Bristol Bears Director of Rugby Pat Lam has hit back at comments made by former England fly-half Andy Goode on The Rugby Pod suggesting there is an issue with empathy and team spirit within the squad.

The Bristol Bears have had a mixed 2022-2023 season in Premiership Rugby so far, currently sitting in seventh place with 41 points. 

They have won seven games, drawn one and lost nine. Their points difference is -19, having scored 438 points and conceded 457.

The Bears have, however, scored the fourth-highest number of tries (56) in the league so far.

Speaking on The Rugby Pod, RugbyPass columnist Goode said there were ‘rumblings’ coming from Bristol about the state of affairs at the club and referenced rumors that former Wasps boss Lee Blackett might be in line to take over from Lam.

He also questioned Ellis Genge’s performance against his former team – the Leicester Tigers – in which Goode felt the test prop didn’t fire-up, despite playing his former teammates.

“Leicester’s ex-captain coming back, he is a Bristol boy, first time back at Welford Road, and I have been there. I played at Leicester for 10 years, and the first time I ever came back to Welford Road as an away player at the end of my 10-year tenure, I got sent off because I booted Tom Croft in the face – the emotions get hold of you.

“So, Ellis Genge is coming on, and I’m thinking he is going to do something. He is going to get angry, he is going to be aggressive at the breakdown, he is going to try and dominate the scrum. He got hosed at scrum time because as soon as he came on, Richard Wigglesworth brought Dan Cole on. Cole absolutely shoved his [Genge’s] head up his own arse. Genge looked like he wasn’t interested. He was basically patting all the Leicester lads on the back, as if he was still a Leicester player, but in a Bristol jersey.

“The only time he got angry at the end of the game was when Leicester scored a try right at the death, and James Cronin is giving him some stick. They start headbutting, and I think there were fingers around the eye area, and he got a bit angry toward the end, but really surprised. It was like he wasn’t bothered – and I think that is the same for a few of the Bristol boys.

“I think there is a big issue there at Bristol around the empathy and the team spirit within the squad, and there is some sort of breakdown there. Yes, they have won a few games recently, but we have said it for a while, there is something not right there, and the fact that Pat Lam is on a seven-year contract – it’s only down to six years now – I wouldn’t be surprised if there is a big change.

“Just rumblings, and there are a lot of players leaving. Bristol has spent all this cash, unbelievable squad, but the hangover of losing that semi a few years ago, when they were top of the league. They got turned over by Quins when they were 28-nil up or something, and they haven’t recovered from that. There is a bit of ill-feeling in the squad for various reasons, and if you are Steve Lansdown putting loads of cash in, and now you are losing (Semi) Radradra, (Charles) Piutau, there is a lot of other players leaving as well, I don’t know. Big questions.”

In response to Goode’s comments, Lam told reporters: “I think the biggest thing here is, it sounds like it’s getting personal. It’s one of those things, the invention of podcasts and social media gives everybody the ability to say how they feel. Opinions can always be challenged, because it’s someone’s opinion. What you can’t challenge is fact.

“So, when people make comments – if I go off what you’re saying about – whether it’s about Ellis, any of my players or if it’s about me, then it’s opinion, so we don’t need to listen to it. If it’s fact, then let’s have a look at it.

“Particularly when people aren’t in the environment or see what we do. And that’s how you determine.”

While Lam said everyone is entitled to their opinions, he suggested that Goode may have stepped over the line into the personal in relation to comments about England loosehead Ellis Genge’s performances.

“It’s good for people to have their opinions, but you go down a dangerous line when you get personal and try to say what they’re doing or not.

“That’s (Genge’s attitude) a given for us. I know what Ellis is like, I know what all the players are like – these boys care. I get the advantage of seeing what they do in the environment, how they work and operate and how they do things, and that’s how I determine it.

“I suppose, in a way, people are making their opinions on what they see on the field on that Saturday, and all players will do things well, and all players can do things better and can be challenged on it. If you make a mistake, it’s not like the player doesn’t care. I’m pretty sure Andy and anyone else who makes those comments, the first thing you look at, like the big fella says, ‘anyone who’s never made a mistake, be the first to cast a stone.’

“The fact you’ve brought up something I didn’t even know about shows you how I deal with this stuff. And that’s what I try to talk to the players and the staff (about). If you want to read that stuff, understand what you’re going to see. Understand that it’s a lot of opinions and the real strength of a person is being able to not see your self-worth based on what people’s opinions are.

“If you’re someone who doesn’t let other people’s opinion determine how you live your life or who you are then, mate, you’ll be fine with it. However, that’s easier said, if you’re affected by it, then don’t read it.

“The only thing that matters is the people who mean the most to you, which is generally your partner, your kids, your parents – those are the people that matter, so just focus on that. When my old man tells me it’s not good, it’s not good!”