Regarding pubs there's a few near the ground which are meant to be decent (Coopers Arms & Rising Sun). Almost anywhere on North Street is good - the Hen & Chicken seems to be popular with the rugby crowd. The fan village at Ashton Gate is good too. If you're making a night and of it I recommend The Old Bookshop, The Hare, or The Spotted Cow on North Street as good spots for post-match beers before going central. I'll probably go to one of those with friends after the game.

Aki to miss 2 initial rounds, but he still need a bit of friendly gametime, at least our others Irish international lads, don't they?

I'd go with

1) O'Donnell (to continue growing confidence, Buckley have so many minutes under his belt, he doesn't need much more!)
2) Delahunt
3) Bealham
4) Roux
5) Thornbury
6) Gallagher
7) Connolly
8 ) SOB
9) Marmion
10) Horwitz (if back fit, if not Ronaldson)
11) Scholes
12) Aki
13) Griffin
14) Niyi
15) Leader

16) Murphy (if fit, if not Heffernan)
17) McCabe
18) McCoy
19) Dillane
20) Fainga'a (has to start with us!)
21) C.McKeon
22) Carty
23) Joyce (if fit, if not Kelleher)

Others (a bit less "back-ups" for the last friendly)

Front row : Carey
Back-row : E.McKeon
SH : Mitchell
Back : Godwin

anyone else going to the game? any recommendations for pre-game beers?

Sadly, except remissions we won't see some of the guys we would have like


Unavailable yesterday vs Scarlets: Aly Muldowney (neck), Jack Lam (head), Charles Piutau (achilles), Piers O’Conor ( IQ, hip). Steven Luatua, Jack O'Connell (transfered to Ealing)


Stll we should have a look at Jake Heenan, Joe Joyce, Ian Madigan and Jack Tovey (all IQ), who played yesterday