Here`s an interesting thought- would certainly like to get some input from the English fans on this one- could the big injury-toll not have something to do with the amount of top-class rugby being played in the professional era?
I remember prof. Tim Noakes doing a study in 2004 on the numbet of top-level matches played by senior internationals in 2004- he found that the maximum no. possible, at high intensity, and without increasing the risk of serious injury, to be around the 25-30 mark. In 2004, Marius Joubert played 40 first-class( then Super 12, Currie Cup and Test) matches, and since then he`s been injured almost consistently- and when he did get onto the pitch, he was well below his form of 2004. He can`t possibly be too old for the game anymore, he`s only 26!
I`ve read somewhere that with Tests, the premier division and Heineken Cup commitments, some English players will be playing 38 top-level matches per season. Don`t know if this is actually true, but if it is I can sympathise- this is exactly the type of schedule the top Saffas have to contend with. By contrast, the AB`s play only 27- perhaps one of the reasons why they always look as fresh as daisies when they go to Europe for the Nov. internationals?