The next two weekends are make ore break for Bristol Bears in terms of whether the 2021/22 season can be considered even remotely successful.
Bristol, who are struggling domestically sitting 10th in the 13 team Gallagher Premiership, are biding for European glory starting with a two-legged doubleheader away and home against league rivals Sale Sharks.
South West rugby writer John Evely takes a closer look at the selection dilemmas facing Bears director of rugby Pat Lam ahead of the trip to the AJ Bell Stadium on Saturday, kick-off 1pm.
READ MORE: Semi Radradra’s contract situation explained amidst Bristol Bears exit rumours
Backs
In truth, there are only two positions in the backline that look in any real doubt in terms of selection, on one of the wings and at inside centre. Inside centre is the really big call with a trio of options available to Lam in the shape of the in-form Antoine Frisch, the more experienced Piers O’Conor and returning Sam Bedlow.
Bedlow is a defensive banger and just the man you need against a big Sale backline that is likely to include Manu Tuilagi if your are looking to stop them play, but with just an hour of rugby under his belt in the Premiership Rugby Cup since returning from injury it feels too early for him in such a big game.
Frenchman Frisch has to be favourite to start having taken ownership of the 12 jersey in the last couple of months. He is big and he is powerful in defence and attack. O’Conor looks likely to be given a role off the bench and is a top option to bring in. He could well cover 12-15 on the bench which is also an added bonus.
With Siva Naulago out with a knee issue, the question is who will start on the flank. Former Wallaby Luke Morahan looked sharp on his return from a calf injury when he came off the bench early last weekend at Franklin’s Gardens and has express pace to worry even the best defences, while on the other flank Alapati Leiua has made himself invaluable to the side with his recent form and is another powerful option. That leaves Henry Purdy, who looked rusty against Gloucester 10 days ago in the cup, as the man to miss out.
Andy Uren should offer scrum-half cover on the bench having returned from a hamstring injury against Saints with Tiff Eden cover for fly-half with Ioan Lloyd out with a broken cheek.
15 - Charles Piutau
14 - Luke Morahan
13 - Semi Radradra
12 - Antoine Frisch
11 - Alapati Leiua
10 - Callum Sheedy
9 - Harry Randall
Forwards
The big question in the forwards is "Who is fit?" with a couple of key men questionable.
Lock Joe Joyce left the field after ‘feeling a strain’ of an unconfirmed muscle last weekend. If he is fit then the man who has captained the club for much of the season starts, but I fear he may miss the first leg of this doubleheader at least. If that is the case Chris Vui will likely partner Dave Attwood in the engine room.
That leaves the back row to be reduced from the fit-again Steven Luatua, loan returnee Nathan Hughes, Adonis-like Sam Jeffries, HIA doubtful Jake Heenan, and Dan Thomas with John Hawkins a wildcard.
I think Lam is going to go with size and while personally, I think Harding would make an excellent option on the flank I think he will keep the number eight jersey with Hughes potentially given a shot to make an impression off the bench. For all the platitudes and words of mutual respect between Lam and Hughes in the press, at the moment we just don’t truly know how that relationship is behind closed doors.
The other injury doubt is at loosehead prop with Jake Woolmore pulling out in the warm-up last weekend with a calf issue. I think big Yann Thomas will start anyway with Woolmore either on the bench or Jono Benz-Salomon selected for the biggest occasion of his playing career so far.
On the other side of the scrum England star Kyle Sinckler is reportedly fit according to Lam and was signed for games like this so likely to start ahead of former All Black John Afoa.
There is a slight question mark over hooker as well. Harry Thacker is an attacking talisman in the loose but had a disaster at the line out last weekend. Will he face the axe as a result with Bryan Byrne and Jake Kerr breathing down his neck? I wouldn’t but I haven’t seen whether the issues have been fixed in training this week.
1 - Yann Thomas
2 - Harry Thacker
3 - Kyle Sinckler
4 - Chris Vui
5 - Dave Attwood
6 - Steven Luatua
7 - Sam Jeffries
8 - Fitz Harding
Possible bench
16 - Bryan Byrne
17 - Jake Woolmore
18 - John Afoa
19 - John Hawkins
20 - Nathan Hughes
21 - Andy Uren
22 - Tfff Eden
23 - Piers O’Conor
