BULLS-S***??? | CHAMPIONS CUP "DISRESPECT"?!?!
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- Опубліковано 12 кві 2024
- A story reported ahead of the Quarter Finals suggested the Bulls could be investigated for fielding a weakened team in their game in Northampton. What do YOU think?
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I have NEVER posted any comment on anything on the 'net but after seeing this I couldn't resist. Honestly Tim, you are without a doubt the best rugby pundit around; you have such a balanced, sensible view which is sorely lacking pretty much everywhere these days. You need to get into rugby administration quickly, we need guys like you to replace the old guard of Beaumont and co!
Amen to that
I'm a black SA woman who's a big rugby fan living in Mpumalanga- I genuinely appreciate you and your channel!!
Which town in Mpumalanga, Lerato?
Reason I am asking is I grew up there, just for interest sake.
Mpumalanga is a province where there is the Kruger National park- so the town I live in is White River- so you pass White River to get to the Kruger National Park ( where you would find the 'Big 5')..so come back and visit home😉
Awesome Lerato🎉
I’m a white dude living in England, who grew up in rural iKomani.. I appreciate you too …. I’m visiting SA now… and dam my heart missed my fellow black people so badly 😢
Tim I think you the best rugby analyst on UA-cam. Your honesty and sense of reasoning is refreshing. Best wishes from George(city) South Africa
They should be thrown out of the competition. Why did they apply to enter it in the first place if they are not going to compete properly?
@@johntroy-bh5ho Why not throw out Leinster and Gloucester too as they did exactly the same thing. I am a Stormers fan not a Blue Bull but if you going to be fair then be fair to all
He went into details about squad numbers time and time again. but never went into detail about why they basically gave up this game except for travel reasons. Why join in the first place if you know the distance from A to B. URC has accommodated this by making teams tour and fair for all involved . Talks about South African clubs new to this competition, so they are not interested yet. Does he realise what he is saying. They are also new to the URC. I agree with the comments on player welfare, but that's just moving the goalposts, which is a general problem all around .
@@johntroy-bh5ho How are they not competing "properly" Effing arrogance of NH is unbearable.,
@@michaelsaayman2802 What?????
Always great to watch someone discussing and debating something they're passionate about. Keep up the good work and hope your channel grows. All the best from a Cape Town rugby lover.
Hey Tim, thanks for bringing clarity on the real issues in rugby. Thanks for always staying fair, objective and passionate.
I am a South African Sharks fan and gosh your channel sets the standard mate - 100% neutral and unbiased. I would have loved the Bulls to go for gold in the Champions Cup though!
Thanks, as a South African you make me feel better. I was initially very disappointed with Jake's team choice and thought that I would prefer the team to be competitive in both competitions in stead trying to win the one competition and abandoning the other.
Awesome channel. Started following you last year during the RWC.
Can't fault you on any point made during the video.
As a Bulls supporter, I too was disappointed in the team sent to England. I knew there was an almost 0 percent chance they would win and didn't even bother watching the game.
I also recognized that the game wasn't really important. For the Bulls, the URC is way more important. Not just on a prestigious point of view, but financially. The Bulls have a chance to acquire a home Semi-Final and even Final in the URC. That would be a major cash injection.
Winning the Champions Cup Quarter wouldn't net any money for the Bulls, as they'd travel for the Semis and Final if they won those respective games.
For the European fans that might be annoyed by us. Give us a few more years. Once we acquire enough funds to build better 40 man squads, we'd be able to take both competitions more seriously.
And we're getting there. In a year or two, we might even be able to afford some non-washed European players.
Leinster put 90 points on a Montpelier team few years back. No one was calling for France to get kicked out of the comp
But they were calling from Montpelier to be investigated I know because I was one of them I was disgusted that they sent a week and team to a champions cup game. The prize money for winning the champions cup needs to be improved so teams prioritise it.
@@ciaranbrk Yeah they were calling for Montpelier. But not France.
I was at that game, it was like a training run
Maybe because France actually is in Europe, and there isn't à ten hours flight from here to other countries. And then french clubs got à lot of trophies in both champions and challenge cup. On a side note the investigation threat is so stupid, there is nothing to investigate. It all happens in plain sight but the organisation must accept that this is a consequence of à greedy decision that makes no sense trying to act as if south africa was a european country
Typical Saffer response. No one has called all teams to be kicked out.
Just get your fuckin priorities straight.
