Club success formula for international glory

IT’s amazing how success at international level and by club sides in Europe tend to go hand in hand. In the years when France and England dominated the Six Nations championship, their clubs invariably won the Heineken Cup.

Hence it’s hardly coincidental that Munster’s achievement in winning the tournament last season ran parallel to Ireland’s climb up the international pecking order. With the Heineken Cup resuming once again this weekend, evidence from the autumn internationals points favourably towards an Irish team being in the final shake up again.

England’s poor form is mirrored by the fact that none of their six participants have managed to remain unbeaten in Europe this season. At present only Sale, Wasps and possibly Leicester have any realistic chance of making the knockout stages. Of those, Sale were dealt a cruel blow in November losing Andrew Sheridan, Charlie Hodgson, Elvis Seveali’i and Jason White to long term injuries. This will have a devastating effect on their attempts to win the competition for the first time.