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Feb 2022
12:13pm, 17 Feb 2022
2,852 posts
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Fields
Arguably the problem is that Southern Hemisphere rugby only has two reliably good teams - SA and NZ who are many time zones apart which is problematic for TV.
Japan (who are in the NH but look more to the pacific teams) has a wealthy domestic league (and a failed venture in Super Rugby), the 3 Pacific Island unions have no money and have only just been given their own teams in Super Rugby Pacific. Long term maybe there’ll emerge a 6N style tournament in the Pacific involving Japan, Australia, NZ, Fiji, Samoa, and Tonga.
Argentina are probably going to be cut adrift as a result of this, there was talk of them joining the 6N at one point. But maybe the rise of Chile and Uruguay (and Brazil I think) will mean a functional South American regional championship. The Jaguares were cut loose by Super Rugby despite reaching the final.
South Africa is an anomaly given the above nation groupings, there aren’t really any other decent African teams (Namibia are the only half decent one and they’re not good enough) so I imagine money will talk and they get rolled up with Europe as their domestic teams have been.
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Feb 2022
1:58pm, 17 Feb 2022
5,391 posts
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Pothunter
SA’s biggest gripe with the existing Championship is the travel. It’s not unheard of for them to have an away game in NZ then a home game then an away game in Aus the following weekend. The time zones are a killer.
Joining the 6N would minimise the jet lag and put games on TV at better times.
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Feb 2022
2:36pm, 17 Feb 2022
12,765 posts
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Little Nemo
Kenya have a team as well, sure I've seen them in a previous World Cup. Admittedly SA are way ahead of them so it would make little sense to play them unless they can get other African countries playing at a decent level.
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Feb 2022
2:45pm, 17 Feb 2022
24,345 posts
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Angus Clydesdale
I remember a touring team once coming to Tanzania from Zambia. But this was the '70s and they were pretty much all ex-pats. As was the "Kenyan" team (and the "Tanzanians" for that matter).
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Feb 2022
11:00pm, 17 Feb 2022
2,868 posts
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Fields
Also I doubt there’d be any more Lions tours to SA if they’re in the 6N.
The money men want it to happen though so 🤷🏻♂️
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Feb 2022
12:12am, 18 Feb 2022
24,346 posts
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Angus Clydesdale
Sad but true. Money spoils it all in the end.
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Feb 2022
7:38am, 18 Feb 2022
41,509 posts
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HappyG(rrr)
Wouldn't SA generally win it? Not necessarily beat every team, but over 5 games, generally be top or close to top? That would make a 6N champ win harder still for likes of Scotland! 
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Feb 2022
7:48am, 18 Feb 2022
24,973 posts
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TROSaracen
I think SA would struggle a bit, certainly wouldn’t walk it every year. They’ll be hopping between the SA Summer and Northern European winter to play games - long flights, very different conditions.
I think teams in the NH are 5% stronger, fiercer and more committed in the 6N than during Autumn Internationals and summer tours.
Winning games in SA will be very hard for the rest of us though, but each side will only have the challenge/travel etc once every two years.
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Feb 2022
9:07am, 22 Feb 2022
24,994 posts
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TROSaracen
I hate the off weekends, feels like everything loses momentum and you need to get back into things. There's 15 games currently across 5 weekends in 7 weeks, they could go 12 games across 6 weekends then a final day bonanza of 3 games. That would keep the tournament rolling, and make the 3 game final weekend extra special.
Anyway.....
Pivotal game for fast Eddie this weekend - a loss and it would really feel like a 2018/2021 wheels completely off scenario with the two hardest games to come. But he has very close to his full squad with Lawes and Manu back so if he has got something good building you'd expect to see some real signs on Saturday. As ever the Welsh will be bang up for it and I'd expect a better performance than they put out for Scotland. Launchbury for Ewels and I'm even happier.
Question is whether the tactic is to pick Youngs and try 27 successive box kicks into Liam Williams' bread basket to start, or bring him on at 55 minutes and use the same ploy to close the game out....
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Feb 2022
9:28am, 22 Feb 2022
17,734 posts
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richmac
Question is whether the tactic is to pick Youngs and try 27 successive box kicks into Liam Williams' bread basket to start, or bring him on at 55 minutes and use the same ploy to close the game out....
In reality that's probably a decision Jones is thinking about.
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