Numbers game favours Ireland

In comparative terms Ireland's starting XV for Sunday's Six Nations Championship match at Lansdowne Road will have endured less physical wear and tear than their English counterparts. It's an appreciable difference of four matches per man, as Irish players have lined out an average of 16 occasions this season compared to 20 for the England team,  John O'Sullivan reports

England's Premiership clubs and the English Rugby Union (RFU) have an agreement that limits the number of appearances of international squad members to 32 matches per calendar year. Once that figure has been reached the RFU has the power to stand down any player, a sanction they used last September.

The IRFU also operates a ceiling for their internationally contracted players but it is less rigid, vacillating between 25-30 matches per season.

It's not a figure plucked from the air but on foot of exhaustive research by the union's Director of Fitness Liam Hennessy and his staff and dates back to the summer of 2000 when they first addressed the issue in a comprehensive manner.

Hennessy pointed out: "Under the old system it was a 40 plus game year for the top players and that simply wasn't sustainable if Irish rugby wanted to go forward. It was crucifying the players instead of trying to ensure that they were in peak condition at crucial times during the season."

The IRFU initially took small steps. In December of 1999 they asked the clubs to release their players for that month to allow the national side a run-in to the Championship. It coincided with Ireland's first victory in Paris for 28 years.

Now the ceiling is 30 weeks (basically 30 matches) although Hennessy is keen that people do not become too hung up on a figure. He maintains that individual players require contrasting schedules, some benefiting from more matches, others at their optimum having to line out in fewer fixtures and that the upper and lower parameters are 15-35 matches.

In an ideal world he asserts that there should be a substantial pre-season - this year for the first time Ireland squad members had a 10 week lead-in or pre-season - with a three to four week break during the season. That doesn't include allowing players a complete five-week break from rugby between seasons.

Hennessy explains: "You have to recondition the machine and be aware of individual needs. When the season begins you'd prefer three or four games initially of a lower intensity that allow players a chance to acclimatise to competitive action and then step up to higher intensity matches from which you don't dip.

"In the old days players would return to their clubs after playing with the national side and struggle to generate the required intensity for internationals when asked to step up to that level. The body tends to default back to the last game."

The IRFU's concern for players, facilitated by being the central contracting body, is in marked contrast to the English union. Olly Barkley, who will line out for England in the centre on Sunday, ventured: "This is the stage of the season when those in charge of the game need to look at the structure and see how many games we play in a year.

"When you look at the number of players who are currently out injured, something has to be done before it gets out of hand. All this affects the quality of the England side because the team not only ends up depleted but rugby becomes relentless week on week on week.

"It's very hard to come back from international rugby and get your body ready five days later for local derbies such as the one Bath had at Gloucester last Saturday. The season needs to be looked at seriously if the rugby is going to be improved."

Looking at the grid, it's difficult not to feel some sympathy for Barkley and his team-mates as they look longingly at an Irish model, that, while not perfect, is better adjusted to the demands of the players.