I know what you mean but surely it would be better, given how compressed the fixtures are already in this time period, to gain a couple of extra days between the first 2 and the last 2 if possible.

You are spot on . I know the groundstaff who always say the football does more damage to the pitch than the rugby . Also , its easier and quicker for them to switch from Football to rugby , so would expect them to be hoping for the CC game to be played sunday .

Also helped by the fact there is no pushing in the scrums like in the old days. Like you say winter time is always worst no matter what's been played. More water/less sunshine= soggy pitches which are easily cut up.

I think some sort of flare or smoke bomb was thrown onto the pitch