Bears eager to end their season on a high note
BRISTOL Bears will need to bounce back quickly from their 47-24 drubbing by Wasps at the Ricoh Arena in last weekend’s Premiership play-of semi-final as they target their first European trophy tomorrow night.
English clubs have won 11 of the 23 previous Challenge Cup finals, and tomorrow’s finalists Bristol and Toulon are both unbeaten in this season’s tournament.
They meet at the 6,000-capacity Stade Maurice David (8pm UK time) in Aix-en-Provence, 20 miles from Marseille, with the Bristol squad travelling today via a charter flight, then returning first thing on Saturday morning.
“With Covid, we have to be in the hotel, we can’t leave the hotel and it’s a 9pm kick-off,” Bears director of rugby Pat Lam said “We have a chartered plane on Thursday, we are the only ones in the hotel and it is about eight miles from the ground.
“We will have a police escort and straight in there to the ground. Then up early the next day out and back in Bristol by 10.30am on Saturday.”
Reflecting on the Wasps result,
Lam said: “The thing that is pleasing is that wasn’t the end (of the season) last week. We didn’t give a good account of ourselves.
“This week, at the end of the 80 minutes, there is a cup at the end of it.
“We all understand the enormity of the challenge, and this is where we want to be every year at the business end.
“This is the last time we plan on being in this competition as we move on to the Champions Cup next year, and hopefully the year after that.”
The Bristol squad and staff will have a three-week break ahead of next season, which starts on November 22 - against Wasps in Coventry - following a 13th game in just 53 days.
“This is just a three-week winter break if you like,” Lam added. “The boys know they have to look after themselves and be ready as soon as we come back. We will get a break with our families - it’s tough we don’t get a chance to go home, or take them somewhere warmer. I will probably go to CenterParcs or somewhere local.
“The support staff and coaches, the midweek games - you review one, preview another - and it is happening quickly. Some of us don’t know the time of the day or what day it is.
“The families have been great as it has been tough on them, but we are committed and it is what we enjoy doing and we all love our jobs, but it is about getting the balance right.”
Meanwhile, injured backs Charles Piutau and Henry Purdy will miss tomorrow’s cup final.
Lam is assessing lock Chris Vui (calf muscle) and number eight Nathan Hughes (ribs), who suffered knocks during the loss to Wasps.
Full-back Piutau and wing Purdy have been sidelined for recent games because of Achilles and hamstring injuries, respectively. Max Malins wore the number 15 shirt against Wasps, with Piers O’Conor on the wing.
“There are a few niggles we have got to overcome before Friday, so I have given the guys as much time as possible,” Lam said. “Obviously, Nathan Hughes and Chris Vui from the weekend, but I think the game has come too early for Charles Piutau and Henry Purdy. They won’t be making it for this week.
“It has naturally been quite a light couple of days of training to make sure we have a full tank and are ready to go for Friday.”