Expat Six Nations players bear the brunt as clubs called the shots this weekend
The early exit of Wales’ Dan Biggar from Northampton’s English Premiership match on Saturday provided a sharp reminder that players contracted to teams outside the Test country they represent remain at the mercy of employers demanding huge value-for-money from their over-the-border signings.
A hefty 135 of the 168 players that have played in the Six Nations opening two rounds had the luxury of putting their feet up and enjoying a rare weekend off without a match.
Not being involved wasn’t a bonus for everyone. The likes of Devin Toner, Mako Vunipola, Julien Marchand and Huw Jones had no choice but to retire to the sofa after injury prematurely ended their championship.
However, sifting through the weekend’s 33-strong list of those who have had to play club rugby, the clear message is that if you work abroad you better be prepared to tog out and earn your wage. There usually is no let-up judging by the demands made of 14 outsiders.
Six of Scotland’s seven players based in other countries have had to front up. So, too, have five of Wales’ six non-Welsh based players along with the three Italy players earning a wage in France and England respectively.
It’s a situation that left Test team coaches Gregor Townsend, Warren Gatland and Conor O’Shea fretting in case their mobile phone suddenly pinged, delivering a message containing the dreaded news that a player they have no control of outside the Test window governed by World Rugby’s regulation nine had picked up a knock threatening their round three Six Nations participation next weekend.
Other championship countries weren’t immune from the threat of receiving bad weekend news. Chris Farrell was one of just four of the 27 Ireland players Joe Schmidt had capped this month who was released for weekend PRO14 duty with a province. The risk backfired.
"I think Chris just tweaked his knee in a carry.
"He already had it strapped before so I think it is just precautionary."
Munster forwards coach Jerry Flannery has some good news regarding Chris Farrell's knee injury.
30mins: Munster 7-0 Kings.
#GuinnessPRO14 #MUNvKIN pic.twitter.com/SffX8l5DIP
— eir Sport (@eirSport) February 15, 2019
Farrell, who started at Murrayfield six days earlier due to an injury crisis, tweaked a knee and limped out of Munster’s facile win over Southern Kings in Cork with less than a quarter of the match played.
Its seriousness hasn’t been officially confirmed, but another midfield concern was the last thing Schmidt wanted after Garry Ringrose and Robbie Henshaw both missed the win over Scotland through injury, allowing Farrell his selection look-in.
But whatever about that gamble not paying off, the IRFU at least had a full say in the first place whether Farrell would or would not play for Munster. That was something the SRU, the WRU and the FIR didn’t have regarding their Test players with club contracts beyond their borders.
What was particularly noticeable in some instances this weekend was how different attitudes prevailed within a club.
? TEAM NEWS | #GallagherPrem ?
The side for today's clash with Saracens at Allianz Park has been confirmed, with no changes to the matchday squad announced on Friday afternoon (except Harry Wells in No.19 and Will Evans in No.20) pic.twitter.com/d6ilISYvdL
— Leicester Tigers (@LeicesterTigers) February 16, 2019
Take Leicester. Dan Cole, a 56th minute sub in the win over France, was the only one of Tigers’ half-dozen England players who faced Saracens away on Saturday.
However, no leeway was afforded to winger Jonah Holmes, who played the full 80 in Wales’ win in Italy last weekend, and Jake Kerr, who had been away with Scotland and played 18 minutes off the bench in their victory over Italy.
This double standard was also visible elsewhere in the Premiership. Only one of Wasps’ four England players – sub scrum-half Dan Robson – was involved in their Friday night win at Bristol.
??????? @_ThomasYoung
? 15 tackles
? 13 carries
?? 2 clean breaks
? 2 defenders beaten
? 1 tryAnother monumental performance by the Wasps number 7? pic.twitter.com/ck8mmJh3b1
— Wasps Rugby (@WaspsRugby) February 15, 2019
But Thomas Young, fresh from an 80-minute debut for Wales in Rome, and Michele Campagnaro, who featured for the Azzurri in that same Test fixture, were both asked to go the distance at Ashton Gate six days later.
