Let's talk about Central Contracts

A great win for Wales. We can all relax with the monkey off their backs. Gats looked aghast most of the time and I for one was behind the sofa for the last five minutes. Both teams were absolutely shatteredf. The win was delivered by Dan Biggar only please don't do it again Dan. Don't need a knackered FH. Thought part of the reason for 1/2p being so conservative in the past was because he was being preserved for kicking duties. Now not so. So what's going to happen once the CCs kick in witn limited domestic games. Seems to have done Ireland the world of good. A level playing field with the ABs? Might woo people like Hibbard back with the promise of a lighter domestic season. The RFU will be pooing themselves not much chance of the Prem joining in. Well not yet but seems to me it's the future. We need to control the stresses and strains, fatigue and player burn out. Doc "Butterfingers" Roberts was bad enough but could you ever imagine Willie Le Roux being so poor? Not a single honking run and how many knock ins. Could be a bright new future and World Cup year for Wales

Dontheman2 wrote:Seems to have done Ireland the world of good. A level playing field with the ABs?

Ireland have been at it quite a long time. At times it has been said, by those who supposedly know, that it worked. At other times it's proven beyond doubt that it was useless. But no matter how good it 'allegedly' got, it never came close to putting us on a level playing field with the ABs!!! I know you didn't mean us, but by inference you do suggest that's where CCs might take one.

Do people realise the kinds of records you need before you can even quietly think you might be on a level playing field with those guys? There seems to be a universal amnesia at times when talking about them. It would take about 10 straight years as Number 1 ranked team in the world - 10 straight years - before any side could consider themselves finally in the AB league.

Read recently that the ABs spend 20 weeks a year together. Can't imagine CCs delivering that kind of access but maybe that's the template we should be aiming for. Sure it'll take a very long time even with a
Level playing field to deliver results like the ABs. Attm feels about 45 degrees

Dontheman2 wrote:Read recently that the ABs spend 20 weeks a year together.  Can't imagine CCs delivering that kind of access but maybe that's the template we should be aiming for. Sure it'll take a very long time even with a
Level playing field to deliver results like the ABs. Attm feels about 45 degrees

But you've seen the uproar in certain circles when Wales play one extra game outside the International window.  The Regions and die-hard followers become hot that they are being asked to fight in Pro12 with one arm tied behind their back.

I think the reason it might work in New Zealand is simply depth of genuine from-pram-to-manhood talent plus best coaching from pram-to-manhood too.  They have players to go round.  The clubs have players enough to be able to sacrifice the 'stars' to their 20 weeks, if that's what they get.  It's a luxury built up on time but it happened in a time with less monetary demands from professional rugby.  The commercial strains are harder now to develop that philosophy of top players getting more and more time with International preparation.  It's actually getting tougher to get that time, not easier.

We only had one central contracted player playing this autumn and he was one of the stand out players,
Sam looked fresh ,he looked like he could play another half hour if need be also for a player who is quite injury prone he stayed injury free.

The contracts are a fantastic move, we have around 20 class players and if they received the correct game management per a season i think we will see that next level needed out of Wales.

England have 12 games a year. They're together for the two spare weeks in the 6 nations, an extra week before the 6N and AI and two weeks before the summer tour starts. So that's 18 weeks. Wales will have the same. Then there are other training camps throughout the year.

Also, don't Ireland have a load of injured players at the minute? The reason Ireland are doing well now is because of the coaching, more than anything else IMO.

The reason Ireland are doing well is because they have great coaching and a superb set up. The player management is good and the quality of all their provinces is good too.

Wales are four, or even five years behind the quality of the domestic structure that Ireland have.

I can see progress happening now, where as six months ago the Regions directors wants, were too much of an obstacle for progression to work.

Lowlandbrit wrote:

HammerofThunor wrote:England have 12 games a week.

That's how awesome we are. Unfortunately we lose 13 of them