Bristol Bears are set for a triple injury boost ahead of Friday night’s game with Northampton Saints with Kalaveti Ravouvou, Benhard Janse van Rensburg and Steven Luatua all likely to be involved.
The Bears can return to the top of the Gallagher Premiership, at least overnight, with a win against the defending champions who were put to the sword 52-21 at Ashton Gate back in March.
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Fijian international centre Ravouvou is yet to play a competitive game this season after suffering a shoulder injury against the Dragons in pre-season but he has now recovered from his surgery to provide a timely boost in the midfield alongside arguably the league’s best centre in Janse van Rensburg who missed last weekend’s 37-35 defeat to Saracens with a tight calf.
Flanker Luatua also sat out last weekend with a calf issue but is fit to play this weekend to provide a boost to the back five of the scrum. Bristol director of rugby Pat Lam said: “Steven and Benhard are back, Kalaveti Ravouvou is back this week for selection as well which is a positive. It is great to have those three experienced players available this weekend.
Bristol will be without two of their key leaders this for Round Six of the Premiership with scrum-half Harry Randall and loosehead prop Ellis Genge away with England as they prepare for the Autumn Nations Cup which kicks off on November 2 against the All Blacks.
However Saints will be impacted more heavily by this week’s international training camp with Trevor Davison, Tommy Freeman, George Furbank, Ollie Sleightholme and Fin Smith all away, while star scrum-half Alex Mitchell remains sidelined with a neck injury.
Saturday’s outstanding effort against Saracens has taken its toll on the Bears though, with lock Josh Caulfield suffering a pectoral injury that will require surgery and keep him sidelined into the New Year.
Lam said: “Unfortunately we lost Josh Caulfield to an injury that is similar to Jimmy Williams, he has a pectoral injury and will have surgery on Friday.”