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#Post#: 148332--------------------------------------------------
Re: The Champions Cup is great for fans of clubs but terrible
for everyone else
DIR By: Brown Bottle
Date: January 22, 2026, 10:04 am
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--- Quote from: never sleep link ---
>
> I think that on paper, the Stormers team was okay. Yes, there
was some rotation, but, there were some decent players there
too.
> They just had some players who had absolute shockers on the
day.
> It felt more like an attitude issue more than a team selection
issue.
>
> Basically, that Stormers team (on paper) should never have
have been 60 odd points down with 10-15 minutes to go.
>
--- End Quote ---
Agreed. They may not have been full strength but they certainly
weren't a second team.
#Post#: 148336--------------------------------------------------
Re: The Champions Cup is great for fans of clubs but terrible
for everyone else
DIR By: poorfour
Date: January 22, 2026, 11:07 am
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The performance in Dublin against a strong Leinster side was
also better than we have played against most top opposition this
season, and while plenty of teams have fielded weakened sides
away from home, there haven’t been that many blow-outs. Quins
ended the pool stage with the best points difference in the
competition.
It’s a really tough draw from here on in Sale home, Leinster
away (probably) then probably Glasgow or Toulon, but you’d
expect the team to give it everything this year, and we can
dream…
#Post#: 148337--------------------------------------------------
Re: The Champions Cup is great for fans of clubs but terrible
for everyone else
DIR By: JammyGit
Date: January 22, 2026, 11:14 am
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Right, the Stormers weren't Bayonne and that was a legitimately
good performance against a team that was poor on the day. But my
point is that domestic form hasn't counted for diddly squat in
Europe as we've played so much better regardless; the last few
years have been a real turning point for the club as repeated
exposure to the tournament has freed us up and made us much more
confident and aggressive where previously we'd have viewed the
tournament as something to suffer through.
English rugby has in the last decade or so had quite a lot of
flux year-on-year as to which teams are 'good' at any given
moment. It's been great for the health of the league but largely
terrible for European consistency, as teams never got a handle
on what it takes to progress in the same way that, say, Munster
did, until the format changed and more teams started making it
in more regularly.
We came 6th in the league in 2022/23, qualified for the
Champions Cup for the 23/24 season, and made the semi final that
year. We qualified for this year's tournament having come 6th
again, and despite obviously being worse in the league (and the
hockeying we took against Leinster last season shouldn't be
forgotten either) we have qualified with home advantage to boot.
There's just a disconnect between year-on-year league
performances and Europe.
It might be more egalitarian to have fewer English teams in
Europe, but I don't see any pressing case for there being more
teams from any other country at any rate. And I do believe that
ultimately all it will do is make the English sides a little
less competitive overall, hurting the quality of the tournament.
But as it is, English clubs are the only other ones regularly
getting to the pointy end of the tournament despite being at a
financial disadvantage compared to the big French sides and
Leinster; no Welsh, Scottish, South African, Italian, or
non-Leinster Irish side has made the semi final this decade;
meanwhile we had Exeter winning it in 19/20 with Sarries in the
semi, Exeter making the semis in 22/23, Saints & us making the
semis in 23/24, and Saints making the final last season (having
beaten Leinster!).
We deserve our places a lot more than the URC sides do.
#Post#: 148338--------------------------------------------------
Re: The Champions Cup is great for fans of clubs but terrible
for everyone else
DIR By: FrostAndFire
Date: January 22, 2026, 11:54 am
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Stormers rested almost all their key players against us (or had
them on the bench). We did have a good win, and we played really
well, with a whole bunch of things sticking that hadn't stuck
for a long time. But it was not a serious team put out against
us.
I'm not going to argue that there should be more URC teams
involved either. I want a Champions Cup that actually is
limited to the really good teams from each competition. If
that's 16 teams, so be it. Someone suggested the top half from
each competition, and that would also be a decent idea.
#Post#: 148350--------------------------------------------------
Re: The Champions Cup is great for fans of clubs but terrible
for everyone else
DIR By: JammyGit
Date: January 23, 2026, 4:49 am
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--- Quote from: FrostAndFire link ---
>
> Stormers rested almost all their key players against us (or
had them on the bench). We did have a good win, and we played
really well, with a whole bunch of things sticking that hadn't
stuck for a long time. But it was not a serious team put out
against us.
>
> I'm not going to argue that there should be more URC teams
involved either. I want a Champions Cup that actually is
limited to the really good teams from each competition. If
that's 16 teams, so be it. Someone suggested the top half from
each competition, and that would also be a decent idea.
>
--- End Quote ---
Sorry, but the general view from Stormers fans is that was a
decent team they sent over. Looking at the starting XV, 10 of
the 15 players have had regular starts this season and one of
the others got 2 starts in the autumn for the Boks in the front
row. It wasn't their strongest side but it was mostly made up of
players who are getting a lot of game time for them and not the
bin juice.
#Post#: 148354--------------------------------------------------
Re: The Champions Cup is great for fans of clubs but terrible
for everyone else
DIR By: Rugbycat
Date: January 23, 2026, 5:06 am
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The present format is in place until 2030.
HTML https://www.sarugbymag.co.za/champions-cup-defends-under-fire-format/
The broadcast rights are up for renewal at the end of next
season, which is where the problems may come.
#Post#: 148780--------------------------------------------------
Re: The Champions Cup is great for fans of clubs but terrible
for everyone else
DIR By: AAjnr
Date: January 28, 2026, 5:52 am
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HTML https://archive.ph/kLGlP
Telegraph today - "Prem Rugby eyes shake-up of beleaguered
Champions Cup"
Apparently there's appetite from the three leagues to cut down
the number of teams. Sticking points would be Irish resistance,
how to package it for a good TV deal, and the impending Club
World Cup in 2028 (which I'd totally forgotten about).
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