Pat Lam rolled back the years with his selection for Friday night’s 29-28 win over Gloucester Rugby and the results were striking.
Of the 15 starters at Ashton Gate, 13 of them were at the club in Lam’s second season as director of rugby at Bristol and the club’s first campaign back in the Gallagher Premiership having won the RFU Championship in 2017/18.
Three years later, after a season full of set-backs and disappointments, Lam reverted to his tried and tested and got the result that has been alluding them. Just emerging star Fitz Harding at number eight, and Munster-bound Antoine Frisch who joined the club in the summer of 2021, were new additions.
Of all of Lam’s selections, the naming of Toby Fricker on the wing raised the most eyebrows, but the forgotten Welshman rewarded the faith shown in him with a brace of tries including a stunning finish in the 78th minute to decide the contest.
Discussing his selection, Lam said: “Toby had a really good run of games earlier this year all by just using his strengths and just doing the simple things well.
READ MORE: Bristol Bears player ratings from Gloucester Rugby victory
“We said to him don’t worry about the flash things, don’t worry about those superstar names.
“His strengths are he is a big man (at 6ft 1in), he carries the ball hard and he catches those high balls.
“When it came to selection there was a group in contention. Charles Piutau was selected initially on Monday but he picked up a groin injury.
“We looked at the game and said we need fight, and if there is one guy that is known for that we know we will get 100 percent from Toby Fricker.
“If all the wingers are at 100 percent then maybe Toby isn’t up there with the top of them but his qualities, which is what I built this team around - being world-class at the things that don’t require talent, are class and he showed that.”
Reflecting on just Bristol’s seventh win of the Premiership season following a disappointing defeat to Sale Sharks last weekend to exit the Heineken Champions Cup in the last 16 knockout round, Lam said: “Only seven days ago it was a very disappointing and frustrating time in that changing room. It was a tough weekend and I knew everyone was working through it.
“There is a lot of pride in that performance. It was a tough week
“On Monday morning, I had all the staff and players in and asked them to write down what we are playing for in terms of the rest of the season.
“So they fed back, and we had some great things – playing for each other, players that are leaving, the jersey, all great words. Then I put a massive circle and said ‘action’."
And action he got as Bristol raced out the blocks to a 17-0 lead with tries from Harry Thacker and Andy Uren as well as a pair of conversions and penalty from Callum Sheedy.
But Gloucester didn't panic and came back to cross the line three times before the interval through Charlie Chapman, Louis Rees-Zammit and Chris Harris, all converted by Adam Hastings
.In the second half, Bristol winger Toby Fricker scored a brace of tries either side of a five-pointer from Cherry and Whites hooker Jack Singleton, to seal the result and secure an attacking bonus-point win.
