Risk 6 Nations may not complete this years tournament.

First topic message reminder :

Yes, there is a real chance that not all games in this years 6 Nations may be completed as Italian authorities are enforcing "no go zones" as a result of the Corona virus.

Pro 14 games with Zebre and Treviso against Ospreys and Ulster have already been postponed as well as the women's game this weekend. Now at the moment its hitting the North, but there are real concerns and questions being asked whether the Italian team should withdraw from the remainder of the 6 Nations matches, as they're players themselves are based in those regions.

Of course, this would be an upset for all us rugby fans, but we shouldn't lose sight of the bigger picture here, that being that people are losing their lives to this, so please consider that before you WUM on this thread.

Personally, I hope the 6 Nations completes, but my thoughts go out to all being caught up in this and as such would fully understand if the 6 Nations isnt completed. After all, we delayed the 6 Nations over Foot and Mouth outbreak and even cancelled previous 5 Nations over terrorist threats, so I guess we have to put it into perspective.


*** BEFORE you WUM on this thread... think***


************Update 27th Feb @ 1800hrs ***************

BBC wrote:

Officials from around the rugby world are meeting at a pre-arranged World Rugby summit at the start of next week, with Six Nations unions set to take this opportunity to continue discussions around rescheduling the cancelled games.

While France can still clinch the Grand Slam, if they were to lose one of their remaining matches then the men's Championship may not have a winner unless Ireland's game with Italy in Dublin is rearranged.

Six Nations sources have indicated that matches will only be called off in the event of a governmental directive.

While the Italy against England women's match is under more threat because it is being staged in Padua in Veneto, the virus has not yet spread to Rome, where the men's Italy against England game is taking place.

The Italy against Scotland match in the women's Championship was called off last weekend because it was being staged in the Lombardy region, which is one of the affected areas.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/51666898

Dirtydave wrote:I did mention the likelihood of the France ireland game being low.

As I stated, the 6N is all but over, ireland will get 4 point, France england 2 each, leaving all 2 on 15? France ahead on PD?

Scotland beating Wales by 5 points and by a big margin could land them the trophy?

With the title now at stake the matches will happen at some point.

I don't know how important it is to finish the tournament soon, or at all, for that matter.

The cancelled World Cup matches were assigned a result because the tournament needed to decide qualifiers to continue. The Six Nations isn't a knock out tournament, and doesn't have promotion or relegation. A number of the fixtures have individual trophies up for grabs, and they have been awarded (the Calcutta Cup, Centenary Quaich, Millennium Trophy, Auld Alliance Trophy, Giuseppe Garibaldi Trophy and Triple Crown have all been decided). That points to the way these matches often have a standalone value outside beyond their contribution to the result.

If the remaining fixtures can't be played soon, and don't find a place in the schedule in Autumn, then I'd be happy to write them off, and consider the Six Nations a washout for this year.

Just take the average results between Italy and England over the last 6 games.


England 47 – 17 Italy
Italy 9 – 40 England
England 36 – 15 Italy
Italy 15 – 46 England
England 57 – 14 England
England 37 – 0 Italy

Average score - England 43 - 11 Italy Job done

Rugby Fan wrote:

If the remaining fixtures can't be played soon, and don't find a place in the schedule in Autumn, then I'd be happy to write them off, and consider the Six Nations a washout for this year.

But then, the Six Nations just got interesting again from a compeitive point of view.

Had all Six Nations sides agreed to calling it all off at the same time as the Ireland/Italy game was postponed then I would have been fine with the washout decision.

But sides played on - and France visited Scotland.  I mean the seriousness of transmission threat didn't stall some games and yet now we hear that France might be constrained by government directives to call off or postpone the French Irish game.
I have no problem with that decision if it transpires; the right one in light of the circumstances in my opinion.

However, the title race is now wide open again.  For example, from what I'm hearing, all Ireland would require from here is two bonus point wins - and one of those games is a prospective home game against Italy.  But even before the Scotland v France result, I felt Ireland still had a game in them to stall the French.  It's at least a real shot and a real goal now to motivate players.  Other sides still in contention will have their own calculations that will keep their interest in the competition going - not least France itself who still have a real shot at a title.

So no.  Now I'm quite interested in finding later dates to bring this competition to a conclusion based on results rather than cancellation.

So all last round games postponed to the 31st of October right

Ireland v Italy will be the key game.

If they can win that with a bonus point, then the final round doesn't matter.

Much.

whocares wrote:So all last round games postponed to the 31st of October right

Yes, sounds like the games are being postponed until October when, hopefully, the Coronavirus has subsided.

Don't judge me on the source ( ) but The Sun is reporting that all remaining games might now be off.

https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/11129623/all-six-nations-games-axed/

Sorry, just seen whocares' post.

