There’s no let-up for us, says Pivac
It’s the season to be merry, or in the case of Wales’ top rugby players, battered and bruised. At a time when player welfare is in the spotlight more than ever, with serious impact injuries mounting at every club, the Welsh regions are facing up to a gruelling schedule of three intense derbies in the space of 10 and 11 days. And they are not happy about it. The issue was raised by Scarlets head coach Wayne Pivac this week as he carefully prepares to manage his players over the next crucial month of the season.
The West Walians are scrapping to stay in the hunt in the Champions Cup, needing a win in Treviso this weekend to maintain their hopes of a quarter-final spot.
But the New Zealander is also well aware of the significance of the derby matches, both for bragging rights and the defending champions’ league position.
The Scarlets take on their arch rivals the Ospreys on Boxing Day, Cardiff Blues at the Arms Park on New Year’s Eve, then host the Dragons in Llanelli the following Friday.
“We are giving Aaron Shingler a bit of a break at the moment, his body is knocked around and we are also assessing John Barclay,” revealed Pivac.
“We have three derbies in 10 days and a five-day turnaround between the Ospreys and Cardiff Blues games.
“It is incredible in this day and age how that happens, but yet again we will deal with that.
“We have to be very smart in how we look after our players.
“We are talking about survival in Europe this weekend, yet we are looking at resting quality players because it is a juggling act. It is a big ask.
“We talk about the well-being of players, but of course the people interested in the well-being of players don’t do the scheduling.
“It is something that will be looked at no doubt for next season. At the moment we have to plan accordingly.”
Skipper Ken Owens was one of 15 Scarlets who were involved in international action this autumn and the Wales and Lions hooker admits serious injuries are an inevitable result of the current demands on players.
This weekend there will be at least six of Wales’ 2017 Lions – Jonathan Davies, Liam Williams, George North, Sam Warburton, Taulupe Faletau and Ross Moriarty – sidelined, with others like Dan Biggar, Rhys Webb and Justin Tipuric carrying knocks.
“It is tough, but that is professional rugby, we have to get on with it,” admitted Owens.
“The short turnaround Christmas isn’t ideal.
“We have had four tough Tests with Wales and to get conditioned for international rugby, your training week is intense as well, you do contact, live scrums, it is non-stop, relentless.”
Looking forward to this weekend’s Champions Cup clash against Benetton, Owens said: “I am not too bad at the moment. When I came back (from Wales), Wayne reminded me that I had gone week on, week off.
“I had a back spasm during the week of the South Africa match, which ruled me out so in one way it was a blessing in disguise, I have had a bit of a rest but I do feel for some of the other boys who have been pretty much non-stop from the start of the season to now.
“Someone like Alun Wyn (Jones) who keeps turning out performances, sometimes I do wonder how he keeps going.
“He gets on with it and doesn’t moan.” Festive derby schedule – Tuesday, December 26: Dragons v Cardiff Blues, Scarlets v Ospreys. Sunday, December 31: Cardiff Blues v Scarlets, Dragons v Ospreys. Friday, January 5: Scarlets v Dragons Saturday, January 6: Ospreys v Cardiff Blues over