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Jack Nowell posts photo of knees after game on Gloucester's new 3G pitch
Exeter Chiefs star and critic of artificial pitches Jack Nowell has posted fresh images of his knees after injuring them playing on the Gallagher Premiership’s newest synthetic surface.
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Exeter were playing on Gloucester’s new 3G pitch, which the club had installed over the summer. While the Devon-based side brought the Cherry and Whites run of wins to an end with a narrow 16 – 13 victory, it didn’t come without a cost to the Nowell’s knees.
The England winger – a vocal critic of the technology – took to Twitter on the matter, posting a photo of some nasty looking abrasion to his knees, with the caption: “Vaseline and plasters for the rest of the season it is then”.
Vaseline and plasters for the rest of the season it is then?? pic.twitter.com/XQ62YWvqhQ
— Jack Nowell (@nowellsy15) October 31, 2021
Former Bath and England prop David Flatman pointed out that you rarely hear of the negative effects of surfaces from players at clubs that the use them, suggesting it’s for PR purposes.
“Nobody at a club with a plastic pitch ever says a word against a plastic pitch. Always quick to list the (legitimate) benefits, they often go quiet when it comes to the drawbacks. It’s PR, basically,” wrote Flatman.
Nobody at a club with a plastic pitch ever says a word against a plastic pitch. Always quick to list the (legitimate) benefits, they often go quiet when it comes to the drawbacks. It’s PR, basically. https://t.co/MAiKtaGPQP
— David Flatman (@davidflatman) October 31, 2021
Newcastle Falcons communications manager – Mark Smith – defended the use of the pitches, replying to Flatman by saying: “I’d also say the media reporting on them only ever seems to focus on the perceived negatives, and largely ignores fact-based research like the RFU injury audit. Bath recently had 2 ACLs on grass. If that’d been on 3G there’d be an outcry.”
I’d also say the media reporting on them only ever seems to focus on the perceived negatives, and largely ignores fact-based research like the RFU injury audit. Bath recently had 2 ACLs on grass. If that’d been on 3G there’d be an outcry.
— mark smith (@markismith50) October 31, 2021
Severe abrasions and knee ligament injuries have been associated with the surfaces, with professional players from clubs with grass pitches regularly taking to social media to showcase horrific-looking cuts after playing on artificial pitches.
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With more and more clubs opting for artificial turf, the online debate is increasing regarding the player welfare aspect of their use, with more and more pro-players criticising them. World Rugby have recently made the wearing of tights by players during matches legal, partly as a response to the issue.
Speaking to RugbyPass recently, Nowell says that he can’t stand the pitches and says he feels ‘like death’ the week after having to compete on the surfaces.
“I can’t stand them,” Nowell told The Offload podcast. “I’m in a position now that I can play on them but when I was younger I struggled quite a bit with patellar tendonitis. I had that op [operation] done eventually.
“When you get through the game, you feel alright, then your Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday sessions are horrendous.
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“I can’t run. I feel very, very sore, worse than I normally would after a game. I don’t know if you become robust to them or used to playing on them.”
Nowell concedes that Desso pitches [mixed grass and artificial] are excellent, but that the cheaper, multi-purpose fully artificial alternatives are not up to scratch – if you’ll excuse the pun.
“It’s all about cuts. Anyone who doesn’t like them puts pictures of their cuts up. The cuts are brutal. It’s crazy. You get boys having skin grafts.
“Players aren’t able to train because their wounds are so badly opened and they’re not healing and they’re infected. It’s horrible.”
“You can promise until you are blue in the face how good artificial pitches and how won’t get cut. No matter what you do, you’re always going to get cuts on it, unless it’s grass.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Hi, Dave here. Happy to answer questions 🥰
3 Go to commentsDon’t think that headline is accurate. It’s great to see Aus doing better but I’m not sure they’ve shown much threat to the top of the table. They shouldn’t be inflating wins against the lousy Highlanders and Crusaders either.
3 Go to commentsSuch a shame Roigard and Aumua picked up long term injuries, probably the two form players in the comp. Also, pretty sure Clarke Dermody isn’t their coach. Got it half right though.
3 Go to commentsOh the Aussie media, they never learn. It’s simple to see what’s going on. The Aussie teams are settled, they didn't lose any of their major players overseas. The Crusaders and Chiefs lost key experienced All Blacks, and Razor in the Crusaders case, and clearly neither are anywhere near as strong as last year (The Canes and Blues would probably be 3rd & 4th if they were). The Highlanders are annually average, even more so post-Aaron Smith and a big squad clean out. The two teams at the top? The two nz sides with largely the same settled roster as last year, except Ardie Savea for the Canes. They’ve both got far better coaches now too. If the Aussies are going to win the title, this is the year the kiwi sides will be weakest, so they better take their chance.
