The first 2 games of the RBS 6 Nations have come and gone and England have been far from impressive.

One of the arguments about the England team at the moment is that it is full of ‘athletes’ rather than having individually gifted rugby players.

I think this is really an important point that has been brought up. The best athletes do not always make the best rugby players. Just because someone is big and strong does not mean that they have all the attributes needed to play rugby at a high level.

The most important thing to remember is that this is still a skill based game. It’s why there is still a place in the game for the smaller less powerful player.

Look at players like Paul Hodgson the England scrum half and David Lemi of Wasps. They both have a number of things going for them.

1. They are pretty fearless

2. The have serious pace

3. They have good ‘rugby brains’

The last one I’d probably the most overlooked element of a truly outstanding rugby player. Regardless of how big, how strong or how powerful you are if you know what’s going on around you and react to what happens before most people realise it’s happening, then you can be one step ahead of even the most powerful and quickest players.

As I said above don’t forget rugby is a skill based game…… more on the effects of fitness on skill level another time.