Bulls, Sharks, Stormers must win quarter-finals after Champions Cup no show

SOUTH African teams are under pressure to perform in the United Rugby Championship (URC) quarter-finals this weekend after being conspicuously absent from the play-offs of the Challenge and Champion Cups.

- MIKE GREENAWAY

The finals of those competitions were held over the weekend in Cardiff, with Bath and Bordeaux victorious. But the Bulls, Sharks, Lions and Stormers fell by the wayside some time back as they piled their eggs into the URC basket.

South Africa's lack of focus on the European Cup competitions that run concurrently with the URC has not gone unnoticed in European rugby circles. The Champions Cup is huge in Europe and some French critics have accused South Africa of disrespecting its history, and questioned whether South Africa should have a place at the table.

South African administrators have been embarrassed by the non-performance and this was summed up by a remark by SA Rugby CEO Ruan Oberholzer in Cardiff.

When asked about the launch of the World Club Cup, which will be held every four years for the teams that make the Champions Cup plus the top teams from Super Rugby and Japan, Oberholzer said: "Maybe now South African teams will take the Champions Cup seriously."