The benefit the French now have is the strength of their lower divisions, so the top clubs can play fewer games, without a domestic cup, but the youngsters coming through and the late bloomers are still getting quality gametime.
With the absence of the A League the cup games are massive for the academy lads and squad players - we can’t lose that but perhaps playing the matches in two blocks would be more helpful for player development and loan clubs as the rest of the time players know they can play at a championship club for a set block of time.
The flip side of the lack of international break at present is that it becomes a bit of a leveller for the Premiership. The weaker teams tend to have fewer internationals away and therefore generally have a stronger team available to them in comparison to a Leicester or a Sarries. We’ve had some good fortune against bigger teams during the six nations in recent years.
Tricky decision as it’s a fine line between nurturing young players through whilst also the right a club should have in having their players available to them.
Maybe central contracts are the way forwards, wouldn’t work under Jones’ pebble dash selection policy but something needs to be done as we’re not getting it right at the moment I’m England.
Topic: England players non availability (Read 2616 times)
Always a Wasp