London (AFP)

Rugby will have to wait "a long time" before resuming normal training with contact between players, due to the epidemic of covid-19, judged on Wednesday the English front coach Matt Proudfoot.

"Contact training is something that will take a long time" before coming back, he said during a conference call from his native South Africa, where he has returned since the suspension of competitions.

The international federation World Rugby had recommended Tuesday to wait "a reduction of the measures of social distancing or a specific authorization of the government" before resuming a normal training.

"Rather than a general program like all the teams would follow, we tried to have a holistic approach (global, editor's note) for the players: what could we improve in him in his familiar environment that we could not improve in training camp? ", explained the technician about his work during the confinement period.

Architect of the pack of Springboks that won the last World Cup in Japan, Proudfoot kept in touch with the group of XV de la rose via social networks.

But the lack of regular physical training during confinement is particularly problematic for the forwards, admitted the coach and it will also take them a while to regain a form compatible with competition.

The coaches in charge of power and physical fitness offered players and their clubs individualized programs.

Proudfoot will then wait for the directives of the English federation (RFU). "When we can start training in small groups and set up situations in small groups, things will change a bit," he said.

The technician, who wore the Scottish jersey as a player, also explained how the collaboration with Australian coach Eddie Jones had been "a revelation" for him, in comparison with his work for Rassie Erasmus and Africa. South.

"Where the Springboks are really focused on their model, Eddie takes into account the whole holistic process, he really evaluates his training methods, the way he prepares a team and does it in an extremely meticulous way", he said. it detailed.

"I had to grow and evolve. In my South African environment, it was + execution before innovation +. Here it is + execution comes from innovation +", he continued. .

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