Official United Rugby Championship thread

[OomStruisbaai]

Bulls have the easy match. Lions vs Ospreys. We need all our teams to win badly.

[Sards]

Sharks vs Edinburgh will sort out the 5th spot. Everett needs to do some homework on his opposition. It's a big game for the Sharks in context of the log.

Although Edinburgh are a game ahead of the Sharks.

Stormers could be the big movers if the Sharks stumble and the Stormers take out Ulster. Prepare for a whole week of media hype.

Bulls should easily take out the Dragons sitting on 15th. Could also be a big mover if the Sharks and Stormers stumble.

This weekend it's everything to play for.

[Sards]

I am surprised the NH punters are not getting more involved

[assfly]

Another great weekend for SA teams with some much needed points. With 6N over it's going to get tougher.

[Chilli]

Another great weekend for SA teams with some much needed points. With 6N over it's going to get tougher.

Especially against Leinster and Ulster.

[clydecloggie]

Glasgow need to take 9-10 points from their next two games (Cardiff away and Zebre home) before closing the regular season with 3 away games, including 2 in South Africa and the return leg of the 1872 at Murrayfield Stoop. Results might be needed in those if they want to finish in the top 4.

[Sards]

Glasgow need to take 9-10 points from their next two games (Cardiff away and Zebre home) before closing the regular season with 3 away games, including 2 in South Africa and the return leg of the 1872 at Murrayfield Stoop. Results might be needed in those if they want to finish in the top 4.

Cardiff and Zebre should both get a bonus point for Glasgow

[Slick]

I am surprised the NH punters are not getting more involved

Just recovering from the 6N mate, I'm sure everyone will be back by the end of the week

[OomStruisbaai]

I am surprised the NH punters are not getting more involved

Just recovering from the 6N mate, I'm sure everyone will be back by the end of the week

Wanted to support EdinBokke this weekend but fuck me , there is no vokken passion or bite shown from their supporters.

[Slick]

I am surprised the NH punters are not getting more involved

Just recovering from the 6N mate, I'm sure everyone will be back by the end of the week

Wanted to support EdinBokke this weekend but fuck me , there is no vokken passion or bite shown from their supporters.

Their supporters have had that cruelly ripped away from them elsewhere

[OomStruisbaai]

6 Nations and the Scot players I'll discipline is past now. You got more Afrikaans players then the $hark$. Move on. Sards is waiting

[Sards]

I am surprised the NH punters are not getting more involved

Just recovering from the 6N mate, I'm sure everyone will be back by the end of the week

It's been a tough old 6 nations.........

Welcome back.

[OomStruisbaai]

Edinburgh squad: Lee-Roy Atalifo, Connor Boyle, Magnus Bradbury, Luan de Bruin, Dave Cherry, Harrison Courtney, Patrick Harrison, Jamie Hodgson, Adam McBurney, Ben Muncaster, Pierce Phillips, Pierre Schoeman, Marshall Sykes, Boan Venter, Hamish Watson, Angus Williams, Glen Young, Mark Bennett, Emiliano Boffelli, Matt Currie, Chris Dean, Cammy Hutchison, Henry Immelman, Blair Kinghorn, James Lang, Ramiro Moyano, Freddie Owsley, Henry Pyrgos, Charlie Savala, Charlie Shiel, Jaco van der Walt, Ben Vellacott.

[assfly]

Shame to hear Tambwe is leaving the Bulls. Now I hear they're after Nkosi.

[OomStruisbaai]

Shame to hear Tambwe is leaving the Bulls. Now I hear they're after Nkosi.

Yep signed.

[OomStruisbaai]

Edinburgh squad: Lee-Roy Atalifo, Connor Boyle, Magnus Bradbury, Luan de Bruin, Dave Cherry, Harrison Courtney, Patrick Harrison, Jamie Hodgson, Adam McBurney, Ben Muncaster, Pierce Phillips, Pierre Schoeman, Marshall Sykes, Boan Venter, Hamish Watson, Angus Williams, Glen Young, Mark Bennett, Emiliano Boffelli, Matt Currie, Chris Dean, Cammy Hutchison, Henry Immelman, Blair Kinghorn, James Lang, Ramiro Moyano, Freddie Owsley, Henry Pyrgos, Charlie Savala, Charlie Shiel, Jaco van der Walt, Ben Vellacott.

