2022/23 Champions/Challenge Cup

[JM2K6]

I mean, there's a clear winner here - Stormers are the URC champs, 2nd in the competition this season, and Leinster only just managed to get a draw against them at home the other day. They've lost like 4 matches in all competitions all season. I think they've lost one match at home in 2 years or something daft like that. But it should still be fun to watch.

That was Leinster C. Quins are pack with international players ( many of them know SA conditions) and experience all over. The Stormers lost van Heerden for this game and have a 7 flanker playing lock. The Stadium ground make scrumming difficult , so the Stormers will have to defend well and dominate breakdowns. We'll struggle for possession.

Lewies is probably broken again and our pack has struggled all season. We've lost 10 matches in the shithouse Premiership this season, we're 8th. Have Stormers lost 10 matches in all competitions over the last 3 seasons even?

[OomStruisbaai]

I mean, there's a clear winner here - Stormers are the URC champs, 2nd in the competition this season, and Leinster only just managed to get a draw against them at home the other day. They've lost like 4 matches in all competitions all season. I think they've lost one match at home in 2 years or something daft like that. But it should still be fun to watch.

That was Leinster C. Quins are pack with international players ( many of them know SA conditions) and experience all over. The Stormers lost van Heerden for this game and have a 7 flanker playing lock. The Stadium ground make scrumming difficult , so the Stormers will have to defend well and dominate breakdowns. We'll struggle for possession.

Lewies is probably broken again and our pack has struggled all season. We've lost 10 matches in the shithouse Premiership this season, we're 8th. Have Stormers lost 10 matches in all competitions over the last 3 seasons even?

Boet the Stormers were shite since the other day, ask Sards about it. Esterhuizen pay more then all our Springboks. Our lot play for a pap snoek.

[OomStruisbaai]

Cock. Match is on BT Sport, the only service I don't have.

Try https://rugbystreams.me/rugby-union-streams through the Brace app to block ads.

[OomStruisbaai]

Munster: Mike Haley; Calvin Nash, Antoine Frisch, Malakai Fekitoa, Shane Daly; Jack Crowley, Craig Casey; Dave Kilcoyne, Niall Scannell, Roman Salanoa; Jean Kleyn, RG Snyman; Peter O’Mahony (C), John Hodnett, Gavin Coombes.

Replacements: Diarmuid Barron, Josh Wycherley, Stephen Archer, Fineen Wycherley, Jack O’Donoghue, Conor Murray, Joey Carbery, Alex Kendellen.

dunno where the $hark$ team is. Sards get on it

[OomStruisbaai]

CELL C SHARKS

15. Boeta Chamberlain, 14. Werner Kok, 13. Lukhanyo Am, 12. Rohan Janse van Rensburg, 11. Makazola Mapimpi, 10. Curwin Bosch, 9. Jaden Hendrikse, 1. Ox Nché, 2. Bongi Mbonambi, 3. Thomas du Toit, 4. Eben Etzebeth, 5. Gerbrandt Grobler, 6. Siya Kolisi (c), 7. Vincent Tsh*tuka, 8. Sikumbuzo Notshe.

Replacements:

16. Kerron van Vuuren, 17. Ntuthuko Mchunu, 18. Carlu Sadie, 19. Emile van Heerden, 20. Phendulani Buthelezi, 21. Grant Williams, 22. Ben Tapuai, 23. Thaakir Abrahams​

[assfly]

Probably our best team the $harks can put forward. Hopefully last week was a wake-up call for them (in a season of regular wake-up calls).

I'd really like to see Vincent Tsh*tuka have a big game. We've seem glimpses of what he can do, but we still haven't seen a huge game from him yet.

[Sandstorm]

Probably our best team the $harks can put forward. Hopefully last week was a wake-up call for them (in a season of regular wake-up calls).

I'd really like to see Vincent Tsh*tuka have a big game. We've seem glimpses of what he can do, but we still haven't seen a huge game from him yet.

That back 3 can be really good or go completely missing. No idea what you will get each week.

[OomStruisbaai]

Leinster v Ulster
(Lansdowne Road, Dublin – Kick-off: 17.30; 16.30 GMT)
Prediction
@rugby365com: Leinster by 14 points.

