Italy’s future in 6N

[TRF_Olyy]

South Africa fans be like

 

[Goodey]

I wonder if someone leaked the story out to the mail to test out fan reaction.

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

Italy have more wooden spoons than they have games won, that's how poor they have been.

 

[Becca]

I’m glad they’ve said that. Let’s put the issue to bed for another year !

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

I think questions have to be asked of Italy if their new generation of players can't produce wins in the next 5 years or so.

Outside of the second row they have some incredible players including the best young ten in world rugby for my money. They need to look at how France turned strong 20s sides into a strong national side, emulate and take advantage of Wales and Scotland becoming more vulnerable as key players start retiring and deteriorating on the wrong side of 30.

The task they were given was unenviable. Adapt to professionalism as your golden age of players retire, not easy. But they should have had their good current structures in years earlier.

 

[pagliaccio_euforico]

Every other year you get a bye week in rome, stop complaining.

Also that press release is exactly what you say two weeks before announcing a deal.

 

[Goodey]

I think questions have to be asked of Italy if their new generation of players can't produce wins in the next 5 years or so.

Outside of the second row they have some incredible players including the best young ten in world rugby for my money. They need to look at how France turned strong 20s sides into a strong national side, emulate and take advantage of Wales and Scotland becoming more vulnerable as key players start retiring and deteriorating on the wrong side of 30.

The task they were given was unenviable. Adapt to professionalism as your golden age of players retire, not easy. But they should have had their good current structures in years earlier.

If questions have to be asked in 5 years, why not now?

This still supposes that Italy being in the 6N depends on their performance in some way. It doesn't.

 

[Bada-Bing!]

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2...ions-in-2033-if-south-africa-join-six-nations

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

If questions have to be asked in 5 years, why not now?

This still supposes that Italy being in the 6N depends on their performance in some way. It doesn't.

They've shown clear progression at both club and age grade level recently and have a young squad with high potential.

 

[ChicagoKid]

That statement means absolutely nothing. It’s just a bunch of words thrown together to settle the masses. I love how people think CVC is going to sit around and not shake things up. It’s exactly what they were brought in to do.

 

[pagliaccio_euforico]

They were brought in to increase profits, which doesn’t doesn’t mean shaking things up.

 

[ChicagoKid]

They were brought in to increase profits, which doesn’t doesn’t mean shaking things up.

Im not going to get into a ******* match before 8am. We will what happens after the next World Cup.

 

[NickBD]

They've shown clear progression at both club and age grade level recently and have a young squad with high potential.

This has to be last change though right? Give them till 2025 see how it's going. As you say Benetton over last 3 years have become a good european team and u20s look good, hopefully it comes to something.

Clubs have been in Pro12/14 for almost 10 years now and in 22 years in 6N they've finish last 15 (gonna be 16). Has to be a cut of point, not a SA team but another European team if Italy are still last.

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

https://www.planetrugby.com/six-nations-organisers-rule-out-replacing-italy-with-south-africa
Focussing on the World League proposition instead. I'm doubtful they can't do both at the same time in terms of negotiating with SA.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

If I understand it right any change to the 6N would require the unanimous agreement of all 7 shareholders - the 6 unions and CVC. And turkeys don’t generally vote for Christmas.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

This has to be last change though right? Give them till 2025 see how it's going. As you say Benetton over last 3 years have become a good european team and u20s look good, hopefully it comes to something.

Clubs have been in Pro12/14 for almost 10 years now and in 22 years in 6N they've finish last 15 (gonna be 16). Has to be a cut of point, not a SA team but another European team if Italy are still last.

Yeah, probably a top v bottom playoff. The lack of other options is the obvious trouble.

 

[Geordie]

6n have confirmed its not happening....

Maybe the outcry was enough lol

 

[Johnny Storm]

Totally the wrong thing to include SA in the 6N. The tournament is fine as it is and if it ain't broke don't fix it. The move would be extremely unpopular with the fans in UK/Ireland and the extra travel to the other side of the world would be terrible for carbon emissions.

If SA were to be included, they would probably just be ignored by the public, and the 6N would just carry on as a tournament within a tournament.

I suspect that SARFU are starved for cash following covid and the empty Lions tour last year. Its down to money, and wishful thinking.

 

[Deleted member 53362]

Totally the wrong thing to include SA in the 6N. The tournament is fine as it is and if it ain't broke don't fix it. The move would be extremely unpopular with the fans in UK/Ireland and the extra travel to the other side of the world would be terrible for carbon emissions.

If SA were to be included, they would probably just be ignored by the public, and the 6N would just carry on as a tournament within a tournament.

I suspect that SARFU are starved for cash following covid and the empty Lions tour last year. Its down to money, and wishful thinking.

I agree but Italy really do need to up their game otherwise the fixture just becomes irrelevant

 

[Johnny Storm]

I think a nice idea to propose now would be the addition of a rotating guest spot in the 6N, to include maybe the likes of Samoa, Tonga, Fiji or Uruguay, giving them a chance to play the big boys every few years outside the WC.

The same could be done withe the Rugby championship with a rotating NH team.

This would make things more interesting without changing the fundamentals of each tournament too much. It would bring back the old bye week problem again though.

 

[ChicagoKid]

I think a nice idea to propose now would be the addition of a rotating guest spot in the 6N, to include maybe the likes of Samoa, Tonga, Fiji or Uruguay, giving them a chance to play the big boys every few years outside the WC.

The same could be done withe the Rugby championship with a rotating NH team.

This would make things more interesting without changing the fundamentals of each tournament too much. It would bring back the old bye week problem again though.

So CO2 emissions are a factor for the Springboks but not Samoa, Tonga, or Fiji. You gotta be yanking my chain with this stuff.

 

[Johnny Storm]

So CO2 emissions are a factor for the Springboks but not Samoa, Tonga, or Fiji. You gotta be yanking my chain with this stuff.

They would be based in Europe/UK for the duration of the tournament, not like 6N teams crossing hemispheres to play in SA every other week which would happen if SA joined permanently because they would demand a fair share of home games.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

Sort of fits in this thread. This would not be a positive development.

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2...t-be-able-to-afford-to-keep-six-nations-rugby

 

[Seeker]

Definitely worth it. Maybe not in match results, but an away trip to Rome is worth their participation.

I'm also pretty sure I read somewhere that they had a massive injury list, coupled with an incredibly young side they are bound to struggle.

I agree!