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'Coach's dream' Benhard Janse van Rensburg returns for Bristol
By Jon Newcombe
Benhard Janse van Rensburg and Pacific Island duo, Fijian Kalaveti Ravouvou and Samoan international Steven Luatua, have recovered from injury to hand Bristol Bears boss Pat Lam a triple boost ahead of Friday night’s visit by Northampton Saints.
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Centre Ravouvou is yet to play a competitive game this season after suffering a shoulder injury against the Dragons in pre-season, but is back to form a top-quality midfield partnership with Janse van Rensburg, who had been on top form until a tight calf saw him miss last weekend’s 37-35 defeat to Saracens.
“I’ve used so many superlatives for that guy, he is a coach’s dream,” Lam said of the South African, who is English qualified in 2026.
“I have said this many times before. If you want him to present the ball this way, he’ll do it; if you want him to pass this way, he’ll do it.”
To accommodate the change in the centres, Jack Bates moves out to the wing.
Former captain Steven Luatua also missed the agonising defeat to the league leaders because of a calf issue but returns to take his place in the number six jersey.
Joining Luatua in the back row is 21-year-old Benjamin Grondona, who will make his first Premiership start, replacing his brother Santiago who misses out through injury.
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Luatua’s selection has resulted in James Dun shifting to the second row in the absence of Josh Caulfield, who will undergo surgery on a torn pectoral muscle sustained against Saracens.
Jake Woolmore and Kieran Marmion start at loose-head and scrum half respectively with Ellis Genge and Harry Randall on international duty, with Yann Thomas set for his first appearance of the season off the bench.
Bristol Bears: 15. Rich Lane; 14. Jack Bates, 13. Kalaveti Ravouvou, 12. Benhard Janse van Rensburg, 11. Gabriel Ibitoye, 10. AJ MacGinty, 9. Kieran Marmion; 1. Jake Woolmore, 2. Gabriel Oghre, 3. Max Lahiff, 4. James Dun, 5. Joe Batley, 6. Steven Luatua, 7. Benjamin Grondona, 8. Fitz Harding (c). Replacements: 16. Harry Thacker, 17. Yann Thomas, 18. George Kloska, 19. Joe Owen, 20. Jake Heenan, 21. Sam Wolstenholme, 22. Sam Worsley, 23. Benjamin Elizalde.
