Club v Country casts big shadow over the summer

In the age-old conflict between club and country it is always the poor bloody infantry, i.e. the players, who are caught in no man's land. England travel to Argentina in little over a week with Clive Woodward describing the Red Rose strategy as a "shambles and a farce", which will come as news to the other home countries.

The excitable England manager was referring to the near collapse last week of the Elite Players Scheme, the agreement between the clubs and the Rugby Football Union which is designed to maximise England's performance for the World Cup in Australia next year. "A year ago I was the most excited person at the RFU," Woodward said. "The success we'd achieved during the years of dispute defied all logic, so the prospect of putting in place a programme that would make us the best-prepared side in the world was fantastic. It hasn't happened.

"Far from being the best-prepared side, I would call us the worst prepared. This year I've had two days with the squad outside of Test weeks and we've had a very average 12 months as a result. I have moved a long way from my original proposals and the plan I have on the table now is an absolute minimum if we're serious about winning the World Cup. I am talking about 16 training days and four fitness-testing days. We have the expertise and the support to be number one. The only thing I don't have is the players and you cannot do elite coaching without bringing the elite together."

Woodward was rattling his sabre the day after the Premiership boycotted a meeting at Twickenham and a week after Tom Walkinshaw stood down as chairman of England's top 12 clubs. It was almost like the bad old days as both sides reverted to cold war tactics. Premier Rugby said it was committed to the elite plan but had not yet reached a final position. They were expecting a private meeting with Woodward and the RFU management and were dismayed to discover that a "difficult, complex and sensitive" issue had been thrown open to a much wider audience that included players and agents.

Sven Goran Eriksson, and any other national manager, would sympathise with Woodward but this is a tug of war that has to have give and take. At the end of a marathon season, is it imperative for England to travel to South America for one Test?

As it is, Woodward has to take 14 uncapped players to Argentina and the team who play the Pumas on 22 June will bear little relation to the squad who face Australia, New Zealand and South Africa at Twickenham in November. There is too much rugby, but try telling that to the RFU. They will gross £30m from the three autumn Tests.

Wales would welcome England's problems. Steve Hansen has to steer his adopted country through two Tests in South Africa over the next two Saturdays. The Welsh do not need reminding of some frightful hammerings in the Republic and the Springboks are rebuilding under their new coach Rudy Straueli. Wales's mood was not lightened by last Wednesday night's crash against the Barbarians at the Millennium Stadium where a small crowd saw Colin Charvis's team blow a 25-0 lead to lose 25-40.

Ireland are sucking on an even shorter straw, their tour to New Zealand including Tests against the All Blacks on 15 and 22 June, by which time the men in green should be just about ready for the men in long white coats. Goodness only knows what state the Munstermen are in after the defeat to Leicester in the Heineken Cup final last week.

The All Blacks warm up against Italy next Saturday when they will be captained by Reuben Thorne, who led Canterbury on a glorious crusade in the Super 12. John Mitchell's squad contains 14 other Canterburians and for good measure he has recalled Jonah Lomu and Christian Cullen. It means that Lomu is unlikely to play in the Commonwealth Games.

Scotland, who next season welcome the addition of a third professional outfit, the Borders, have the best idea of a summer sojourn. They tour North America. As Dirty Harry would put it, a man's gotta know his limitations.