Does Fend protect a player from Piling On?

[feeder]

Reading the description of Piling On says "...only if currently adjacent.." and Fend says "...may not follow up..." AND given that we Block, Push Back and Knock Down, Follow Up, then roll for Armour/Injury.... a player with Fend is safe(er) from Piling On?

[Shteve0]

Yes. Wrestle/Fend is particularly effective; only a blitz against with Juggernaut, or a knockdown with Grab, will allow a piling on in that circumstance.

[daloonieshaman]

That is why sidestep fend is an insane combo

[Rolex]

If you have both fend and block/wrestle you are safe.
If you only have fend and you go down with block PO still works.

[dode74]

If you only have fend and you go down with block PO still works.

Only if you are somehow adjacent to the blocking player with PO, e.g. through grab or by sidestepping yourself or standing firm there, or it being a both down result. In order to PO your player must be standing adjacent to a player who is knocked down by your player, so a DD or DS wouldn't allow you to PO where a BD with block would.

[mawph]

If you only have fend and you go down with block PO still works.

Only if you are somehow adjacent to the blocking player with PO, e.g. through grab or by sidestepping yourself or standing firm there, or it being a both down result. In order to PO your player must be standing adjacent to a player who is knocked down by your player, so a DD or DS wouldn't allow you to PO where a BD with block would.

I was following everything until this post Can you explain with more detail?

[dode74]

Piling On (Strength)
The player may use this skill after he has made a block as part of one of
his Block or Blitz Actions, but only if the Piling On player is currently
standing adjacent to the victim and the victim was Knocked Down. You
may re-roll the Armour roll or Injury roll for the victim. The Piling On
player is Placed Prone in his own square -- it is assumed that he rolls
back there after flattening his opponent (do not make an Armour roll for
him as he has been cushioned by the other player!). Piling On does not
cause a turnover unless the Piling On player is carrying the ball. Piling
On cannot be used with the Stab or Chainsaw skills.

The skill description (CRP page 66). My bold. If the result of a block is defender down or defender stumbles then the defender is first pushed back and then knocked down (barring the dodge skill; CRP page 10).
A Both Down result does not include a push back, which means there is no follow up and therefore Fend cannot be used. This would leave the knocked down (Blockless) defender adjacent to the upright (Block) attacker, meaning Piling On could be used.
If the defender is pushed back and the attacked does not (or cannot, due to Fend) follow up then Piling On cannot be used.
If the defender has Fend but the attacker has Juggernaut then the attacker can follow up and use Piling On.
If the defender has Fend and the attacker has Grab then the attacker cannot follow up but can move the defender to another square adjacent to him, so he can still use Piling On.
If the defender has Fend and Sidestep and the attacker has Grab then the Sidestep cancels out the Grab and the defender is pushed back normally and the attacker cannot follow up and use Piling On. If the attacker does not have Grab then the defender can Sidestep away and leave himself out of contact, preventing the use of Piling On.
If the defender has Fend and Sidestep and the attacker has Juggernaut then the attacker can follow up and use Piling On regardless of where the defender sidesteps to.
In other words: Juggernaut + Block > Fend + Wrestle + Sidestep

Hopefully that's as clear as mud

[babass]

Don't forget to specify, you could used juggernaut only on a blitz action

[siggyllama]

If you only have fend and you go down with block PO still works.

Only if you are somehow adjacent to the blocking player with PO, e.g. through grab or by sidestepping yourself or standing firm there, or it being a both down result. In order to PO your player must be standing adjacent to a player who is knocked down by your player, so a DD or DS wouldn't allow you to PO where a BD with block would.

Note the emphasis: this is Exhibit A in the case against Saying "Block" When You Mean "Both Down". Someone will (very reasonably!) get confused and think you meant "a block" (as dode did here).