Now it’s all about getting over the line

All eyes are now firmly on the prize as the season reaches its zenith over the next few weeks, writes Donal Lenihan

THE professional rugby player enjoys a closed season of between four or five weeks if he is lucky. Apart from the odd week of downtime during the regular season, the rest of his time is spent preparing for or playing competitive games.

Injury and the dreaded rehabilitation period that accompanies it can be laborious, lonely and frustrating. The modern professionals make poor spectators and while they all want to see their side doing well in their absence, the same good wishes do not always extend to the player who has taken ownership of your jersey. It is the nature of the beast.