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Scarlets preparations for PRO14 final in disarray and lash out over 'shocking' Scotstoun pitch
By Peter Thompson
Johnny McNicholl says 4G pitches should be "illegal" after Scarlets players were left with burns, bad grazing and blisters following their Pro14 semi-final win at Glasgow Warriors last Friday.
The Scarlets were unable to train on Monday and some players were still not fit to join in a full session on Tuesday as a result of injuries sustained on the Scotstoun surface.
Full-back McNicholl is among those suffering as Wayne Pivac's side prepare to face Leinster in the final on Saturday.
The New Zealander said: "It has not been a couple of nice nights, sticking to the sheets,
"Underfoot, it is good when you are running, but 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 got this massive grass burn on my backside.
"It was like a carpet burn. I said to the trainer straight after with a few words that I felt this pitch should be illegal."
The 28-13 last-four victory also came at a cost for Steff Evans.
"These [wounds] 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." the Wales wing said.
"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."
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Latest Comments
Agree with Wilson B- at best. And that is down to skilled individual players who know how to play the game - not a cohesive squad who know their roles and game plan. For those who claim that takes time to develop, the process is to keep the game plan simple at first and add layers as the squad gels and settles in to the new systems. Lack of progress against the rush D, lack of penetration and innovation in the mid-field, basic skill errors and loose forwards coming second in most big games all still evident in game 14 of the season. Hard to see significant measureable progress.
Go to commentsKeep telling yourself that. The time for a fresh broom is at the beginning - not some "balanced, incremental" (i.e. status quo) transition. All teams establish the way forward at the beginning. This coaching group lacked ideas and courage and the players showed it on the pitch. Backs are only average. Forwards are unbalanced and show good set piece but no domination in traditional AB open play. Unfortunately, Foster - Mark 2. You may be happy with those performances and have some belief in some "cunning plan" but I don't see any evidence of it. Rassie is miles ahead and increasing the gap.
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