Premiership rugby play-offs: Bath v Bristol, Leicester v Sale, plus URC place-kicking drama

Standing in the early-evening sunshine at Ashton Gate, as the Bristol fans revelled in a first play-off finish in four years, director of rugby Pat Lam was in defiant mood.

After allowing himself a handful of seconds to dwell on the 52-26 win over Harlequins that secured the Bears’ play-off place, Lam’s attentions swiftly turned to Friday night and the semi-final showdown with local rivals Bath at The Rec.

“Bath have only lost four games this year – who have they lost to?” he rhetorically asked BBC Radio 5 Live, knowing full well his side have done the double over the runaway league leaders.

“So we know how to do it, and that’s what we’ll do. We know how to beat them. We have done it in so many different ways – rain, dry weather, home, away.

“When we came back up [into the Premiership in 2018], the supporters made it really clear we don’t lose to Bath, and we have won 11 out of 14 since.

“We know how to do it and it’s about getting it all right on Friday.”

Owner Steve Lansdown’s money has helped to tempt a host of superstars to Ashton Gate since their promotion in 2018, but Lam insists Bristol are no longer among the league’s big spenders, as the club cut its cloth during and after Covid.

“As far as spend goes, we spend eighth [out of the 10 Premiership teams],” Lam explained.

“Ourselves and Bath are the only two teams to be in the top four all season, yet Bath have spent nearly £3m more on their squad than we have.

“It reminds me of Connacht when we won the Pro12. So to get to this stage I am so pleased and proud of the players.

“Bath in six days’ time – I just have to do the gameplan, I don’t have to do any motivation or talking. The local boys – Ellis Genge, Yann Thomas – they will take control.”

Bring it on.