What France's European dominance has taught everyone else
The European Finals weekend brought with it plenty for French teams to celebrate. Three of the four finalists in the Heineken Champions Cup and Challenge Cup showdowns hailed from France and, when La Rochelle turned a distant dream into a reality, total European dominance was confirmed.
Very few gave La Rochelle a chance of beating a Leinster side stacked with international pedigree, but Ronan O’Gara’s band of brothers refused to give their opposition the same credence. They flew quickly up in defence and were expansive in attack, stifling their opposition for the full 80. And yet, thanks to the boot of Johnny Sexton, Leinster remained in front for most of the contest, until replacement scrum half Arthur Retière bundled over in the dying minutes to give La Rochelle their first taste of European glory.
Only a day before, Lyon soared to new heights when they dominated Toulon 30-12 in the Challenge Cup final. In front of a rapturous Stade de Marseille crowd, another scrum-half in the form of Baptiste Couilloud crossed for the opening try and from then on Lyon proved insurmountable.
Notably, this too was their first European title. The breakthrough success of La Rochelle and Lyon in international club rugby is not simply a story of underdog success, it signposts the fundamental value of relegation and promotion in club competition.
In the 2013-2014 season, both cup winners were playing in the Pro D2. Lyon were crowned champions come the end of that season and earnt promotion to the Top 14. They were joined by La Rochelle, who beat Agen 31-22 in the play-off final, having spent the last three years in the French second division.
Promotion suited La Rochelle better than Lyon, as the Stade de Gerland outfit were instantly relegated a season after. However, they made it back to the top tier in 2016 and have stayed there ever since.
It is no secret that financial investment goes hand in hand with a promotion bid. La Rochelle increased their stadium capacity to 15,000 and had a budget injection of 16.5 million euros to help their bid while Lyon had strong financial reserves between 2011 and 2016 when they were considered a proverbial yo-yo team. A couple of years on and both are now European title winners, all because they were given time to grow, both on and off the field.
The Gallagher Premiership could truly benefit from adopting a similar system. Ealing Trailfinders topped the Championship table this season but were denied promotion on the grounds that the club’s facilities did not meet a minimum standards criteria. The London team have been on the fringes of the Premiership for some time now and can feel hard done by at the ruling.
Without the incentive of promotion, investment in Championship clubs will become harder to come by and fan involvement will soon reach a ceiling.
Compare this with the reaction to La Rochelle’s European triumph. The city only has a population of around 75,000 but its port was flooded with jubilant supporters, immensely proud of what their club achieved.
Plenty of teams in the English second division will have watched that enviously, foreseeing what could be possible if promotion became genuine.
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And it wasn’t long ago that an English team benefitted from promotion. The Exeter Chiefs first broke into the Premiership back in 2010 and have since become a perennial title contender. They won the league twice in 2017 and 2020, and lifted the Champions Cup in 2020 after beating Racing 92 in the grand finale.
Admittedly, not all promotions are successful. You need look no further than the case of London Welsh, who fell into administration after a season spent in the Premiership. But if anything, this demonstrated how England’s top league is increasingly becoming a closed shop.
In stark contrast, the French system shows the value of having a competitive second division that filters into the top flight. And the European winners over the weekend are markers of this.
Since earning promotion, both Lyon and La Rochelle have edged their way into the Top 14 playoffs. La Rochelle have now appeared in two consecutive Champions Cup finals and Lyon have claimed their first major honour since 1933.
Financial investment has no doubt helped each team’s ascent, but neither would be where they are today if promotion was not in place.
Comments on RugbyPass
SBW is fast becoming a laughing stock, his misplaced comments & lack of insight Is actually pretty sad.
5 Go to commentsJust well you guys are couch 🛋 potatoes selector's, picking a team of greenhorns to play England! “What are you people smoking?” The halfbacks will be Christie, Fakatava, Perenara Props; Newell, Bower, Lomax, Tunga'fasi, Hookers; Asosa Amua when fit, Taylor, Samisoni,
11 Go to commentsQuite frankly, all this is a bit pathetic. The first time Wales get the Wooden Spoon in 21 years and everyone is on the bandwagon for a ‘play-off’ game. Wales have no obligation to Georgia and no obligation to the rest of the Six Nations to play such a game. If they want Georgia in so badly then they need to include South Africa into a Northern Hemisphere competition with 2 leagues of 4 teams with the top 2 competing for the Championship. Sadly, this will end Triple Crowns and Grand Slams forever. Is this really what you want?
4 Go to commentsI think Finau to start Blackadder to come on. Poss Prokter instead of Ioane, haven't seen much from Reiko so far this year.
