Plan to shorten Six Nations for Lions’ sake

‘‘There is a human element about the All Blacks at the moment and, if anything, they are a bit of a wounded beast. They’ll be off to the beach over the summer with that nagging thought in their heads about what could have been.’’

Dowd insists that is ‘‘really good for the All Black camp and psyche’’ at this late stage of a World Cup cycle where they had previously seemed totally dominant.

‘‘They know they have got to lift it again if they are to be better than they were in 2018 and if they The Rugby Football Union and Celtic Unions are at loggerheads over a plan to ensure the British and Irish Lions have more time to prepare for tours.

Nigel Melville, the RFU interim chief executive, has attempted to instigate talks between Premiership clubs and the Lions regarding player release and training time.

But the clubs have are to win the Rugby World Cup.’’

He felt errors and turnovers would be the biggest concerns for the New Zealand management as they reflected on a difficult year and looked for areas to improve.

‘‘We were pressured into making mistakes at crucial times which is uncharacteristic of the All Blacks, especially if you look at some of the intercept passes, brain fades and decisions that were made under pressure, which only put us under further under the pump,’’ Dowd said.

‘‘That comes down to experience. But the All Blacks will be better for having gone through those things. Hopefully they

‘‘There is a human element about the All Blacks at the moment.’’ Craig Dowd

resisted demands to cut their season by one week in seasons (every four years) when the Lions are touring, meaning Melville will revisit an old proposal.

The Lions are keen to avoid a repeat of last year’s tour of New Zealand, when the Warren Gatland-coached Lions arrived in the country just four days before their first fixture – against the Provincial Barbarians in learnt from it.’’

Dowd also felt there was a worrying lack of ‘‘uncompromising physicality’’.

‘‘They certainly didn’t have that against England and Ireland and, at times, South Africa. They are physical teams, all of them, and they matched us in that department.’’

He targeted the breakdown, New Zealand’s traditional strength, as an area where they All Blacks had lost ground over the back half of the season.

‘‘Especially against Ireland when we were out-muscled. We need to be stronger and we need to be more physical.’’ Whangarei. Previous attempts to reduce the Six Nations from seven to six weeks, by flagging one of two rest weekends, had been rejected.

The RFU is set to revisit the the plan ahead of the Lions’ tour of South Africa in 2021, which will consist of eight matches, two fewer than recent tours.

‘‘They need an extra week,’’ Melville told the Daily Mail. ‘‘If every four years we move the Six Nations from seven to six weeks, you create that. So why don’t we do that?’’

The overbearing influence of English clubs didn’t sit well with many after last year’s Lions’ tour, after they refused to alter their schedules.

Melville wants that to change, but isn’t holding his breath.