Ben’s Beliefs: Euro thrashings replicate tedious World Cup pool drubbings

For the second straight week, the integrity of the Champions Cup was questioned as fans and pundits reminisced about its glory days.

The last 16 saw English sides battered and bruised in Dublin, Glasgow, Toulouse and Toulon.

Many questioned whether it would be better to forgo the round of 16 and replace it with two extra pool games before going straight into the quarter-finals, like the previous format.

However, this year's quarter-finals were only marginally better, as we still saw one-sided contests that would have caused frustration for even the most avid rugby fanatics.

Leinster's annihilation of Glasgow Warriors, Northampton Saints thrashing Castres and Bordeaux-Begles bulldozing past Munster were such no contests that it reminded fans of the World Cup pool stages where you'd switch off after the result quickly became unassailable.

The 2023 World Cup was saved by one of the best knockout stages it's ever seen, however aside from an entertaining battle from Toulouse and Toulon, this year's quarter-final drama was as far from the World Cup as South Africa is from Europe!

Big guns are no match for challengers

The competition is struggling with a gulf in quality between Leinster, Toulouse, Toulon, Bordeaux-Begles and the rest as previous giants like La Rochelle and Saracens have fallen off the pace.

I have no doubt the semi-finals will burst the competition into life as they have done in previous campaigns.

All recent tournaments have enjoyed compelling grand finals, but by then, it's too little too late.

Something must be done to restore the excitement around the pool stages and early knockout rounds.

A December start is far from ideal, but with a congested rugby calendar, I empathise with the logistical struggles.

People love to talk about the fond memories of watching the old Heineken Cup that was full of upsets and drama, but maybe the competition's problem is those four teams are just too bloody good.

Ben’s Beliefs: Euro thrashings replicate tedious World Cup pool drubbings

For the second straight week, the integrity of the Champions Cup was questioned as fans and pundits reminisced about its glory days.

The last 16 saw English sides battered and bruised in Dublin, Glasgow, Toulouse and Toulon.

Many questioned whether it would be better to forgo the round of 16 and replace it with two extra pool games before going straight into the quarter-finals, like the previous format.

However, this year's quarter-finals were only marginally better, as we still saw one-sided contests that would have caused frustration for even the most avid rugby fanatics.

Big guns are no match for challengers

The competition is struggling with a gulf in quality between Leinster, Toulouse, Toulon, Bordeaux-Begles and the rest as previous giants like La Rochelle and Saracens have fallen off the pace.

I have no doubt the semi-finals will burst the competition into life as they have done in previous campaigns.

All recent tournaments have enjoyed compelling grand finals, but by then, it's too little too late.

Something must be done to restore the excitement around the pool stages and early knockout rounds.

A December start is far from ideal, but with a congested rugby calendar, I empathise with the logistical struggles.

People love to talk about the fond memories of watching the old Heineken Cup that was full of upsets and drama, but maybe the competition's problem is those four teams are just too bloody good.