Bristol Bears battled to a hard fought 18-17 victory over Gloucester Rugby at Kingsholm on Friday night but to what cost, with a number of key players picking up injuries.
Outstanding number eight Nathan Hughes, centre Siale Piutua, hooker Bryan Bryne, prop Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro and winger Henry Purdy all hurt themselves during the course of the 80 minutes on a freezing night.
The Bears reacted well to losing three key men inside the first quarter with Bryne and Purdy leaving after just seven minutes, but not before the Irish forward had crossed the line for his fifth Premiership try of the season.
Speaking after the game Lam revealed Purdy was removed after failing a HIA while Bryne, who has been first choice in the number two jersey this season in the absence of Harry Thacker, was struggling with his knee right from the warm-up.
Lam said: “He was struggling with his knee. He gave it a bit of a shake. He went to step off the ground and it gave way a bit. Hopefully we will know a bit more in the week.”
However the former Leinster man was replaced ably by club product Will Capon who once again excelled on the big stage.
Prop Tetaz Chaparro made a huge impression in the early exchanges on his first start for the club but he was replaced by Jake Woolmore in the 22nd minute after pulling his calf in a scrum, a terrible injury for a front rower.
However with decent depth in the frontrow the bigger concern will be Hughes, for who Lam really has no like-for-like replacement.
The former England man was replaced in the 61st minute by flanker Fitz Harding having caused havoc during his hour on the pitch, making 58m from eight big carries, one of which significantly contributed to the Bears' second try.
Lam said: “It was a dead leg.
“He has got some big legs there and everyone dives at them.
“Hopefully it is nothing more. The good thing with the cold is to ice it he probably just needs to pour some water over it being minus five degrees here.”
With practically the final play of the game former Tonga international captain Siale Piutau also took a knock on his shoulder, but Lam reported at the final whistle it was ‘just a stinger’ impact blow.
The good news is Sam Bedlow made his return from a groin injury against the Cherry Whites, coming on for Luke Morahan, meaning there is a like-for-like replacement for Piutau should the 35-year-old not be ready to face London Irish next Sunday.
A nine day turn around should certainly help.
He concluded: “Fair play to both teams because when you walk into the middle of that pitch it is like concrete, it hardened up really tough and boys putting their bodies on the line like that was a massive effort from both sides.”
Bristol scored their tries through Bryne and flanker Jake Heenan, with fly-half Ioan Lloyd finishing with eight points from two penalties and a conversion, missing just once from the tee.
Gloucester stayed in the contest with a pair of interception tries from Argentina winger Santiago Carreras before Ollie Thorley touched down in the corner.
Fly-half Billy Twelvetree’s ability to only convert one of the three tries proved costly.
