This weekend was a superb one for the PRO14 sides. As well as success for Ulster, Leinster and Munster, Ospreys secured a victory against Northampton Saints in an enthralling 43-32 finish.
The fact their wins all came against English Premiership sides did not go unnoticed either.
English clubs hit for six in European Rugby Champions' Cup: Bath, Leicester, Wasps, Northampton, Quins, Exeter all beaten by PRO14 and Top14 teams.
— Peter Jackson (@JackoRugby) December 10, 2017
So that’s 4-0 to the @PRO14Official in Champions Cup matches between PRO14 and Aviva Premiership teams this weekend.
— Simon Thomas (@simonrug) December 10, 2017
The wins came in various forms and different circumstances, Munster were at home but Leinster travelled to Exeter's Sandy Park, a ground the English champions hadn't lost in for a year.
Despite the drumming English sides took, some still argued the English Premiership is a stronger league:
While this is true in that a PRO14 team has not won Europe's showcase rugby tournament since Leinster in 2011/12, this is largely the result of the championship restructuring in 2014. That change only came about due to English dissatisfaction with the prolonged success of PRO14, particularly Irish clubs.
English and French clubs were unhappy with the old Heineken Cup format due to what they perceived to be unequal finance distributions and an easier qualifying avenue.
Thus Premiership Rugby, the umbrella league that represents the chief English teams and the Ligue Nationale de Rugby created a new tournament. This was followed by Premiership deputy chairman Bruce Craig warning that the Celtic clubs will face "financial oblivion" if they don't get on board.
There is always an availability bias when contrasting the two league's standards, with the recent games providing a limited sample size and only a snapshot of true quality.
As well as the losses English clubs will not be satisfied with their current performance in Europe. Across the five pools, only one English club is at the top of their group, Saracens. Two are at the bottom.
Interestingly, if you reflect on the tournament at this stage last year, there were six Pro12 v Premiership games across the same weekend. It finished 4-2 to Pro12, while Pro12 sides were top of 3 pools and a Premiership side top of one.
Just two Premiership sides made last year’s Quarter-finals. Other than Saracens, an English club has not won the tournament since London Wasps in 2006/07.
Nothing is binary in a debate like this. The league's differences in format, fixturing and financing ensure an objective comparison is almost impossible. Even the matter of criteria is questionable; is it a question of quality or entertainment? Do you compare Champions or team-by-team?
The Pro14 is as susceptible to inferior quality teams as any league. In recent years the Italian teams have been the focus of this accusation, a point lessened by this season’s performances as Treviso ran Toulon and Scarlets close.
The English Premiership is just as guilty of this flaw, as London Irish and Worcester are demonstrating this year. Bristol were a similar case last season.
In an increasingly competitive tournament, the opportunity to rest players is diminishing. For example, prior to their victory over Leicester, Munster defeated Ospreys 36-10. Both teams followed that game up with wins over English clubs this weekend. After next week's European cup games, both of those clubs have derbies against Leinster and Scarlets respectively. All of those games demand the strongest selections possible.
Ultimately this debate is an enhanced version of a fundamental argument we’ve indulged in since our childhood. The commonplace dispute that rarely produces a winner; my dad is bigger than your dad.
Any dominance isn't apparent on either side, but the persistent back-and-forth will endure. A brief respite might surface in May, unless the French father trumps them all.
