Glasgow hit back in Scarlets burns row
GLASGOW Warriors say they are “entirely happy” with their pitch at Scotstoun Stadium following stinging criticism by Scarlets players.
Scarlets’ Wales wing Steff Evans described the 4G surface as “shocking” following last Friday’s Guinness PRO14 semi-final between the teams.
His team-mate Johnny McNicholl said the pitch should be “illegal” and Scarlets head coach Wayne Pivac said players had “got a lot of burns, a lot of bad grazing and blisters.”
Pivac said players could not train on Monday ahead of Saturday’s PRO14 final against Leinster in Dublin, with some still sidelined yesterday
“There are a lot of bad burns,” said Pivac. “No-one trained on Monday in terms of any rugby work on the field and there were some who won’t train for a second day which is unfortunate, but we will have a full training session on Thursday.
“It’s things that won’t stop them playing, but it’s not ideal. I am not sure what other teams have had, we got a lot of burns, a lot of bad grazing and blisters.
“The surface was very firm. It is what it is, you have got to play on them and you have got to accept it – but I am not a fan.”
A Warriors spokesperson told Press Association Sport: “Glasgow Warriors are entirely happy with the Scotstoun Stadium pitch, which was only installed in 2016 and is fully compliant with World Rugby’s performance specification.”
But BBC pundit and former outside-half Jonathan Davies joined in the debate on artificial surfaces, arguing when player safety is under the rugby microscope, why playing of synthetic surfaces is never raised.
He tweeted: “Those pitches shouldn’t be allowed, in my opinion.
“Everyone says players’ safety is paramount – no shoulder barges, high tackles, etc. Then, as it’s commercially viable, they allow artificial pitches.”
Meanwhile, Scarlets’ John Barclay is a doubt for next season’s autumn Tests after suffering a ruptured Achilles tendon.
THE Scarlets have been forced to alter their training plans ahead of Saturday’s Guinness PRO14 final against Leinster because a number of their players are nursing burns and blisters following the semi-final victory over Glasgow on Scotstoun’s artificial surface.
Head coach Wayne Pivac has revealed he had to cancel training on Monday and a number of his players were not risked yesterday because of the wounds they suffered during the 28-13 victory.
“There are a lot of bad burns,” said Pivac.
“No-one trained on Monday in terms of any rugby work on the field and there were some who won’t train for a second day which is unfortunate, but we will have a full training session on Thursday.
“It’s things that won’t stop them playing, but it’s not ideal.”
Pivac added: “We would always do a bit of a flush (training run) on a Monday, especially after a Friday game; but the main thing is to make the burns heals up.
“To run around and knock the skin off again is not the ideal situation.”
It is not the first time that artificial surfaces have come under the spotlight.
Pontypridd’s Sardis Road surface was investigated last season after Merthyr players complained of burns and cuts.
Pivac himself has also raised concerns about injuries suffered by his players at the Arms Park.
Asked to comment specifically on the Scotstoun pitch, he said: “It was very bad on the weekend. It was very dry.
“I am not sure what other teams have had, we had got a lot of burns, a lot of bad grazing and blisters. It was very firm.
“These things will heal up, but it is just frustrating at the early part of the week.
“It is what it is, you have got to play on them and you have got to accept it but I am not a fan.”
Both Wales international Steff Evans and Kiwi full-back Johnny McNicholl spoke to the media at today’s press conference at Parc y Scarlets and both had nasty cuts and grazes to their arms and legs.
McNicholl said: “I have got a dozen of them. It has not been a couple of nice nights sticking to the sheets.
“It is not a nice pitch to play on. “Under foot it is good when you are doing footwork. As soon as you hit the deck it affects your joints as well.
“I would prefer not to play on them. I remember going down on the deck for the ball and I got this massive grass burn on my backside.
“It was like a carpet burn. I said to the trainer straight after with a few swear words that I felt this pitch should be illegal.
“I don’t like playing on them because they are high risk for injury.
“I could not train yesterday because of the burns and my feet were numb.
“This is the only surface I have played on so I can’t judge anyone.
“I think they would be pretty similar especially on a dry day. It heats up and it is like carpet.
“You are not meant to slide and I did a few times. It was horrible.”
Evans added: “Obviously we didn’t train yesterday because a lot of players had burns and it is going to be
tough one today again.
“These are going to be stuck with me for a while, it is a tough field that 4G.
“It was just really dry.
“It wasn’t soft, it was a hard ground, compared to the Arms Park and Saracens it was totally different.
“The weather didn’t help, it was like playing on carpet, it was shocking.
“You are waking up in bed and the sheets are stuck to your leg about seven times a night.
“It is not great, you have just got to crack on.
“But you can’t concentrate on the burns, there is something more important to look forward to this weekend.”
Apart from the burns and blisters, Pivac delivered a positive medical update ahead of the Aviva Stadium clash.
Scotland skipper John Barclay has played his last game for the region after undergoing surgery on an Achilles rupture suffered early on at Scotstoun, but Wales prop Rob Evans is set to be okay after twisting his ankle.
Wales full-back Leigh Halfpenny, who missed the semi-final win, will have a fitness test on his hamstring injury on Thursday, but Pivac is optimistic he will feature.