MONEY. The Welsh clubs blamed a lack of it and their English counterparts blasted their inability to spend it for their respective European failures.

Over the border there is a determination to increase their salary cap so that they avoid a repeat of this season's situation where there will be no home involvement at the finals at the Stoop and Twickenham.

Not only that but Premiership Rugby want changes to be made to Heineken Cup qualification with their focus on the RaboDirect Pro12.

They want an end to the guaranteed places at Europe's top table currently enjoyed by Edinburgh, Glasgow and the two Italian franchises. They would like the 24 teams to comprise of seven from both England and France, eight from the Pro12, the holders of the Heineken Cup and the Amlin Challenge Cup winners.

They want those in the Pro12 to have to scrap to earn their spots through league placings just like they do in the attritional Aviva Premiership – and that wouldn't be a bad thing.

A frequent complaint about the relegation-less Celtic League is the absence of hard-fought games; a problem that is cited as a cause of poor attendances.

It wouldn't just be the scrap for the playoffs that would be the talking point in the Pro12 if the top eight were battling for Heineken Cup rugby in the run-in.

You only have to look at football's Premier League to see how the jostle for fourth spot and the riches of the Champions League has added an extra dimension to the season finale.

At present the Dragons, Connacht, Treviso, Edinburgh and Aironi would be involved in a scrap for the final spot rather than counting down the days.

With those clubs locking horns there could be real tension and meaning to fixtures.

The jostling for position would be all important – a Leinster or Ulster win in the Heineken Cup could benefit the Dragons or Treviso rather than Connacht.

When the Dragons headed to Murrayfield earlier this month they took on a youthful Edinburgh side with one eye on their quarter-final with Toulouse while Darren Edwards was taking the chance to look at some burgeoning talent.

Similarly, the Irish provinces frequently take their second string on away trips in a league that is too often seen as a breeding ground rather than being a fight for precious points..

No club has a divine right to be in the Heineken Cup – look at the big French clubs in the Amlin this season while previous winners Northampton and Bath have previously missed out and Leicester were once a last-gasp try away from being absent.

Some argue that it would just be the usual suspects qualifying anyway and that the top competition is better for the presence of each country.

But the quality of two tournaments – both the Heineken and the Pro12 – could improve by taking geography out of the equation.

A shake-up could be just what is needed. If it doesn't come then the English and French may take their ball and play elsewhere.