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Pat Lam, Bristol Bears’ Director of Rugby, was straightforward in his evaluation of the team’s initial phase of the season.
Being the sole Premiership team to venture to South Africa and face the formidable Stormers in Cape Town during the Champions Cup’s opening round, Lam chose to focus on the domestic league over European competition.
The journey to the Republic is positioned between Premiership matches against Sale Sharks (achieving a notable 34-24 away victory), Northampton Saints (winning 41-26 at home), an away defeat to Saracens (7-30), and two essential home games versus Exeter and Leicester Tigers.
The primary objective for Bristol is to emphasize the Premiership season.
“This is probably our toughest draw ever for the first six games leading up to November,” he commented regarding the choice to leave numerous key players behind and enduring a 12-49 defeat in the shadow of Table Mountain.
Lam selected the youngest and most unseasoned Bears lineup he has ever assembled for their Champions Cup debut against the Stormers.
Notable athletes like Ellis Genge (injured), Louis Rees-Zammit, Fitz Harding, and AJ MacGinty did not accompany the team to South Africa.
One-cap England international hooker Gabriel Oghre was also absent from the trip due to a calf strain sustained during the loss to Saracens. Consequently, the Bears fielded their third and fourth choice hookers in Cape Town, with Harry Thacker still dealing with a neck injury.
Lam clarified that the decision to advance the Champions Cup’s initial round (from December) into this early October timeframe influenced the choice to ‘rest’ some crucial players for the long-haul travel to South Africa.
The return journey from South Africa also resulted in a brief preparation time for their forthcoming match against Exeter, prompting the decision to approach player management proactively.
“No player can play six consecutive games,” Lam stated, adding: “All teams are managing players for various reasons.
“We managed our squad last week and this week.”
Lam expressed pride in the effort shown by the younger players to remain competitive against the Stormers, even though four tries in the latter half of the match extended the gap from 21-12 to 49-12.
“Many of these players have never been to South Africa, and they are excited,” he remarked.
“They fought hard for an extended period and pressed the Stormers, but we had a considerably inexperienced group on the field during the final 20 minutes.”
The Bears head coach noted it was a “great experience” for the young athletes, most of whom are expected to participate in the Premiership Cup in November.
With a rising injury list – prior to the trip, hookers Gabriel Oghre and Harry Thacker were out, alongside England back Benhard Janse van Rensburg – Lam concluded that putting his frontline players at risk in high-pressure situations was not worthwhile.
“In November, many of these players will participate in the Prem Cup,” the Bears coach mentioned.
“Competing in Cape Town, against Springboks within a top-notch Stormers squad, is monumental for those young players, a number of whom are part of our Academy.
“By November, they will benefit from this experience.”
