Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

Louis Rees-Zammit's 'fans' tweet ignites lively Six Nations debate

(Photo by Jane Barlow/PA Images via Getty Images)

Wales winger Louis Rees-Zammit has ignited a lively debate on Twitter after endorsing the idea that his country’s home matches in the upcoming 2022 Six Nations championship should be moved to England in order to accommodate full capacity crowds. Current pandemic restrictions have resulted in live sport taking place behind closed doors in Wales, while there have also been reductions in Scotland (500), Ireland (5,000) and France (5,000).

ADVERTISEMENT

The clampdown has resulted in concerns that the Six Nations, which took place entirely behind closed doors in 2021, will be severely impacted again. While organisations such as the IRFU have insisted they are preparing to host Ireland’s February 5 opener versus Wales in Dublin, the WRU have reportedly scouted out venues in England to stage their round two home game versus Scotland on February 12.   

Wembley is reportedly unavailable due to its football schedule but there is a vast array of alternative stadiums available should the restrictions on live sport capacity continue in Wales and leave the WRU looking to take their home games to England rather than play them with no fans in attendance in Cardiff. 

Video Spacer

England’s Lewis Ludlam guests on RugbyPass Offload

Video Spacer

England’s Lewis Ludlam guests on RugbyPass Offload

BBC Wales has reported on the speculation that a switch could happen and this story gained the approval overnight of Rees-Zammit, the 2021 Lions tourist who plays his club rugby with Gloucester in the Gallagher Premiership. “Rugby is nothing without fans,” commented the soon-to-be 21-year-old who has played ten times for Wales. “Make this happen!!”

His comment lit up Twitter, gaining just under 2,000 likes in ten hours and more than 100 retweets. Some fans were upset with the idea that they have already forked out money for tickets and accommodation in Cardiff. 

One fan wrote: “All the tickets in Cardiff are already allocated. If it can be played in England then why can’t (Mark) Drakeford just allow fans in Cardiff? I have tickets to two games but if it is in England I can’t afford to fork out more money!”

Another wrote in support of the switch to England: “These rules that Drakeford has put in for the government and sport is getting ridiculous. Not fair in the slightest. Yet England get a full stadium. Oh well, it’s only across the border so no doubt Welsh fans will be flooding in (if this does happen).”

ADVERTISEMENT

Rees-Zammit’s support for the idea that Wales’ home games could take place in front of capacity crowds in England has come in a week of much speculation regarding the staging of the 2022 tournament.

For instance, Exeter boss Rob Baxter explained on Wednesday why he wouldn’t have an issue if England went ahead and staged all 15 matches in the tournament, mirroring how Australia has been the host for most of the 2020 and 2021 matches in the southern hemisphere’s Rugby Championship.    

ADVERTISEMENT

LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

O
Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
TRENDING
TRENDING England player ratings vs New Zealand | Autumn Nations Series 2024 England player ratings vs New Zealand | Autumn Nations Series 2024
Search