I'll be annoyed if Wales v Scotland is off. We've got a good day out planned!

Ireland v Italy will have to take place before October 31st.

Hmmm.... I suppose we could organise a Scorsese Movie Style Irish Mafia v Italian Mafia shootout in New York or Chicago?  Potential money spinner and them Americanoreno folks get to have a Six Nations game on their soil? First in history outside the 6N realm.

IRFU can pay me my usual creativity fee if they go with it.

France V Ireland OFF

Its all just a rumour at the moment...

The 6 Nations wants to maintain "super Saturday", and as Scotland has a mathematical chance of still taking the little, if they win their next game and Italy wins both its remaining games with France losing to Ireland, and thats with no BPs being scored either. So a BIG IF...

As such, it makes sense to still play Wales v Scotland this Saturday, as its not likely to have an impact on who wins the title and will lose more money moving it now than it will gain in rescheduling.

But with 6 Nations meeting today, we'll now later today...

Its off I'm afraid chaps

*****BREAKING NEWS******https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/51800564

Not surprised. France had banned mass gatherings a week or so back. Guess the big issue if whether now they will decide to reschedule the Wales v Scotland game as well to maintain "super Saturday"... I'm not sure its worth the extra expense, as maths may say Scotland could still take the title, probability is very very low.

there's nowhere in the schedule to replay 2 rounds of matches, this year is a right off.

At these times we should all consider what we find a priority, 50 men on a pitch in our colours, or the real priority we should all focus on...

Stockpiling toilet paper!

There is always the AIs just tell the SH teams they can't play us cause we are busy

Dirtydave wrote:there's nowhere in the schedule to replay 2 rounds of matches, this year is a right off.

At these times we should all consider what we find a priority, 50 men on a pitch in our colours, or the real priority we should all focus on...

Stockpiling toilet paper!

What are you all doing with all that toilet paper over there btw??

Brendan wrote:There is always the AIs just tell the SH teams they can't play us cause we are busy

True, we could drop the Tonga game.

TightHEAD wrote:Just take the average results between Italy and England over the last 6 games.


England 47 – 17 Italy
Italy 9 – 40 England
England 36 – 15 Italy
Italy 15 – 46 England
England 57 – 14 England
England 37 – 0 Italy

Average score - England 43 - 11 Italy Job done

I hadn't realised those were the scorelines for Eng v Italy.   43.8 - 11.7 - so a winning margin of 32.1 on average to add onto the +15  PD

The last six Ireland ones are:
Ireland 29-10 Italy
Italy 16-26
Ireland 54-7 Italy
Ireland 56-19
Italy 10-63
Ireland 58-15

Total - 286- 77  - Average 47.7-12.8 - Winning margin of 34.9 to add to the +5 PD

England on 18 points with +47.1
Ireland on 14 points with +39.9

So Ireland would need to beat France by more than 7.2 points.

Last six matches between Ireland and France:
Ireland 26-14 France
France 13-15 Ireland
Ireland 19-9 France
France 10-9 Ireland
France 9-24 Ireland
Ireland 18-11 France

Total Ireland 111-66 France - average 18.5 -11.0 - winning margin of 7.5 points.

Ireland winner by 0.3 points.    real

I love averages.  Who needs matches?

Ireland wouldn't win a ruck legally let alone a whole game of rugby vs France.

Legal?

Who cares about legal when we pay off refs?

Pot Hale wrote:

Who needs matches?

Pyromaniacs?

TightHEAD wrote:Ireland wouldn't win a ruck legally let alone a whole game of rugby vs France.

Pfft. Ireland just need to pinch a few willies and the job is oxo.

SecretFly wrote:

Pot Hale wrote:

Who needs matches?

Pyromaniacs?

They've moved on from the old ways, SF. Handheld spark igniters are all the rage amongst the arsonist community these days.

Following on the heels of Parissee having 3 retirements cancelled the BBC are now reporting that Ben Youngs is going to miss his 100th cap next weekend, and wont be eligable for the summer tour either. Come the AIs he will be 31 and pushing the age limit for a player who will be around for the next world cup so no guarantee he will get it. 
(Someone should have had a word with him about using the phrase "touch wood" in his interview)

Gooseberry wrote:Following on the heels of Parissee having 3 retirements cancelled the BBC are now reporting that Ben Youngs is going to miss his 100th cap next weekend, and wont be eligable for the summer tour either. Come the AIs he will be 31 and pushing the age limit for a player who will be around for the next world cup so no guarantee he will get it. 
(Someone should have had a word with him about using the phrase "touch wood" in his interview)

His head was in his hands at the time.

