6N 2025

[Vacamion]

 

That's a paddlin'.

 

 

[Nalis]

Sums up the game.

 

England have taken every chance they've had. Wales have had a decent amount of chances but only taken one.

[ealingfox]

Up the sweaties

[Super_horns]

Every time England have a chance they take it .

[Izzy]

Bloody hell. Far too easy

[ealingfox]

Time to revisit the 6N relegation conversation?

 

We can't have these uncompetitive minnow nations stinking it up year after year.

[leicsmac]

Relentless, brutal and absolutely thorough.

[Bilo]

4 minutes ago, ealingfox said:

Time to revisit the 6N relegation conversation?

 

We can't have these uncompetitive minnow nations stinking it up year after year.

I'd actually like to see the 6N extended with two extra nations.

 

Two pools of four, top two from each pool go into the semis with the final venue rotating every year.

Edited 15 March by Bilo

[RonnieTodger]

@Finnegan if you get a moment, would you be  able to elaborate on the issues with the WRU?

 

I listen to the socially distant sports bar and have heard the pelters that they get. 
 

From what I can gather, there’s an issue with the teenage stage of development, but the U20s seem to be doing okay?

 

Also a call for the four URC teams to be reduced to two? 
 

This isn’t a pisstake, I’m genuinely intrigued. Wales are Italy 2000s level of shit, I can’t believe what I’ve watched these last few years. 

[RonnieTodger]

Also as Jiffy says, England have been excellent

[PhillippaT]

So this is what it feels like to support a team that knows how to finish - I'd almost forgotten  

[Nalis]

2 hours ago, Nalis said:

Looking forward to this one, can't call it at all.

As expected

[Izzy]

That shot of Adam Jones in the tunnel  

[EastAnglianFox]

My internet has been dodgy as hell today so I’m guessing Finners is also struggling.

[Bilo]

I didn't realise that Wales aren't just below Italy in the World Rugby Rankings; they're currently not even in the 'real' top six in Europe.

 

They're 12th and one place below Georgia, and two below Italy. They're even only four places ahead of Portugal. 

 

Whatever has happened in Welsh rugby has been rapid and devastating, and they could end up being the whipping boys for a while without a change. 

 

 

[Nalis]

14 minutes ago, Bilo said:

I'd actually like to see the 6N extended with two extra nations.

 

Two pools of four, top two from each pool go into the semis with the final venue rotating every year.

No way the home nations agree to that, unless it's a home nations group and continental europe group, even then France probably dont agree to it either.

[Bilo]

8 minutes ago, Nalis said:

No way the home nations agree to that, unless it's a home nations group and continental europe group, even then France probably dont agree to it either.

I think the only way would be to offer guaranteed qualification spots for most of them. 

 

Either that or do something similar to the Premiership where there are more teams, the top sides go into a play-off tournament with a final played at a predetermined venue. 

 

An Eight Nations with Georgia and Portugal added, followed by Ireland, France, England and Scotland (at present) in the semis, with home advantage dependent on performance in the initial stage, and the final played at a range of venues across Europe from the traditional grounds like Twickenham and Murrayfield through to those intended at growing exposure of the sport in Europe, such as the Stadio Olimpico, Olympiastadion in Berlin or one or more of the iconic Spanish stadia.

 

England v Ireland in what would be a de facto European rugby final at the rebuilt Camp Nou would be an incredible spectacle, for example.

Edited 15 March by Bilo

[Vacamion]

 

Changing it to a European Rugby Championship, with relegation from the top group, and promotion from a second tier, brings other nations into it and, at the moment,  risks a Wales or Italy or Scotland dropping down.

 

So I'm a fan of the idea.

 

 

[martyn]

That English back row is a menace. Reckon both Currys could have played themselves onto the Lions tour in a stacked area.

[MPH]

34 minutes ago, Bilo said:

I'd actually like to see the 6N extended with two extra nations.

 

Two pools of four, top two from each pool go into the semis with the final venue rotating every year.

I’d be interested to know who you would like them to be?

 

i do think a  different guest nation every year  from the southern hemisphere would be an idea but I don’t think it would be feasible.. I don’t think there is any quality left in Europe to get club sides on board or even to motivate the players for an extra bruising international game.. if it was a nation that could contribute to the competition and improve the quality, I’d be all for it..

Edited 15 March by MPH

[RonnieTodger]

5 minutes ago, Vacamion said:

 

Changing it to a European Rugby Championship, with relegation from the top group, and promotion from a second tier, brings other nations into it and, at the moment,  risks a Wales or Italy or Scotland dropping down.

 

So I'm a fan of the idea.

 

 

I think a play-off between bottom of Div 1 and Div 2 winner would be great. 
 

We take the piss, but there is a lot more gravitas to a fixture with Wales than Georgia. 

[SpacedX]

So pleased for Joe with his first try for England. 

 

[Bilo]

2 minutes ago, Vacamion said:

 

Changing it to a European Rugby Championship, with relegation from the top group, and promotion from a second tier, brings other nations into it and, at the moment,  risks a Wales or Italy or Scotland dropping down.

 

So I'm a fan of the idea.

 

 

There's definitely merit in the idea if you want to grow the sport. We're stuck in a Five Nations Plus One mindset when nations like Spain, Portugal, Georgia and Romania have proud rugby traditions and even the likes of Germany and Belgium are improving.

 

In the same length of time that the flagship European Football Championship has gone from four to twenty-four teams, rugby's has gone from five to six.

 

There's not much wrong with ringfencing the biggest sides per se, because putting England and France in qualifiers against Cyprus and Denmark is just going to end in three figure maulings, but the gap between teams like Wales, Italy, Georgia and Portugal has now retracted enough to consider qualification/relegation.

[Bilo]

8 minutes ago, MPH said:

I’d be interested to know who you would like them to be?

 

i do think a  different guest nation every year  from the southern hemisphere would be an idea but I don’t think it would be feasible.. I don’t think there is any quality left in Europe to get club sides on board or even to motivate the players for an extra bruising international game.. if it was a nation that could contribute to the competition and improve the quality, I’d be all for it..

Georgia are currently above Wales in the world rankings and Wales are only four places ahead of Portugal. Romania have had some decent sides in the past too.

[MPH]

2 minutes ago, Bilo said:

Georgia are currently above Wales in the world rankings and Wales are only four places ahead of Portugal. Romania have had some decent sides in the past too.

 

Funnily enough,  were both the last two Wins Wales had, I think