Beneath the surface of Six Nations Super Saturday

Whilst millions at home were enjoying watching Six Nations super Saturday unfold, I was forced to scurry around the Internet looking for alternative outlets for following events. The letters VPN became my nemesis. A combination of Radio Wales, Radio Ulster, BBC sport app and Twitter just about managed to keep me in check. Although the masses lauded this the best day's rugby in history, questions quickly started to emerge around the structure of the competition and why fans hadn't been treated to such free flowing games on previous weekends. 

It is difficult to reject the notion that synchronised kick off times on the final weekend would assist in creating a level playing field as teams fight it out to determine their final standing. The concept is deployed in major football competitions for that very reason. It was undoubtedly to England's advantage that they had a total to chase, as opposed to Wales and Ireland who knew they just had to post their best and hope. Conversely were England disadvantaged by having to chase this total against superior opposition? Or was playing the French an advantage as they were the only team who took to the field with nothing to play for? The Scots and Italians would both have been conscious of avoiding wooden spoon humiliation, even though Mike Brown may disagree. Actually should we also have kicked off the previous weekends fixtures simultaneously? The Welsh victory over Ireland meant England entered their game against Scotland knowing that points differential was likely to be a factor in deciding who would claim the prize. The point I am trying to make is that there was in fact a range of variables in play that impacted on the perceived fairness of the final day, 'fairables' if you like. Having a uniform start time may have eradicated one of these factors, but at what cost? For Super Saturday to thrive as a spectator spectacle it is essential that we as fans have the opportunity to follow the drama with undivided attention. It is just not possible to watch and appreciate three games of rugby simultaneously, I have regularly tried. We should not follow the lead of football and encourage fans to watch their own team whilst score checking other relevant fixtures. Part of the beauty of the six nations is the opportunity for the fan to watch and enjoy each match from round one to five. Note this is not as easy from outside the UK. Ultimately all teams knew when the tournament commenced that the previous two titles had been decided based on points differential. Going forward it will be interesting to see if this is factored into performances prior to the final round. 

Next up is Bonus Points. I saw calls on social media for these to be included in six nations scoring going forward as a sure fire way of ensuring we get more of these try fests. My primary concern with this motion is that it could leave us with a scenario where a grand slam winner finishes second in the table. As a supporter I would feel like a fraud, basking in championship glory knowing that a rival had gone the course unbeaten. A 'slam' is a rare occurrence and any team who completes the feat has earned the right to give it the old 'we are the champions' number without having to share the stage, regardless of how many try's they have scored en route. Further to this I don't necessarily agree with the notion that deploying bonus points as a reward will have a catastrophic impact on the mentality and game plan that sides take into battIe. Teams will continue to go out first and foremost to win a rugby match if they believe a defensive and risk averse approach is the way to yield that result then so be it. Look back at last years Rugby Championship, only 4/12 matches ended with a team claiming the four try bonus point. From a more drastic standpoint, is there also a danger that in such a short Championship a bonus point may be so decisive that teams focus more on not conceding one to a rival than they do obtaining one of their own? Bonus points do have a purpose in our sport, they undoubtedly keep teams in the ascendancy from merely closing out games via the boot. However I can't accept that they alone will bring the requisite level of excitement to the 6 nations to justify the potential death of the grand slam as one of the competitions prominent traditions.

Finally onto relegation. Would the efforts of the Scots and Italians have been multiplied in the final round if their very existence in the Championship was at stake? I suggest they would have and on this I'm sure Mike Brown would agree. The relegation discussion is perhaps amplified by Georgia rising above Italy in recent World Rugby rankings. The World Cup will provide the Six Nations B Champions with a further platform to demonstrate that they have the ability to compete at a higher level on a more regular basis. However I can't see that good form alone will trigger the powers that be to expand Europe's tier one competition, just think how long Argentina had to bang on the door prior to gaining such recognition. In a recent interview with Rugby World, John Feehan, CEO of the Six Nations took a pragmatic approach to the question raised on this matter. He indicated that their were no plans for either relegation or expansion at present, stating that a couple of fallow years for any nation wouldn't suffice to justify a threat of relegation. I would tend to agree with this, I don't see how relegating either Scotland or Italy would assist in their ongoing rugby development either on or off the field. Italy are 15 years into their Championship tenure and still start each season as favourites for the wooden spoon, evidence that a successful transition into Europe's premier competition wouldn't be an overnight process for any promoted newbie. What value would such a promotion hold if the subsequent outcome was immediate relegation. For a nation like Georgia to benefit their inclusion should be calculated and sustainable. Opening the door merely to give the status quo a kick in the back side would be ill advised. 

The Rugby Championship or Super Rugby it may not be in terms of free flowing rugby, but The Six Nations consistently produces a compelling plot. The competition thrives on intense contests driven by raw emotion and a desperation for supremacy that runs through players and fans alike. As with any product it is imperative that those in charge continue to evaluate the offering to ensure it remains an exciting and inspiring proposition. However, at this stage I for one am happy that they have it about right. Who would say no to a Super Saturday repeat in 2016?