Thierry Dusautoir has been left disappointed by the South African teams’ performance in the Champions Cup, questioning its current format and suggesting a return to a simpler structure. Picture: VALENTINE CHAPUIS / AFP
Image: VALENTINE CHAPUIS / AFP
Former France international Thierry Dusautoir said he expects more from South African teams in the Champions Cup, but has also questioned the competition in its current format.
With South African teams joining in the 2022/2023 season, they have failed to make the same kind of impression as in the United Rugby Championship (URC).
The Stormers won the URC in the 2021/2022 season in their debut appearance. Since then, the Stormers finished runners-up the following season, and the Bulls have now been losing finalists on three occasions.
Meanwhile, the Champions Cup remains a tournament where the SA sides have not achieved much success at all without an appearance in the final yet. Of course, this could be down to scheduling issues with all the travelling the SA sides have to do, but it doesn’t change their lack of success.
“I am still waiting for South African teams to have a good Champions Cup.
I have to admit I prefer the last version of the Champions Cup! Now it is too complicated. It should be four pools of four,” told IOL via Hajper.
“South Africa came into the Champions Cup maybe four years ago. And I am still waiting for them to have a good tournament.
“It’s quite hard for the players to travel from here to South Africa to come back and play. It's nonsense. I don't know if they are thinking about changing anything, but I would be okay if we go back to the last version of the Champions Cup.”