'That guy is made of cement': Lam handed huge injury boost before Bears' crucial run

Pat Lam has hailed “made of steel” centre Benhard Janse van Rensburg, who has handed Bristol Bears a fitness boost ahead of their West Country derby against Gloucester on Friday, after being told he didn’t break a cheekbone in Toulouse.

The 29-year-old, who qualifies for England this year, needed an X-ray after he was injured in a tackle from Toulouse star Romain Ntamack in their Investec Champions Cup round of 16 defeat 10 days ago.

But Janse van Rensburg has been cleared of any damage and is fit, as the Bears, who are fifth in the Gallagher PREM table, seven points behind Exeter, look to keep their play-off hopes alive.

“That guy is made of cement. You know, he’s like granite. He was apologising to me for having to come off because the only reason he came off because he couldn’t see through one eye.

“He wanted to stay out there, and pretty much everyone thought that was most likely going to be a fracture the way it all went. They did a scan, and it was a surprise, but probably not a surprise that it wasn’t fractured.

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“So that’s brilliant news for us. He’s obviously avoided a lot of contact in the early parts, but now he’s up and running, and as I said, it’s a surprise for everyone, but it’s not for me.

“The guy is just super tough. Built different. And he doesn’t look that big, but he plays, and he runs like he’s made of steel. And I think that collision and having no fracture probably confirms he’s made of steel,” said Lam.

Lam has also said that American fly-half AJ MacGinty, who ruptured an Achilles tendon against Leicester Tigers in the opening PREM game of the campaign, is on target to make his return to action before the end of the season.

“He’s on track and is working in the background, and again, everyone has done a great job with him. He is fully involved in the planning and helping the backs, Tom Jordan, Jimmy Williams, and Sam Worsley.

“I think he’s going to be an outstanding coach too. He’s in a leadership group and fully involved driving the team and the culture. So, I do expect him to be back before the end of the season.

“I think he wants to go to the next World Cup, his third World Cup. Everyone needs a goal and a motivation. He wants to get back, and he said straight away when it happened. He’s going to try to defy the predictions on when he gets back. He’s a real fighter, that boy.”