Radradra and Attwood looking to put one over their old pals
Semi is more keen to make an impression for the team. That is one of the things we have said this week
SEMI Radradra returns to the south of France tonight to face his former side Toulon, with a point to prove.
Pundits have called the Bristol Bears’ 47-24 Gallagher Premiership semi-final defeat to Wasps on Saturday “naive and disappointing”. That would have been no way for Bristol’s 2019-20 season to end, having thrilled and entertained the rugby world in equal measure with their stunning brand of attacking rugby. Fortunately, tonight the Bears take on Toulon in the European Challenge Cup final with a chance to make history, and erase the memory of that defeat at the Ricoh Arena.
Toulon were the side which first tempted Radradra to switch from a highly successful career in rugby league, where he scored 82 tries in 94 matches, to play rugby union back in 2017.
He spent just the single season at the French Top 14 side but made quite an impression, with team-mates Chris Ashton and Bristol lock Dave Attwood both citing him as the best player with which they have ever played. The dual-code superstar scored his first of many tries for Toulon just 62 seconds into his Champions Cup debut as be built his reputation for being one of the most explosive players in the game.
The Fijian outside centre has made no less a stunning impact at Bristol since his arrival this summer from Bordeaux-Begles, who ironically Radradra helped see off in the semi-final of the Challenge Cup to reach the final.
It would not be unfair to say the former Australian rugby league international was the difference between the two sides on the night as the Bears won 37-20 in extra-time, with Radradra setting up two tries as he made 84 metres in attack. Such form has seen the Fijian named as the only player from the Challenge Cup to earn a place on the shortlist for European player of the season in 2019-20, joining Champions Cup finalists Sam Simmonds and Stuart Hogg from Exeter Chiefs, and Racing 92’s Finn Russell and Virimi Vakatawa in the running for the award.
Another superhuman effort could be required tonight as Bristol and Radradra are looking to bounce back from a disappointing performance against Wasps.
The defeat was Radradra’s least impactful performance in a Bears jersey since his debut. In his first game for Bristol, Radradra managed just six touches for seven metres in a narrow victory over Saracens but exploded into life the following week with a try and two assists as he made 130 metres in attack to beat Gloucester.
Up until Saturday he had been seemingly unstoppable for the Bears, earning a place in the BT Sport Gallagher Premiership Dream Team of the Season despite only joining the league in Round 13.
However, Bears director of rugby Pat Lam said Radradrea doesn’t have a point to prove when he runs out against his former employers at the Stade Maurice-David Stadium.
Lam said: “Semi is more keen to make an impression for the team. That is one of the things we have said this week.
“We are going over to Toulon against a massive team that is used to being in these sort of finals, a team which is only driving 45 minutes up the road, a team that has some big individual players as well.
“Our emphasis is team, that is our best chance to play our own game and for the players to do their bit for the team. That was all part of the learnings from the weekend.”
Tonight’s game, which is being played less than an hour up the road from Toulon in Aix-enProvence, will also see Attwood line-up against his old side.
Like Radradra, former England international Attwood made a massive impact at the club in a short period of time after joining them on loan for a few months in 2018 while he was at Bath.
He said: “I had a great time in Toulon and still have lots of friends there. We stay in touch via social media and we have been in contact in the last few weeks. I love the club and the city – it’s a lovely place and I enjoyed my time there.”
But Attwood is looking to deny the three-time European champions another trophy in their bulging cabinet at the Stade Mayol, and end the drought at Bristol. He said: “It’s why we play, it’s a huge occasion. It’s our first European final, so we’re really looking forward to it. It’s going to be a tough game against a very good team – they have some very talented players and experienced internationals, so we know it’s going to be a challenge for us.”