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'It's a little bit of science, a little bit of art': Why Bristol have never picked the same 23 week to week in the four-year Pat Lam era
Powerhouse building Pat Lam has explained the reasons why he has never picked the same Bristol matchday 23 from one week to the next during his four seasons with the Bears. The coach constantly likes to change things up and this week is no different with the Gallagher Premiership league leaders due at Newcastle on Saturday.
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Bristol were beaten in the Heineken Champions Cup round of 16 in their last outing on April 4 and they now return to competitive action in the English top-flight showing nine changes to their starting XV along with four fresh additions to their Kingston Park bench after Lam unveiled his latest pick.
Making alterations to better his Bristol team sounded like something Lam prides himself on when he addressed the issue during his weekly media conference ahead of the resumption to a Premiership campaign where they lead the league by a dozen points with seven rounds of matches remaining.
“Certainly in the Premiership and the season that we have, it would be a lot different if we only had three of four games and that is it, but you are balancing so many things,” explained Lam. “Injury is one of them, niggles, but you also want to make sure that as you get to know certain guys as well you want to make sure that the competition (for places) is right.
“You want to get to the point where I don’t like anything in the whole club on and off the field to be reliant on any individual and it is that whole balance as you are going through. There have been times when I have wanted to (pick the same 23) but there has been a niggle or there has been an injury.
"Even at training now we make sure we call guys who are a centimetre offside or bad pictures"
– Pat Lam has finally calmed down and taken remedial action in-house after he was left feeling livid in Bordeaux https://t.co/uFV0jBh97T
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) April 14, 2021
“There is no doubt that (injury) is part of it but generally you are building everybody towards that stage where we have come a long way in four years. Earlier on, I had to pick certain guys because that is what I have got whereas now every time I go into selection I like to go, ‘Okay, we will look at which one this week’ because you want to make sure that the performance levels are high.
“I believe no one can play well in ten games week after week, you can’t do it. It’s just science and the mental science as well, so you have got to make sure that balance is right – it’s a little bit of science, a little bit of art.”
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For the trip to Newcastle, Lam has brought Max Malins, Piers O’Conor, Siale Piutau, Niyi Adeolokun, Will Capon, Kyle Sinckler, Fitz Harding, Ben Earl and Jake Heenan into his starting XV in place of Charles Piutau, Semi Radradra, Alapati Leiua, Henry Purdy, Bryan Byrne, John Afoa, Dave Attwood, Dan Thomas and Nathan Hughes. The quartet promoted to the bench who were not involved in Bordeaux are George Kloska, Jake Woolmore, Tom Kessell and Ioan Lloyd.
BRISTOL (vs Newcastle, Saturday): 15. Max Malins; 14. Luke Morahan, 13. Piers O’Conor, 12. Siale Piutau (co-capt), 11. Niyi Adeolokun; 10. Callum Sheedy, 9. Andy Uren; 1. Yann Thomas, 2. Will Capon, 3. John Afoa, 4. Chris Vui, 5. Joe Joyce, 6. Fitz Harding, 7. Ben Earl, 8. Jake Heenan (co-capt). Reps: 16. George Kloska, 17. Jake Woolmore, 18. Max Lahiff, 19. Ed Holmes, 20. Dan Thomas, 21. Tom Kessell, 22. Ioan Lloyd, 23. Alapati Leiua.
'Can you imagine a Premiership club going ‘Right lads, we’re going skiing’. Absolutely no way… it was me, Bryan Habana & Duane Vermeulen learning to ski together' @Dmjattwood fell out of love with rugby at Bath but found it again, writes @heagneyl ??? https://t.co/QWWZQPD1Ek
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) February 21, 2021
Comments on RugbyPass
Will be great to see the Leinster first XV back in action again after their cotton wool time…
1 Go to commentsLooked up Grant Constable on google and reply was doppelgänger for Ben Smith
41 Go to commentsIt is so good that we now all get excited and debate who is best and emotionally get involved. We all back our teams which is great. Up until about 15-20 years ago, NZ was basically on its own, and then Saffa, Aussie and sometimes French and English were there. We now have at least 5-6 really top sides and another 4 who keep improving. This is so healthy. So we should not resort to rubbish comments and unhealthy debate, but rather all be chuffed that the product we watch is not competitive, exciting and often uncertain. It would be so good if World Rugger could find a way to align the rules to professional players as well as spectators. Live rugby games are SO boring as there is SO much down time as we wait for refs and TMOs and whoever else to look at every small event going back endless phases with the hope of eventually find a minute infringement to then decide cancel what was a wonderful try. This is the ultimate cork back in the bottle moment and feels like every balloon is always being popped. Come on- we must be better with the rules.
