Ward-Smith heartbreak
- 28 Jan 07, 12:34 PM
I refused to watch the endless repeats of against last night.
Especially after the presenter announced that the Bristol number eight had dislocated his kneecap, an injury I have suffered five times.
As he lay stricken on the Franklin's Gardens pitch with an oxygen mask, the memories of how painful the injury is came flooding back.
It has to be said however, that some of my dislocations came in far more ridiculous circumstances.
One forced the temporary closure of Teddington swimming pool in south west London, another was while running to meet an old girlfriend (who was left standing in the street for ages), while the last time I did it was on the way to the toilet before a five-a-side game of football.
For Ward-Smith, the injury is devastating news - coming just a week before he was widely expected to make his England debut against Scotland on Saturday.
The dislocation could end his season and the enormity of what had happened was etched in his face as he was taken to hospital.
Ironically, it came while the New Zealand-born forward was in the process of showing the type of explosiveness that has helped Bristol move to the top of the Premiership this season and also alerted new England coach Brian Ashton.
From a rapidly retreating five-metre scrum near Bristol's line, Ward-Smith took responsibility and picked up from the base in a bid to get his side out of trouble.
But he was met by a wall of green shirts and the 29-year-old did the damage as they desperately tried to keep him in his own in-goal area.
Ward-Smith did not get up and Bristol head coach Richard Hill admitted afterwards that "we all knew what it meant as soon as it happened - it really rocked our players".
It shows how much of an impact he has made this season that Ward-Smith's injury overshadowed the to first-team action for Newcastle.
Ward-Smith was deservedly in with a shout of being a part of England's brave new dawn and the injury is cruel, cruel luck.
It forces Ashton to quickly rethink his game plan before naming his first starting XV on Monday.
Martin Corry will now start at number eight and I personally would like to see the Wasps pair of Joe Worsley and Tom Rees start at blind-side and open-side respectively.
For now though, our thoughts go out to Ward-Smith. We all hope that he recovers quickly and is able stake his claim for a World Cup spot on England's tour of South Africa in the summer.
Wales 27-18 England
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This is going to be a massive blow for the England setup, he was one of the new caps that have really impressed me this season and I was actually looking forward to seeing play in the Six Nations comp and even more so the World Cup, but now it looks likely for him to miss the entire Six Nations Comp, but will this cause him to miss the opportunity to play World Cup Rugby?? I believe not, Ashton has eyed him as a key new player... Now the question is did Ashton ask Bristol to rest Ward-Smith for the game at Northampton, like he asked Wasps to rest Vickery, this could really open up the debate that has plagued English Rugby since winning the world cup about the Club Vs Country Row, will be very interesting to see how things develop tho.
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It is awful for the bloke, and probably the worst news England could have at this time. Although there is a lot of talk about who should play at inside centre and fly-half, we also have a rather limited number of quality number 8s at the moment, and Dan Ward Smith was really beginning to stand above the rest of the crowd.
We are lucky in that we have someone like Martin Corry to replace him. He might not be the fastest player nowadays, but without the worries of captaincy Corry will give it his all time and time again and I'm sure he will be buoyed by Leicester's victory at Munster last week.
However, I would like to see someone like Nick Easter pushing their way into the senior squad sooner rather than later, although I hear he was red carded yesterday.
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England need to move foward so playing corry would be a step backwards, worlsey should start at 8, Moody at 6 and either lund or Rees at Openside.
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England need to move foward so playing corry would be a step backwards, worlsey should start at 8, Moody at 6 and either lund or Rees at Openside.
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This is going to be a massive blow for the England setup, he was one of the new caps that have really impressed me this season and I was actually looking forward to seeing play in the Six Nations comp and even more so the World Cup, but now it looks likely for him to miss the entire Six Nations Comp, but will this cause him to miss the opportunity to play World Cup Rugby?? I believe not, Ashton has eyed him as a key new player... Now the question is did Ashton ask Bristol to rest Ward-Smith for the game at Northampton, like he asked Wasps to rest Vickery, this could really open up the debate that has plagued English Rugby since winning the world cup about the Club Vs Country Row, will be very interesting to see how things develop tho.
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Most unfortunate for DWS, thoughts go out to him, but one person's misfortune could turn out to another's lucky break. I agree with w0zzee that Martin Corry will probably take the 8 shirt now, but from what I've seen recently Alex Balding at Gloucester seems to doing a very similar job for Glos as DWS was doing for Bristol. Solid at the base of the scrum, mobile around the park, always appears to break the gainline in close contact. Also everyone outside of Gloucester seems to talk so much about James Forrester, but Balding along with Andy Hazell have been fantastic in the games that I have seen them play this year.
The other option may be to play Lewis Moody at 8, with Worsley at 6 and either Tom Rees or Magnus Lund at 7.
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Worsely at 8?
