Aviva Premiership
'Plastic pitches not good for player welfare'
ESPN Staff
October 12, 2014
Exeter Chiefs' head coach Rob Baxter, Aviva Premiership launch, Twickenham, London, England, August 26, 2010
Rob Baxter - 'Everyone has to toe the PR line, we're aware of that' © Getty Images
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Exeter coach Rob Baxter has questioned the long-term future of artificial pitches after he felt he had no choice but to omit winger Jack Nowell, who recently returned to action after 18 weeks out following knee surgery, for last week's game at Newcastle. Baxter said he feared Nowell could have struggled on Newcastle's new 4G surface.

"I am a bit concerned," Baxter told the Rugby Paper. "Personally, and speaking to players, the majority would prefer to play on grass [but] everyone has to toe the PR line, we're aware of that.

"These pitches are sanctioned by the IRB, but for some guys they're not good for player welfare and it's slightly frustrating.

"Jack's case was always going to be that way because he doesn't react well to playing on rubber-crumb and he's only just back fit as well. The combination of the two meant we weren't going to risk him at Newcastle."

Baxter was aware his comments could be view as sour grapes after Exeter lost, giving Newcastle their first Premiership win in almost a year. "It's frustrating, although I'm certainly not using it as an excuse for losing. But over a period of time I think there'll be a move towards standardising grass surfaces, especially when you see the quality of the Desso pitches you can have now.

"We've trained on our new Desso every day since we were back at Sandy Park and it's still like a carpet. It's not 100 per cent grass but you wouldn't know it by walking on it and the argument to have artificial surfaces is diminishing."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd

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