Teams:

Leinster: 15 Hugo Keenan, 14 Jordan Larmour, 13 Jimmy O’Brien, 12 Robbie Henshaw, 11 James Lowe, 10 Ross Byrne, 9 Jamison Gibson-Park, 8 Jack Conan, 7 Josh van der Flier, 6 Ryan Baird, 5 James Ryan (captain), 4 Ross Molony, 3 Tadhg Furlong, 2 Dan Sheehan, 1 Andrew Porter.
Replacements: 16 John McKee, 17 Cian Healy, 18 Michael Ala’alatoa, 19 Jason Jenkins, 20 Scott Penny, 21 Luke McGrath, 22 Harry Byrne, 23 Ciarán Frawley.

Ulster: 15 Michael Lowry, 14 Rob Baloucoune, 13 James Hume, 12 Stuart McCloskey, 11 Jacob Stockdale, 10 Billy Burns, 9 Nathan Doak, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Nick Timoney, 6 Dave McCann, 5 Kieran Treadwell, 4 Alan O’Connor (captain), 3 Tom O’Toole, 2 Rob Herring, 1 Rory Sutherland.
Replacements: 16 Tom Stewart, 17 Eric O’Sullivan, 18 Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, 19 Harry Sheridan, 20 Marcus Rea, 21 John Cooney, 22 Stewart Moore, 23 Ben Moxham.

Referee: Luke Pearce (England)
Assistant referees: Dan Jones (England), Jamie Leahy (England)
TMO: Andrew Jackson (England)

[OomStruisbaai]

Stade Rochelais v Gloucester
(Stade Marcel Deflandre, La Rochelle – Kick-off: 18.30; 17.30 UK & Ireland time; 16.30 GMT)
Prediction
@rugby365com: Stade Rochelais by 17 points.

Teams:

Stade Rochelais: 15 Brice Dulin, 14 Teddy Thomas, 13 Raymond Rhule, 12 Jonathan Danty, 11 Jules Favre, 10 Antoine Hastoy, 9 Tawera Kerr-Barlow, 8 Grégory Alldritt (captain), 7 Levani Botia, 6 Ultan Dillane, 5 Will Skelton, 4 Thomas Lavault, 3 Uini Atonio, 2 Pierre Bourgarit, 1 Joel Sclavi.
Replacements: 16 Quentin Lespiaucq Brettes, 17 Reda Wardi, 18 Georges Henri Colombe, 19 Romain Sazy, 20 Yoan Tanga, 21 Paul Boudehent, 22 Thomas Berjon, 23 Hugo Reus.

Gloucester: 15 Santi Carreras, 14 Louis Rees-Zammit, 13 Chris Harris, 12 Seb Atkinson, 11 Ollie Thorley, 10 Billy Twelvetrees, 9 Stephen Varney, 8 Jack Clement, 7 Lewis Ludlow (captain), 6 Ruan Ackermann, 5 Matias Alemanno, 4 Freddie Clarke, 3 Kirill Gotovtsev, 2 Seb Blake, 1 Mayco Vivas.
Replacements: 16 Henry Walker, 17 Harry Elrington, 18 Jamal Ford-Robinson, 19 Cam Jordan, 20 Freddie Thomas, 21 Ben Morgan, 22 Charlie Chapman, 23 Jonny May.

Referee: Mike Adamson (Scotland)
Assistant referees: Sam Grove-White (Scotland), Ian Kenny (Scotland)
TMO: Ben Blain (Scotland)

[OomStruisbaai]

Exeter Chiefs v Montpellier
(Sandy Park, Exeter – Kick-off: 12.30; 11.30 GMT; 13.30 France time)
Prediction
@rugby365com: Exeter by four points.

