Official United Rugby Championship thread

[handyman]

The Stormers also love them some older players. Dion Fourie, Brok Harris and Juan de Jongh.

Yes, that experience helped us to be the top-placed Saffer team

[Blake]

What about Joseph Dweba?

Man I wish we could afford him. He'd fill that Mbonambi-sized hole in our front row perfectly.

[FalseBayFC]

Adre Smith's biting ban has been successfully appealed so you have one of your locks back.

[OomStruisbaai]

What about Joseph Dweba?

Isn't he playing in France?

Yes he was. For some reason I though Jake White had signed him for the Bulls.

After Bongi left there talks about him or Marx coming to the Stormers. However we are stuck with Scarra and Venter.

[OomStruisbaai]

Adre Smith's biting ban has been successfully appealed so you have one of your locks back.

That's great news. We will have Orie and Moerat back.

[OomStruisbaai]

It's nice to have a bit of provincial bias back.

I'm not gonna lie, it felt good

I got sick of Rassie and the Springbokke.

Sadly only two weeks then a month break again.

The CC also starts early next year.

Not sure how the fixtures will fit in.

[OomStruisbaai]

Looking forward to seeing Mapimpi at this level, he should run riot

Sadly he don't get enough ball. Bosch kick all their possession away.

[FalseBayFC]

Looking forward to seeing Mapimpi at this level, he should run riot

Sadly he don't get enough ball. Bosch kick all their possession away.

He scored 10 tries in 13 appearances for the Cheetahs in the 2017/18 Pro14. Sadly Oom is right here though. The Sharks have had a blunt attack of late. In 2018/2019 Super Rugby he scored 5 tries in 16 appearances. In 2019/2020 the Sharks started white hot and he scored 5 tries in 5 appearances including 2 apiece against the Highlanders and the Rebels.

He is a thoroughbred though. Give him the ball and you're in with a chance.

[Uncle fester]

Great to see the return of this Currie cup thread.

[OomStruisbaai]

Great to see the return of this Currie cup thread.

Fester which Irish team do you support?

[OomStruisbaai]

Orie, Moerat & Willemse available for Stormers

S24

Springbok touring squad members Damian Willemse, Marvin Orie and Salmaan Moerat have returned to training with the Stormers.
The Capetonians resume their United Rugby Championship campaign with a home game against Zebre on Saturday.
Assistant coach Rito Hlungwani says they've done their homework on Zebre and understand the Italian club's DNA.
The Stormers are relishing the return of fullback Damian Willemse and lock duo Marvin Orie and Salmaan Moerat as they resume their United Rugby Championship campaign with a clash against Italian outfit Zebre at Cape Town Stadium on Saturday.

The trio returned to Stormers training this week after touring with the Springboks on their year-end tour to the United Kingdom.


Willemse was concussed early in the first Test against Wales in Cardiff but has since recovered and will be available for selection.

Orie, who boasts seven Test caps, and the uncapped Moerat did not get game time on the year-end tour but will be in contention for selection this weekend.


'More room to play around with'

Stormers assistant coach Rito Hlungwani told reporters on Tuesday that the trio's return was a boost for the team.

"As you all know, Salmaan and Marvin were both touring with the Springboks. They came back so they will be available for us this weekend. Damian Willemse is available for us. They haven't been around us for a while, especially Marvin and Damian, but it's very good to have them back," the forwards guru said.

Hlungwani added that Orie and Moerat would be a significant boost to their second row stocks.

"It's quite exciting to have Salmaan and Marvin there. They're very different players, Marvin is very experienced when it comes to lineouts. He'll give us a good buffer there... he hasn't played in a while, so we just hope he's not rusty. [But] if he is we'll make sure that we train so he's nice and ready come Saturday.

"It also gives us a bit of room when it comes to substitutions. It's quite exciting to have those two guys back and it gives us more room to play around with selection and substitutions come game day."

[Chilli]

I hope that we see Van Wolhuter unleashing the Stormers backline and Wazza scoring tries like he did when he was playing Booishaai U13.

[Sards]

Any team that drops Gelant for Willemse is dronk aan papsak wyn

[Sandstorm]

Any team that drops Gelant for Willemse is dronk aan papsak wyn

Will Gelant still be fit?

