All the planning in the world cannot entirely insulate England from potential early mishaps in this year’s Six Nations Championship. A more upbeat France team and a damp long-range weather forecast are both nagging concerns, while coaches and players also suspect World Rugby’s well-intentioned crackdown on high and reckless challenges will significantly affect the opening rounds.
It is not just the possibility of more yellow and red cards that worries the England back-row forward Tom Wood, but the sense of uncertainty. Ask Wood how the stricter tackle-height emphasis will affect all-action defenders such as him and his reply – “I honestly don’t know” – sums it up neatly. “I don’t like the idea of changing the rules mid‑season,” said the Northampton flanker. “It doesn’t seem fair when something you get away with one week is heavily punished the next.”
The 30-year-old is quick to acknowledge he is all for “making the game safer and making the game flow as well”. The tougher tackle sanctions this year, however, are prompting some short-term anxiety, with even experienced players not absolutely sure where they stand. “It’s always tough when an individual suffers for something that was absolutely fine one week before,” said Wood, among those concerned that one accidental false move could lead to a player being on the sidelines for much of the championship.
A collective meeting of Six Nations citing officers and disciplinary officials took place over the weekend in an effort to achieve consistency from the outset but, as with previous edicts on straight scrum feeds, it is always easier said than done. “I’m sure there’ll be some directives in the early part of the Six Nations that they’re really hot on and it will then fizzle out a bit towards the end,” Wood said. “Some of them create a bit of a media storm and are policed heavily before it finds its level and plateaus out.”
England, nevertheless, have been working with the leading referees JP Doyle and Wayne Barnes to try to ensure they satisfy the Australian official Angus Gardner next Saturday. Given the physicality of the French pack, however, Wood is not naive enough to expect a game of pat-a-cake: “My dad always spoke of playing against French teams in the amateur era and how vicious they were. Growing up they were probably a contradiction, the backs playing with flair and ambition behind a big, heavy, horrible-looking pack.”
The latter characteristic has never really changed and Wood will be particularly warning his team-mates about the No8 Louis Picamoles, now his Saints team colleague. “He has taught me to expect the unexpected when playing alongside him. He gets himself into situations where you think there’s no chance of an offload coming but he still manages to get one away. He is a great player; I’ve played against him a few times and have always had my hands full trying to deal with him. I’m glad he’s on my side at the Saints.”
“It seemed a strange decision to me for him to come from France to England. I didn’t quite understand it. But he came over and was honest about wanting to evolve as a player. He also said there was more emphasis on strength and conditioning, recovery and mobility over in England. I thought he might have a stereotypical French attitude and be quite laid back and blasé about a few things but he totally committed, even to the drills I thought might not be his cup of tea. He proved me wrong and for the better as well. You don’t see many French players of his status coming over to the English league. The more the merrier, I say.”
Wood, set for a place in the back row with Chris Robshaw and others unavailable, is also wary of the visitors in general. “French teams are full of dangerous players. I would never underestimate them, especially on day one of a competition. They’re a quality side and they seem to be regaining some of that French flair and playing with ambition again. With guys like Louis in the team, anything could happen.”
Either way, a heavy-duty contest looks certain, with the attrition rate among back-row forwards showing little sign of easing. Wood is no shrinking violet but, even with reduced tackle heights, he believes the contemporary game is more intense than ever. “It feels like a different sport to when I started. It’s always been a tough game and I’ve always played hard but the rate of collisions these days is unbelievable.
“You want it to be fierce and competitive, you want that level of attrition. That’s part of what I pride myself on and that’s how I like it but it is difficult to back it up week after week. Everyone’s due their injury and you have to take it as it comes.”
