Yahoo News Bristol Bears injury latest ahead of Leicester Tigers: Joe Batley, Noah Heward, James Williams, Yann Thomas
The battle to break into Bristol Bears’ squad heading to Leicester Tigers is only getting more competitive as player-of-the-season contender Joe Batley is on the verge of a playing return, Pat Lam has confirmed.
Batley missed Bristol’s 85-14 demolition of Newcastle Falcons on Sunday with a rib injury he suffered in the 33-24 win over Gloucester Rugby earlier in March. Up until that point, Batley had played every minute in the Gallagher Premiership this season and had been a standout performer for the Bears on their climb up the table into the play-off places heading to Welford Road.
But Batley is now back in the selection mix to compete with Josh Caulfield, James Dun and Joe Owen for a place in the engine room against Leicester. Speaking in his midweek press conference, Bristol director of rugby Pat Lam said: “Joe Batley was always due back around this week. He strained his ribs in the Gloucester game and so he had a few weeks off but this was his return to play date and he is on track.
“What is really pleasing, and we saw it last week with Yann Thomas going down with illness and Jake Woolmore stepped straight in and did well after being out for 12 weeks, is competition is tight. "Selection really is a real headache at the moment, we have got six centres fit and I would be happy for all six of them to start in, in any combination.
“So when Joe went down, having played all season, Josh Caulfield - who had been out because of suspension - came in and played 80 minutes and was superb to make my selection harder now. I think that is the key, if you are out and miss a game there is no guarantee you will come straight back in if the other guys is performing.”
Lam confirmed loosehead prop Thomas has now recovered from the illness that ruled hm out on Sunday and is also in the selection mix, and James Williams is feeling no ill effects of the winding incident which saw him removed four minutes from time on Sunday.
Young winger Noah Heward also went onto Bristol’s unavailable list last weekend having injured his hamstring against Gloucester but Lam confirmed he is not far from making a return as well. He said: “Noah did his hamstring when he did a big chip and chase. His return date is the Sarries game so a couple of weeks off, so he is close as well.”
After quickly running up the score against Newcastle, securing an attacking bonus point inside 15 minutes, Lam was able to remove key men like Ellis Genge, Kyle Sinckler, AJ MacGinty and Steven Luatua early to rest them up for the trip to Leicester with a place in the top four up for grabs.
Lam said: "It was great to be able to bring them off early with a six day turnaround but the pleasing thing was it was business as usual when the other guys came on. Scoring 85 points is no easy feat."
