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'They don't need any more help': Dallaglio voices fears over SA sides in Champions Cup
By Josh Raisey
After a season and two rounds of South African sides being in the Investec Champions Cup, a familiar theme has already started to appear.
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Ten games played at home so far by South African sides and ten victories for the hosts. Reigning two-time champions La Rochelle were the latest side to travel south of the equator and come home empty handed- although a losing bonus point could be regarded as a comforting consolation.
While the South African sides do not necessarily fare too well when travelling (the Stormers and Bulls both losing their matches on European soil in the competition), this is a theme that does not sit well with two-time winner Lawrence Dallaglio, who feels the new competition only benefits the South African sides.
The former England captain raised his concerns on the Evening Standard Rugby Podcast this week, suggesting that the change in conditions and quick turnaround for northern hemisphere sides put them at a disadvantage when travelling to South Africa. On top of that, he worried that the South African sides’ participation only strengthens South African rugby, which he believes is already set to dominate rugby for the coming years.
“The South African concept is not one that sits that comfortably with me at the moment,” the Wasps legend said.
“Some people would argue differently. Maybe the players would. I don’t know, I’d love to hear what the teams themselves think about traveling to South Africa, playing at altitude and in the heat, having been there for five days and then having a quick turnaround and having to then play another game the following week.”
“I think that the South Africans are very good at rugby. We know that they’ve just won the Rugby World Cup again for the fourth time, they don’t need any more help.
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“So I don’t like the fact that we give them more help by introducing them to European Champions Cup Rugby. I think the only team that it benefits are the South Africans really.
“I think that it’s probably a move that’s irreversible, particularly given that (new sponsors) Investec have now invested significant amounts of money and Investec have a big South African presence. South Africa will probably win the next two or three World Cups without any more help from us.”
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he’s really starting to look ready for international rugby. Ford-Dingwall-Lawrence would be pretty exciting imo
Go to commentsThe writer here ignores the fact that, following on from not taking the penalty kick, the All Blacks did manage to score a try a few minutes later. Not directly from the penalty awarded, but it is speculation to say that had they opted to take the koi they would have won. Even if they kicked it, which was no guarantee, they would still be trailing and would have had to start again at half-way.
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