STAR SIGNING CHARLES Piutau will miss Bristol’s Premiership opener against Bath on Friday after suffering a shoulder injury in a pre-season friendly against Connacht last week.
The former All Black, who moved to the English club from Ulster, is due to see a specialist this weekend after the incident in the defeat to the western province.
The New Zealand fullback’s absence is a major blow for Bristol on their return to top-flight English rugby under Pat Lam.
Second row signing Aly Muldowney, who played under Lam at Connacht and joined from Grenoble this summer, is also missing for Bristol due to a neck injury.
There are a number of other new faces for last season’s Championship winners, including former Australia Test flanker George Smith and ex-Gloucester prop John Afoa, while Ian Madigan is their first-choice 10.
“We can’t wait to get going,” said Lam. “It should be a great night for the supporters, and the sense of responsibility — to do our best and play as a team — goes right across the team because we want to inspire these fans and hopefully they will keep coming back.”
“They (Bath) are a new squad with new coaches. They’ve brought Girvan Dempsey in (as attack coach) from Leinster, who I know from my time at Connacht, and that is a good addition.
“You are aware of what they do and the threat that they pose but the whole focus is making sure that you get your own things right, whether it’s on attack or defence.”
Wales international centre Jamie Roberts is among three Bath debutants for the trip.
Roberts is joined by midfield partner Jackson Willison and wing Joe Cokanasiga. England flanker Sam Underhill features in a back-row that also includes Taulupe Faletau, while Underhill’s Test colleague Semesa Rokoduguni returns from injury on the wing.
Bath rugby director Todd Blackadder said: “I am feeling excitement for the players. I just want us to get out there, unleash and really express ourselves.”
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