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'Even the Springboks would struggle in the Six Nations' - Italy's South African coach offers reality check
Former Bulls and Stormers flyhalf Marius Goosen, currently an assistant coach with Italy, believes that even the Springboks would struggle with the pressure that comes with the Six Nations.
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Speaking to SuperSport.com about Italy’s lean run of wins in the tournament, the South African said any nation would find it tough.
“I understand the talking point around it, but once people play in this competition they will realise how tough it is.
“I’ve read a few times how the Springboks may in the future be part of the Six Nations and even they will find it tough. It is not easy,” he said.
The Springboks away record against Six Nations opponents suggests that would be the case, with three wins from the last six matches played against Six Nations opponents on opposition home turf.
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“If you play a once-off test against teams it is easier, or one team in a test series.
“If you play three or four weeks consecutive against some of these teams in hostile places, then it is not that easy. I know I’m probably speaking from an Italian point of view, the Springboks might find it easier with the team they have.
“But to still play in France, then Murrayfield, then Twickenham, and then Wales week after week, it is tough.
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“Add to that the pressure of trying to win the competition as well, sometimes when the Springboks come to tour here in November, they are one-off test matches, it is not a competition. They are not prepping to win a competition like the Rugby Championship or the World Cup for instance.
Although Italy have fended off calls to be replaced by Georgia in recent years, Goosen believes they need the competition to get better as a nation.
“Italy – and there is no beating around the bush – are competing against the best teams in the world. We are probably the bottom side in the Tier 1 countries, and we are competing against the second, third, fourth best teams in the world, and it isn’t easy.
“Italy has also shown in the past few years that we are the best of the rest. Everyone talked about Georgia who wanted to take Italy’s place in the Six Nations. We played them two years ago and beat them convincingly down in Florence.”
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Not only did Italy see off Georgia, but there have also been bigger scalps in recent years. Italy famously captured a 20-18 win over South Africa in 2016 when they hosted the rebuilding Springboks in Florence.
It was their first-ever over the three-time World Cup champions but were soundly beaten 49-3 in pool play in Japan in 2019.
Although Italy’s last win the Six Nations was back in 2015 over Scotland, Goosen believes Italy has a great opportunity ahead.
“It is a great opportunity for Italy as a union to keep on going, because this is what we are trying. We have to evolve the game in Italy and grow and stay competitive in the Six Nations.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Wasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
3 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
3 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
30 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
3 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
30 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
30 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
30 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
30 Go to comments