Writing in The Guardian, Wales assistant coach Shaun Edwards believes the pressure is on the Six Nations coaches to use the time they have with their players well.
"This is the week that cost millions. It's also the week when coaches really earn their money. Fail and you get found out. As the clock counts down to the Six Nations, this is when we should reap the benefits of deals such as the ones done between the Rugby Football Union and the English clubs and Wales and its regions that guarantee managers and coaches like Martin Johnson and Warren Gatland time – something like two weeks – to work with their players before internationals.
"Once – and not so long ago that there aren't plenty of former players who can remember the days and recount them in great detail – Test teams used to get together in the middle of the week of an international, have a couple of practice sessions which weren't much more than kickabouts, dish out the match‑day kit and then play on the Saturday. Gradually that got extended to a week, before in some countries that week became a fortnight.
"Now, thanks to the agreement in England, and that five-year deal done between the Welsh Rugby Union and the regions last September, we are all, more or less, on a level footing and have a decent amount of time to manage, micro-manage if you like, the players in the run-up to the Six Nations."
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