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Premiership sides aim to show new strength in Champions Cup quarter-finals Premiership sides aim to show new strength in Champions Cup quarter-finals
(about 3 hours later)
The relative strengths of Europe’s three professional leagues have long been disputed. Many continue to assume the French Top 14 is the more powerful, the Premiership is the most competitive and the Pro12 breeds more skilful players. It is not often these cosy stereotypes are subjected to the scrutiny that awaits this weekend.The relative strengths of Europe’s three professional leagues have long been disputed. Many continue to assume the French Top 14 is the more powerful, the Premiership is the most competitive and the Pro12 breeds more skilful players. It is not often these cosy stereotypes are subjected to the scrutiny that awaits this weekend.
Take Leinster v Bath. From across the Irish Sea this week it has been suggested by the former international lock Neil Francis that “morally and ethically” the Pro12 needs to see Bath beaten. His underlying objection seems to be that the revamped qualification structure for the European Champions Cup no longer allows Irish provincial sides to rest key players before big tussles like this. In that respect, he argued, the depleted team fielded by Bath against a doomed London Welsh last Sunday showed Bruce Craig, the Bath owner, and Premiership Rugby’s other negotiators to be a bunch of “hypocrites”.Take Leinster v Bath. From across the Irish Sea this week it has been suggested by the former international lock Neil Francis that “morally and ethically” the Pro12 needs to see Bath beaten. His underlying objection seems to be that the revamped qualification structure for the European Champions Cup no longer allows Irish provincial sides to rest key players before big tussles like this. In that respect, he argued, the depleted team fielded by Bath against a doomed London Welsh last Sunday showed Bruce Craig, the Bath owner, and Premiership Rugby’s other negotiators to be a bunch of “hypocrites”.
And there was everyone else in Europe relishing the fact that, finally, there is a level playing field at this crucial stage of the season. Bath may have struck lucky with their post-Six Nations fixture but Northampton selected most of their international players against Wasps and duly lost George North for their trip to Clermont Auvergne.And there was everyone else in Europe relishing the fact that, finally, there is a level playing field at this crucial stage of the season. Bath may have struck lucky with their post-Six Nations fixture but Northampton selected most of their international players against Wasps and duly lost George North for their trip to Clermont Auvergne.
With Leinster boasting 13 of the matchday 23 who have just won the Six Nations title – and with six of their internationals rested last weekend under the IRFU’s player welfare policy – it is stretching credulity to portray them as poor, defenceless underdogs being squeezed by scheming English robber barons.With Leinster boasting 13 of the matchday 23 who have just won the Six Nations title – and with six of their internationals rested last weekend under the IRFU’s player welfare policy – it is stretching credulity to portray them as poor, defenceless underdogs being squeezed by scheming English robber barons.
Better, surely, to see this weekend for what it really is: an acid test of everyone’s ability to rise to the big occasion. Jonathan Joseph, George Ford, Anthony Watson and Dave Attwood had precious little joy when England were in Dublin just over a month ago; here is their opportunity to prove, as they did in Toulouse in January, that they can produce the goods anywhere.Better, surely, to see this weekend for what it really is: an acid test of everyone’s ability to rise to the big occasion. Jonathan Joseph, George Ford, Anthony Watson and Dave Attwood had precious little joy when England were in Dublin just over a month ago; here is their opportunity to prove, as they did in Toulouse in January, that they can produce the goods anywhere.
Leinster, with only one win in five games, will similarly see this as a perfect chance to hush the grumbling that things have slipped since Joe Schmidt and Jonathan Sexton left.Leinster, with only one win in five games, will similarly see this as a perfect chance to hush the grumbling that things have slipped since Joe Schmidt and Jonathan Sexton left.
At least one Irishman, however, believes the English should not be underestimated. “I guess we’ll find out but the Premiership this season has been so competitive; there are more teams asking each other more questions,” said Mark McCall, Saracens’ director of rugby.At least one Irishman, however, believes the English should not be underestimated. “I guess we’ll find out but the Premiership this season has been so competitive; there are more teams asking each other more questions,” said Mark McCall, Saracens’ director of rugby.
“The squads seem better across the board and I think all the teams have a chance this weekend. I fancy Northampton at Clermont and I definitely fancy Bath at Leinster. It’s good to have three or four English teams involved, rather than the one it’s been for the last couple of seasons.”“The squads seem better across the board and I think all the teams have a chance this weekend. I fancy Northampton at Clermont and I definitely fancy Bath at Leinster. It’s good to have three or four English teams involved, rather than the one it’s been for the last couple of seasons.”
If McCall’s instincts are correct, we are in for a truly gripping ride. Clermont lose at home about as often as Englishmen have coq au vin for breakfast, but Northampton’s pack at least possess the muscle to threaten the prevailing trend, which has seen English sides lose eight of the nine away quarter-finals they have contested against French opposition.If McCall’s instincts are correct, we are in for a truly gripping ride. Clermont lose at home about as often as Englishmen have coq au vin for breakfast, but Northampton’s pack at least possess the muscle to threaten the prevailing trend, which has seen English sides lose eight of the nine away quarter-finals they have contested against French opposition.
The only exception was Northampton’s improbable 7-6 win over Biarritz in San Sebastien in 2007, a rearguard action which will probably have to be surpassed if the Saints are to rise to this particular Easter assignment. The absence of Camille Lopez, Morgan Parra and Wesley Fofana may also disrupt the equilibrium of a Clermont team who have won 22 successive European home games.The only exception was Northampton’s improbable 7-6 win over Biarritz in San Sebastien in 2007, a rearguard action which will probably have to be surpassed if the Saints are to rise to this particular Easter assignment. The absence of Camille Lopez, Morgan Parra and Wesley Fofana may also disrupt the equilibrium of a Clermont team who have won 22 successive European home games.
Given the 55 points England stuck on France at Twickenham less than a fortnight ago, there should certainly be no inferiority complex when Saracens take the train to Paris to face Racing Métro. Racing’s pool win over Northampton in January was a memorable one but Saracens have suffered only two defeats in their past 16 matches. The memory of losing two finals last May is also driving them on. “It was so disappointing and heart-wrenching at the end of last season but we’ve stuck together and dealt with those setbacks in a really balanced way,” McCall said.Given the 55 points England stuck on France at Twickenham less than a fortnight ago, there should certainly be no inferiority complex when Saracens take the train to Paris to face Racing Métro. Racing’s pool win over Northampton in January was a memorable one but Saracens have suffered only two defeats in their past 16 matches. The memory of losing two finals last May is also driving them on. “It was so disappointing and heart-wrenching at the end of last season but we’ve stuck together and dealt with those setbacks in a really balanced way,” McCall said.
Only in Toulon, where Wasps will face the full force of the defending champions’ frustration at losing to Toulouse last weekend, will English hearts skip an apprehensive beat. The Top 14, even so, can expect a run for its serious money. A brace of Anglo-French semi-finals – Toulon v Bath and Clermont v Saracens – would confound a few. Only in Toulon, where Wasps will face the full force of the defending champions’ frustration at losing to Toulouse last weekend, will English hearts skip an apprehensive beat. The Top 14, even so, can expect a run for its serious money. A brace of Anglo-French semi-finals – Toulon v Bath and Clermont v Saracens – would confound a few sceptics.