You can’t have your cake and eat it.

Just one English team have qualified for the knockout stages of this season’s Champions Cup, after the final round of pool games concluded over the weekend.

Holders Saracens managed to creep in by the skin of their teeth, with just 18 points. While former European heavyweights like Bath, Leicester and Wasps were all dumped out.

But why have English teams struggled so much this season? It appears it comes down to player management following this summer’s Lions tour. We touched on it in the past how PRO14 players were held back for the opening four rounds of the competition.

English players however, were rushed back in time for round one of the Premiership.

Some interesting stats in The Times have now showed how big an impact that has had. Lions players based in England have more domestic minutes this season than their counterparts in the PRO14 and Top 14.