[Uncle fester]

Great to see the return of this Currie cup thread.

Fester which Irish team do you support?

Munsterburg

[OomStruisbaai]

Great to see the return of this Currie cup thread.

Fester which Irish team do you support?

Munsterburg

[Chilli]

So 2000 spectators allowed.

I'd love to go watch a match at a stadium, but living in Gqeberha it ain't going to happen.

[OomStruisbaai]

Affies boykie want to do it for Munster

IOL

Homecoming for Munster coach Johann van Graan as he plots Bulls’ downfall
By Ashfak Mohamed Time of article published 51m ago


Cape Town – Johann van Graan has seen and done it all at Loftus Versfeld – he’s won Super Rugby titles, Currie Cups and Springbok Test matches, and even been a ball-boy at his beloved old stomping ground.

But there will be a new experience for the 41-year-old in Pretoria on Saturday, as he is in charge of the Munster side that will look to continue their good start to the United Rugby Championship against the Bulls (7.45pm kickoff).

Van Graan was first part of the Heyneke Meyer era at the Bulls, where he started as a 25-year-old coach in 2005, while his father Barend was also a long-serving chief executive until 2019.

Johann only left the Bulls in 2012 to join Meyer at the Springboks as the forwards coach, where he remained until 2017 under the direction of Allister Coetzee. Van Graan then did a swap of sorts with Rassie Erasmus, who brought him in as the Munster director of rugby, with Erasmus taking over from Coetzee at the Boks.

But he has fond memories of the Bulls and Loftus Versfeld, and it was a true homecoming for Van Graan when he arrived in the capital city this week.

MORE ON THIS
Arno Botha calls on Bulls to have ‘fire in the bellies’ against Munster
Damien Willemse, Marvin Orie and Salmaan Moerat boost Stormers against Zebre
SA teams to play in Heineken Cup from next season?
Scarlets are very similar to the Cheetahs, says Sharks loosie Henco Venter
Lions at full strength ahead of URC clash against Cardiff at Ellis Park
Lions giving Jannie du Plessis all the space he needs after family tragedy
“It got very real when we drove into Pretoria and drove past the old school, and past the university and Loftus Versfeld and into our hotel,” Van Graan told the Irish media.

“Really looking forward to it, massive challenge ahead, but great to be in Pretoria. Loftus has been my home as a small boy, starting out as a ball-boy there.

“Some phenomenal moments and Test matches that I had the privilege to be a ball-boy at. In 1994, standing next to André Joubert and meeting Nelson Mandela, the Rugby World Cup in 95 when Emile Ntamack scored against the Scots, when Philippe Sella passed me and looking in his eyes.

“Having Jonah Lomu run at Loftus when the All Blacks had their white jerseys. The 1998 Currie Cup win for the Blue Bulls, and starting to work at the Bulls officially on the first of November 2003.

“The Currie Cup win in 2004, Currie Cup loss in 2005, the semi-finals against the Crusaders specifically in 2007, 2009 and 2010. The highlight has to be the Chiefs final in 2009, when we beat them 61-17 at Loftus.”

Now Van Graan will look to make new memories with Munster, who have their work cut out to topple the Bulls despite winning four out of their five URC matches so far.

They lost their last encounter 18-10 to the Ospreys in Wales, and while the Bulls only beat the Dragons on their four-game European tour, they haven’t lost at Loftus Versfeld on Jake White’s watch – losing only a Currie Cup game there with a depleted squad under a caretaker coach while White was in charge of the full Bulls side in the Rainbow Cup final against Benetton in Italy earlier in the year.

“Full circle coming back with Munster, a club I’ve learned to love and call my home. I’m from Munster now and great emotions to be part of it. From a team perspective, it’s not about me,” Van Graan said.

“It’s about Munster, the start of a new block, but personally great to come back to your home town and have some of the memories that I had the privilege of feeling. That’s the beauty of rugby: it’s the memories that you have out of it.

“The Bulls have been phenomenal the last three years at home. It’s a massive challenge that awaits us. We’ve planned well for this one, it will be a big challenge… we enjoy every victory.

“It will be the first one – if we could pull off a win – that have won against the Bulls in the last three years.

“Since Jake took over, they are still unbeaten here at ‘Fortress Loftus’ as they call it. We are under no doubt about the massive challenge that lies ahead.

