Lam confident Afoa will play again for Bristol this season

JOHN Afoa will play again this season, says Pat Lam, despite the prop limping off in clear discomfort against Gloucester.

The former All Black looks unlikely to feature on Friday night when leaders Bristol Bears head to thirdplaced Sale Sharks in round 20 of the 2020-21 Gallagher Premiership.

The good news for Lam is as one world-class tighthead is ruled out, another looks set to return in the shape of powerful 54-cap Argentina international Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, who seems to have recovered from the calf injury he suffered against Gloucester back in February.

The prop was warming up with the Bears ahead of the 39-7 win over Gloucester Rugby on May 17 at Ashton Gate.

Of course, Bristol also have England star Kyle Sinckler to call upon, with the former British and Irish Lion showing some of his best form in recent weeks since switching to the Bears from Harlequins last summer.

Discussing Afoa, who recently choose to take up the option of playing one more season for the Bears, alongside being the scrum coach, Lam said: “He is just going through (his rehab). The good thing is he will play again this year. It is not as bad as we first thought.

“He got caught in a pretty tricky position in a maul against Gloucester. He is working away with the medics but I expect to see John again soon.”

Elsewhere in the front row, Irish hooker Bryan Byrne was added to the club’s unavailable list ahead of round 19, with Lam opting to hand new signing Jake Kerr his first start for the club, while Will Capon returned from a shoulder niggle to make the bench.

Discussing Byrne, Lam said: “He twinged his knee and it is a week-toweek thing and we will just see how he comes through.”

The blow of Bryne’s absence has been cushioned by the signing of one cap Scotland international Kerr, who was signed after being on trial at the club, having been let go by Leicester Tigers in mid-season.

Discussing Kerr, Lam said: “He has fitted in really well and he has picked up the detail really well, and there is a lot of detail in our game.

“The number one job for a hooker is throwing and he has picked up the complexity of our line-out very quickly, he is a quick learner.

“If you saw his first throw against Bath (making his debut off the bench), Stevie Luatua called a tough throw to the back in those conditions and he nailed it. Those sort of things builds trust.”