Premiership dogfight is killing us in Europe, claim coaching rivals

SOMETHING has to give if English clubs are going to return to their days as European heavyweights.

That was the view of Todd Blackadder and Dai Young after the two Premiership sides played out their dead rubber.

In many ways, the game was a pointless exercise but at least it allowed the two coaches to offer some clarity about the future of Champions Cup rugby.

Only Saracens are guaranteed a place in April’s quarter-finals, with Blackadder claiming the threat of relegation in the Premiership is jeopardising their progress.

‘The Premiership is so tribal,’ said Blackadder. ‘You smash the hell out of each other and are then almost too tired to go and have a crack when it comes to the Champions Cup.

‘There’s not a lot of points between anyone — the top four and relegation — so the priority has to go to survival, doesn’t it?

‘It creates different stresses. If you didn’t have those things then you’d just be able to crack on with Europe.’

Wasps have failed to win a single game in Europe this season, with Young claiming English sides are hamstrung by the salary cap. ‘Leinster had five British Lions injured and they still had 15 internationals on the field,’ he said. ‘They have that strength in depth. It’s money, obviously.

‘The Premiership is an attritional league. When you pick up injuries, we are not replacing an international with an international. That’s plain to see.’

Both sides were missing star names — Elliot Daly, Anthony Watson and Jonathan Joseph were all out — and the dour match was eventually decided by a controversial refereeing decision.

Bath scored twice in the first half through Max Green and Zach Mercer, while returning No 8 Toby Faletau proved influential.

Nathan Hughes scored Wasps’ only try before the match descended into a catalogue of penalties.

Wasps No 10 Lima Sopoaga was sinbinned for a high tackle but his side remained in the hunt until the 78th minute.

Then, with two minutes remaining, Ben Whitehouse penalised the Wasps scrum as it marched forwards, allowing Rhys Priestland to kick the decisive three points.

‘It was a strange call to give when you’re on top all game, wasn’t it?’ said Young.

‘We can go back and say it wasn’t the right decision but that doesn’t change anything. They were going back at a rate of knots and they get a penalty. It is frustrating.’