CLOSE-UP PIERS O’CONOR v SAM JAMES Bristol inside centre Sale inside centre
In the absence of more vaunted teammates, the in-form O’Conor needed to step up, but failed to do so as Sale didn’t give him an inch of room. The nearest he came to try-scoring was by joining Bears’ 5m lineouts. James also did nothing in attack with his passing rushed and inaccurate but he played a big part in his side’s huge defensive effort.