The Six Nations is the gift that keeps on giving, a glorious showcase for the sport, so it’s surprising to think that this year’s tournament could be England’s grand unrivaled affair.
There is a very real risk that in the coming months this valuable rugby asset will be packaged up along with the New Nations Championship and sold off to the highest bidder. It is highly unlikely that a bidder will provide coverage on free TV.
Money conversations, especially in this day and age where private equity firms CVCs are acting as quiet partners behind the scenes and looking for ways to maximize returns on their investments.
So for all the informal guidance about striking a balance between ‘reach and revenue’, the latter consideration should be given more weight in broadcast rights deal deliberations.
What that means is that there will be a special emphasis on the 2025 championship. Having viewing figures in the millions rather than the thousands could be the last thing down. What it will bring, as usual, is a sense of a series of truly national events. A match that largely captured the public imagination.
It will be on the news on a channel where everyone can see it. The clip will circulate on social media. The clubhouse is full every weekend and even pubs that don’t pay for expensive subscriptions have signs and flag status outside and a big screen showing the game inside. Why – throw this away? Why doesn’t someone want this for sport?
England’s box office superstar Marcus Smith was over for a memorable try at Lyon last year
French fans bring their colors to the stands every year and rugby needs to protect its fan base.
Those deciding the next move must be absolutely clear about the long-term impact of dimming the shine that shines on rugby every year. The extra income can boost your bank balance and earn you good returns on CVCs, but future generations won’t recognize Test players as much. No stars will be born.
So guys, enjoy it while you can. It will be a treat as usual. Of course, the old championship is so rigid and set in its ways that it creates a barrier to European European countries like Georgia and Spain. Too cozy to protect a select few. But it always functions as a passionate celebration of national identity and neighborly antipathy.
Every year, there are great expectations and little clarity about what the hell is going to happen. The Six Nations cause unexpected and routine problems. Twists and turns are locked into the script. France is a standout favorite this year.
To be honest, it’s hard to imagine. Toulouse are the best team in Europe at the moment and if they are, they can win. France also has some dazzling flyers and artists from Bordeaux.
They have power and speed. They have Antoine Dupont. That 1 person cheat code. Once you click, you may be unstoppable. However, they are currently without Gael Fickou and will have to spend England and Ireland away from home.
Ireland will begin their title defense without Andy Farrell, giving them some inspiration as they are currently secondary to the Lions. Doesn’t help. The notion that they have passed their collective peak will grow.
Unless the coaching upheaval derails it more than expected, there will be more cohesion than the other side. They will be on the hunt again.
Scotland believe they can stay with Ireland, but such optimism is a yearly hallmark of the championship ritual north of the border. win. hope. Win again. Wild excitement. Crash and Burn. Mass discouragement. That pretty much sums it up.
Young fans won’t want to be the next Antoine Dupont if they can’t see the French star play.
Scotland will again provide Finn Russell with a match-winning moment of magic.
Maro Itoje begins his reign as captain against England in desperate need of a match for the Six Powerful Nations.
They will miss skipper Sione Tuipulotu, but they still have the finishing power of Duhan van der Merwe, the genius of Finn Russell, and a pack full of edge and tenacity. They could thrive or disappear.
The same goes for England. Steve Borthwick is under a lot of pressure at the moment, but he’s under just as much pressure as Warren Gatland. As Wales stare down the barrel of their 13th successive Test defeat when they travel to Paris on Friday.
For Italy, they want to commemorate the 25th anniversary of their championship entry in the top half. They have their sights set on the Welsh in round two, hoping the man can be a launching pad.
The recent law changes are bound to make for absorbing spectacles and Friday night’s opener, France v Wales, will have an appetite with light shows, thrills and spills.
According to the World Rugby rankings, this is how teams like Ireland, France, Scotland, England, Italy and Wales could finish. This column makes some adjustments and suggests alternatives for France, Ireland, England, Scotland, Italy and Wales.
Meanwhile, the background element is the Lions selection, but let’s park it until the end of this great event. There is only one show in town for the next two months. What a shame if this is the last time we see it and enjoy it on a grand scale.
Andy Farrell would be wise to avoid conflicts of interest by staying away from other countries.
Lions boss Farrell stays away
Andy Farrell is understood to have decided not to visit the Homes Nation during the Six Nations camp, where he remains eligible as head coach of the Lions in an interim capacity.
It’s a good call. The four nations will work together in common cause this summer as the cost and benefit of British and Irish rugby look to conquer the Wallabies in Australia, but for now the cross-border rivals have the usual rough stuff to consider.
Farrell’s day-job is running the Irish team, so asking for access to English, Scottish or Welsh training, tactics and planning at this point could be considered a conflict of interest. That was certainly the case in 2017 when Eddie Jones informed Warren Gatland that he would not be able to visit England in camp until they faced Wales.
As Farrell realizes, the best way is to establish strong lines of communication, with feedback from each country along with evidence of their own close-up perspective on all relevant matches.
Once he finalizes the Lions management team and selects the squad and skipper, there will be ample time to share ideas before the Test series against Australia.
Borthwick’s mission becomes more difficult
A few days after Steve Borthwick’s update on England’s casualty list, Ireland will find themselves stepping up just in time to throw the proverbial kitchen sink at their own team. On Saturday.
Hooker Dan Sheehan scored two tries in his first appearance of the season as Dublin stormed Cape Town 36-12 on Saturday.
Both of his strikes were set up by wing James Lowe, who also proved he can be sharp in time to return from injury and face the English on the opening weekend of the Six Nations.
He and Sheehan will train with the Ireland team this week, which features a core of players from Leinster, who played 14 games this week and won the lot. For Borthwick and his team, these are not positive prospects.
Ireland hooker Dan Sheehan scored two tries for Leinster on his first appearance of the season after suffering a knee injury during Ireland’s summer tour of South Africa.
Final word – Rugby is about passion and courage.
The season 2 premiere of the Netflix series Full Contact took place in Rome last week and was a very glossy production. Too shiny.
Rugby is desperate to capitalize on a new, young market, but in this case the approach seemed wrong. All the focus is on fast cars, logos and shiny teeth. There is a concerted attempt to make the sport look like a spin-off of Drive to Survive – the Formula One series.
It’s about increasing appeal, but rugby can present a different type of appeal. It’s earthy, raw, brutal and passionate. It shows incredible courage in those who participate, often punishing them and forcing them to bare their souls for the common cause.
That’s the magic. Maybe something like that won’t excite younger viewers, but it was worth a shot. It’s not about sunshine, palm trees and bling, it’s about big hits and pain, wind and rain and fatigue. If you can display your game truthfully, warts and all, you can captivate anyone.
