World Cup fatigue? Nobody told these England players
A Rugby World Cup is not simply six weeks of rugby, it is the end of months of preparation for the players, which can take a while to recover from.
After reaching the RWC final, there was always a great fear that many England players would be physically and emotionally drained upon returning from Japan, particularly after coming so close to winning the tournament.
Just as there can be a hangover period for players that win the RWC, the losing finalists can sometimes suffer even more.
The most promising thing for England fans then is seeing many of the players show no signs of struggling upon their return to action.
Although a few players from Eddie Jones’ RWC squad had already returned, this weekend’s most recent round of Champions Cup fixtures saw a vast swathe of players play for the first time since losing to the Springboks.
World Rugby player of the year nominee Sale Sharks’ Tom Curry made his first appearance of the season against La Rochelle, while Elliot Daly made his debut for Saracens against Ospreys, where both received the man of the match award. Exeter Chiefs’ Jack Nowell also received the same gong, as he was at his elusive best with ball in hand against Glasgow Warriors.
Nowell not only has had to contend with the fatigue from the RWC, but a troubled six months with injuries. His performance at Sandy Park, particularly in setting up England teammate Henry Slade’s try, was the quintessence of all that the winger does well.
https://twitter.com/Husker_Ju/status/1198613333257203722?s=20
Tom Curry is ??? https://t.co/x2IRSWetp6
— Philip M ? (@philipm90) November 24, 2019
These three players alone are an encouraging sign that the RWC did not take too great a toll on the players, and has only improved them if anything. Daly was able to show what a well-rounded player he is at Allianz Park, while Curry was everywhere against La Rochelle.
First start of the season for Jack Nowell, and he turns in a MOTM performance as part of a BP victory. Reasonable afternoon's work… https://t.co/B4rVAILkXG
— Ross Harries (@rossharries1) November 23, 2019
The Champions Cup is the closest club rugby gets to the international game, and England’s Jones will be pleased that there are no lingering effects on some of his players as he looks to the Six Nations.
https://twitter.com/k_iddon/status/1198295011143692289?s=20
Great win by @Saracens today. @elliotdaly was superb, played like he'd been with us for years. The Aber Valley Male Voice Choir were brilliant , thanks so much.
— Andy Huntley (@FredFez) November 23, 2019
Saracens have still withheld some of their players, as will all clubs in England throughout the season. The biggest fear in England and Wales (as they reached the bronze final), will be player burnout, but the players’ form does not look like it dropped.
Comments on RugbyPass
*They used to say that football is a gentleman sport watched by hooligans and rugby is a hooligan sport watched by gentlemen. How times have changed.*
3 Go to commentsexcept ot wasnt late wasnt late at all so dont know why you all saying its late he commits early and its your fault fir not paying attention
29 Go to commentsNot sure the Bulls need another average utility back in their ranks. Chamberlain has been ok for the Sharks but is by no means an X-Factor player. Bulls bought several utility backs which they barely use. A typical example would be Henry Immelman who plays mostly Fullback. The Bulls however have rarely played him this year and he has played wing or centre. Bulls want to build depth but seems like they have too many surplus players
1 Go to commentsABs lost against a side playing without a hooker - The guy playing, had one shoulder. Line outs were a gimme for the ABs, and the last 8 minutes 14 played 14 against a team that had been smashed 3 weeks in a row… Yet with all that possession, with all that territory, with all the advantages they actually had, especially in the last 8 minutes, they couldn’t buy a point. Those last 8 minutes determined if they outplayed the Boks or not. History will show that the Boks completely outplayed the ABs, especially in those last 8 minutes, the business end of any rugby match
226 Go to commentsWould’ve, could’ve, should’ve, didn’t.
226 Go to commentsKok will become a fan favourite
1 Go to commentsI am really looking forward to Leigh Halfpenny playing his first Super rugby game for the Crusaders Playing a long side his former Welsh and Scarlets team mate Johnny McNicoll.Johnny has been playing great, back in a Crusaders jersey.The attack has strengthened big time. Also looking forward to David Havili at 10. David is a class act, it also allows Dallas McLeod to remain at 12. A good thing.
1 Go to commentsIf he had stopped insisting on playing in the backrow, instead of wing, where everyone told him he should, he would have been a Bok years ago….
11 Go to comments‘Salads don’t win scrums’ 😂 I love that.
19 Go to commentsCan’t wait for the article that talks about misogyny in Ireland. Somehow.
16 Go to commentsI would like to see a rule change, when the attacking team is held up over the try line, by allowing the defensive team to restart a goal line drop out releases the pressure for the defensive team, but what if the attacking team had to restart a tap 5m out from the defensive team it gives the attacking team to apply more pressure, there are endless options for the attacking side and it will keep the fans in suspence.
2 Go to commentsLess modern South African males predictably triggered.
16 Go to commentsMy heart is with Quins, but the head is convinced Toulouse have too much. Ntamack is back, his timing and wisdom has been missed.
1 Go to commentsWow, what a starting line up for the Sharks) Tasty up front,kremer vs Tshituka or venter …fiery ,,Lavannini ,,will he knobble etzebeth? Biggest game for belleau?
1 Go to commentsIt was rubbish to watch, Blues weren’t even present. Did what they had to do, nothing more. Should be better next week against canes.
1 Go to commentsI’ve just noticed that this match has an all-French refereeing team. Surely a game like this ought to have a neutral ref? Although looking at the BBC preview of the Saints game, Raynal is also down as reffing that - so there may be some confusion about who is reffing what.
1 Go to commentsIf Havili can play anywhere in the back line, why not first 5. #10.
11 Go to commentsThe dressing room had already left for their summer break before they ran out in Dublin that year, and that’s on the coach. Franco Smith has undoubtedly made progress, particularly their maul, developing squad players and increasing squad depth. And against a very tight budget too. That said they were too lightweight last year and got found out against both Toulon and Munster in consecutive games. Better this season so far but they’ve developed something of a slow start habit occasionally, most notably losing at home to Northampton who played them at their own game. Play offs will ultimately show whether there has been tangible progress on last year, or not…!
2 Go to commentsAustralian Rugby has been a disaster, by not incorporating learning from previous successful campaigns. QLD Reds 2011 - Waratahs 2014. Players, coaches and administrators appoint there representatives for scheduled meetings, organisation’s agreement’s assessments and correspondence. This why a unified Rugby Union under one entity works. Every Rugby nation has taken that path. Was most difficult in the Northern hemisphere with over 100 years of club rugby before the game become professional. Took a lot of humility for those unions to eventually work together.
7 Go to commentsThough Wilson’s sacking was pretty brutal, it wasn’t just down to that Leinster game; Glasgow had a lot of 2nd half collapses that season, in the URC and Europe, and only just scraped into the playoffs. Franco Smith has definitely been an improvement, some players are delivering far more than they did under Wilson.
2 Go to comments