"Here for the Duration" – Lawrence Dallaglio: Former England captain backs Premiership clubs to be Champions Cup contenders with South African heavywe

12/03/2024 06:51 AM

The 2024/25 Investec Champions Cup kicks off this weekend, and former England captain Lawrence Dallaglio believes English clubs are poised for a resurgence on the European stage. Reflecting on the likes of Harlequins and Northampton Saints’ impressive campaigns last season, as both sides reached the semi-finals, Dallaglio highlighted their potential to go the duration in the upcoming campaign.

"We're here for the duration.” Dallaglio said, at the EPCR and Premier Sports 2024/25 Season launch in London. “There were a few surprises last year, especially Northampton and maybe Quins in the eyes of a lot of predictions. Exeter did well, Bath did well, and Northampton and Quins made it into the semi-finals." Dallaglio recalled the electric semi-final clash at Croke Park between Leinster and Northampton, emphasizing how close the Saints came to toppling the Irish giants: "It could have so easily been a different result." the former England back row said.

Dallaglio is also delighted to see the Champions Cup retain the revamped format, which he believes has revitalized the competition. "I never used to particularly like it as a player, fan, or pundit when you get to rounds five and six and there are a lot of dead rubbers," he admitted. "But now we've got a good format. The players are excited about playing it."

The Premier Sports pundit believes that the increased competitiveness of the Champions Cup mirrors the intensity of international rugby, where as witnessed in the recent Autumn Series, every match carries weight. As Dallaglio noted, the fortunes of club sides often parallel those of their national teams: "If Ireland is doing well, then Leinster are similarly. You can't argue that Toulouse and Leinster were the two best teams last year, and it's no surprise that Ireland and France are doing well internationally."

South Africa's Growing Influence

This year's Champions Cup sees the continued involvement of South African powerhouses—the Stormers, Sharks, Bulls, and Lions—a development Dallaglio views as both inevitable and transformative. The 2024 Challenge Cup witnessed the first traditionally European piece of silverware won by a South African side, as the Sharks defeated Gloucester in the final of the secondary competition. "It's now a Champions Cup as opposed to a European Cup, so we have to not refer to it as that," Dallaglio remarked, acknowledging the EPCR’s expanding global footprint.

“Obviously, when I played, the thought of any South African team playing in a European Cup would be strange. But with the South African teams in the URC, it was always going to be a natural progression. Every country has its own ways of defining eligibility, etc. There’s no doubt that South Africa have always been a force in the game of rugby.”

Although it may have seemed strange initially to the former Wasps man, the inclusion of South African teams was a natural evolution following their participation in the United Rugby Championship (URC). Dallaglio backed this as he emphasized South Africa's rugby pedigree: "There's no doubt that South Africa have always been a force in the game of rugby.”

“They have very strong playing numbers and a strong domestic competition. By being in this competition, it almost validates their policy of allowing their best players to go and play overseas because they can very much keep an eye on them.”

Dallaglio expressed how the South African club’s involvement strengthens the tournament's competitive fabric, while giving the Springbok hopefuls platform to assert their dominance, or stake a claim for a future in the famous green and gold . As the reigning world champions, Dallaglio noted, "They're (South Africa) the best team in the world at the moment, the world champions, the team that everyone needs to beat."

The Challenges of South African Fixtures

However, the inclusion of South African teams presents unique challenges, particularly for European sides traveling to South Africa. Matches at high-altitude venues like Johannesburg’s Emirates Airlines Park (Ellis Park) and Pretoria’s Loftus Versfeld Stadium test the endurance and adaptability of the travelling players. Dallaglio was candid about these difficulties:

"As a club player, going over to South Africa and playing big club games is a real test. It's tricky—the scheduling of matches, playing at altitude, etc. In a time when we talk about player welfare, we've got to acknowledge that we practice what we preach and don't expect players to front up six days later after a high-altitude match."

Despite these logistical challenges South African teams face, the sides who travel to the Northern Hemisphere have shown remarkable resilience. "They don't seem to moan or complain about it in quite the same way," Dallaglio observed, highlighting their squad depth and adaptability. Whether at home or abroad, the South African consistently field competitive teams capable of going toe-to-toe with Europe's best. For Dallaglio, these encounters offer invaluable lessons: "If by playing a South African team it makes you a better player, then I think that's a good thing as well."

Moreover, the Champions Cup is not just about club glory, it's also a critical step in player development for Test rugby. Dallaglio reiterated that the intensity, physicality, and tactical complexity of the tournament mirror the demands of international rugby. As England prepares for the 2025 Six Nations and with a Lions tour on the horizon, performances in this competition could shape the future of the Home Nations squads. "All I know is you've got to play well to win this competition," Dallaglio concluded, "and if that means beating a South African side or two along the way, so be it."

"If Ireland and France can dominate internationally through strong club performances, there's no reason why England can't do the same," he argued. The stakes are high, but for Dallaglio, that's precisely what makes the Champions Cup such an exciting prospect. This season could mark a turning point for English club rugby, With the Champions Cup serving as both a battleground and a training ground, Dallaglio is confident that the competition will push English clubs to new heights.

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