Bristol Bears’ young trio of John Hawkins, Fitz Harding and Jack Bates have drawn praise from Pat Lam for helping give his side momentum heading into the Autumn.
Numer eight Harding, 22, lock Hawkins, 24, and centre Bates, 20, all stood out in the 45-33 victory over London Irish on Saturday in just their second win of the season and first bonus point performance.
Harding was named man of the match at the Brentford Community Stadium, Bates scored his first Premiership try playing at outside centre with Semi Radradra injured and Hawkins impressed from the bench after replacing Joe Joyce in the 21st minute following a clash of heads.
Lam said he was pleased how the trio stepped up when called upon with the Bears hit by injuries, but made it clear they had earned their spots in the matchday 23.
He said: "It is more about performance. It is having players available who are performing. When they are performing it gives me selection headaches, it is not about names it is about who gets the job done."
Discussing the performance of the trio, Lam said: “He is getting better and better is young Jack. This is all part of his development. There is no way he is the finished article but he is getting opportunities but it is about him continuing to learn, like all the other guys.
“Fitz Harding, three games down the road, is playing to a really high standard.
“John Hawkins came on and that is his first involvement of the season.
“I just had a quiet word to him and said ‘Mate well done. It is not a coincidence, it doesn’t just happen that you play well.’ He has worked phenomenally hard on his game.
“He has done a lot of work on his contact skills with Omar Mouneimne, with Jordan Crane and Conor McPhillips, with John Muldoon on the line out and it has all come together for him.
“It is not rocket science, you put the work in and you get the rewards.”
England U20s international Bates and forward Hawkins look set for a run of games in the next month with the Premiership taking a two-week break for the Premiership Rugby Cup with games against Exeter Chiefs and Warriors scheduled, following Saturday’s game against Worcester.
