First loss gave Gloucester-Hartpury a kick - Muir

England prop Maud Muir (centre) scored a try for Gloucester-Hartpury in their semi-final win over Exeter

Premiership Women's Rugby final: Gloucester-Hartpury v Bristol Bears

Venue: Sandy Park Date: Saturday, 22 June Kick-off: 15:00 BST

Coverage: Watch on the BBC Sport website and BBC iPlayer and listen to commentary on BBC Radio Gloucestershire and BBC Radio Bristol (via FM, digital, BBC Sounds and online).

Gloucester-Hartpury prop Maud Muir said the team's defeat by Saracens to deny them an undefeated Premiership season gave them the "kick" they needed before the play-offs.

The defending champions take on Bristol Bears in the Premiership final on Saturday for the chance to reclaim the title they won for the first time last season.

They have enjoyed almost the perfect season so far, with the narrow 33-31 loss to Saracens on 25 May their only league defeat of the campaign.

"It definitely gave us a little kick up the bum, but it also just proved to us that if you don't play well you're not going to win," Muir told BBC Radio Gloucestershire.

"We really didn't play well in lots of the aspects of our game and we weren't completely ourselves, whereas if you compare it to a game like the semi-final where we were ourselves and we did play well, you will win.

"Hopefully we can replicate that in the final."

Team 'connection' creates strong bond

England front-rower Muir scored one of eight tries as Gloucester-Hartpury thrashed Exeter 50-19 in the semi-final two weeks ago, to reach the final at Sandy Park, Exeter, this weekend.

Muir - who joined the club in 2022 - believes the secret to the team's success is their togetherness off the field.

"We just have such a connection off the pitch and I think that's what really has made us play well on the pitch because we all love each other, we want to play for each other and it's just a great team to be a part of," she said.

"Winning always makes you happier but, even after the loss against Sarries, we all had a social where we bonded a lot more."

Gloucester-Hartpury aim to do what only Saracens have done before in the Women's Premiership and win back-to-back league titles.

Head coach Sean Lynn, who was appointed in 2020, said it would be "truly special" to be crowned champions again.

"The amount of effort that this group of players, the staff, the support staff, everybody has put in, we'll make sure we'll enjoy that," he said.

"We're just going to be us. Small things will change in our defence systems just on what Bristol will bring - very different to Exeter.

"We can adapt, we're going to try and see if we can take Bristol out of their comfort zone."

Sean Lynn was named Gloucester-Hartpury head coach in 2020