LondonTiger wrote:

Gooseberry wrote:Following on the heels of Parissee having 3 retirements cancelled the BBC are now reporting that Ben Youngs is going to miss his 100th cap next weekend, and wont be eligable for the summer tour either. Come the AIs he will be 31 and pushing the age limit for a player who will be around for the next world cup so no guarantee he will get it. 
(Someone should have had a word with him about using the phrase "touch wood" in his interview)

His head was in his hands at the time.

..as long as it wasn't in Joe's we're still pre-watershed and good to go.

Pot Hale wrote:

SecretFly wrote:

Pot Hale wrote:

Who needs matches?

Pyromaniacs?

They've moved on from the old ways, SF.  Handheld spark igniters are all the rage amongst the arsonist community these days.

I like how you slipped that in, Pot Topical in terms of AWJ's damp squib reaction to Joe's attempted fondle.

So, whilst the various sporting organisations around the world are suspending games, tours etc. our Prime Minister who has come in contact with a positively tested minister, who probably touched all sorts of things whilst in the cabinet office and potentially infected half the cabinet, has decided "I don't need to be tested, I did not come within 2 m of her". What an example to set to everybody else! What is he scared of, a little needle? That he might well of caught Covid-19 and is now happily infecting everyone else instead of self isolating like he has advised everyone else.

Who is the only other person in a position such as his that would do that? I think we also know the answer.

WELL-PAST-IT wrote:So, whilst the various sporting organisations around the world are suspending games, tours etc. our Prime Minister who has come in contact with a positively tested minister, who probably touched all sorts of things whilst in the cabinet office and potentially infected half the cabinet, has decided "I don't need to be tested, I did not come within 2 m of her".  What an example to set to everybody else! What is he scared of, a little needle? That he might well of caught Covid-19 and is now happily infecting everyone else instead of self isolating like he has advised everyone else.

Who is the only other person in a position such as his that would do that? I think we also know the answer.

Hitler or Eddie Jones?

Gooseberry wrote:

WELL-PAST-IT wrote:So, whilst the various sporting organisations around the world are suspending games, tours etc. our Prime Minister who has come in contact with a positively tested minister, who probably touched all sorts of things whilst in the cabinet office and potentially infected half the cabinet, has decided "I don't need to be tested, I did not come within 2 m of her".  What an example to set to everybody else! What is he scared of, a little needle? That he might well of caught Covid-19 and is now happily infecting everyone else instead of self isolating like he has advised everyone else.

Who is the only other person in a position such as his that would do that? I think we also know the answer.

Hitler or Eddie Jones?

Not as close, has hair like Boris on a good day

Gooseberry wrote:Following on the heels of Parissee having 3 retirements cancelled the BBC are now reporting that Ben Youngs is going to miss his 100th cap next weekend, and wont be eligable for the summer tour either. Come the AIs he will be 31 and pushing the age limit for a player who will be around for the next world cup so no guarantee he will get it. 
(Someone should have had a word with him about using the phrase "touch wood" in his interview)

As a Bath man I still think it is worth highlighting that if Youngs was welsh/scots/irish, he would be lauded as a great player and servant of the game with 99 caps. He has also played about 250 times for Leicester too, no mean feat in a 12 year professional career.
All he ever gets is that he is too old at 30 and should be replaced by a young gun. Don't understand it myself.

We'll take him too for his final 30 games of his career

Tbf laidlaw got a lot of stick from the fans (myself included) too and did a lot for Scotland, even in the later stages of his career. Price currently is too as the incumbent, although that's more because wee Horne is in fine form. I think if you're in any pivotal position you'll get a disproportionate amount of scrutiny.

If Youngs retires he'll be remembered in the same light as the likes of Dawson, Blair, Stringer and co.

Scotland are lucky to be blessed with some talent at SH but definitely would not complain about having an option like Youngs!

SecretFly wrote:We'll take him too for his final 30 games of his career

You lot and your bl00dy project players!

Recwatcher16 wrote:

Gooseberry wrote:Following on the heels of Parissee having 3 retirements cancelled the BBC are now reporting that Ben Youngs is going to miss his 100th cap next weekend, and wont be eligable for the summer tour either. Come the AIs he will be 31 and pushing the age limit for a player who will be around for the next world cup so no guarantee he will get it. 
(Someone should have had a word with him about using the phrase "touch wood" in his interview)

As a Bath man I still think it is worth highlighting that if Youngs was welsh/scots/irish, he would be lauded as a great player and servant of the game with 99 caps. He has also played about 250 times for Leicester too,  no mean feat in a 12 year professional career.
All he ever gets is that he is too old at 30 and should be replaced by a young gun. Don't understand it myself.