There were further examples of different strokes. Exeter rested their England six in the Friday loss at Gloucester but Wales prop Tomas Francis, who started the win over France, played 58 minutes of the tight Kingsholm tussle.
Newcastle duo Gary Graham and Chris Harris, along with Sale’s Josh Strauss, were the other Scotland’s trio involved in this weekend’s Premiership action, Sean Maitland at Saracens their only English-based exile who could put his feet up.
Liam Williams, also on the Saracens books, was the only one of Wales’ six England-based players to have a break.
Team's up!
Your Saracens team to take on Leicester Tigers this weekend. ??
Very limited tickets remain for the match so snap yours up before they're all gone! ??? https://t.co/JvamyC26hN pic.twitter.com/6EnHQjVKhj
— Saracens Rugby Club (@Saracens) February 15, 2019
There were double standards evident as well across this Channel. Whereas Clermont excluded their six France players from their Saturday game at home to Bordeaux, Scotland captain Greig Laidlaw fielded as starting scrum-half.
The same situation will occur in Paris on Sunday, Racing 92 resting France’s Wenceslas Lauret but asking Scottish out-half Finn Russell to start versus Toulouse. That appearance will give national boss Townsend a few uneasy hours waiting to hear his star play-maker has got through the match safely six days before the Scots take on France.
Even Italy were left on tenterhooks by the French, skipper Sergio Parisse chosen on the Stade Francais bench at home to Lyon on Saturday night while Italian hooker Leonardo Ghiraldini must pack down for Toulouse at Racing on Sunday.
Their inclusion was confirmation that it really is one rule for native players at a club in England and France, but a different criteria exists for those coming from elsewhere who play for rival Six Nations countries.
THE CLUB/COUNTRY BREAKDOWN
Wales 31 players used in Six Nations – five played for English clubs this weekend (Jonah Holmes, Thomas Young, Dan Biggar, Tomas Francis, Josh Adams);
France 29 players used – one playing this weekend (Pierre Bourgarit as a La Rochelle sub);
Scotland 29 players used – 12 playing this weekend: six for Scottish clubs (Rob Harley, Ali Price, Adam Hastings, Peter Horne, Jamie Bhattie, Ben Toolis), four for English clubs (Jake Kerr, Gary Graham, Chris Harris, Josh Strauss), and two for French clubs (Greig Laidlaw, Finn Russell);
Ireland 27 players used – 4 played this weekend, one at each Irish province (Chris Farrell, Andrew Porter, John Cooney, Ultan Dillane);
England 26 players used – 2 played this weekend for English clubs (Dan Cole, Dan Robson);
Italy 26 players used – 9 played this weekend: 6 for Italian clubs (Edoardo Gori, Ian McKinley, Nicola Quaglio, Federico Ruzza, Tiziano Pasquali, Jimmy Tuivaiiti), two in France (Sergio Parisse, Leonardo Ghiraldini), and one in England (Michele Campagnaro).
Eleven of the 31 clubs with Six Nations representation in recent weeks – the Welsh quartet of Scarlets, Ospreys, Dragons and Cardiff, Premiership duo Saracens and Harlequins, along with Top 14 quartet Montpellier, Bordeaux, Toulon and Lyon, as well as ProD2 Brive – opted not to use any of their Test championship players this weekend.
Comments on RugbyPass
100% agree with your comment about Touch. I’ve been playing it competitively since Covid. It’s on a Wednesday night after work. It means the weekend is free for time with my family.
1 Go to commentsRodda back is massively important for the Wallabies. Kaitu at hooker important too coz he was very good a few years ago.
