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Investec Champions Cup Pool Four

Bristol Bears (33) 61

Tries: Genge, B Grondona, Marmion, Ravouvou, Oghre, Janse van Rensburg, Batley, Boshoff, S Grondona Cons: Jordan 8

Pau (0) 12

Bristol Bears made it two wins from two in the Champions Cup pool stage, scoring nine tries in a comfortable home victory against French club Pau.

Bristol narrowly beat Scarlets in their opening fixture but this was a much more comfortable outing for the Bears.

They scored five tries in a dominant first half, the first of them from England prop Ellis Genge inside the first minute.

Ben Grondona crossed himself before setting up Kieran Marmion for Bristol’s third, Kalaveti Ravouvou wrapped up a try bonus point after being fed by Benhard Janse van Rensburg and Gabriel Oghre went over from a line-out catch-and-drive just before the interval.

Janse van Rensburg, who becomes eligible for England selection in November 2026, showed excellent handling to collect Marmion’s kick and take Bristol’s lead to 40 points early in the second period.

The victory puts Bristol third in Pool Four with nine points from two games, one point behind last season’s two Champions Cup finalists – Northampton Saints and defending champions Bordeaux Begles.

Pau, the surprise package in France’s Top 14 this season, were not at full strength at Ashton Gate and are bottom of the pool after defeats by Northampton and Bristol.

Young centre Fabien Brau-Boirie crossed for their two tries in a losing cause.

Louis Rees-Zammit had been named to start at full-back for Bristol when the teams were announced on Friday.

Bristol lock Joe Batley, speaking to Premier Sports:

“To score that many tries and the quality of the tries as well – being a forward, I very much enjoyed the maul try before half-time – we showed a little bit of everything that we can do as a team. We can go from 80 [metres] or we can go from five metres.

“I’m really happy we kept the intensity up, especially being that far ahead at half-time.

Bristol, fifth in the Prem, return to league action at Harlequins on Saturday, 20 December (18:00 GMT).

Bristol: Elizalde; Ravouvou, Janse van Rensburg, Williams, Boshoff; Jordan, Marmion; Genge, Oghre, Chawatama, Rubiolo, Batley, Owen, B Grondona, Harding.

Replacements: Thacker, Woolmore, Halliwell, S Grondona, Ivanishvili, Wolstenholme, Worsley, Carrington.

Pau: Luc; Grandidier Nkanang, Brau-Boirie, Valentino, Carol; Mondinat, Robson; Bibi Biziwu, Rey, Tokolahi, Jolmes, Capelli, Kpoku, Paul, Tuipulotu.

Referee: Eoghan Cross (Ireland)

Assistant referees: Robbie Jenkinson (Ireland) and Padraic Reidy (Ireland)

A different manager and an almost completely different team – but someone at Sunderland wasn’t going to forget in a hurry.

Nearly two years ago, after Newcastle’s thumping 3-0 win at the Stadium of Light in an FA Cup fourth-round tie, the Magpies celebrated with a full squad photograph on the pitch in front of their jubilant supporters.

This time it was the turn of the Black Cats.

Nick Woltemade’s own goal was enough to give Sunderland a memorable win over their rivals in the first Premier League Tyne-Wear derby since 2016 – and the hosts celebrated at full-time by recreating Newcastle’s snap shot.

When asked who suggested the idea, Black Cats manager Regis le Bris smiled and simply said: “Always unpredictable, creative, adaptive.”

Defender Dan Ballard, who scored an own goal in that 2024 FA Cup tie, was the only Sunderland player to start in both games.

He revealed how he desperately wanted to avenge the loss, telling Sky Sports: “You cannot describe [the feeling]. It was so painful [losing to Newcastle] for the players and for the fans so we felt we had let them down so we’re delighted with this win.

Seventh-placed Sunderland are enjoying a superb return to the top flight following promotion via the play-offs last season.

The Black Cats have 26 points in 16 games, their most at this stage of a Premier League campaign since 2000-01 (also 26), when they went on to finish seventh.

They are yet to lose in the league at the Stadium Light, which had an electric atmosphere for most of Sunday afternoon.

“Derbies, you have to win, it does not matter how,” said captain Granit Xhaka to Sky Sports.

“This team deserves much more – and more respect as where we are in the league is amazing and we’re working really hard.”

Sunderland are also unbeaten in their last 10 league games against Newcastle (seven wins and three draws), their longest such run against the Magpies.

Newcastle’s last league win over Sunderland was back in August 2011.

Le Bris told Sky Sports he was “proud and happy” with the result.

