Toulouse captain Antoine Dupont has openly voiced his dissatisfaction with the Champions Cup format, citing its convoluted nature as a source of confusion. The French side is locked in a battle to secure the top spot in their pool, a position that would grant them home advantage throughout the knockout stages. However, Dupont believes the current ranking system lacks transparency and logic. His comments come as Toulouse prepare for a crucial clash against Leicester, knowing that their chances of finishing first depend on both their victory and a slip-up by Bordeaux-Begles. The lengthy travel schedules endured by South African teams competing in European competitions have also been criticized by Dupont and his teammate Thomas Ramos, raising concerns about player welfare.
Toulouse captain Antoine Dupont voiced his frustration with the Champions Cup format on Friday, stating its complexities make it difficult to comprehend. The six-time champions face a pivotal challenge to secure the top spot in their pool. The reward for finishing first is advantageous home games throughout the knockout stages, up until the semi-finals. To achieve this, Toulouse must defeat two-time champions Leicester in the final round of group matches on Sunday.
Their hopes also hinge on Bordeaux-Begles faltering against the Sharks a few hours earlier, otherwise, they will be forced to travel in the quarter-finals. 'The pool matches of the Champions Cup are super important when you see the repercussions the standings can have on hosting or not knockout matches — even if you don’t really understand the way the teams are ranked,' France scrum-half Dupont expressed. 'It’s difficult to find the logic behind it. You have to get on with it and try and score as many points as possible in each match,' the Olympic gold medalist added. Toulouse currently trails Bordeaux-Begles in Pool 1 by a single point after failing to secure a bonus point against the Sharks last weekend. Their arduous journey to Durban, South Africa, left them depleted. On Sunday, Siya Kolisi’s Sharks travel to Bordeaux-Begles seeking a rare South African away victory in the Champions Cup. 'We find it hard to see things clearly in this competition and I don’t think we’re alone,' Dupont remarked. 'When the South African teams come to Europe, it’s hard not to see Bordeaux-Begles win with five points. If you follow the statistics, it’s not likely,' the 28-year-old added. Returning home from South Africa on Monday, Toulouse endured a grueling two-day journey involving six flights for a single rugby match. They experienced a drastic shift in climate, transitioning from nearly 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit) off the coast of the Indian Ocean to freezing temperatures within 24 hours. 'We’re not the first to do it but what does it bring?' Toulouse’s France full-back Thomas Ramos questioned. 'It’s the question I’m asking. People are thinking a lot about player welfare, but how are we looking after players with journeys like that?' he added.
CHAMPIONS CUP TOULOUSE ANTOINE DUPONT FORMAT LEICESTER BORDEAUX-BEGLES PLAYER WELFARE
Ireland Latest News, Ireland Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Champions Cup wrap: Bordeaux Bègles and Toulouse maintain winning recordsStormers thrash Sale Sharks in Cape Town
Read more »
Toulouse Edges Sharks, Bordeaux-Begles Hammers Exeter in Champions CupToulouse secured a hard-fought 20-8 victory over the Sharks in Durban, advancing to the Champions Cup last 16. Meanwhile, Bordeaux-Begles dominated Exeter, winning 69-17 with 11 tries. Both French teams are strong contenders for home games in the next round.
Read more »
Leinster Set for Champions Cup Showdown with La RochelleLeinster Rugby prepares for a crucial Champions Cup clash against La Rochelle, seeking to avenge past defeats and advance in the competition.
Read more »
Teddy Thomas Ban Rocks La Rochelle Ahead of Leinster Champions Cup ClashFrance star Teddy Thomas has been handed a four-game ban, dealing a blow to La Rochelle ahead of their Champions Cup clash with Leinster. Thomas was cited for dangerous play in a challenge against Clermont and will miss the crucial match at Stade Marcel Deflandre. Both teams are top of their Champions Cup pool with Leinster on a winning streak, while La Rochelle are looking for revenge after last season's quarter-final exit.
Read more »
Munster's Champions Cup Hopes Hanging by a ThreadMunster's struggles this season have raised serious concerns about their ability to qualify for the Champions Cup. The team is currently in 11th place and needs to significantly improve their performance in the remaining matches.
Read more »
Munster Quartet Set for Champions Cup Return Against SaracensConor Murray leads a quartet of Munster stars set to return for a crucial Champions Cup clash against Saracens.
Read more »