Lam has sympathy for Saints after they are forced to forfeit

The black, green and gold were missing 12 front row players, leaving them with just one available tighthead prop and one hooker, after coming into close contact with a Sale Sharks side who are reported to have had 19 positive Covid-19 cases.

And with Premiership Rugby refusing to alter their regulations so Saints could bring loan players in, Chris Boyd's side had no choice but to forfeit their game at Kingsholm.

That meant Gloucester were given a 20-0 win, handing them maximum points and moving them above Saints into seventh.

But while Saints' game was cancelled, Sale's match against Worcester Warriors was merely moved to Wednesday, keeping the Sharks in the top-four hunt.

Steve Diamond's side now have the advantage of knowing a win would be enough to ensure they reach the play-offs after Bath were held by Saracens on Sunday.

"We are all involved indirectly," Lam said. "We know we’re in (the play-offs) regardless, but as it stands we’re going to Wasps but have to wait and see.

"A lot of planning a preparation goes in. I’ll get on the bus now and prepare for that game.

"We’ve got to wait until Wednesday night to see whether we’re going to Wasps or Exeter.

"Remember I was here 20 years go when we had to win to win the title.

"That’s what the last round is about. It all gears up to the last round and everyone knows what they have to do.

"There’s a reason we all play at 3pm. Every last round we kick off at the same time.

"It’s about the integrity of the competition, no one gets an advantage. But that’s not happening.

"The biggest shock is the number of cases. We can understand one or two, but 19 – something has gone wrong there.

"The only way 19 happens is because of the behaviour within the group. Something massive has to have happened there. That doesn’t just suddenly change.

"I feel for my old club Saints. The same with Worcester. If I had one or two in my team my concern is not just for our team but the opposition.

"I would feel really bad. Every player is connected to a family member or someone close.

"That’s why we’ve all made sacrifices. My kids are in their 20s and I don’t hug them any more when I come home – we keep our distance because we don’t want that risk.

"Every day I get my test it’s a nervous wait as I know it affects the whole team."

Lam is still hoping that common sense prevails.

"It was clearly made out – you could lose the game if you have positives," added the former Saints skipper. "Hopefully common sense comes through.

"It’s a good thing we’re not waiting. It’s a serious situation and we’re all affected by it.

"Why didn’t Sale put a team out? We were all told you put your team out at 12pm (on Friday). We all did except those guys.

"Look at Worcester’s team. They were going after Champions Cup – this was one year that eight qualified and they’d never been in the Champions Cup. A one-year opportunity, a chance to do it take away from them.

When asked why he felt Sale's game was postponed after Premiership Rugby had previously said that wouldn't be an option, Lam said: "Those are good questions you should ask Premiership Rugby.

"We were told there would be no postponements.

"It’s definitely a good question you should ask."