Former All Black Stephen Donald is very confident that Super Rugby’s best would overcome the likes of Leinster following the announcement of a Club World Cup.
It was revealed at the weekend that a competition involving the best club sides in the world has been scheduled for 2028.
The intention is to find the best non-international outfit every four years, which would help end the debate about who has the premier team.
That has of course restarted the argument about which team is currently at the summit and, on The Aftermatch with Kirst & Beav, Donald was asked by host Kirstie Stanway whether Leinster would beat the current Chiefs side.
“No, I wouldn’t have thought so,” the 2011 Rugby World Cup winner responded.
Leinster’s strength despite Champions Cup struggles
Although the Irish province failed to reach the Champions Cup final this year, with Bordeaux-Begles and Northampton Saints instead contesting the showpiece event, they remain one of the best sides in Europe given the strength of their squad.
Donald did add a few caveats, including the “refereeing” and the “rules they’re playing”, which could play a part, but also stated that the game is slower up north.
“The reality is the speed of game, and what have you, are different,” he said.
“You look at the French Top 14, it’s a different speed of game, so it would depend on so many external factors at who’s going to come out on top.”
Stanway then quipped: “Basically, Leinster would have no chance against the Chiefs, that’s what Beav is saying,” before Donald replied: “Not if it’s played on a balmy evening in March in Hamilton.”
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Champions Cup and Super Rugby sides will form the bulk of the competitors, but they are likely to be joined by a team from Japan.
However, Donald feels that, despite the vast amount of foreign talent now in Asia, they would struggle to challenge.
How Japanese teams would fare
“In Japan, they have a list of foreigners but in any game day situation they can only have two or three of them on the field at once,” he said.
“When we come to the Club World Cup, they will all be on the field, so they might bolster up with more, but right now, if they have six [in the team], the other nine on the field are going to be Japanese boys.
“The level might be a bit beyond them, just from a physicality point of view. We’ve seen Japan compete on the international stage but when you think of the Leinsters, who are Ireland in blue.”
Stanway then chimed in, jokingly saying: “But they’re playing in a low, low level competition”, referencing the backlash Donald received for criticising the standard of the United Rugby Championship.
Donald responded with, “Yeah, but they will get up for a couple”, before speaking about the sheer size of the players in the Top 14.
“You’ve got the Bordeauxs, all those big French teams. I think the Japanese teams would probably struggle, [but] it would be interesting to see how they do,” he added.
“It’s going to shut a few people up, isn’t it? A few pundits, a few podcasts.”
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