BRILLIANT!! Level-headed and unbiased reasoning. You understand rugby and have zero axe to grind and no grudges. Great how you point out the blatant hypocrisy. 👏 👏👏
Love it - what a breath of fresh air.
I have seen several of your takes on rugby stories, so far that I consider you the voice of reason amongst the click-bait crowd. Well rounded and knowledgeable response, the internet thanks you.
Perfectly said.
Clearly it's a matter of priorities The Bulls have prioritised league over cup... clearly. Adding the South African clubs to a European competition was logistically, ridiculous. However a team's coach can pick whatever team he wants to. If he's happy to send a team to England to have their arses tanned, that is his choice, and his alone.
I don't think it was a mistake adding the South African teams but it has certainly highlighted what was a logistical problem before that has never been addressed.
Sort the timing of the competitions and this problem will go away.
Let the different league competitions finish and then do the EPCR.
JW’s poes and your’s too. SA comes first and as a Stormers supporter, clearly CC would mean more and is a more realistic opportunity to bring silverware back to South African shores.
@@dillanarendse9730 well you are clearly not a classy individual.
@@coatknight I agree but it is even simpler than that. Just leave two weeks between Champions Cup playoff games and all this will go away.
Logistical difficulties by their nature are amenable to solution or at least amelioration, bigly, by better… logistics.
An overnight flight in business class on a Saturday/Sunday or charter flights are but two possible improvements.
You do not have the first clue how absolutely awesome these competitions are going to be when the SA clubs get to 80% of what they have traditionally been. They are currently an empty shell of their former selves due to exploitation by the Antipodean Krays and the pandemic and mass exodus.
You’ll see 4000 at Loftus every week.
Yet again spot on! Love your analysis. Have a lekker time when you here in South Africa. ✌❤
Always a very well balanced viewpoint from this gent. Kudos.
Brilliant channel. Just found it , thanks for taking your time to break down games . Agreed 110% about its unfair to criticise the bulls as its bonkers there player work load . Look i bet on Northampton to score over 33points at even money, i was fully aware of the bulls team coming to play . Anyway ill be watching more to see your takes on how gmes might go .
You hit the nail on the head, a team must select 41 players for the tournament before it started so who the hell can tell the coach which of the 41 players he must select. IT'S MADNESS.
As usual a well balanced and unbiased commentary. Keep it up Tim
So now the competition administrators now are the team selectors? Thanks mate, great video again. Sometimes it really seems like a witch hunt for SA teams or national team approaches. It's the right of a coach to choose the team they want. The travel is intense, but then the Super rugby travel was even worse because of the time difference. It's time the administrators stop interfering with the game in general.
Very well put, thank you for the honest and well thought out analysis of this issue. Spot on.
If the coach think it's time to rest his top players it is right to do so, these players is just human and needs rest. Rassie did this last year , if I remember right against Wales. He achieved 2 things out of it, he did build depth in his squad, and his top players got a bit of well deserved rest.
And you can't build depth without squad rotation. Look at how many times the All Blacks, for instance, pick the same 15 or 23? Hardly ever; but they have a great many players who've experienced the squad environment. When a player is unavailable it's a problem more easily overcome. It's a squad game these days
100% agree, up to the coaches to manage their squad/team. The suits are getting involved too much now, changing rules to mend the rules they changed.
Perhaps having teams in a league that's halfway around the world might not be the best idea
Love your commentary and all the fair points that you have raised.
Totally agree - sensible views! I'm enjoying all the new content and different kinds of videos, all short but with enough detail and goodness. Thanks Tim. Hope to see you in SA. Keep it up.
Love this channel. Always balanced in your thinking and reporting. Keep up the good work
I really enjoyed your take on this and it focuses on the key issue of player welfare, a key reason I don’t support the plans for a world club championship.
Well said Tim, love the passion in your voice mate.
Very well explained. I agree with your points 100%. It's up to the organisers to produce a schedule that does not force teams into decisions like this. Bear in mind that it is the first year that SA teams have competed in the CC. Hopefully lessons are learned.
Tim, for goodness sake keep going your analysis and comments are spot on all credit to you looking forward to seeing you break 100,000 subscribers 👍
Excellent discussion Tim. Thanx for being transparently perfect.
You're bang on Tim with your points. Thanks for this interesting video.
You’re a rare voice of reason. Love your presentations.
As always a very thoughtful and proper analysis done.
As usual such a well balanced analysis you are the best at this.
Totally agree
Hardly watched rugby before I discovered your channel. Luckily it was before the World Cup. You make everything easy to understand and you cut through the cr@p
Spot on Tim, thank you for your balanced view and input.
Lyon sent a weakened team to SA last weekend and there was no noise abt it.
That's my point to it has happened alot even before sa clubs joined sa bashing I call it . I'm a leinster fan saying this
I agree, Munster fan here and it’s only an issue because its an SA team doing it and they have the most reason to do it.
Alot of other teams have rested alot of players during the comps... alot of Euro teams send their weak sides to SA...so I can't see what the problem is...we gave our mid level team a go and our Boks etc a rest...🤷🏼♂️ Comes down to management.
I find it stupid that they are investigating the bulls over the 2nd team thing other teams did it over the years lots of teams did it once the format was changed good example Gloucester 2nd string v leinster in one season and montpellier did it lyon did it to. Dropping rd of 16 would have helped
Were those weakened teams at the knockout stage of the tournament or the group stage when the weakened team was effectively out of the competition anyway?
@@croissants1280 Maybe a new rule is needed to say when it is allowed and when not?
Its the NH media just reporting nonsense to paint the Bulls in a bad light. These journalists ignore all the reasons jake white said motivated this squal selection. And now EPCR is allowing themselves to be influenced by these bias journalists.
Jake said he had injured players he couldn't select. These journalists honestly expected him to play injured players!!!!?!!!
Player safety and welfare is not being respected by these journalists and EPCR
Jake white was well within his right to rotate his squad
and Lyon to SA 2 weekends ago
Leinster in the 2023 URC semi final
Thank you for a sensible and logical analysis and zero bias.
Wonderful analysis Tim. You really are a master of your craft.
Great take always Tim, agreed with all you said. I would add that if the EPCR wanted more respect for the comp they would sort out the scheduling and not tell SA sides they can't have a home Semi or final.
I agree with your summary totally. Just look what a trip down to South Africa did to Rochell last night being wiped by Leinster.
Hello Tim. What a great view! Let me talk for myself, the fact that we will never have a home semi or final is also why I do not care about this competition. I understand that is the stipulation for whatever reason. That alone makes this a low priority for me. We(Bulls) have anyway a bad travelling record. So yes, we will target competitions were we can host local games. And I agree 100% with what you said. Thanks for a great channel.
Great video Tim, I fully agree with the decision Jake took. And, for a 2nd string team they showed up and went toe to toe for the first half. Then angry warthog certainly wasn't laying down!
As a Leinster man, I love having SA teams in both competitions. We should plan better for their travel!
Very nicely put Tim, I agree with you.
Hey Tim once again a measured, refreshing and reasonable review. Everyone that loves rugby would have liked to see the best possible Bulls side. SA teams are going to need time and money to build strong enough squads to compete on 2 fronts. Even more importantly they need the flight sponsors to at least have direct flights to major capitals instead of numerous connections which is crazy
Thanks for this level-headed commentary.
Every coach has to think these matters thoroughly. I’m a Toulouse fan, and when I look at their schedule, one weekend after another:
• Champions cup, quarterfinal against Exeter
• Top 14 against Toulon (currently 4th, 9 points behind)
• Top 14 against Racing 92, currently 3rd, 8 points behind)
• Possibly semifinal of the champions cup against the Harlequins
• Top 14 against Stade Francais, currently 1st (3 points ahead)
• Top 14 against Montpellier, currently 13th in the relegation zone (so, difficult game in Montpellier)
• Possibly final in Tottenham against Leinster or Northampton
• Top 14 against La Rochelle (currently 5th, 9 points behind). Antoine Dupont will miss this one, playing for the HSBC 7ns in Madrid.
• Top 14 against Lyon
Then, if Toulouse is still in the two first of the Top 14, a weekend to rest before semifinal and final (otherwise a quarterfinal to play).
I don’t understand how the players can do it…
Exactly, the inclusion of the SA teams just highlights what was a logistical problem before which can be addressed if all organizers involved would amend the calender for all the competitions.
Well said - choices made within rules. Don’t disrespect any teams 23.
All fair comments Tim. You should apply for Bill's position as soon as it becomes vacant in the next century
Well said, Tim. 👏🏻
Tim what a great analysis 👏👍👌The best podcast!!!