Mark Bennett, Blair Kinghorn, Pierre Schoeman and Hamish Watson all return from Scotland duty but their international colleagues WP Nel, Grant Gilchrist, Darcy Graham and Stuart McInally have been given time off and will not make the trip.

[OomStruisbaai]

Ireland players called up by McFarland include Rob Herring, Kieran Treadwell, Nick Timoney, James Hume and Mike Lowry, while prop Tom O’Toole is back from injury.

[Sards]

Ireland players called up by McFarland include Rob Herring, Kieran Treadwell, Nick Timoney, James Hume and Mike Lowry, while prop Tom O’Toole is back from injury.

Let's see with level playing fields and all available for selection.
SARU is going to have to find 8bar to keep Gelant

[OomStruisbaai]

Gelant is gone like Nkosi

[bok_viking]

So we are increasing to 50% capacity Hope it will start from this weekend, then I will get a ticket for the game again, would be nice to get 15-25k into Loftus for the weekend.
Unfortunately its a bit late for the cricket game tomorrow I think.

The Bulls game against Ulster could be great if they can get the full 50% in

[OomStruisbaai]

Think it's from 24h00 tonight. Pretty sure you'll be OK tomorrow.

[bok_viking]

Think it's from 24h00 tonight. Pretty sure you'll be OK tomorrow.

Yeah I will check ticketpro site tomorrow morning, might taake my laptop to the cricket ground and sit there working while watching the cricket

[Sards]

Think it's from 24h00 tonight. Pretty sure you'll be OK tomorrow.

Yeah I will check ticketpro site tomorrow morning, might taake my laptop to the cricket ground and sit there on NPR while watching the cricket

What what

[bok_viking]

strange it says NPR, i wrote sit on l a p t o p and work

[OomStruisbaai]

strange it says NPR, i wrote sit on l a p t o p and work

Die engels.

[bok_viking]

strange it says NPR, i wrote sit on l a p t o p and work

Die engels.

hey at least i speak a few languages, even if they are not always perfect

[Jock42]

Edinburgh squad: Lee-Roy Atalifo, Connor Boyle, Magnus Bradbury, Luan de Bruin, Dave Cherry, Harrison Courtney, Patrick Harrison, Jamie Hodgson, Adam McBurney, Ben Muncaster, Pierce Phillips, Pierre Schoeman, Marshall Sykes, Boan Venter, Hamish Watson, Angus Williams, Glen Young, Mark Bennett, Emiliano Boffelli, Matt Currie, Chris Dean, Cammy Hutchison, Henry Immelman, Blair Kinghorn, James Lang, Ramiro Moyano, Freddie Owsley, Henry Pyrgos, Charlie Savala, Charlie Shiel, Jaco van der Walt, Ben Vellacott.

Lacking wingers (if you count Boffelli as 1st choice FB which I assume most of us would) which means Immelman will be starting FB.

Be nice to see Harrison get some game time. Without the 2 Fijians it's going to be up to Muncaster and Bradbury to put the hard yards in.

[OomStruisbaai]

The Stormers will need lots of Newlands faithful to beat Ulster.

[assfly]

Wonderful news about fans.

Can't wait for the jokes on Sunday about poor turnout at the stadiums

[Blake]

Wonderful news about fans.

Can't wait for the jokes on Sunday about poor turnout at the stadiums

Well, the Sharks are playing a home game, so it will inevitably come up.

[Blake]

The Stormers will need lots of Newlands faithful to beat Ulster.

I actually think we might sneak a close win TBH.

[assfly]

Well, the Sharks are playing a home game, so it will inevitably come up.

It begins.

[OomStruisbaai]

The Stormers will need lots of Newlands faithful to beat Ulster.

I actually think we might sneak a close win TBH.

Like you quoted earlier our pack is a worry. Adri will be back. Backline is great at the moment.

[bok_viking]

Wonderful news about fans.

Can't wait for the jokes on Sunday about poor turnout at the stadiums

Would be interesting to see how the fan reaction is for this weekend with tickets. I see that ticketpro has now been updated and you can buy more tickets. Might be that people already have plans for the weekend but hope there will be a decent turnout, even seeing around 12-15k on this weekend will be great and more next weekend.

[average joe]

Well, the Sharks are playing a home game, so it will inevitably come up.

It begins.

So instead of the three supporters that use to frequent Bloem they're only allowed one and a half now?

