Blues name side to face Bristol

Bedford Blues head into the Greene King IPA Championship play-offs full of confidence and keen to rock the boat as Champions-elect Bristol visit Goldington Road on Sunday afternoon.
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With the Sky Sports cameras in tow, the Blues begin tomorrow’s encounter as underdogs following an end of season 39-6 loss to the same opponents last weekend.

But if there is one thing that the Blues thrive on, it’s being written off before a game - or even the season - kicks off.

In some corners of the press, the Blues were favourites for the drop at the start of the Championship campaign, but 1,760 minutes of rugby later and Mike Rayer’s men secured a play-off place and the chance to shine once again having previously reached the final in 2012.

The Blues and Bristol will be locking horns for the fifth time this season in all competitions with both sides racking up two wins apiece so far. The ingredients are there for another classic encounter this weekend.

Bedford make wholesale changes to the team that were thoroughly beaten last Saturday with just five players - George Perkins, Camilo Parilli-Ocampo, Charlie Clare, Mike Howard and Harry Wells - maintaining a place in the starting line-up.

The game has, however, come too soon for Justin Blanchet and Joel Conlon (both shoulder) while James Pritchard (broken arm) misses out and Alex Lundberg has returned to Wasps.

Blues: 15. Steffan Jones; 14. George Perkins; 13. Michael LeBourgeois (c); 12. Tom Griffiths; 11. Dean Adamson; 10. Jake Sharp; 9. Henry Taylor; 1. Camilo Parilli-Ocampo; 2. Charlie Clare; 3. Phil Boulton; 4. Mike Howard; 5. Mark Flanagan; 6. Harry Wells; 7. Josh Buggea; 8. Paul Tupai.

Replacements: 16. Jacob Fields; 17. James Currie; 18. Tom Williams; 19. Seb Nagle-Taylor; 20. Jordan Burns; 21. Myles Dorrian; 22. Henry Staff.

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