John Dobson: Bristol will have a crack at us

Dobson, who knows Bears boss Pat Lam from their time coaching the Barbarians together, expects a highly motivated and well-drilled English side.

"They're a team that can turn it on. I know Pat Lam, who I coached with at the Barbarians. He'll want to have a crack at us," Dobson said.

"They came here [last season] and won at Loftus, which is not an easy place to go," he added, referencing the Bears' 61-49 triumph over the Bulls.

"They've always been a deep attacking team, but I'm seeing more dog in their defence, a lot more competition at the breakdown, and a lot more direct in the 22 than maybe they were a while ago with the pick-and-goes.

"Their maul is the best in the Premiership at the moment, which is not something we associate with Bristol. They're going to keep our diaries full, especially defensively."

The Stormers have found English opposition particularly tough in recent European campaigns.

"Only one time we got away from an English side - Sale Sharks two years ago, we put 40-odd on them," Dobson noted.

"They're organised and they show a real British Bulldog, and it'll be exactly the same from Bristol. Watching their Premiership games, it's almost Any Given Sunday stuff."

Captain Ruhan Nel echoed his coach's respect for Bristol's attacking intent.

"They've got a real attacking mentality. They stretch the passes, they'll force an offload here and there," Nel explained.

"It's a lot more one-on-ones that they're trying to create, featuring their good athletes. If they can get those guys into space, you're really out for a long day.

"It's about staying patient within the system and letting the system bail you out instead of making individual massive plays."

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