Antoine Dupont questions 'logic' of South African travel in Champions Cup

Toulouse captain Antoine Dupont on Friday "questioned the logic" behind South African sides playing in the Champions Cup as it forces teams to name second-string line-ups due to lengthy travel constraints.

In December's second round of games in the former European Cup, the Sharks and Stormers sent weakened teams for games in England.

Clubs flying thousands of kilometres in the opposite direction have also made similar decisions as they prioritise player welfare and other matches.

"We see it's very hard to play all the games with all the travel with your first-choice team," Dupont told reporters before Saturday's game with the Sharks in South Africa.

"Obviously, you ask questions about the logic of the competition," the Olympic rugby sevens gold medallist added.

Opportunity

Toulouse head coach Ugo Mola, however, defended South African teams' involvement in the competition, and the second-tier Challenge Cup.

"Playing a game like this is an opportunity and from a sports point of view we're lucky," he said.

"You can debate the relevance of some other things but from a sports point of view it's good to face different teams."

Champions Cup holders Toulouse have sent a first-choice side with a host of France internationals to Durban to face a Sharks team packed with Rugby World Cup-winning Springboks.

Scrum-half Dupont, 28, denied the match could serve as retribution for the 2023 quarter-final loss to South Africa.

"For sure, memories will come back," the former World Rugby player of the year said.

"There's no idea of revenge with that in mind. It's a different context now but subconsciously a small part of us will think about it.

"We know that when they're at home with their first-choice team they're formidable," the France skipper added.

AFP