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Anyone hoping that an English club will lift the Investec Champions Cup is likely to be disappointed.
Anyone hoping that an English club will lift the Investec Champions Cup is likely to be disappointed.
Since Saracens three victories in the 2010s, and Exeter Chiefs’ success in 2020, there has been little to back claims of the Gallagher Premiership as Europe’s best league.
Five English clubs feature in the Round of 16, starting with Premiership champions Northampton Saints against Clermont Auvergne on Friday.
The others are away. Harlequins face Leinster, Leicester Tigers take on United Rugby Championship (URC) champions Glasgow Warriors, Saracens go to Toulon, while Sale Sharks meet reigning champions Toulouse.
Rugby A La Champagne
Chief among their problems is defence.
Two weekends ago, Bordeaux-Begles missed 15 tackles in their Top 14 victory over Toulouse. In the URC, the Blue Bulls beat Leinster at home thanks in part to only missing 12 tackles.
In the Premiership that weekend, Leicester ran riot to beat Northampton 33-0 but still missed 24 tackles, 10 more than Leinster in their defeat to the Bulls.
What makes the Premiership exciting is what hits hard in the Champions Cup, a lack of defensive solidity. The lack of relegation means teams can be more adventurous and worry less about keeping tries out.
Ongoing Wait
Last season’s final between Toulouse and Leinster ended after extra-time with the French side having made 91 percent of their tackles, while the Irish outfit enjoyed 86 percent. Getting above 90 percent is why Leinster swooped for Jacques Nienaber, someone who put defence at the heart of two World Cup winning teams.
The Premiership is fantastic viewing, but even Saracens, who built their legend on the defensive savagery of the Wolf Pack, have gone backwards. Would the 2016, 2017 or 2019 teams let a 12-0 lead slip as they did in their 33-12 defeat to Harlequins recently?
It means there are likely to be more performances like Harlequins quarterfinal victory away to Bordeaux-Begles, but until someone comes in and brings back a Saracens-style defence, then the Premiership’s wait will go on a while yet.