BBC reports that great white hope of Scottish propping Euan Murray is recovering from a rib injury and could make him a doubt for our opening Six Nations game. This would be a bit of a blow to be honest, as the scrum was hopefully going to be one of our key strengths in the upcoming tournament. We wish him a swift recovery!
You can read the full story here.
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3 responses
After the incident in Saturday’s game involving Lee Byrne and Cross the Scottish forward which resulted in the latter being injured and then sin binned, I wonder if the time has come to look very closely at the way in which the Welsh full back attacks the high ball. Is leading with a boot and knee at head height not dangerous play? I am all for giving players in the air protection, but good players on the ground following up on a high ball have their eyes fixed on the ball in the air, not on a player flying through the air to take advantage of any contact with an opposing player being sure to result in a penalty. Did Lee Byrne NEED to be off the ground to be certain of collecting the high ball? Was Cross injured, not so much by trying to tackle a player in the air, as trying to protect his head and face from a flying knee, shin and boot? How FAR did Byrne travel through the air before making contact with Cross? Perhaps something else for referees to consider, before sin binning a player who only sees an opponent hurtling through the air at the very last minute and is forced to try to take evasive action while also protecting his head and face.
Sorry! Sunday’s game. For elderly people, one day is much the same as any other!!
It’s a fair point. But jumping up for a high ball with one knee raised seems to be the norm these days I am not sure whether it is a result of jumping technique or some wish to protect one’s bits from onrushing defenders. Cross may just have been unlucky but over-enthusiasm may have been his undoing…
(was this the article you meant to comment on?)