The Fijian No.8, a summer recruit from Edinburgh, was injured in pre-season and had to wait until the last Premiership round at Harlequins to make his debut.
He scored a try in the 48-24 victory, Bristol’s 11th on the road in the league to set a new record, and immediately felt at home in a side whose approach to the game is not dissimilar to Fiji’s.
“I have been in the UK for a long time and wanted to play in the Premiership,” said Mata, who will be up against familiar foes this season when Leinster, a team he used to face in the United Rugby Championship, take on the Bears at Ashton Gate in the Champions Cup.
“Leinster will be a massive challenge but we back ourselves to pull through. It will be like playing Ireland because they are virtually a national team. It will be like a Test match for us.
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