Share

SRU winning pitch battle

Edinburgh - Scottish Rugby Union chiefs are optimistic they are getting the better of parasites that have spoilt the once pristine Murrayfield pitch in time for the Six Nations Championship.

However, Edinburgh said Monday their Celtic League match against the Ospreys on February 28 may have to be moved elsewhere in order to spare the turf punishment.

Long renowned for the quality of its playing surface, Murrayfield came under attack from nematodes in the build-up to the 2013 end-of-year Tests.

Front-row forwards at scrums found life even more difficult than normal when the pitch churned up badly during Scotland's November internationals against Japan, South Africa and Australia.

However, the SRU were confident Monday that a "manageable" problem would not pose a threat to the staging of Scotland's two home matches in the 2014 Six Nations at Murrayfield, against England and France on February 8 and March 8 respectively.

"Scottish Rugby continues to monitor carefully the international pitch at Murrayfield Stadium," said an SRU spokesman on Monday.

"The playing surface at the home of Scottish rugby has been regarded with justifiable pride for many years; therefore its current condition is a matter of understandable concern.

"This season, however, a parasitic infection, which affected the roots of the reseeded grass pitch, coupled with the wintry weather, has placed considerable stress on the playing surface, in spite of the tireless work of the Murrayfield groundstaff.

"The latest testing of the pitch shows that the problem with the nematodes is now 'manageable' and that the treatment being used to eliminate the worm -- which includes spraying the pitch with garlic, then plant sugars to stimulate growth -- is beginning to take effect."

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Voting Booth
Should Siya Kolisi keep the captaincy as the Springboks build towards their World Cup title defence in 2027?
Please select an option Oops! Something went wrong, please try again later.
Results
Yes! Siya will only be 36 at the next World Cup. He can make it!
25% - 1273 votes
No! I think the smart thing to do is start again with a younger skipper ...
29% - 1472 votes
I'd keep Siya captain for now, but look to have someone else for 2027.
45% - 2251 votes
Vote
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE