Saracens show they can thrive in adversity

THE European Champions Cup doesn’t get mentioned very much when you’re living in Bath these days, but this year at least we had great fun at a 25th anniversary celebration of the 1998 Bath team that became the first English club to win the title.

- JEREMY GUSCOTT

 

In the years since then the European Cup has been being reorganised and reshaped so that it’s now divided into two massive groups before you get a knock-out round of 16, which is being played this weekend.

However, the reorganisation has its critics, and there is talk of going back to the old structure of five/ six pools of four teams leading to quarter-final qualification. Apparently, everyone will be consulted, and asked what they want – which sounds like an impossible agenda, so good luck with that!

The other big recent change is the addition of the South Africans to the tournament for the first time, and they will give the French and the Irish teams a run for their money.

Unfortunately, it’s difficult to see any of the English clubs competing with the best of those teams, with perhaps the exception of Saracens, who won three European titles in 2016, 2017, and 2019 with an international strength side.

The Premiership has become one of a number of unknowns in the decline in English rugby. As well as the national team not playing well, the clubs are struggling to make an impact in Europe. On top of that, there is news that another Premiership club, London Irish, is facing financial uncertainty.

It is a rocky boat that needs steadying but, because the English club game is in such a poor state overall, I just don’t see any of them winning the European Cup.

Players are wondering about whether they will have a job next season, and this has been accompanied by an exodus of leading players to Europe, with Exeter by far the hardest hit. Luke Cowan-Dickie and Sam Simmonds are both joining Montpellier this summer, and they get an early introduction to their new team-mates when the Chiefs face the French champions at Sandy Park today.