Official United Rugby Championship thread

[fishfoodie]

Leinster have done the Welsh a massive favour as the Bok squad won't be finalised until extremely late.

So only 2x 30+ point spankings then ?

[Tichtheid]

Who got POTM?

Coetzee was terrific

[FalseBayFC]

Who got POTM?

Coetzee was terrific

I agree. As it stands he isn't in the Bok setup. He may have played his way into the squad. Won't take out Siya Kolisi even though at the moment he is way ahead of him on form.

[Blake]

Who got POTM?

Coetzee was terrific

Grobbelaar, the Bulls hooker.
100% in lineouts, some critical turnovers and a try.

But I would also have gone with Coetzee. He was great.

[Sards]

Bulls really are a good outfit. Marcel has really led them to dizzy heights. Their trophy cabinet is full at home. Might be space for a URC trophy.

[Blake]

Who got POTM?

Coetzee was terrific

I agree. As it stands he isn't in the Bok setup. He may have played his way into the squad. Won't take out Siya Kolisi even though at the moment he is way ahead of him on form.

I’d have Coetzee as the bench loosie and backup for Duane ahead of Wiese.

[Sards]

Are we going to see an all South African final.

[bok_viking]

Who got POTM?

Coetzee was terrific

I agree. As it stands he isn't in the Bok setup. He may have played his way into the squad. Won't take out Siya Kolisi even though at the moment he is way ahead of him on form.

I’d have Coetzee as the bench loosie and backup for Duane ahead of Wiese.

Yeah I think he deserves to at least get back on the bench for the Boks this year. Been fantastic for almost all of the season. Louw and Grobelaar was immense as well, Looking forward to the day when Louw and Roos are in the Bok setup, Grobelaar must be getting close to making his go for the Bok jersey after the WC next year. Much better than Bongi this season I think. Moody is going to some player in a couple of years if he can keep up his current trend, very cool head for a 19 year old and not scared to get stuck in. The Bulls seem to be building another very good lock partnership if they stick around. Bulls seem to know how to develop locks every generation

[OomStruisbaai]

Grobbies was massive tonight. Deserved MOTM.

[KingBlairhorn]

Are we going to see an all South African final.

Would that be bad for league credibility? New teams coming in and immediately dominating the competition, adding fuel to the fire that says the URC is the poor relative league of Europe?

[fishfoodie]

Are we going to see an all South African final.

Don't go counting any chickens yet !

Ulster are due something this year.

[bok_viking]

But hats off to White as well, he took a team that looked like crap before Covid started losing most of their 1st team players and turned them into a very tough team without many big stars. Also he changed the way the Bulls played in a short time after their style did not work in the beginning of the season. For me at the beginning of the season all I was hoping for was reaching the knockouts, never thought we would get to the final this year. I really thought this team needed another couple of seasons to get really competitive.

[FalseBayFC]

Who got POTM?

Coetzee was terrific

I agree. As it stands he isn't in the Bok setup. He may have played his way into the squad. Won't take out Siya Kolisi even though at the moment he is way ahead of him on form.

I’d have Coetzee as the bench loosie and backup for Duane ahead of Wiese.

He really can cover 6/7/8. His maturity and BMT is just too valuable an asset to ignore right now, leave aside his performance! So yes he's ahead of Jasper now.

[FalseBayFC]

Player of the match Johan Grobbelaar who is almost certainly the no.3 hooker in the Bok setup now. Not the biggest but an absolute dynamo.

[Tichtheid]

Are we going to see an all South African final.

Would that be bad for league credibility? New teams coming in and immediately dominating the competition, adding fuel to the fire that says the URC is the poor relative league of Europe?

I don't think it affects the league credibility.

No one thought the SA teams would be bottom of the log at the end of the year, they were always going to be at the sharp end and it took a huge performance from the Bulls to make the final, Ulster will be carrying some bad blood after their loss to the Stormers earlier in the season, tomorrow should be a good match up.

The disappointment has been the Welsh sides, they've been poor. Glasgow also, they should be stronger. I think as we go on our teams will get used to playing against the Saffa sides and we will learn what it takes to beat them and the sides up here will adapt.

I've enjoyed having them in the competition this year.

[FalseBayFC]

Caption this!

