The five French sides – La Rochelle, Toulouse, Racing 92, Bordeaux Begles, and ASM Clermont Auvergne – made up the biggest contingent followed by the Premiership with Sale and Exeter and just one, Leinster, from the PRO14.
Although we have had a strange season this year, teams have been playing more or less regular fixtures and so should be considered well prepared for this elite competition, particularly as all the clubs that qualified for the quarter-finals are currently at or near the top of their respective leagues.
However, the failure of the Premiership to get none through to the semi-finals is an alarm bell that should be ringing loudly at the RFU.
With just two teams making the quarters and, for only the second time in the history of the Cup, the Premiership failing to have a team in the semi-finals, coupled with England’s performance in the Six Nations, it would seem to indicate that the standard of the Premiership is beginning to decline.
Many of the games in the Premiership this season have been high-scoring, ‘crowd pleasing’ results that seem to show an improvement in the strength of the competition – but it now appears that may be wrong.
The dominance of the French clubs is matched by the improvement in their national side as French coach Galthie has been provided with a wealth of players to build an impressive squad.
England’s failure in the Six Nations was in part blamed on Eddie Jones picking players from Saracens who had not been playing and may therefore have not been match fit.
Denne historien er fra April 18, 2021-utgaven av The Rugby Paper.
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Denne historien er fra April 18, 2021-utgaven av The Rugby Paper.
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England show who's No.1
ENGLAND women’s head coach John Mitchell says his side will take valuable lessons from the 24-12 win over world champions New Zealand as they build towards their WXV1 title defence.
Skivington: We're going to roll dice and go for it
THE Cherry and Whites are the enigmas of the Premiership.
Looking to go one step beyond this time around
NE small step is what it will take for Bath to go one better than last season and secure the Premiership for the first time, but it would be one of the biggest taken by the club in the professional era.
Four-try England make it 17 wins on the spin
ENGLAND women opened the Allianz Stadium era at HQ with a victory over New Zealand to make it 17 wins on the bounce before their WXV title defence.
Time for Borthwick to prove his worth
HONEYMOON periods are not set in stone and in my estimation Steve Borthwick’s ends this summer. Don’t get me wrong, he’s still in good shape.
Barrington ready to power up the Mob
RICHARD Barrington has signed up to the Ampthill “Mob” reassured that he’ll still have a target on his back most weeks.
Skivington keen to build identity
GLOUCESTER won their first trophy for nine years last season and reached the Challenge Cup final, but when George Skivington went on holiday the day after the campaign ended the words in his head were never again.
Roebuck targets England success
WINNING a maiden England Test cap to top the best season of his career will not be enough for Sale winger Tom Roebuck.
Booth: Tough telling players I was leaving
TOBY Booth admits telling his Ospreys players that he would be leaving at the end of the season was one of the hardest things he has had to do in his career.
Stephens' debut try sees off old rivals
DORKING had to dig deep in another tight game between two old rivals, with the lead changing hands twice and result in doubt right up to the final whistle.