1 Go to commentsThe pink cabous might be eligible this year and the Boks don’t need him
7 Go to commentsNasser and kaitu are options for hooker. Especially Nasser. You forgot Rodda who touch wood will be fit at test time and if fit he’s number one. Great partner for the great Skelton and Oz best lineout caller. Third best lock is LSL whom I’d be inclined to sub on for Skelton around 60 minutes. Probably start valetini at 8 because I like a big body back there. Cale should play 6 at the brumbies. For Wallabies definitely cale in the squad but as an apprentice. Dunno who starts at 6 seru wright Swinton hanigan with Will Harris and Harry Wilson not far away. Seru and Swinton my front runners but Swinton is going. Still if we don’t cap seru then Fiji must coz they need his lineout skills and easily compensate for his lack of weight
7 Go to commentsYeah but who was it?
8 Go to commentsThink you might have written this just before the Brumbies got thrashed last weekend
7 Go to commentsI really do believe that Billy Proctor should be selected at least in the larger squad but also it would be my choice at 13, much more a center than Ioane who can still play at wing. Roigard if fit should play, otherwise it should be Perenara or Christie. Also, Iose could deserve a spot at blindside. Of course, being a Canes supporter I’m biased but I really believe that at least Billy P is deserving a chance and being Holland one of the Selectors, I’m having a little hope he could grab it.
12 Go to commentsI would not play Swinton I’d pick Wright or Hanigan. The rest are decent starters, but can’t agree on any subs except Tupou. My take on the subs: Gibbon, Ueslese, Tupou, LSL, Wilson, White, Will Harrison, and Petaia.
7 Go to commentsSBW the biggest moron to pull on a black jersey a park footy player at best
8 Go to commentsSBW is fast becoming a laughing stock, his misplaced comments & lack of insight Is actually pretty sad.
8 Go to commentsJust well you guys are couch 🛋 potatoes selector's, picking a team of greenhorns to play England! “What are you people smoking?” The halfbacks will be Christie, Fakatava, Perenara Props; Newell, Bower, Lomax, Tunga'fasi, Hookers; Asosa Amua when fit, Taylor, Samisoni,
12 Go to commentsQuite frankly, all this is a bit pathetic. The first time Wales get the Wooden Spoon in 21 years and everyone is on the bandwagon for a ‘play-off’ game. Wales have no obligation to Georgia and no obligation to the rest of the Six Nations to play such a game. If they want Georgia in so badly then they need to include South Africa into a Northern Hemisphere competition with 2 leagues of 4 teams with the top 2 competing for the Championship. Sadly, this will end Triple Crowns and Grand Slams forever. Is this really what you want?
4 Go to commentsI think Finau to start Blackadder to come on. Poss Prokter instead of Ioane, haven't seen much from Reiko so far this year.
12 Go to commentsJoe will have had a good chat with Dave Rennie, a smart move to begin with while it’s doubtful Fast Eddie will be consulted? Plenty of Aus players hitting top form so they should go OK.
7 Go to commentsMmm. Not sure I like this article or see it as necessary.
8 Go to commentsBlackadder but no Finau! 😀 It’s Razor so you are probably right, plus Taylor at 2…
12 Go to commentsThe strongest possible AB side would actually include Aaron Smith, Bodie Retallick, Sam Whitelock, Leicester Fainga'anuku, Shannon Frizzel.. don’t get me started on the rest of the injury hit brigade that got flung on the heap so left. Many a whole not getting filled as of yet.
12 Go to commentsI don’t think anyone knows what Schmidt will do, one thing is certain it ain’t gonna be all the picks we on the keyboard will think. My impression of him is that he will be looking at who can step up and what is the best combination. He will ignore individuals as he looks for guys who can build a powerful team and not just guys who can make a flashy run or ignore the winger as they want to score themselves.
7 Go to commentsSome dumb selections there. Not Porecki Not Donaldson Not Gordon Not Lonegran - both Not Nic White - Fines instead Not Liam Wright Not Paisami Definitely not Vunivalu Other than that not bad.
7 Go to commentsI've never been convinced that Patty T is a test match all black. Otherwise I probably agree it's the best side available to beat the poms. Caveat that Codie Taylor is yet to be seen and could very likely warrant selection by June. I hope that Razor brings the young loosies, half backs and locks into the training squad and develops/ selects the best
12 Go to comments