Stuart Barnes predicts 'stronger South African tilt' in Champions Cup ...
Stuart Barnes expects Toulouse to receive a sterner challenge from the South African and English teams in the Investec Champions Cup in 2024/25.
Les Rouge et Noir claimed their sixth title last season, defeating Leinster 31-22 in the final after a thrilling game which went into extra-time.
Those two teams, alongside La Rochelle, who enjoyed back-to-back success in 2022 and 2023, have been the dominant forces in Europe over the past few campaigns.
However, the Premiership produced a better showing in 2023/24, with two teams – Harlequins and Northampton Saints – making the semi-finals.
South African strugglesIn contrast, a South African team has yet to reach the last-four, although the Sharks, Stormers and Bulls have all made the quarter-finals.
They have been at a disadvantage due to the travel factor, but Barnes believes that they will be improve this season.
“Expect a stronger tilt from the South African URC contingent and another solid effort from the English,” he wrote in his Times column.
Barnes doubts that the English outfits are strong enough to lift the trophy but has claimed that they are getting better.
“The post-Covid Premiership is yet to produce a great team in the Saracens mould but the standards are rising,” he wrote.
“Toulouse are the team to beat but the depth isn’t as strong across the Channel. If English representation in the Champions Cup ends with three quarter-finalists, two in the semis and a losing finalist, that would be a successful season for the Premiership.”
He added: “Bath, Bristol and Northampton doing well would be no surprise but don’t dismiss the other five English teams. French dominance isn’t quite as obvious when one looks beyond those recent final triumphs.
“Last season, Premiership clubs enjoyed more victories overall than their rivals in France and the United Rugby Championship (URC).”
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Toulouse still favourites?While Barnes insists that France lack the strength in depth, he still reckons that Toulouse are the favourites.
“When Toulouse flow there is no better sight in sport. The manner in which their forwards lure opposition defenders and their backs dart through the briefest of gaps is as close as rugby union comes to poetry,” he wrote.
“That doesn’t mean they are unbeatable. Who knows, perhaps Ulster will stun them on Sunday. But I wouldn’t bet on it and I wouldn’t wager against them winning an unprecedented seventh title.
“If they do win back-to-back titles, it will be a fifth straight triumph for France. The French league — as we are constantly reminded (by me more than most) — is the best in the world.”
Leinster should once again be Toulouse’s closest challenger, but they need to get over a hoodoo which stretches way back to 2018 having failed to get over the line since then.
“France rises, England falls and Ireland slips at the key moment. So it seems. This is harsh on Ireland; Leinster are the second-most successful European team but they have lost those previous three finals and not conquered Europe since 2018,” Barnes added.
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