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Premiership Rugby insists it's business as usual despite coronavirus
By Online Editors
Premiership Rugby are pressing ahead as planned with Sunday’s Premiership Rugby Cup final between Sale Sharks and Harlequins in Manchester - and with its current Gallagher Premiership schedule.
Sports fixtures around the world have been called off due to the outbreak of the coronavirus. However, despite the postponement of three Guinness Six Nations matches and the indefinite suspension of the Guinness PRO14, English rugby authorities have insisted it is business as usual.
Gregor Townsend insists none of his Scotland's players have contracted coronavirus
In a statement released shortly after English football authorities decided to suspend all fixtures in its sport until at least April 3, Premiership Rugby stated: “The welfare of our fans, players and staff is our first concern and we are working in close contact with DCMS, Public Health England and World Health Organisation, following all the experts’ advice.
“Based on this advice, and in consultation with the teams, we have decided to run the Premiership Rugby Cup this Sunday at the AJ Bell Stadium, as planned.
"We will continue to work closely with government on a schedule for the remainder of the season, should the guidance on sporting events change.
"We will keep updating our plans with new information as it is released, and ensure our clubs and fans are updated with developments as soon as they happen.”
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Latest Comments
My ‘fantasy’ team V Ireland,
Including options from ABXV if needed, as V Mun better V Ireland better prep than England.
The most important aspect V Ireland is AB need ALL their loosies AND 'loosie capable locks' on ALL match [except IF(?) any tiring ie the aging & slowing eg Cane]. As follows,
{starting} bench (3rd choice)
1 {De Groot} / Tu’ungafasi (Williams)
2 { anyone that can throw!! }/ Aumua (Brodie McAlister)
Ryan! coach lineouts & Aumua to throw!
3 {Lomax}/ Tosi (Newell )
Tosi immense strength V England
4,5 Locks { P.Tuipulotu, S.Barrett }, Vaa’i, Darry
( Isaia Walker-Leawere)
Vaa’i off V Eng. Assumed due to leg injury(?)
6,7,8 Loose forwards { Sititi, A.Savea, Cane } Vaa’i, S.Barrettm, P.Tuipulotu back up (Devan Flanders, Du'Plessis Kirifi )
9 {Roigard } Ratima ( TJ )
10 {D.McK} Perofeta ( Plummer)
12 {J.Barrett } ALB ( Q.Tupaea )
13 {Proctor} Ioane ( AJ Lam )
Ioane (off V England ) but Irish experience (NO not Sexton!)
14 { Tele’a} Reece (bkup W.Jordan )
11 {C.Clarke} Narawa (K.Naholo)
15 {W.Jordan} Love (Stevenson)
Go to commentsI guess the other option would be to start ALB, he's looked good in the 12 so far when he starts and sets up those outside him. But that would mean putting the vice captain on the bench, which is unlikely. Another option would be to drop Reiko to the bench and play Proctor, though he's gone home so that's not going to happen either.
Both of those players just offer more of the soft distribution skills good centres learn from playing their careers there. Unfortunately that's what's lacking with the current combo.
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