Fearns: French sides lost the fitness battle
POWER allied to the ability to run French sides off their feet underpinned Exeter and Bristol’s domination of Europe, according to Francebased Englishman Carl Fearns.
Success in last week’s Heineken Champions Cup and Challenge Cup finals meant Exeter and Bristol achieved a clean sweep against the best the Top 14 had to offer, with victories over Racing 92 and Toulon respectively making it ten wins from ten across the campaign.
Toulon were the last French side to win Europe’s top prize in 2015, since when Premiership outfits Saracens and Exeter have dominated along with Ireland’s Leinster. Former Lyon star Fearns, below,
believes fitness remains an issue between the best French teams and the rest.
He told The Rugby Paper:
“If you look at Exeter, you’d say that physically they can win most of the battles against the French now and they also have the ability and fitness to play multiphase – they’re the two main advantages both Exeter and Bristol have.
“They’re both very physical teams, but along with that they can really stress French teams by speeding the game up and maintaining that pace. There is probably still a bit of a fitness gap, although if you look at the Top 14 now it’s definitely getting quicker than it used to be.
“The game’s speeding up in France, but it’s still a completely different game, probably down to the things I’ve highlighted. To be able to win the middle of the pitch and keep the ball for longer periods is why those English teams have done so well this season.”
While the commitment to Europe of sides like Racing 92, Clermont Auvergne, Toulouse and Toulon cannot be questioned, Fearns confirms a long-standing impression that Top 14 success remains the ultimate goal for the majority of French players above all else.
The former Sale and Bath No.8 added: “There’s still an element in France where the Top 14 is everything. A young French guy grows up wanting to win the Bouclier de Brennus, whereas if you’re an English lad coming through the system there, it’s all about playing for England.
“The Top 14’s a lot bigger stage in France, but that’s not to say the French clubs take the Heineken Cup lightly because a lot of them really want to win it. However, the fact there hasn’t been a French winner for quite a while now probably comes down to the fact the English are starting to win the middle of the pitch and the collisions more than they once did.
“If you look at Exeter now, they’re a pretty big side that has a lot of go-forward, but on the back of that they make good options and can run a team off their feet. “Once they are in the 22 they rarely come away without points, which makes that a winning formula.”