If players are going out there onto the pitch injured before they start the game then it is a bit of an insult to the fans who are turning up week after week in order to watch the players play.

I accept that his effort is to be admired but essentially we are not getting a player playing at 100% of his capability and therefore by continuing on the park they are weakening the side.

Also, what message does this send out to some of the youngsters who are not getting a look in despite a first teamer (who hardly had the greatest year ever) carrying an injury?

Fair play to Langley for his efforts but the fact that we have to persist in using a player who is carrying an injury is a bit of a concern.

Every team in SL will have players playing who are not 100% at times during the season. Where exactly is the line drawn? I think it is completely unrealistic to say a player shouldn't be picked if they a slight niggle or an injury that they feel they can play through. The club have to listen to the medical advice given and the player in question and then make their decision. As already mentioned, the form of Langley towards the end of the year suggests it wasn't just the injury that affected his performances.


Players like Whitehead and Donaldson who forced their way into the side this year and look certain to play even more games next season?

But not at the expense of Langley.

No at the expense of Solomona who was deemed unable to play on and delay surgery. As someone who paid to watch the Bulls and Langley, I can't say I feel insulted. I expect like all clubs we had other players continuing on with niggles, it is something that every player in SL will have done at some point.

So given the point I was making was about Langley I fail to see your argument?

I've played a lot of rugby & would say that there was someone not 100% fit in every game I played. My body is knackered largely due to the same. The only player I can remember refusing to play unless he was 100% was Bob Lindner while at Cas - he got roundly abused as a result.

Chev Walker point blank refused to come out for the 2nd half the other day. Fair play to him.

Well which youngsters are not getting a look in due to Langley playing with an injury? Or would you suggest we put half our reserve grade out if a player has a slight knock despite him still being able to perform at a decent standard?

I thought it was commonly known that players carry knocks into games? By the back end of the season this applies to most members of the squad.

It was widely suggested on here that Langley, for most part of the season, was not performing to a decent standard however.

He was inconsistent and had some poor games. I wouldn't say he was consistently poor though. His form towards the end of the year would appear to dispel the theory that the shoulder injury was the sole reason for this inconsistency though. Perhaps if we hadn't already lost Morrison and Sol we could have afforded to rest Langley for a few weeks.

FWIW I think he did what was required for the most part of the season and was quite outstanding at the back end, during our winning streak. Previous comparisons on other threads regarding his stats show that he's been a consistent performer.

I wouldn't argue too much with that but there were a few shockers in there as well when his defence was not what we have come to expect.

Indeed.

Which goes to show, when you read this thread, who actually knows anything about the game?

And who does not.

Come come. No need to put yourself down.

rlclickety clickrl