BY VOICE SPORTS TEAM
DOUBTS are still lingering over the future participation of the three South African teams in the Champions Cup as clubs continue to send weakened sides to Europe.
Only the Sharks tasted victory in the opening two matchdays, with the Bulls and the Stormers pointless and on the verge of missing out on the last 16 ahead of this weekend’s third round of matches.
Last time out, Durban’s Sharks were hammered at Leicester while Cape Town-based Stormers were humiliated at Harlequins.
Both sides sent second-string outfits to Europe in December due to lengthy travel and player welfare concerns.
Some European clubs making the opposing journey have also chosen to name weakened teams since South African teams joined the Champions Cup and second-tier Challenge Cup in 2022.
Of the situation and klagtes over their involvement in the tournament, Springbok and Sharks lock Eben Etzebeth tells The Ruck podcast: “I understand why players in Europe might get annoyed because obviously South Africa is not part of Europe and we obviously now give those teams a few extra hours of travel…
“If they complain, it doesn’t bother me. I do understand why they complain.
“But for us as South Africans, it’s nice to be a part of it, and it will be great if a South African team can win it in the near future.”
A European winner with French club La Rochelle, former Stormers utility back Dillyn Leyds tells AFP of SA’s participation in Europe: “It’s only the second year that they’re in it, so they’re going to learn the tricks of the trade and how to manage their squad.
“Hopefully next season in the Champions Cup or if the sides make it further on into this competition we’ll see them put out their full strength side or a side that they can feel confident that can go and do the job in Europe or in the UK.
“I know for one that a lot of South African players aren’t happy that they’ve got to travel economy class.
“You can imagine 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.
“You really can’t expect the team to be at their best physically after you’re expecting them to travel like that so it's hard.”
One solution to the issue is for club and international seasons in the two hemispheres to be aligned and played at the same time, unlike currently.
Etzebeth agrees, saying: “Everyone’s asking for a global calendar. Hopefully it can happen.
“That’s probably the only thing that makes sense.”
The Stormers host Sale on Saturday, the Bulls travel to Castres and the Sharks host Toulouse.