Official United Rugby Championship thread

[Slick]

Sharks defence very good, if a little cynical. Roos looks like someone getting frustrated at a bit of 2nd season syndrome.

Sharks just made ground all the time

[Slick]

Utter pish in the second half from Edinburgh.

Blair doesn’t seem to have a record of good half time talks imo.

Edinburgh just don’t have anyone who can manage a game

[OomStruisbaai]

Stormers running from their 22 playing attractive rugby.

[Slick]

Sorry, Stormers, obvs

[OomStruisbaai]

Sharks defence very good, if a little cynical. Roos looks like someone getting frustrated at a bit of 2nd season syndrome.

Sharks just made ground all the time

Sharks are shite defenders compare to the Stormers. Sharks can't play running rugby like this.

[Tichtheid]

Utter pish in the second half from Edinburgh.

Blair doesn’t seem to have a record of good half time talks imo.

Edinburgh just don’t have anyone who can manage a game

I don't think that was the problem, it was a very flat performance from the off, even when we camped on the Stormers line.

We never got our attacking game going at all. The Stormers defence was very good, but most teams are in that respect these days.

It was a very difference display from lasts week's game against the Bulls

[OomStruisbaai]

Sorry, Stormers, obvs

Can't blame you, the Sharks bought all the Stormers x players.

[Slick]

Utter pish in the second half from Edinburgh.

Blair doesn’t seem to have a record of good half time talks imo.

Edinburgh just don’t have anyone who can manage a game

I don't think that was the problem, it was a very flat performance from the off, even when we camped on the Stormers line.

We never got our attacking game going at all. The Stormers defence was very good, but most teams are in that respect these days.

It was a very difference display from lasts week's game against the Bulls

Isn’t that exactly the issue? Away from home, attack not getting going, so manage the game differently. Someone has to make that decision on the field. It was the same last year.

Not throwing the baby out with the bath water, it’s only game 3 and they were good last week, but I do think it’s an ongoing issue

[Slick]

Premier Player has one more week to improve or I might have to ditch it, as an aside

[Tichtheid]

Edinburgh just don’t have anyone who can manage a game

I don't think that was the problem, it was a very flat performance from the off, even when we camped on the Stormers line.

We never got our attacking game going at all. The Stormers defence was very good, but most teams are in that respect these days.

It was a very difference display from lasts week's game against the Bulls

Isn’t that exactly the issue? Away from home, attack not getting going, so manage the game differently. Someone has to make that decision on the field. It was the same last year.

Not throwing the baby out with the bath water, it’s only game 3 and they were good last week, but I do think it’s an ongoing issue

I don't know what you mean, tbh, what should Edinburgh have done today?

[Slick]

I don't think that was the problem, it was a very flat performance from the off, even when we camped on the Stormers line.

We never got our attacking game going at all. The Stormers defence was very good, but most teams are in that respect these days.

It was a very difference display from lasts week's game against the Bulls

Isn’t that exactly the issue? Away from home, attack not getting going, so manage the game differently. Someone has to make that decision on the field. It was the same last year.

Not throwing the baby out with the bath water, it’s only game 3 and they were good last week, but I do think it’s an ongoing issue

I don't know what you mean, tbh, what should Edinburgh have done today?

I think for a start they should have kicked more. They were up at half time against a side who were pissing the ref off by giving away so many penalties in their 22 so keep it down there. The Stormers were defending everything pretty easily, so change tactics and keep them under some pressure

Edit: like last year, plan A works against the lower teams but doesn’t trouble the better ones too much

[Blake]

Decent outing by Dweba. Our lineouts were not a problem for once!

Scrum struggled in the first half, but I felt that was more Ali Vermaak feeling some pressure. Nel and Schoeman are a class above our starting props today. Once they went off we got parity that took us home in the last 30 mins.

Diyamani again excellent. Libbok and Blommetjies good too. Dewet look great and Jantjies also getting a good outing.

