The return of the 6 Nations

[Nearly Sane]

This just feels odd


https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/54557202

[ProfessorDavey]

This just feels odd


https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/54557202

I agree - better to simply scrap the tournament for this year. The notion of resurrecting a tournament and have most teams play just a single outstanding game seems non-sense to me.

Alternatively they could use it as an opportunity to shake things up a little - pick the top four team currently (that can't change from the result of the outstanding 4th round Ireland vs Italy match) and have a play-off with semi-finals and final. Would keep the interest going.

[ProfessorDavey]

What exactly is the point of Italy in the 6 nations.

They've lost their last 24 matches stretching back to 2015.

You can't keep on perpetuating this crazy situation where they lose every game, consequence free, in that next year there they are yet again - you need some kind of relegation/promotion system.

[jeremyp]

I agree - better to simply scrap the tournament for this year. The notion of resurrecting a tournament and have most teams play just a single outstanding game seems non-sense to me.

And so it is until you realise how much money is riding on these tournaments.

[Nearly Sane]

And back in normal time but not normal results. Good game by Scotland, woeful one from England


https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/55962483

[Nearly Sane]

What exactly is the point of Italy in the 6 nations.

They've lost their last 24 matches stretching back to 2015.

You can't keep on perpetuating this crazy situation where they lose every game, consequence free, in that next year there they are yet again - you need some kind of relegation/promotion system.

Some discussion on this

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/56017315

[Nearly Sane]

Ten French players with Covid

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/56154026

[Nearly Sane]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/56196639

France v Scotland match off

[ProfessorDavey]

What exactly is the point of Italy in the 6 nations.

They've lost their last 24 matches stretching back to 2015.

You can't keep on perpetuating this crazy situation where they lose every game, consequence free, in that next year there they are yet again - you need some kind of relegation/promotion system.

Ok - this has to stop. You cannot have have a major international sporting tournament that includes a team that is so uncompetitive that they have now lost every game they've played since 2015. And it isn't as if they are losing closely - they are simply not of an acceptable quality to be part of the tournament.

And not only does it make their involvement an embarrassment it cannot help their development at a rugby playing nation simply to lose every game year after year. They need to be playing genuinely competitive matches in matches that mean something against teams broadly at their level. That would help them develop and perhaps they'd end up with sufficient quality to be competitive in the 6 nations.

[Outrider]

Ok - this has to stop. You cannot have have a major international sporting tournament that includes a team that is so uncompetitive that they have now lost every game they've played since 2015. And it isn't as if they are losing closely - they are simply not of an acceptable quality to be part of the tournament.

And not only does it make their involvement an embarrassment it cannot help their development at a rugby playing nation simply to lose every game year after year. They need to be playing genuinely competitive matches in matches that mean something against teams broadly at their level. That would help them develop and perhaps they'd end up with sufficient quality to be competitive in the 6 nations.

Five international games a year for 20 odd players isn't enough to improve the situation - the problem is that Italy simply isn't producing the required players, either within the country or by attracting foreign talent early enough to repatriate them.  Until the club scene in Italy steps up that's going to continue to be the case, and so long as they are guaranteed a seat at the big table I don't see that there's much pressure on the Italian game to change anything.

O.

[ProfessorDavey]

Five international games a year for 20 odd players isn't enough to improve the situation - the problem is that Italy simply isn't producing the required players, either within the country or by attracting foreign talent early enough to repatriate them.  Until the club scene in Italy steps up that's going to continue to be the case, and so long as they are guaranteed a seat at the big table I don't see that there's much pressure on the Italian game to change anything.

O.

I think your last point is particularly important - while Italy can lose all their games year after year and still be invited into the tournament again every year there isn't much incentive to improve. Italy need to be playing more games against sides of a broadly equivalent level. And for those games to mean something, for example promotion into/relegation from the 6 nations.

Of course details would need to be worked through but the current non-sense helps no-one.