41 Go to comments“upon leaving said establishment I tripped over a stool knocking some bottles into the air and as I fell I accidently dislodged a police officer’s teaser who was passing by on an unrelated matter there by landing on said taser which caused it to discharge 50,000 watts into me. Out of shock I shouted Ireland are going to win the world cup. Upon waking up I apologised for the distress caused by my Ireland comment. The matter is closed. If you wish to pursue this matter may I remind you what I told Wayne Barnes when he sent me off. I AM A BIG ASS MAN”. Or was it “I AM A BIG ASS, MAN” or was it “I AM A BIG ASSMAN”?
1 Go to commentsThe only championship the Boks hold are: Great value for the incompetence of referees during the RWC Moaning endlessly and champions of spewing utterly ignorant 💩 at all times. Displaying the dangers of a third world education End of.
41 Go to commentsSouth Africa and Rassie do a phenomenal job of treating the 4 years in between World Cups as nothing more than a training exercise to build squad depth. The Six Nations money that keeps Irish rugby afloat is unfortunately too important to allow the same approach, and basic population size means we'll never get close to matching the depth of South Africa, England and France. That being said, Irish rugby is in a relatively good place and slowly improving inch by inch. If the other three provinces can pull the finger out and actually develop some players it'd be even better.
41 Go to commentsGood on Clarke for taking on the criticism and addressing his deficiencies, principally his laziness.
2 Go to comments“It is the people’s favourite against the actual favourite. It is the people’s champions against the actual champions. I’m joking, but it’s going to be a fantastic series.” Why did Darcy make that joke knowing it would be used as click bait? Why did RP headline it as a serious comment? Anyway, the tired comment isn’t very astute. SA players may have played more games etc. Darcy over estimated as a pundit.
41 Go to commentsNot sure Frisch will ever make the French team with Depoortère and Costes waiting in the wings to take over from Danty and Fickou.
1 Go to commentsThe Irish are tired and the Boks are old. The test series won't confirm who is best in the world, it will confirm which team needs to pursue the task of rebuilding with the most urgency.
41 Go to commentsGrant, the first time I have seen an article written by you. Maybe I have missed your previous stuff. These days all professional players effectively play a common season so all top players are equally tired, or rested. That is the job of the coaching ticket to build squad depth and juggle resources so players are ‘ fresh’ when the big games come. Possibly Ireland are less inclined to juggle squad compared to Rassie, who is prepared to take the risk to rest players as well as build depth throughout the year so come WC he has a full squad, experienced and rested enough to win 7 games. After all, to win WC you need to get through the tournament and then win the final big 3 games. Ireland should try and build a bit so come final 3 they are ready. So far only played final 1(QF). I am so looking forward to the Irish tour. Hopefully Rassie has enough time to align his guys, as he draws them from across the globe, and not from 2 sides locally( eg Leinster, Munster). No excuses, going to be exciting.
41 Go to commentsIn football, teams get fined and sometimes docked points for deliberately fielding weakened teams yet Leinster can pretty much do as they please with no comebacks. Could it be because Ireland run the URC? Could it be that Ireland run the ERC? Whichever it is, it stinks!!
6 Go to commentsIreland are only the People’s Champions in Irish eyes. The rest of the world do not care for them very much because of attitudes of people like Gordon, Ferris, Best, Jackman…I could go on!!
41 Go to commentsNot sure how Karl Dickson can ever ref a Quins game, he played for the club for 8 years as understudy to Care and is still close friends with half the team
3 Go to commentsAre bookies taking bets on how many times Vunipola's eventual statement will use the term “elders"? My money is on at least 4 times.
4 Go to commentsSo Ireland will be tired, despite having the most rested test squad in the world. They only play tests, champions cup and urc play off games ffs! Case in point; Leinster sent a B squad to SA for their last two games while their first xv rested up and trained at their leisure for the sf vs Saints at the so called ‘neutral venue’ of Croke Park. So tired? Do me a favour… And as for “people’s champions”? Seriously??? Outside of Ireland they are respected for their ability to win 6N. And of course plenty of inconsequential test friendlies without any real pressure. WC ko games when the pressure is white hot? Not so much…
41 Go to commentsSurprising how standing down or benching a player can do wonders for their motivation. Several players this week in that category.
2 Go to commentsHaha lads lads lads, that’s how you have a holiday In Majorca
4 Go to commentshit on Lynagh was defo late and card-worthy. The other 2 are bang on OK. Hurts you at Test level if youre timing is off and the nostrils are flared. Jerry C knew when to lean in on one, Finau just needs to keep his discipline and head straight.
7 Go to commentsSlade was exceptional against Gloucester. Not only was he doing the classic Slade stuff of running amazing lines and timing passes to perfection to put his wingers into space, he was kicking goals, flying off the line smashing people and crashing into rucks like a flanker… his hair even looked on point. 😍
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