SA franchises need bigger squads

Lyon No 8 Arno Botha says South African teams must create more depth if they are to win the Investec Champions Cup.

The former Bull, who played two Tests for the Springboks in 2012 and 2013, was speaking ahead of Lyon’s EPCR Challenge Cup final against Bath in Cardiff on Friday night.

While no South African team reached the Champions Cup round of 16 this season for the first time in three seasons, the Vodacom Bulls, Sharks and Lions all qualified for the second-tier Challenge Cup playoffs.

The Sharks and Lions were beaten in the round of 16, while the Bulls progressed to the quarter-finals, where they narrowly lost to Edinburgh.

South Africa’s inclusion in European cup competitions has been criticised by some, but Botha welcomed it.

“It is good for the game to get different teams and players competing against each other in the various tournaments,” he said, adding that it had benefited European clubs too.

“It is a different brand that South Africa play. They play a lot more with their forwards, big players.”

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While the Sharks lifted the Challenge Cup trophy last season, the 33-year-old said it may take another three seasons before a South African team can realistically expect to win the Champions Cup.

“South African teams need to manage their squads better. That is what the European teams are doing very well. That is an aspect where they are a step ahead of the South African teams.

“The Bulls and Sharks are trying to create more squad depth. You can see the players they are recruiting and get to return to South Africa.

“It is important to get the squad bigger. That will make the competition even more difficult for European teams. Sometimes the South African teams don’t have the playing resources to rest some players.”

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