The regular hammerings dished out to the Premiership contingent in the European Cup pool stage - in which top of the table Bath and second-placed Bristol failed to make the Round of 16-suggests strongly that there is no way that Phil Morrow, England's new S&C coach, is going to be able to wave a magic wand over a few days training in Girona.
Morrow's track record with Saracens during their European and Premiership glory years was impressive, including transforming Will Skelton's career by helping the huge Aussie lock to become a leaner, more mobile model, and by regulating the taro consumption of the heavyweight Vunipolas to keep them on the straight and narrow.
However, bridging the gap in conditioning and mental sharpness - especially in defence-between England players who have become softened by the Premiership's "you score, we score more" culture, and their Irish and French counterparts, might not be a quick fix.
Optional tackling does not breed Test match fitness, and it might explain why scramble defence - which is so highly prized by South Africa and New Zealand - appears to have gone AWOL in Premiership matches.
Denne historien er fra January 26, 2025-utgaven av The Rugby Paper.
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Denne historien er fra January 26, 2025-utgaven av The Rugby Paper.
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Packman enjoys his debut for Germany
WHILE he was denied a deserved England cap despite being one of the best finishers around in the 1980s and 90s, the late Frank Packman would have been proud that his German ancestry has at least allowed his son to play Test rugby.
Tweedy's aiming high for Archers
UNDER the leadership of flanker Nathan Tweedy, Nottingham are hungry to achieve their best finish in the Championship since the 2012-13 season.
Superstar Savea the man to ignite Moana
ARDIE Savea’s move to Moana Pasifika is the headline transfer and there’s a feeling of optimism for the Pacific Island teams.
Seven-try Bristol keep Chiefs quiet
BRISTOL kept their play-off hopes alive with a seven-try victory at Ashton Gate.
Let us permit No.8s freedom of expression
\"We must hope and pray the liberty awarded to No.9s is extended by at least one digit\"
Heads must roll. If not today, then very soon
JUST when the Red Dragon Brotherhood thought it couldn’t possibly get any worse, their team duly plunged through another fathom of uncharted waters before hit- ting a deeper rock bottom.
Wood making good at Trailfinders
CANADIAN tighthead Rori Wood has hit the ground running in west London and wants to help Trailfinders to back-toback top-six finishes.
Italy hold on to leave Wales with little hope
ITALY, not without late alarms after finishing the game with 13 players, won the so-called battle of the wooden spoon as Wales slipped to a 14th straight defeat.
Georgia's call for stronger opposition
THE president of the Georgian Rugby Union Soso Tkemaladze believes they have ‘outgrown’ the Rugby Europe Championship.
Dowson: Don't push salary cap too hard
PHIL Dowson has joined Gloucester owner Martin St Quinton in questioning the Premiership salary cap increasing at a time when clubs are still grappling with debt.