Lee thrilled at Geordie score
A MAULING by a lion sets the gold standard when it comes to injuries, so hats off – and very nearly hands off – to Scott Baldwin. But the Wales hooker has far too much company for comfort in the casualty ward this season.
They may not be of the bizarre nature of the injury incurred on the Ospreys’ trip to Bloemfontein last week, when Baldwin tried to stroke a wild animal as if it were a kitten and ended up in hospital for stitches in his hand, but the sheer numbers involved should be a concern.
One month in to the new season, more than 100 players across the Premiership are out of action. Rugby union is a contact sport and there will always be injuries but the extent of the casualty list is sobering.
Three A League matches have been postponed this week because there simply are not enough players left standing.
Is this a statistical freak show or a reflection of rugby’s drift towards rollerball? European champions Saracens are one of those affected with Billy Vunipola heading the list of absentees. “It’s easy to jump to conclusions because a couple of big-name players have picked up injuries,” said director of rugby Mark McCall.
“Our performance director will say to me that injuries at the start of the season are commonplace because players aren’t used to contact. It takes a bit of time for your body to get into the rhythm of what a rugby match feels like.”
Yet the sense is that a Premiership match this season is different to one last season. The game has evolved. The law tweaks at the breakdown have led to a faster flow of attacking possession and teams are more willing to use it.
“There’s no doubt ball in play has gone up this season,” said Todd Blackadder, Bath’s director of rugby. “In the first two games the amount of metres run and collisions is higher than in any Premiership game we played last season. Demands are certainly going up. We’ve had a massive amount of injuries. None of them are THE Lions live in uncertain times with the Premiership clubs’ tanks on their lawns, but if they survive to tour again in meaningful fashion their social traditions should be in safe hands thanks to the appointment of Jason Leonard to the board yesterday.
The ‘Fun Bus’, as Leonard was known during his career, replaces New Zealand tour manager John Spencer. “Jason is a three-times Lions tourist and will bring both a player’s and an administrator’s perspective,” said Lions chairman Tom Grace, who also welcomed RFU chief executive Steve Brown on board, replacing Ian Ritchie.
The Lions are under pressure from clubs to reduce the length of tours as negotiations continue for a new three-tour deal with the southern hemisphere nations. the same. We’re used to it. It’s almost become our normal.”
It is a similar case across the Premiership. Leicester had 11 players missing last weekend.
The try count is up, the vast majority of sides are trying to play positive rugby, yet the upshot is negative for the health of the combatants.
An improved spectacle with more action has brought with it more danger, with gymbulked giants clattering into each other.
The clampdown on high tackling has also brought unintended consequences. With an increased risk of penalties or worse, tacklers have lowered their target area – but colliding with knees and hips can hurt tacklers as well ❑ THE All Blacks must be wishing they could play the Lions every week after cruising to a yawn-inducing fifth Rugby Championship title in six years with a week to spare.
The Kiwis entering a second team may be the only way of making it competitive. Even then I wouldn’t back against New Zealand A winning the title. ❑ THINGS are going from bad to worse for winless Worcester after Gary Gold announced he is leaving to take charge of the USA at the end of the season.
The Warriors director of rugby performed a magic trick in keeping them up last season but with the situation looking bleak he is upping sticks for Colorado. LEE WESTWOOD has revealed he is in talks to stage another big tournament in the North-east after the success of the British Masters.
A record 60,180 fans attended a thriller at Close House – won by Ireland’s Paul Dunne – in what was the first top-level professional tournament to be held in the region since 2002.
With the British Masters moving to Walton Heath next year, when Justin Rose takes over as tournament host, Westwood wants to ensure it is not another 15 years before the European Tour returns to the region.
“I don’t think it will be that long – I’m engineering already,” said Westwood. “Whether it will be bringing this tournament back or creating another one I don’t know, but the north of England is a very keen golfing area and there needs to be a tournament up here.”
Dunne’s maiden professional win, after holding off Rory McIlroy in the final round, moves him into the world’s top 100 and to the top of the European points list for Ryder Cup qualification.
Paris 2018 looks a daunting challenge for Europe from this far out, if the Americans’ crushing 19-11 win over the International team at the Presidents Cup is anything to go by.
“The US have shown what they can do at the Presidents Cup,” said McIlroy. “A win like that for Paul does his chances a world of good. It will be great to have some young guys on the team.”