Matchday programme: Bristol Bears vs Harlequins - Play-Off Semi-Final

PAT LAM’S NOTES
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Pat Lam has challenged his side to ‘put their flag
at the peak of the mountain’ as they prepare to
face the ‘serious threat’ of Harlequins in Saturday’s
Gallagher Premiership play-off semi-final at Ashton
Gate (1.30pm KO).
The Bears, who finished top of the table after 22 rounds, face a
free-flowing Quins side who scored 703 points during the regular
season – 79 more than any other side.
Lam’s men completed the league double over Quins, thanks to Kyle
Sinckler’s last-gasp try, converted by Callum Sheedy in March – but
the Bears Director of Rugby is under illusions about the task they
face this weekend.
“Quins have been on fire - we understand the challenge,” he said.
“It is no surprise to us, and we understand that we have got a
serious threat this week.”
“Semi-final rugby, the biggest lesson we took out of last season is
that we were disappointed as a team because we didn’t play our
best rugby and we want to make sure that we give ourselves every
opportunity by playing our best rugby.
“It is about a one-off game and getting the preparation right. It’s a
semi-final – winner takes all.
“Everyone watching the way they (Quins) play and the way we play,
there is a good chance it will be pretty open.”
The Bears led the Gallagher Premiership from round six, winning a
club record 17 matches along the way, but Lam knows that counts
for nothing heading into the play-offs.
“We set our goal once we got ahead (in the league) that it was a
race to the top of the mountain, and we won the race, but now at
the top of the mountain there are four teams.
“These next two weeks are about which team gets to put the flag
in the mountain, because that’s what is remembered. After this
weekend, only two teams will have the opportunity to put the flag
in.”
BRISTOL BEARS VS HARLEQUINS | 2020/21 BRISTOL BEARS VS HARLEQUINS | 2020/21