Ex-Wallaby laughs off claims Bath are amongst the best in the world

Former Wallaby Morgan Turinui has rubbished Bath’s credentials as future World Club champions if such a competition ever gets the go-ahead.

The 20-times capped centre joined Aussie commentator Sean Maloney and former Wallaby team-mate, Matt Burke, to discuss the lack of an Australian presence in the Super Rugby Pacific final on Stan Sports’ Between the Two Posts show, while also casting an eye overseas to check in on the Gallagher Premiership final between Bath and Michael Cheika’s Leicester.

Bath won 23-21 in the searing heat at the Allianz Stadium in Twickenham, after surviving a late fightback from the Tigers. Meanwhile, the Crusaders and Chiefs will fight it out for the Super Rugby title after seeing off the Blues and the Brumbies, respectively.

Burke, who played in England for Newcastle, was impressed by not only the weather but the spectacle as a whole, saying: “It was a good game of footy, back and forth, the hits were great. My daughter asked me who would win, the best of the North versus the best of the South. It would be a great contest.”

Turinui, however, hit back, giving the idea that Bath could challenge the Super Rugby Pacific 2025 finalists, as the standout club team in world rugby, very short shrift.

“Please, Chiefs, Crusaders would absolutely tower (destroy) Bath. Toulouse and Leinster, and the Northamptons, that’s a different story.”

Burke added: “Wouldn’t it be great to get that going?”

As things stand, a Rugby World Club Cup is due to be launched in 2028, after agreement was reached last month between the relevant leagues and unions.

The plan is to stage the competition every four years with 16 teams involved.  Eight will qualify through the Investec Champions Cup and the other half from Super Rugby and Japan.