[OomStruisbaai]

Are we going to see an all South African final.

Would that be bad for league credibility? New teams coming in and immediately dominating the competition, adding fuel to the fire that says the URC is the poor relative league of Europe?

Dunno how that can be bad for the league. Playing against better teams are suppose to improve the league's quality. A top team like Leinster will appreciate getting stronger opposition.

[‘tsek]

But hats off to White as well, he took a team that looked like crap before Covid started losing most of their 1st team players and turned them into a very tough team without many big stars. Also he changed the way the Bulls played in a short time after their style did not work in the beginning of the season. For me at the beginning of the season all I was hoping for was reaching the knockouts, never thought we would get to the final this year. I really thought this team needed another couple of seasons to get really competitive.

‘Cough’.. Perhaps some thanks also to uncle Patrice and oom Johann, the enablers, Patrice’s influence with Sundowns seems to predict a specific trajectory for the Bulls’ performance.

[FalseBayFC]

His Sexyness getting up the nose of the Bulls loosies.

[FalseBayFC]

FU6vpA0X0AIiEGh.jpg (55.93 KiB) Viewed 795 times

[Tichtheid]

Caption this!

Sexton, "This isn't 30 years ago lads, I can say what I like, there are cameras everywhere"

[FalseBayFC]

Elrigh Louw looks like one of those okes who fishes for carp on the Vaal River. Probably the most Afrikaans looking guy ever!

FU6vpA0X0AEJ_8x.jpg (55.13 KiB) Viewed 789 times

[FalseBayFC]

Caption this!

Sexton, "This isn't 30 years ago lads, I can say what I like, there are cameras everywhere"

Ha ha. Sexton going full Roy Keane!

[bok_viking]

But hats off to White as well, he took a team that looked like crap before Covid started losing most of their 1st team players and turned them into a very tough team without many big stars. Also he changed the way the Bulls played in a short time after their style did not work in the beginning of the season. For me at the beginning of the season all I was hoping for was reaching the knockouts, never thought we would get to the final this year. I really thought this team needed another couple of seasons to get really competitive.

‘Cough’.. Perhaps some thanks also to uncle Patrice and oom Johann, the enablers, Patrice’s influence with Sundowns seems to predict a specific trajectory for the Bulls’ performance.

Yeah I agree, they have been really good at the Bulls, White actually said in his interview just now with the Irish commentators that the owners has been great and it has been a pleasure working with them and their vision for the Bulls and of course Sundowns as well. He actually hinted at them being the best owners/management he has ever worked with. And hopefully the Bulls can attract a few Boks as well or at least keep any future Boks. It is quite possible that SA teams might be able to hold on to more players in future with rules changing in the NH related to foreign players.

[bok_viking]

FU6vpA0X0AIiEGh.jpg

haha I was surprised when even the Irish commentators were starting to criticize the chirping of the Leinster players and them being in the refs ear at every opportunity and surprised that the ref did not punish them eventually

[FalseBayFC]

But hats off to White as well, he took a team that looked like crap before Covid started losing most of their 1st team players and turned them into a very tough team without many big stars. Also he changed the way the Bulls played in a short time after their style did not work in the beginning of the season. For me at the beginning of the season all I was hoping for was reaching the knockouts, never thought we would get to the final this year. I really thought this team needed another couple of seasons to get really competitive.

‘Cough’.. Perhaps some thanks also to uncle Patrice and oom Johann, the enablers, Patrice’s influence with Sundowns seems to predict a specific trajectory for the Bulls’ performance.

Yeah I agree, they have been really good at the Bulls, White actually said in his interview just now with the Irish commentators that the owners has been great and it has been a pleasure working with them and their vision for the Bulls and of course Sundowns as well. He actually hinted at them being the best owners/management he has ever worked with. And hopefully the Bulls can attract a few Boks as well or at least keep any future Boks. It is quite possible that SA teams might be able to hold on to more players in future with rules changing in the NH related to foreign players.

Its the future. The Lions really need to find an investor with deep pockets and fairly soon. They're being ravaged. The Stormers and Cheetahs have pretty big fan bases and can put bums on seats and attract decent commercial sponsors. If the Bulls manage to win this it'll go a long way towards building interest from investors in SA franchises.

