It didn’t take long for the annual debate on Italy’s Six Nations participation to resurface, just two defeats in fact. Gerry Thornley’s column this morning delves into all the reasons why the idea of replacing them with South Africa is wrong on so many levels. It doesn’t help that the sport is not played in Italian schools, there has been a lack of investment in academy structures and that other Italian sports have been booming while the rugby side languishes in an awful losing run, but there are still green shoots to be found. In today’s other rugby column, Owen Doyle revisits some of the more interesting officiating decisions form Ireland’s defeat to France, including the try-scoring pass from Romain Ntamack to Anto …