Hill remains upbeat despite problems

Bristol boss Richard Hill insists there is "everything to play for" in the fight for Guinness Premiership survival.

Hill's team are bottom of the table, three points behind 11th-placed Newcastle as the domestic season heads past its halfway point. But after tackling Saracens at Vicarage Road on Sunday, Bristol's next Premiership game is a showdown with the Falcons in the west country on February 13.

"There is still everything to play for. Spirits are good, and we are confident that we can get out of this situation," he said.

Hill has seen the Bristol battle hampered by injuries in recent weeks - forwards Mark Regan, Jason Hobson, Alex Clarke and Joe El Abd are among those currently absent - yet he remains upbeat.

"At the start of the season we were suffering with injuries in the backs, and now it's the pack," he said.

"It is not a good situation, and we need the incoming players to step up, which is a tough ask. But they are being well prepared."

Bristol have also suspended Samoan wing David Lemi for two games prior to his appearance before a Rugby Football Union disciplinary panel next Tuesday.

Lemi was cited for an alleged dangerous tackle on Northampton's Paul Diggin when Bristol lost 30-8 at Franklin's Gardens last Saturday.

Hill added: "We have looked closely at the match footage with David, and although there was no malicious intent in the challenge, we feel that the correct thing to do is to stand David down for the next two matches.

"This was not an easy decision, as we obviously badly need a player of David's talents against Saracens on Sunday and also in France next weekend against Toulon."