Rob Baxter: Plastic pitches bad for player welfare

Exeter coach Rob Baxter has questioned the long-term future of artificial pitches after being forced to omit winger Jack Nowell for last Sunday's loss at Newcastle.
Nowell, who recently returned after 18 weeks out following knee surgery, was left out amid fears his recovery might have been compromised by playing on Falcons' new 4G surface.
Exeter were defeated 29-24, raising question marks over the integrity of a competition in which some clubs are disadvantaged by feeling unable to select their best team.
“I am a bit concerned,” Baxter told The Rugby Paper. “Personally, and speaking to players, the majority would prefer to play on grass and it's almost one of those non-debates.
“Everyone has to toe the PR line, we're aware of that, and 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.
“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.”
Harlequins boss Conor O'Shea is another who doubts plastic is fantastic.
He told TRP: “The change of surface can make a difference to some players and it'll be interesting to see some of the longitudinal studies that are going on in the States to see the impact on careers.
“I understand completely the community side of the game and the impact artificial pitches can have there, but I'm a traditionalist myself.”]
NEALE HARVEY