Official United Rugby Championship thread

[sorCrer]

Just rewatched that Thomas penalty and yellow card was bullshit

[fishfoodie]

It's been a loooong shit day for Saffer rugby supporters. I think I might bail the second half of this.

Don't lose the faith !

It's a long season, & starting off with away legs gives the NH sides an advantage.

[OomStruisbaai]

Just rewatched that Thomas penalty and yellow card was bullshit

Refs are dire in the competition. Seconds can learn from them

[OomStruisbaai]

Sharks defense is finding it easier to deal with Munster, than the Bulls did Leinster, because Munster is using a SA game plan

Sharks defense has been shite all season.

[fishfoodie]

Sharks defense is finding it easier to deal with Munster, than the Bulls did Leinster, because Munster is using a SA game plan

Sharks defense has been shite all season.

I'm always surprised when Pro teams have poor defense; because it's fundamentally just having a plan, & then the disipline to trust your team mates

[Cartman]

Hoping Tahkir (sp?) can get the ball to light up this game for the Sharks

[OomStruisbaai]

Can the $hark$ keep it under 40?

[boere wors]

Can the $hark$ keep it under 40?

deja vu

[de_Selby]

It's been a loooong shit day for Saffer rugby supporters. I think I might bail the second half of this.

Don't lose the faith !

It's a long season, & starting off with away legs gives the NH sides an advantage.

Yeah the Bulls looked good in patches. When the teams all get their Boks back they will be a tough proposition.

This will be a lot better than all 4 Irish provinces putting 30 points on Welsh/Italian sides every week we've had for the past while.

[sorCrer]

Some good ole homer reffing here

[Tichtheid]

Some good ole homer reffing here

Welcome to our world

[fishfoodie]

Some good ole homer reffing here

Welcome to our world

Let your Union start contributing some decent refs, & you can lecture the rest of us; or better yet; sign up for a ref course yourself, & see how you go.

Refereeing decisions are sent to try us all

[Tichtheid]

Some good ole homer reffing here

Welcome to our world

Let your Union start contributing some decent refs, & you can lecture the rest of us; or better yet; sign up for a ref course yourself, & see how you go.

Refereeing decisions are sent to try us all

The refs in the competition all answer to the same central office, they know their place and how to get ahead.

[fishfoodie]

Welcome to our world

Let your Union start contributing some decent refs, & you can lecture the rest of us; or better yet; sign up for a ref course yourself, & see how you go.

Refereeing decisions are sent to try us all

The refs in the competition all answer to the same central office, they know their place and how to get ahead.

Bill Gates .. or 5G ??

or just the fact that Irish teams get bigger crowds at home, & refs respond to the crowd when they see something (even if only thru one eye) ?

[Tichtheid]

Btw, when it doesn’t matter to the big boys Edinburgh have been the beneficiaries of some really cringeworthy refereeing against the Italian sides. There is a definite pecking order.

[sorCrer]

The thing is world rugby have to answer for this rubbish. The breakdown cannot be reffed differently in each hemisphere.

[Slick]

It's been a loooong shit day for Saffer rugby supporters. I think I might bail the second half of this.

Don't lose the faith !

It's a long season, & starting off with away legs gives the NH sides an advantage.

Agree, I don’t think they have given a bad showing at all really, new competition, new countries, new grounds. It will take a bit of time.

So far I think having the Saffer sides involved has been a good decision. Although I reserve the right to reverse that when they win a couple and become unbearable

[fishfoodie]

Come on Sharks; more of that; the LBP is still up fro grabs

[Tichtheid]

Let your Union start contributing some decent refs, & you can lecture the rest of us; or better yet; sign up for a ref course yourself, & see how you go.

Refereeing decisions are sent to try us all

The refs in the competition all answer to the same central office, they know their place and how to get ahead.

Bill Gates .. or 5G ??

or just the fact that Irish teams get bigger crowds at home, & refs respond to the crowd when they see something (even if only thru one eye) ?

You think refs should give the crowds what they want?

[Slick]

The refs in the competition all answer to the same central office, they know their place and how to get ahead.

Bill Gates .. or 5G ??

or just the fact that Irish teams get bigger crowds at home, & refs respond to the crowd when they see something (even if only thru one eye) ?

You think refs should give the crowds what they want?

Yeah, that’s an odd argument

[fishfoodie]

The refs in the competition all answer to the same central office, they know their place and how to get ahead.

Bill Gates .. or 5G ??

or just the fact that Irish teams get bigger crowds at home, & refs respond to the crowd when they see something (even if only thru one eye) ?

You think refs should give the crowds what they want?

It's not so much what I want; as recognizing that their human & understandably can be influenced.

I agree that refs go into games with expectations on how things will pan out; & that can go against teams that refs expect to, say be weaker in the scrums; but that's something that their review definitely need to clamp down on.

Refs are no different to players; they need feedback for when the get it right; & when they get it wrong; & coached to get better.

If you set out with the assumption that their deliberately bias; I don't know why you bother watching ?

[Tichtheid]

Good finale from Munster

[sorCrer]

Ah well. Munster were the better team and clearly a lot more experienced.

[Slick]

Just seen the Benetton result, good for them

[Tichtheid]

Bill Gates .. or 5G ??

or just the fact that Irish teams get bigger crowds at home, & refs respond to the crowd when they see something (even if only thru one eye) ?

You think refs should give the crowds what they want?

It's not so much what I want; as recognizing that their human & understandably can be influenced.

