Shortened Six Nations is ‘gutting’, says Hunt
ENGLAND scrum-half Natasha Hunt claims playing a shortened Women’s Six Nations this year is “gutting”.
The coronavirus-enforced changes mean each team will play three fixtures in April, while the men’s tournament is going ahead as usual.
With the women’s 2021 World Cup set to be postponed, there had been calls to extend the Women’s Six Nations again.
“It’s not the Six Nations, it’s two games and then a final,” Hunt told BBC Radio 5 Live’s Rugby Union Weekly.
“When the announcement came everyone was posting it like it was this amazing thing. But for me it was gutting.
“I completely appreciate the financial burden and how difficult it is to get these games on. But for me that’s the one they’ve given up on too easily.”
Meanwhile, Premier 15s leaders Saracens responded impressively to last week’s defeat at Wasps with an emphatic 53-7 victory over Bristol Bears Women.
May Campbell, Emma Uren, Sophie de Goede, Poppy Cleall and Rocky Clark all crossed before half-time as Sarries built a 34-7 advantage at the break. Campbell completed her hat-trick midway through the second half.
Loughborough Lightning remain second after a 62-0 away rout of bottom side DMP Durham Sharks.
Harlequins are third after a late bonus point win against GloucesterHartpury, while fourth-placed Wasps suffered a narrow 31-29 home defeat against Exeter Chiefs.
FORMER Premier League striker Clinton Morrison believes the return of Jonny Evans and James Maddison from injury will be “crucial” to Leicester’s hopes of playing Champions League football next season, writes Amie Wilson.
City have been without Maddison for the last three Premier League games after he aggravated a hip injury, while Evans has missed the last two matches with a calf problem.
The defender is expected to return to action against Sheffield United on Sunday, but there is still no certainty over when Maddison will return.
Pundit Morrison, above, said that the return of the duo could provide a massive boost for Brendan Rodgers.
“For me, if Leicester get the likes of Maddison back and Jonny Evans, I think Barnes is going to be a bit longer, he might come back before the end of the season, but get Maddison back and get Jonny Evans,” he told BBC Five Live.
“Jonny Evans is crucial, I think he’s so important for them at the back, and also Maddison, he makes things happen.”
Much has been made of City falling out of the top four positions at the end of last season after a poor run of form.
And fans may have been forgiven for thinking that history was repeating itself after losses against Slavia Prague and Arsenal at the end of last month.
However, Morrison said the win against Brighton on Saturday night may show that City have what it takes to get over the line this time.
“But you say that they’ve been on a bad run, they have been, but they go to Brighton, where Brighton are the better team and somehow they dig out a result and get the win and get the three points,” he said.
“It’s going to be all to play for, it’s going to be so many teams fighting, Man United have got West Ham and Leicester [In the FA Cup] in their next two games, they’re huge games for Man United and also for Leicester. So I think this is going to go down to the wire.”