Never played there and the in form 6 -what planet are you on? Corry is a shoe in at 8 if Ward Smith is unfit.
Add Moody at 6 and Lund at 7 and you have a back row capable of troubling the sweaties.
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Corry has been one of the standout players in this country in the past few months. He was awesome against Munster. If you watch club rugby then you will know that selecting Corry is not a step backward but finally a selection of form and fitness over reputation. Isn't that what everyone has been asking for?
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i think the news about dan ward smith is absolutely devastating, he was week in week out performing for bristol and is the best 8 in the country and pushing for the best 8 around. but despited that corry can easily fit into this role as he has proved himself at international level before, and he can be free to play and not captain the side, this can only help him.
i think a fit wilko has to play, there is a risk of him getting injured i no but we desperately need him, withouth him england have no direction, no pace in the backs and no creativity and with players such as tait and varndell this is hard to believe.
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Ward-Smith, a true Plymouth Albion legend, get well soon, you will sail into the england 1st XV.
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When is Ben Skirving going to get a mention? Anyone who has ever watched Saracens will know that he is without a doubt the best young number 8 we have in this country. I say get him in now and let Corry retire like he should have done years ago.
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I was really looking forward to seeing Ward-Smith play (if selected) against Scotland. As a replacement I would like to see Skirving given a go but it will most likely be Corry. Skirving is one of the quickest players at Saracens (including the backs) and he James Forrester and Ward-Smith are the future for England at Number 8.
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absolutly devastating for him and england, we finally looked like we might have a quality powerful and skillful no 8. i agree with nathaniel now tho we cant go back to corry worsley at 8 moody at 6 and lund/rees 7
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Well it truly was bad news about Dan, and England being Welsh still hurt me to see the Game on the weekend and to see Dan being carried off just as the game began. I live in plymouth have been a great follower of Plymouth Albion and Dan has always had a great following as he was a great Albion player, it was good to see his name on the england line up but with this injury its a bigger shame. Get better Dan
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Whoever is saying play Worsley at No 8 has never played that position themselves.
I thought we should have learnt the necessity of playing a specialist in that position after the problems Sanderson had there in the Autumn internationals.
I agree with Parsifel, and would give Skirving the start, with Lund at open and Worsley/Moody nat blind side.
But DWS will be missed, pace, stength, skill. This with the ability to control the ball at the base of the scrum, coupled with and the confidence to take things forward when the scrum is under pressure, are greatly under-estimated strengths.
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DWS's injury is heartbreaking, i play no.8 myself and perfecting the quality's he has is something i've really set myself to do, get well soon is all i say
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Would go for Corry at 8 for his carrying, dog and experience and play Moody and Lund on the flanks as both are quick and can balance Corry's lack of pace. Haven't seen enough of Rees to know whether he might make the grade.
Tempting to risk Wilkinson but if he's injured again (not unlikley), you've told t'other 10s you don't rate them. Guess I'd take the risk and hope I could get one of the others on later in the match.
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Whenever I hear the words "broken" or "knee" or "cap" placed anywhere near each other in the same sentence my heart skips a few beats, my bowels drop, and I get a wobbly feeling.
This is because my worst injury was breaking my kneecap on the Murrayfield training ground just a couple of weeks before Scotland were due to tour New Zealand. I thought at the time that someone had shot me in the left knee, perhaps a sniper on one of the roofs nearby, as a small explosion took place the moment I ran into my team mate, Iain Milne. My left hand went gingerly down to the source of the noise and found the knee cap half way up my thigh. Then, like all good injuries, I stopped feeling any pain and went numb.
So, when poor Dan Ward Smith did his at the weekend I shuddered. Dan, I do not know you, but I am a big fan, as is my son - like you a nUmber 8 - who texted me the minute you were injured. You are a great player, a man who carries the ball with spirit, speed, passion and ability, and I want you to get better quickly as I was looking forward to seeing you play in the Six Nations.
You probably find it strange that a former Scottish number 8 has watched you from North of Hadrian's wall, but it's true. I thought you were the most exciting back row player on the horizon. The first time I saw you play you gathered the ball in your own half, then appeared to run through half the opposing team all by yourself with massive pace.
Get well, get better, good luck.
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Living in holland just read about the injury. Really gutted for him and also for the viewers he would have made a huge impact I'm sure. I hope the scan shows 'just' a knee cap dislocation.
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Living in holland just read about the injury. Really gutted for him and also for the viewers he would have made a huge impact I'm sure. I hope the scan shows 'just' a knee cap dislocation.
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actually axisadman worsley has played 8 several times for wasps and actually has a few england caps in that position. (2002 six nations i think it was) he is more than capable of playing there would give england a much more mobile backrow than they have picked!!
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Mark, what about when you dislocated it on New Years Eve, playing football, by candlelight, whilst drunk?
That aside, I'm sorry for Ward-Smith and as you pithily observe, it is truly "cruel, cruel luck".
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