Official United Rugby Championship thread

[OomStruisbaai]

Embra in for a tough match. Goose and returning Boks straight into it.

[Tichtheid]

The Goose is back
Vodacom Bulls –15 Johan Goosen, 14 Cornal Hendricks, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 David Kriel, 11 Stravino Jacobs, 10 Chris Smith, 9 Zak Burger; 8 Elrigh Louw, 7 Ruan Vermaak, 6 Marcell Coetzee (c), 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Walt Steenkamp, 3 Mornay Smith, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp.
Subs: 16 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 17 Simphiwe Matanzima, 18 Francois Klopper, 19 Janko Swanepoel, 20 Marco van Staden; 21 Embrose Papier, 22 Morne Steyn, 23 Stedman Gans.

Your sixes are our sevens, is that correct?

That's a big back row, but I don't see Coetzee as an openside (terrific blindside, though). However, the pack might make that a moot point as them could well have too much power for us.

Our team is usually announced at midday, UK time.

[Tichtheid]

I'm going to guess that we will go as fully loaded as we can for this, my team

Schoeman, Cherry, WP Nel, Skinner, Gilchrist, Ritchie, Watson, Mata

Vellacott, Kinghorn, Hoyland, Dean, Bennett, Graham, Immelman

McInally, Venter, Williams, Sykes, Crosbie, Savala, Lang, Pyrgos

we might go 6/2 on the bench with Haining the extra forward, in which cases Savala would drop out and Lang would be the emergency fly half


(though they did say that Watson might not be fit for another week or two)

[FalseBayFC]

False Bay vs Durbell club rugby final.

My boys in the final. Link below. I'll be at the Danie Craven Stadium. Will pre-drinks and watch the Test match at Mystic Boer!

[OomStruisbaai]

The Goose is back
Vodacom Bulls –15 Johan Goosen, 14 Cornal Hendricks, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 David Kriel, 11 Stravino Jacobs, 10 Chris Smith, 9 Zak Burger; 8 Elrigh Louw, 7 Ruan Vermaak, 6 Marcell Coetzee (c), 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Walt Steenkamp, 3 Mornay Smith, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp.
Subs: 16 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 17 Simphiwe Matanzima, 18 Francois Klopper, 19 Janko Swanepoel, 20 Marco van Staden; 21 Embrose Papier, 22 Morne Steyn, 23 Stedman Gans.

Your sixes are our sevens, is that correct?

That's a big back row, but I don't see Coetzee as an openside (terrific blindside, though). However, the pack might make that a moot point as them could well have too much power for us.

Our team is usually announced at midday, UK time.

That's right. Louw and Nortje will improve their pack. Scrums not as good as the other Saffer teams

[OomStruisbaai]

False Bay vs Durbell club rugby final.

My boys in the final. Link below. I'll be at the Danie Craven Stadium.

Awesome Beating Maties in the semi must have been huge for them.

[FalseBayFC]

I'm going to guess that we will go as fully loaded as we can for this, my team

Schoeman, Cherry, WP Nel, Skinner, Gilchrist, Ritchie, Watson, Mata

Vellacott, Kinghorn, Hoyland, Dean, Bennett, Graham, Immelman

McInally, Venter, Williams, Sykes, Crosbie, Savala, Lang, Pyrgos

we might go 6/2 on the bench with Haining the extra forward, in which cases Savala would drop out and Lang would be the emergency fly half


(though they did say that Watson might not be fit for another week or two)

Thats a good Embra pack! Bulls haven't been a great scrummaging team and might struggle with that front row. Bulls at home will be tough though.

[Tichtheid]

Thats a good Embra pack! Bulls haven't been a great scrummaging team and might struggle with that front row. Bulls at home will be tough though.

We lost our two pre-season games, the first of which was to semi-pro London Scottish. We looked rusty for the first half hour last week against Dragons before cutting loose.

If we bring back any points at all from the two games in South Africa, I'll be pleased.

If ignore the reality I'm thinking that if our pack can get parity and get us some front-foot ball we have the backs to give anyone real problems.

With Boffelli still in Argentinian colours this weekend, we don't have our front-line goal kicker, the others struggle a bit

[OomStruisbaai]

The Stormers will be much stronger next week when they will have their Boks back.They will struggle saturday.

[_Os_]

6 James Venter

Has potential, needs to start stepping up, Covid hasn't left him with much time.

[Sards]

6 James Venter

Has potential, needs to start stepping up, Covid hasn't left him with much time.

