Bristol Bears look likely to be without two of their most dangerous attacking backs for their crucial last 16 knockout games with Sale Sharks in Europe over the next two weeks.
The Bears head to the AJ Bell Stadium on Saturday lunchtime (1pm ko), looking to salvage their season and get off to a strong start in the two-legged knockout games, a phrase that will bring cold sweats to Bristol fans who remember the tumultuous days of trying to escape the RFU Championship via the play-offs.
Injuries to winger Siva Naulago and utility back Ioan Lloyd look set to deprive director of rugby Pat Lam of two of his most lethal attacking options for the key games.
Speaking after the Bears’ 39-22 defeat away at Northampton Saints on Saturday, Lam confirmed Welsh international Lloyd has a broken cheekbone after taking a blow to the face from a knee while making a tackle earlier this month and Naulago jarred his knee at the weekend.
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Lam said: “Siva had a wobble of his knee. He had the taping on it. We will find out more this week.”
The good news for the Bears is Lam confirmed the early withdrawal of the likes of former All Black full-back Charles Piutau and Welsh international fly-half Callum Sheedy against Northampton was precautionary with the key games with Sale in mind.
Lam explained: “With next week in mind we started taking a few players off when it got to a stage where we were chasing and ultimately we wanted to get to a situation where everyone is ready for next week.”
Meanwhile, there is an air of concern at both tighthead and loosehead prop for the Bears with England international Kyle Sinckler having not played for his club since the Six Nations after suffering from a series of niggling injuries, most noteably to his back and Jake Woolmore was withdrawn after the warm-up against Saints.
Lam added: “Wooly felt his calf in the warm-up and we didn’t want to take the risk with a few of our props being down already.”
Flanker Jake Heenan is also a doubt for the weekend having failed a HIA at Franklin’s Gardens but with Nathan Hughes now back with the Bears following an impressive two month loan at Bath Rugby, Lam does have options in the backrow.
