Young insists disruption in Wales, Ireland and Scotland is Six Nations lift for Jones
DAI YOUNG says England hold a clear advantage over the other home countries heading towards the Six Nations.
Coronavirus has caused significant disruption to the United Rugby Championship, in which players from Wales, Scotland and Ireland play.
In all, 22 URC matches have been lost to Covid, compared to just two in the Premiership, from where Eddie Jones picks his team.
Young, whose Cardiff team last played a league game on October 23, said: “England do have an advantage at the minute, you can’t hide behind that fact.
“They’re playing week in week out whereas a lot of our players haven’t played for a long time. There’s no continuity, no momentum and it’s very difficult to plan. None of us know what’s round the corner.
“The English boys will certainly be in a much better place, far more battle-hardened than our players.”
England’s rivals are further hampered by restrictions which, as things stand, mean Wales must play behind closed doors, Scotland in front of a maximum of 500 people, while attendances in France and Ireland are capped at 5,000.
The tournament starts in 29 days with no certainty as to what it will look like. Organisers are not planning an update before January 17, the date restrictions in Scotland are due to expire. Scottish rugby chiefs are adamant their opening game against England on February 5 will be played at Murrayfield. How many will be let in to watch is another matter.
On the same day Ireland are due to host Wales in Dublin, a game for which thousands of travelling fans have bought tickets.
Unless the Irish government alters its 5,000 crowd limit there are going to be a lot of unhappy punters.
The Welsh Rugby Union faces losing millions of pounds if it has to play any of their three home games in an empty Principality Stadium.
Wales’ health minister Eluned Morgan says there would be “an understanding from the Welsh Government that we would have to step in and support them financially if they did have to postpone those matches or to cancel them in some way”.
Young will not be alone in crossing his fingers when Wales’ First Minister Mark Drakeford announces the next review of Covid restrictions tomorrow.
Young said: “The most important thing for us is that, hopefully, we’ll have crowds at the stadium. It is a formidable place to come and play if you’ve got that crowd behind you.
“So, hopefully, things will change as I believe a packed house is as good as nine points for the players.”