Official United Rugby Championship thread

[assfly]

Eish. Good luck lads, you'll need it.

[Sards]

Eish. Good luck lads, you'll need it.

It's basically a bully side. Going out to do damage. Heavy forwards and reserves. Looking to do damage up front.
Big backline. Fassi at 15 possibly the only weak defensive leak. But would love to see him in full flight. They are going all in.
Hope Boeta has his confidence back after the last debacle

[OomStruisbaai]

Good luck Sharks. Make us proud!

Specially Corne Rahl, old Oakdaler.

[Sards]

Good luck Sharks. Make us proud!

Specially Corne Rahl, old Oakdaler.

It's the best position to be in. Completely written off. No expectations.

Perfect quarter final. All the pressure is on Leinster

[Tichtheid]

Good luck Sharks. Make us proud!

Specially Corne Rahl, old Oakdaler.

It's the best position to be in. Completely written off. No expectations.

Perfect quarter final. All the pressure is on Leinster

Hrmm, I'm not convinced by that. Leinster have close to a 90% win record at home over the entire course of the league, going back 22 years and covering seasons where they had dips in form and were in development, as all teams do.

Make no mistake, the visiting teams are the ones under pressure in Dublin. You can beat them with a mighty pack and great work at the breakdown, slowing up their ball and getting in their faces with the defensive line so the slick pre-planned moves in the backs don't come off, but it's a rare sight.

[OomStruisbaai]

DHL Stormers: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Angelo Davids, 13 Ruhan Nel, 12 Dan du Plessis, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Herschel Jantjies, 8 Evan Roos, 7 Hacjivah Dayimani, 6 Deon Fourie, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Ruben van Heerden, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Joseph Dweba, 1 Steven Kitshoff (captain).
Replacements: 16 JJ Kotze, 17 Ali Vermaak, 18 Neethling Fouche, 19 Gary Porter, 20 Ben-Jason Dixon, 21 Willie Engelbrecht, 22 Paul de Wet, 23 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu.

Vodacom Bulls – 15 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 14 Canan Moodie, 13 Stedman Gans, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 David Kriel, 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Elrigh Louw, 7 Cyle Brink, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Ruan Nortje (c), 4 Ruan Vermaak, 3 Mornay Smith, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp.
Subs: 16 Bismarck du Plessis, 17 Simphiwe Matanzima, 18 Francois Klopper, 19 Janko Swanepoel, 20 Nizaam Carr, 21 Keagan Johannes, 22 Chris Smith, 23 Lionel Mapoe.

[PornDog]

Leinster:
15. Hugo Keenan
14. Jordan Larmour
13. Ciarán Frawley
12. Charlie Ngatai
11. Dave Kearney
10. Harry Byrne
9. Luke McGrath (captain)
1. Michael Milne
2. Dan Sheehan
3. Tadhg Furlong
4. Ryan Baird
5. Jason Jenkins
6. Max Deegan
7. Scott Penny
8. Caelan Doris
Replacements:

16. John McKee (18)
17. Andrew Porter (106)
18. Cian Healy (262)
19. Joe McCarthy (17)
20. Jack Conan (130)
21. Jamison Gibson-Park (124)
22. Ross Byrne (146)
23. Liam Turner (18)

LEO CULLEN HAS made nine changes to the Leinster team that beat Toulouse in last weekend’s Champions Cup semi-final for tomorrow’s United Rugby Championship quarter-final clash against the Sharks at Aviva Stadium [KO 5pm, RTÉ2/URC TV].

Luke McGrath will captain the side while out-half Harry Byrne has been named to win his 50th Leinster cap.

A strong back three sees Hugo Keenan continue at fullback, with Jordan Larmour and Dave Kearney on the wings, while Ciarán Frawley and Charlie Ngatai start together in the centre positions for the first time this season.

McGrath captains the side at scrum-half, while Byrne makes his first start since the URC draw at the Stormers in March.

Dan Sheehan is named at hooker with Michael Milne and Tadhg Furlong packing down either side of him in the front row, while Ryan Baird and Jason Jenkins start in the second row.

In back row, Caelan Doris reverts to number eight and lines out alongside Max Deegan and Scott Penny.