3 Go to commentsThe World Cup has to be the gold standard, line in the sand. 113 teams compete for what is the opportunity to make the pool stages, and then the knockout games for the trophy. The concept is sound. This must have been the rationale when the World Cup was created, surely? But I’m all for Looking forward and finding new ways for the SH to dominate the NH into the future. The autumn series needs a change up. Let’s start by having the NH teams come south every odd year for the Autumn/Spring series games?
3 Go to commentsWhat’ll happen when the AI models of the future go back in time and try to destroy the AI models of the past standing in their way of certain victory?
41 Go to commentsThanks, Nick. We (Seanny Maloney, Brett and I) just discussed Charlie as a potential Wallaby No 8, and wondered if he has truly realised how big he is in contact (and whether he can add 5 kg w/o slowing down). Your scouting report confirms our suspicions he has the materiel. No one knows if he has the mentality (as Johann van Graan said this week about CJ, Duane and Alfie B) to carry 10-15 times a game.
57 Go to commentsHe would be a great player for the Stormers, Dobbo should approach the guy.
3 Go to commentsGood article. A few years back when he was playing for the Cheetahs, he was a quiet standout for exactly the seasons stated here. I occasionally get to see his games in the UK, and he has become a more complete player and in many ways like an Irish player. His work ethic is so suitable to the Leinster game. I wonder if Rassie would have him listed somewhere.
3 Go to commentsResults probably skewed by the fact that a few clubs have foreign fly halves in their 30s, but most teams have young English scrum halves. Results also likely to be skewed by the fact that many teams rely on centres and fullbacks to provide depth at 10, whereas they will need to stock a large number of specialist backup 9s.
1 Go to commentsI really get the sense that when all is said and done, the path of least resistance will end up being a merger of Wasps & Worcester that essentially kills the Worcester Warriors brand and sees Wasps permanently playing at Sixways. I’m not saying that’s what should happen or what I want to happen. I just think it’s the easiest rout to take and therefore, will be what happens. Wasps will definitely return to play first, and I suppose it all depends on if they can find support at Sixways. If people turn up and support Wasps in that community, at that ground, I bet they drop the Sevenoaks plan and just remain at Sixways. Under the radar but not totally unrelated, it looks as though London Irish are going to be brought back from the dead by a German consortium and look set to return, likely to the remade Championship. It’s set to have 12 clubs next season with 14 in 2025/26, what do you want to bet those extra 2 are Wasps and London Irish?
3 Go to commentsThe shoulder is a “joint” with multiple bones. You don’t “fracture” a shoulder, you fracture any one or more of the bones that make up a shoulder.
2 Go to commentsOh dear, bones too suspect to continue?
2 Go to commentsBold headline considering the Canes and Blues are 1 and 2 and the Brumbies were soundly beaten by the Chiefs and Blues. Biggest surprise is Rebels 4 Crusaders 12 - no one saw that coming. If Aus are improving that’s great 👍
3 Go to commentsAnna, You are right, we need to have patience whilst the others catch up to England and France. Also it is the PWR that has been the game changer for England. the RFU put money into that initially at the expense of the Red Roses. I was sceptical at first but it has paid off in spades.
1 Go to commentsI think Matt Proctor became a 1 test AB in the same fixture. Cameron is quality and has been great this season, can’t believe’s he only 27. Realistically how would he not be selected for ABs squad this year. Only Dmac is ahead of him as a specialist 10. With Jordan out, it will come down to where and when Beauden Barrett slots back in, and where they want to play Ruben Love. Cameron seems an absolute lock in for the wider squad though. Added benefit of TJ-Cameron-Jordie combination at 9, 10, 11 too.
1 Go to commentsFarcical, to what end would someone want to pay to keep this thing going.
1 Go to commentsHavili, our best 12 by a mile, will be in the squad, if he stays fit. JB is the most overrated AB in the last 50 years.
61 Go to commentsWe had during the week twilight footy, twilight cricket, tw golf plus there was the athletics club. Then the weekend was rugby 15s plus the net ball, really busy club scene back then but so much has changed and rugby has suffered. And it was all about changing lifestyles.
6 Go to commentsIn the 70s and 80s my club ran 5 Senior sides plus a Vets. Now it is 2 sides with an occasional 3rd team. Players have difficulty getting to training now, not sure why and the commitment is not there. It seems to me more a problem of people applying themselves and not expecting to turn up and play whenever they want to.
6 Go to comments