Leicester can complain but it takes more than money to thrive in Europe via IrishTimesSport
Maybe that was why Richard Wigglesworth’s timing jarred slightly on Friday evening as he sat in the tiered auditorium in the bowels of the Aviva and told us Leinster’s superiority boiled down to money. “They are an outstanding team with quality internationals and quality coaches that have been together a long time,” he said. “None of that is in question, but the gulf is in what you have available to spend. I’m not saying that’s right or wrong. I’m not asking to spend more money.
Dillon Lewis is the latest casualty of the financial uncertainty in Welsh rugby after it was confirmed that he will join Harlequins next season. Lewis won his 50th cap during the recent Six Nations and will still be available for Warren Gatland’s side after the restriction on selecting players outside Wales was dropped from 60 to 25 appearances. The 27-year-old Cardiff tighthead prop will replace South Africa international Wilco Louw, who is returning home at the end of the season.
So when Wigglesworth suggests money is at the heart of the gulf between the Premiership and the best Irish and French clubs he is parroting a line that is only partly true. Given his involvement with Saracens during the salary cap saga, there are also those who consider it slightly, er, rich of him to be complaining about financial inequality now the boot is on the other foot.
Why, for example, with Leinster down to 14 players and Caelan Doris in the sin bin, was Jack van Poortvliet, England’s starting scrumhalf, putting up fruitless box kicks? Why were Leicester collectively not trying for more proactive ways to change the game? As the past weekend has underlined, rugby union’s tactical emphasis is shifting.
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