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England to benefit after reaching an 85 per cent minimum target
By PA
Eddie Jones' England will be operating with reduced coronavirus restrictions for the Autumn Nations Series after the Rugby Football Union confirmed that players and staff are above the required vaccination target. The squad and management team have reached the 85 per cent minimum that allows for the relaxation of social distancing and mask-wearing in camp.
It means there will be no gaps between players during the national anthems, no limit to the numbers allowed into rooms at the team hotels and the squad will be able to travel to matches on one bus rather than the two or three used last autumn and in the Six Nations.
Those involved in an England campaign under Jones that comprises Tests against Tonga, Australia and South Africa at Twickenham - beginning on November 6 - will also be allowed to leave their base during downtime to get coffee and sit outside. However, social distancing in public areas must be observed.
An extensive testing programme will remain in place with all players and staff needing to supply negative PCR results before entering the team environment. In addition, a minimum of three lateral flow tests must be taken each week, including on the day before each game.
Daily Covid-19 wellness checks will also be carried out before leaving bedrooms. Visitors to camp are to be minimised and those who do enter will be required to undergo PCR testing ahead of their arrival.
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Hi Nick. Thanks for your +++ ongoing analysis. Re Vunivalu, He’s been benched recently and it will be interesting to see what Kiss does with him as we enter the backend of SRP. I’m still not sold.
Go to commentsIn the fine tradition of Irish rugby, Leinster cheat well and for some reason only known to whoever referees them, they are allowed to get away with it every single game. If teams have not got the physicality up front to stop them getting the ball, they will win every single game. They take out players beyond the ruck and often hold them on the ground. Those that are beyond the ruck and therefore offside, hover there to cause distraction but also to join the next ruck from the side thereby stopping the jackal. The lineout prior to the second try on Saturday. 3 Leinster players left the lineout before the ball was thrown and were driving the maul as soon as the player hit the ground and thereby getting that valuable momentum. They scrummage illegally, with the looshead turning in to stop the opposing tighthead from pushing straight and making it uncomfortable for the hooker. The tighthead takes a step and tries to get his opposite loosehead to drop the bind. Flankers often ‘move up’ and actually bind on the prop and not remain bound to the second row. It does cause chaos and is done quickly and efficiently so that referees are blinded by the illegal tactics. I am surprised opposition coaches when they meet referees before games don’t mention it. I am also surprised that they do not go to the referees group and ask them to look at the tactics used and referee them properly. If they are the better team and win, fair play but a lot of their momentum is gained illegally and therefore it is not a level playing field.
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