England vs Wales proves nothing more than a distraction as reminders of coronavirus outbreak engulf sport

Six Nations will not end next weekend as planned with two games yet to be rescheduled, and though the global pandemic took a back seat as soon as the first whistle went at Twickenham, the presence of coronavirus never truly left Twickenham

Just four weeks ago this match had context beyond the usual ticked boxes that elevate the stakes of any England versus Wales match.

England still had outside hopes of pipping France at the top as the Wayne Pivac era stuttered to two defeats in three and ultimately saw Wales’ title defence over at the earliest opportunity. Though Wales need no excuse to play for pride, doing so against England is what they do best.

Yet though the streets leading up to Twickenham were filled to the brim, the championship’s state of uncertainty occupied thoughts if not conversation.

The coronavirus pandemic has seen Ireland’s and England’s fixture with Italy postponed, though no one has any idea until when. There is talk of October in the hope that by then this unpredictable virus will have met its end.

The starkest news came on Friday morning when Scotland versus France in the Women’s Six Nations was called off with a Scottish player testing positive for the virus, resulting in a further seven members of the management and playing staff placed in self-isolation. Every day it has stepped a little closer to home even if very British sensibilities turned a blind eye to it. Now, though, it was very much in the sport.

Still, Twickenham turned up. Rugby is a game that hates being told what to do, what to like and how to be. So in that sense, adhering to the sellout this fixture always is, whether London or Cardiff, was always going to be the case.

Whatever outside distractions there might have been were swept aside by the national anthems, the dislocating jaws of Alun Wyn Jones and Maro Itoje screaming away whatever worry there might have been between the ears.

Those levels were kept up for the game’s beginning. Manu Tuliagi barrelled over George North in the third minute and moments later, Anthony Watson was slipped through on the inside to beat two men and go over for England’s opening try. Not to mention some vintage Owen Farrell shithousery on the England goal line which started with a dig at North and ended with a succession of empty threats among the bigger boys who were not involved in the first place.

The snap back to reality came like a flash as soon as the half-time whistle went. The scoreboard showing 20-9 in England’s favour switched immediately to a public service announcement. “Turn your heads to the screen for an important announcement on behalf of the NHS” the ground MC bellowed over the speakers. A reminder about personal hygiene and being wary of where you place your hands along with a nod to the various hand gel stations dotted around the concourse came and went before the majority of the players had made it to the tunnel.

No sooner has the half-time whistle gone than an NHS message on coronavirus was displayed (Reuters)

It was back to the insular world of rugby with a bang at the start of the second half, with Wales perhaps heeding the warning of disease-encouraging touches as only four sets of hands accounted for five passes in undoubtedly the move of the Six Nations, turning 20-9 to 20-16 within 23 seconds of the restart.

That was as close as matters got, though the distractions kept coming. A yellow card for Ellis Genge was trumped by a late red for Tuilagi. Wales’ late scores made it 33-30 to maintain the engagement right to the end. Oh, and Joe Marler grabbed Wyn Jones' penis. That happened too.

It seemed flippant when Eddie Jones batted away a question on coronavirus even though, actually, he was right to do so. How could he comment when, as he said, he has not been “privy to the information”? On safety measures to take and what might happen next. Typically, Farrell spoke of dealing “with what’s in front of us” and having “plenty to deal with ourselves” as if the virus might pip them to second in the standings.

And, really, without guidance from World Rugby and the Six Nations themselves, what can the players, coaches and the fans do? What is certain is that rugby and other sports are facing a week where the risk of carrying on as normal grows with each day. You might peddle the line of sport providing relief from real-world problems, but bringing people together to forget about these issues quite literally makes things worse. Unless of course Guinness and the odd blast of Kasabian have medicinal qualities the World Health Organisation have overlooked at their peril.

By the time Farrell had lifted the Triple Crown in front of a depleted crowd, things had already moved on. A match that had it all, worthy of joining the rich canon of England-Wales clashes fizzled away into the background to mean very little at all beyond 80 minutes of engaging distraction.