Willemse was horseshit. By far the worst Stormer on the park today. Roos needs to wind his neck in. If he can’t learn to control and channel his aggression, he is going to limit his career.

[Tichtheid]

Edit: like last year, plan A works against the lower teams but doesn’t trouble the better ones too much

We traded long penalty kicks with last year's beaten finalist on 80 minutes and lost by that margin last week. We scored five tries and probably should have won the game.

The plan is good.

[OomStruisbaai]

I don't think that was the problem, it was a very flat performance from the off, even when we camped on the Stormers line.

We never got our attacking game going at all. The Stormers defence was very good, but most teams are in that respect these days.

It was a very difference display from lasts week's game against the Bulls

Isn’t that exactly the issue? Away from home, attack not getting going, so manage the game differently. Someone has to make that decision on the field. It was the same last year.

Not throwing the baby out with the bath water, it’s only game 3 and they were good last week, but I do think it’s an ongoing issue

I don't know what you mean, tbh, what should Edinburgh have done today?

Your forwards were very good. Should taken your 3 points and build the innings. The Stormers defense are very good for a long time.

[PCPhil]

Just watched 5 minutes of Ospreys v Glasgow fumbling passes decent passes, giving awful passes when under no pressure, kicking direct to touch, etc…... The Benny Hill music would be too good for this lot.

[C69]

Just watched 5 minutes of Ospreys v Glasgow fumbling passes decent passes, giving awful passes when under no pressure, kicking direct to touch, etc…... The Benny Hill music would be too good for this lot.

Any link?

[Slick]

Edit: like last year, plan A works against the lower teams but doesn’t trouble the better ones too much

We traded long penalty kicks with last year's beaten finalist on 80 minutes and lost by that margin last week. We scored five tries and probably should have won the game.

The plan is good.

But when the plan isn’t working, like today. which we agree on, your answer is just to keep doing the same?

[Slick]

Isn’t that exactly the issue? Away from home, attack not getting going, so manage the game differently. Someone has to make that decision on the field. It was the same last year.

Not throwing the baby out with the bath water, it’s only game 3 and they were good last week, but I do think it’s an ongoing issue

I don't know what you mean, tbh, what should Edinburgh have done today?

Your forwards were very good. Should taken your 3 points and build the innings. The Stormers defense are very good for a long time.

Quite

[Tichtheid]

Edit: like last year, plan A works against the lower teams but doesn’t trouble the better ones too much

We traded long penalty kicks with last year's beaten finalist on 80 minutes and lost by that margin last week. We scored five tries and probably should have won the game.

The plan is good.

But when the plan isn’t working, like today. which we agree on, your answer is just to keep doing the same?

Yes, because when we got some phases going we did actually stretch their defence, unfortunately we threw an interception, but it was looking like we were starting to make inroads.
You don't hammer teams as good as the Stormers, you have to take your chances when they come and we made a couple of bad errors which they converted into tries, whether it was the interception or a missed tackle by Hoyland, or the usually reliable Immelman dropping a howler at the end.

The last thing I want is to go back to Cockers or Solomons rugby. That is not to say we don't play pragmatically, we did last week in fact, but I don't accept the premise that we can't beat the better teams in the league whilst playing to our strengths.

Today there seemed to be a lack of energy in the side, compared to last week where we were really up for it.

[Biffer]

Edinburgh just don’t have anyone who can manage a game

I don't think that was the problem, it was a very flat performance from the off, even when we camped on the Stormers line.

We never got our attacking game going at all. The Stormers defence was very good, but most teams are in that respect these days.

It was a very difference display from lasts week's game against the Bulls

Isn’t that exactly the issue? Away from home, attack not getting going, so manage the game differently. Someone has to make that decision on the field. It was the same last year.

Not throwing the baby out with the bath water, it’s only game 3 and they were good last week, but I do think it’s an ongoing issue

Played saffer teams seven times, been ahead at halftime in six of them.

Only won two.

