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Fears recede that Premiership player release row could ruin potential Six Nations restart

Exeter's Stuart Hogg, Saracens' Nick Tompkins and Wasps' Matteo Minozzi

The coronavirus-affected Guinness Six Nations may be seven months away from any potential rearranged conclusion, but it’s believed the four postponed games can go ahead in late October minus any non-England player release arguments with the English Premiership clubs. 

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October 31 is viewed as a potential date to run the three-match Super Saturday featuring Italy vs England, Wales vs Scotland and France vs Ireland, with Ireland vs Italy possibly taking place the weekend before.

Jim Hamilton discusses the ramifications of putting the Six Nations behind a TV paywall

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But there were fears that non-England players who play in the Premiership would not be released to Wales, Scotland and Italy as these fixtures would fall outside the official Test window.

Premiership clubs have been in the habit of not letting their players go to other countries, with Northampton Saints even fined in 2013 for allowing George North play for Wales in a Test match that took place outside the window. 

However, with the coronavirus having shut down all rugby, there has apparently been a shift in attitude and the Guardian newspaper are now claiming that Premiership clubs would allow its players to feature for Wales, Scotland and Italy in these Six Nations back matches.

How a non-release of players would have affected these teams was laid bare by the teams selected for last weekend’s eventually postponed Wales vs Scotland clash in Cardiff. 

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Wayne Pivac had selected six Welsh players who are earning their crust across the Severn in England while Gregor Townsend had included four players who are on the books at Premiership clubs. 

Throw into the equation how Italy would likely require Wasps’ Matteo Minozzi and Gloucester Jake Polledri and it is clear how any row of player release next October would weaken England’s three of England’s championship rivals.  

WATCH: Freddie Burns takes RugbyPass through his fitness regime during the coronavirus lockdown

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H
Hellhound 42 minutes ago
South Africa will beat England at a canter

You forget that this was the 3rd Test between the AB's and the English this year. They were prepared and they knew how to keep NZ quiet. The Boks is not NZ.


The Boks is a whole other level. You overestimate England and underestimate the Boks. Clearly you haven't really looked at the teams. Besides the Irish games earlier this year, the Boks have mainly used experimental sides, even against the AB's.


Now they have chosen their best team available. They have targeted this game. The Boks mean business. Man for man, this Bok team is better. In strategy and player abilities there is no comparison and they are outmatched.


There isn't just monster strength, but unreal speed. In broken play there is currently no better team as well as defensively, not to even talk about the attacking threat, both from front and the back.


I'd say read between the lines, see what everyone is seeing, but clearly you are wearing blinders and is also putting too much emphasis on an AB's team the Boks beat twice this year, the same AB's that beaten England 3 times this year.


When Rassie gets serious, the players become machines. There is no stopping them. That bench is loaded with players that is fast, strong and have exceptional skills. This is a team not many teams will face before the 2027 WC, because the Boks doesn't use their best between WC's in one game. All experimental.


You will be proven wrong on Saturday and then you will wonder how you could have been so wrong. This Bok team means serious business. They came to conquer and not just by a close score. They want to demolish and they will. This England team at most is a 60 min team. Against the Boks that just won't cut it

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H
Hellhound 58 minutes ago
South Africa will beat England at a canter

Not bizarre, but needed. Everyone usually lifts their game against the Boks. Now instead of facing reality, they prefer to live in the past and look hopefully toward the score of the WC semi, hoping they can recreate that result and by some miracle snatch a victory.


It's better than the alternative knowing what is going to happen. Especially looking at the experimental squads the Boks put up against the Wallabies in the RC, not using their best team. That same Wallabies beat them last week.


Now the Boks isn't using an experimental squad. They put out as close to the strongest team the Boks have available at the moment. That must scare the pants off of them. If an experimental squad can destroy the Wallabies, what would the strongest team be able to do to the English?


Instead of sinking into dispear, they prefer to hope that their players can match the Boks. Even though they know what is coming. The English are scared and they won't show it.


Now imagine how Wales must feel knowing they are up next weekend? They don't even have the dubious record of at least close losses like the English. It's a complete nightmare for these 2 countries and rightly so.


The Boks usually take the pedal of the medal post WC's, but not this Bok team. They are better than the WC winning Boks of both '19 and '23. They are stronger up front. They are faster at the back. They can hit front and back. In broken play they are the most dangerous team. They have the best defence and attack also scoring the most tries.


In a way I feel sorry for both the English and Wales. Only those with blinders on expects a close game. Looking at both teams man to man, strategy to strategy, play to play, they are so outmatched it would be a joke if it wasn't so serious. We need the NH to be strong and we need the gap to become closer in rugby so the game stay exciting because runaway scores sometimes is fun, but it doesn't bring as much joy as a close game won.

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