[Uncle fester]

Ulster will be on a high after the manner in which they disposed of Munster. They really played some cracking rugby. Hope they do it but away will be tough for them.

Bulls are a dogged bunch but can't see them being able to overturn Leinster. That could be a 20 point margin without Leinster playing particularly well and if they do decide to turn on the afterburners...

Didn't see that one coming.
Comer on Ulster.

[lemonhead]

Caption this!

I believe you can fly too, boet. Let's find out!

[bok_viking]

‘Cough’.. Perhaps some thanks also to uncle Patrice and oom Johann, the enablers, Patrice’s influence with Sundowns seems to predict a specific trajectory for the Bulls’ performance.

Yeah I agree, they have been really good at the Bulls, White actually said in his interview just now with the Irish commentators that the owners has been great and it has been a pleasure working with them and their vision for the Bulls and of course Sundowns as well. He actually hinted at them being the best owners/management he has ever worked with. And hopefully the Bulls can attract a few Boks as well or at least keep any future Boks. It is quite possible that SA teams might be able to hold on to more players in future with rules changing in the NH related to foreign players.

Its the future. The Lions really need to find an investor with deep pockets and fairly soon. They're being ravaged. The Stormers and Cheetahs have pretty big fan bases and can put bums on seats and attract decent commercial sponsors. If the Bulls manage to win this it'll go a long way towards building interest from investors in SA franchises.

Unfortunately the Lions have the added problem of having a stadium now located in one of the worst areas of Johannesburg, so I think it is tougher now for them to attract crowds apart from the absolute die hards. They need the kind of investors that can try and turn the area around. The Bulls company have done quite a bit around Loftus with office blocks, shopping mall, etc. Though they are lucky that they surrounded by good schools, university as well as quite a few embassies moving into the neighbourhood now,

[Blake]

Are we going to see an all South African final.

I had a feeling the Bulls were going to get an upset win tonight.

Similar feeling is telling me the Stormers are going to lose tomorrow. We have form for choking on home playoffs.

I think it’s going to be an Ulster Bulls final in Belfast.

[OomStruisbaai]

South Africa is very lucky to have excellent structures to produce good rugby players.

[OomStruisbaai]

Are we going to see an all South African final.

I had a feeling the Bulls were going to get an upset win tonight.

Similar feeling is telling me the Stormers are going to lose tomorrow. We have form for choking on home playoffs.

I think it’s going to be an Ulster Bulls final in Belfast.

I got the same feeling. Ulster by plenty.

[fishfoodie]

Are we going to see an all South African final.

I had a feeling the Bulls were going to get an upset win tonight.

Similar feeling is telling me the Stormers are going to lose tomorrow. We have form for choking on home playoffs.

I think it’s going to be an Ulster Bulls final in Belfast.

I got the same feeling. Ulster by plenty.

Look up the page man !

It was Leinster by 20+

I think Ulster by +5 would be a brilliant result for them, away from home.

[assfly]

Bloody hell, what a result! Only saw the first half but still expected Leinster to run away with it in the 2nd half.

Well done Jake White and the Bulls. I've been pretty skeptical about them over the last couple of seasons, but this is a monumental result. The psychology of getting the Bulls team up for this match alone is incredible, given their poor history of travelling.

[Sards]

Let's see what the Stormers have got.

Tough act to follow

[OomStruisbaai]

It will take some team to beat the Bulls in the final. They strike form at the right time.

From a South African point of view the URC brought a whole bunch of youngsters through.

Sadly they won't be used by the Bok selectors but it's great for the future

[Sards]

Bloody hell, what a result! Only saw the first half but still expected Leinster to run away with it in the 2nd half.

Well done Jake White and the Bulls. I've been pretty skeptical about them over the last couple of seasons, but this is a monumental result. The psychology of getting the Bulls team up for this match alone is incredible, given their poor history of travelling.

They were superb
It pretty much sums up the past few weeks results.
They believe in themselves

[ASMO]

Leinster choked twice now in big games, classic flat track bullies, crumble the first time someone actually stands up to them.

[Sards]

It must suck for the Bulls wondering whether they are staying there or traveling back to South Africa

[Sards]

Irish pride is uo for grabs this afternoon. One last chance to achieve anything meaningful in this years URC.