'Bad excuses': Bok pinpoints why SA teams failed in the Champions Cup
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: It seems Europe’s elite club competition remains a major stumbling block for the South African franchises.
The 2024/25 Champions Cup campaign saw none of the South African sides advance to the Round of 16.
The final was contested by Bordeaux-Bègles and Northampton Saints, with the former winning 28-20 in Cardiff.
The South African teams’ failure to make it out of the group stage has drawn scrutiny, with some fans and pundits believing they may never be competitive enough for the top-tier club competition.
However, having won the Challenge Cup last season, Springbok star Eben Etzebeth believes it’s not a lack of talent, but rather external struggles, that leave them falling by the wayside.
Since joining the Champions Cup in the 2022/23 season, South African sides have yet to make a significant impact.
In their debut season, the Sharks were defeated by Toulouse 20-54, while the Stormers drew 17-17 with Exeter Chiefs but were eliminated in the quarterfinals. The following season, the Bulls reached the quarterfinals but were overwhelmed by Northampton Saints, losing 22-59.
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“In all honesty, we have the quality of players to compete with those teams,” said Sharks captain Etzebeth ahead of his team’s URC quarterfinal against Munster at Kings Park in Durban on Saturday.
“I know there are some logistical challenges that haven’t been ideal. The travel and everything around it has been an issue.
“But those are bad excuses. I truly believe that when we have our strongest teams on the field, we can compete with the top sides.”
Over the last three years, various components have contributed to the teams’ lack of success.
Travel has been one of the main issues, with teams often having to travel more than 15 hours to Northern Hemisphere destinations.
Financial constraints have also played a role, as European clubs typically operate with far larger budgets than any South African side.
The demands of a year-long season have added to the difficulty.
Nonetheless, Etzebeth is hopeful that, given the Bulls, Sharks, and Stormers’ positions in the URC table, they will receive a better seeding next season, making the journey to the quarterfinals less gruelling.
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“Hopefully, next year we will be better.
“This year, no South African team made the Round of 16, but we should get a better draw going into next season,” said the Sharks captain.
“The Bulls finished second in the URC, we finished third, and the Stormers finished fifth, so that should lead to a draw that makes the group stages a bit easier. Obviously, if you finish eighth in the URC, you end up playing the strongest teams from the other leagues – the French Top 14 and English Premiership.”
“So, hopefully, we’ll get an easier group and make it to the play-offs.”
