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'If they can't handle the pressure then maybe this isn't for them'
By Chris Jones
Pat Lam is remarkably upbeat despite having to deal with a season of underachievement and the disruptions caused by COVID and the salary cap reductions which have left Bristol Bears as also rans just 12 months after they topped the Gallagher Premiership table following the end of the regular season.
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They failed to win the trophy after losing a remarkable play-off semi final in extra time to Harlequins 43-36 and go into this season’s final game at Sale in 10th place having won just eight league matches and suffered 15 defeats. Instead of bemoaning his lot after a season of numerous injury problems to key players, Lam is energised and told RugbyPass why he has relished the obstacles put in his way this season.
Lam said: “Who would sign up for salary cap reductions and COVID? I would because I love a challenge and we will crack on and keep pushing no matter what obstacles are in our way.
“The challenges create real growth and you don’t want to be in jobs where it is comfortable. You want the pressure or else you get bored and I think it has been a privilege for me because it adds to my coaching and me as a person with the experiences we have gone through. Everything is mind set and what we have learnt from COVID is perspective about what is important. Things like the team bus is late well don’t panic it will be here and if the conditions are shocking well you can deal with it.
“The more you go through things the more you realise it’s not that bad. I love seeing how people react and that is why I like to see the reaction of people under pressure and even when they get it wrong you can improve them. If they can’t handle the pressure then maybe this isn’t for them just like the military putting guys through sleep deprivation and it is the same on the pitch; are we responding under pressure? This season it has been incredible what we have learnt about our club.
“We dealt with pressure last year – we didn’t win anything. Everyone talks about success and winning a trophy well ( on that basis) we haven’t been successful for a while like 12 other clubs. I don’t see it as season to season it is about a period of five years and there have been ups and downs and ultimately people have come and gone and new guys join the journey. The bus keeps going but people get on and off it.”
Lam is bringing Leicester captain Ellis Genge and USA captain AJ McGinty in to a squad that is being trimmed to accommodate the reduced £5m salary cap and actually expected more players to have lost their jobs than the 70 being predicted.
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Lam added: ”I am not surprised it is 70 (losing jobs) and I thought that potentially it could be more. This is the product of the salary cap reduction and we all expected people to be without jobs because it means what the clubs can offer is reduced . I was interested in hearing listening to Ronan O’Gara who has done an incredible job with La Rochelle and he talked about having six front rowers all being international class because they don’t have the same issue and the French are winning everything.
“Does it change our mind set? The other English clubs will get there and while it will be harder it is not impossible. I found that with Connacht when everyone said you can’t do it and you can but it takes a lot more work because you are against the odds.
“A lot of us directors of rugby have had a lot of challenges this season and I see that as a positive. We have learnt in terms of salary cap, COVID and managing lots of things outside the game and it will make us all. The tough times are what makes you and this season has become history. I love history because it tells us where we come from but it is the vision that continues our journey. We will take a lot out of this year.”
