A lesson Marcus needs to learn

AN ALL TOO familiar pattern re-emerged last weekend with northern hemisphere hopefuls Ireland, Scotland and Wales losing the opening test of their summer tour.

England, fielding only one survivor from their World Cup final side of seven months ago and just four from the 33-11 defeat of Ireland in their last international in March, enter the fray this weekend in Auckland.

That level of player turnover demonstrates the demands on players in a World Cup season. Ireland have survived relatively unscathed but the level of attrition at this level is taking its toll.