I see the big boss of the 6N has ruled out any sort of relegation/play off system for the foreseeable future, which is a shame. Closed shop approach not good for the likes of Georgia etc.
In terms of this year's tournament, reckon England will win it - bold prediction , but no GS as they will lose in Dublin. Ireland to finish 2nd with 4 wins - think they will lose in Cardiff - Fri night, big atmosphere, Wayne Barnes....
Italy to finish last, but hopefully will be more competitive under O'Shea and Catt.
Neill_M wrote:I see the big boss of the 6N has ruled out any sort of relegation/play off system for the foreseeable future, which is a shame. Closed shop approach not good for the likes of Georgia etc.
In terms of this year's tournament, reckon England will win it - bold prediction , but no GS as they will lose in Dublin. Ireland to finish 2nd with 4 wins - think they will lose in Cardiff - Fri night, big atmosphere, Wayne Barnes....
Italy to finish last, but hopefully will be more competitive under O'Shea and Catt.
Each to their own opinion but I'm glad that Feehan has said this, it took france 50 something years to win their first championship, Italy are late to the big league & with very limited infrastructure. Whilst Georgia & Romania are not miles away from Italy, they are not regularly at Italy's level, Romania have never been the same since they were effectively porfessional players in the amatuer era masquerading as the Romanian army under Ceausescu.
Italy are unquestionably the weakest link but only by some continuity will they ever improve, they cannot go from the bottom of the top table with assured resources to the wilderness or it will never improve. The 6Ns and Celtic League have made a big investment in Italian rugby by giving them access, patience is required irrespective of how pish they are from time to time and whilst we're at it, let's not forget they beat SA in November.
NEVER MOVE ON. Years on, I cannot ever watch Ireland with anything but indifference, I continue to wish for the imminent death of Donal Spring, the FIRFUC's executioner of Wee Paddy & Wee Stu, and I hate the FIRFUCs with undiminished passion.
It should also be remembered how teams have fared against emerging Ireland in the summer cup competition.
Neither Romania or Georgia have the professional strength in numbers to compete more successfully than Italy at the moment
But there is no doubt both they and others could benefit from more exposure to teams like Emerging Ireland,Saxons and the like to help with player development and funding the game in the second tier nations .
Without that assistance they will continue to be humiliated cannon fodder come the World Cup .
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Within this carapace of skepticism there lives an optimist
On top of which I like Italian food, wine and women. (not necessarily in that order)
From the rolling glens of Antrim through the hills of Donegal we will stand and shout for Ulster as we win both scrum and maul from the lovely lakes of Fermanagh tae the shores of ould Lough Gall we will scream and shout for Ulster as we beat them one and all!
Shan wrote:Anyone know if Eddie Jones has any plans to build a wall to keep the Welsh and Scottish out of England? Maybe I need to ask Jim Telfer.
It'll not surprise you to know that I relished Big Jim's rant.
NEVER MOVE ON. Years on, I cannot ever watch Ireland with anything but indifference, I continue to wish for the imminent death of Donal Spring, the FIRFUC's executioner of Wee Paddy & Wee Stu, and I hate the FIRFUCs with undiminished passion.
, but no GS as they will lose in Dublin. Ireland to finish 2nd with 4 wins - think they will lose in Cardiff - Fri night, big atmosphere, Wayne Barnes....