Yup. I get the feeling he is not going anywhere locally. Especially with such talented players around

[Tichtheid]

[Tichtheid]

Watson not quite ready to start, Lang and Dean swapped over from the pine, De Bruin is back earlier than I thought he would be

Pyrgos starting over Vellacott means we are looking for more control rather than going hell-for-leather

Jaco on the bench means we'll have a kicker on at some point

[OomStruisbaai]

DHL Stormers: 15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 Angelo Davids, 13 Suleiman Hartzenberg, 12 Dan du Plessis, 11 Seabelo Senatla, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Paul de Wet, 8 Evan Roos, 7 Hacjivah Dayimani, 6 Junior Pokomela, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Ernst van Rhyn (captain), 3 Brok Harris, 2 Andre-Hugo Venter, 1 Ali Vermaak.
Replacements: 16 Chad Solomon, 17 Kwenzo Blose, 18 Neethling Fouche, 19 Adré Smith, 20 Marcel Theunissen, 21 Willie Engelbrecht, 22 Godlen Masimla, 23 Sacha Mngomezulu.

Number/Name/Caps ( * denotes uncapped)
15. Oran McNulty (9)
14. John Porch (60)
13. Byron Ralston (1)
12. Tom Farrell (80)
11. Mack Hansen (14)
10. Conor Fitzgerald (54)
9. Caolin Blade (151)
1. Denis Buckley (209)
2. Dylan Tierney-Martin (7)
3. Finlay Bealham (174)
4. Josh Murphy (1)
5. Niall Murray (36)
6. Cian Prendergast (31)
7. Jarrad Butler (95)
8. Paul Boyle (74)

16. Dave Heffernan (166)
17. Peter Dooley (1)
18. Jack Aungier (32)
19. Oisín Dowling (25)
20. Shamus Hurley-Langton (1)
21. Kieran Marmion (210)
22. Bundee Aki (118)
23. David Hawkshaw (1)

[OomStruisbaai]

Connacht

The squad arrived in Cape Town on Tuesday and today travel to Stellenbosch where the game will take place. The squad will remain there until Thursday when they fly to Pretoria for the next week’s game with the Vodacom Bulls.

[Jock42]

I'm going to guess that we will go as fully loaded as we can for this, my team

Schoeman, Cherry, WP Nel, Skinner, Gilchrist, Ritchie, Watson, Mata

Vellacott, Kinghorn, Hoyland, Dean, Bennett, Graham, Immelman

McInally, Venter, Williams, Sykes, Crosbie, Savala, Lang, Pyrgos

we might go 6/2 on the bench with Haining the extra forward, in which cases Savala would drop out and Lang would be the emergency fly half


(though they did say that Watson might not be fit for another week or two)

Thats a decent side. Good to see Watson back

[OomStruisbaai]

Go Tjaaarks!!!!!

[Sards]

Boeta needs to get his head right. You could see the disappointment with that missed kick.

[Sards]

Stupid

[Sards]

So the one touchy says no problem. Then you see the slo mo and he goes...yeah a yellow is good

[Sards]

Wow.....that was very impressive and intelligent.
The pressure ensured the penalty which forced the try

[Sards]

Nice one Boeta

[Sards]

Fassi looking very impressive.
Hope I don't jinx him

[OomStruisbaai]

Zebre want to play 7s

[Sards]

Well I just keep wondering how long the Sharks can keep up that intensity

[Sards]

Too easy.....



Hope Zebre make more of a game of it

[Sards]

Better Zebre

[robmatic]

Zebre won the 2nd half 19-5 against Leinster last week. Could be another close one.

[robmatic]

Comeback is on.

[Sards]

Well I just keep wondering how long the Sharks can keep up that intensity

Running out of puff

[Sards]

Comeback is on.

It's mysterious how they can have two different halves

[OomStruisbaai]

Tjarks defense is solid.

[OomStruisbaai]

Game on

[Chilli]

Hak, hak, die $harks is KAK!

[Blake]

Too easy.....



Hope Zebre make more of a game of it

Glad you got your wish.

[robmatic]

Sharks saved by the TMO.

Only saw second half but that was good entertainment.

[Blake]

Some bizarre decision making by Zebre in the last 60 seconds. First the cross field kick en then not competing in the lineout.

5-point haul for the Sharks away from home. Perfect start for them.

[Sards]

Too easy.....



Hope Zebre make more of a game of it

Glad you got your wish.

Yes. Much better. Nothing worse than a lob sided match. Zebre really put in a great second half. Sharks were out on their feet. A huge concern after such a promising start.

[Sards]

Sharks saved by the TMO.

Only saw second half but that was good entertainment.

Yoh....high octane stuff

Sharks very lucky. The log will still show 5 points thank goodness

[OomStruisbaai]

Sharks should buy Zebres Saffers.