“In terms of altitude, you’ve got to plan well for it. You can’t wish it away – it’s a fact we’re 1 350 metres above sea level.

“The heat, I believe it was minus-one degrees in Limerick this morning when people woke up, and it’s 27 degrees and sunny in Pretoria.

“You can’t move past that, and I believe it’s the beauty of the United Rugby Championship; the fact that the Bulls and the South African teams had to go to Europe and adapt and now we’ve got to come here, that’s what makes this competition beautiful.”

[yermum]

Cant see past a big win for the bulls.

Munster team is callow

plus travel/altitude and the bulls will be wanting revenge.

hopefully its a good match. really looking forward to this one.

[handyman]

Affies boykie want to do it for Munster

IOL

Homecoming for Munster coach Johann van Graan as he plots Bulls’ downfall
By Ashfak Mohamed Time of article published 51m ago


Cape Town – Johann van Graan has seen and done it all at Loftus Versfeld – he’s won Super Rugby titles, Currie Cups and Springbok Test matches, and even been a ball-boy at his beloved old stomping ground.

But there will be a new experience for the 41-year-old in Pretoria on Saturday, as he is in charge of the Munster side that will look to continue their good start to the United Rugby Championship against the Bulls (7.45pm kickoff).

Van Graan was first part of the Heyneke Meyer era at the Bulls, where he started as a 25-year-old coach in 2005, while his father Barend was also a long-serving chief executive until 2019.

Johann only left the Bulls in 2012 to join Meyer at the Springboks as the forwards coach, where he remained until 2017 under the direction of Allister Coetzee. Van Graan then did a swap of sorts with Rassie Erasmus, who brought him in as the Munster director of rugby, with Erasmus taking over from Coetzee at the Boks.

But he has fond memories of the Bulls and Loftus Versfeld, and it was a true homecoming for Van Graan when he arrived in the capital city this week.

MORE ON THIS
Arno Botha calls on Bulls to have ‘fire in the bellies’ against Munster
Damien Willemse, Marvin Orie and Salmaan Moerat boost Stormers against Zebre
SA teams to play in Heineken Cup from next season?
Scarlets are very similar to the Cheetahs, says Sharks loosie Henco Venter
Lions at full strength ahead of URC clash against Cardiff at Ellis Park
Lions giving Jannie du Plessis all the space he needs after family tragedy
“It got very real when we drove into Pretoria and drove past the old school, and past the university and Loftus Versfeld and into our hotel,” Van Graan told the Irish media.

“Really looking forward to it, massive challenge ahead, but great to be in Pretoria. Loftus has been my home as a small boy, starting out as a ball-boy there.

“Some phenomenal moments and Test matches that I had the privilege to be a ball-boy at. In 1994, standing next to André Joubert and meeting Nelson Mandela, the Rugby World Cup in 95 when Emile Ntamack scored against the Scots, when Philippe Sella passed me and looking in his eyes.

“Having Jonah Lomu run at Loftus when the All Blacks had their white jerseys. The 1998 Currie Cup win for the Blue Bulls, and starting to work at the Bulls officially on the first of November 2003.

“The Currie Cup win in 2004, Currie Cup loss in 2005, the semi-finals against the Crusaders specifically in 2007, 2009 and 2010. The highlight has to be the Chiefs final in 2009, when we beat them 61-17 at Loftus.”

Now Van Graan will look to make new memories with Munster, who have their work cut out to topple the Bulls despite winning four out of their five URC matches so far.

They lost their last encounter 18-10 to the Ospreys in Wales, and while the Bulls only beat the Dragons on their four-game European tour, they haven’t lost at Loftus Versfeld on Jake White’s watch – losing only a Currie Cup game there with a depleted squad under a caretaker coach while White was in charge of the full Bulls side in the Rainbow Cup final against Benetton in Italy earlier in the year.

“Full circle coming back with Munster, a club I’ve learned to love and call my home. I’m from Munster now and great emotions to be part of it. From a team perspective, it’s not about me,” Van Graan said.

“It’s about Munster, the start of a new block, but personally great to come back to your home town and have some of the memories that I had the privilege of feeling. That’s the beauty of rugby: it’s the memories that you have out of it.

