Ranking Europe's Top 15 Club Teams After Weekend of June 5-7
The end of the European season is finally within sight after it was decided this past weekend Champions Cup runners-up Clermont Auvergne will face Stade Francais for this year's Top 14 crown.
Saracens and Glasgow Warriors have already entered their names into the history books after winning the domestic trophies of the Premiership and Pro12, respectively, but one champion is yet to be named.
Due to the lack of European action in recent days, there hasn't been a great deal of change in our rankings of the continent's top 15 outfits, but a few French fancies have seen a change in the order.
15. Oyonnax
1 of 15
The cause of the underdog can often see many a neutral gravitate toward the former in any David vs. Goliath struggle, but it was not to be Oyonnax's year as they fell out of the Top 14 playoffs just over a week ago.
Reaching the postseason calendar at all was a terrific achievement for Christophe Urios and his men, but questions will now inevitably come as to where their legacy lies and whether the rise can be maintained.
The plentiful investment evident in most French clubs may well require the Top 14 minnows to dig deep in their pockets if they wish to do so, but expecting another playoff run in 2016 may be premature.
14. Racing Metro
2 of 15
Racing Metro will of course still be smarting from a 38-15 defeat to Stade Francais in their short-lived playoff run, and seeing their Parisian rivals advance to the domestic final will make those bruises sting all the more.
But after seeing Stade make their way to the Top 14 curtain call, Racing can at least take the smallest of comforts in knowing they fell to an in-form side looking for their first championship since 2007.
Another summer and another swing of the revolving door at Stade Colombes will see a host of superstar signings arrive at Racing later this year, with Dan Carter, Remi Tales and Yannick Nyanga just some of those promising to excite.
On paper, the arrivals look positive, but with Jamie Roberts and Johnny Sexton among those departing, another transitional period of team bonding awaits.
13. Ulster
3 of 15
If only Ulster could come upon a fortunate patch of widespread fitness, this season may have told a far different story and produced a finish better than that of a playoff semi-final exit.
Bowing out at the hands of eventual champions Glasgow provides some solace in itself, though, especially considering that Scotstoun defeat came by a margin of just two points.
Having had time to build under Neil Doak, appointed coach in October last year, the Irish province will feel itself capable of moving on to bigger and better things next season.
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
12. Exeter Chiefs
4 of 15
There was no small amount of unrest in Exeter in the last week of the Premiership season, where a weakened Northampton side were beaten by Leicester, who finished level on points with the Chiefs but took their playoff place.
Sandy Park will rue what could have been, but Exeter's growth as a Premiership power is undeniable, and we can expect another top-six assault in 2015-16.
Having scored 663 points this season, Rob Baxter's side were just one point worse off than champions Saracens and scored a mere nine fewer than highest-scorers Wasps.
Not only is there talent emerging at Exeter and their transfer contingency efficient, but one can look to Sandy Park and expect positive, free-flowing rugby—and that can only lead to good things ahead.
11. Ospreys
5 of 15
The only Welsh outfit to make our countdown once again looked like the only province capable of challenging for domestic silverware this season, with Ospreys rumbling away nicely under Steve Tandy's guidance.
Questions may be posed as to why the side weren't capable of overturning Munster in their Pro12 playoff semi-final, and Dan Biggar will shoulder his share of that blame, but valuable lessons will be taken for next term.
The old saying insists attack wins games but defence wins titles, which is just as well in the Ospreys' case as they boasted the stingiest record in the Pro12 normal season, leaking only 30 tries in 22 games.
If Tandy's men can develop that strength and maintain a strong make-up during international windows, next season could finally see the Liberty Stadium giants look for an elusive fifth domestic crown.
10. Leicester Tigers
6 of 15
Leicester Tigers have a significant number of (literally) big boots to fill this summer with the forward figures of Brad Thorn, Geoff Parling, Jamie Gibson and Julian Salvi all heading for pastures new.
Even Richard Cockerill would be forced to admit this is far from the best Tigers lineup he's coached, but the Welford Road outfit remains an institution that simply knows how to earn results at crucial junctures.
Granted, that ability wasn't on display as they fell out of the playoffs at the hands of Bath, a 47-10 defeat in which we came to witness the true gulf currently separating them from England's upper echelon.
The club is going through its share of tests right now, but it's not the first time the Tigers have been asked to roar back in the face of adversity, and it would be folly to write off next season's prospects just yet.
9. Munster
7 of 15
Munster are in an odd place right now as coach Anthony Foley reels away from his first season in charge of the club, having steered it to a Pro12 final, but the mood is still somewhat damp at Thomond Park.
No, Paul O'Connell's club send-off didn't end in the manner he would have desired, and yes, the 31-13 defeat to Glasgow in the final was something of a humbling, a clear indicator Munster needs its star names to perform.
But after finishing the regular campaign as top scorers by some distance with 581 points—Ospreys were next-highest with 546—Foley has a promising framework to build on.
8. Toulouse
8 of 15
Guy Noves will leave Toulouse to take up his role as coach of France later this year, knowing his side were so close and yet oh so far away from capping off his tenure with a dash of magic.
Saturday's 18-14 defeat to Clermont Auvergne in the Top 14 semi-final was tight until the dying seconds, and it was only the sturdy kicking of Brock James that sealed the hosts' four-point triumph.
Still, change may be exactly what the club needs. Gavin Mortimer of Rugby World suggests Toulouse's transfer recruitment may improve under a new helmsman, but the exits of Nyanga and Jano Vermaak could be costly.
It was only the slightest of contrasts that ensured Clermont kept their upset at bay and booked their first Top 14 final appearance since 2010, but it could have easily been Toulouse who squeezed through to the Stade de France.
