Is Italy a true Tier 1 Nation?

[saulan]

The rule to now has been the top 3 of each group of the previous World Cup auto qualifying, so broader than just the quarter finalists.

Edit: has been this way since the 2011 WC. The 2007 WC was the quarter finalists of the 2003 World Cup auto qualifying

 

[Which Tyler]

when was that, i feel it wouldnt be the case now days,

I want to say qualifying for 1999 - which would have been the first time it was full-time professionals against rank amateurs.

ETA: Yes, and yes it was the Netherlands: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/rugby_union/214389.stm

 

[Kiwiwomble]

I want to say qualifying for 1999 - which would have been the first time it was full-time professionals against rank amateurs.

ETA: Yes, and yes it was the Netherlands: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/rugby_union/214389.stm

and scums are vastly different now days compared till then, i'd like to see it

 

[pagliaccio_euforico]

1999 Rugby World Cup – European qualification - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Honestly if they put that format into 2027 it wouldn't be the end of the world. Probably better than the expanded World Cup.

England would be the only automatic qualifier and they'd get 7 qualifiers plus one to Final Qualifying Tournament.

Top 9 to be in playoffs would be.

Ireland
France
Scotland
Italy
Georgia
Wales
Portugal
Spain
Romania

Probably be some blowouts but all those would be non-farcial and the scrums would be fine. You go to 12 teams however and Switzerland probably loses by 150 each game.

 

[Kiwiwomble]

1999 Rugby World Cup – European qualification - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Honestly if they put that format into 2027 it wouldn't be the end of the world. Probably better than the expanded World Cup.

England would be the only automatic qualifier and they'd get 7 qualifiers plus one to Final Qualifying Tournament.

Top 9 to be in playoffs would be.

Ireland
France
Scotland
Italy
Georgia
Wales
Portugal
Spain
Romania

Probably be some blowouts but all those would be non-farcial and the scrums would be fine. You go to 12 teams however and Switzerland probably loses by 150 each game.

i think it would make almost no difference to the actual RWC tournement....might just give some spice to game inbetween