Tim you are spot on. Also. What better experience for reserve players to gain more international game time.
Bang on, made me see it very differently actually. Valid, thoughtful points.
South African rugby fans now see the URC in the same regard as they did Super Rugby...
There are no derbies in the Champions Cup, it has a rather stop/start calendar and the travel factor when combined with the URC makes it unrealistic to prioririse both, see Top14 or the Premiership for equivalence.
Except that we would be earning about R200m a year to playing Super Rugby, instead of paying R429m a year to be in the URC and the Challenge / Champions Cups.
That's a R600m+ a year swing.
A full 'second team' of 23 players for each of the 4 franchises at R3m per player could be covered with less than half that amount, and bringing back many of our players from overseas clubs with that sort of carrot is very doable. Problem solved ... no more 'disrespect', much stronger South African teams, while simultaneously weakening many of the overseas teams.
@@LittleBigMediaCo first time I've seen this take on the issue. My understanding was that going to Europe was financially advantageous for SA. Seems to correlate with many of our players returning over the last couple of seasons. Also, playing in front of full stadiums in Europe as opposed to half empty ones in Aus and Nz, makes me doubt. Can you point me to a place to learn more about your stance? Would be an interesting read.
@@LittleBigMediaCo Yeah, I seriously doubt that it was financially better for SA teams in Super Rugby. I was under the impression that the contracts (e.g. broadcasting revenue) SANZAAR decided on were especially shit for SA teams.
@@LittleBigMediaCo south Africa are buying their way in to be a shareholder and will start revenue sharing from the next broadcast deal onwards, in which case they will probably make more than in Super-rugby. South Africa leaving super-rugby also really hurt Aus and NZ as the revenue share was a straight division, even though SA generated the most revenue
Then don't take part.
Totally agree thatinvestagating the Bulls is going to be a waste of time As you said Its upto the coach which players he plays in which matches
Great consequences TIm !! Great video .. again !! 👍
I agree totally with you Tim. Your insights are out of this world. Rugby is definitely at the heart of your program. The best Rugby program by far. Thanks
Disrespectful? Well what's the alternative? Sending players half way across the world who are already half beat and exhausted ? You're right Tim, there's a lot of talk about player welfare but no actions.
I'm beginning to really dislike the Champions cup. It's a confusing poop stage system with far too many games with teams competing from as low as 8th from 10 in the Premiership, so it hardly feels prestigious. Plus we've had too many repeats of pool games in the last 16. It should be reduced to 16 teams and just have a quarter final, which would perhaps eliminate these issues
Words of wisdom as always
One again Tim, youve made good points , there's been enough said about the travelling arrangements through the media from the likes of highly respected coaches such as Rob Baxter ,however there is in my opinion a way round this , have a northern hemisphere section of the Champions Cup, four groups of four teams and have a southern hemisphere section of the Champions Cup too , while the northern teams play their games as two in January, two in April and two in May, the southern hemisphere teams could play their six qualifying games during time of the 6 Nations, this qualifying section could be hosted one year in South Africa and the following year co-hosted between Australia and New Zealand and so on , not only would this let the South Africans play their derby URC games on the same weekends as the northern hemisphere teams play their Champions Cup qualifying matches, it'd let the South Africans have something like a six week break over the Christmas period, the month of June could be a Champions Cup finals series, teams playing two matches against teams from the other hemisphere with the best four teams marching on to the semi-final stage, I also believe that the semi-finals should be played as a double header at a host stadium with the final at the same venue the following weekend, this would great for any host city such as Dublin, Cardiff or Edinburgh etc for tourism and so on and of course this would see the already established Champions Cup become the World Club Cup in our crowded fixture schedule, the URC in my opinion should also have a host venue for their semi-finals and final with again the semi-finals as a double header and the final at the same stadium the following weekend, this would avoided the travelling fiasco of a team travelling to South Africa for a semi-final then back to Ireland for a final, the best four teams going to a host city would also generate plenty media attention, a bit like the publicity and tourism that a host Super Bowl city across the pond, anyway once again brilliant video Tim and keep up the good work mate 👍
EPCR far from blameless on other issues:
1. Pool seeding into last 16 draw frankly pathetic, with 6/8 fixtures repeated from pool stage.
2. Semi locations (in particular Toulouse/Exeter v Quins) really really poor.
I agree. Also, the fact that they are playing in the final at Tottenham Stadium is weird. Why play a rugby final in a football stadium? Especially at Spurs 🤢🤮 (Although that might just be the Arsenal fan in me)
The first seems so amateur. Who thought repeat fixtures would be acceptable, especially so many of them .
