This year marks the first time since 2016 that three English clubs have reached the quarter-finals of the European Cup. Photo: Adrian Dennis/AFP
The season in the northern hemisphere could be so long, with its narrative broken by international windows, that next spring the events of September seem far away. It has been seven months since Ellis Jenge's fabulous look-alike, on his second debut for the Bristol hometown club, helped sink Bath in a thrilling West Country derby that was postponed a day after the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
You'd be forgiven for double-checking whether these events happened in the current campaign. Likewise, the demise of the Worcester Warriors and later the Wasps seems far enough away; at least for those who are not emotionally and financially connected to such disasters.
For two clubs to go bust, this Premier League season has to be considered a failure for competition, and an uneasy atmosphere continues in two more organizations, London, Ireland and the Newcastle Falcons, who have recently been forced to issue statements about their future. The exodus of players threatens to increase as the ripple effects of lowering the salary cap become apparent.
Influenced in part by yet another failed Six Nations program for England to focus on other issues, including a damaged national track system, critics have seized the opportunity to brand the Premier League as an over-hyped and underwhelming league.
This year, for the first time since 2016, just after Eddie Jones took charge of a Grand Slam, three English clubs reached the quarter-finals of the European Cup. This feat reflects well on the Leicester Tigers, Saracens and Exeter Chiefs, and at first glance seems fitting. The three survivors are the reigning Premier League champions, the undisputed leaders in the 2022-2023 season, and in Exeter the last English team to win Europe's top trophy.
In 2016 there were five. Champions Cup quarter-finalists from the Premier League; this year's trio plus Northampton Saints and Wasps. The latter, as well as Leicester and Saracens, reached the semi-finals, and Mark McCall's team eventually won. Times have changed.
All three Premier League Champions Cup quarter-finalists this season deserve their places. However, given the confusing format of the Euro-Africa tournament, you feel it will take at least one English semi-finalist — the first time since 2020 in the European Cup — for the Premier League to regain its glory. It's a possible outcome, though far from easy.
Handre Pollard has been in great form for Leicester this season. PA/Joe Giddens
First, to Dublin, where Lester goes on the most incredible mission on Friday night. The Tigers have a habit of scoring impressive road wins in Europe, sending Bordeaux, Connaught, Osprey and Clermont away twice in the past two seasons. Blues Pollard is in form in the half of the field. There are clumsy operators in their pack, including world-class carrier Jasper Wiese and elite crash pickers Julian Montoya and Tommy Reffell.
They will be patient in exchanging kicks and will show off their muscles to fight set pieces and win. Such traits have troubled Leinster in recent years, especially last season when they lost to the Bulls and La Rochelle, and Leicester will not cool down like they did a year ago when the blue car laid siege to Welford Road.
Richard Wigglesworth, interim manager, has brilliantly handled the Tigers' return to the Premier League playoffs without Steve Borthwick and Kevin Sinfield, whose departure to England rocked Leicester. The charismatic, intuitive Wigglesworth is a veteran of the Saracens' victory over Leinster in Dublin at the relevant stage three years ago; wonderful result.This speaks to the multifaceted quality of Leinster, that they are rightfully favorites, despite all of the above. Among all their stars, James Ryan, one of the most influential Grand Slam players in Ireland and an increasingly unshakable totem on the castle, can be especially important if the hosts are dragged into the trenches.
Exeter were in contention for a place in the Champions Cup semi-finals just two weeks after they were sent off by Bath, who are 10th in the Premier League with 11 teams. This game spoke both of the competitive nature of the Premier League and of Exeter's transition period. Both of those things have been spurred on by the lower pay cap, and the Chiefs are looking to get the last piece of silver before they lose a lot of senior players. Images of the last dance have been exaggerated lately, but Sam Simmonds and company must be picking up on a certain rhythm.
Exeter, the only Premier League club at home, will be helped by the Stormers' interrupted journey from South Africa. . Rob Baxter's solid back five, including Dafydd Jenkins, Johnny Grey, Yannes Kirsten, Krist Chiunza, Dave Evers and Mike Williams, will be at the forefront because their opponents are a formidable challenge. Mani Libbock and Damian Willems give the stormtroopers a guile that complements Springbok's grunt.
Six stadiums named to host the Champions Cup semi-finals, the Saracens must fortify the front door against the champions
The Saracens meet La Rochelle. The owners were rocked by Gloucester — ninth in a crowded Premier League and surrounded by injuries — this past weekend, which is sure to set off a reaction. McCall and his coaches, as well as the Saracen team, deserve a lot of credit for refining their attacking approach this season. Alex Good and Max Malins seamlessly matched Owen Farrell to find the width.
However, they have been clumsy against the Ospreys and will curse a broken arm failure for Andy Christie, which adds to Theo McFarland's absence. Maro Itoh, Ben Earl and Billy Vunipole are expected to be joined in the starting lineup by two of Nick Isiekwe, Hugh Tizard and Jackson Ray. As always, the front door must be secured against Top 14 opposition, not to mention opponents who have Will Skelton. A poignant semi-final between Exeter and the Saracens would be a dreamland for the Premier League, guaranteeing them an English presence in the decider. Defiance is expected from Leicester, but never say never.
The Premier League has its problems, of course. Simon Massey-Taylor, its chief executive, admitted 11 months ago that a cut in the salary cap and the inevitable distribution of talent are likely to harm European prospects. It's undeniably hard to justify eight Premier League qualifiers with 11 teams for next season, and overall the excitement has probably surpassed the quality.
As far as hype goes, the BT Sport's lighting can be bombastic and flashy. Again, why not evoke enthusiasm for league rivalries and star names? BT's figures are believed to be up 18 percent from the first half of the season, with Premier League attendances generally very strong in Round 21. All paths lead to the upcoming restructuring of the two top tiers of England and a vital professional gaming agreement. Massey-Taylor, already out of a precarious financial situation, is determined to make things right.
There is another way to look at Premier League results in the Champions Cup. Over the past two seasons, Leinster, La Rochelle, Toulouse and another top 14 team, Racing 92 in 2022 and Bordeaux a year earlier, have reached the semi-finals. This week the Irish have been thinking about how far Leinster has come in comparison to the other three provinces.
The Champions Cup is a tough competition, and rightly so. Relegation to the semi-finals this season would be great and the Premier League has three chances to do so.
Свежие комментарии