England’s pre-Six Nations training in Portugal will continue without Mathew Tait, Nick Kennedy and Delon Armitage, who have been sent home for their clubs’ weekend Premiership fixtures, giving them a competitive run-out before the match against Italy on 7 February.
London Irish’s Kennedy and ­Armitage are particularly short of game-time, having only just returned from injury-enforced absences of six and five weeks. Kennedy has played less than 80 minutes of rugby since November, after suffering a blow to the head, while Armitage has managed 40 minutes, against Rovigo last weekend, since damaging a foot against Gloucester shortly before Christmas. The pair will test their match fitness when the Exiles visit Kingsholm on Saturday.
Tait is a slightly different case, as Sale have not seen fit to start him on a ;regular basis. Martin Johnson and his coaches have clearly taken the view that the injury-related risks of playing seven days before the Italy game are outweighed by the potential benefits. The driving force behind last year’s eight-year agreement between the Rugby Football Union and the clubs was a desire to ensure England players felt fresher prior to Test matches. A surfeit of cotton wool, however, can be equally problematic.
The flanker Michael Lipman continues to be monitored by the England medical staff after he was knocked cold during Bath’s Heineken Cup draw with Toulouse on Sunday. The majority of his team-mates took a full part in training yesterday, among them the uncapped Northampton utility back Ben Foden, who stands every chance of being named as a replacement next Tuesday. Foden said yesterday that he had been working primarily as a scrum-half in the Algarve, but he can also play full-back.
“I prefer to have my hands on the ball and be involved,” said the 23-year-old, who has been reassured by Johnson that his versatility is a good thing. “He’s had a chat with me about it and has told me to see it as a bonus. I’m confident in both positions.”
England’s players have been reminded of their responsibilities following Matt Stevens’ recent failed drugs test.
Ireland have reappointed Brian O’Driscoll as their captain in preference to Paul O’Connell, the lock who is among the leading contenders to lead the Lions in South Africa this summer. Ireland’s coach, Declan Kidney, said that the D;center, who turned 30 last week, was still the D;outstanding candidate.
“I’m delighted Brian has yet again agreed to lead the side,” Kidney said. “He has the leadership qualities which are vital at this level and, along with the other ­leaders in the squad, he will be important for the tournament ahead.”
Ireland hope to stage a fourth Test in November. Games are already scheduled against Australia, Fiji and South Africa.
The Scotland scrum-half Chris Cusiter is to leave Perpignan for Glasgow, D;having agreed a three-year deal. The Munster D;utility back Paul Warwick is joining D;London Irish.
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