Six Nations: France v Italy Match Thread

Neil3030 wrote: »

You've made 22 posts since 2013.

That's an average of 4.4 posts per year.

So you allocated nearly 25% of your annual posting allowance to post this.

Outstanding, sir.

Boom!

Are we getting to the stage where we have to start seriously questioning Italy's continued involvement in this tournament? Can anyone honestly say they've improved in the 18 years they've been in it? An odd surprise win here and there but generally getting hidings on a majority of occasions including here against possibly the worst French team in living memory.

Burkie1203 wrote: »

It wont happen so pointless discussing it

Benetton and zebre have been hugely better this year. That will take time to feed into the national side though if they can keep improving

In the poorest league in top level European rugby.

I agree it won't happen but they devalue the tournament and I'm saying that as a serious italophile.

robyntmorton wrote: »

The score line flatters the French. They have not been great, and the Italians have shown flashes of great play.

The Italians still have a long way to go though.

France butchered about three tries from a couple of yards out.

France played all the rugby in that match really..

Few flashes from Italy but nothing of consequence.

FCIM wrote: »

Are we getting to the stage where we have to start seriously questioning Italy's continued involvement in this tournament? Can anyone honestly say they've improved in the 18 years they've been in it? An odd surprise win here and there but generally getting hidings on a majority of occasions including here against possibly the worst French team in living memory.

France should be kicked out of the 6 nations, they're not taking it seriously, playing a random team every game for the last 5 years

Or kick out Scotland, their record is almost as bad as Italy since the 6 nations was formed

Conor O'Shea was just interviewed on Dmax Italia (the Italian Six Nations broadcaster). Good grief, his Italian is rough lol.

Akrasia wrote: »

France should be kicked out of the 6 nations, they're not taking it seriously, playing a random team every game for the last 5 years

Or kick out Scotland, their record is almost as bad as Italy since the 6 nations was formed

Anyway...

I wouldn't kick anyone out. I might look at having a promotion/relegation playoff between the bottom 6N team and the champions of the Rugby Europe Championship. It'd give the tier 2 teams something to aspire to. At the moment, it's a closed shop and I don't see why, as examples, Georgia and Romania who are serious about the sport shouldn't get an opportunity against a team which is about to get it's thirteenth wooden spoon in nineteen tournaments.

thebaz wrote: »

Italy should at least be forced to challenge the team in division below - Georgia - home and away knockout - its too comfortable for them today as ther continuos losses have no ramifications - I think it would actually benefit Italian rugby if they were to participate in games they might win - Italy got into the 6 Nations on the back of a team that was competive and probably better than Ireland - today ther continuos defeats seam to have no consequnce - sport is about winning and losing -

The problem is, I suspect, the powers that be would be petrified of one of the other five having a bad year and getting shocked by Georgia or Romania in a playoff. I agree it should happen, as I said above, but unrealistic as one of the other five losing, particularly across a two legged contest against Georgia or Romania would be I suspect it's the reason a playoff will never happen. That and I have a suspicion the suits wouldn't be too happy having to swap Rome for Bucharest/Tbilisi every two years should it come to pass.

Buer wrote: »

Italy would not lose to Georgia over two legs. It's not going to happen. Georgia play most of their games against tier 3 sides and then treat their games against tier 1/2 nations as cup finals. If they played higher tier nations regularly as Italy do, they simply don't have the set up to be anything close to competitive.

Italy were genuinely competitive when they were approved. They beat Ireland 3 times in the 90s for example. Georgia are not near that level.

This is true. Italy are spots over Georgia and they are spots better over their next best. What is needed is a stronger second tier competition that can run complementary to 6N, possibly involving the B+I cup or academy set ups as well but that's another thread for another day. For now Italy need good management and coaching and to be involved where they are today.

FCIM wrote: »

Genuinely?

He was using feminine words as if they were masculine and vice versa (even changing the ends of them, not just misusing il and la), his pronunciation was all over the place and the odd English word was thrown in too. Given that what he was saying wasn't that complicated and was about a topic he's working in every day, for a guy who has been in the job two years it surprised me.

I presume he must still live in Ireland and isn't getting the practice.

He is our revenge for Trapattoni.

Watching the match last night, I felt that Shaggy was incredibly harsh on Italy. He couldn't find a good word to say about them and tbh, I was a bit disapppointed. They're not by any means the finished article, but they were able to defend their line very well, had a decent enough set-piece, showed very good ball handling skills and have some really impressive strike runners. Sebastian Negri really stood out for me, he'd be in the conversation for an Ireland cap imo.