Demanding schedule will take its toll

Jun 26 2008 by Our Correspondent, Liverpool Daily Post

ENGLAND rugby league take to the field in Toulouse tomorrow night in a crucial Test match against France.

Not only is it the beginning of a new era – England, rather than Great Britain, is now the banner under which the nation will play – but it is also a rare opportunity for coach Tony Smith to look at his players in a representative match outside of a major competition.

In less than four months he will have a squad of players in Australia for the World Cup and it will take an inspired effort by the English to overcome the home team and wrestle the trophy from Australia’s vice-like grip.

But he has to settle for one mid-season match on a weekend that also sees a full programme of Super League matches which some international players will take part in.

As some of the favourites at Euro 2008, and Euro 2004, have shown, a regular season is long and demanding enough for the elite players. And that’s without burdening them with self-inflicted scheduling problems.

Players may be able to perform twice in 48 hours this weekend, but the damage will be done later in the season when tired bodies pull on an England shirt against Australia and New Zealand.