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The England view on the threatened player strike in Wales

By PA
England's Owen Farrell and Kevin Sinfield (Photo by Dan Mullan - RFU/The RFU Collection via Getty Images)

England assistant Kevin Sinfield and skipper Owen Farrell have shared their thoughts on the current standoff in Wales that has thrown this Saturday’s Guinness Six Nations match in Cardiff into jeopardy. The build-up to the 139th meeting between the rivals is being overshadowed by the threat of strike action by Wales players, who are locked in a contract dispute with the WRU.

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Wales coach Warren Gatland is confident the match will go ahead even though he had to shelve plans on Tuesday to name his team for the match. How is this uncertainty affecting England, though?

“Nothing has changed for us,” Sinfield said. “We control what we can control and look ahead to what will be a fantastic game and something that we’ve all looked forward to. We’ve planned as normal, nothing’s changed for us.”

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Warren Gatland explains his reasoning for delaying team announcement ahead of Wales vs England

Video Spacer

Warren Gatland explains his reasoning for delaying team announcement ahead of Wales vs England

When asked if he sympathised with the predicament of Welsh players, captain Owen Farrell said: “From what I’ve heard, yeah. I know quite a lot of them and I’m sure they are not being unreasonable with what they are asking for. I don’t think they’re like that.

“Then again, I don’t know the other side of it. To be in this situation is obviously not very pleasing for them, but I’m sure they will get it sorted.

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“I’m sure that anyone who is going through a bit of adversity tries to use it and it brings them closer together. As I have said before about this game, going down to Cardiff and playing in front of a packed house at the Principality is always a massive challenge and we are expecting that at the weekend.”

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R
RW 2 hours ago
The All Blacks' backline is to blame for Robertson's unflattering record

Your feelings of rugby players personalities on and off the field aside, the ABs can't really blame the backline, sure they didn't perform but where were they last year, they got to a World Cup final. Same players different coach. Scott Robertson has the unenviable task of taking over a team that has traditionally been fantastic. They places a huge amount of pressure on a man, particularly one with the pedigree of 14 Super Rugby titles.


However club level and international country level are two completely different beasts. For one the opponents are good in club level but normally the best if the best are picked to represent their countries. Thus the level of opposition in club level vary tremendously. Also you only learn against the opposition you play, again Crusaders have really only got New Zealanders to play against who can give them any kind of opposition. Which means any non style ABs game play is not tested by 'Saders because they don't face anything else.


Now Scotty has taken over the coaching role from a guy who worked under possibly the best coach ABs have ever had, which means when Fozzie took over, he still had the inklings of top quality rugby although it appeared he didn't quite know how to work them properly. Now Scotty had no coaching ties with them, effectively starting from scratch. So he is still figuring out his team, and working them in. But unfortunately for now he is the one to blame for the less than average performances by his team that was shown us these past two tests and even the one against Argentina.


But it's not to say he is done and dusted but rather he needs to figure out his route, and like Rassie did and does, figure out his players, his game plan and how to get them back to where they were on 2011-2015.


My suggestion if he can, is to blood quite a few new okies, who can gain experience of playing against Springboks, France, Ireland, etc. and prepare them for the the next World Cup. Don't be shy about losing games but always look to preparing a new group for the RWC '27. If he has a newish style of playing, what better way to inform that than by starting with a fresh pair of legs and minds. Let a couple of the oldies to stay but build a new ABs team with a new style. Easier to train a puppy than an old dog. Just saying.


Give Razor time, and allow him the space. This is coming from a Saffa🇿🇦. Go Bokke, love you okes

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