Western Daily Press (Saturday)
Genge winning England fitness race, reveals Lam
ELLIS Genge is “ready to go” for England in their Guinness Six Nations campaign, according to Bristol Bears boss Pat Lam.
The news is a major front row fitness boost for England head coach Steve Borthwick after injuries and suspension hit hard in the loosehead prop position.
Genge, an England captaincy contender following Owen Farrell’s decision to miss the Six Nations, has not played for club Bristol since early December due to a hamstring injury, but Lam delivered an encouraging fitness bulletin. The Bears director of rugby said: “Ellis has a chance of starting the Six Nations. He is right on track. He has started running and will probably join us in training next week. The medical team and Ellis have done a great job.
“He looks bigger as well, and one thing you can do when you are injured is get bigger, stronger, faster and more powerful.
“He will not play for us next weekend, and then he is with England, so will not be with us for Bath (on January 27).
“I do not know if they would release him for the Bath game because they will be away abroad.
That is up to Steve, but he is ready to go for England.”
More immediately for Bristol, they host the Bulls at Ashton Gate in round three of the European Champions Cup this afternoon.
Kieran Marmion will make his first European start for the Bears. The scrum-half, who pulled off a heroic try-saving tackle against Sale last weekend, starts in the number nine shirt against the South African side.
Marmion is one of three changes from the Sale encounter, with Sam Grahamslaw in at loosehead and George Kloska coming in for the injured Kyle Sinckler.
On the bench, there is a return for
Virimi Vakatawa, who missed the trip to Sale through injury.
Lam added: “We’ve spoken all week about how we owe our home fans a performance – we were so disappointed with the result against Exeter, but we’re relishing the opportunity in front of our record European crowd at Ashton Gate.
“This is a huge challenge for us against a Bulls side ranked number one for attack in the URC (United Rugby Championship).”
Bristol Bears: