Official United Rugby Championship thread

[average joe]

Sad? It's outright disgusting. I wonder how he would handle it if someone claimed his business was only doing good because of under the table deals and back door brown envelope handouts.

[Sards]

Sad? It's outright disgusting. I wonder how he would handle it if someone claimed his business was only doing good because of under the table deals and back door brown envelope handouts.

I love the South African mentality. It's ok to cheat because everyone else does.

Love it.

Says a lot about us. And of course we live to protect our officials that get caught

[OomStruisbaai]

It seems as if Leonlin Zas had to leave the $harks in order to fulfill his potential as well.

https://rugby365.com/tournaments/united ... uit-rugby/

Why are the $harks ruining players?

That's the basic problem

there was a time where the [Sharks] coaches didn’t back me.

I wonder what other coaching structures could do with Bosch, Nohamba, Hendrikse etc if they took them away from the toxic environment in Deben?

More from Zas

Leolin Zas says he has left a “dark place” behind him and fully embraced the Stormers’ stylish brand of rugby in 2022,

[OomStruisbaai]

Just correct me if I'm wrong, is Sards now claiming the officials are corrupt?

It is quite sad really.

I don't understand Sards. He critize Rassie for making videos now he claim them to be corrupt.

[average joe]

Sad? It's outright disgusting. I wonder how he would handle it if someone claimed his business was only doing good because of under the table deals and back door brown envelope handouts.

I love the South African mentality. It's ok to cheat because everyone else does.

Love it.

Says a lot about us. And of course we live to protect our officials that get caught

Just because you do it doesn't mean we all do.

We protect our ref's because there's so fokon few of them and without them there's no game. And most of us on here love the game and don't want it to die. But I get why you don't give a shit, it's not like you're a real rugby supporter. You just post here to spin your shit unsubstantiated claims because, well, you're a poephol who thinks he's edgy.

[Sards]

Sad? It's outright disgusting. I wonder how he would handle it if someone claimed his business was only doing good because of under the table deals and back door brown envelope handouts.

I love the South African mentality. It's ok to cheat because everyone else does.

Love it.

Says a lot about us. And of course we live to protect our officials that get caught

Just because you do it doesn't mean we all do.

We protect our ref's because there's so fokon few of them and without them there's no game. And most of us on here love the game and don't want it to die. But I get why you don't give a shit, it's not like you're a real rugby supporter. You just post here to spin your shit unsubstantiated claims because, well, you're a poephol who thinks he's edgy.

You accused me of a number of things which are derogatory and incorrect yet you have absolutely nothing to say about the TMO. True South African. Look deeply at yourself and your actions.

We have nothing more to say to each other

[OomStruisbaai]

EdinBokke want to go full throttle against the Lions. Should be easy beating the top SA team and now against the lowest team. All the SA supporters need to get behind the Lions. If they beat this very good team , all our teams can move above them on the log.

[average joe]

You accused me of a number of things which are derogatory and incorrect yet you have absolutely nothing to say about the TMO. True South African. Look deeply at yourself and your actions.

We have nothing more to say to each other

I accused you of fokol. I made a direct comparison to your claims of corrupt officials to someone doing the same to you and how that made you feel. Regarding the TMO/Ref/Linesmen call, they might have made one mistake and your unsubstantiated claim that they are bought is bordering on defamation. After all they are only human and humans are prone to errors. I looked at the same clip in slow motion as everyone ells and saw nothing wrong with the call.

The guy lost the ball in contact, no try. Your insight on the defender "slapping" the ball out does not even feature. The defender was tackling a player diving low for the line head on, making contact with the attackers arm in the process and the ball being dislodged does not equate to "slapping" the ball. These things don't happen in slow motion.

Regarding myself and my actions, I'm not the one on here claiming that every ref that does not rule against the Stormers (a team you clearly have an issue with) are corrupt.

It will be great if you never addressed me again, but I'll be there when next you come up with some other edgy bullshit.

I'll be watching you like a hawk, like a big brother. As a matter of fact you might as well consider me your conscience, an inner voice of reason and common sense.

