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'It's a no from me' - Online backlash escalates over Boks joining Six Nations

By Kim Ekin
PA

News that the Springboks are potentially on the brink of joining the Six Nations has been met by widespread dismay and anger in the northern hemisphere.

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While South African fans appear very much open to the prospect, many existing Six Nations fans see it as a betrayal of the values and traditions of the tournament. While no one doubt’s the obvious calibre of the Boks, many fear that their entry will come at the cost of Italy, who have struggled to make an impact in the annual tournament in recent years.

Should the South Africans join in 2025 – or earlier as is being reported – the limited space in the calendar heavily implies that they would take the place of the Azzuri, who despite recent improvements, haven’t won a game since 2015.

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Luke Cowan-Dickie, Six Nations Review and Sinckler’s Sauna | RugbyPass Offload | Episode 21

We’re joined by England’s Luke Cowan-Dickie this week as the Six Nations squads take a break after two rounds of action. We hear from the Exeter Hooker about his journey with England and the Lions, his relationship with Eddie Jones and of course that volleyball moment in Edinburgh during the Calcutta Cup. Max and Ryan give their thoughts on the weekend battles in Cardiff, Paris and Rome, pick their team of the week and look forward to the rest of the tournament.

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Luke Cowan-Dickie, Six Nations Review and Sinckler’s Sauna | RugbyPass Offload | Episode 21

We’re joined by England’s Luke Cowan-Dickie this week as the Six Nations squads take a break after two rounds of action. We hear from the Exeter Hooker about his journey with England and the Lions, his relationship with Eddie Jones and of course that volleyball moment in Edinburgh during the Calcutta Cup. Max and Ryan give their thoughts on the weekend battles in Cardiff, Paris and Rome, pick their team of the week and look forward to the rest of the tournament.

BBC’s Sonja McLaughlan Tweeted: “South Africa in the Six Nations. It’s a no from me. It’s too special to tinker with. The history & rivalry is worth protecting. Relegation play-off would be no bad thing but thought of adding Springboks leaves me cold.”

“No, this is just wrong” wrote chef Michael Roux Jr.

Owain Jones wrote: “Narrative 1: Italy get stuffed again and haven’t won in 6N since 2015

‘Let’s kick the Italians out of the Six Nations, they’re rubbish.’

Narrative 2: CVC behind Springboks being parachuted into Six Nations, thus ditching the Italians

“Rugby Twitter. ‘How very dare you!'”

Popular Youtuber Squidge Rugby said such a move would ‘kill rugby dead’ in Italy. “This could kill rugby in Italy stone dead. It could severely damage rugby in Australia, Argentina, New Zealand, Georgia. It could ruin rugby’s safest bet, the Six Nations. It wouldn’t even really benefit South Africa. But CVC would make money so I guess that’s what truly matters.”

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Rugby journalist Rhys Jones wrote: “Any South African fans/outlets who are angry or confused about the backlash to this, it’s not about a dislike for South Africa joining the comp. It’s about rugby union in Italy being murdered.

England international Rocky Clark wrote: “Ludicrous idea if this does happen, we need to support our rugby nations not disregard them. The Six Nations is paramount to the FIR’s success and development of rugby in Italy.”

Not everyone was on board the no train however. Outspoken South African journalist Mark Keohane says he wanted Italy booted from the competition and the Springboks to step up.

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It may be a no from the most fans, but this debate isn’t about to go away.

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Jon 8 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

This is the problem with conservative mindsets and phycology, and homogenous sports, everybody wants to be the same, use the i-win template. Athlete wise everyone has to have muscles and work at the gym to make themselves more likely to hold on that one tackle. Do those players even wonder if they are now more likely to be tackled by that player as a result of there “work”? Really though, too many questions, Jake. Is it better Jake? Yes, because you still have that rugby of ole that you talk about. Is it at the highest International level anymore? No, but you go to your club or checkout your representative side and still engage with that ‘beautiful game’. Could you also have a bit of that at the top if coaches encouraged there team to play and incentivized players like Damian McKenzie and Ange Capuozzo? Of course we could. Sadly Rugby doesn’t, or didn’t, really know what direction to go when professionalism came. Things like the state of northern pitches didn’t help. Over the last two or three decades I feel like I’ve been fortunate to have all that Jake wants. There was International quality Super Rugby to adore, then the next level below I could watch club mates, pulling 9 to 5s, take on the countries best in representative rugby. Rugby played with flair and not too much riding on the consequences. It was beautiful. That largely still exists today, but with the world of rugby not quite getting things right, the picture is now being painted in NZ that that level of rugby is not required in the “pathway” to Super Rugby or All Black rugby. You might wonder if NZR is right and the pathway shouldn’t include the ‘amateur’, but let me tell you, even though the NPC might be made up of people still having to pull 9-5s, we know these people still have dreams to get out of that, and aren’t likely to give them. They will be lost. That will put a real strain on the concept of whether “visceral thrill, derring-do and joyful abandon” type rugby will remain under the professional level here in NZ. I think at some point that can be eroded as well. If only wanting the best athlete’s at the top level wasn’t enough to lose that, shutting off the next group, or level, or rugby players from easy access to express and showcase themselves certainly will. That all comes back around to the same question of professionalism in rugby and whether it got things right, and rugby is better now. Maybe the answer is turning into a “no”?

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j
john 11 hours ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

But here in Australia we were told Penney was another gun kiwi coach, for the Tahs…….and yet again it turned out the kiwi coach was completely useless. Another con job on Australian rugby. As was Robbie Deans, as was Dave Rennie. Both coaches dumped from NZ and promoted to Australia as our saviour. And the Tahs lap them up knowing they are second rate and knowing that under pressure when their short comings are exposed in Australia as well, that they will fall in below the largest most powerful province and choose second rate Tah players to save their jobs. As they do and exactly as Joe Schmidt will do. Gauranteed. Schmidt was dumped by NZ too. That’s why he went overseas. That why kiwi coaches take jobs in Australia, to try and prove they are not as bad as NZ thought they were. Then when they get found out they try and ingratiate themselves to NZ again by dragging Australian teams down with ridiculous selections and game plans. NZ rugby’s biggest problem is that it can’t yet transition from MCaw Cheatism. They just don’t know how to try and win on your merits. It is still always a contest to see how much cheating you can get away with. Without a cheating genius like McCaw, they are struggling. This I think is why my wise old mate in NZ thinks Robertson will struggle. The Crusaders are the nursery of McCaw Cheatism. Sean Fitzpatrick was probably the father of it. Robertson doesn’t know anything else but other countries have worked it out.

44 Go to comments
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