Rugby: Rest and rotation policies are gathering momentum

IT IS a controversial topic, but the new drive by Scottish professional teams and the national squad management to rest key players through the season is going to gather pace this year.

The benefit, Edinburgh coach Michael Bradley believes, will come in better individual performances from leading internationalists, both for their club and country. Scotland tighthead prop Geoff Cross agrees, admitting that he is one of many players who has carried injuries into big games. Both Bradley and Cross hope that may be a thing of the past with the new depth the club has with the likes of John Yapp, Willem Nel and Andy Titterrell on board.

“You’re going to see plenty of that [rotation] this year,” he said, “because of the quality of players we have. Geoff and Allan have shouldered a lot of the responsibility with Fordy for years.

“We’ve played well when those lads have played, and now we have the opportunity to rest them and get their programme back on, so they can accommodate top performances for Edinburgh and for Scotland.”

A qualified doctor, Cross has more knowledge than most of the impact on bodies of 18 and 19-stone men, now fitter than ever, running faster and for longer, and colliding more frequently.

“Seasons are long, particularly in World Cup years,” he said. “I remember a past coach saying ‘you’re not sprinters’ and sometimes you do have to work through aches and pains, bumps and bruises.

“So we have [played with injuries], but that’s part and parcel of a collision sport and I’m happy with having done that. That said, I’m pleased that there is an opportunity to manage the attritional nature of what can be a very long season.

“There’s still a desire on players’ parts to want to start. We are professional rugby players, we like getting picked to start and we like to play and win games of rugby.

“So, there is that tension. But I’m pleased with the depth we now have. If you have more competition and more opportunities to rest and prepare for the matches that you do play I believe that’s a very powerful combination to drive performances up.

“I’m looking forward to raising performances individually and I’m excited about the depth in the squad and how we can raise the collective performance this season.”