[OomStruisbaai]

Looking at Friday nights game between the $harks and the Dragons.
The Dragons are yet to win a game this season, so it should be an easy victory for the Springbok laden $harks along with their Argentinian and Australian International Super stars.


But, there is a 60% chance of rain with 87% humidity.....................................................................does this even out the odds? Does the warm rain and hot, humid, muggy conditions favor the Welsh? Are these the conditions that the Dragons are used to training and playing in Newport and Gwent?

My son going to KZN on sunday. He'll struggle like all the x Stormers stars in Durban with the weather.

[average joe]

EdinBokke want to go full throttle against the Lions. Should be easy beating the top SA team and now against the lowest team. All the SA supporters need to get behind the Lions. If they beat this very good team , all our teams can move above them on the log.

Oom when the Cheetahs was playing in the Pro14 it was always the Scottish teams I feared the most. The Irish are strong at home but they always use to send weaker teams to SA. The Scots always seemed stronger over here.

[Chilli]

Looking at Friday nights game between the $harks and the Dragons.
The Dragons are yet to win a game this season, so it should be an easy victory for the Springbok laden $harks along with their Argentinian and Australian International Super stars.


But, there is a 60% chance of rain with 87% humidity.....................................................................does this even out the odds? Does the warm rain and hot, humid, muggy conditions favor the Welsh? Are these the conditions that the Dragons are used to training and playing in Newport and Gwent?

My son going to KZN on sunday. He'll struggle like all the x Stormers stars in Durban with the weather.

Tell him to not braai in the Kings Park Parking lot.

[Tichtheid]

Looking at Friday nights game between the $harks and the Dragons.
The Dragons are yet to win a game this season, so it should be an easy victory for the Springbok laden $harks along with their Argentinian and Australian International Super stars.


But, there is a 60% chance of rain with 87% humidity.....................................................................does this even out the odds? Does the warm rain and hot, humid, muggy conditions favor the Welsh? Are these the conditions that the Dragons are used to training and playing in Newport and Gwent?

I read a report from a South African source after the Sharks v Edinburgh game, this is how it opened

The teams ran out into teeming rain which had been falling all afternoon and the Scots would have felt right at home in conditions cosily familiar to them.
For the Sharks, the quagmire negated one of their primary strengths, their fleet-footed outside backs, and although Edinburgh also enjoy running the ball, the conditions unquestionably were a leveller.

https://www.iol.co.za/sport/rugby/pro14 ... c423d2a12d

The first point I'd make is that Edinburgh has far less annual rainfall than Durban - 700mm pa compared to just over 1000mm.

The second is that, from the back, Edinburgh had an Argentinian international fullback and and international winger playing. The other winger is relatively new to rugby, he was an international sprinter at U20s level and indoor 400m champion. The outside centre is an Olympic 7s silver medallist. The 12 is the only non-flier in the backs. The fly half is a converted Scottish international fullback/winger who is in his first season at 10 after 100 Edinburgh caps in the back three, the Scottish coach says he is the quickest player in the Scotland squad. The scrum half has insane acceleration and his game is all about catching the opposition off guard, one of the reasons he doesn't have a heap of international caps is that he doesn't play the control game.

My point here is that Edinburgh's game is all about pace and preference for a dry track, they play on a 4G pitch in Edinburgh, as anyone who had been watching this season would have seen, the article implies that had there been dry conditions then it would have favoured the Sharks. It's just lazy journalism.

This weekend conjures up an altogether different problem for Edinburgh, playing the Lions in Johannesburg. I read earlier that they are planning on flying in just before the match as apparently the altitude won't affect the players so much if the get there, play and leave quickly, otherwise they would have had to be there for over a week.

I think these things are what makes the URC very interesting, to me at least. The new teams and the different conditions are fascinating. When the South African sides play in European competition next season you will see vast differences even from the URC.

To answer the question about the Dragons, the Sharks will hammer them no matter the weather, they beat Connacht, but Connacht are a weird side, they can take their three provincial brothers to the wire, but they can also ship over 50 points to mid table sides.
Dragons like to play a wide game, but they don't have the grunt to allow them to do it and whenever I've seen them this season their defence has been all over the place.

[OomStruisbaai]

EdinBokke want to go full throttle against the Lions. Should be easy beating the top SA team and now against the lowest team. All the SA supporters need to get behind the Lions. If they beat this very good team , all our teams can move above them on the log.

Oom when the Cheetahs was playing in the Pro14 it was always the Scottish teams I feared the most. The Irish are strong at home but they always use to send weaker teams to SA. The Scots always seemed stronger over here.

EdinBokke will have to field their Saffer frontrow. That's the Lion power. They also need to kick less. In Bobbejaansberg they need to run it.

[OomStruisbaai]

Looking at Friday nights game between the $harks and the Dragons.
The Dragons are yet to win a game this season, so it should be an easy victory for the Springbok laden $harks along with their Argentinian and Australian International Super stars.


But, there is a 60% chance of rain with 87% humidity.....................................................................does this even out the odds? Does the warm rain and hot, humid, muggy conditions favor the Welsh? Are these the conditions that the Dragons are used to training and playing in Newport and Gwent?

My son going to KZN on sunday. He'll struggle like all the x Stormers stars in Durban with the weather.

Tell him to not braai in the Kings Park Parking lot.

He fly out on Sunday and back the next Saturday. Staying in South coast Kingsburre. No time for parking areas.

[OomStruisbaai]

The Bulls vs Ulster is also going to be a thriller. Duanne Vermeulen will play a massive role for Ulster. Look like Immelman is the tmo. The Bulls will need all the help they can get.

[Chilli]

Looking at Friday nights game between the $harks and the Dragons.
The Dragons are yet to win a game this season, so it should be an easy victory for the Springbok laden $harks along with their Argentinian and Australian International Super stars.


But, there is a 60% chance of rain with 87% humidity.....................................................................does this even out the odds? Does the warm rain and hot, humid, muggy conditions favor the Welsh? Are these the conditions that the Dragons are used to training and playing in Newport and Gwent?

I read a report from a South African source after the Sharks v Edinburgh game, this is how it opened

The teams ran out into teeming rain which had been falling all afternoon and the Scots would have felt right at home in conditions cosily familiar to them.
For the Sharks, the quagmire negated one of their primary strengths, their fleet-footed outside backs, and although Edinburgh also enjoy running the ball, the conditions unquestionably were a leveller.

https://www.iol.co.za/sport/rugby/pro14 ... c423d2a12d

The first point I'd make is that Edinburgh has far less annual rainfall than Durban - 700mm pa compared to just over 1000mm.

The second is that, from the back, Edinburgh had an Argentinian international fullback and and international winger playing. The other winger is relatively new to rugby, he was an international sprinter at U20s level and indoor 400m champion. The outside centre is an Olympic 7s silver medallist. The 12 is the only non-flier in the backs. The fly half is a converted Scottish international fullback/winger who is in his first season at 10 after 100 Edinburgh caps in the back three, the Scottish coach says he is the quickest player in the Scotland squad. The scrum half has insane acceleration and his game is all about catching the opposition off guard, one of the reasons he doesn't have a heap of international caps is that he doesn't play the control game.

My point here is that Edinburgh's game is all about pace and preference for a dry track, they play on a 4G pitch in Edinburgh, as anyone who had been watching this season would have seen, the article implies that had there been dry conditions then it would have favoured the Sharks. It's just lazy journalism.

This weekend conjures up an altogether different problem for Edinburgh, playing the Lions in Johannesburg. I read earlier that they are planning on flying in just before the match as apparently the altitude won't affect the players so much if the get there, play and leave quickly, otherwise they would have had to be there for over a week.

I think these things are what makes the URC very interesting, to me at least. The new teams and the different conditions are fascinating. When the South African sides play in European competition next season you will see vast differences even from the URC.

To answer the question about the Dragons, the Sharks will hammer them no matter the weather, they beat Connacht, but Connacht are a weird side, they can take their three provincial brothers to the wire, but they can also ship over 50 points to mid table sides.
Dragons like to play a wide game, but they don't have the grunt to allow them to do it and whenever I've seen them this season their defence has been all over the place.

Yes, but it might rain..............................

[Chilli]

The Bulls vs Ulster is also going to be a thriller. Duanne Vermeulen will play a massive role for Ulster. Look like Immelman is the tmo. The Bulls will need all the help they can get.

Wrong login $ards!

[OomStruisbaai]

Looking at Friday nights game between the $harks and the Dragons.
The Dragons are yet to win a game this season, so it should be an easy victory for the Springbok laden $harks along with their Argentinian and Australian International Super stars.


But, there is a 60% chance of rain with 87% humidity.....................................................................does this even out the odds? Does the warm rain and hot, humid, muggy conditions favor the Welsh? Are these the conditions that the Dragons are used to training and playing in Newport and Gwent?

I read a report from a South African source after the Sharks v Edinburgh game, this is how it opened

The teams ran out into teeming rain which had been falling all afternoon and the Scots would have felt right at home in conditions cosily familiar to them.
For the Sharks, the quagmire negated one of their primary strengths, their fleet-footed outside backs, and although Edinburgh also enjoy running the ball, the conditions unquestionably were a leveller.

https://www.iol.co.za/sport/rugby/pro14 ... c423d2a12d

The first point I'd make is that Edinburgh has far less annual rainfall than Durban - 700mm pa compared to just over 1000mm.

The second is that, from the back, Edinburgh had an Argentinian international fullback and and international winger playing. The other winger is relatively new to rugby, he was an international sprinter at U20s level and indoor 400m champion. The outside centre is an Olympic 7s silver medallist. The 12 is the only non-flier in the backs. The fly half is a converted Scottish international fullback/winger who is in his first season at 10 after 100 Edinburgh caps in the back three, the Scottish coach says he is the quickest player in the Scotland squad. The scrum half has insane acceleration and his game is all about catching the opposition off guard, one of the reasons he doesn't have a heap of international caps is that he doesn't play the control game.

My point here is that Edinburgh's game is all about pace and preference for a dry track, they play on a 4G pitch in Edinburgh, as anyone who had been watching this season would have seen, the article implies that had there been dry conditions then it would have favoured the Sharks. It's just lazy journalism.

This weekend conjures up an altogether different problem for Edinburgh, playing the Lions in Johannesburg. I read earlier that they are planning on flying in just before the match as apparently the altitude won't affect the players so much if the get there, play and leave quickly, otherwise they would have had to be there for over a week.

I think these things are what makes the URC very interesting, to me at least. The new teams and the different conditions are fascinating. When the South African sides play in European competition next season you will see vast differences even from the URC.

To answer the question about the Dragons, the Sharks will hammer them no matter the weather, they beat Connacht, but Connacht are a weird side, they can take their three provincial brothers to the wire, but they can also ship over 50 points to mid table sides.
Dragons like to play a wide game, but they don't have the grunt to allow them to do it and whenever I've seen them this season their defence has been all over the place.

Durban have summer rain. They are use to play rugby in winter. However, the rain should fit their kicking gameplan with Curwin Bosch in 10. He kick the leather off the ball but struggled to catch the ball. His replacement Boeta also struggled so EdinBokke was very lucky

[Tichtheid]

Durban have summer rain. They are use to play rugby in winter. However, the rain should fit their kicking gameplan with Curwin Bosch in 10. He kick the leather off the ball but struggled to catch the ball. His replacement Boeta also struggled so EdinBokke was very lucky

I'm not sure "lucky" is the right word, both teams played in the same conditions, one scored a single try from pick and goes cms from the line whilst the other scored three from handling moves and broken field running.

Sharks were "lucky" to not see a red card, imo. Having said that the match was played in good spirit, that tackle was silly and dangerous but not malicious and Louw made a point of apologising to Kinghorn both as he left the pitch and when he came back on. Kok and Bradbury were having a real go at each other on the park, but when the teams ran up the tunnel at half time Kok gave Bradbury a light backhanded slap on the stomach and a smile. Good rugby - play hard on the park, mates off it.

edit, btw, Super Rugby runs from Feb to May/June doesn't it?
Durban gets far more rain in those months than Edinburgh

[robmatic]

I'm not sure "lucky" is the right word, both teams played in the same conditions, one scored a single try from pick and goes cms from the line whilst the other scored three from handling moves and broken field running.

It's a fair point that Bosch was absolutely shocking, might have been a closer game otherwise. Embra defence was still excellent regardless and the backs had the quality to finish off the opportunities they were given.

[Tichtheid]

I'm not sure "lucky" is the right word, both teams played in the same conditions, one scored a single try from pick and goes cms from the line whilst the other scored three from handling moves and broken field running.

It's a fair point that Bosch was absolutely shocking, might have been a closer game otherwise. Embra defence was still excellent regardless and the backs had the quality to finish off the opportunities they were given.

Someone on the Glasgow forum said that both 10s were "Player of the Match" for Edinburgh

We made a right pig's ear of the last two lineouts, one from 5m out and one when we mauled the Sharks pack back almost 20m only to fall over when we got close to the line. We should have had the BP at the end.

edit, I didn't see the game live but after the comments I was looking for Bosch when I did watch it, his goal kicking was not what you'd expect from a professional, but he made a few decent punts from hand and linked ok, so he wasn't great but he wasn't altogether awful.

[OomStruisbaai]

Super rugby use to run from Feb to Sept. It's unusual for rain in March in Durban. This year has been a wet season.

[Tichtheid]

Super rugby use to run from Feb to Sept. It's unusual for rain in March in Durban. This year has been a wet season.

This is getting side tracked from the point, Edinburgh is cold but fairly dry, even Glasgow which is only 50 miles/80km away has almost twice the annual rainfall that Edinburgh does. Edinburgh play on a 4G pitch and play an open game which favours their quick backs.

The reporter had obviously relied on lazy clichés rather than, y'know, watching the games or bothering to look up the facts behind what they were saying.

[assfly]

Bosch at 10 again

[OomStruisbaai]

Super rugby use to run from Feb to Sept. It's unusual for rain in March in Durban. This year has been a wet season.

This is getting side tracked from the point, Edinburgh is cold but fairly dry, even Glasgow which is only 50 miles/80km away has almost twice the annual rainfall that Edinburgh does. Edinburgh play on a 4G pitch and play an open game which favours their quick backs.

The reporter had obviously relied on lazy clichés rather than, y'know, watching the games or bothering to look up the facts behind what they were saying.

OK, most Saffer (myself included) have this wrong. Good luck for Saturday.

[OomStruisbaai]

Bosch at 10 again

They are playing against a weak team. Rest a lot of players.

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

[assfly]

They are playing against a weak team. Rest a lot of players.

All the more reason to bench him and give someone else a go.

Little chance of improving attendance figures if they keep selecting a useless and unpopular player at 10.

[OomStruisbaai]

They are playing against a weak team. Rest a lot of players.

All the more reason to bench him and give someone else a go.

Little chance of improving attendance figures if they keep selecting a useless and unpopular player at 10.

He should give Chiat a decent run. Dunno if he is injured.

[Blake]

EdinBokke want to go full throttle against the Lions. Should be easy beating the top SA team and now against the lowest team. All the SA supporters need to get behind the Lions. If they beat this very good team , all our teams can move above them on the log.

I fully support every SA team in the URC, except the Sharks.
They can get fucked.

Happy the Bulls are doing well. Happy the Lions are performing above expectations. Happy the Stormers are finding some mojo.
Happy the Sharks are spinning their wheels in the mud and getting my popcorn ready for all the excuses come when their toxic experiment flops.

[Biffer]

Looking at Friday nights game between the $harks and the Dragons.
The Dragons are yet to win a game this season, so it should be an easy victory for the Springbok laden $harks along with their Argentinian and Australian International Super stars.


But, there is a 60% chance of rain with 87% humidity.....................................................................does this even out the odds? Does the warm rain and hot, humid, muggy conditions favor the Welsh? Are these the conditions that the Dragons are used to training and playing in Newport and Gwent?