“It was a derby and we were expected [to win] by our fans,” he added. “This win is well deserved, we were mature and the lads were incredible.

“It’s pretty evident if no-one gets the time, no-one can turn it around. This is not a quick fix.”

Thomas Frank was clear with what is needed after watching Tottenham’s weak defeat at Nottingham Forest.

He is confident he will get time to finally tap into Tottenham’s potential. But that was not on display at the City Ground.

Mistakes allowed Callum Hudson-Odoi to score twice, and the game was over before Ibrahim Sangare’s stunning third.

Spurs won just six of their final 19 games of last season and even lifting the Europa League after beating Manchester United was not enough to save Ange Postecoglou.

Frank replaced him but after winning six of his opening 11 games, he has won just four of his next 14.

Tottenham, 11th in the Premier League and six points adrift of the top five, have changed the manager but their problems remain.

“I think Frank is a really good manager and we have to remember that all managers need time,” said ex-England winger and BBC Match of the Day pundit Theo Walcott. “Spurs are not in a terrible position either.

Spurs arrived looking for a third straight win in all competitions for the first time in more than a year – but instead Frank was picking through the wreckage of another damaging defeat.

The 2-0 win at Manchester City in August has long been forgotten and has been replaced by the memories of a 4-1 derby humbling at Arsenal, a 1-0 loss to Chelsea and further home defeats to Aston Villa, Bournemouth and Fulham.

Half of rock bottom Wolves’ points total this season has come at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium after Spurs rescued a 1-1 draw in stoppage time.

Their home win over Brentford last week was the first Premier League victory at home since their opening game in north London against Burnley in August.

There have been Champions League wins over Villarreal, Copenhagen and Slavia Prague but the inconsistencies which have dogged Tottenham for years remain.

Frank only joined in the summer from Brentford, replacing Postecoglou, but it has still left him looking vulnerable with supporters, even if he has clarity of thought.

“I do everything to control my emotions, which is a hurricane inside me, because, of course, it’s deeply frustrating that we are not doing better after three good performances,” said Frank, who described the display at Forest as “burning, annoying”.

“It is extremely important to be calm and measured and of course, have very, very direct and clear messages at the right time so they’re not in doubt of what I think, because I’m very honest about where we are as well.

“I was also very honest, today was a very bad performance. No two ways about that, but also know that to change this, this will take some time.

Frank made a triple substitution on 59 minutes, bringing on Ben Davies, Joao Palhinha and Lucas Bergvall for Djed Spence, Archie Gray and Rodrigo Bentancur – with Spence clearly unhappy with the decision.

Former Arsenal forward Walcott felt the changes would only add to fans’ frustrations.

“I was thinking ‘you are losing the game, why bring on defensive players?’ That is the worry,” he said. “The attacking side of Tottenham’s play, and that is why the fans are frustrated too. Seeing that happen today is not going to help.”

Frank, though, was supported by Sean Dyche after Forest recorded a third straight win over Spurs.

“You bring new players in, you don’t just click your fingers with a group of players,” he said. “They signed players you’ve got to re-educate in your way.

“But there is no time now. You’re a hero to zero every week now, and that’s just the nature of the world, not just football.

Guglielmo Vicario’s errors – leading to the first two goals – cannot be ignored. At the end he trudged back towards the Tottenham fans and held up his hands in apology.

He was far from the only culprit for a wretched defeat but the spotlight will shine further on the 29-year-old after previous errors.

Frank had to defend him following his mistake against Fulham, which gave Harry Wilson a crucial goal, and said Spurs fans who abused him can’t be true supporters.

There were few left in the away end at the final whistle so Vicario will have been spared the vitriol at the City Ground but there are few places to hide.

Frank refused to blame the Italy international for the first goal, where his pass put Gray in trouble and allowed Sangare to pinch the ball to set up Hudson-Odoi,

“No, I think you see that every week in the Premier League, and from every team all over the world. So, there’s no problem with that,” he said.

“After the first goal we lost structure and we were more disjointed and then 2-0 kills the game off. It doesn’t help we made two mistakes with the first two goals but that can happen in football. We just need to keep doing the right things, so everything looks the right way.”

Former England goalkeeper and Match of the Day pundit Joe Hart also absolved Vicario of blame for the first goal.

“He’s passed it with the intention of Archie Gray bouncing it first time out to Cristian Romero. The press from Forest is very good and as soon as Gray takes more than one touch it looks like a bad pass from the goalkeeper,” said Hart.

“That is something they will do every day in training without any problem.