Retired England rugby stars Ben Youngs and Dan Cole have recently expressed their views on the current state of Super Rugby Pacific, notably excluding every club from the league in their top 10 global club rankings. This critique came in light of the Hurricanes' latest championship victory, their first in a decade, which did not seem to impress the pair enough to boost the league's representation in their list.
On their show "For the Love of Rugby," where they presented a comprehensive ranking of the top 50 rugby clubs worldwide, Youngs and Cole, alongside guest Squidge Rugby, evaluated teams from major competitions such as Super Rugby, Top 14, PREM Rugby, and the United Rugby Championship. Despite the Hurricanes' recent success, they only managed to secure the 11th position, largely due to Cole's unfavorable comparison with other New Zealand teams like the Crusaders and the Chiefs.
"It's historical rankings. Yes, Hurricanes are good and at the minute they are very hot but over the past five years, the Crusaders and the Chiefs have been better teams than Hurricanes. That’s why I had the Hurricanes ranked beneath those two in terms of that past period,”
Ben Youngs further expounded on the perceived decline in Super Rugby's standards, suggesting the competition lacks the intensity and competitiveness found in European leagues. According to Youngs, the league, especially post the departure of South African teams, has not been the same, impacting the overall quality of both New Zealand and Australian rugby.
"I do feel that Super Rugby has really, really dropped off,” Youngs remarked. “I watch the Super Rugby, and I can’t help but feel that it just isn’t in a great spot and the knock-on effect of that has been huge."
Cole also chimed in, discussing the intertwined successes of the New Zealand national team and its clubs, suggesting that the national team's high performance could be misleading in assessing the true strength of clubs like the Hurricanes. He noted that while the All Blacks excel, the Hurricanes, being primarily a club team, might struggle against top European clubs under different rugby norms.
The rankings also threw up some surprises with South African clubs like the Bulls and Stormers ranked 7th and 8th respectively, while English clubs Northampton and Bath secured the 4th and 5th spots, indicating a strong preference for the Premiership and the European competition in their analysis. Leinster, despite a strong season, was placed third due to a disappointing European final, as per Youngs' review.
Ultimately, Toulouse was crowned the top club in the world, celebrated not only for their consistent performance in the Top 14 and European competitions but also for their immense depth and quality, setting a benchmark for global rugby standards.
Youngs and Cole's rankings have sparked debate among rugby fans worldwide, reflecting differing opinions on the dynamics of club rugby across various continents. Whether one agrees with their rankings or not, such discussions underscore the passion and diverse perspectives that continue to enrich the sport of rugby.
