Arrivederci Italy

[elgringoborracho]

I agree with everything being said here except for the first post.
I'll add some more reasons to keep Italy in:

And for the growing female audience in rugby:

 

[TRF_RC]

Totally stupid and pointless thread. In 1999 New Zealand beat Italy 101-3. In their last encounter New Zealand beat Italy 20-6, with a crowd of 81,000 watching. You're right, they're clearly a lost cause, get rid of them.

That's one of the reasons why i love you nickdnz.

Get rid of the Italians!

 

[LittleGuy]

Italy just had a terrible game against what may be the best English side ever(if I dare say) last week thats all, no need to kick them out of the entire tournament I think they will come out a lot stronger this weekend there is too much passion and heart in that side not to rally. The 7th best team in Europe, Georgia is still a much weaker side (although improving) than Italy so promotion/relegation is a non- issue at the moment. Even as a neutral fan I see utterly no reason to go back to the five nations and I love seeing the underdog play well.

Italy just needs to finally break the ice with a couple of big upset wins, its like they get so close and lose it in the final ten minutes because they clam up at the end of the game. Do I expect Italy to finish first anytime soon? No, but they have been pushing a lot of teams recently and could still have a chance against Scotland and Wales even in this years edition. I also wouldn't rule out a quarterfinal appearance at the RWC if they can get healthy. They are in a weak pool and a win against Ireland is an acheivable goal which would probably put them into 2nd in the group.

 

[TRF_RC]

BTW can we NEVER have that Bergamascos picture posted on here again.
It makes me want to wretch.

 

[Feicarsinn]

Well that should end any debate on this matter...

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

Kick France out instead

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

[nagging mode]
*France has been bad. They lost against England and Italy. Why keep them in the Six Nations?*
[/nagging mode]

 

[TRF_Olyy]

They've lost two on the trot,

Hang the lot of 'em, I say

 

[Amobokoboko]

Liking those Azzuri girlies.
I think Italy proved a point today. Next game is against Scotland so they could aim at a second victory.

 

[187]

If the Super Rugby competition is expanded with a team outside SANZAR, the whole conference format will end up in the trash with a new flat format league

We at the very least need to get Argentina in on the Tri-Nations tournament. Their not pushovers anymore & regularly beat top flight opposition.
Not sure what can be done for the Super Rugby Tournament I quite like this conference system, so would be a shame to see it scrapped.

Anywho, I think Italy silenced any critics this morning defeating the French. This wouldn't have been possible if they weren't playing top teams week in & week out. They're here to stay.
SANZAR need to follow suit & help Argentina out.

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

SANZAR need to follow suit & help Argentina out.

From a playing perspective, yes they need to help Argentina but money will come into it.

What I mean by that is best illustrated when asking why Italian teams were allowed in the ML. Their clubs performances in the Heineken Cup didn't warrant allowing them in. Money did. The combined population of Ireland, Scotland and Wales is less than 15 million. Italy's is 4 times that figure. That's a whole lot of added TV revenue. Would Argentina with their weak currency bring enough pesos to Sanzar to get them thinking about allowing Argentinian provinces into Super Rugby?

Today's result is huge for both Italy and the Magners League. Beating France in the 6 Nations for the first time is bound to increase the feel good factor about the sport in Italy. More interest equals a bigger TV contract which, with Dahlia in administration, will come into effect next season. Also, Magners sponsorship of the league ends next season. The league is in a great position to extract a much larger deal now that the league is properly established, the top teams consistently challenge in the Heineken Cup and the potential domestic audience has grown five fold since the last contract was drawn up.

 

[alexrugby]

What if Georgia (current champion of "Nations Cup") or any our pool team entered RBS Six Nations instead of the last place team ?

 

[nickdnz]

What if Georgia (current champion of "Nations Cup") or any our pool team entered RBS Six Nations instead of the last place team ?

If that was the case, you'd see rugby interest in either Scotland and Italy decrease dramatically, and once every two years and minow nations would be thrashed 70 points a game. A knock out system wouldn't work. It would be better for Georga to get more exposure to test matches in one offs, and then gradually brought into a 7 Nations, rather than exclude any of the current teams.

 

[Teh Mite]

We do NOT want a 7 nations.

When will it end? In 50 years time we'd have a NH competition of 14 international teams and a SH competition of 10.

Where would they get the players from?
What would happen to the domestic games?
When would they have time to play the games?
Who would be interested in the domestic games if all they draw players are in the test sides?
Once the crowds dry up, how would the domestic sides gain funding to warrant producing players for the national team?

There's too much rugby as it is. We don't need more half arsed tournaments clogging up the calender.

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Spain is added in the near future to form the 7 Nations right?

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

I agree with what Bullitt says in terms of fixture congestion. There's far too much club rugby played and the same test teams playing each other year in, year out is beginning to get very stale.

I'd like to see something extra done to promote rugby in tier 2 nations. Georgia, Romania, Russia and the like should be exposed to lots more games against the 6 Nations countries outside the 6 Nations tournament itself in November and June. In the long term it will grow the sport and make international rugby a more valuable "brand" to market.

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

That would be better. A 2nd tier 6 Nations with Georgia, Spain, Romania, Portugal, Russia and Germany/Ukraine would promote the rugby but would maybe mess up the Nations Cup we have at the moment

 

[187]

And then one day in a hundred years or so when they're good enough you could have a relegation system

 

[alexrugby]

Well you got evil over me

Listen: first of all I did not mean Georgia's heading to enter 6N

Second: I do not think we will lose 70pts a match

Third: only reason Georgia wants to get CLOSER to 6N teams is to have tests with them and have more experience

Rugby world is closed and lower teams are choked in their pools and higher ones share love among each other

This is not the right way for rugby development

If their Highness IRB authorities will give us opportunity to play against higher teams we will play and never try to get your precious 6N

I think now you understand why and what I posted here

 

[TRF_Cymro]

Has anyone else noticed that the original poster has not comeback?