Add to that, more generally, that the fixtures for the group stages disproportionately disadvantage some teams. Leicester at home to Stormers or Sale away to the Stormers...the single result doesn't give a fair reflection of teams standings.
The greatest sport and greatest club championship deserves the greatest stadium. Tottenham's stadium is the best in the world whether you like it or not. Football stadia have larger capacities and more facilities, get over yourself lol @@Chris____zzzzz
Bud, you talk a lot of sense, 100% agree with you. It’s great having all of those rugby competitions, but this is very hard on your players. I’d also like to highlight the quality of attacking rugby that that weekend team played and if the strongest team had been fielded, I bet they’d have played that more traditional forwards focused, controlled game. Maybe they’d have won, but not as entertaining.
I love your balanced argument it always fair!! I am not a Jake White fan but he has obviously chosen the URC over the EPCR!!
Tim you and Big Jim the best of the rest. Great stuff ...Hope too see you soon Boks vs Ireland 🏉
Tim, all your points are excellent 👏👏.
Bulls played Leinster away, came home and played Bordeaux then have to travel back to play North Hampton and next week play minster back in Pretoria … 4 weeks back and forth … Jake did what he had to do….. I remember last year Leinster sending a 3 rd side and got creamed by the Bulls for 60 points….
The simple solution, Tim, is to go back to the old Heineken Cup format. Groups of four, then straight into the quarter finals. Get rid of the Round of 16.
And then space out quarters, semis and the final well apart so that teams have enough time to organise travel arrangements.
We had a great tournament till the English and French started demanding changes and messing around with it. It is definitely not the fault of the South Africans.
You are spot on Tim.
They say it is too much travelling etc and yet there are no complaints from Edinburgh who played 2 league games in SA the other week before playing the last 16 game at home before having to travel down again for the 1/4 final. They have travelled around 30,000 miles in the last month.
While I don't think that South African teams should be playing in European competitions, this story is blown widely out of proportion! Would anyone have cared if Northampton played a B team in this game? I doubt it
Empty words. This is so true. I still feel that we need to complete one comp before the next begins. Doing this will negate having to prioritize one tournament over another. I would live the Bulls to be competitive across all competitions.
Hi Tim, an honest and correct assesment.
always good to hear "a voice of reason"
Great points well made Tim. Simple answer is to get Andy Goode to pick the sides not the coaches 😅
I could not agree more. Well said
Your comments are spot on..
At first I thought they completely completely disrespected the competition. But then you look at the logistics involved. A Saturday early afternoon kick off against Lyon. Then they had to wait 24 hours to see who they’d be playing in the quarters. I actually think Jake white is perfectly within is right to do this, I think the fault lies within the organisers of the competition. A simple change would be making the knockouts more spaced out. Even an extra week between games would solve this problem. This is poor from EPCR in my opinion.
Agree. Real solution is changing the calendar so the various competition do not overlap.
I hadn’t thought of it, but your point re: 41 nominated players is bang on. They nominated their CCup players, done. Anything else is subjective
Well said Tim. I fully agree.
Could listen to you all day Tim. Good man.
I agree & well done for not jumping on the bandwagon. Easy to bash the Bulls on this one, but very complex situation
I don't know why they would prioritise the urc over the Champions Cup. I always thought that the reward for doing well in the league was a chance to play in the Heineken / European Cup. I think it's a really interesting decision. I would love to know what they see as being the possible rewards for winning the URC.
Simply a case of pragmatism. Would have probably lost anyway because of the sheer mess of traveling.
I mean they've probably just decided they have a higher chance of winning the URC than CC, which is fair enough, especially if they can get home semi finals (I hope they don't as a glasgow fan)
LOL, seriously?
Do you think teams run on the side-show or the main act?
Any chance you were in charge of finances at Worcester, Wasps or London Irish ... you seem like a candidate?
@LittleBigMediaCo I Just understand that the South Africans about winning, but they are also smart with hoe they approach it. The advantage that the South African teams have at home cannot be understated, but the same is seen in their away games. In the URC if they win their last game they'll have a home semi final and have a much higher chance on winning. They also have to travel halfway round the world but I don't think that's an excuse, just means they do have to prioritise the star players
@@Zomo1553 I wasn't responding to your comment, I was responding the original comment by the JJ Smith clown.
