Official United Rugby Championship thread

[assfly]

Sharks: 15 Boeta Chamberlain, 14 Yaw Penxe, 13 Diego Appollis, 12 Eduan Keyter, 11 Aphiwe Dyantyi, 10 Lionel Cronje, 9 Tiaan Fourie, 8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 7 Simon Miller, 6 Tino Mavesere, 5 Reniel Hugo (captain), 4 Corne Rahl, 3 Khwezi Mona, 2 Dylan Richardson, 1 Dian Bleuler.
Replacements 16 Dan Jooste, 17 Braam Reyneke, 18 IG Prinsloo, 19 Thomas Dyer, 20 Nick Hatton, 21 Bradley Davids, 22 Curwin Bosch, 23 Anthony Volmink.


"Second string" is putting it politely.

[Sandstorm]

Sharks: 15 Boeta Chamberlain, 14 Yaw Penxe, 13 Diego Appollis, 12 Eduan Keyter, 11 Aphiwe Dyantyi, 10 Lionel Cronje, 9 Tiaan Fourie, 8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 7 Simon Miller, 6 Tino Mavesere, 5 Reniel Hugo (captain), 4 Corne Rahl, 3 Khwezi Mona, 2 Dylan Richardson, 1 Dian Bleuler.
Replacements 16 Dan Jooste, 17 Braam Reyneke, 18 IG Prinsloo, 19 Thomas Dyer, 20 Nick Hatton, 21 Bradley Davids, 22 Curwin Bosch, 23 Anthony Volmink.


"Second string" is putting it politely.

That's some pedestrian 10-12-13-15 combo you've got there.

[assfly]

That's some pedestrian 10-12-13-15 combo you've got there.

I forgot half those players were in our squad. It must be hard to sit on the sidelines for so long, then then get thrown into an invitational XV to play a dead rubber game.

[Sandstorm]

That's some pedestrian 10-12-13-15 combo you've got there.

I forgot half those players were in our squad. It must be hard to sit on the sidelines for so long, then then get thrown into an invitational XV to play a dead rubber game.

At least Bosch will come on after 55 mins and increase the amount of kicking.

[Sandstorm]

That's some pedestrian 10-12-13-15 combo you've got there.

I forgot half those players were in our squad. It must be hard to sit on the sidelines for so long, then then get thrown into an invitational XV to play a dead rubber game.

At least Bosch will come on after 55 mins and increase the amount of kicking.

Actually if he's on the bench behind players like Chamberlain and Cronje....how the mighty have fallen!! Anyone seen Eggman?

[assfly]

Actually if he's on the bench behind players like Chamberlain and Cronje....how the mighty have fallen!! Anyone seen Eggman?

I suspect he'll be on the bench for the Challenge Cup Final, so he's probably just backup. It would probably be pointless giving him gametime if there aren't any injuries.

[Sandstorm]

Mild and dry for a change tomorrow in Galway, so a good chance for the Stormers to run the ball. I suspect we won't.....

[OomStruisbaai]

CONNACHT RUGBY MATCHDAY 23 VS DHL STORMERS
17:05, Saturday 18th May 2024 @ Dexcom Stadium

Number/name/caps (* denotes uncapped)

15. Tiernan O’Halloran (237)
14. John Porch (86)
13. David Hawkshaw (28)
12. Bundee Aki (137)
11. Byron Ralston (29)
10. Jack Carty (210)
9. Caolin Blade (190)
1. Peter Dooley (35)
2. Dave Heffernan (198) (C)
3. Finlay Bealham (202)
4. Joe Joyce (19)
5. Darragh Murray (23)
6. Cian Prendergast (66)
7. Shamus Hurley-Langton (38)
8. Sean Jansen (6)

16. Dylan Tierney-Martin (34)
17. Jordan Duggan (48)
18. Jack Aungier (65)
19. Oisín Dowling (58)
20. Jarrad Butler (128)
21. Colm Reilly (25)
22. Cathal Forde (29)
23. Santiago Cordero *

Stormers — 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Suleiman Hartzenberg, 13 Dan du Plessis, 12 Damian Willemse, 11 Angelo Davids, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Herschel Jantjies, 8 Hacjivah Dayimani, 7 Ben-Jason Dixon, 6 Evan Roos, 5 Ruben van Heerden, 4 Salmaan Moerat (c), 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Joseph Dweba, 1 Brok Harris.
Subs: 16 Andre-Hugo Venter, 17 Kwenzo Blose, 18 Neethling Fouche, 19 Adre Smith, 20 Marcel Theunissen, 21 Stefan Ungerer, 22 Jean-Luc du Plessis, 23 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu.

[Sandstorm]

Dwebe....sigh.

[OomStruisbaai]

Will be massive if the Stormers win this one.

[OomStruisbaai]

Embra losing to Munster. Not without a fight.

[fishfoodie]

Venter failed his IQ test

[OomStruisbaai]

The Lions should have scored many times.

[OomStruisbaai]

Better crowd then usual in Ellispark

[lemonhead]

Lovely score.

Huge game for both sides

[lemonhead]

And red.

Oh well

[fishfoodie]

And red.

Oh well

A Yellow & a Red in ~15 minutes of time on the field; that's quite the record.

