Ruddock rues Welsh absence
Sat, 26 Apr 2008 11:42
Mike Ruddock has admitted it’s disappointing that no Welsh team has made it through to the semifinals of Europe this season.
In contrast, England have provided six of the eight teams in the semifinals of the Heineken Cup and Challenge Cup, including Ruddock’s own Worcester.
The former Wales coach believes this is a reflection of the week-in, week-out intensity of rugby in the Premiership.
As for the Welsh regions, their involvement in Europe ended with the Blues and the Ospreys bombing out in the last eight, while the Scarlets and Dragons fell abysmally in the pool stages.
"It is disappointing to see that none of the regions got through," said Ruddock.
"Having said that, the Blues had a very, very difficult task over in Toulouse.
"The Ospreys were looking favourites at one time, but for some reason they didn’t fire at Saracens."
Ruddock’s Worcester reached the final of the European Challenge Cup on Friday with a four-try 31-16 win over Newcastle Falcons.
The Challenge Cup has turned into an all-English affair with Bath at home to Sale Saturday in the other semifinal.
And there are two more Premiership sides in the last four of the Heineken Cup, with London Irish playing Toulouse Saturday and Saracens meeting Munster Sunday.
Giving his thoughts on this English dominance, Ruddock is convinced it’s a by-product of the nature of the Premiership – a competition he sees in a different light now he is competing in it himself.
"It’s a very tough league and every game in it is of European Cup standard," he said. "When I looked at it from afar, I thought sides were playing a limited game at times.
"The contact area and the breakdown are so hugely contested and the analysis is massive as well.
"Everyone is analysing each other. Having said that, there are a number of teams now starting to play some very exciting rugby. The people I’ve spoken to this year say they’ve seen some of the best rugby in the Guinness Premiership they’ve ever seen.
"Week-in. week-out, these sides are playing to such a high level and they can compete in Europe because they are able to produce that sort of consistency."
The English top-flight has been bolstered this season by the arrival of a number of world stars, such as All Blacks Luke McAlister, Carl Hayman and Chris Jack and Springboks flyhalf Butch James.
Ruddock has contributed to that trend himself by drafting in New Zealand internationals Rico Gear, Sam Tuitupou and Greg Rawlinson.
And he has admitted he would love to add the highest-profile Kiwi of them all – fly-half Dan Carter – to his Sixways roster.
Carter is expected to take a sabbatical from New Zealand rugby after the All Blacks’ European tour in November and the race is on to secure his signature, with Toulouse, Toulon and Saracens all in the running.
Now Ruddock has added Worcester into the equation.
"We always try to keep a slot back for someone that might become available, so the likes of Dan Carter, Nick Evans, they would be the sort of players we would consider speaking to if we could."