11 Go to commentsJoe will have had a good chat with Dave Rennie, a smart move to begin with while it’s doubtful Fast Eddie will be consulted? Plenty of Aus players hitting top form so they should go OK.
3 Go to commentsMmm. Not sure I like this article or see it as necessary.
5 Go to commentsBlackadder but no Finau! 😀 It’s Razor so you are probably right, plus Taylor at 2…
11 Go to commentsThe strongest possible AB side would actually include Aaron Smith, Bodie Retallick, Sam Whitelock, Leicester Fainga'anuku, Shannon Frizzel.. don’t get me started on the rest of the injury hit brigade that got flung on the heap so left. Many a whole not getting filled as of yet.
11 Go to commentsI don’t think anyone knows what Schmidt will do, one thing is certain it ain’t gonna be all the picks we on the keyboard will think. My impression of him is that he will be looking at who can step up and what is the best combination. He will ignore individuals as he looks for guys who can build a powerful team and not just guys who can make a flashy run or ignore the winger as they want to score themselves.
3 Go to commentsSome dumb selections there. Not Porecki Not Donaldson Not Gordon Not Lonegran - both Not Nic White - Fines instead Not Liam Wright Not Paisami Definitely not Vunivalu Other than that not bad.
3 Go to commentsI've never been convinced that Patty T is a test match all black. Otherwise I probably agree it's the best side available to beat the poms. Caveat that Codie Taylor is yet to be seen and could very likely warrant selection by June. I hope that Razor brings the young loosies, half backs and locks into the training squad and develops/ selects the best
11 Go to commentsYou doing the same thing I disliked about the example of Samisoni Taukei'aho, Nick. He’s great the way he is, you’re trying to do what modern-day coaches frustrate me doing, turning everyone into the perfect athlete. Next thing you’ll be telling me you’ll bench him until he’s hit that arbitrary marker, and can’t overtake the current guy who’s doing all his workons. He’s a young Kieran Read, through and through, plays wide and has threat, mainly (and evident in your clips) through his two hand carry and speed. Just let him work on that, or whatever he wants, and determine his own future. Play God and you risk the players going sideways, like Read did, instead of being a Toutai Kefu. I mean I was in the same camp for a while, wanting our tight five to have the size, and carry ability, as the teams they were getting beat by. Now I’m starting to believe those teams just have better skilled and practiced individuals, bigger by upwards of 5kg sometimes, sure, but more influentially they have those intrinsic skills of trust and awareness. Basically our guys just didn’t know wtf they were doing. Don’t think I’m trying to prove a point here but hasn’t Caleb Clarke been in much better form this year, or does he just ‘look’ better now that he’s not always trying to use his size?
44 Go to commentsThe pack lacks a little in height for the line out and I wouldn’t be completely convinced by some of the combinations till we see it in action.
11 Go to commentsThe side is good but lacks experience. International playing bona fides udually trumps super rugby form for good reason. And incumbents are usually stuck with. Codie Taylor should start or come off the bench. B Barrett will start at fullback. Blackadder has not earned the position, Finau has. TJs experience and competitiveness earns him a starting role, Christie or Ratima off the bench
11 Go to commentsPretty good side. Scott Barrett should be the captain. Ethan Blackadder a great choice at blindside. He is going to go from strength to strength having made a couple of starts for the Crusaders. Scott Robertson rates him highly. Perenara could start a no 9.
11 Go to commentsI question and with respect. Was enough done over the last few years to bring through new blood knowing the Whitelocks and co couldn’t last forever. There should have been more done to future proof the team. New squad new coach, he and they weren’t set up well. IMO
6 Go to commentsJacobsen will definitely be in the 23
11 Go to commentsLots of discussion points, Ben, but two glaring follies IMO: 1. Blackadder at 6. Has done nothing so far this season to justify his selection. Did you see him going backwards in contact at the weekend? Simply has not got the physical presence at 6: we need a Scott Barrett or a Finau (or wildcard Ah Kuoi), beasts who are big enough to play lock, like Frizzell. If Barret played at 6, Paddy could be joined at lock by Vai’i or one of the young giants we need to promote, like Darry or Lord (if he ever gets on the field). Blackadder best left to join the queue for 7. 2. Not even a mention for Christie? Ratima gets caught at crucial times at the back of the ruck when he hesitates on the pass. The only way he starts would be if Christie and TJ are injured.
11 Go to commentsWhat a dagg in more ways than one
6 Go to commentsRegroup come back next year but sack some of the coaching team and don't be like the ABs last minute sacking. If Crusaders don't do well ABs don't do well.
5 Go to comments