Richards: Skills and game management cost us
Speaking after the game, the director of rugby said: “The three tries just before half-time were critical, and we’re disappointed by the manner in which we conceded them.
“We couldn’t control the tempo of the game and where we were playing during that period, we turned the ball over a couple of times and you can’t do that against a side as good as Bristol.
“Those three tries meant it was virtually the end of the game, and they’re a class side.”
Richards added: “We’ve had a chat in the changing room, and the message from the players and ourselves was that our skills weren’t good enough.
“The accuracy of our catch-pass just wasn’t up to scratch, and Bristol were far superior in that area.
“There’s no reason why we can’t still finish the season strongly, though.
“We can be competitive against anyone, but it’s just getting those wins.
“A large part of it is understanding where to play, controlling the tempo and being accurate in our execution. It’s not happening at the moment, but we’re working hard every day to be better in those areas.
“When a good team like Bristol play as they did today, they’re virtually unstoppable, but when we get it right we can be a real threat.
“We’ve got a lot of young boys out there who are probably lacking that experience at this level, despite being very talented, and we’re still learning.”
