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Bath tackle a 'few red flags' waved after Underhill skips comeback

(Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images)

Bath boss Stuart Hooper has insisted that Sam Underhill hasn’t suffered a fresh concussion setback and that his late withdrawal from last Saturday’s Gallagher Premiership win away to Newcastle was due to illness and nothing else. The England back-rower had been unavailable for selection since suffering his latest head knock in the January 22 Heineken Champions Cup defeat to Leinster

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That injury ruled him out of selection by Eddie Jones for the Six Nations and it was only last weekend following a five-week layoff that he was considered for Bath selection. However, having been named on the bench on Friday lunchtime, Underhill was missing when the game went ahead the following day at Kingston Park after he wound up not travelling. 

This eleventh-hour absence would have opened the door to speculation that the flanker might have encountered an issue with his concussion recovery, but Bath director Hooper was adamant that wasn’t the case and that Underhill is fighting hard for selection in this Saturday’s derby game at home to Bristol.      

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Beyond 80 | Knocked

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Beyond 80 | Knocked

“He is absolutely fine,” said Hooper about a forward that England have missed in recent weeks after Underhill had been an ever-present as their starting openside in the three-game Autumn Nations Series.  

“He was just sick for a couple of days. It is just one of those decisions that we made based on his fitness. Obviously the concussion against Leinster, he was fine afterwards but we treat it in the right way.

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“He was then going to go and see the specialist but he then had covid and that was back when you still had to isolate. Then he is inside for ten days and we go from there. I can see from the outside him not being involved against Newcastle would probably wave a few red flags but I can promise you he is absolutely fine, he is raring to go.”

Hooper added that Underhill, whose comeback against Leinster lasted just 15 minutes following a Boxing Day head knock versus Gloucester, is the type of character to quickly overcome the disappointment of injury and illness. 

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“For sure, he is absolutely someone who can do that, he can compartmentalise the different parts. He knew the concussion was a setback, yes, but he dealt with that in the same way that he deals with the covid and the sickness. He is good and he has been training today [Tuesday].” 

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Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
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