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'The schedule is the challenge - that's why you need world-class staff'

By PA
(Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Pat Lam says Bristol will embrace the challenge of the hectic post-lockdown schedule as they recommence their bid for Gallagher Premiership glory. The Bears were in stunning form before lockdown, with five straight wins leaving them sitting third in the table.

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The task now is to rediscover that momentum, starting against soon-to-be deposed champions Saracens at Ashton Gate on Saturday. “We’re pretty excited, that’s an understatement,” said director of rugby Lam.

“Training is a means to an end so it’s all credit to the players for training when they didn’t know when they would be back and keeping themselves in good nick. The schedule? That’s the challenge and that’s why you need world-class staff. That’s the science of the whole thing.

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“We’ve been waiting for rugby to come back and we’re excited by the whole thing. Yes, you can look at it and say it’s more than normal in a short amount of time. But there’s no way everyone is going to play every single one of those games, obviously.

“It’s a tough sport. Recovery, preparation, recovery is going to be important and the most important thing is to make sure the group that goes out is at its best. The staff will help them as much as we can and we’ll have to rely on the whole squad.”

New signing Semi Radradra is in line to make his Premiership debut and Bristol back Luke Morahan is anticipating something special from the Fiji international. “Expect to see things you’ve never seen before because that’s what he’ll bring,” said Morahan.

“Even for us we’re standing next to him and just waiting to see what’s going to happen. He’s a big physical presence in the game, with a lot of ball carries and some really good defensive reads. He reads the game well, he knows the game and you’ll see that. He’ll come out and show that he’s world-class.”

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Mitch Eadie will be absent with a hamstring injury and Chris Cook has a back problem.

 

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J
JW 2 hours ago
'Passionate reunion of France and New Zealand shows Fabien Galthie is wrong to rest his stars'

Where? I remember saying "unders"? The LNR was formed by the FFR, if I said that in a way that meant the 'pro' side of the game didn't have an equal representation/say as the 'amateur' side (FFR remit) that was not my intent.


But also, as it is the governing body, it also has more responsibility. As long as WR looks at FFR as the running body for rugby in France, that 'power' will remain. If the LNR refuses to govern their clubs use of players to enable a request by FFR (from WR) to ensure it's players are able to compete in International rugby takes place they will simply remove their participation. If the players complain to the France's body, either of their health and safety concerns (through playing too many 'minutes' etc) or that they are not allowed to be part in matches of national interest, my understanding is action can be taken against the LNR like it could be any other body/business. I see where you're coming from now re EPCR and the shake up they gave it, yes, that wasn't meant to be a separate statement to say that FFR can threaten them with EPCR expulsion by itself, simply that it would be a strong repercussion for those teams to be removed (no one would want them after the above).


You keep bringing up these other things I cannot understand why. Again, do you think if the LNR were not acting responsibly they would be able to get away with whatever they want (the attitude of these posters saying "they pay the players")? You may deem what theyre doing currently as being irresponsible but most do not. Countries like New Zealand have not even complained about it because they've never had it different, never got things like windfall TV contracts from France, so they can't complain because theyre not missing out on anything. Sure, if the French kept doing things like withholding million dollar game payments, or causing millions of dollars of devaluation in rights, they these things I'm outlining would be taking place. That's not the case currently however, no one here really cares what the French do. It's upto them to sort themselves out if they're not happy. Now, that said, if they did make it obvious to World Rugby that they were never going to send the French side away (like they possibly did stating their intent to exclude 20 targeted players) in July, well then they would simply be given XV fixtures against tier 2 sides during that window and the FFR would need to do things like the 50/50 revenue split to get big teams visiting in Nov.

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