because we are at the bottom of the Premiership.

"The 15 that start against Northampton are really going to have to dig in and produce one hell of a performance for us. They can do and will do."

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