Why Lavanini played full match on his comeback
BALL BEING IN PLAY FOR 32 MINUTES HELPED TIGERS’ ARGENTINIAN LOCK
A SURPRISING statistic was revealed by head coach Steve Borthwick as a reason Tomas Lavanini played the full 80 minutes on his return to Leicester Tigers action.
The Argentinian lock suffered a syndesmosis injury during the European Challenge Cup semi-final defeat to Toulon last October.
He was named in Tigers’ starting line-up to face Brive in the first round of the competition at the Mattioli Woods Welford Road on Friday night. He weighed in with a telling contribution, making two impressive kick charge downs and was influential in both defence and attack with his physicality from second row.
Surprisingly, given it was his first game back, Lavanini went the distance in the 39-17 victory, with second row partner Harry Wells being substituted to allow Calum Green 23 second-half minutes.
Afterwards, Borthwick explained the circumstances that enabled the 56-times capped international to play the full 80 minutes.
“I thought he did some really good things,” said the Tigers boss.
“I think he has returned in really good shape which is testament primarily to him but also credit to the strength and conditioning and medical team at the club, led by Aled Walters.
“The nature of the game meant that was possible.
“I had in mind what the right thing to do was with Tomas.
“But the nature of the game, I think there was only 32 minutes of the ball in play.
“It was a very stop-start game, so that meant it was feasible to be able to have Tomas play 80 minutes.
“It’s now important to make sure he recovers well as with all the players so we’re ready to go again this weekend.”
Typically the ball is in play at the elite level of professional rugby for 38 to 39 minutes.
England head coach Eddie Jones recently claimed that the 68 minutes the ball is in play in Super League (rugby league) was “twice what it is in Test match rugby”.