No.

The Dragons are shithole and if you don't beat them, regardless of weather, it's a howling embarassment.

[assfly]

I fully support every SA team in the URC, except the Sharks.
They can get fucked.

Happy the Bulls are doing well. Happy the Lions are performing above expectations. Happy the Stormers are finding some mojo.
Happy the Sharks are spinning their wheels in the mud and getting my popcorn ready for all the excuses come when their toxic experiment flops.

What's the origin of this vitriol?

[Blake]

I fully support every SA team in the URC, except the Sharks.
They can get fucked.

Happy the Bulls are doing well. Happy the Lions are performing above expectations. Happy the Stormers are finding some mojo.
Happy the Sharks are spinning their wheels in the mud and getting my popcorn ready for all the excuses come when their toxic experiment flops.

What's the origin of this vitriol?

There is poaching and then there's raiding.
The former I am fine with. It's part of Professional rugby.
By all means buy one or two big name players every season; be it a young prospect, a player in his prime or an experienced veteran.
That's pro-rugby in SA.

The latter is just annoying. The Sharks got their moneybags and just started raiding...local teams, international teams, coaches, administrators.
People don't like it when opposition teams try to buy themself a championship team. This is not new, not limited to the $harks, and not limited to rugby either.

Is some of it envy? Sure, I'll admit to that.
But if you are going to walk around swinging your dick everywhere, don't act all surprised when others enjoy watching when you get it caught in a revolving door.

It also doesn't help that Roc Nation and MVM Holdings are looking to turn SA Rugby into the NBA.
The $harks money seems to come with an agenda that many of us think will be detrimental to the Springboks in the long term.
An additional incentive for us to want to see this experiment fail.

[Sards]

Jealous vokkers. Jealous of honest graft to create something special. This from a henshopper that gave up supporting the Bulls to support the Stormers. Can't take his opinion seriously. Guided by his cock head.

[OomStruisbaai]

Jealous vokkers. Jealous of honest graft to create something special. This from a henshopper that gave up supporting the Bulls to support the Stormers. Can't take his opinion seriously. Guided by his cock head.

You are the jealous one around. You blame the match officials after losing.

No one take you seriously.

[Slick]

ohhh Saffers, you almost managed a whole morning without your internal shitfighting.... How many times have you had this conversation FFS...

[Slick]

Jealous vokkers. Jealous of honest graft to create something special. This from a henshopper that gave up supporting the Bulls to support the Stormers. Can't take his opinion seriously. Guided by his cock head.

You are the jealous one around. You blame the match officials after losing.

No one take you seriously.

was just about to edit my last post to say "no doubt refs will be brought up in a few moments as well"

[Sards]

They are going to miss me one day.

[Sards]

Jealous vokkers. Jealous of honest graft to create something special. This from a henshopper that gave up supporting the Bulls to support the Stormers. Can't take his opinion seriously. Guided by his cock head.

You are the jealous one around. You blame the match officials after losing.

No one take you seriously.

I honestly don't give a vok dude.....
Just messing

Didn't expect the Ulster lads to be such gracious losers.

Well you learn.

[OomStruisbaai]

Everett take on Bosch

“We all know that he missed the two touch kicks [against Edinburgh] and he missed a kick in front of the poles. But, if you look at his kicking stats, they are the best that we have.

“As far as his game management is concerned, he showed class in that area last week. He managed the game really well in tough conditions. So much so that we were able to win 65% territory.

“The leadership that he brings in the week, I don’t think anybody sees that either. He is performing well at training and we feel that he is the right guy to get us through on Friday night.”

[OomStruisbaai]

Jealous vokkers. Jealous of honest graft to create something special. This from a henshopper that gave up supporting the Bulls to support the Stormers. Can't take his opinion seriously. Guided by his cock head.

You are the jealous one around. You blame the match officials after losing.

No one take you seriously.

I honestly don't give a vok dude.....
Just messing

Didn't expect the Ulster lads to be such gracious losers.

Well you learn.

Vokof to PR. The kak lot is there. The Irish here is good posters.