[OomStruisbaai]

Sharks – 15 Anthony Volmink, 14 Werner Kok, 13 Ben Tapuai, 12 Marius Louw, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Curwin Bosch, 9 Grant Williams, 8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 7 Henco Venter, 6 Siya Kolisi (c), 5 Reniel Hugo, 4 Gerbrandt Grobler, 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ox Nche.
Subs: 16 Kerron van Vuuren, 17 Ntuthuko Mchunu, 18 Khuta Mchunu, 19 Le Roux Roets, 20 Phepsi Buthelezi, 21 James Venter, 22 Jaden Hendrikse, 23 Boeta Chamberlain.

[Sards]

Sharks – 15 Anthony Volmink, 14 Werner Kok, 13 Ben Tapuai, 12 Marius Louw, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Curwin Bosch, 9 Grant Williams, 8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 7 Henco Venter, 6 Siya Kolisi (c), 5 Reniel Hugo, 4 Gerbrandt Grobler, 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ox Nche.
Subs: 16 Kerron van Vuuren, 17 Ntuthuko Mchunu, 18 Khuta Mchunu, 19 Le Roux Roets, 20 Phepsi Buthelezi, 21 James Venter, 22 Jaden Hendrikse, 23 Boeta Chamberlain.

Strong side.
Happy with the starters and the reserves. Excellent back up for front row and James Venter but that will need to get some Rest before that game having played on Wednesday. We must have the strongest front row and reserves in the comp.

Just keep the Tit away from the side.

In fact send him home

[OomStruisbaai]

Lions to play Ospreys: 15 Quan Horn/Tiaan Swanepoel, 14 Sibahle Maxwane, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Burger Odendaal (captain), 11 Edwill van der Merwe, 10 Jordan Hendrikse, 9 Morne van den Berg, 8 Emmanuel Tshituka, 7 Vincent Tshituka, 6 Francke Horn, 5 Reinhard Nothnagel, 4 Ruben Schoeman, 3 Carlu Sadie/Ruan Dreyer, 2 Gerrit Visagie, 1 Sti Sithole.
Replacements: 16 PJ Botha, 17 JP Smith, 18 Ruan Dreyer/Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 19 Ruan Venter, 20 Sibusiso Sangweni, 21 Andre Warner, 22 Manuel Rass, 23 Tiaan Swanepoel/EW Viljoen.

Date: Friday, March 25
Venue: Ellis Park, Johannesburg
Kick-off: 19.00 (17.00 UK & Ireland time; 17.00 GMT)
Referee: Ben Blain (Scotland)
Assistant referees: Morne Ferreira (South Africa), Stephen Geldenhuys (South Africa)
TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa)
Ospreys: 15. Dan Evans, 14. Keelan Giles, 13. Michael Collins, 12. Keiran Williams, 11. Luke Morgan, 10. Stephen Myler, 9. Rhys Webb (c), 8. Ethan Roots, 7. Morgan Morris, 6. Dan Lydiate, 5. Bradley Davies, 4. Rhys Davies, 3. Tom Botha, 2. Sam Parry, 1.Nicky Smith
Subs: 16. Scott Baldwin, 17. Rhodri Jones, 18. Rhys Henry, 19. Will Griffiths, 20. Harri Deaves, 21. Reuben Morgan-Williams, 22. Tiaan Thomas Wheeler, 23. Cai Evans

[OomStruisbaai]

Important match this. Lions win mean they will climb two positions on the log and keep the Ospreys below the other SA teams on the log.

[OomStruisbaai]

Fat Frans back

Stormers: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Seabelo Senatla, 13 Ruhan Nel, 12 Damian Willemse, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Paul de Wet, 8 Evan Roos, 7 Ernst van Rhyn, 6 Deon Fourie, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Adre Smith, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Chad Solomon, 1 Steven Kitshoff (captain).
Replacements: 16 JJ Kotze, 17 Brok Harris, 18 Neethling Fouche, 19 Connor Evans, 20 Hacjivah Dayimani, 21 Junior Pokomela, 22 Herschel Jantjies, 23 Rikus Pretorius.

Date: Saturday, March 26
Venue: Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town
Kick-off: 15.00 (13.00 Ireland & UK time; 13.00 GMT)
Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi (Italy)
Assistant referees: Cwengile Jadezweni (South Africa), Dylen November (South Africa)
TMO: Quinton Immelman (South Africa)