The Breakdown | Champions Cup reboot: no pools, FA Cup-style and play it after Christmas
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The global calendar remains a mess and rugby’s power-brokers need to get a grip after a controversial weekend. It is still in there somewhere. The kernel of a great competition, albeit visible only in fleeting glimpses. The shimmering class of Toulouse’s Antoine Dupont, a gripping win for Northampton in Pretoria, the celebrations at the final whistle in Italy after Benetton had downed the English league leaders Bath, the “superman” try by La Rochelle’s Jack Nowell. Stick it all together and an Investec Champions Cup “best of” highlights reel remains a hugely attractive proposition.
![[Robert Kitson]](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/uploads/2017/10/09/Robert-Kitson,-L.png?width=75&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none)
If only that was the sole prerequisite. Because a glance beneath the bonnet of what should be the Rolls Royce of club rugby tournaments reveals an increasing number of misfiring parts, not all triggered by the expansion of Europe to accommodate South Africa’s leading sides. Fail to fix them as a matter of urgency and a once fantastic tournament will end up as little more than a wistful memory.
![[Antoine Dupont takes a selfie with ball-boys after a Champions Cup match.]](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/788483cf3b31baa1281b3329704f0f6aded87bec/0_0_4827_3580/master/4827.jpg?width=445&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none)
Let’s start with the blunt pool stats. There have been 24 games in the opening two rounds this month and guess how many have been settled by seven points or fewer? The answer is a paltry four, alongside just seven away wins. When the vast majority of pool matches are either routine or uncompetitive there is a major problem brewing.
The South African side of the equation has undoubtedly been a factor, if not exactly in the way everybody expected. They want to be part of the fun and potentially have plenty to add but travelling north with weakened teams was not part of the deal and is undermining the entire event. As the Stormers’ John Dobson told the Guardian last week, the South African sides can see the benefits of competing in the north but the logistics are savage.
