Exeter will face a stern test from French and
Irish clubs, among others, in defending their European title
And so the Autumn Nations Cup was decided by a kick. It almost wrote itself after a month in which the skies were assailed and the only reason there were no Mexican waves in the stands was that grounds were empty – until the final day at Twickenham when some of the few present showed what they thought of no-risk rugby.
In the one-off tournament’s place this weekend and next weekend comes the European Champions Cup, which English clubs are looking to claim for the third season in succession and the fifth in six. The players involved in recent weeks, when a number of viewers bemoaned dull tactics, will be taking the field again, many under different orders.