Former Ireland coach Eddie O’Sullivan feels South Africa need to join the Six Nations after saying the tournament isn't going anywhere with Italy as 'whipping boys.'
The Azzurri will face Wales a week on Saturday on a run of 30 straight defeats in the tournament.
They haven’t secured a Six Nations win since beating Scotland in 2015. As recently as last month ex-Wales captain Sam Warburton suggested they weren’t good enough and promotion and relegation should be introduced to give the likes of Georgia and Romanian the chance to compete.
But O’Sullivan reckons tournament organisers should have much bigger targets in their sights.
“Let’s call a spade a spade,” he told RTE’s Against The Head. “You are looking for a South Africa or an Argentina to make it a different tournament, to push it on.
“We’re not going anywhere with Italy, Romania or Georgia.
“Italy have been developing for 20 years and it just hasn’t happened.”
Italy have a points difference of minus-101 after three rounds of this year’s Six Nations. They conceded six tries at home to Ireland last Saturday, meaning they’ve now had their line crossed 19 times already.
Their loss to Ireland saw them fall to 15th in the world rankings, two places above Spain.
“They are the whipping boys of the tournament and the fact remains that every team sees Italy as an opportunity to rack up points,” said O’Sullivan, who coached Ireland between 2001 and 2008.
“Italy are your banker if you need points on the day.
“That’s not good for the tournament. When the tournament started, everyone was saying how we should give them time, but it’s 21 years and it’s probably getting worse now, not better.”
South Africa’s pedigree does not need dwelling on. They won the World Cup in 2019 and are ranked number one in the global rankings.
Were they admitted to the Six Nations they wouldn’t be a banker for opponents who need points on the day, that’s for sure.
They also have strengthened links with the northern hemisphere with four of their best sides set to join the PRO14.
That said, Rugby Championship organisers SANZAAR insisted before Christmas the Springboks were committed long-term to their tournament.
Argentina would be an upgrade on Italy, having beaten New Zealand last year and drawn twice with Australia, but it’s unclear they’d want to join the Six Nations.
Defending Italy’s participation, Azzurri coach Franco Smith suggested after the loss to Ireland that they’d be “competitive with everyone in seven to eight years”.
But O’Sullivan doesn’t buy it, saying: “I don’t know whether that came from. There’s no evidence. It’s just the same year in, year out.”