Im not saying he should, just that theres a risk he could be. Poor Dan Cole got ditched on 98 caps, Hartley on 97 missing two world cups. No sentiment there! Jones could get a reputation here!

For Youngs I agree hes one of those chaps whos achievements in the game perhaps dont match the rep he has from the fans. Just wondering though how many of the centurions from around the world have as many caps as him coming off the bench? For someone to have such a long career and rarely be fully dropped whilst often being second choice is pretty unusual I would've thought.
His form has been all over the place at times but it says a lot that hes been selected by the last 3 England head coaches fairly consistently.
The only England player to ever get 100 caps is Leonard, so if Youngs does make it it will be a notable achievement.

The Oracle wrote:

SecretFly wrote:We'll take him too for his final 30 games of his career

You lot and your bl00dy project players!

Blooming reject players would be more accurate.

Only Wales v Scotland surviving for Super Saturday... BUT, that could be under threat, depending on the Cobra meeting today, when its expected that the Government will up the Covid-19 virus state to Delay....

What I didn't realise till this morning, is that level, the Government may make it an offence for pubs and clubs to show games, so even if they decide Saturday's game should be behind closed doors, you wont be able to watch the game in a pub/club.

Lets hope it doesn't go that far.... but if it does, we'll have to accept it and hope it helps.

No9 wrote:Only Wales v Scotland surviving for Super Saturday... BUT, that could be under threat, depending on the Cobra meeting today, when its expected that the Government will up the Covid-19 virus state to Delay....

What I didn't realise till this morning, is that level, the Government may make it an offence for pubs and clubs to show games, so even if they decide Saturday's game should be behind closed doors, you wont be able to watch the game in a pub/club.

Lets hope it doesn't go that far.... but if it does, we'll have to accept it and hope it helps.

It would seem there is more risk from spreading the virus in gatherings that are inside (ie pubs) rather than outdoors (stadium) - even if the number of people is much larger at the stadium.

LondonTiger wrote:

No9 wrote:Only Wales v Scotland surviving for Super Saturday... BUT, that could be under threat, depending on the Cobra meeting today, when its expected that the Government will up the Covid-19 virus state to Delay....

What I didn't realise till this morning, is that level, the Government may make it an offence for pubs and clubs to show games, so even if they decide Saturday's game should be behind closed doors, you wont be able to watch the game in a pub/club.

Lets hope it doesn't go that far.... but if it does, we'll have to accept it and hope it helps.

It would seem there is more risk from spreading the virus in gatherings that are inside (ie pubs) rather than outdoors (stadium) - even if the number of people is much larger at the stadium.

Lets hope they keep the roof open then ... oh, and beer gardens pre and post match..

LondonTiger wrote:

Gooseberry wrote:Following on the heels of Parissee having 3 retirements cancelled the BBC are now reporting that Ben Youngs is going to miss his 100th cap next weekend, and wont be eligable for the summer tour either. Come the AIs he will be 31 and pushing the age limit for a player who will be around for the next world cup so no guarantee he will get it. 
(Someone should have had a word with him about using the phrase "touch wood" in his interview)

His head was in his hands at the time.

Well that’s unsurprising for someone who some think is a proper w*nker.

Ireland now going into next stage of lockdown.  Schools and colleges closed from this evening. Events involving 100 people or more to be cancelled.  Shops will remain open but in-store restrictions may operate.  People should work from home unless essential.  
GAA games cancelled this weekend.  All masses and other church events such as christenings cancelled asNd replaced with live stream service.   Limited service and restricted numbers at weddings and funerals.

Restrictions in place until 29 March for the time being.

I know this is the international section, but just been posted that the Pro14 has been suspended indefinitely.. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/51858815

No9 wrote:I know this is the international section, but just been posted that the Pro14 has been suspended indefinitely.. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/51858815

Is that due to coronavirus or because they realised noone cared?

Gooseberry wrote:

No9 wrote:I know this is the international section, but just been posted that the Pro14 has been suspended indefinitely.. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/51858815

Is that due to coronavirus or because they realised noone cared?

Cruel. Very cruel. There'll be youngsters crying themselves to sleep tonight after witnessing such unbridled cruelty.

Why you so cruel, man? Is it coz ya got no love shown to you when you was a kid?

Raelene Castle, CEO of the ARU, has suggested that the November tests may be cancelled to allow broadcasting contracts for Super Rugby and 4Ns to be fulfilled.

Would give a window to play remaining 6Ns matches.

Interesting, with the obvious issues from a home nation perspective being a huge lose off income from 3/4 home tests.

Saying that, the Rugby Championship teams will also probably miss out of summer test income.

So probably works out fair enough.

https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/wales-set-play-eight-matches-18101896

Busy autumn.