Home fans can be key, says Luatua

STEVEN Luatua says another bumper Ashton Gate crowd will provide a huge boost for Bristol Bears as they look to get back to winning ways in the Gallagher Premiership against Newcastle Falcons tomorrow afternoon.

The Bears host Dean Richards’ side in their final match of 2018, with a crowd of more than 17,000 expected to be there.

And Luatua says the supporters can play a huge part, as they have done throughout the season.

“Our home supporters has been great this year,” he said. “Each time we’ve been at Ashton Gate they’ve definitely helped us grow an arm and a leg.

“The energy they create gives us the extra bit of wind and extra motivation – especially when you’re getting up from a ruck, or in some dark places, hearing them cheering us on, it makes you want to work a bit harder.”

The former All Black, pictured, who this week agreed a two-year extension to his contract at the club, insists Bristol are out to ‘right the wrongs’ from last weekend’s defeat to Sale Sharks, with a strong focus on teamwork.

“Every game we play now is very important. For us as a team, we’re just focusing on righting our wrongs from last weekend and doing our bit for the team.

“(Against Sale), we went away from that and Sale played a better game than us. It doesn’t matter who is coming to Ashton Gate, we prepare the same way and try to be consistent in what we do.

“Consistency is something that, as a group, we are learning. It’s a fine art, to be as consistent as the top teams, and I feel like we’ve got some consistent performers in our team, but it’s a matter of doing it as a team.

“All of the games coming up and all of the games we’ve won, it’s been as a team and so we need to do that again this weekend and we’re excited to get going.”

Head coach Pat Lam makes three changes from the side that suffered defeat to Sale.

Tom Pincus makes his first Gallagher Premiership start in place of Alapati Leiua (ankle) in the only change to the backline, while Dan Thomas and Jordan Crane come into the back row for the Bears.