Stade Toulousain, crowned European rugby champion last year, will have to face Ulster on Sunday, then the English Exeter and Leicester as well as the South African Sharks.
Stade Toulousain, title holders, is surprised to have inherited a fairly strong group this season in the Champions Cup, between Ulster on Sunday, trips to Exeter and the South African Sharks and the reception of Leicester. “We don’t really understand how it’s done”declared scrum half and captain of the European champions Antoine Dupont at a press conference on Friday. “Winning the competition does not give any advantage for the following year. Which I think is a bit of a shame.”.
Even if Toulouse largely won in Belfast (48-24) last season, Ulster remains a sure bet in the European Cup, which it was the first Irish province to win in 1999. Leicester, currently third in the English championship, has won it twice (2001 and 2002) and the Sharks have several South African world champions in their ranks, including Eben Etzebeth and Siya Kolisi.
“Players from other clubs don’t understand the format of this competition either”
“There is no point in winning to at least think that we could have a slightly more comfortable group”smiled Toulouse manager Ugo Mola, who fears in particular the long trip to South Africa in January, a first for his club. “Players from other clubs don’t understand the format of this competition either”said international full-back Thomas Ramos. “The year La Rochelle is European champion, they come out the next year with a chicken of death (Leinster, Stormers, Leicester, Sale)».
Dupont still sees a positive point in the fact that the outgoing champion is not necessarily protected in the draw for the following edition. “We also had a strong hen last year (Harlequins, Bath, Ulster, Cardiff)”he recalled. “It allows us to have high-level matches from the group stages and to be better then during the season”.
Morocco
