Tom Croft: Still recovering from a neck injury
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England and Leicester flanker Tom Croft will not be in action during his country's end-of-year Tests despite being close to a return from injury.
Croft sustained a neck injury while playing for the Tigers in April and although he has gone up a notch with his rehabilitation programme he has still not returned to full training.
England face Fiji on November 10 in their first Test of the season but coach Stuart Lancaster has ruled Croft out of a place in his squad.
The 26-year-old admitted that playing for the Tigers is his main priority and that he was not thinking of an international return at the moment.
"I'm on track of where I'd hope to be at this time," he told the Leicester Mercury.
"We are still a little way off but it is just part of being a rugby player. It is frustrating at the moment watching the boys on the pitch, gearing towards a game at the end of each week and I'm stuck at the gym.
"It would be nice to get back fit and actually have something to train for at the end of the week.
"At the moment I am basically avoiding contact as much as possible.
"I missed the summer tour and that was a very frustrating time in my career but there are silver linings you can take.
"It could be a lot worse and it gives me the chance to get my body back in some sort of decent nick and hit the ground running when I come back.
"England is not a concern of mine at the moment, my concern is getting back for Leicester and back playing well."
Comments
sirtidychris says...
I would love to play
6)Robshaw
7)Armitage
8)Morgan
This would give us a real ball carrying go forward threat and we could be very competive at the break down, however in the current era you need options at the line out and this is something tom croft and tom wood excel at. Therefore
6) Lawes
7) Robshaw
8) Morgan
Robshaw does more breakdown work than he gets credit for, is a standout captain and lawes is back with a bang at the moment
Posted 11:18 05th October 2012
heart_of_oak says...
Haskell was brought in for the last test against SA and by all accounts, did quite well. I think Morgan is the better player for the future. But the point about Easter is that he's on top form right now and we have some tests coming up which we need to win in order to improve our ranking.
Posted 17:31 04th October 2012
TVaddict says...
@ArmchairGeneral
Actually I agree with you in that we should pick the players for the team we're playing.
So for South Africa, and maybe New Zealand, I'd probably go with 6) Lawes, 7) Robshaw, 8) Waldrom. I've never been convinced by Easter at international level, far too slow, and I find that Johnson misses too many important tackles.
Posted 15:24 04th October 2012
rugby_rockstar says...
Given how SA have downright embarrised the england pack on the last two occassions they came to Twickenham and how Tom Croft was playing on both occassions, I'm not actually too concerned that he's not available. The guy isn't physical or committed enough to over come a springbok pack. and I'm bored of watching england get turned over in midefield while Crofty hangs out on the wing rather than getting stuck in and securing go forward ball. You want to play on the wing Tom? stick on a 14 shirt. Rugby union is all about the forwards executing their bread and butter skills. Look at the All Black Pack. there's a very good reason why they are 15 wins and 0, its becasue they decided that the John Mitchell approach doesn't work.
Posted 12:09 04th October 2012
heart_of_oak says...
For non 6N games, I'd have :
Cole Hartley Corbs
Parling Attwood
Lawes Easter Robshaw
I'm really looking forward to seeing Courtney play in the back row. I'd bring Easter off, perhaps at half time and bring Morgan on - depending on how the game was going. Morgan is the future, Easter's there to improve our ranking. Robshaw looks like he has the makings of a good captain and that's why he makes it ahead of say Wood or Johnson.
Re the 10, 12 13 debate... why not APV1 ? I'd love to open up that hoary old chestnut again. I'd like to see what Burns, Twelvetress and Tuilagi (there's no N in Tuilagi, folks) could do. FB will probably be Brown given Foden's injury but Goode is handy there too. As for the wings, it'd depend on the opposition.
Posted 10:05 04th October 2012
APV1 says...
I think that ArmchairGeneral has made a good point. If, and I certainly am, we're looking at 2015 as our goal, we need to be in the top 4 IRB ranked teams come December, as it affects the pools. I know there are no easy pools, but it would be significantly harder playing any of the top 3 in the pool stages than later.
So we need to field our strongest team now, having used SA as a proving ground, and looking at the 2013 6N for the next stage of development. The Autumn tests are about winning and keeping out top 4 place. we're only 0.06 points behinf France, so we need our strongest team on the field and in the 22 (23..?).
But some aren't available - Armitage, for example, who should be there.
For the Autumn I'd have:
Cole, Hartley, Marler
Parling, Lawes
Robshaw, Easter, Johnson
Haskell (or Morgan) and Attwood on the bench. Are we up to 3 FR on the bench in the Autumn..?
Then I'd lose Easter for the 6N and concentrate on Morgan. I know NE's been the form 8 so far, but will he continue until 2015..? I doubt it, unfortunately.
And let's not start the 10 - 12 - 13 debate!
Posted 10:44 03rd October 2012
Ferdie says...
a pity - but surely better i the long-term ie 2013 season, foolish to come back early from any injury - and a neck one especially, last thing you'd want to risk.
Posted 09:06 03rd October 2012
craigsman says...
People are forgetting Tom Johnson already :-)
My forwards:
Cole
Hartley
Marler
Johnson
Lawes
Parling
Robshaw
Morgan
With Haskell, Corbs and Tom Youngs on the bench. Not sure about Palmer though, depends on subs in the backs.
Posted 07:12 03rd October 2012
ArmchairGeneral says...
Wood has not hit his good form yet. Lawes on the other-hand has hit top form almost immediately. At 6. one or two more games to give him 80 minutes and he's very ready and the kind of 6 we will need at least for South Africa.
Lancaster has implied horses for courses. He can jump between Johnson and Lawes at 6.
7. Yes Robshaw.
8. I know it's not long term, but for Autumn it's about winning and getting back to top teams not winning in Twickenham. Therefore Easter. Give Morgan more time and bring him in for the 6 nations.
Assuming Lancaster wont chose Armitage at 7. He'd be my first choice 7. In that scenario happy for Robshaw to play 8.
Dowson is looking a yard quicker at Saints than Wood and he'd be my bench cover after Johnson.
So:
6. Lawes
7. Armitage
8. Easter
No lock on the bench with Johnson and Robshaw on bench with option to move Lawes to lock.
Posted 22:15 02nd October 2012
5Lock4ward says...
Should open the door for Haskell. (ducking as stone throwing begins!)
Posted 19:35 02nd October 2012
TVaddict says...
That's a shame as he really hit some form in the last 6 nations. So for the Autumn I'm thinking:
6) Wood
7) Robshaw
8) Morgan
with Haskell or Waldrom on the bench.
Posted 19:02 02nd October 2012
melkdave says...
Dont think anybody is surprised by this news,hopefully he will be back and fit for 6Ns consideration,and for the Lions tour.
Posted 14:54 02nd October 2012
APV1 says...
Ready for the Lions Tour would be good.
Get well soon.
Posted 14:06 02nd October 2012