Charles Piutau is out of Bristol Bears’ Premiership clash with Harlequins with a hamstring injury, while Pat Lam faces an anxious wait around Ellis Genge’s availability as the England prop awaits the birth of his second child.
Piutau has been ruled out for “a few weeks” after sustaining the injury in the European Challenge Cup clash against Perpignan earlier this month and although it’s an obvious frustration not to have the superstar full-back alongside the fit-again Semi Radradra, as Bears resume their domestic fixtures, it doesn’t seem to be a serious issue.
Piutau’s return in late November, after nearly a month out with a nose injury, coincided with the Bears upturn in form, as he started in both the narrow defeat at Sale and 26-26 draw with Leicester Tigers. But with only two Premiership fixtures in January - London Irish on the 8th and Saracens on the 28th - either side of a pair of European ties, hopefully his absence won’t be as keenly felt.
“Charles did his hamstring in that Perpignan game, so it could be a few weeks at this stage which is unfortunate because he was going well,” director of rugby Lam said. “He just got caught in the field at Perpignan trying to do a kick and got twisted in an awkward position as he was kicking the ball, so that’s unfortunate but he’ll be back. Otherwise, everyone else is looking good.”
Genge’s position in the starting XV at the Stoop next Tuesday is a little more uncertain with partner Meg due to give birth anytime this week. The 27-year-old has trained as normal at the High Performance Centre and Bears are preparing as normal for him being in the side, but with the “batphone” by his side, he could be forced to more serious matters elsewhere.
“We’re hoping so,” Lam added, in response to whether or not the prop will play. “I know Meg is due any moment. Ellis trained today (Wednesday) and he’s on the batphone, so it’s an exciting time for the Genge family.”
Bears have the rare luxury of experiencing a full Christmas weekend with their game not until December 27, so the players will train Thursday and Friday as normal before enjoying Saturday and Sunday off and reconvening at the High Performance Centre on Monday afternoon to travel to London.
The game was switched last week from Twickenham to Quins’ usual home due to the planned rail strikes, a result of a long-running dispute with the government over pay and working conditions, which rendered the fixture logistically impossible to stage.
More than 70,000 matchday tickets had been sold with the hosts effectively switching the game to March and a double-header for the men’s and women’s teams against Exeter Chiefs, with the Bears missing out.
“When we were told that was going to be it (The Big Game 14) at the start of the season we were excited by it,” Lam said. “I think, for internationals it’s class, but when you have players who probably won’t play internationally it’s an opportunity to go on the big stage, which is always an exciting one for those guys.
"So there’s disappointment but, like Covid, none of us can control the strikes so we totally understand.”