Grand Slam winners Andrew Porter, Cian Healy, Jack Conan, Jamison Gibson-Park and Ross Byrne are all named on a strong Leinster bench, where there is also a welcome return from injury for Joe McCarthy, who could feature for the first time since January.

That many changes has me nervous. Milne has been very good, but it will be a big test going up against Du Toit. Ringer, JOB, Ala'alatoa, James Ryan and VDF all out of the 23.

[Uncle fester]

Interested to see how Penny gets on.

[CM11]

Interested to see how Penny gets on.

Yep. One of the biggest games of his career to date, if not biggest.

Tricky few weeks for Leinster selection wise. Think they've just about got that selection right but if we win then next week will be much harder to balance.

Kelleher might be available, which would be great. McCarthy back is a bonus. I think.

[Chilli]

$harks by 3
Stormers by 21
Ulster by 5
Munster by 5

[OomStruisbaai]

Leinster by 25
Stormers by 9
Connacht by 4
Glasgow by 8

[fishfoodie]

Teams for this evenings opener


Ulster: Mike Lowry; Rob Baloucoune, James Hume, Stuart McCloskey, Jacob Stockdale; Billy Burns, John Cooney; Rory Sutherland, Rob Herring, Jeffery Toomaga-Allen; Alan O'Connor (capt), Kieran Treadwell; Dave McCann, Nick Timoney, Duane Vermeulen.

Replacements: Tom Stewart, Eric O’Sullivan, Gareth Milasinovich, Sam Carter, Jordi Murphy, Nathan Doak, Stewart Moore, Craig Gilroy.


Connacht: Tiernan O'Halloran; John Porch, Tom Farrell, Bundee Aki, Mack Hansen; Jack Carty (capt), Caolin Blade; Denis Buckley, Dave Heffernan, Finlay Bealham; Josh Murphy, Niall Murray; Shamus Hurley-Langton, Conor Oliver, Cian Prendergast.

Replacements: Dylan Tierney-Martin, Jordan Duggan, Jack Aungier, Oisín Dowling, Jarrad Butler, Kieran Marmion, Tom Daly, Byron Ralston.

[Uncle fester]

$harks by 3
Stormers by 21
Ulster by 5
Munster by 5

Some bold predictions in there.

[Uncle fester]

Teams for this evenings opener


Ulster: Mike Lowry; Rob Baloucoune, James Hume, Stuart McCloskey, Jacob Stockdale; Billy Burns, John Cooney; Rory Sutherland, Rob Herring, Jeffery Toomaga-Allen; Alan O'Connor (capt), Kieran Treadwell; Dave McCann, Nick Timoney, Duane Vermeulen.

Replacements: Tom Stewart, Eric O’Sullivan, Gareth Milasinovich, Sam Carter, Jordi Murphy, Nathan Doak, Stewart Moore, Craig Gilroy.


Connacht: Tiernan O'Halloran; John Porch, Tom Farrell, Bundee Aki, Mack Hansen; Jack Carty (capt), Caolin Blade; Denis Buckley, Dave Heffernan, Finlay Bealham; Josh Murphy, Niall Murray; Shamus Hurley-Langton, Conor Oliver, Cian Prendergast.

Replacements: Dylan Tierney-Martin, Jordan Duggan, Jack Aungier, Oisín Dowling, Jarrad Butler, Kieran Marmion, Tom Daly, Byron Ralston.

Must be hard up if they have Jordi on the bench.

[fishfoodie]

Glasgow: Ollie Smith; Sebastian Cancelliere, Sione Tuipulotu, Stafford McDowall, Kyle Steyn; Tom Jordan, George Horne; Jamie Bhatti, Johnny Matthews, Zander Fagerson; Scott Cummings, Richie Gray, Matt Fagerson, Rory Darge, Jack Dempsey

Replacements: Fraser Brown, Nathan McBeth, Simon Berghan, JP du Preez, Lewis Bean, Sione Vailanu, Ali Price, Huw Jones

Munster: Mike Haley; Calvin Nash, Antoine Frisch, Malakai Fekitoa, Shane Daly; Jack Crowley, Conor Murray; Jeremy Loughman, Diarmuid Barron, Stephen Archer; Jean Kleyn, RG Snyman; Tadhg Beirne, Peter O’Mahony (C), Gavin Coombes.