I agree that refs go into games with expectations on how things will pan out; & that can go against teams that refs expect to, say be weaker in the scrums; but that's something that their review definitely need to clamp down on.

Refs are no different to players; they need feedback for when the get it right; & when they get it wrong; & coached to get better.

If you set out with the assumption that their deliberately bias; I don't know why you bother watching ?

I bother watching because I first played 45 years ago and I love the game. Biased refereeing was evident in school games and all the way up back then. I believe it’s better at the lower levels now, but the Pro 14 was fucking dire in terms of the refereeing, probably not from the perspective of a fan of Munster or Leinster, but for those playing against them it was awful.
You can’t tell people to stop watching if they call foul, that stinks.

Despite feedback the quality of refereeing never really improved so that argument doesn’t hold water.

[lemonhead]

Like to think that if the refereeing is shit then at least that it's consistent over a season.

I'll wait till we're the ones bitching and moaning about reverses in Ellis Park or Loftus.

[sorCrer]

I don't have the stats but I suspect the breakdown is the biggest generator of interpretive penalties. Sure you get clear as day ones but take Faf's penalty and yellow card for the 'cynical' gran on the Australian scrumhalf's arm last week...then WR rescinding the card. WTF?

[Sandstorm]

Just rewatched that Thomas penalty and yellow card was bullshit

Refs are dire in the competition. Seconds can learn from them

Stop moaning. You were raving about the Pom refs this morning in Australia.

[OomStruisbaai]

Just rewatched that Thomas penalty and yellow card was bullshit

Refs are dire in the competition. Seconds can learn from them

Stop moaning. You were raving about the Pom refs this morning in Australia.

They were good in the tests. Hope they use them in the competition

[Sards]

Please release the fringe boks to their unions...let Rassie and Nienaber vok up the team they favor but not our youngsters

[assfly]

Tough weekend for the SA teams but as expected.

Coming off four consecutive Currie Cups in the space of 12 months, the low standard of rugby we have been producing is clear to see. I also suspect that fatigue is going to be a big issue. Some of our players look tired already, compared to the NH teams coming off a break and pre-season.

We're definitely going to have to adjust to the refs. I thought the ref for the Sharks game was poor, but we didn't adjust and kept getting punished all night.

Pity about the Sharks score, 30-17 would have been much easier to accept. I thought Munster were very good, and I think if we can up our game I don't think we'll be too far off the pace in a few weeks.

[Sards]

Tough weekend for the SA teams but as expected.

Coming off four consecutive Currie Cups in the space of 12 months, the low standard of rugby we have been producing is clear to see. I also suspect that fatigue is going to be a big issue. Some of our players look tired already, compared to the NH teams coming off a break and pre-season.

We're definitely going to have to adjust to the refs. I thought the ref for the Sharks game was poor, but we didn't adjust and kept getting punished all night.

Pity about the Sharks score, 30-17 would have been much easier to accept. I thought Munster were very good, and I think if we can up our game I don't think we'll be too far off the pace in a few weeks.

The one interpretation I am struggling with was the over the ball one. I thought our boys made some great steals yet were penalized...still trying to wrap my mind around that. What exactly was the refs interpretation of that. I understand we need to adjust to the refs but what is the correct interpretation in the refs mind

[assfly]

The one interpretation I am struggling with was the over the ball one. I thought our boys made some great steals yet were penalized...still trying to wrap my mind around that. What exactly was the refs interpretation of that

Yes I was also completely confused by his interpretation. Seemed to ping the Sharks and reward Munster for the same thing.

Cloete caused havoc. Another example of a fairly average player leaving SA and becoming a much better player with the right coaching and management.

[Sards]

The one interpretation I am struggling with was the over the ball one. I thought our boys made some great steals yet were penalized...still trying to wrap my mind around that. What exactly was the refs interpretation of that

Yes I was also completely confused by his interpretation. Seemed to ping the Sharks and reward Munster for the same thing

Maybe one of the NH posters can clarify

[assfly]

On a positive, it was great seeing Pienaar back in a Sharks jersey. He was class.

Even though the results didn't go our way, it was awesome to see our boys playing new opposition in front of crowds. I think I'm going to like URC

[Sards]

On a positive, it was great seeing Pienaar back in a Sharks jersey. He was class.

Even though the results didn't go our way, it was awesome to see our boys playing new opposition in front of crowds. I think I'm going to like URC

We will definitely improve. I hope Everett has asked for clarity on some of the problems we need to sort out....just wish Fassi and our other players can return now

[assfly]

We will definitely improve. I hope Everett has asked for clarity on some of the problems we need to sort out....just wish Fassi and our other players can return now

If JN is going to pick the same Bok team, I would love to see Fassi, Ox, etc. flown straight to wherever the Sharks are based.

[OomStruisbaai]

We will definitely improve. I hope Everett has asked for clarity on some of the problems we need to sort out....just wish Fassi and our other players can return now

If JN is going to pick the same Bok team, I would love to see Fassi, Ox, etc. flown straight to wherever the Sharks are based.

Will only happen from January.

[OomStruisbaai]

The one interpretation I am struggling with was the over the ball one. I thought our boys made some great steals yet were penalized...still trying to wrap my mind around that. What exactly was the refs interpretation of that

Yes I was also completely confused by his interpretation. Seemed to ping the Sharks and reward Munster for the same thing

Maybe one of the NH posters can clarify

That was a problem at all our matches. Ironically the closer to the end , the quicker the penalty comes against our teams. It was a joke.

[Chilli]

I'm afraid that all the SA teams need more than their returning Bok$ to get up to speed in this competition.