LA PESTE: EUROPEAN COMPETITION SUSPENDED
Hooper: frustration?
By PG Tips
January 12 2021
European Professional Club Rugby’s suspension of the Champions and Challenge Cups raises doubts about the completion both of international and domestic seasons. EPCR took the decision after the French Government ruled that it’s clubs should not play cross border fixtures this month. Clearly management of the health risks must take priority, but questions are now raised about completion of schedules in an already crowded season and the risk of player burnout or injury.
The “English variant” is not the only cause of uncertainty. While French authorities are understandably worried about the health risks of the fixtures, they have arranged for domestic Top 14 ties to fill the gap. The Gallagher Premiership by contrast has announced a two week “circuit break” to allow clubs a rest period taking advantage of the imposed pause. "The welfare of everyone involved in Premiership Rugby is crucial to us and this break in the season gives us the chance to hand some much-needed rest to our hard-working players, management, staff and match officials.” The Pro 14 is yet to make a statement, but the logical outcome of the French position could require postponement of the 6 Nations for a second successive year. Given the different positions of the domestic competitions a consensus between the 6 Nations Governments and Unions on continuation, rescheduling or timing of the tournament will not be easy to achieve.
The Lions tour of South Africa is yet another story. With its own Covid 19 variant, South Africa’s health system is struggling to cope, and suggestions have already been made about postponing the tour, or even moving it to British and Irish venues. Either solution has its drawbacks: further pressure on an already congested global calendar or loss of significant revenue to the South African Union and hospitality sector. Whatever form the tour takes, if it survives at all, it almost certainly will not be the July & August trek currently planned.
The French Rugby Union saw an opportunity in EPCRs postponement, bringing forward Top14 matches allowing the season to continue undisturbed and offering clubs flexibility in managing the burden on their players- particularly internationals. English clubs it seems were not unanimous in their wishes. Rob Baxter, Pat Lam and Lee Blackett all publicly called for Premiership fixtures to be brought forward. Reports suggest that the circuit break decision arose because some other clubs failed to back the idea. Squad health and individual clubs’ struggles with managing the virus are the likely reason, but each club will have their own view on whether the break is an opportunity lost or gained.
So what of Bath’s position? The next two Premiership fixtures are Bristol away and Harlequins at home. While a trip to the rampant Bears straight after a home thumping by Wasps may not be appealing, the thought of those matches being brought forward, making internationals available before their absence on 6 Nations camp, surely balances that concern? Usually after a defeat like that both players and coaches are desperate to get back out there and atone. I suspect that Stuart Hooper and his coaches may be more frustrated than relieved by the ruling. What the rest period does provide is an opportunity for honest review by coaches and players of failings to date and much needed hard work to get Bath back on a winning path. When that path opens again and when the next win comes are anybody’s guess. Let us hope – against hope – that it will be 29 January.
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2021:01:22:16:59:13 by P G Tips.
I think that England's first Match is the 6th Feb, so the internationals wouldn't be around for that one and maybe even away before Bristol? (Not sure how much prep they normally get). Anyone know the timings on this?
[24/25 adoptee: Francois van Wyk]
I have edited the article, hopefully clarifying my thought.
PG
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2021:01:12:13:04:31 by P G Tips.
[24/25 adoptee: Francois van Wyk]
Quote:dcsh
Taking on Bristol this weekend with all our internationals could have been exciting and entertaining. In 2 weeks when we a depleted and they are missing very few could be a tough ask.
In 2 weeks though we will have a decent excuse for losing...
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2021:01:12:16:05:45 by OutsideBath.
Quote:dcsh
What do you mean? We will have had 2 weeks of great training! ;-)
I think thats the problem, we did better when we didn't train!
Quote:shipwrecked
we did better when we didn't train!
I think you're joking ... but it makes me wonder if that actually was one of the factors in our successful 'mini-season' - with midweek games, they would have been training less.
[www.bbc.co.uk]
The report says this will be announced in the coming weeks and is why Premiership Rugby didn’t move the next rounds of the league into the available weekends.
[24/25 adoptee: Francois van Wyk]
I would do away with the 2 legged quart finals and move to a last 16 knock out. Taking the top 8 from each pool would mean that every team with at least 1 actual win (not a COVID forfeit win, interestingly only teams who won the first match got those in round 2) would still have a chance, the only except would be Sale who are in 8th place in pool A with 1 point. This would keep all the teams who had a realistic chance of winning the competition at the start of the season in it, which would retain some integrity I suppose.