Turner fuming over Lydiate injury

[TRF_Cymro]

Newport Gwent Dragons coach Paul Turner has accused Wales of putting flanker Dan Lydiate's fitness at risk ahead of their clash with Connacht on Thursday.

The young flanker was put through physical testing at the Vale of Glamorgan headquarters on Monday along with the rest of the Welsh players hopeful of being involved in Wales' Six Nations campaign.

But he sustained a fresh injury to his neck and Turner criticised the Welsh management for putting the players through such a rigorous testing regime prior to a full round of Magners League matches.

Turner said that due to the short turnaround between the Dragons' fixtures with the Scarlets and Connacht he asked for his players to be left out of the fitness training.

"It's a disgrace, especially as we're a region with not great resources," Turner told the South Wales Argus. "Our two players have been tested and one of them has got injured, Dan has come in with a neck injury, he can't move it.

"It means he's almost certainly out of the Connacht match now, and it's our most important game of the season. They had him in there and though his neck wasn't right they've messed around with it and made it worse when we distinctly said our players should not be tested this week.

"Dan has gone down there with a couple of knocks (he's also got shoulder and knee problems) but he's been strength tested and come back unfit.

"We have basically got shafted and it will have big implications because of Thursday's match when we said we had to be looked after because we had a game earlier in the week than anyone else.

"I've got e-mails which were sent about this and I'm fuming about it. Dan is probably our best player, yet Scarlets players went there on Monday and they weren't tested."

The Wales management declined to comment on Lydiate's injury.

http://www.espnscrum.com/celticleague-2010-11/rugby/story/131969.html​

 

[MichaelBoard]

If this is true, and of course Turner has no reason to lie, then that is not very good or professional by Gatland and the Welsh management, especially if Turner specifically requested that his 2 players not be included and that he gave a good reason

 

[TRF_Olyy]

It is a bit ****, considering Wales were told he had a slight injury, and shouldnt be tested, then they went ahead an injured him anyhow.
It's in their best interest (as well as Dragons) to have him as fit as possible as much as possible, having him miss games doesn't help anyone (except Connacht)

 

[TRF_Cymro]

Well played Gats lad!

 

[MichaelBoard]

It is a bit ****, considering Wales were told he had a slight injury, and shouldnt be tested, then they went ahead an injured him anyhow.
It's in their best interest (as well as Dragons) to have him as fit as possible as much as possible, having him miss games doesn't help anyone (except Connacht)

Exactly its about the clubs and country working together and communicating. It would of benefited the Dragons had he not gone and Wales in the long run if he was given time to recover fully. You never know, (though its unlikely) he may pick up some more ****ling injuries as a result of this then miss the Six Nations