Champions Cup Review: South African Sides Suffer Heavy Losses, Prompting Call for Improvement

The second round of the Investec Champions Cup was marked by controversy, as two South African teams put forth understrength squads, leading to significant defeats. Following the Stormers’ 53-16 loss to Harlequins on Saturday, head coach John Dobson remarked, “We have to be better”. While squad rotation is a common practice in the tournament, and South African clubs have employed it occasionally since joining two years prior, concerns regarding deference to Europe’s top club competition resurfaced after the Stormers and Sharks suffered substantial, lopsided defeats. Plagued by several injuries, the Sharks altered eight players in their starting lineup from their previous home victory against Exeter. They chose not to include prominent Springboks Andre Esterhuizen, Siya Kolisi, and Ox Nche for their away fixture against Leicester Tigers, where they were decisively beaten 56-17. Similarly, the Stormers, contending with injuries to players such as Manie Libbok, Frans Malherbe, and Damian Willemse, opted to bench six players and were comprehensively defeated 53-16 by Harlequins. Dobson commented, “We really are thin,” adding, “We had Manie [Libbok] down to play against Quins – we’d hoped to mix it up a bit more.” He clarified, “We only voluntarily didn’t choose six for this game. The rest were injury problems. It’s not a good look, though. If we came to Harlequins at full-noise, that would have been a hell of a game.” On Saturday, the Sharks allowed eight tries during their humbling 56-17 defeat to Leicester Tigers. Spectators at Twickenham Stoop witnessed numerous tries, with Quins scoring eight, but not the “hell of a game” Dobson envisioned. Some might perceive the inclusion of five Stormers debutants as a lack of respect for the competition. Despite the strength of South African squads, which all feature World Cup-winning Springboks, team selection considerations are influenced by the extensive travel required for both the Champions Cup and the United Rugby Championship (URC). The Bulls, despite fielding a robust team, experienced an unexpected home loss to Northampton Saints. Collectively, the South African teams surrendered a total of 139 points, yet Dobson maintained that the Champions Cup holds significant importance. “As South Africans we have to be better. We are not disrespecting [the tournament], but we need to get ourselves into a better position,” he stated. Dobson continued, “I don’t know how we solve it. It’s like being invited to someone’s birthday party then complaining about the chips. We are so grateful to be here.” He suggested, “I see in January we play Leinster in the URC and then Racing. Is there a way to link them up on a tour? That would make it much more palatable.” Dobson emphasized the competition’s value, saying, “This competition is probably what has helped us so much in World Cups. Every breakdown is a competition. Every scrum is a 20-second contest. Every line-out or maul is a contest.” He concluded, “That has been a massive boost for South African rugby, and we’ve got to make sure we can stay here, but evenings like this evening don’t help.” While the Sharks maintain a strong prospect of advancing from Pool One, both the Bulls and Stormers have not yet secured any points in the current season of the competition. After Leicester’s decisive victory over the Sharks, head coach Michael Cheika commented that the competition itself is not accountable for the South African teams’ subpar performance. Cheika informed BBC Radio 5 Live, “Teams make their own decisions. I don’t think the competition’s to blame,” adding, “The competition’s scheduled as it is. We make our decisions according to what our priorities are. Obviously, Sharks have different priorities.” Saracens secured a 28-17 away victory against Stade Francais on Sunday, a match where Liam Williams scored a try and Stade’s Sekou Macalou received a red card. While Saracens and Northampton were the sole English teams to win in the first round, Premiership clubs generally performed more strongly in round two. Saracens and English champions Northampton achieved further wins, complemented by notable triumphs for Sale Sharks, Harlequins, and Tigers. On Friday, Sale decisively defeated a struggling Racing 92 team at the Salford Community Stadium. Subsequently, on Saturday, Saints secured a memorable away victory with a strong showing against the Bulls. The Tigers scored eight tries in their dominant win against the Sharks at Welford Road, preceding Quins’ comfortable victory over the Stormers in London. On Sunday, Saracens, three-time Champions Cup champions, rallied to achieve an away win at Stade Francais, elevating them to second place in Pool Two, one point behind leaders Northampton. Bath, Bristol Bears, and Exeter Chiefs each experienced back-to-back losses in the second round. Bristol occupies the bottom position in Pool Two following their loss to La Rochelle, with nearby Bath situated one spot above them, having secured a pair of losing bonus points despite narrowly missing out on an away win against Benetton. Exeter was decisively beaten by reigning champions Toulouse at Sandy Park; however, they still rank above Ulster, who are at the bottom of Pool One. Toulouse has accumulated 19 tries across two Champions Cup rounds. While English clubs generally advanced and South African teams endured a challenging weekend, Toulouse progressed effortlessly and with exceptional skill. After scoring 61 points and nine tries in their win against Ulster last weekend, they surpassed that performance with a resounding 64-21 triumph over Exeter, touching down 10 times. The European champions had secured the bonus point – and effectively, the win – prior to halftime in Devon, yet they maintained their intensity after the break. They scored five tries in the initial half and an additional five in the second. Antoine Dupont, who initiated the scoring with a try in the eighth minute, delivered an exceptional passing display, identifying openings that seemed non-existent and creating opportunities where none appeared. As he showcased his skill, the Sandy Park audience observed with a blend of hopelessness and quiet admiration. Ugo Mola, Toulouse’s head coach, displayed contentment as he spoke to his players on the field immediately following the game. His instruction – to maintain effort even after victory – was clearly followed. During post-match television interviews, the players conveyed appropriate sentiments. Centre Pierre-Louis Barassi, awarded man of the match for scoring two tries and executing a remarkable run covering approximately half the field to create a score for Matthis Lebel, focused his comments solely on his satisfaction for the team. Blair Kinghorn, who entered as a substitute to score one try and assist another, highlighted that the depth of the squad necessitated rigorous training, leaving no room for complacency for those aspiring to play. However, it was flanker Jack Willis who arguably encapsulated the mindset within the Toulouse team most effectively. He informed Premier Sports, “We made some incredible memories last year,” adding, “But we know the target’s on our back and we know we have to be better than last year.” No team has ever secured a trophy solely through dominant pool stage victories. Yet, Willis and his teammates are aware of this, which should be a concern for other prominent European rugby clubs. Sandi Toksvig appears alongside Gyles Brandreth, Lulu, Emmanuel Sonubi, and Alan Davies. Opportunities are available to sing along to tracks by Queen, Taylor Swift, Bon Jovi, Katy Perry, and other artists. Ben Fogle and Kate Humble are once again present for the events at Longleat Safari Park. Discussions range from microplastics found in our air, soil, and waterways, to the amount of food waste generated at this time of year. © 2024 BBC. The BBC holds no accountability for the content of external sites. Details regarding our approach to external linking are provided.