“The Bulls have been phenomenal the last three years at home. It’s a massive challenge that awaits us. We’ve planned well for this one, it will be a big challenge… we enjoy every victory.

“It will be the first one – if we could pull off a win – that have won against the Bulls in the last three years.

“Since Jake took over, they are still unbeaten here at ‘Fortress Loftus’ as they call it. We are under no doubt about the massive challenge that lies ahead.

“In terms of altitude, you’ve got to plan well for it. You can’t wish it away – it’s a fact we’re 1 350 metres above sea level.

“The heat, I believe it was minus-one degrees in Limerick this morning when people woke up, and it’s 27 degrees and sunny in Pretoria.

“You can’t move past that, and I believe it’s the beauty of the United Rugby Championship; the fact that the Bulls and the South African teams had to go to Europe and adapt and now we’ve got to come here, that’s what makes this competition beautiful.”

This is the type of history and tradition you get at WP and Blue Bulls. Money cannot buy this.

[OomStruisbaai]

The Saffer teams will have to put up big scores this weekend to restore order.

Will be a bit rusted at the start.

[Chilli]

Cant see past a big win for the bulls.

Munster team is callow

plus travel/altitude and the bulls will be wanting revenge.

hopefully its a good match. really looking forward to this one.

Munster will smash the Bulls.

[Sards]

Where the vok is the times for this weekends rugby....I have 2 cricket games to navigate

[Sandstorm]

Autumn tests nearly done and weird the year isn't done. Two important rounds for our teams at home.


ROUND 6
Friday, November 26 Connacht v Ospreys | 19:35 UK / 20:35 ITA/ 21:35 SA | RTE, BBC Wales, Premier Sports

Saturday, November 27 DHL Stormers v Zebre | 13:00 UK / 14:00 ITA / 15:00 SA | Super Sport, Premier Sports Benetton v Glasgow Warriors | 13:00 UK / 14:00 ITA / 15:00 SA | Italian TV, Premier Sports Cell C Sharks v Scarlets | 15:30 UK / 16:30 ITA / 17:30 SA | Super Sport, S4C, Premier Sports Dragons v Edinburgh | 17:15 UK / 18:15 ITA / 19:15 SA | Premier Sports Vodacom Bulls v Munster | 17:45 UK / 18:45 ITA / 19:45 SA | Super Sport, TG4, Premier Sports Leinster v Ulster | 20:00 UK / 21:00 ITA / 22:00 SA | RTE, Premier Sports

Sunday, November 28 Emirates Lions v Cardiff | 14:00 UK / 15:00 ITA / 16:00 SA | Super Sport, S4C, Premier Sports

ROUND 7
Friday, December 3 Vodacom Bulls v Scarlets | 17:35 UK / 18:35 ITA / 19:35 SA | Super Sport, BBC Wales, Premier Sports Edinburgh v Benetton | 19:35 UK / 20:35 ITA / 21:35 SA | Premier Sports Leinster v Connacht | 19:45 UK / 20:45 ITA / 21:45 SA | TG4, Premier Sports

Saturday, December 4 Cell C Sharks v Zebre | 13:00 UK / 14:00 ITA / 15:00 SA | Super Sport, Italian TV, Premier Sports Ospreys v Ulster | 15:00 UK / 16:00 ITA / 17:00 SA | Premier Sports Emirates Lions v Munster | 15:30 UK / 16:30 ITA / 17:30 SA | Super Sport, RTE, Premier Sports Glasgow Warriors v Dragons | 17:15 UK / 18:15 ITA / 19:15 SA | Premier Sports DHL Stormers v Cardiff | 17:45 UK / 18:45 ITA / 19:45 SA | Super Sport, S4C, Premier Sports


All teams will probably have their internationals back which will give the competition a total new flavor.

Springboks to franchises

Sharks: Thomas du Toit, Ox, Bongi, Kolisi, Grant Williams , Amm, Mapimpi, Fassi, , Nkosi
Stormers: Kitshoff, Orie, Moerat, Herschel, Willemse,
Bulls: Trevor

Bump

[OomStruisbaai]

Rainy weather this weekend. Cape Town 70% Hope the thunder don't interfere.

[handyman]

Rainy weather this weekend. Cape Town 70% Hope the thunder don't interfere.

Slaan maar oom se tentpenne in, die wind kom vir Struisbaai.

