NPR

Hal Jordan wrote: ↑Thu Dec 30, 2021 8:48 pm Bath keeping JJ and letting Watson go is the smart move. Watson is perma-crocked, and when not Jones still wants him for England. JJ has a much better injury record and seems to have largely been caught aside at Test level so is far more available.

Watson seems to have entered that injury spiral of "This bit goes, then that bit, then this bit again, then the other, then it's that again..."

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Thu Dec 30, 2021 9:34 pm

Hal Jordan wrote: ↑Thu Dec 30, 2021 8:48 pm Bath keeping JJ and letting Watson go is the smart move. Watson is perma-crocked, and when not Jones still wants him for England. JJ has a much better injury record and seems to have largely been caught aside at Test level so is far more available.

Watson seems to have entered that injury spiral of "This bit goes, then that bit, then this bit again, then the other, then it's that again..."

I remember a BBC host hopefully asking Michael Johnson when he thought Iwan Thomas would get back to world class level, and he showed no mercy. He just said that Thomas wouldn't get back because once you start compensating for an injury your overall balance goes and you start injuring other parts.

Sports medicine and physiotherapy have moved on a lost since then, but I think the basic premise holds true.

Kawazaki wrote: ↑Thu Dec 30, 2021 10:33 pm

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Thu Dec 30, 2021 9:34 pm

Hal Jordan wrote: ↑Thu Dec 30, 2021 8:48 pm Bath keeping JJ and letting Watson go is the smart move. Watson is perma-crocked, and when not Jones still wants him for England. JJ has a much better injury record and seems to have largely been caught aside at Test level so is far more available.

Watson seems to have entered that injury spiral of "This bit goes, then that bit, then this bit again, then the other, then it's that again..."

I remember a BBC host hopefully asking Michael Johnson when he thought Iwan Thomas would get back to world class level, and he showed no mercy. He just said that Thomas wouldn't get back because once you start compensating for an injury your overall balance goes and you start injuring other parts.

Sports medicine and physiotherapy have moved on a lost since then, but I think the basic premise holds true.

Those top track and field athletes are much less durable than rugby players though, even wingers. A decent winger who runs good lines, anticipates line breaks and gets in support, good under the high ball, great tackler etc can still play top level even if they lose a yard or two of pace. A 400m runner who loses a yard of place is finished.

fishfoodie wrote: ↑Thu Dec 30, 2021 11:57 pm

Kawazaki wrote: ↑Thu Dec 30, 2021 10:33 pm

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Thu Dec 30, 2021 9:34 pm


I remember a BBC host hopefully asking Michael Johnson when he thought Iwan Thomas would get back to world class level, and he showed no mercy. He just said that Thomas wouldn't get back because once you start compensating for an injury your overall balance goes and you start injuring other parts.

Sports medicine and physiotherapy have moved on a lost since then, but I think the basic premise holds true.

Those top track and field athletes are much less durable than rugby players though, even wingers. A decent winger who runs good lines, anticipates line breaks and gets in support, good under the high ball, great tackler etc can still play top level even if they lose a yard or two of pace. A 400m runner who loses a yard of place is finished.

That's all true; but 400m runners don't have to deal with being tackled by other runners; & they aren't expected to be running for 90 minutes; every weekend, 8 - 9 months a year.

When was the last time you heard of an athlete blowing both their PCL, & ACL ligaments at one time ?

Sprinters are specialists; & rugby players; regardless of position; are now generalists. Before Professionalism; a prop had a very limited role, & now you have them; like Furlong; stepping centers, & having to deal with that strain on their ankles; as well as sharing the load, when an 800-900kg pack lines up against them; & even small player like DuPont, have to be able to compete at rucks; if they arrive first.

Professionalism has meant that backs can no longer focus on their hair; they have to be just as physical, & committed as the forwards; & can expect the same level of injury.

