Bristol Bears boss Pat Lam calls for squad focus in title run-in – but won’t ban players from heading back to boozers
PAT LAM won’t ban Bristol Bears from ending their pub hibernation as boozers and restaurants throw open their doors on Monday.
Free-spirit Lam is refusing to nanny his Premiership leaders as the country finally reopens and fans return to rugby on Monday night.
Instead, he has used the carrot of four, possibly six, huge games before Bristol can really get down to the Bear necessities and finally celebrate last year’s first Challenge Cup win.
Ahead of tomorrow’s West Country clash with Gloucester Lam said: “That responsibility doesn’t change.
“No-one wants to be the person that potentially brings Covid in and potentially prevents us from winning the title.
“Everyone takes the precautions. You have still got to be vigilant and careful.
“Our process of making sure we are washing our hands, getting our testing done and so forth, stays exactly the same.
“No-one wants to miss these big games.
“Everyone is fighting hard to be available, and there is nothing worse if you end up with Covid and miss out that way.
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“I never have any curfews. I’ve always talked about there being choices.
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“One of the greatest gifts we have all been given in life is the ability to choose, and there are consequences for all decisions.”
After climbing to the summit, Lam wants to stay top dog all the way to the end of the regular season.
With more than 3,000 cider-swilling punters back at Ashton Gate, he also urged his side not to get stage-fright on this landmark day.
He added: “It’s massive and something we are all excited by.
“We are ready for a lot more than the 3,000, but this is the beginning stage to eventually a situation where we will have a few more and a few more.
“My understanding is that they will be spread around the ground, with social distancing, so there will be noise coming from everywhere.
“It’s fantastic. It’s another incentive to have that home semi-final.
“We really want that for our fans as well, and if we can get that, then hopefully the crowd number will be higher.
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LIONS TOUR SCHEDULE 2021
- Saturday 3 July: Emirates Lions v The British & Irish Lions (Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg) KO 18h00 (SAT) / 17h00 (BST)
- Wednesday 7 July: Cell C Sharks v The British & Irish Lions (Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg) KO 20h00 (SAT) / 19h00 (BST)
- Saturday 10 July: Vodacom Bulls v The British & Irish Lions (Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria) KO 18h00 (SAT) / 17h00 (BST)
- Wednesday 14 July: South Africa ‘A’ v The British & Irish Lions (Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town) KO 20h00 (SAT) / 19h00 (BST)
- Saturday 17 July: DHL Stormers v The British & Irish Lions (Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town) KO 18h00 (SAT) / 17h00 (BST)
- Saturday 24 July: Springboks v The British & Irish Lions (1 st Test, Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town) KO 18h00 (SAT) / 17h00 (BST)
- Saturday 31 July: Springboks v The British & Irish Lions (2 nd Test, FNB Stadium, Johannesburg) KO 18h00 (SAT) / 17h00 (BST)
- Saturday 7 Aug: Springboks v The British & Irish Lions (3 rd Test, FNB Stadium, Johannesburg) KO 18h00 (SAT) / 17h00 (BST)
“Our minimum goal this season was top-four. Once we took the top spot and got ahead of the race in round six, I remember saying to the players and staff there is absolutely no reason that anyone should overtake us, unless we decide to drop our standards.
“It has been a tremendous effort to still be ahead of the race heading into round 19, so it would be a shame if we dropped those standards.
“I want to finish first.”