Steve Meehan has criticised Newcastle¿s scrum after Aaron Jarvis was injured during Bath¿s 11-6 victory over the Falcons on Saturday.
Newcastle scrum play responsible for Jarvis injury says Bath boss
Steve Meehan has criticised Newcastle's scrum play after Aaron Jarvis was injured during Bath's 11-6 LV= Cup victory over the Falcons on Saturday.
The tighthead prop, who scored the only try of the match, suffered an injury to his shoulder when a scrum collapsed a minute before half-time.
"I'm a bit upset about that," said head coach Meehan. "The referee's blown the whistle and the Newcastle scrum continues.
"That happened on a number of occasions and you've got a guy out with a shoulder injury.
"Their scrum had already been spoken to about that. There was some action that could have been taken there. It continued for a couple of scrums and then they cut it out."
Jarvis' injury brought on 20-year-old local boy Kane Palma Newport for his debut and Meehan was suitably impressed by the youngster.
Breaking point
"I thought Kane was very good today," he added. "It was a great debut. He's a very talented young player."
Meehan's front row resources are now stretched to breaking point and he will ask England Saxons to release prop Duncan Bell for the final round of LV= Group matches.
Bell came on as replacement in the Saxons' 45-17 win over Italy A at Worcester but Meehan will need him for Bath's visit to Leicester next Friday.
The head coach was pleased however, with the way his side coped under 'difficult circumstances' to grind out the win.
"We spoke about this during the week, how important it was to win this match, because we have them twice in the Premiership before the end of the season," he said.
"They have come down with a very good side while we've got a number of guys away with England and Saxons, or resting, so our players did a great job and under difficult circumstances."
Frustrated
Newcastle head coach Alan Tait denied that his players had been at fault for Jarvis' injury but said his side's indiscipline had been responsible for the defeat.
"I think it's what can happen if players are not up to this level," he said. "I think he's Bath's third or fourth choice prop, isn't he?"
"We were doing well, then 20 metres in front of their posts one of our players starts 'chopsing off' at the referee. We gave away daft penalties like that.
"But the boys were really frustrated because the ref seemed to be letting Bath get away with things."
Tait also said that a number of his players had expressed doubt about Jarvis' try, claiming that the prop had been in touch.
"Luke Eves thought he was definitely in touch - but nothing's going to change the result now," he added.