Replacements: Niall Scannell, Josh Wycherley, Roman Salanoa, Fineen Wycherley, John Hodnett, Craig Casey, Ben Healy, Alex Kendellen.

[Uncle fester]

Plenty of quality on that Glasgow bench.

[Dogbert]

Plenty of quality on that Glasgow bench.

As long as TomJordon doesn't get injured .....

[OomStruisbaai]

Griquas beating a full strength Lions team in the CC. Unbelievable.

[Sandstorm]

Ulster vs Connaught. Shithouse rugby

[PornDog]

Connacht. Connaught is a Hotel in London

[Tichtheid]

Connacht. Connaught is a Hotel in London

Aye, Connaught is like naught, or not, Connacht has the ch in it, like our loch - is that about right?

[fishfoodie]

Connacht have butchered so much attacking possession already that it's hard to see them getting the win

[freddie]

Ulster vs Connaught. Shithouse rugby

This match? Yes.
In general, no.

[Tichtheid]

Crowds and players are getting worse, the crowd booing is shit as is players moaning at the ref

[Simian]

Connacht. Connaught is a Hotel in London

Aye, Connaught is like naught, or not, Connacht has the ch in it, like our loch - is that about right?

Is Connaught not the anglicised spelling forced during English rule?

[Tichtheid]

Connacht. Connaught is a Hotel in London

Aye, Connaught is like naught, or not, Connacht has the ch in it, like our loch - is that about right?

Is Connaught not the anglicised spelling forced by English rule?

That's my understanding , but I don't know the Irish for it.

[Simian]

Connacht have butchered so much attacking possession already that it's hard to see them getting the win

the midfield passing has been shocking

engaging game tho!

[fishfoodie]

Connacht. Connaught is a Hotel in London

Aye, Connaught is like naught, or not, Connacht has the ch in it, like our loch - is that about right?

Is Connaught not the anglicised spelling forced during English rule?

yeah, its one of a million phonetic spellings you encounter in Ireland; it makes it easier for non-natives to work out the pronunciation

[PornDog]

Connacht. Connaught is a Hotel in London

Aye, Connaught is like naught, or not, Connacht has the ch in it, like our loch - is that about right?

Connaught is I believe an anglicisation, with no doubt the hotel named after some wanker Lord Connaught or some such. It's a spelling thats never used (unless talking about the hotel)

[robmatic]

Connacht have butchered so much attacking possession already that it's hard to see them getting the win

the midfield passing has been shocking

engaging game tho!

Some great turnovers and handling until Connacht get into the Ulster 22, at which point they flub it.

[Slick]

Crowds and players are getting worse, the crowd booing is shit as is players moaning at the ref

Yup. Thought there was nothing worse in rugby at the moment than watching an Irish team play. Turns out I was wrong, watching two is even worse

[OomStruisbaai]

nah....not for the Sharks....the Stormers vs bulls game

Marius vsn der Westhuizen

OK you looking for excuses for the Bulls.

Did I see Marius for the Stormers Bulls game....

Bye bye Bulls

Jaco it is.

[FalseBayFC]

In a neat little town they call Belfast...

C'mon Ulster!

[Tichtheid]

In a neat little town they call Belfast...

C'mon Ulster!

That's the Dubliners

[fishfoodie]

Marmion looks like he's gone 12 rounds with Tyson

[FalseBayFC]

In a neat little town they call Belfast...

C'mon Ulster!

That's the Dubliners

I know but the song is about Belfast.

[fishfoodie]

In a neat little town they call Belfast...

C'mon Ulster!

That's the Dubliners

Did Hugo Duncan do a cover version

[FalseBayFC]

In a neat little town they call Belfast...

C'mon Ulster!

That's the Dubliners

Did Hugo Duncan do a cover version

[fishfoodie]

That's the Dubliners

Did Hugo Duncan do a cover version

OMG, & I was joking

[FalseBayFC]

My neighbor from Belfast introduced me to the song. He's an ex heroin addict and claims to be an ex-provo too. Plays the guitar and has a lovely voice. I've always been a bit scared of him.