How the Bruising Six Nations Schedule Racks Up Rugby's Body Count

Martyn Thomas explains the toll the Six Nations takes on its players, and on the quality of domestic competition in the Northern Hemisphere.

The Six Nations is a competition that prides itself on its attritional nature, and heading into the third round of fixtures this weekend it is easy to see why.

Although England have emerged from the early weeks of action with two wins and a relatively unscathed squad, they are the exception.

Ireland, Italy and Scotland have all been forced into squad reshuffles while Wales have been left sweating over the fitness of a couple of senior players.

Warren Gatland’s side take on France under the Principality Stadium roof on Friday night, with their opponents’ lack of back-three options forcing them into an embarrassing clerical error.

With Teddy Thomas and Marvin O’Connor the latest French wingers to suffer injury while in action for their clubs over the weekend, Les Bleus coach Guy Noves turned to Djibril Camara and David Smith to plug the gap.

The only problem being that while Samoa-born Smith “appeared eligible”, he was not.

An appearance for New Zealand at the 2008 Edinburgh Sevens, revealed by the 29-year-old when he arrived at the training camp in Marcoussis, left the French Federation red faced and forced Noves into a swift U-turn.

And while those responsible for Smith’s call-up may not want to dwell on Sunday’s events, the fact that France were in the position they were hints at a wider issue.

Coming barely three months after the culmination of the Rugby World Cup, there was a hope that this year’s tournament could help erase the the pain of a bruising autumn for northern hemisphere sides.

Yet, so far it seems that the six squads have barely had time to regroup.

Certainly, you could compile an extremely decent invitational XV from the players who have been forced to sit and watch the action so far this month.

Louis Picamoles would be in there, as would Wesley Fofana, Jonny May and Sean O’Brien.

The strength of domestic rugby in Europe – particularly the Aviva Premiership and Top 14 – has not helped in that regard. Neither has departing early from the World Cup.

England fly-half George Ford is a case in point. Seven days after England signed off from a disastrous home tournament with a 60-3 defeat of Uruguay, the 22-year-old lined up for Bath against Exeter. He has since gone on to play 16 matches for club and country.

That may not sound like the biggest workload but it meant that between the opening game of the World Cup on September 18 and England’s win in Italy on Valentine’s Day, Ford had just two weeks off.

It should come as little surprise therefore that having had to forgo an extended break at the end of last season, the playmaker has struggled for form this term.

Ford has been fortunate in one respect, though. Having started each of England’s Six Nations victories so far, he was at least afforded some time off last weekend.

That was not the case for those players released back to their clubs, either because they were on the fringes and attempting to maintain their sharpness, or because it was contractually obliged.

The majority of those involved across Premiership, Top 14 and PRO12 action returned to their national set-ups on Sunday night or Monday morning unscathed. But not all were so lucky.

Wales have concerns over both Jonathan Davies and Luke Charteris – who ply their trade in France at present – while centre Cory Allen is definitely out of Friday’s game having suffered an ankle injury playing for the Cardiff Blues.

A potentially cruel blow for a player who would have been in contention to start were Davies not to pull through from a groin injury.

“It’s unfortunately the nature of the weekend between Six Nations games. It’s the same for every other country. It’s a difficult time,” Wales assistant coach Rob Howley said on Monday.

“You are hoping and praying that the players released don’t get injuries. Unfortunately, with Cory, we have come up a little bit short.”

In an age when player welfare is such a prevalent issue it is questionable whether national coaches should be relying on hopes and prayers, but what is the alternative?

If you were thinking purely about safeguarding those putting their bodies on the line then a case could be made for postponing or streamlining post-World Cup Six Nations.

But that would deprive northern hemisphere rugby fans of one of their most savoured traditions: a yearly tournament that transcends the sport in terms of its popularity.

In such a busy international calendar it would be difficult to reschedule too, with European club competition heading towards the business end and the unions already eyeing their end-of-season tours.

So, it seems that the current status quo is set to stay, and for fans that is no bad thing – after all, if you exclude England’s 40-9 win over Italy then the average margin of victory over the first two rounds has been just 2.2 points.

It may not be pretty, or for the faint of heart, but you cannot say the Six Nations is anything but enthralling.