Teams:

Exeter: 15 Tom Wyatt, 14 Jack Nowell (captain), 13 Henry Slade, 12 Sean O’Brien, 11 Olly Woodburn, 10 Joe Simmonds, 9 Will Becconsall, 8 Sam Simmonds, 7 Christ Tshiunza, 6 Jannes Kirsten, 5 Dafydd Jenkins, 4 Jonny Gray, 3 Marcus Street, 2 Dan Frost, 1 Scott Sio.
Replacements: 16 Jack Yeandle, 17 Alec Hepburn, 18 Josh Iosefa-Scott, 19 Aidon Davis, 20 Dave Ewers, 21 Tom Cairns, 22 Harvey Skinner, 23 Josh Hodge.

Montpellier: 15 Anthony Bouthier (captain), 14 Ben Lam, 13 Thomas Darmon, 12 Jan Serfontein, 11 Vincent Rattez, 10 Paolo Garbisi, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Zach Mercer, 7 Masivesi Dakuwaqa, 6 Nico Janse van Rensburg, 5 Tyler Duguid, 4 Elliott Stooke, 3 Henry Thomas, 2 Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 1 Enzo Forletta.
Replacements: 16 Curtis Langdon, 17 Simon-Pierre Chauvac, 18 Mohamed Haouas, 19 Lenni Nouchi, 20 Leo Coly, 21 Louis Carbonel, 22 George Bridge, 23 Marco Tauleigne.

Referee: Andrew Brace (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Eoghan Cross (Ireland), Oisin Quinn (Ireland)
TMO: Joy Neville (Ireland)

[OomStruisbaai]

Saracens v Ospreys
(StoneX Stadium, London – Kick-off: 15.00; 14.00 GMT)
Prediction
@rugby365com: Saracens by 19 points.

Teams:

Saracens: 15 Alex Goode, 14 Max Malins, 13 Alex Lozowski, 12 Nick Tompkins, 11 Sean Maitland, 10 Owen Farrell (captain), 9 Ivan van Zyl, 8 Billy Vunipola, 7 Ben Earl, 6 Andy Christie, 5 Hugh Tizard, 4 Maro Itoje, 3 Marco Riccioni, 2 Jamie George, 1 Mako Vunipola.
Replacements: 16 Tom Woolstencroft, 17 Eroni Mawi, 18 Alec Clarey, 19 Nick Isiekwe, 20 Jackson Wray, 21 Aled Davies, 22 Duncan Taylor, 23 Alex Lewington.

Ospreys: 15 Michael Collins, 14 George North, 13 Owen Watkin, 12 Keiran Williams, 11 Luke Morgan, 10 Owen Williams, 9 Rhys Webb, 8 Morgan Morris, 7 Justin Tipuric (captain), 6 Ethan Roots, 5 Alun Wyn Jones, 4 Adam Beard, 3 Tomas Francis, 2 Sam Parry, 1 Nicky Smith.
Replacements: 16 Dewi Lake, 17 Gareth Thomas, 18 Tom Botha, 19 Rhys Davies, 20 Dan Lydiate, 21 Reuben Morgan-Wiliams, 22 Gareth Anscombe, 23 Iestyn Hopkins.

Referee: Nika Amashukeli (Georgia)
Assistant referees: Vivien Praderie (France), Pierre-Baptiste Nuchy (France)
TMO: Brian MacNeice (Ireland)

[OomStruisbaai]

Stade Toulousain v Bulls
(Le Stadium, Toulouse – Kick-off: 16.00; 16.00 SA time; 14.00 GMT)
Prediction
@rugby365com: Toulouse by 20 points.

Teams:

Toulouse: 15 Thomas Ramos, 14 Juan Cruz Mallía, 13 Santiago Chocobares, 12 Pita Ahki, 11 Matthis Lebel, 10 Romain Ntamack, 9 Antoine Dupont (captain), 8 Alexandre Roumat, 7 Francois Cros, 6 Jack Willis, 5 Emmanuel Meafou, 4 Richie Arnold, 3 Dorian Aldegheri, 2 Julien Marchand, 1 Cyril Baille.
Replacements: 16 Peato Mauvaka, 17 Rodrigue Neti, 18 David Ainu’u, 19 Thibaud Flament, 20 Alban Placines, 21 Joshua Brennan, 22 Paul Graou, 23 Dimitri Delibes.

