Johnson injury blow for Chiefs

Pictures: Exeter Rugby Club/Pinnacle Photo Agency

 

By Mark Stevens

Exeter Chiefs head coach Rob Baxter is confident Tom Johnson will return "fitter and stronger" after confirming the England star is set for surgery next week on a neck injury.

The 32-year-old has not played since England's summer tour to New Zealand in June and although it was hoped the injury would cure itself following intensive rehabilitation with the club's medical staff, this has not proved the case for the talented forward.

A consultation with a leading specialist last week has confirmed Johnson needs surgery to rectify the issue and his surgery is scheduled for Tuesday.

Confirming that Johnson, who has won eight caps for England, will be sidelined for around 10-12 weeks, Baxter said: “It’s one of those awkward ones where there’s a balance between waiting to see if rehab sorts it out or operate and try to get some immediate results.

“Having spoken to the surgeon and then the surgeon having some debates with our medical staff, because it’s a relatively straightforward one about trimming a bit of bone to free up a nerve, the consensus has been to get the operation done and give Tom the best chance to be good long-term, so we will do it now rather than wait and see.

“Part of the consideration has been that Tom has had two or three seasons where he’s been on England tours so he’s had less proper pre-season time than the other guys. Doing it now ticks a few boxes in that it gives him an extended pre-season period and deals with his neck at the same time.”

A key member of Exeter's playing squad since he arrived from Coventry in 2007, Johnson has to date amassed 178 appearances for the Chiefs, scoring 27 tries in the process.

Although the surgery will rule Johnson out of a number of Exeter's Premiership, European and LV= Cup fixtures, as well as the upcoming Autumn internationals for England, Baxter does not believe his spell on the sidelines will hamper his claims to be part of Stuart Lancaster's squad for next year's Rugby World Cup.

“I don’t see any reason why he can’t play himself into contention for England,” said Baxter. “The important thing is to perform with quality and to do that you need to be fit, you need to be strong and you need to feel comfortable with your body.

“It all sounds a negative when you’re not playing, but this could work out to be a positive for Tom because he’ll be confident going into contact and feel fit, feel fresh and feel strong.”

In Johnson’s absence this term, the Chiefs have formed an impressive triumverate at the base of their pack with Dave Ewers, Ben White and Thomas Waldrom all figuring prominently as the club have notched up three wins in four starts.

With club captain Dean Mumm (pictured left) – who is mainly a lock but has featured as a flanker several times – edging ever closer to fitness following surgery of his own this summer, Baxter says he is happy with the club's resources in the back row.

“James Scaysbrook has played a lot of good rugby for us and has had limited opportunities recently,” he said. “Sam Simmonds played really well in pre-season for us and is an out-and-out openside. “Kai Horstmann played a lot of good rugby for us last year, Don Armand has played right across the back five and the guys who are currently there are playing really well.

“We’re also going to have some options pretty soon with Dean Mumm being fit, who has played a fair bit in the back row for us. We’ve got some good options there so hopefully that will allow us to get through the next two to three months, and then it will be like having a new player back.”