Bristol Bears director of rugby Pat Lam rather took the shine off his side's 25-20 derby win over Bath Rugby on Friday night with the news his marquee, superstar centre Semi Radradra will be sidelined until the end of January with a knee injury.
Bristol won without Radradra at Ashton Gate with tries from Steven Luatau, Jake Kerr and a penalty try, along with eight points from the boot of Callum Sheedy, but make no doubts about it, their season just got tougher.
Speaking after the final whistle, Lam divulged: "Semi is going to have to have surgery on his knee. We are looking at him having surgery on Monday, and he will end up with probably 16 weeks (out).
"It was [injured] in the semi-final in the Olympics."
Radradra was allowed to play for Fiji at the delayed Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, helping them to win back-to-back gold in the rugby sevens.
Looking on the bright side Lam said: "At the end of the day, there is a lot of rugby to be played when he gets back.
"We will certainly be on the look-out for a replacement to come in for that period of time when he is out.
"It is around his cartilage and ligament. The good news is that the surgery will fix it 100 per cent."
Bath pushed Bristol close in Round Three of the 2021/22 Gallagher Premiership with a brace of tries from winger Will Muir and score by Semesa Rokoduguni along with five points from the boot of young fly-half Orlando Bailey.
But returning British and Irish Lion Kyle Sinckler helped the Bears to their fifth straight victory.