[OomStruisbaai]

Lions fight hard.

[TheNatalShark]

Absolutely fascinating that Rowe didn't spot or pass to Horne

[TheNatalShark]

Weegies are shitting it

[OomStruisbaai]

Huge performance from the Lions.

[OomStruisbaai]

Franco Smith look lost.

[_Os_]

Lions v Glasgow ... what a crazy match that was.

[Tichtheid]

Well done Lions, but...

Glasgow were playing against fourteen for over half the game and 13 for ten minutes and they were the ones who looked exhausted and clueless. I don't think I've seen them play worse than that.

Dreadful.

[_Os_]

Zimbo getting a red card has fucked us. I hold Assfly personally responsible. Wright wouldn't have let the team down like this!

[Sards]

Well done Lions, but...

Glasgow were playing against fourteen for over half the game and 13 for ten minutes and they were the ones who looked exhausted and clueless. I don't think I've seen them play worse than that.

Dreadful.

That was outstanding from the Lions

[Sards]

Lions v Glasgow ... what a crazy match that was.

Breathtaking.

Lions need another 5 next week

[OomStruisbaai]

Sards dream end in a nightmare

[OomStruisbaai]

Sharks again the joke of SA Rugby.

[Jim Lahey]

I know it was Leinster's 2nds but fuck that felt good to watch.

Ulster look to be pulling out of their death spiral into the depths of shitness. Best performance in a VERY long time. Doubt we'll do much in the playoffs (assuming we get there) but at least next season doesn't seem as depressing as it did a month or so ago.

[fishfoodie]

I know it was Leinster's 2nds but fuck that felt good to watch.

Ulster look to be pulling out of their death spiral into the depths of shitness. Best performance in a VERY long time. Doubt we'll do much in the playoffs (assuming we get there) but at least next season doesn't seem as depressing as it did a month or so ago.

T'was long past time for a change of management, but I'm sure I'm preaching to the choir on that, but there were too many players not giving it their all, & there needed to be a reset to kick them up the arse.

There'll be a significant roll over in senior players over the next 3-4 years, & there has to be a unified approach to how that happens, & if that means some blazer get kicked out, then so be it !

[Sards]

Top 4 look set to me. Its just a matter of playing for your opposition for the rest.

[fishfoodie]

Top 4 look set to me. Its just a matter of playing for your opposition for the rest.

And we're left with a number of crucial intra-national, last round contests ....

Leinster v Connacht ( with Connacht hoping Leinster won the previous weekend, & are still hungover....)
Stormers v Lions
Cardiff v Ospreys

Connacht don't really deserve Top 8, & I think we should have the best Welsh side in the there if they can pull it off

[OomStruisbaai]

Pretty satisfied with the Stormers performance last night. Much talk about Aki vs Willemse. Again Willemse passing that test with flying colours. Libbok put in a MOTM performance but the most impressive was the defense and performance from the bench. I would start most of that bench.

The last match against the Lions will be a perfect run into the play offs for the Stormers.

[Sandstorm]

Pretty satisfied with the Stormers performance last night. Much talk about Aki vs Willemse. Again Willemse passing that test with flying colours. Libbok put in a MOTM performance but the most impressive was the defense and performance from the bench. I would start most of that bench.

The last match against the Lions will be a perfect run into the play offs for the Stormers.

Too much kicking!!! I dunno what the stats are, but I feel the Stormers kick 30% more when away from home

[OomStruisbaai]

Pretty satisfied with the Stormers performance last night. Much talk about Aki vs Willemse. Again Willemse passing that test with flying colours. Libbok put in a MOTM performance but the most impressive was the defense and performance from the bench. I would start most of that bench.

The last match against the Lions will be a perfect run into the play offs for the Stormers.

Too much kicking!!! I dunno what the stats are, but I feel the Stormers kick 30% more when away from home

Yesterday kicking at leastr had good results for the Stormers. For some reason Connachts struggled with it. Thought Willemse, Libbok and Gelant fierld ours well.

[OomStruisbaai]

1 Munster - 63: Ulster (H)
2 Bulls - 61: Sharks (A)
3 Glasgow - 60: Zebre (H)
4 Leinster - 60: Connacht (H)
5 Stormers - 54: Lions (H)
6 Ulster - 53: Munster (A)
7 Benetton - 49: Edinburgh (H)
8 Edinburgh - 49: Benetton (A)
9 Lions - 49: Stormers (A)
10 Connacht - 45: Leinster (A)
11 Ospreys - 45: Cardiff (A)
12 Cardiff - 30: Ospreys (H)
13 Sharks - 25 Bulls (A)
14 Scarlets - 22: Dragons (H)
15 Dragons - 16: Scarlets (A)
16 Zebre - 15: Glasgow (A)

[OomStruisbaai]

Can't see the top 8 change much. Friday night matches will settle Leinster and Glasgow positions. The rest will know what's needed from them. Bulls have the easiest game.

[assfly]

Sharks again the joke of SA Rugby.

Stay humble bro.

[assfly]

That went about as well as expected for the $harks. I though the red card was quite harsh as it was clear the player was dipping, but it was game over after that. Thank vok this season is nearly over.