As the Champions Cup heats up, doubts continue to swirl around the future participation of South Africa’s three teams in the prestigious rugby tournament.
Clubs are grappling with sending weakened sides to Europe, and the performance of the Sharks, Bulls, and Stormers so far has raised concerns.
Mixed Results for South African Teams
Only the Sharks have managed a victory in the first two rounds, while the Bulls and Stormers have yet to score a point.
With the third round fast approaching, both teams risk missing out on the last 16 of the competition.
In their most recent matches, the Sharks suffered a heavy defeat at Leicester, while the Stormers endured a humiliating loss to Harlequins.
Challenges in Europe
The primary reason behind these setbacks lies in the decision of both the Stormers and Sharks to field second-string teams during their European campaigns.
This was largely driven by concerns about lengthy travel times and the physical well-being of players.
These same issues are affecting other European teams as well, with some opting to field weakened sides after the inclusion of South African teams in the Champions Cup and the Challenge Cup since 2022.
Thoughts from Eben Etzebeth
South African lock Eben Etzebeth, who plays for the Sharks, addressed the issue during a recent interview.
He acknowledged that European players may be frustrated with the additional travel hours due to South Africa’s non-European status.
However, he expressed that adapting to these new challenges is simply part of the game.
“People need to adapt to new things, new ideas, and new competitions.
If they complain, it doesn’t bother me. But for us South Africans, it’s nice to be a part of it.
Hopefully, one day a South African team will win it,” Etzebeth said.
A Steep Learning Curve
This Champions Cup campaign marks only the second year South African teams have been involved, with the Stormers and Sharks reaching the quarter-finals in their first year.
Despite a tough season in the United Rugby Championship, Etzebeth’s team lifted the Challenge Cup, which secured them qualification for this year’s Champions Cup.
Dillyn Leyds, a South African winger at La Rochelle, expressed optimism for the future of the South African teams.
He believes they are still learning the ropes and, over time, will figure out how to manage their squads and bring out their best performance in Europe.
The Toll of Travel
The Bulls, gearing up for a tough match against Castres in the south of France, are facing another challenge—the grueling travel schedule.
The team recently made a nearly 24-hour journey to Paris and Toulouse before a bus ride to Castres.
“The big boys that they’ve got running around there, those boys get to London or Dublin and they’re pretty sore after having to travel like that,” Leyds noted.
“It’s hard to expect the team to be at their best physically after such long, exhausting travel.”
A Global Calendar Solution?
One possible solution to ease the burden of long travel times is for the club and international seasons in both hemispheres to be aligned, something that would ensure less disruption for players.
Etzebeth voiced his hope for a global rugby calendar to be introduced, which he believes could solve many of the ongoing issues faced by teams in different regions.
What’s Next for South African Teams?
As South African teams navigate these challenges, questions remain about whether they can overcome the physical and logistical hurdles of international competition.
Will the next few rounds bring better results? Can these teams continue to compete at a high level while managing player welfare and travel fatigue?
South African rugby fans and analysts alike are eager to see how things unfold.
Let us know your thoughts—do you think the South African teams are facing legitimate challenges, or is this just part of the growing pains of entering European competitions?
This article was published on TDPel Media. Thanks for reading!
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