French legend fires shots at SA sides
Former France captain Thierry Dusautoir says he is “still waiting” for South African teams to make a serious impression in the Investec Champions Cup.
Since joining Europe’s elite competition in 2022-23, no South African side has reached the semi-finals. The Stormers and Sharks made the last eight in their inaugural campaigns before heavy defeats, with the Vodacom Bulls following suit the next season.
“I am still waiting for South African teams to have a good Champions Cup. South Africa came into the Champions Cup maybe four years ago and I am still waiting for them to have a good tournament,” Dusautoir told Hajper.
In this season’s Champions Cup, the Stormers qualified comfortably for the last 16, the Bulls snuck in through the back door despite winning only one of their four pool matches, while the Sharks dropped down to the second-tier EPCR Challenge Cup.
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Dusautoir also questioned the format of the competition, which currently sees four pools of six teams. The top four-placed teams from each advance to the last 16.
“I have to admit I prefer the last version of the Champions Cup,” said Dusautoir, who made 80 appearances for France and 207 for Toulouse. “Now it is too complicated. It should be four pools of four.
“It’s also quite hard for the players to travel from here to South Africa to come back and play. It’s nonsense.
“I don’t know if they are thinking about changing anything, but I would be OK if we go back to the last version of the Champions Cup.”
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On the eve of the Six Nations, the 44-year-old warned against changing the traditional make-up of the competition, amid talk of the Springboks becoming part of a “Seven Nations” tournament following South African clubs’ move from Super Rugby to the URC.
“I’m not against progress, but the Six Nations is part of our identity and we have to protect it,” he said. “I am a traditionalist and I love the Six Nations for what it is. For me it is a European competition, and it should stay that way. I disagree with mixing up everything. It is important to keep the identity of rugby.”
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However, Dusatoir was full of praise for Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus, comparing him to former France international and renowned coach Guy Noves.
“He [Erasmus] takes the game beyond the pitch,” he said. “He is very clever and he brings a lot of innovation to rugby. I remember when he started with the Bomb Squad, everyone was criticising him, but within a few weeks a lot of teams were adopting the same strategy.
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“What I really like about him is that he reminds me of Guy Noves. He’s a really clever guy, really interesting. The way he studies the strategies.
“I don’t know who will be able to challenge South Africa,” Dusatoir added. “They are the best in the world right now. I hope the All Blacks are able to challenge them. Maybe the change of coach will help them.”
Photo: Anton Geyser/Gallo Images
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