Bulls: 15 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 14 Canan Moodie, 13 Cornal Hendricks, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 David Kriel, 10 Chris Smith, 9 Zak Burger, 8 Elrigh Louw, 7 Cyle Brink, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Ruan Nortjé (captain), 4 Ruan Vermaak, 3 Mornay Smith, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp.
Replacements: 16. Bismarck du Plessis, 17 Dylan Smith, 18 Francois Klopper, 19 Janko Swanepoel, 20 WJ Steenkamp, 21 Embrose Papier, 22 Morné Steyn, 23 Stedman Gans.

Referee: Matthew Carley (England)
Assistant referees: Hamish Smales (England); Peter Allan (England)
TMO: David Rose (England)

[Torquemada 1420]

Briz should be expelled for that kit.

[I like neeps]

Raynal is a calamity.

[LenCohen]

Kay and Southwell having a bore off. Just stfu for one moment!

[Torquemada 1420]

Raynal is a calamity.

He was clueless at the breakdown in the Paris derby last week.

[robmatic]

Raynal is a calamity.

He's fussy.

[I like neeps]

McInally is just not good enough these days.

See also, Pyrgos.

[Torquemada 1420]

Genius by Penaud.

[I like neeps]

Quite funny what a lumbering oaf Cole is. Also if Reffell starts to actually get penalised for hands past the ball his career is largely over.

[I like neeps]

Steward with the lateral agility of a 40 year old oil tanker.

[Torquemada 1420]

Quite funny what a lumbering oaf Cole is. Also if Reffell starts to actually get penalised for hands past the ball his career is largely over.

The fact that he's still an Eng intl says it all. Meantime, Genge and Sinckler taking a few pastings against one of the T14's worst teams.

[ASMO]

It is clear that in the form of JVP, Ben Youngs legacy will live on in the England team for at least the next 10 years.

[I like neeps]

It is clear that in the form of JVP, Ben Youngs legacy will live on in the England team for at least the next 10 years.

His box kicks are very good though

[OomStruisbaai]

Handre looking sharp. Embra struggling to finish off

[Torquemada 1420]

It is clear that in the form of JVP, Ben Youngs legacy will live on in the England team for at least the next 10 years.

Contagion is a funny thing. Was just thinking that at one time Bezy was pushing for 2nd best SH in Fra. Now he's a replica of Parra: slows down everything.

[clydecloggie]

In football terms, it feels like I'm watching a League 1 relegation play-off at Welford Road. Lots of huffing and puffing, the occasional glimpse of skill, but very little real quality.

[OomStruisbaai]

Is Jasper injured?

[ASMO]

Is Jasper injured?

Nope, on the bench

[SaintK]

Glad you’re all enjoying it

[ASMO]

Glad you’re all enjoying it

I might enjoy Diarrhoea more

[robmatic]

In football terms, it feels like I'm watching a League 1 relegation play-off at Welford Road. Lots of huffing and puffing, the occasional glimpse of skill, but very little real quality.

I kind of expected it from Embra with the way that we've been playing but I thought Leicester were supposed to be not shit.

[SaintK]

Glad you’re all enjoying it

I might enjoy Diarrhoea more

[Torquemada 1420]

Glad you’re all enjoying it

I might enjoy Diarrhoea more

Briz v ASM 20-22 at HT

[CM11]

In football terms, it feels like I'm watching a League 1 relegation play-off at Welford Road. Lots of huffing and puffing, the occasional glimpse of skill, but very little real quality.

I kind of expected it from Embra with the way that we've been playing but I thought Leicester were supposed to be not shit.

Edinburgh are the only side trying to play. They just had no ball for the first quarter and then couldn't make anything stick.

[SaintK]

I’d forgotten that Watson and Van de Merwe were playing their names have been mentioned so little

[Torquemada 1420]

Glad you’re all enjoying it

I might enjoy Diarrhoea more

And don't forget there is Exeter v Rugby Cancer MH to look fwd to too

[SaintK]

Wiesse brilliant

[ASMO]

Its a clown show

[TheNatalShark]

Absolute nasty habit Van Der Merwe has taking the ball on the line and losing it laterally instead of shuffling to someone in a better position