URC Season 2024/2025 Official Thread

[PornDog]

I need a Lemsip after that. Absolutely cracking try

[fishfoodie]

I need a Lemsip after that. Absolutely cracking try

Pace yourself, there's an hour to go !

[OomStruisbaai]

Sharks struggling.

[OomStruisbaai]

That's better.

[fishfoodie]

The Munster match could be a game of water polo with the conditions in Cork.

Thank Dog they replaced the old pitch, my brother nearly drowned at the bottom of a ruck there, back in the day.

[fishfoodie]

Oooops

[Tichtheid]

Oooops

What was it, about six seconds?

[fishfoodie]

Oooops

What was it, about six seconds?

Yeah, about that. Whats the record I wonder ?

[Edit] According to RTE it was 10 seconds

[Tichtheid]

Oooops

What was it, about six seconds?

Yeah, about that. Whats the record I wonder ?

[Edit] According to RTE it was 10 seconds

Pfft, half the game's away

[fishfoodie]

18 - 0 HT in Cork; with the wind in their faces for the 2nd half, that wouldn't be enough against a good team, but I don't think Ospreys have the cattle, or nous to win from here.

[Sards]

Hope there's an improvement in the Stormers game second half.

[OomStruisbaai]

Stormers defense good tonight.

[fishfoodie]

Murray comes on an immediately makes a difference .... by fucking up

[C69]

Munster with a well deserved bonus point but by fuck the officiating has been inconsistent to say the least.

[Sandstorm]

Stormers win on the road - makes a nice change.

[OomStruisbaai]

Stormers win on the road - makes a nice change.

The scrum and specially defense was outstanding and they respect Zebra by building the innings. Same with the Bulls. Maak voor sag.

[Chilli2]

Were the Ulster and Edinburgh teams the best teams that they could send? Or were these second string teams?

[OomStruisbaai]

Next:
Friday, 11 October 2024
Glasgow v Zebre

Saturday, 12 October 2024
Benetton v Sharks
Cardiff v Scarlets
Edinburgh v Stormers
Leinster v Munster
Ospreys v Bulls
Ulster v Connacht

Sunday, 13 October 2024
Dragons v Lions

[OomStruisbaai]

Were the Ulster and Edinburgh teams the best teams that they could send? Or were these second string teams?

It's their best teams. Only Leinster send B or C teams and the French.

[fishfoodie]

Not really going to get any better for Embra, is it ?

[OomStruisbaai]

Not really going to get any better for Embra, is it ?

They have an easy game on saturday

[Blake]

Were the Ulster and Edinburgh teams the best teams that they could send? Or were these second string teams?

It's their best teams. Only Leinster send B or C teams and the French.

Haven't Ulster contributed a bunch of players to the "Emerging Ireland" team that is also touring SA right now?

[Sards]

Not really going to get any better for Embra, is it ?

They have an easy game on saturday

Didn't the Stormers get a bonus point for tries. I got bored and went to bed

[OomStruisbaai]

Not really going to get any better for Embra, is it ?

They have an easy game on saturday

Didn't the Stormers get a bonus point for tries. I got bored and went to bed

They were lucky to beat Zebre in the 82nd minute, didn't the Sharks lost there last year?

[OomStruisbaai]

Were the Ulster and Edinburgh teams the best teams that they could send? Or were these second string teams?

It's their best teams. Only Leinster send B or C teams and the French.

Haven't Ulster contributed a bunch of players to the "Emerging Ireland" team that is also touring SA right now?

Cormac Izuchukwu (Ballynahinch RFC/Ulster)
Harry Sheridan (Dublin University FC/Ulster)
Jack Murphy (Clontarf FC/Ulster)

Don't think they are regulars.

[Biffer]

Not really going to get any better for Embra, is it ?

Probably the four toughest games available to start the season.

Not that we’ve done well in them.

[fishfoodie]

Not really going to get any better for Embra, is it ?

Probably the four toughest games available to start the season.