[OomStruisbaai]

Rainy weather this weekend. Cape Town 70% Hope the thunder don't interfere.

Slaan maar oom se tentpenne in, die wind kom vir Struisbaai.

Yep wind is wild.

[Slick]

Have to say that not playing a SA team takes a bit of lustre off this league again.

Dragons and Benneton, boooooorriinngg

[robmatic]

Have to say that not playing a SA team takes a bit of lustre off this league again.

Dragons and Benneton, boooooorriinngg

I actually don't mind Benetton, they try to play decent rugby and they are back to being competitive again.

Dragons can do one, like all the Welsh teams.

[bok_viking]

Damn those Loftus tickets sold out way to quickly. 2000 tickets are just to little.

[Sards]

Autumn tests nearly done and weird the year isn't done. Two important rounds for our teams at home.


ROUND 6
Friday, November 26 Connacht v Ospreys | 19:35 UK / 20:35 ITA/ 21:35 SA | RTE, BBC Wales, Premier Sports

Saturday, November 27 DHL Stormers v Zebre | 13:00 UK / 14:00 ITA / 15:00 SA | Super Sport, Premier Sports Benetton v Glasgow Warriors | 13:00 UK / 14:00 ITA / 15:00 SA | Italian TV, Premier Sports Cell C Sharks v Scarlets | 15:30 UK / 16:30 ITA / 17:30 SA | Super Sport, S4C, Premier Sports Dragons v Edinburgh | 17:15 UK / 18:15 ITA / 19:15 SA | Premier Sports Vodacom Bulls v Munster | 17:45 UK / 18:45 ITA / 19:45 SA | Super Sport, TG4, Premier Sports Leinster v Ulster | 20:00 UK / 21:00 ITA / 22:00 SA | RTE, Premier Sports

Sunday, November 28 Emirates Lions v Cardiff | 14:00 UK / 15:00 ITA / 16:00 SA | Super Sport, S4C, Premier Sports

ROUND 7
Friday, December 3 Vodacom Bulls v Scarlets | 17:35 UK / 18:35 ITA / 19:35 SA | Super Sport, BBC Wales, Premier Sports Edinburgh v Benetton | 19:35 UK / 20:35 ITA / 21:35 SA | Premier Sports Leinster v Connacht | 19:45 UK / 20:45 ITA / 21:45 SA | TG4, Premier Sports

Saturday, December 4 Cell C Sharks v Zebre | 13:00 UK / 14:00 ITA / 15:00 SA | Super Sport, Italian TV, Premier Sports Ospreys v Ulster | 15:00 UK / 16:00 ITA / 17:00 SA | Premier Sports Emirates Lions v Munster | 15:30 UK / 16:30 ITA / 17:30 SA | Super Sport, RTE, Premier Sports Glasgow Warriors v Dragons | 17:15 UK / 18:15 ITA / 19:15 SA | Premier Sports DHL Stormers v Cardiff | 17:45 UK / 18:45 ITA / 19:45 SA | Super Sport, S4C, Premier Sports


All teams will probably have their internationals back which will give the competition a total new flavor.

Springboks to franchises

Sharks: Thomas du Toit, Ox, Bongi, Kolisi, Grant Williams , Amm, Mapimpi, Fassi, , Nkosi
Stormers: Kitshoff, Orie, Moerat, Herschel, Willemse,
Bulls: Trevor

Bump

Cheers....at least I don't mind missing the stormers game.....mind that cricket game is at home and theres a pub and tv's at the club.....watching the oldest this weekend..........going to miss my youngest......8 year old playing under 10s.....
First match he came in 5th and batted right through
Second match a duck
Third match played for the under 11s and got second highest score
last weekend for the under 10s he top scored. They retired him after 8 overs to give the other kids a chance but he had to go back in and batted through.

loves his batting

[OomStruisbaai]

Edwill to make his Lions debut

Lions: 15 EW Viljoen, 14 Sibahle Maxwane, 13 Wandisile Simelane 12 Burger Odendaal (captain), 11 Edwill van der Merwe, 10 Fred Zeilinga, 9 Andre Warner, 8 Francke Horn, 7 Vincent Tshituka, 6 Jaco Kriel, 5 Reinhard Nothnagel, 4 Ruben Schoeman 3 Carlu Sadie, 2 Jaco Visagie, 1 Sithembiso Sithole.
Replacements: 16 Pieter Botha, 17 Morgan Naude, 18 Ruan Dreyer, 19 Willem Alberts, 20 Ruhan Straeuli, 21 Morne van den Berg, 22 Matt More 23 Tiaan Swanepoel.

