Premiership clubs struggle as the Champions Cup power shifts to Ireland and France

Alex Broun 23:01 13/10/2018
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  • Wasps found themselves flat on their backs against Leinster

    The opening round of the Champions Cup is eagerly awaited each season because it acts as a true leveler on where teams stand in the continental pecking order.

    It’s the first occasion when each of Europe’s top three tournaments – the Top 14, PRO14 and the Premiership, are brought together to truly determine where the power lies.

    In previous years there may have been a feeling the PRO14, comprising teams from Wales, Ireland, Scotland, Italy and South Africa, lags behind the glamour clubs of England and France.

    But the balance of power has shifted recently away from England with France and Ireland leading the way and Wales and Scotland both getting stronger.

    This was borne out in the first weekend of the Champions Cup as Premiership clubs were humbled by PRO14 and Top 14 opposition.

    Indeed, it has been a horror show not just for Bath’s unfortunate Freddie Burns but for all English clubs as after the first two days of competition no English club has yet won a match.

    Leicester fell to Ulster in Belfast, Bath were shock losers to Toulouse due to Burns’ premature celebration and some quick thinking from Maxime Medard, Exeter could only manage a draw at home against Munster and most humbling of all, Premiership high-flyers Wasps were slaughtered 52-3 by the peerless Leinster in Dublin on Thursday’s opening night.

    The Top 14 teams fared better with Toulouse’s late escape being mirrored by Racing 92 against Scarlets in Llanelli, who edged out the home team 14-13 thanks to a late penalty try, and Montpellier getting home 21-15 against Edinburgh.

    The Montpellier result is deceptive, however, as Edinburgh had two tries disallowed and were unlucky not to snatch it themselves late on.

    With just four games left in the opening round  the win counts stands at Top 14 three wins, PRO14 two wins, one draw and the Premiership zero.

    True Saracens, Gloucester and Newcastle are all in action Sunday but following on the first two days results none of them are certainties to win.

    Gloucester face a tricky test when the Top 14 champions Castres visit Kingsholm, Newcastle will be outsiders when they travel to glamour French club Toulon and in the final match undefeated Sarries must go to Glasgow to take on the 5-1 Warriors.

    Of course, we are only sixth-tenths of the way through the opening round and the Premiership clubs may hit back but these are worrying signs for English rugby, especially following on from last year when there was only one Premiership club in the quarter finals (Saracens) and none in the semis.

    Compare that to 2015/16 when five of the final eight were English and three of the final four.

    The balance of power has definitely shifted in the European club game.

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