[OomStruisbaai]

Glasgow unlucky not to get the try. Look the better team

[Biffer]

Edit: like last year, plan A works against the lower teams but doesn’t trouble the better ones too much

We traded long penalty kicks with last year's beaten finalist on 80 minutes and lost by that margin last week. We scored five tries and probably should have won the game.

The plan is good.

But when the plan isn’t working, like today. which we agree on, your answer is just to keep doing the same?

Take the points we’re given and don’t automatically kick to the corner.

[Tichtheid]

We traded long penalty kicks with last year's beaten finalist on 80 minutes and lost by that margin last week. We scored five tries and probably should have won the game.

The plan is good.

But when the plan isn’t working, like today. which we agree on, your answer is just to keep doing the same?

Take the points we’re given and don’t automatically kick to the corner.

I think we might do that with Boff on the park

[Biffer]

But when the plan isn’t working, like today. which we agree on, your answer is just to keep doing the same?

Take the points we’re given and don’t automatically kick to the corner.

I think we might do that with Boff on the park

Yeah, but Savala needs to fill that hole in his game as a 10 as well.

[Tichtheid]

Keelan Giles can shift a bit

[OomStruisbaai]

We traded long penalty kicks with last year's beaten finalist on 80 minutes and lost by that margin last week. We scored five tries and probably should have won the game.

The plan is good.

But when the plan isn’t working, like today. which we agree on, your answer is just to keep doing the same?

Take the points we’re given and don’t automatically kick to the corner.

That's what the Stormers did today after they lead with 4 points. I am always worried with Libbok's place kicking. He nailed the first one from nearly halfway. That's two or three penalties push the teams lead over 7 points which give a cushion to play expensive. Both teams have the ability. The other Saffer teams don't play that expensive like the Stormers do. That's the reason why I like Embra. Your Saffer fatties were full value today. Schoeman look like the final product I always admire since his school days.

[OomStruisbaai]

Dweba had a good debut today. No skew throwing. His defense and ball carrying solid. Blommetjies another good game.

[PCPhil]

Good crowd at the Benetton v Scarlets match. Must be a beautiful evening in Veneto.
Una sera bella in Veneto.

[Sards]

I am always worried with Libbok's place kicking.

Why. Are you sure you have the right player in mind.

[OomStruisbaai]

Zebre played well against Munster in the end. Sharks gave them confidence.

[Blake]

Sharks not looking too flash against the Dragons.

Trailing 9-3 after 30mins.

[Blake]

12-6 to the Dragons at halftime.

Not much to say about the match. Dragons holding on and winning the aerial battles. Sharks their own worst enemies. Sumer pieces a mess, poor handling, not protecting the ball at the breakdown…

Sharks need to shape up or they are going to take an L tonight.

[OomStruisbaai]

12-6 to the Dragons at halftime.

Not much to say about the match. Dragons holding on and winning the aerial battles. Sharks their own worst enemies. Sumer pieces a mess, poor handling, not protecting the ball at the breakdown…

Sharks need to shape up or they are going to take an L tonight.

Sharks are in desperate need of a Damian Willemse creative player.

They will need to step up

[Blake]

Running out of time.

30 mins left to make up a 19-6 deficit. Getting bullied everywhere.

[TheNatalShark]

This is pretty pathetic from the Sharks, little desire to do any hard work, only interest seems to be in running around.

[OomStruisbaai]

This will fire the Sharks.

[Blake]

Intercept try by Grant Williams to ge the Sharks back in the game.

19-13. 16 mins left.

[Blake]

This is pretty pathetic from the Sharks, little desire to do any hard work, only interest seems to be in running around.

Team of individuals.
So much less than the sum of its parts.

[Blake]

Sharks take the lead with 6mins to go.

19-20

Try by Abrahams. Finally the Sharks hang onto the ball and score a try.

[Blake]

Sharks get the win but made hard work of that. Dragons must be gutted.

Sharks will be happy with the tour regardless. Points are points.