FOR THOSE WORRIED that the Pro12 is falling behind the power of the Top 14 and Premiership, the results from this weekend’s Champions Cup action do not make for happy reading.
Leinster, Glasgow, the Scarlets and Treviso all lost today in the top-tier European competition, adding to Ulster’s home loss to an extremely impressive Saracens outfit last night in Belfast.
Treviso were well beaten by Leicester Tigers in Italy in Pool 4 in today’s first Champions Cup fixture, before Leinster came up short in the Rec to leave their European campaign in tatters.
Pro12 champions Glasgow suffered a damaging home defeat to Northampton at Scotstoun this evening, failing to notch even a losing bonus point in a 26-15 loss.
Stephen Myler orchestrated the Saints’ three-try win in Glasgow, with George Pisi dotting down and Ahsee Tuala adding a brace. JJ Hanrahan was an unused replacement as Jim Mallinder’s men made it two wins from two in Pool 3.
The Scarlets also damaged their prospects of reaching the knock-out stages of the Champions Cup with a 29-12 defeat at home to Racing 92.
The Top 14 side racked up a bonus point in the win thanks to tries from Maxime Machenaud, Joe Rokocoko, Chris Masoe and Marc Andreu. Racing’s game against Glasgow last weekend was called off, meaning they remain behind Northampton in Pool 3.
There is one Pro12 side yet to play this weekend, with the Ospreys away to Top 14 giants Clermont tomorrow afternoon (KO 1pm Irish time). Munster’s scheduled meeting with Stade Français in Paris tomorrow was postponed earlier this week.
Across the two opening rounds of the Champions Cup, English teams have won nine of their ten fixtures, with Exeter adding to that record with a 34-19 bonus-point success against Bordeaux in Sandy Park this evening.
Fans of the Pro12 will hope that this dominant start from the English sides is merely a blip, rather than a sign of things to come for the rest of the season.