Date: Sunday, November 28
Venue: Ellis Park, Johannesburg
Kick-off: 16.00 (14.00 UK time, 14,00 GMT)
Referee: Andrew Brace (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Jaco Peyper (South Africa), Griffin Colby (South Africa)
TMO: Stuart Berry (South Africa)

[robmatic]

Edwill to make his Lions debut

Lions: 15 EW Viljoen, 14 Sibahle Maxwane, 13 Wandisile Simelane 12 Burger Odendaal (captain), 11 Edwill van der Merwe, 10 Fred Zeilinga, 9 Andre Warner, 8 Francke Horn, 7 Vincent Tshituka, 6 Jaco Kriel, 5 Reinhard Nothnagel, 4 Ruben Schoeman 3 Carlu Sadie, 2 Jaco Visagie, 1 Sithembiso Sithole.
Replacements: 16 Pieter Botha, 17 Morgan Naude, 18 Ruan Dreyer, 19 Willem Alberts, 20 Ruhan Straeuli, 21 Morne van den Berg, 22 Matt More 23 Tiaan Swanepoel.

Date: Sunday, November 28
Venue: Ellis Park, Johannesburg
Kick-off: 16.00 (14.00 UK time, 14,00 GMT)
Referee: Andrew Brace (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Jaco Peyper (South Africa), Griffin Colby (South Africa)
TMO: Stuart Berry (South Africa)

Why is it an Irish referee? Surely we should have had some SA referees up north in the first block of games for that to be fair?

[OomStruisbaai]

Probably Covid the reason. Good to use neutral refs.

[Sards]

Oh vok.....on the red list we go again.

[OomStruisbaai]

Welsh teams on their way home

Iol

The Welsh rugby teams in South Africa are scrambling to get home to escape the new Covid-19 variant that has emerged in South Africa, plunging the United Rugby Championship into crisis.

The Scarlets and Cardiff teams are due to play the Sharks and the Lions this weekend but they have announced that they are in a race to get out of South Africa before a travel ban between the United Kingdom and this country kicks in at 2pm today (Friday).

The UK government last night confirmed that South Africa is to return to its “red list” after having been removed in October. If the Welsh teams can depart SA before 2pm, they will not have to go into 10-day isolation periods at home.

The Scarlets last night tweeted that they are “making every effort to get our touring party home as soon as possible” while Cardiff said they are looking to repatriate their team ASAP “to ensure the safety and welfare of our people”.


The Italian and Irish governments have yet to react publicly to the latest Covid developments in SA, so theoretically, the Stormers v Zebre game on Saturday is still on, as is Munster’s visit to the Bulls, but almost certainly these games will also fall away.

MORE ON THIS
Willie Engelbrecht can dish out more big hits for the Stormers against Zebre
Elrigh Louw can continue building on Springbok dream for Bulls against Munster
Fleet-footed Edwill van der Merwe to make his debut for the Emirates Lions against Cardiff Rugby
The likely cancellation of the weekend’s URC fixtures in SA is a massive setback for rugby in this country because it was due to mark the return of a limited number of fans (2000) to stadiums.

The SA teams also are in desperate need to gain log points and climb the ladder after underwhelming tours of Europe in September and October.

[Slick]

Oh vok.....on the red list we go again.

Oh dear, that is going to bugger up the rest of the season then

[OomStruisbaai]

Oh vok.....on the red list we go again.

Oh dear, that is going to bugger up the rest of the season then

They'll reschedule, plenty of gaps.

[Slick]

Oh vok.....on the red list we go again.

Oh dear, that is going to bugger up the rest of the season then

They'll reschedule, plenty of gaps.

If they are putting a country on the red list I can't see that changing for a few months.

[SaintK]

Oh dear, that is going to bugger up the rest of the season then

They'll reschedule, plenty of gaps.

If they are putting a country on the red list I can't see that changing for a few months.

Reviewing in 3 weeks time