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Pat Lam's clearly a Cipriani fan judging by what he has said ahead of Bristol's trip to Gloucester
By PA
Pat Lam is ready for the challenge of navigating Bristol through a congested Gallagher Premiership fixture schedule, which includes trying to outfox Danny Cipriani and Gloucester next Friday. The title contenders face an immediate block of three games in nine days, beginning with the trip to their west country rivals as the restarted league season gathers pace.
And there will be no let-up, with Bristol having played an average of one match every four days by the time they face European Challenge Cup quarter-final opponents the Dragons on September 18.
"It's like anything in life," Bristol rugby director Lam said. "The challenge was put in place. The number one thing is that we want to play games, so that is good, and then it is about making a plan about how we are going to do that.
"All those who played on Saturday (against Saracens) went and did recovery on Monday. All those that didn't play went out and did a pretty physical session and that is what it is going to be right through this time.
"As far as selection goes, the plan is to try and pick the strongest possible team every time. Obviously, take out injuries, take out niggles. When it (the schedule) came out, we knew it would be congested, but we want to play the games.
"Everyone is in the same boat, so it is around your planning. After each game, you are reassessing where everyone is at. You are checking injuries and niggles versus guys who are fresh and ready to go. Our depth is a lot better than it was, so there are options available. You assess after every game, and you manage the week."
Gloucester, fresh from crushing Worcester 44-15 in their first game of the Premiership restart with Cipriani staetimg at No10, are now under the direction of new head coach George Skivington. And Lam is ready for a stern examination, while also underlining their mercurial fly-half Danny Cipriani's threat.
Lam added: "Gloucester, even though they have had a change of coaching staff, the thing that is consistent is they are a momentum team that want to go forward and give Danny a chance to play and do his magic.
"He is a special player. If we don't get it right, and he gets front-foot ball, then he can cause a lot of problems. That's the class he has. It's going to be up to us to make sure we can deal with that and try to impose our game."
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Latest Comments
Which people exactly?
Go to commentsWas anything but fine margins, the scoreline was flattering for that game. They were beat in every margin but most emphatically be effort of Argentina. They were slow and likely arrogant in their prep following the England series. You can see the effect on the selection and poor messaging all the playmakers started receiving from the coaching setup there after.
Otherwise though there was also a lot of really good stuff that can too easily be labelled as lucky by people intent on making a point. The team was far from certain and clinical though and the best that can be said of their losses was that they were largely due to some atrocious decisions with cards twice against SA and the neckroll last weekend (you can't take away the 14 point try, that is typical French rugby and to be expected).
This team is good enough to be able to cope with those sorts of difficulties if they could just execute a bit better (but only as well as they have traditionally mind you). Sound selections aside. Some good positivity in this article but we know it's not going to be easy as the ABs have just been trying to return to their DNA after Fosters control but countries like Aussie have a much bigger task in that respect and SA is even trying to change their DNA (again). Those two opponents (along with France obviously) are going to provide some tough competition in seeing who can lead into the 2027 RWC with the best prospects and form behind them.
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