Steve Meehan tips English clubs to challenge French giants

ToulonToulon's new backs coach Steve Meehan believes the financial disparity between English and French clubs is closing and sees no reason why a Premiership side cannot lift this season's European Champions Cup.
were the last English side to capture Europe's premier club trophy, beating Leicester in 2007 – since when Irish and French teams have dominated.
But Meehan, right, whose Toulon will be seeking a fourth consecutive Champions Cup crown this season, believes 's lengthy wait for another title could soon come to an end.
He said: “English clubs' chances are improving now. The Premiership is getting stronger and they've made changes around the which should help.
“I believe there's an opportunity for an English club or two to come through. Saracens have gone close a couple of times while showed what they're capable of last season by belting , so it is possible.
“It's all about management, timing and whether they can get their best teams on the park, because the French sides still have an advantage in terms of being able to field two strong squads.
“But teams like Leicester are looking to bring in further investment, while if you look a bit further down the track and Bristol get promoted, they've got the financial power behind them to give Europe a really good crack.
“We're not sure how strong the Irish sides will be and it's been a while since Welsh teams like and challenged, but I'd say the English sides are looking pretty strong and could end that barren run.”
Toulon will have something to say about that with Meehan's side pitted alongside Wasps, and his former club Bath.
Meehan's first coaching stint in with coincided with the Parisian outfit lifting domestic titles in 2003 and 2004, but he fell short in Europe after losing the 2005 Heineken Cup final to Toulouse at Murrayfield.
“The objective this season is to make two finals,” Meehan says. “They've got lofty expectations here so I doubt we'd prioritise the league over Europe, but from a personal point of view I'd probably like to win the Champions Cup.”
Toulon's policy of recruiting overseas stars at the expense of French talent has been criticised, but Meehan insists that is changing.
He said: “France has certainly become a destination for some top Kiwis, South Africans, Australians and Argentineans, but Toulon have also recruited some young French internationals this summer who look handy.
“Thibault Lassalle is a young lock from Oyonnax who's been impressive and Charles Ollivon, a No.8 from Bayonne, is a physical specimen who runs like an outside back, so you'll see quite a lot of those two guys.
“They're looking to recruit and develop French guys and are well aware of the need to get a core group coming through.”
Aussie Meehan aims to develop Toulon's often conservative backplay, adding: “With the quality of our backs and back rowe, we should be trying to play a more open game and we'll encourage guys to have a go.”
Meehan has a two-year contract but admits he has unfinished business in England after his controversial departure from Bath in 2011.
“I'd have been happy to stay at Bath under different circumstances and we achieved quite a bit in reaching finals and semi-finals,” he said. “So yes, I've got unfinished business in England and I wouldn't mind a crack as an international head coach either at some stage.
“But if any of those are going to come about, I've got to get Toulon humming over the next couple of years and win some trophies.”
NEALE HARVEY

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