By Ben Thorne
With Bedford Blues Director of Rugby, Mike Rayer, unavailable for interview, Pat Lam gives us this weeks five talking points, after his side’s 67-19 victory against the Championship outfit.
- Bristol Bears aspire to win the Premiership Rugby Cup
Often teams use the Premiership Rugby Cup as an opportunity to rest senior players and give up and coming players a chance to play, with no real intention of competing in the competition, but the Bristol boss thinks his side can win it.
He said: “Any tournament that you go into, you have to believe that you can go on and win it because otherwise what is the point? I think we have been guilty of it in the past where we used to just use it to give players gametime but the boys knew right from the start of the season that they should be motivated to keep training and learning because they would get their opportunities in the Prem Cup.”
2. The Bears ability to play the same way, regardless of who is out on the pitch
Bristol Bears have impressed the masses this season with the attractive style of rugby which they play and as a result have scored the most points in the Premiership so far this term. Despite having flare players like Gabriel Ibitoye and Fitz Harding at his disposal, Lam insisted that it doesn’t matter who is playing, they will always play in the same way; the Bear way.
He said: “I was very proud of them today, if you put a drone on the game today and another on the game against Northampton last week, you wouldn’t know that players have changed jerseys, which is the goal. We had Paddy Pearce making runs down the sideline today and last week Steven Luatua was doing exactly the same.
“Joe Owen had a brilliant game in the second row, running our lineout, carrying the ball and in defence – just like Joe Batley in the Premiership last week. So by playing within a system, everyone is able to build confidence as they are just one part of it.
“I thought we played some really good rugby and the boys are all talking in the changing rooms saying how enjoyable it was to be a part of it and it was just good to play our game.”
3. Why the Premiership Rugby Cup is important for Championship clubs
Bristol Bears, Bath and Exeter Chiefs are just three teams who recorded huge victories against Championship opposition this weekend, beating Bedford Blues, Ampthill and Cornish Pirates respectively. Despite having Premiership sides build huge scores against their lower level opposition, Lam thinks it is beneficial for the Championship clubs.
He said: “I think the Prem Cup is important for the level two clubs, for both the players and the coaches, because you can’t get better unless you play at the higher level to get a taste of what it is like. It is also good for us because it gives us an opportunity to give the younger players an almost midterm exam to find out where they are as a group. It gives us and the Championship teams a checkpoint.”
4. Harry Thacker moved into the back row midway through the second half
Jake Heenan came off the field in the 55th minute and was replaced by hooker, Will Capon, which may have raised a few eyebrows however Thacker moved seamlessly into the backrow with Capon slotting into the front row and the former performed admirably.
Lam said: “Thacker has that option for us, with Capon and Gabriel Oghre able to play as the hooker. So playing Harry [Thacker] in the back row gives us an opportunity to use him and Oghre at the same time.”
5. Young winger Deago Bailey performed well
Finally, academy winger, Deago Bailey, impressed out wide after a spell on loan with National League One side, Dings Crusaders.
Analysing his performance, Lam said: “He looked brilliant when he was on the ball, carrying is his main strength which is useful. As a winger, it is pretty important that you are good with the ball in your hands, he has got plenty to work on as well but he is very strong.
“I like to think of the wingers as two more full backs, they have to organise what is going on around them without the ball and get into the right shape, so that is definitely something for him to work on.”
