Bristol Bears are heading to Newcastle Falcons on Saturday hoping for a longshot.
The already relegated Falcons are simply playing for pride. Bristol, who were safe from the drop weeks ago much to the relief of their long suffering fan base, are fighting for a place in the Heineken Champions Cup next season.
To do that results elsewhere will have to go their way; essentially Wasps need to lose to Harlequins, Sale need to lose to Gloucester and Bath must get nothing against Leicester Tigers who have looked woefully incapable of delivering that, even at Welford Road.
But Lam, who was named tommy on the five man shortlist for the Ricoh Director of Rugby of the Season award, is going into the game full of belief his side can get the job done.
Lam is arguably favourite to win the award at the Gallagher Premiership’s end of season awards next Wednesday despite Rob Baxter of league leaders Exeter Chiefs, Mark McCall of European champions Saracens, Northampton Saints Chris Boyd and Gloucester’s Johan Ackermann being his competition.
Lam has led Bristol to one of the best first seasons in the top flight ever witnessed in the professional era but the high standard setting head coach is frustrated at the missed opportunities this season, coming into the trip to Kingston Park on the final day of the regular season following a 20-20 draw with Sale Sharks at Ashton Gate.
Lam said: “We are frustrated knowing we could be in a better place right now. Yes it has been good this season but there are so many points that have been left out there.
“I would rather be sitting in sixth place now going into the last game, we know all we can control is our game and make sure we can get our jobs right on Saturday.”
Bristol go into the game in ninth and the Samoan can’t help but think what could have been, with Ian Madigan missing kicks to beat Sale and Worcester Warriors in recent weeks, with eight league defeats this season within a one score margin.
For Lam there is one match more than any other that haunts him, the 29-31 defeat to Exeter Chiefs back in November, going down to a controversial penalty try in the 83rd minute.
He said: “There are games which stick in your mind. I still have nightmares about the Exeter game. Three points taken away from us with that penalty try.
“I still see it clearly all the time for some reason.
“It is like when I played, you remember the big moments, but you remember every little detail of the what ifs, but that is what drives you and keeps you going. That is what keeps you challenging and means you won’t slip because you know how differently things can change one week to another.”
No side illustrates that better than the Falcons, who finished in the top four last season and beat French European giants Toulon and Montpellier back in October, but they limp into the final game of the year on the back of four straight defeats.
Whereas Lam has one eye on making another piece of history and completing the double over his old club having won 35-28 at home back in December.
