Pat Lam Sees One Massive Problem With The PRO12 & He’s Damn Right

No more special treatment.

Connacht’s chance’s of directly qualifying for next year’s Champions Cup were dealt a massive blow yesterday evening after they fell short against Glasgow at the Sportsground.

The western province will now likely have to go through the back door if they are to qualify to play with Europe’s elite next season, through the new play-off system.

Champions Cup play-offs

19/20/21 May
Play-off 1: Premiership (seventh-ranked club) v PRO12 (ninth-ranked club)
Play-off 2: TOP 14 (seventh-ranked club) v PRO12 (eighth-ranked club)

26/27/28 May
Play-off Final: winner Play-off 1 v winner Play-off 2
(Winner of Play-off 1 will have home advantage)

Lam seems resigned to the fact that his side will likely have to take this route, but thinks its time the system was changed and the top seven teams got through. The Connacht head coach doesn’t think it’s right that one team from each country must be in the tournament, regardless of their final standing.

“As far as Europe is concerned we are looking at the play-offs where it is all about us and Cardiff. This thing that means there has got to be one from every country is an area I think that needs to change – the top seven should go through,” said Lam.

“As far as the play-offs go there is a big gap between ourselves and Cardiff and the rest. All we have got to do is keep playing, keep getting as many points as we can. There are still five rounds for us, four rounds for everyone else, and then we will see where we are.”

What do you think?