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Sick Nations... coronavirus sparks fears the tournament faces delayed conclusion

(Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

Italy’s five-year Guinness Six Nations losing streak could be put on hold, but not for the reasons their critics want.

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Chucking the Azzurri out of the competition has been a regular refrain in recent years as they have failed to win a match since beating Scotland in February 2015.

Last Saturday’s home loss to the Scots in Rome was their record 25th in succession. However, that hapless run might now not stretch to 27 as expected by the middle of March due to health and safety fears in Italy and Ireland.

Last Sunday’s women’s Six Nations clash between Scotland and Italy in Milan was called off due to a coronavirus lockdown in the Lombardy, Emilia-Romagna and Veneto regions in the north of the country and already the two Guinness PRO14 fixtures scheduled for Parma and Treviso next weekend have been postponed for similar reasons.

That development has led to fears that the Italians might not be able to complete their Six Nations programmes as planned with the March 7 trip to Dublin to play Ireland set to be followed by the March 14 home game in Rome versus World Cup finalists England.

(Continue reading below…)

Two Guinness PRO14 fixtures cancelled over coronavirus fears

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Irish health minister Simon Harris, speaking about the upcoming round four match at the Aviva Stadium, said: “The rugby game is something that needs particular consideration because of the involvement of Italy. We will act in accordance with the best health advice.

“We have been preparing for the virus since January. We have put a national public health emergency team in place and they have done very good work. Ireland will work in unison with the European Union. We live in the EU where there is free movement of people. It makes sense we move together in this.”

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As it stands, all of the international fixtures involving Italy in Ireland are scheduled to go ahead – the under-20s game in Cork on March 6 being following by the March 7 men’s match and the March 8 women’s game, both in Dublin.

The restrictions in Italy that forced PRO14 officials to call off their next two fixtures in that country are currently only in place until March 1.

There has been speculation that England could possibly move their away game with the Italians to Twickenham or even Newcastle, but Six Nations is continuing with its plans as currently scheduled.

Ireland were involved in the last men’s Six Nations match to be postponed, their February 2012 game versus France in Paris falling victim to frost. That match was fitted in a few weeks later and the tournament managed to finish on time as per schedule.

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However, the previous occasion there was a health scare, the movement of people was restricted and the tournament was delayed. The 2001 foot and mouth disease resulted in over six million cows and sheep being killed in an eventually successful attempt to halt the disease in the UK. It led to Ireland’s matches away to Scotland and Wales along with the home game versus England being held over until the following September and October of that year.

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O
Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
LONG READ
LONG READ England need to face a few home truths if they are to relearn that winning habit England need to face a few home truths if they are to relearn that winning habit
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