The Second Half
The three European/SA club rugby programs are just beyond the halfway point in the 2024/25 season and the gap is widening between contenders and also-rans.
10 down with 8 to go in the Gallagher Premiership and Bath are 6 points clear at the top, with the Bears hanging on to 2nd despite losing 2 on the bounce. Sale Sharks, after clobbering Bristol on 12/27 lost a thrilling game to resurgent Gloucester and fell 3 places to 6th as a result. Saracens, smoked by Bath (68-10) at Christmas beat the Bears at home and moved to 3rd. Bonus points are key (1 for scoring 4 tries or more; 1 for losing by 7 points or less); the Bears are 2nd with a 6-4 record (Bath are 8-2) but have 11 bonus points; Gloucester have a 5-5 record but with 10 bonus points are 5th in the table. Round 11 is January 24-26 after which a long break for the 6 Nations, resuming on March 22.
The URC has played 9 of 18 matches and Round 10 starts on January 24. Leinster remain well ahead of the pack with a 9-0 record, 7 bps and a 149 pt. scoring differential. Glasgow Warriors (6-3) lost to Edinburgh (8th) at Christmas and are 10 pts. back in 2nd; Cardiff (5-1-3) stay in 3rd after a draw with the Ospreys (14) and 28 pts., and Vodacom Bulls (5-2) are in 4th with 25 pts. and 2 games in hand over the top 2 clubs. Round 11 will start on Feb. 14; R12 on Feb. 28; and R13 on March 21.
France’s Top 14 have completed 14 of their 26 matches. Over the January 4 weekend, only 2 teams managed away wins (Bordeaux over SF Paris and Clermont over Vannes) and the top 3 teams are pulling away from the pack. 2024 losing finalist Union Bordeaux-Begles is top with an 11-3 record, 6 bps and 50 pts, followed by Top 14 champions Stade Toulousain, 9-1-4, 9 bps. and 47 pts. RC Toulon are 3rd (9-5). Losing semi-finalist last year Stade Francais Paris are in 13th place with a 5-9 record and only 3 bps. The heavier schedule of the Top 14 means fewer weeks off during the 6 Nations; Round 15 Jan. 15; R16 - Feb. 15.
For the next 2 weekends, Investec Champions Cup rugby returns to the stage at the end of which the Round of 16 will be set. 7 teams lead their pools with 2-0 records, as follows: Stade Toulousain play the Sharks (1-1); Union Bordeaux-Begles vs. Exeter (0-2); Stade Rochelais vs. Leinster; Northampton Saints vs. Stade Francais Paris (0-2); Saracens vs. Munster (1-1); and RC Toulon vs. Harlequins (1-1).
Live-streaming of Investec CC on Florugby.com