Merthyr players suffer burns on Ponty’s new pitch
MERTHYR coach Lee Jarvis says some of his players were left with near third degree burns following their Welsh Cup semi-final on Pontypridd’s artificial pitch.
Around seven members of Jarvis’ team picked up abrasions during the last-gasp 24-20 defeat to RGC 1404, which was staged on the 3G surface at the neutral Sardis Road venue.
And he says, as a result, three of them could now miss Saturday’s Premiership game at the Wern Sports Park when the opponents, ironically enough, are Pontypridd.
Merthyr centre Martyn Thomas was the first to reveal the damage caused during the semi-final, putting a picture of his bloodied knees up on social media.
Now Jarvis has posted more pictures, showing the full extent of the injuries picked up by his players, with Gary Powell, Rhys Downes, Nathan Trevett, Gavin Dacey and Tom Daley, among others affected.
“It was about seven of the boys in all,” said the former Welsh international fly-half.
“Three of them are struggling for Saturday. Martyn is the biggest concern. Gavin has a swollen arm and other boys have got burns to their knees and legs.
“All these boys will need antibiotics. They are going to see the doctor tonight.
“The boys were quite shocked when they woke up on Sunday morning to see the marks they were left with. Some of them were almost third degree burns, especially Martyn.
“People have seen the photos. Some of those burns could scar for life.”
Merthyr have their own artificial pitch at The Wern, but Jarvis says they never encounter the kind of problems they did at Sardis on the weekend.
“It’s certainly a different pitch from ours,” he said.
“The length of the grass is totally different and, when you stand on it, it’s a lot firmer.
“We played the first game on it back in September. There were a couple of issues then, but nothing like this.
“They have had a lot of usage on it since then and I guess the pitch has been trampled down a little bit.
“There were dry conditions on the weekend, there was no dew and the pitch was firm.
“Every time you slid on it there was no give on it. You can see it’s different to ours by far. We have tiny burns sometimes, but that’s very rare. We get nothing like this.”
The 3G pitch was laid at Sardis Road last summer in a bid to tackle issues with the old grass surface, which could suffer in poor weather.
“It’s a great facility, but if people are going to come away with injuries like that, teams won’t want to go back there,” said Jarvis.
“I hope they get it sorted sooner rather than later. You don’t want people not wanting to play there.” When contacted about their 3G pitch, Pontypridd declined to comment.
The company which installed the pitch, South Wales Sports Grounds, said: “Investigations are underway.”
The captaincy has been widely debated, who would be your choice?
“Gats (Gatland) will be looking at all four international captains,” said McGeechan.
“I have heard talk about a tour captain, but for me, it has to be somebody who has been in strong form and Sam Warburton has put in some big performances for Wales during the Six Nations. “I am not talking about someone who is guaranteed a Test place, everyone needs to be a contender for the Tests, but someone who is playing well enough at the sharp end to merit that selection. “The captain
and coach have to get on well; they have got to have an open and honest relationship, there has got to be respect and they have got to be on the same wavelength in terms of the rugby the Lions will be playing on the field. “When I chose my captain, he was someone I not only respected, but trusted as well.
“Sam ticks all those boxes.”
As well as Warburton, who are the leading Welsh contenders to tour?
“There is some major competition in the second row, but I expect Alun Wyn Jones, who of course captained the side in the third Test four years ago, to go. “One player who has not really been mentioned is Jamie Roberts. “He is someone who has been a fantastic Lion and a player who could offer a huge amount in terms of his experience and leadership. “He understands the Lions and what it means, he is respected by all four countries and would be real a role model to the newcomers in the squad. “I thought Rhys Webb had a great Six Nations and Gats has got a tough call to make at scrum-half. “Jonathan Davies looks like he is getting back to his best and I like Liam Williams... as a full-back. “That is not to say I am ruling out Leigh Halfpenny. Gats will know the value of a high-percentage goal-kicker and he also offers options as a wing. “Justin Tipuric is another who will be firmly in the mix, I felt the Welsh back-row outplayed England in Cardiff, while Ken Owens is another right up there on the back of an impressive tournament.”
Will the Lions have enough firepower to take on the All Blacks?
“I believe so. You look at second row and back row, in particular, and there is a huge amount of depth - stronger than 2013, I believe.
“There is flexibility with players able to slot into different positions, a lot of ball-players, behind the scrum and up front and a number of intelligent, talented rugby players.
“Gats, better than anybody, knows what it takes to play well in New Zealand and to have the right tactical game to take them on.
“I expect England to provide the bulk of the squad; Ireland are strong, Scotland have their best group of players for a decade, while there is a lot of quality in the Welsh ranks.
“It is going to be an exciting squad.”
Gatland announces his squad on April 19, will he have already made up his mind?
“I remember when I was last involved in 2009, as a coaching group the first time we met in the autumn we had 80 to 100 players in mind. “Through the Six Nations we met each week, spoke a couple of times on the phone and by the end of the tournament you have an idea of the top three players in each position.
“But I didn’t want to announce the squad straight after the Championship, I wanted a bit of time to get the last 10 to 12 players right.
“I think if you asked people to name 25 players who are favourites to tour, I don’t think there will be much difference in the selections, it is the last 10 to 12 that are crucial, players you feel can offer something to the environment, provide a balance.
“And as I said earlier, each player has to be in contention for a Test spot. I know when the Lions were last in New Zealand in 2005, Clive (Woodward) tried to establish his Test side early in the tour, but the uniqueness of the Lions is that you are bringing together players who have been first choice at their countries, many of them for most of their careers. “Every one has to be given a chance to stake their claim over the first five matches.”
That was a tough tour for all concerned, what must the Lions do to succeed in 2017?
“You look at the schedule and they won’t have an easy game.
“The All Blacks aren’t playing a warm-up match so Steve Hansen is keen for his players to have an opportunity to play against the Lions beforehand. “The Lions may lose a couple of games before the series begins, but they need to establish a way of playing, while also making sure every player gets a run in those first five matches. “The Lions must also understand New Zealand the country, and that applies to any Lions tour – New Zealand, South Africa or Australia. “They have to embrace New Zealand, know the environment they are playing in. It really is a hugely exciting prospect.”
Tickets for the British Lions Preview Dinner with Sir Ian McGeechan OBE and Gerald Davies CBE at Holland House Hotel & Spa, Cardiff on Friday 12th May 2017 are available via The Events Room on 0845 108 5690 or www.theeventsroom.co.uk