[2025 Six Nations] Wales vs England - 15/3/25

[Weldit]

Imagine celebrating this.

 

[HamJan]

How kind of him! Wales will take that as a direct and hefty compliment.

They really shouldn't.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

I personally think this is the strongest argument for relegation...

When teams development become this bad, current day Wales, 2010s Italy, 2000s Scotland, they 200% deserve to play a playoff against the winner of 6N two, electric boogaloo (yes that should be the official name).

There is no way this Wales team beats Georgia, and I would worry for them v Romania and Portugal too, but they 100% deserve it.

The justifications of what ifs above is laughable, the what it's went in Wales favour against Ireland and Scotland, and against them against England, but Wales were not competitive in any of them.

Cockers stirring the pot.

Six Nations: Georgia coach Richard Cockerill wants Wales play-off

Coach Richard Cockerill says Georgia have "earned the right" to face Wales in a play-off to decide who should be in the 2026 Six Nations.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[dirty harry]

Cockers stirring the pot.

Six Nations: Georgia coach Richard Cockerill wants Wales play-off

Coach Richard Cockerill says Georgia have "earned the right" to face Wales in a play-off to decide who should be in the 2026 Six Nations.

www.bbc.co.uk

Is he wrong though? The last 2 meets are 1-1. Wales have lost for 3 years, and are conceding record scores, we clearly aren't competing with tier 1 teams...

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

I think this year has convinced me that the 6n should change to a seeded Euros style tournament. The only justification for it I had was to keep the triple crown alive but no one cares about that anymore.

2 groups of 4 play each other once. Semi finals (both for winner and 5th place) and then finals for each position. Work it a bit like 7s, shared revenue for the knockout games so no one loses out in a year they only have one home game.

Last place relegated for winner of Euro B, no playoff.

There'll be some years without a calcutta cup which I think is more relevant than the TC these days weirdly, but that's not the end of the world.

If it's not this every year, it should absolutely be the format for Lions and WC years.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

I could live with a relegation play off, but not with any other form of restructuring. Firstly I just don't think the depth's there.

But don't risk killing the goose that lays the golden egg. It's the history and tradition of the 6N that fans and broadcasters buy into. It's hard enough to even maintain the status quo let alone grow the game. Maybe one day there will be a compelling reason to change, but we are not there yet. Few are going to watch a tournament where we might play France but will play Spain.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Could they not add an extra round to the current schedule just by binning one of the bye weeks?
Teams still get 2 weeks rest during the tournament, as only 6/7 teams can play per round

Would be a bit crap for the final weekend that someone's race is already run, but would be better than groups IMO

 

[mikebrownsauce1512]

I could live with a relegation play off, but not with any other form of restructuring. Firstly I just don't think the depth's there.

But don't risk killing the goose that lays the golden egg. It's the history and tradition of the 6N that fans and broadcasters buy into. It's hard enough to even maintain the status quo let alone grow the game. Maybe one day there will be a compelling reason to change, but we are not there yet. Few are going to watch a tournament where we might play France but will play Spain.

Agree, if it aint broke don't fix it

 

[odw26]

Could they not add an extra round to the current schedule just by binning one of the bye weeks?
Teams still get 2 weeks rest during the tournament, as only 6/7 teams can play per round

Would be a bit crap for the final weekend that someone's race is already run, but would be better than groups IMO

This is the best way forward I believe- increase the tournament to 7 teams, get rid of the bye weeks as each nation would have one rest week anyway. It's not really a realistic notion to relegate anyone as there is no real depth to the European league outside of Georgia and would be fundamentally pointless.

 

[ncurd]

This is the best way forward I believe- increase the tournament to 7 teams, get rid of the bye weeks as each nation would have one rest week anyway. It's not really a realistic notion to relegate anyone as there is no real depth to the European league outside of Georgia and would be fundamentally pointless.

Wasn't the issue with the 5 nations byes?

 

[odw26]

Wasn't the issue with the 5 nations byes?

Considering I was born in 1998- no idea haha.

 

[Which Tyler]

Wasn't the issue with the 5 nations byes?

Partly.
Part was how strong Italy were (way stronger than Georgia are), and part was the irritation with bye weekends

 

[BrokenWing]

Wasn't the issue with the 5 nations byes?

Maybe, but by the looks of it, it was because the games were every two weeks AND with one team sitting out each week. So looking at 1999, France played in the opening week on the 6th Feb, then didnt play again until 6th March.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

This is the best way forward I believe- increase the tournament to 7 teams, get rid of the bye weeks as each nation would have one rest week anyway. It's not really a realistic notion to relegate anyone as there is no real depth to the European league outside of Georgia and would be fundamentally pointless.

That would mean one team playing 6 internationals on consecutive weekends and another 5. Good luck selling that on the grounds of player welfare (as if anyone really cares about anything other than concussion). Would presumably again reduce the number of games players can play for their clubs.

Plus TBH I just don't want to see any more internationals. They're great but there are already shedloads of them and I'm definitely suffering 6N fatigue by the time the tournament ends and it already destroys the flow of domestic seasons as it is (even if the 5/6N well predates leagues and European cups).

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

Maybe, but by the looks of it, it was because the games were every two weeks AND with one team sitting out each week. So looking at 1999, France played in the opening week on the 6th Feb, then didnt play again until 6th March.

And players would often turn out for clubs on fallow weekends.

 

[pagliaccio_euforico]

I think two groups of four is an okay idea but from a commercial point of view it's hard to sell tickets on a week's notice. I know nfl playoffs do it but there is little away travel.

I think a promotion playoff is the way forward. And with how strong the teams outside the six nations are getting I think it will be a no brainer in 4-5 years.

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

I'd love to believe a relegation system would work, unfortunately I think the game is shrinking in the established nations more than it's growing elsewhere. i think a team being relegated would cause far more damage to them than promotion will help another team. It could be the final nail in the coffin of existing 6n teams that are only just keeping the unions and clubs afloat.

 

[Saintjay]

I'd love to believe a relegation system would work, unfortunately I think the game is shrinking in the established nations more than it's growing elsewhere. i think a team being relegated would cause far more damage to them than promotion will help another team. It could be the final nail in the coffin of existing 6n teams that are only just keeping the unions and clubs afloat.

Good shout. The impact on the WRU could be horrific. One reason why none of the Unions want relegation.j