Brave new Europe sees ferocity on the field but ruthlessness away from it is putting game in danger, and not just for the Welsh, Scottish or Italians
If the loss of a team’s opening two games in Europe is enough to consign their hopes of progress to dust – and it almost always is – then this season’s champions will come from England, France or Ireland. “What’s new?” cynics might ask. “We’ve always known that.” And they would be right. But there is something to be said for hoping, at least, that a Welsh, Scottish or Italian side might make the quarter-finals.
There is no such hope this time. When the Ospreys’ exhilarating attempt to storm fortress Barnet fell three points shy of victory against Saracens on Saturday night, attention resignedly turned to the usual suspects.
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