Argies in Tri-Nations?

Valentia

Argentina should join the Tri-nations???? So they should get on a plane. fly 12 hours, from their European base and then be expected to compete?? FFS. They surely should be part of the new 7 nations? Sid should retire now and Eddie and himself should drink rum on a beach in Jamaica.

We must be even more a laughing stock now as the only nation that doesn't know what to do with a "coach" who has ****ed up. The IRFU has too many John Delaneys methinks.

davyjose

Looks like the IRB are pushing for Argentina, and an island nation (presumably Fiji) to join the Tri-Nations.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/10/09/2054797.htm?section=sport
It seems like a good idea to me - fiji got as far as AUS/NZ in this years comp, argentina further.

It's not in this article, but I read in the paper this morning that they pretty much ruled out a 6 Nation's expansion saying there was "no room" in the competition!!!

davyjose

Valentia wrote:

So they should get on a plane. fly 12 hours, from their European base and then be expected to compete?? FFS. They surely should be part of the new 7 nations? Sid should retire now and Eddie and himself should drink rum on a beach in Jamaica.

We must be even more a laughing stock now as the only nation that doesn't know what to do with a "coach" who has ****ed up. The IRFU has too many John Delaneys methinks.

It's about 50% further from Paris - Auckland, than it is from Cape town - Auckland. A lot, yeah! But it's in the summer months. So it's not going to kill them.
The 7 Nations would effectively destroy provincial/Club Rugby in Europe IMO, especially if all the players need holidays afterwards (afterall I was called a clown for daring to suggest they take no break between International Tournaments and Club matches, on a seperate thread). So your looking at the Knock-outs of the HC, and some critical Magners League/GP/Top 14 games being affected, or pushed back to shorten the Summer Break, which I daren't suggest the players don't need.

Erin Go Brath

In light of recent results maybe the Tri-nations cosy cartel have realised they're not quite as elite as they thought they were, and expansion is the way foward. Hope the Argies do find a 'new home' soon whether its North or South.

ThomasH

Argentina should join the Tri-nations???? So they should get on a plane. fly 12 hours, from their European base and then be expected to compete?? FFS. They surely should be part of the new 7 nations? Sid should retire now and Eddie and himself should drink rum on a beach in Jamaica.

Why not? SA, AUS and NZ have been flying on every occasion for more or less 12 hours between these countries to play 3-nations and been doing it since 1996. Sid is right, the 6 nations will become overcrowded if it is turned into a 7 nations.

We must be even more a laughing stock now as the only nation that doesn't know what to do with a "coach" who has ****ed up. The IRFU has too many John Delaneys methinks.

TBH, I think more people are laughing or upset about the ABs shock exit.

Danie Gerber

I think Argentina should joint a major cometition and I think it should be the 3N but..., in the 3N the teams already fly 12hrs in two directions to play the matches, adding one team will make them fly another 12 hours in the opposite direction! And because of the domestic and super14 schedules the tournament can only realistically be increased by maximum two weeks.

That's a serious amount of travelling lads. Your talking about flying against and with the timezones as well which will mess players up too. Argentina will face a schedule that will look something like this:

Week one: Fly from europe back to Arg.
Week two: Play Boks at home,
Week 3: Play All Blacks at home
Week 4: Fly to Australia
Week 6: Play Aus away and fly to NZ
Week 7: Play AB's away and fly to SA
Week 8: Play SA away and fly back to Arg
Week 9: Play Aus at home...
Week 10: Fly back to Europe for clubs...

Good luck.

jank

Would do loads to increase the domestic game in Argentina.
Right decision imo.

Worrytahs

Valentia wrote:

Argentina should join the Tri-nations???? So they should get on a plane. fly 12 hours, from their European base and then be expected to compete?? FFS. They surely should be part of the new 7 nations? Sid should retire now and Eddie and himself should drink rum on a beach in Jamaica.

We must be even more a laughing stock now as the only nation that doesn't know what to do with a "coach" who has ****ed up. The IRFU has too many John Delaneys methinks.

Syd Millar is not in the IRFU.
He is IRB, the sport's governing body.

davyjose

It's unfortunate, but .. beggars can't be choosers. That's Geography and nothing else. The only alternative is to set up their own South american tournament, and that is NOT a viable idea. Personally I think they'll jump at the chance, and worry about the flying after. I think you might see a migration over time of European based Argies going South!

daveirl

This post has been deleted.

smashey

daveirl wrote:

This post has been deleted.

Take it to conspiracy theories Dave.

daveirl

This post has been deleted.

is_that_so

I agree with Argentina playing in 3N. As pointed out there is already nearly too much rugby in the NH.

Yes it's geography but there are ways around it. For example play the new 4 nations as a miniseries of 2-3 week blocks in each country, with each team playing three matches in 4 separate rounds. Maybe that way they can all get more money out of it as well.

Might be something like this.

Weeks 1-3 NZ

Week 4 Break

Weeks 5-7 OZ

Week 8 Break

Weeks 9-11 SA

Week 12 Break

Weeks 13-15 Argentina

gosplan

I'm assuming coming to clubs in Europe will not stop some of the NZ players from taking part in the Tri-Nations.

There's enough matches in the NH and the teams all play each other twice around tri nations time. So just let Argentina and Fiji in and adopt the same setup as the 6 nations.

I mean, if you're leaving your club to play for 5 weeks in an international series, does it really matter if you have to fly 12 hours to get there?

For me the only possible problem it could kick up is NH clubs unhappy with their players getting crocked when they're supposed to have a summer off.

davyjose

gosplan wrote:

I'm assuming coming to clubs in Europe will not stop some of the NZ players from taking part in the Tri-Nations.

Nope, if you don't play Super 14 you can't be an All Black. It's one of the reasons Spencer bailed to England (his AB career was pretty much over - casualty of 2003 WC)

ThomasH

The Boks will be in the 7 nations anyway won't they

Is this something the NH would welcome?

Trojan

What about an All Americas competition - Argentina, US and Canada. If they played on a regular basis all 3 would improve, and have a "local" competition.

AlphaMale 3OO

Trojan wrote:

What about an All Americas competition - Argentina, US and Canada. If they played on a regular basis all 3 would improve, and have a "local" competition.

I'm afraid Argentina are far too strong for those teams. That is not the correct move. It's been tried before with the Pacific Rim tournament and it failed.

Worrytahs

Trojan wrote:

What about an All Americas competition - Argentina, US and Canada. If they played on a regular basis all 3 would improve, and have a "local" competition.

TV Rights.

Argentina should be based in Europe where most of them play anyway. Trecking across the southern hemisphere is bad enough from Africa to Oceania but to include South America as well? Not the best, in my opinion. If anyone should be added to the Tri it should at least a Pac Islanders team.