I understand 100% why the Bulls sent a reserve team.
❤ emotion and sense - only other thought - why did Jake pick the ‘top’ team to play a ‘weak’ Lyon’s team if he did not intend to compete and win the cup. On the travel - I have been through Doha from SA to UK and Europe - I now avoid it at all costs (polite version).
To be honest the South African teams don’t really deliver any additional value to the competition - keep it European only and let the boys play
As a saints fan i spent money tonight expecting to see us play a team full of sa internationals in a huge quarter final at home. Instead it felt like a pre season game. This cup is supposed to be the pinnacle of club rugby and the bulls playing a B team undermines the integrity of the tournament
It sucks for spectators but you'd have known this if you paid attention.
Don't blame the Bulls, or French teams or any or other team that has done this, blame the organizers of the various competitions for what has always been a ridiculously disjointed schedule.
Having the SA teams just highlight how absurd it has actually always been.
As a bulls fan I totally wasted my time watching half of the game. I can understand why you are disapointed. Jake White trying to be a smart ass. Play your best team. Doesnt matter if you lose the game and maybe the next game as well. People pay money to see the best teams play eachother and then they get this crap
SA teams are not even receiving URC broadcast money yet. Once SA teams are at 80% of Euro budgets it will change. Then the moaning will be about something else 😂
The competition is flawed having last 16 and QFs in successive weekends. La Rochelle were exhausted travelling back from SA and then over to Dublin.
This should be the pinnacle of European club rugby and it's not proved that way.
Is having SA teams worth it?
Totally agree, however Leinster were gunning for this game, they would likely have come out in top anyway, though maybe not by the big score.
I think having the SA teams is great but it has emphasized the logistical flaws that already existed which Europe does not seem to want to fix.
SuperRugby and each domestic competition was kept apart for this very reason.
South Africa would be far better off playing in Super Rugby than playing in Europe.
You Irish just don't want any competition. Try play without the refugees in your teams.
Leinster v La Rochelle was supposed to be a cracker, but because of the insane traveling La Rochelle had to do, it turned into a rout. That is the fault of the organizers.
@@brianmsahinthey looked v good but this is conjecture. Let's get them on two flights, one long haul, in back to back weeks, disrupting their training schedule, then run it back.
Spot on! Thanks Tim👊🏻
My Boeta!! Spot on and WELL DONE!!!
Well said!!👏👏
Well said Tim.
100% correct on all points. I don't even watch the games in this competition that don't include SA teams. I just don't know the players, the clubs etc like I did the Super rugby tournament. Take some time while the SA teams play for me to connect with the foreign teams and players. I think most of SA supporters are the same.
I like your take on 30 years of your connection to the competition …. SA is a great rugby nation already, but it’s still a sleeping giant in a sense. Only a fraction of the population get to play the game….. there is so much hidden talent in rural areas. Look at schools like queens and dale college, traditional boys schools who have taken on transformation openly and the talent is starting to pour through… watch this space
We really starting to get the competition and forcing our teams onto a similar super rugby problems. Most of our teams our building bigger squads specifically for this. Thanks Tim.
the competition is great ... the scheduling of the games is the problem,,, why do the URC teams need to play home teams twice?... there is just too many high stake game at the end of the season and the teams cannot keep up and perform at the level we as spectators expect.
The comments on BBC around this is so toxic. Only Tim still gives me hope for the human race and England really. So very few of him around though. Quietly sits and reasons it out in a calm, rational and unemotional way. 👍 We need you on telly as a pundit to just calm things down and keep perspective. Love your work mate. Take care.
Thanks again for calling it - the timing clashes forSA teams is mind boggling currently…
Thanks Tim one thing I did noticed that is so obvious is the amount of money that clubs use buying players from other countries then call it fair. That's how they stay competitive and top of these logs. I 💯 present support losing local teams than imported foreign rich clubs. That's just me
Also it’s our second year meaning we can only host home semi finals next year and we only get the cash next year. These first two years were great for learning. Look at the sharks that have to host their opponents next at Twickenham because of the rules. Much easier to travel from England to France (Quins vs Bourdoux) then South Africa to France for example.
Also easier to yrvale with direct flights which the Euro teams do while the SA teams have multiple stops via the Middle East.
Thank you for mentioning Lyon for sending a weakened team as well. That was also a playoff game.