From what I understand, we had so many injuries this week, we did not actually train (just gymn work). You can't look at who played and say well you don't have that many out. Unlike the Giants we have not had the luxury to rotate fit players. instead, if you can walk you play.
Players who probably would not have been playing today if a body was available. That's another question, Flannery was not even in the 19 squad, but we where trying to rush him out there. Graham had a bust sternum a few weeks back, but has not been rested, NAthan Ashe was not ready to play, Wellens has been rushed back from injury, there are others out there carrying not niggles, but injuries that require rest, but we just can't afford to do it, it's the 17 least injured out there at the moment, not the 17 who have done the best in training.
It's nice when you can rotate the likes of Lunt and Robinson at hooker, but Roby has been doing a full 80 for 5 or 6 games now. He's a machine but even the best this will take a toll.
Brough is a class kicker and brown has been getting better and better each year. We had a 2nd rower and a rookie fullback playing in the half's.
Because of that, we did not have Wilkin in the 2nd row. As for our pack, well look what we could bring on, that's where it showed in the 2nd half, when we had to rotate and rest graham and soliola.
We had wingers and centres in the pack during the game. So yes we had some good players on the pitch but the conditions they are playing under are not ideal and have not been for weeks, it takes it's toll.
Wellens (back too soon)
Foster (fine)
Shenton (fine)
Meli (fine he was awful)
Gardner (is not a 2nd rower by any stretch)
Wilkin (not a half back)
Ashe (back too soon and not a halfback)
Graham (fine but far too many minutes played in recent weeks and today)
Roby ( has not had any game time out in 6 weeks, can anyone else name a hooker with so much game time)
Perry (fine)
Soliola (fine)
Ashurst (would struggle to make the 19 in normal weeks)
Megenis (would normally make the 19 squad maybe)
LMS (fine)
Armstrong (would get the odd game as a sub against lower league opposition)
Makinson (back with an injury 3rd game ever or is it 4th)
Scott Hale ( not sure this lad had a squad number a few weeks ago)
So I make that 6 players, playing under what would be normal conditions for any player. The rest are playing through injury or doing longer minutes or playing at a level above what would be expected or playing positions that are just not their positions.
When you have players playing the full 80, wingers in the pack and pack players at halfback, then feel free to say we are milking this situation.
As far as I can remember I've never known an injury crisis like this at Saint's ever.
