2017 Six Nations

[E24man]

Oops, should have read sixteen times which is 8+1+2+5=16. 2017 is the seventeenth Six Nations. I was making the point that Italy don't finish last most of the time, just half of the time so far, meaning (if you discount ze French) nearly half the time a Home Nation would disappear if the powers that be change to a relegation and promotion system.

So suppose Italy are relegated and Georgia are promoted, then the following year Georgia don't finish last in the Six Nations (for example the Scottish do) and also Italy return. The following year you would have (in this example) a Six Nations of England, France, Georgia, Ireland, Italy and Wales. Scotland would have to play in the second tier and win promotion back.

The bigger question is, would this stimulate competition and the quality of European International Rugby or reduce it? Is the rest of the European second tier that poor in quality that any one of the current six Nations plus Georgia is guaranteed of bouncing back up, or would the fear of relegation out of the top tier increase the quality of the Six Nations as a whole.

[0000]

E24man said:

2017 is the seventeenth Six Nations.

Sure about that?

E24man said:

The bigger question is, would this stimulate competition and the quality of European International Rugby or reduce it?

I doubt it would affect England any more than Argentina being added to the Tri Nations has affected NZ. It would likely benefit Georgia a little, but I can't see it significantly the quality of European rugby in general.

I'd rather see us playing the southern hemisphere sides more often than lower ranked European sides.

[irocfan]

difficult one this - there is an argument that says that the 4 nations not having relegation hasn't hurt them at all (look at RWC15) but then the counter argument of competition being good for development....

I have to admit that I'd at least like to see Georgia play Italy/Scotland on a regular basis to see how things are changing

[TheGreatSoprendo]

E24man said:

I was making the point that Italy don't finish last most of the time

They've finished last 11 times out of 17, how is that not most of the time?

E24man said:

2017 is the seventeenth Six Nations.

It's the 18th and Italy are going to finish last in this one too.

The fact is that straight promotion/relegation is never going to happen. If promotion happens at all (and it most likely won't, at least not for a long time), it'll be on a play off basis which would lessen the risk of one of the home nations being relegated and certainly put it in their own hands even if they did finish bottom of the 6N.

[E24man]

My apologies; crappy sources. You are right, 18th series and 11 times last for Italy.

My intention was to encourage discussion about the relegation and promotion debate.

[Welshbeef]

E24man said:

My apologies; crappy sources. You are right, 18th series and 11 times last for Italy.

My intention was to encourage discussion about the relegation and promotion debate.

Or should it be the 7 Nations?

[irocfan]

Welshbeef said:

Or should it be the 7 Nations?

Have 3 autumn internationals rather than 4... yup. That'd work... but then there must be the option of relegation SHOULD the winner of gp2 be of a reasonable quality

[0000]

So... Scotland beat Ireland, who put nearly twice as many points on Italy as Wales did.

Guessing it's going to be a Wales win tomorrow, but this must be one of the best chances they've had north of the border for a while?

[DocJock]

All comes down to scrum time.

Fagerson is a great prospect, but Willem Nel is missed more than any other player in the first choice 15. I think Wales could destroy our scrum. Hope I'm wrong, obviously...

[spikeyhead]

How many will England win by? I'll guess at 44

[Kermit power]

spikeyhead said:

How many will England win by? I'll guess at 44

I'm hoping for 65. I accidentally put that in as the winning margin on the fantasy Six Nations predictor!

[epom]

Please lord, please please please don't let Johnny Sexton hurt himself falling asleep tonight.

[Kermit power]

epom said:

Please lord, please please please don't let Johnny Sexton hurt himself falling asleep tonight.

I was thinking the same about Nick Evans last night. Sadly my prayers went unanswered.

[Welshbeef]

Hey hey .
Baby number 3 arrived last night - which means my abstinence is now over just in time for Rugby.

[The Mad Monk]

Welshbeef said:

Hey hey .
Baby number 3 arrived last night - which means my abstinence is now over just in time for Rugby.

Congrats.

Will they support England or Wales.

What will you do if they support England despite your wish that they support Wales?

[Kermit power]

The Mad Monk said:

Welshbeef said:

Hey hey .
Baby number 3 arrived last night - which means my abstinence is now over just in time for Rugby.

Congrats.

Will they support England or Wales.

What will you do if they support England despite your wish that they support Wales?

Sounds like one of my fellow mini rugby coaches. He's Scottish, his wife is South African, and the look on his face when his son rocks up to training with his boots in an England boot bag is priceless!

[Kermit power]

Welshbeef said:

Hey hey . Baby number 3 arrived last night - which means my abstinence is now over just in time for Rugby.

Hmm...

Two older kids at home...

Wife has just given birth...

Welshbeef is off to the pub for the weekend...

Will Sun Betting be offering odds on his still being married on Monday morning?

[Welshbeef]

Kermit power said:

Welshbeef said:

Hey hey . Baby number 3 arrived last night - which means my abstinence is now over just in time for Rugby.

Hmm...

Two older kids at home...

Wife has just given birth...

Welshbeef is off to the pub for the weekend...

Will Sun Betting be offering odds on his still being married on Monday morning?

Lol no I'll be at home sipping a few beers.

[anonymous-user]

Is it possible for Scotland and Wales to both lose?

No?

Sure?

Awww. Boo!

[LivingTheDream]

Kermit power said:

spikeyhead said:

How many will England win by? I'll guess at 44

I'm hoping for 65. I accidentally put that in as the winning margin on the fantasy Six Nations predictor!

Haha! I saw that and was surprised that someone had a bigger margin than me!

I put 60

I think I might have over done it but nothing would surprise me