Kawazaki wrote: ↑Fri Dec 31, 2021 12:09 am

fishfoodie wrote: ↑Thu Dec 30, 2021 11:57 pm

Kawazaki wrote: ↑Thu Dec 30, 2021 10:33 pm


Those top track and field athletes are much less durable than rugby players though, even wingers. A decent winger who runs good lines, anticipates line breaks and gets in support, good under the high ball, great tackler etc can still play top level even if they lose a yard or two of pace. A 400m runner who loses a yard of place is finished.

That's all true; but 400m runners don't have to deal with being tackled by other runners; & they aren't expected to be running for 90 minutes; every weekend, 8 - 9 months a year.

When was the last time you heard of an athlete blowing both their PCL, & ACL ligaments at one time ?

Sprinters are specialists; & rugby players; regardless of position; are now generalists. Before Professionalism; a prop had a very limited role, & now you have them; like Furlong; stepping centers, & having to deal with that strain on their ankles; as well as sharing the load, when an 800-900kg pack lines up against them; & even small player like DuPont, have to be able to compete at rucks; if they arrive first.

Professionalism has meant that backs can no longer focus on their hair; they have to be just as physical, & committed as the forwards; & can expect the same level of injury.

Yes I know. That's what durable means!

Kawazaki wrote: ↑Thu Dec 30, 2021 10:33 pm

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Thu Dec 30, 2021 9:34 pm

Hal Jordan wrote: ↑Thu Dec 30, 2021 8:48 pm Bath keeping JJ and letting Watson go is the smart move. Watson is perma-crocked, and when not Jones still wants him for England. JJ has a much better injury record and seems to have largely been caught aside at Test level so is far more available.

Watson seems to have entered that injury spiral of "This bit goes, then that bit, then this bit again, then the other, then it's that again..."

I remember a BBC host hopefully asking Michael Johnson when he thought Iwan Thomas would get back to world class level, and he showed no mercy. He just said that Thomas wouldn't get back because once you start compensating for an injury your overall balance goes and you start injuring other parts.

Sports medicine and physiotherapy have moved on a lost since then, but I think the basic premise holds true.

Those top track and field athletes are much less durable than rugby players though, even wingers. A decent winger who runs good lines, anticipates line breaks and gets in support, good under the high ball, great tackler etc can still play top level even if they lose a yard or two of pace. A 400m runner who loses a yard of place is finished.

Rhubarb & Custard wrote: ↑Fri Dec 31, 2021 12:32 pm

Kawazaki wrote: ↑Thu Dec 30, 2021 10:33 pm

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Thu Dec 30, 2021 9:34 pm


I remember a BBC host hopefully asking Michael Johnson when he thought Iwan Thomas would get back to world class level, and he showed no mercy. He just said that Thomas wouldn't get back because once you start compensating for an injury your overall balance goes and you start injuring other parts.

Sports medicine and physiotherapy have moved on a lost since then, but I think the basic premise holds true.

Those top track and field athletes are much less durable than rugby players though, even wingers. A decent winger who runs good lines, anticipates line breaks and gets in support, good under the high ball, great tackler etc can still play top level even if they lose a yard or two of pace. A 400m runner who loses a yard of place is finished.

Does that mean rugby players are more durable? or does that mean if you put a track and field athlete into a game of rugby they'd be more likely to end up injured than someone who trained for the sport, which really isn't different to saying if you put the load through a hamstring, a shoulder, an ankle that a track and field athlete might take over competing in the 200m, javelin, or triple jump into a rugby player the rugby player would be much more likely to end up injured?

The difference in strain on say the achilles in taking a second off a hundred metres time would screw over just about any decent sprinter in rugby terms.

If you had time you could sort the physical conditioning to switch to rugby, whether you'd ever sort the decision making without a background in rugby is much more questionable

sockwithaticket wrote: ↑Sat Jan 01, 2022 2:41 pm Wasps getting thoroughly outmuscled up at the AJ Bell.

Raggs wrote: ↑Sat Jan 01, 2022 3:08 pm I'm really not sure how that Curry try stands... How is that not a crawl forward from when his knee first hits the floor?

