Only No.9s survive the carnage

BY Friday night, the number of non-starters for the opening round of the Six Nations had grown to almost 30, including the Fijian who did more than anyone else to push Saracens to the brink.

Aliverete Raka has been unable to add to his hat-trick against the champions due to an injury in the return tie which destroyed the imminent prospect of his joining an entire squadron of wings from Fiji to take flight with Australia, England, France and New Zealand.

He, like the majority of those under repair in the pits, will be stuck there for the entire Championship. Only one position has survived intact, scrum-half with all the principal players in one piece going into the weekend matches.

Backs: Jared Payne (Ireland), Rhys Priestland (Wales), Alivereti Raka (France), Jonathan Davies (Wales), Garry Ringrose (Ireland), Damien Penaud (France), Ben Te’o (England), Manu Tuilagi (England), Wesley Fofana (France), Luke Marshall (Ireland), Elliot Daly (England), Craig Gilroy (Ireland), Camille Lopez (France).

Forwards: Alan Dell (Scotland), Fraser Brown (Scotland), Finlay Bealham (Ireland), Zander Fagerson (Scotland), Willem Nel (Scotland), Jake Ball (Wales), Yoann Maestri (France), Sean O’Brien (Ireland), Dan Lydiate (Wales), Rhys Ruddock (Ireland), Sam Warburton (Wales), Tommy O’Donnell (Ireland), Billy Vunipola (England), Taulupe Faletau (Wales), Jamie Heaslip (Ireland), Nathan Hughes (England).