Pat Lam is excited about the competition in the back five of Bristol Bears’ scrum this weekend with Newcastle Falcons coming to Ashton Gate on Friday night as the Gallagher Premiership resumes.
The Bristol director of rugby confirmed Sam Jeffries, who can play both on the flank and at lock, and second row Joe Joyce are back in selection contention having recovered from injury.
Jeffries suffered a hamstring injury in just the second game of the season which required surgery, while Joyce has been struggling with a tight Achillies.
Lam said: “A lot of players from the [43-19] Premiership Cup win over Sale are challenging for positions so we have a situation coming into this week where it is a case of who do we leave out? That is what we want. The competition for places is really strong as guys come back from injury, nothing is guarunteed, you have got to fight for your place.
“Joycey is back for selection, Sam Jeffries as well, but all that has done is crowded the backfive.
“You have got Joe Joyce. Chris Vui, Joe Batley, Ed Holmes played really well against Sale, as did young Charlie Rice which is really good to see from a young local boy coming through.
“In the backrow you have got Steven Luatua, Magnus Bradbury, Fitz Harding, Jake Heenan, Sam Jeffries, Dan Thomas, Sam Lewis - all of them are in good form and you can only pick five from that group.”
Bristol are without starting props Ellis Genge and Kyle Sinckler this weekend with the two forwards in camp with England ahead of facing Wales in the Six Nations on February 25.
The pair were involved in some friendly fire on Sunday during England’s 31-14 win over Italy at Twickenham, with Genge’s boot causing a significant cut on his clubmate’s nose.
However, Lam said it appears likely Sinckler will be in a condition to face Wales at the Principality Stadium.
Earlier today England forwards coach Richard Cockerill provided a similar positive update, he said: “Kyle’s got a bit of a cut on the end of his nose. He’s a 29-year-old tighthead and those are the first stitches he’s had on his face, so he was probably due some!”
“And it was from Ellis Genge’s boot, so it was friendly fire as well! Kyle’s fine, he’s just avoiding opening them up again in training, but he’s doing everything else.”
Back in BS3, unfortunately, it is less good news in the Bristol backline this weekend with star full-back Charles Piutau’s return date pushed back a week to next weekend’s trip to Bath Rugby for the derby.
Piutau has been recovering from a hamstring injury suffered in December playing against Perpignan in the European Challenge Cup.
Lam said: “Charles is on track. It is great news, he has just had his third child here in Bristol, he is not far off.
“He is back training now but it is probably a week too soon so we are probably looking at the Bath week.”
Lam also provided an update on injured centre PIers O’Conor who has not featured since the win away at Harlequins on December 27.
Lam explained, “He has had an injury with a nerve in his back. We thought he would be back after the New Year but when you have got nerves and discs it is a moving target all the time.
“The medical team are working away with him and specialists are working with him to try and get him back ASAP.”
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