7. Northampton Saints
9 of 15
Here is where the difference between teams in our rankings starts to become negligible, but for a certain French side to rise, Northampton Saints must unfortunately fall.
Only one place, that is, as Jim Mallinder's men kept the gap between them and Saracens down to just five points as they bowed out of the Premiership playoffs at the semi-final stage.
No fewer than eight Saints were called up to Stuart Lancaster's 50-man England training squad for the Rugby World Cup, a deserved testament to the quality of their team, and that's without mentioning other representation.
This season's Premiership table-toppers will be back to enter the breach once more in the next campaign—that, one can bank on.
6. Stade Francais
10 of 15It seemed like an evening where everything simply clicked for Gonzalo Quesada's men at the Stade Bordeaux-Atlantique, where a 33-16 triumph over Toulon earned Stade Francais their path to the Top 14 final.
After some time in the wilderness, this will be Stade's first final in eight years, an unbelievable drought when one considers their dominance of old, where the club won four championships between 2000 and 2007.
Quesada is still some way from reviving those glory days, but a sound beating of the reigning title holders on Friday left no doubt that Stade can be a powerhouse once again.
"Captain Fantastic" Sergio Parisse was fittingly at his primal yet purring best, and The42.ie posted footage of his sumptuous offload to set up a superb Raphael Lakafia try.
Stade meet Clermont in the closing match and have a squad capable of challenging, it seems, with fly-half Morne Steyn looking to kick his way into causing some scoreboard impact.
5. Bath
11 of 15
There's no movement to speak of for Bath this week, and despite their shuddering disappointment in the Premiership final, the 2014-15 campaign will be looked back upon as a season of immense growth for the club.
Murmurs around The Rec speak of good times coming back and the potential trophy challenges to come, which is certainly on the money if the growth seen over the past year is anything to go by.
The Fords, father Mike and progeny George, play instrumental roles in this team that one senses could be hugely productive for years to come.
The aforementioned Saints are also joint-second in terms of England representation this summer with eight men in Lancaster's 50-man squad, Bath being the other team with eight players present.
It's also worth mentioning the stellar stream of young talent the club now has its hands on; academy players Max Clark, Rory Jennings, Will Homer and captain Charlie Ewels are all away with England at the U-20 World Championships at present.
It speaks volumes of the success their senior stars can expect to look for right now, but also of the club's prolific ability to nurture quality and thus look forward to the future, too.
4. Glasgow Warriors
12 of 15
Gregor Townsend is no longer "on the cusp" of something special at Scotstoun Stadium—Glasgow Warriors' time has arrived, and the Scottish giants are basking in their rise to prominence.
A maiden Pro12 crown not just for Glasgow, but for Scotland also, made history just over a week ago, and it was perhaps to be expected after the runners-up finish of 2013-14.
That trajectory would insist Glasgow—packed to the rafters with international-standard players and a coaching system that's certainly working for them—can move on from here and expect more good things in future.
The Herald Scotland's Stuart Bathgate reported this week Townsend's assistant coach, Shade Munro, would be leaving the club as expected to take over the helm of Scotland women's national team.
Given the decision was some time coming, it's a departure that isn't likely to upset Glasgow's progress, but it will be of some intrigue to see if his successor can raise the Warriors' hopes even higher.
3. Saracens
13 of 15
Everything may not be rosy off the filed at Allianz Park, but on it, Saracens continue to do what's expected of a squad that houses arguably the most talented and deepest squad in England.
Of course, one would like to think that's the case after the club was crowned 2014-15 Premiership champions, where the 28-16 dismantling of Bath was deserved and without debate.
What Mark McCall's men showed most of all in that final was smarts; the season before, doubt and a lack of forthright attitude saw Northampton pounce, but a show of initiative led to a much more convincing display this year.
Saracens are also king in terms of England representation this summer; Leicester and Harlequins each have a respectable five players called up to the 50-man training squad, Bath and Northampton account for eight apiece, but it's Saracens who show why they're top drawer with 11 men in Lancaster's set right now.
2. Toulon
14 of 15
Toulon's run of appearances in the Top 14 final stopped at three this season after the 33-16 defeat at the hands of Stade saw the European champions bow out in Friday's semi-final.
The set piece is where it all went wrong for Bernard Laporte's side as the Toulon pack crumbled under the weight of its Parisian counterpart, losing five of their nine scrums, according to ESPN Scrum.
However, even that loss can't disguise the fact Toulon remains a fearsome powerhouse. Limbs have tired and fatigue has reared its head as the campaign has progressed, showing even world-beaters are human.
The Top 14 titans are no longer top of the billing in our rankings, but it's the smallest of jumps that separates them from the No. 1 spot.
1. Clermont Auvergne
15 of 15It wasn't meant to be in this season's Champions Cup, but Clermont Auvergne have a supreme opportunity to earn their silverware redemption in the Top 14 final this Saturday.
The 18-14 win over Toulouse has put Franck Azema's side in their first domestic final for five years, and without doing Stade a disservice, history suggests the capital outfit could be easier prey.
Saturday's four-point win wasn't pretty, but the valuable ones seldom are, and Clermont's bench came to play its part in a closely fought triumph that promises to bear great rewards eventually.
Things are looking up for the future, too, after The42.ie reported forwards coach Jono Gibbes penned a new three-year deal with the club last week and Azema's directive working thus far.
The post-World Cup influx of players is also exciting; Scott Spedding, Flip van der Merwe, Albert VuliVuli and David Strettle could all be terrifically exciting arrivals.
Clermont are very much a team enjoying their progression of the last few years and having finished as Top 14 runners-up an agonising 10 times, this weekend could bring about their second title.
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