Not that we’ve done well in them.

Connacht had a similar fixture list a couple of years ago, with a really tough start, but more opportunities later on; then last year that was reversed.

All a team can do is keep after those bonus points, & try to get something from every fixture, because they count at the end of the season.

[Biffer]

Not really going to get any better for Embra, is it ?

Probably the four toughest games available to start the season.

Not that we’ve done well in them.

Connacht had a similar fixture list a couple of years ago, with a really tough start, but more opportunities later on; then last year that was reversed.

All a team can do is keep after those bonus points, & try to get something from every fixture, because they count at the end of the season.

Yeah, if we’d got the fourth try on Saturday for an unlikely bonus point it would have been a small consolation.

[Uncle fester]

It's their best teams. Only Leinster send B or C teams and the French.

Haven't Ulster contributed a bunch of players to the "Emerging Ireland" team that is also touring SA right now?

Cormac Izuchukwu (Ballynahinch RFC/Ulster)
Harry Sheridan (Dublin University FC/Ulster)
Jack Murphy (Clontarf FC/Ulster)

Don't think they are regulars.

Izuchukwu would be a first teamer at this stage. Lot of potential.

[fishfoodie]

Haven't Ulster contributed a bunch of players to the "Emerging Ireland" team that is also touring SA right now?

Cormac Izuchukwu (Ballynahinch RFC/Ulster)
Harry Sheridan (Dublin University FC/Ulster)
Jack Murphy (Clontarf FC/Ulster)

Don't think they are regulars.

Izuchukwu would be a first teamer at this stage. Lot of potential.

And Jack may be a kid, but he has done a bloody good job with the U20's. so if Ulster are looking to the future, they want to be giving him time on the pitch.

[OomStruisbaai]

Not really going to get any better for Embra, is it ?

Probably the four toughest games available to start the season.

Not that we’ve done well in them.

Connacht had a similar fixture list a couple of years ago, with a really tough start, but more opportunities later on; then last year that was reversed.

All a team can do is keep after those bonus points, & try to get something from every fixture, because they count at the end of the season.

The beaut of the URC is that there isnt easy games anymore. Its a fight for every point. I maybe biased but I rate the URC as a top competition and all the countries benefit from it.

[Chilli2]

Probably the four toughest games available to start the season.

Not that we’ve done well in them.

Connacht had a similar fixture list a couple of years ago, with a really tough start, but more opportunities later on; then last year that was reversed.

All a team can do is keep after those bonus points, & try to get something from every fixture, because they count at the end of the season.

The beaut of the URC is that there isnt easy games anymore. Its a fight for every point. I maybe biased but I rate the URC as a top competition and all the countries benefit from it.

Yeah, I really like the competition. Pretty much decent rugby and a good viewing times.

[OomStruisbaai]

Connacht had a similar fixture list a couple of years ago, with a really tough start, but more opportunities later on; then last year that was reversed.

All a team can do is keep after those bonus points, & try to get something from every fixture, because they count at the end of the season.

The beaut of the URC is that there isnt easy games anymore. Its a fight for every point. I maybe biased but I rate the URC as a top competition and all the countries benefit from it.

Yeah, I really like the competition. Pretty much decent rugby and a good viewing times.

There are so many more matches compare to Soup. We never had two matches at the same time like in the URC and the Champions/Challenge Cup who have like 4 / 5.

[_Os_]

Wales online are reporting these two formats are being considered. I think Wales Online has a reputation for being full of tabloid bullshit? But it does provide something to go on regarding the formats they're looking at.

Two divisions with promotion relegation = that is the get rid of SA and Italy option. Problem is a second division maybe isn't that viable long term. Any team that cannot get out of that division ends up playing weaker sides, not improving, and maybe not getting any support as a result. This is where the Welsh bullshit starts not joining up with reality, if they want a British and Irish league it's one of the better formats, but Welsh sides are the most at risk of being locked into the second division.

