'Several players have burns and grazes they wouldn't get on grass'
Rob Baxter has reported that Jack Nowell wasn’t alone in paying a painful price for his involvement in last weekend’s Gallagher Premiership win for Exeter on the newly laid artificial surface at Gloucester. The England back tweeted a gruesome picture of his knees two days after the game and wrote: “Vaseline and plasters for the rest of the season it is then.”
Exeter boss Baxter has now reported that Nowell wasn’t the only player nursing those types of burn wounds following the visit to Kingsholm, but he refused to condemn the increasing use of what he calls “rubber crumb” surfaces.
With the return of Saracens to the top flight and Gloucester deciding to switch to artificial in the off-season, it means that four of the 13 clubs in the Premiership now have non-grass surfaces. Plenty of players have had their say about artificial pitches, but Baxter was hesitant to fully wade into the argument because he sees the need for some clubs to have that type of a surface from a business perspective.
“It’s a difficult one because I understand all the arguments from the teams that have got them based around how it helps the finances and the availability of the pitch,” said Exeter coach Baxter when asked by RugbyPass for his thoughts on Saracens, Gloucester, Worcester and Newcastle using artificial pitches in the Premiership.
“But I do also wonder how four layers [divisions] of football insist on grass pitches and yet we can create one top league of good quality grass pitches. For me, that just seems odd that we can’t create that or that that is deemed that it doesn’t work.
Vaseline and plasters for the rest of the season it is then?? pic.twitter.com/XQ62YWvqhQ
— Jack Nowell (@nowellsy15) October 31, 2021
“There is enough being said by enough players for them [artificial pitches] to be a concern. Whether I am concerned about it personally or not is a bit irrelevant. There is enough being said by enough players that you would think it would be a little more looked into than it is. We don’t train or play on one. It’s not for me to talk about the pluses or minuses of it because I don’t have enough knowledge on it.
“All I can say is we have several players who have got burns and grazes they wouldn’t have on a grass pitch but that is the only information I can give you. I can’t talk about other injuries or other issues that clubs are having because I don’t know. That is to be investigated by the clubs who are this rubber crumb all the time.”
With Newcastle due to Sandy Park next Saturday in the latest round of Premiership fixtures, Nowell will have had eight days between matches for his knees to sufficiently so that he can play again. “It’s more him being careful through the week to make sure that it heals, that he doesn’t risk infections and stuff like that.
“Lads are on rubber crumb so much now they are kind of getting used to treating burns so there is a process it has to go through, but it is more about individual discomfort following a game that some of the lads don’t like. But as I said, it is very difficult to ask clubs who are on grass to make comments on clubs that are based on rubber crumb. The comments need to be directed to the teams that have got the crumbs.”
His devastating Harlequins exit, his new life up north in Newcastle, working again with Richards and who'd win a race between Radwan and May…????
– @mikebrown_15 held nothing back at his first media briefing as a @FalconsRugby player, writes @heagneyl ???https://t.co/hAo3NVOP9o
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) October 16, 2021
Comments on RugbyPass
Good summation Ned. Agree the Canes were out-muscled for once (except at the scrum!) by a focused Brumbies outfit. Tua deserves consideration for higher honors after the way he humbled Jordie and the Canes defense. Thankfully, his lack of eligibility for Oz keeps him from Joe’s plans. While I also agree the injuries affected the Canes performance, some players seemed to lack focus and intensity for this match. Perhaps after the Blues demolished the Brumbies, they thought it was going to be easy? A good reminder that any slip up in preparation can have a big affect on the result. Brumbies deserved that win.
1 Go to commentsKarl Dixon should never have been appointed this fixture, absolute disgrace, He’s not much of a referee anyway, didn't have the balls to send his mate care off
5 Go to commentsBrilliant article! Harry of 8/9
1 Go to comments‘UK athletes' have been in the NFL from the start.
1 Go to commentsIt’s going to be Scott Barrett. He’s the coaches mate and captain of a previously elite team. Ardie a great option but scooter has worked with the coach and Ardie still as big a leader as needed.
