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Six key questions answered about how coronavirus has affected the Six Nations
England’s Guinness Six Nations clash away to Italy on March 14 has been postponed due to the coronavirus, the PA news agency understands.
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The coronavirus has been the elephant in the room ahead of Saturday’s visit of Grand Slam champions Wales.
Here the PA news agency looks at how the spread of Covid-19 has dominated the focus before this weekend’s Twickenham encounter.
Why is Mako Vunipola unavailable for the match with Wales?
The Saracens prop was initially named in Eddie Jones’ 34-man training squad on Monday after he returned from Tonga at the weekend. He missed the match with Ireland on February 23 due to unspecified personal reasons so a return to the fold for the Wales fixture was big news. But it later transpired his flight back to England from Tonga was via Hong Kong, a location of significant coronavirus outbreak. England’s medical team therefore made the decision to ask Vunipola not to join up with the squad.
How come Vunipola can play for Saracens?
In a shock twist, Saracens revealed on Wednesday morning that Vunipola was training with them and available for this weekend’s Gallagher Premiership fixture with Leicester. A statement read: “Travellers returning from Hong Kong are not currently subject to mandatory quarantine or self-isolation unless they become symptomatic.” With Vunipola not displaying any symptoms, Saracens feel the forward can play against Leicester, but will continue to monitor him. England cited their camp environment as a key reason for their caution with asking the 29-year-old not to report to their base at Pennyhill Park.
Can England now focus on Wales?
To an extent, but with the coronavirus causing havoc in Italy, England could be forgiven for having an eye on what is the latest there considering their final 2020 Six Nations match is in Rome. Ireland were due to host Italy this weekend, but it was postponed in order to limit the chances of Covid-19 spreading further. On Wednesday it was revealed the Italy-England match could either be played behind closed doors or postponed and on Thursday the March 14 fixture was called off, with a new date to be found.
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What happens now?
The current postponement will have little impact on the final winner of the Six Nations if France continue their excellent form. Fabien Galthie’s side are the only team left who can win the Grand Slam and that will be achieved if they win at Scotland on Sunday and triumph against Ireland at the Stade de France on March 14. However, the postponements involving Ireland, Italy, and England would affect the final table and could result in the tournament not finishing until later in the year.
Has any previous Six Nations even been disrupted this much?
In 2001 the Six Nations did not conclude until October due to the outbreak of the livestock disease foot and mouth in Britain. Restrictions were placed on travel and after the first two rounds were played without disruption, the championship did not finish until the winter when Ireland played their matches with Scotland, Wales and England. The Grand Slam was on for England until the final match on October 20 at Lansdowne Road, but they lost 20-14 and that result finally brought a long drawn out Six Nations to an end.
When can England play Italy?
The earliest possible opportunity for England and Italy to rearrange this postponed Six Nations match appears the end of June. Both have fixtures in July, but domestic and European competitions will be over by June 20. With England playing Japan on July 3, the weekend of June 26-28 is an option, but it would be disrupted by the the Gallagher Premiership play-off final and would leave little preparation time for Japan. Failing that, both unions may look to arrange something for the end of July or even later in the year.
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Press Association
WATCH: Jim Hamilton previews the clash between Scotland and France at Murrayfield.
Comments on RugbyPass
Lets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
10 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
9 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
10 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
9 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
5 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
6 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
22 Go to comments