Women’s restart can be road map for whole game
As we finally come to the end of what has been the most disrupted season of rugby since the war, it’s going to be interesting to see what we have learned.
Even before the virus created pandemonium, we had what could be seen as a first in the game since the inception of the league structure in 1987, with what amounted to a ring fenced Premiership.
As soon as it became established that Saracens would definitely be the club taking the drop, the rest of the clubs reacted as they would if an official ring fence is ever put in place.
As soon as it becomes obvious where the teams are likely to finish in the league, coaches begin to prioritize the competitions they still have some hope of succeeding in.
As a result of the selection policy of a number of coaches, it led to some games having a different result to what would have normally been expected.
The selection of sub-standard teams taking part in a number of matches has seen some results being so skewed as to have damaged the integrity of the league itself.
I am not talking about a win or a loss by a few points, but games where one team has a cricket score against another because the result doesn’t matter.
Although it may make for passable television, any real rugby fan would baulk at the idea that games can virtually be thrown, because everybody knows that whatever happens it will make no difference.
As a result some young players getting their first chance to play first team rugbyhave been faced by a side full of experienced players and have been totally outclassed, which could be a career-threatening experience.
Since the Premiership restarted there have been a number of big scoring games that almost certainly would have been much closer affairs had there still been the usual level of uncertainty which the potential threat of relegation brings, even if it is the usual group of clubs playing yo-yo up and down.
The lockdown break in play should have seen players back rested and playing at peak performance but with the coaches mixing and matching selections so often, it has left many players still trying to get into their stride.
At least Exeter were ‘up-front’ when making the logical choice of fielding a weakened team in the last weeks of the ‘regular’ season, doing so in the knowledge that they already had a guaranteed place in the playoff having accumulated more than enough points to top the league weeks ago.
It’s understandable that Rob Baxter made his choice as Exeter faced what is probably their biggest ‘end of the season’ since their promotion with both the European Champions Cup and Premiership title within their grasp.
“If the women can stay virus free with such a diverse group of players, it could be a road map for the whole game”
It would be the ultimate accolade with many years of preparation, dedication and hard graft for both Exeter chairman, Tony Rowe, and long serving coach Rob Baxter whose efforts and performance, both on and off the pitch, should be a role model for all Premiership clubs.
With the end of the Premiership season in sight and the start of the next just a few weeks away, the last thing the game needed was the news that the Premiership has failed to keep clubs clear of the virus. Despite undertaking an expensive testing schedule and supposedly following all the rules the nightmare has happened.
As the only league allowed to restart during lock down, the Premiership was the test model for the RFU and if they had stayed clear the RFU would have been able to say
that it was possible to play the game in relative safety.
With a number of clubs reporting infected players and Sale topping the board with a massive 19 players, plus a further eight this week, the RFU will do well to get the all clear to start next season at any level – but there is some good news.
The restart of the Women’s Premier XV games yesterday could point a way forward for the whole game, not just the Premiership.
With no testing scheduled to take place for any of the teams and a mixture of full time professionals and amateurs players who won’t be under their clubs constant scrutiny, it could be a recipe for disaster. Nevertheless, if they can successfully
stay virus free with such a diverse group of players, it could be a road map for the whole game at all levels.
There have been a number of changes in the way the women’s game will be played, including various ways of keeping the match going to reduce the level of close contact.
Some of the changes sound a little strange to me; like playing advantage if a forward pass takes place rather than immediately calling a scrum. I thought that some were already included in the way the game is played although it was at the referee’s discretion.
I must admit I am surprised that the women’s game have agreed to the changes because in the past they have always refused to play a different game even if it was for safety reasons.
The slight changes in the laws should reduce contact and scrums and increase ball in play time which should directly make the game safer for girls and women.
It is a fact that women are more susceptible to concussion and various joint injuries than men and perhaps should have had these variations earlier.
However, the shortening of each half to 35 minutes because of the possible increase of ball in hand time does seem a little sexist to me.
It seems to be saying that women are not capable or fit enough to play for a full 40 minutes half, which I think is ridiculous.