Just before the Head Coaches announce their squads for the opening round of the 2021 6N, here is a brief round-up of how things look.
Ireland
Adam Griggs is pleased with introduction of 7s players into the programme. They (Flood, Higgins, Lane, Moore and Murphy Crowe) bring their own skill-sets and are learning the new systems and patterns very well.
Ciara Griffin is not concerned with the lack of rugby her team has had since the start of the pandemic, describing their internal training games as “ferocious”.
She praised the IRFU for laying on more than 20 training camps to bring them up to speed. She herself does not intend joining the Allianz Premier 15s.
Wales
Siwan Lillicrap says her squad hope the WRU would carry out their promise for her team to go professional some time in the future. Many of the squad have had the benefit of regular match practice in the AP 15s. Wales are already sure of their place in next year’s World Cup.
Italy
On 28 March one Italian player tested positive for Covid-19. The training session was abandoned and the squad returned to home isolation. Now news comes that Ilaria Arrighetti subsequently tested negative and preparations can pick up again. Italy have an extra seven days to wait as they appear in stages 2 and 3 of the competition.
Scotland
They had as tough a time as any nation during the troubled 2020 campaign, but Rachel Malcolm says the squad is now back on track and raring to go. They will miss the decisive presence of Jade Konkel and Sarah Bonor.
France
They have got used to eleventh hour disappointments, but their two pool rounds (home to Wales, then away to Ireland) ought to mean a safe ride to a clincher versus England on 24 April. Only the game in Dublin could provide a few nervous twitches. National interest is focused on the 7s squad at present, with two tournaments in Dubai coming up in preparation for the Tokyo Olympics. France still have a fine 15s squad who have been competing in one of the only two elite leagues in Europe to survive the pandemic.
England
As for the champions, who on earth do they pick? If you choose Lydia Thompson on the wing (two tries in a World Cup final), you have to omit either Abby Dow or Jess Breach. It’s like trying to square the circle.
Practice or the Real Thing?
Can endless training sessions really make up for lack of match practice? The answer must be a firm no. We can only hope that next year will see a return to normal, so all six squads can meet up on more equal terms.
As most of the matches go ‘live’ on free-to-air, we must be prepared for a wider audience seeing a few one-sided contests. The cost is worthwhile.
