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'Get the facts right' - Nadolo puts Pat Lam on blast over Radradra treatment claims
By Ian Cameron
Fiji winger Nemani Nadolo has put Bristol Bears head of rugby Pat Lam on blast as the Gallagher Premiership side look to make a formal complaint over the treatment of Semi Radradra.
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Bristol claim Radradra was ‘mistreated’ by Fiji during the Autumn Nations Cup. The centre suffered a leg injury during the victory over Georgia at Murrayfield and last week Lam said the injury could have been avoided if they had taken Radradra off the field earlier.
Radradra suffered a ‘serious bleed’ and is set to miss the first few matches of Bristol’s Heineken Champions Cup campaign which got off to a rocky start after they were stuffed by French giants Clermont Auvergne 51 – 38 at Ashton Gate. It was game Lam would clearly have liked his star player to have been present for.
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“In the first minute of that game, Semi carried the ball, there was a big collision and I knew something was wrong because he was limping,” Lam said of the Fiji Georgia Autumn Nations Cup match. “He pretty much limped through most of that first half, then they heavily strapped his leg.
“Fiji had control of that game, but he couldn’t chase, he wasn’t going at 100 per cent. I thought he would come off, but they kept him out there for 80 minutes.
“What turns out as a dead leg that probably should have been iced and he would have been good to go this week, that 80 minutes of running around turned into a serious bleed when he got here, and the leg blew up.
“The (Bristol) medical staff had to get on top of it. We scanned it, and unfortunately it could be two, maybe three weeks, that he is out.
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“What’s disappointing about it is that Fiji had that game won early.
“And there is no doubt in my mind, because Semi told the medical team at half-time that he was struggling, that if Fiji were playing another game this week he would have been taken off ready for that game.”
“We are disappointed. He is a big player for us. We will put in a formal complaint to World Rugby,” Lam added.
Now Radradra’s Fijian teammate Nadolo has put Lam on blast, suggesting Lam hasn’t got the facts of the matter straight.
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“I respect Pat Lam but if your gonna come out and say Fiji Rugby management mistreated Semi then make sure you get the facts right.
“Don’t portray Fiji rugby as the criminals because you’re annoyed your golden carrot couldn’t play today. I was actually sitting next to him when it went down.”
I respect Pat Lam But if your gonna come out n say @fijirugby management mistreated Semi than make sure u get the facts right.don’t portray Fiji rugby as da criminals because your annoyed your golden carrot couldn’t play today. I was actually sitting next 2 him when it went down
— nemzy (@nemani_nadolo) December 13, 2020
The Leicester Tiger scored a vital try to secure a bonus-point win against Brive on Friday, and was in flying form for Fiji the week before.