23 Go to commentsI commend Colin Scotts bio All Balls. He was the first Aussie to make it to NFL. But he was poached and did a full apprenticeship at the University of Hawaii. He was 130kgs surfed played 1st grade cricket etc. big guy by normal but not NFL standards and a top athlete. Even then the nfl were picking up Tongans and Samoans for their natural size and explosive power. They want explosive power not cardio from the big boys so a guy like Taniela Tupou would have been good if picked up young enough. He has fast twitch and they’d bulk the little lad up and give him something to do. soccer teams set up academies and look for Over Sara’s talent eg Messi was at Barcelona since a teenager and harry kewell went to Leeds as a teenager like 16 or something.
11 Go to commentsThe article alludes to the fact that this isn’t about picking a captain. But picking a great captain. So who would make for a great All Black captain - not just an obvious or safe shoo-in? I’m not sure Ardie’s the guy and Barret doesn’t stand out either.
23 Go to commentsI guess we may all agree on the fact, that the ABs and Boks are the two in contest for No 1 in rugby history (the triple-A sort of) …. the Wallabies, England and France are the next tier, with Ireland being the new kid in town (AA) …. in my view it makes little sense creating imaginary competitions (unless you have too much time to waste)
45 Go to commentsWhat a joke. Total joke and the pundits commentating, all of whom know a bit about the game, could barely disguise their contempt. Reaching for the card then pulling back when he realised a red card would carry further match suspensions is simply not his decision to make. A clear and obvious influence on the outcome of this match and indeed, the championship path.
5 Go to commentsI like the idea, in NZ the Ranfurly Shield and NPC coexist, both having their own bragging rights. The World Cup would be the pinnacle, but the competition and travels of these trophies would be interesting.
45 Go to commentsDon’t worry Sonny bill Williams leave that awkward situation about the curfew in the pass whoever it was it doesn’t matter its no big deal we back our All Blacks through the storm and the thunder until we see the Sun light again.
42 Go to commentsWho listens to this retard? He was a massive liability as a player but obviously a media sensation
42 Go to commentsI’m not surprised by such ‘virtue signalling’ by Sonny Boy. Butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth. He’s such a pious Islamic muppet, imo.
42 Go to commentsI’ve actually never heard of the guy (then I don’t watch League as it is boring). But if he is good enough.. then good luck to him. If not, well, he can always return to league.
2 Go to commentsIt is pretty clear that by almost any measure that NZ are a more successful rugby nation than South Africa. Quite aside from the distasteful events during the last RWC final. NZ lead SA in all significant measurements.
45 Go to commentsDickson went to his pocket for a card, saw who it was, changed his mind and spoke at length to TMO. One angle clearly shows Care diving over a Saints player to kill the ball. 1st yellow, reason given for not Red was player was falling backwards. He was only falling backwards after contact with Lawes. Graham try should have stood. Mitchell did not have both hands on the ball, ball went forward from a Saints boot dragging over it. 2 intentional knock-on's. One of which had an overlap on the outside. If Quins are happy to win by intentional foul play, then it does not say much for them. Would appear to be a bad day for Karl Dickson, also for the RFU in appointing a Ref who spent 8 years as a player at one of the clubs.
5 Go to commentsLet’s not forget about Ardie Savea just yet.
8 Go to commentsThe URC and the Euro Championscup can’t run at the same time, basically dilutes both competitions.
2 Go to comments“While Sotutu should start at No.8 for the All Blacks against England, but it’s only in that arena that he can prove just how good he really is.” And that my friends is where simply hasnt shone despite multiple opportunities. Even in this performance you can see what did him in in the test arena..he almost always still runs at the opposition almost ramrod upright making him easier to stop than it should be.
8 Go to commentsShould have been 0-0 and a message from SR CEO to both teams - “don’t worry about turning up next year”.
5 Go to comments