Bristol coach Pat Lam heaps praise on 'very clever' Gabriel Ibitoye after Leicester Tigers win in Gallagher Premiership
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Updated 13/10/2023 at 22:36 GMT
Pat Lam was delighted with the performance of Gabriel Ibitoye after the Bristol Bears wing scored two tries in a 25-14 win over Leicester Tigers on the opening day of the Gallagher Premiership Rugby season. Ibitoye struck twice in the first half to give his side an unassailable lead and Lam praised him as a 'very clever rugby player'. The Bears coach was also excited to welcome Virimi Vakatawa.
Delighted Lam welcomes 'fantastic' Vakatawa to Bristol - 'It was a surprise to get him'
Bristol Bears' Director of Rugby Pat Lam was full of praise for player of the match Gabriel Ibitoye after the wing starred in a big Gallagher Premiership Rugby victory over Leicester Tigers.
Ibitoye scored two tries, one inside two minutes and the other thanks to a slaloming run from the halfway line, to send the Bears on their way to a commanding 25-14 win in the curtain-raising fixture of the 2023/24 season.
Speaking after the match, Lam was delighted with his player’s performance - and even likened it to those of TNT Sports pundit and former England and Harlequins wing Ugo Monye.
“I don’t want to blow [Ugo’s] head up but when [Ibitoye] was a young boy watching Harlequins, he watched this guy and he talks about this guy - he looked like Ugo! It was like a flashback,” Lam said.
“I know that Gabs can run and all these things, that’s his bread and butter, but he’s a very clever rugby player - defensive reads, work-rate, works well in the back three and he understands well.
“I’m so pleased for him because we had injuries to our full-backs and he had to slip back to full-back in pre-season games and work with the young boys and that really helped his game to understand.
“He’s had the comfort of some senior boys before and he’s added to it here to take the lead, I think it’s really helped his game.”
A superb start to the season for the home crowd at Ashton Gate got even better in the second half when they caught a glimpse of their marquee summer signing Virimi Vakatawa.
The France star came on in the second half to rapturous applause from the home fans, and Lam admitted even he was surprised to get the chance to work with the centre this season.
“He only arrived on Monday, so we expect to see more of him from next week,” Lam said.
“He’s been fantastic. He got up in front of the boys and said ‘boys, this is my second club and it’s my second home. I’m here now.’
“We’re pleased to have him. It was a surprise for us to get him.”
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