Maybe the English & French clubs have a point? asks Pro12 fan Liam Sinclair…
The talks on the future of European Rugby are happening this coming Saturday, September 15. We all know the issues but, very briefly, Top14 and Premiership officials believe that teams from the Rabo Pro12 have an unfair advantage because the qualification process is only loosely based on how high in the table you finish and there’s no relegation leaving teams able to rest players domestically and bring the ‘A’ game to Europe.
Here’s the problem though; they have a point.
I’m not denying that there is an element of sour grapes from the other leagues due to the recent successes of Leinster and Munster. Every year there are times when teams from the Celtic nations make sweeping changes to their line ups because there’s something else on the horizon. Michael Bradley was known for picking different teams for matches seen as less important when he was the boss at Connacht and he brought this policy with him to Edinburgh allowing them to give preference to Europe and make it as far as the semi-final (main pic) while finishing second last at home. Last Christmas Ulster decided that there was very little pressure on them to win when travelling to Dublin to face Leinster and named a team that reflected this attitude. Leinster took this opportunity to rest a few players themselves. These are just the examples that came immediately to mind. There are more.
The much discussed player management system enforced by Irish national management gives rival federations a severe dose of gas as there’s no way this stringent a system would even make it to the starting blocks over the water.
Coupled with these are the automatic Heineken Cup places for 100% of teams from Italy and Scotland. Seen as a necessity from a federation point of view it must be understandable how the teams in England or France who miss out on dining at the top table by a handful of points would be put out to see a team like Aironi finish dead last but still get the opportunity to show up to get beaten by the cream of Europe.
Rotation on this level does not exist as an option in the other major domestic leagues. Position being the only divider between play-off, Heineken Cup qualification and relegation means there is more on the line on a week to week basis and from this the perception of an uneven playing field stems. Envy is a terrible thing but when envy is backed up with money it has to be respected.
And there’s the rub. Money is needed for survival and a competition without either or both the French and English would suffer financially because of sponsorship, TV money and attendance.
What can be done about it though? Obviously the federations won’t allow qualification to be based purely on the league table as they are saying and the status quo won’t satisfy those who feel aggrieved. Where’s the compromise?
Here’s what I think; what harm a more competitive Pro12? Seven teams to qualify. Two Irish, two Welsh, one Scottish and one Italian. Seventh spot to be taken by the highest third placed Welsh or Irish team. This would inject urgency into the league that should last the season, rewards teams if they manage to overhaul a rival they’ve been chasing for years, like Ulster’s much talked about ‘’closing of the gap’’ between themselves and Munster, and takes the wind out of the sails of detractors when we continue to be successful in Europe. Because we would still challenge.
What happens to the teams I’ve demoted? The Challenge Cup is ready and waiting.
I’m sure the Top14 and Premiership won’t mind giving up their Amlin slots? Compromise being the goal here. We don’t want Romanian, Spanish and Portuguese (as well as German and Russian someday) teams to be the victims here do we?
There’s not a huge chasm in quality between the bottom of the H-Cup and the top of The Amlin. Would Glaswegians, Scarlets or Trevisans really complain if Newport Gwent Dragons, Bordeaux, Mont De Marsan, Worcester, Bayonne, Wasps or Agen were their rivals in a pool? It’s not a huge drop and it would even give the teams that wouldn’t qualify from a tier 1 pool a chance of sneaking in and experiencing knockout rugby. Gloucester, London Irish, Perpignan, Bath and Stade Francais would be possible rivals that many would consider it a treat to see in this circumstance. It could eventually lead to silverware going to teams that don’t currently challenge and hopefully raise the profile of the competition.
I’m by no means a supporter of any change but realistically speaking something’s going to give. Once all parties get down from their high horses and find a middle ground the better we will all be because the thing that has me annoyed the most is how firmly all sides have stuck their flags to their masts and just shook fists at each other.
This is just an idea. It may not be realistic but, as I say, something’s going to change. I just wonder how willing the parties are to discuss the issues reasonably and find that elusive middle line.
Liam Sinclair (@liam_bs) – Guesses, generalisations and clichés.