EDIT - Not sure how the offside was missed earlier either, with the retreating player never getting onside.

EDIT - They point it out on the TV, only ignore the fact he's clearly offside when he makes that "intervention".

Bullet wrote: ↑Sat Jan 01, 2022 3:31 pm Where do Wasp fans see Barbeary's ceiling at 8?
BT certainly talk up his tight carrying and workrate so wonder if Eddie will ignore the form 8s and see him as replacement for Billy?

Prembore wrote: ↑Sat Jan 01, 2022 3:47 pm Wasps are desperately predictable in attack.

ASMO wrote: ↑Sat Jan 01, 2022 6:16 pm How is Pearce a proffesional referee? He is terrible in every game he ref's.. he got so much wrong in this game its not even funny.

sockwithaticket wrote: ↑Sat Jan 01, 2022 6:17 pm

ASMO wrote: ↑Sat Jan 01, 2022 6:16 pm How is Pearce a proffesional referee? He is terrible in every game he ref's.. he got so much wrong in this game its not even funny.

That's hyperbolic in the extreme. He seems to be a bit off the boil in recent weeks, but he's far and away one the Prem's best in general.

Margin__Walker wrote: ↑Sat Jan 01, 2022 7:30 pm LI v Bath off tomorrow. Apparently further Covid issues for Bath after they cancelled their midweek Prem Cup game.

Real shame as it was set to be LI's biggest attendance at Brentford and a good shot at a (legitimate) big win against a team that we love to beat (but very rarely do)

Raggs wrote: ↑Sat Jan 01, 2022 7:36 pm

Margin__Walker wrote: ↑Sat Jan 01, 2022 7:30 pm LI v Bath off tomorrow. Apparently further Covid issues for Bath after they cancelled their midweek Prem Cup game.

Real shame as it was set to be LI's biggest attendance at Brentford and a good shot at a (legitimate) big win against a team that we love to beat (but very rarely do)

Load of guys from my club were planning on going, over 20. Was tempted to hop onto a spare ticket myself. Kinda glad I didn't now.

sockwithaticket wrote: ↑Sat Jan 01, 2022 6:17 pm

ASMO wrote: ↑Sat Jan 01, 2022 6:16 pm How is Pearce a proffesional referee? He is terrible in every game he ref's.. he got so much wrong in this game its not even funny.

That's hyperbolic in the extreme. He seems to be a bit off the boil in recent weeks, but he's far and away one the Prem's best in general.

Kawazaki wrote: ↑Sat Jan 01, 2022 6:06 pm Pearce is having one of those games. Again.

Exeter getting all the 50/50s. And most of the 40/60s.

Oxbow wrote: ↑Sun Jan 02, 2022 3:12 pm Piers Francis returns and is off within 8 minutes for Saints, think it was his leg rather than yet another head injury, but at some point he's going to have to accept that rugby is just not the game for him any more.

sockwithaticket wrote: ↑Sun Jan 02, 2022 3:42 pm Northmore always seems class when I catch Quins, should he be in line for England? He's better than Slade.

Ovals wrote: ↑Sun Jan 02, 2022 4:20 pm

sockwithaticket wrote: ↑Sun Jan 02, 2022 3:42 pm Northmore always seems class when I catch Quins, should he be in line for England? He's better than Slade.

That's a rather big call

sockwithaticket wrote: ↑Sun Jan 02, 2022 4:27 pm

Ovals wrote: ↑Sun Jan 02, 2022 4:20 pm

sockwithaticket wrote: ↑Sun Jan 02, 2022 3:42 pm Northmore always seems class when I catch Quins, should he be in line for England? He's better than Slade.

That's a rather big call

Is it? Tbh I really don't rate Slade, I'd pick a lot of players ahead of him. He's flaky and inconsistent in a way that really should attract the same level of scrutiny Twelvetrees ended up being drowned in. The difference being he's playing in an overally better side, so perhaps his errors aren't quite so significant.