Some strange two conference option = Looks a bit Homer Simpson clown car. The option where everyone tries to have their cake and eat it too. SA and Italian sides are kept. English sides link up with the URC. Welsh sides play the English sides without risk of being relegated into irrelevance. Problem is the comp stops making much sense. Super Rugby ended up in a mess by choosing options like this. "Choose the Homer Simpson clown car to grow by a few million dollars", just means going for growth of a few percent which in practice blows it all up.

This talk does look like it's mostly Welsh/English driven, they don't really want the same things though. The Welsh want to play all the English sides, because they think there's more money in it for them, which is possible by setting ticket prices below English clubs and targeting away fans (maybe there would be an agreement on minimum ticket prices? attracting English fans still seems a legitimate expectation). They also think playing English clubs will improve them on the pitch, which there's no evidence for. Some English clubs aren't convinced their model is working anymore, so some of them want to add the stronger Celtic sides which aren't the Welsh sides.

Cannot see how any of this will help them. The fundamental problem in Wales is their sides aren't professional enough, they've fallen behind off the field in management and coaching, it's a not a player quality or lack of interest issue. The fundamental problem in England is below test rugby (really just the 6N and RWC) there's next to no interest and therefore little prospect of more fans/money than already exists regardless of what they do.

Two choices tabled for URC and English Premiership merger as relegation proposed

A merger of the United Rugby Championship and English Premiership split into two divisions with promotion and relegation is being considered.

Both competitions are looking at ways of increasing the value of future broadcasting deals with neither the URC or the Gallagher Premiership achieving the level of commercial success it wants. Talks are taking place between the relevant powerbrokers from both competitions, along with private equity firm CVC, who own a 27% share of the Premiership and 28% of the URC.

One option being seriously considered is merging both leagues into two divisions with promotion and relegation. All sides would play each other home and away with play-offs at the end of the season.

The other option is an Anglo-Welsh conference sitting within the URC where Wales' four professional clubs - Cardiff, Dragons, Ospreys and Scarlets - would essentially play English sides throughout the season until the end of season play-offs. One potential sticking point here could be the number of Welsh clubs, with some English sides favouring two and others three.

WalesOnline understands there is a difference of opinion among the English clubs with some preferring the Anglo-Welsh conference and others wanting regular fixtures against heavyweight Irish provinces, while there are also those who would prefer not to have Italian or South African sides involved. Wales' clubs would prefer an Anglo-Welsh conference because it would cut out travelling, reignite historic rivalries and potentially lead to improved attendances while there is also a salary cap in England which would increase the chances of the Welsh sides being competitive.

On the flip side, a two-division competition would be a dangerous proposition for the Welsh clubs because there is a very real prospect of all four getting consigned to the second tier. Conversely, the jeopardy involved in a competition involving promotion and relegation would increase the appetite of broadcasters.

WalesOnline have been told there could be an extra £4m of TV revenue with a two division competition, with Sky Sports said to be interested. But from a Welsh perspective an Anglo-Welsh conference would be far more beneficial from a commercial perspective.

All the discussions are centred around how changing competition structures could potentially drive up the value of the next broadcasting deal at a time when the market has flatlined.

https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rug ... h-30094854

[_Os_]

Some interesting innovations ...

Bulls on the break. Before they cross the 50 metre they kick it, if it bounces nicely there's a better chance of scoring than if it's carried, if it's over kicked it's a 50/22 and the Bulls get the lineout, again for a better try scoring chance than carrying. Really solid option add it to the Boks.



Stomps trick move. Fake the ball going one way carry it into space. Old in one way "up the jumper" etc, but looks really professional like an American Football fake move. Don't know much about American Football, but my understanding is moves like this are situational and the quarterback calls them and runs into the space rather than passing? Probably limited scope for using this, situational, trick play, can end up looking stupid and going backward.



Sharks milking penalties. Fairly sure Hendrikse has done this in the CC, URC, and RC, all levels of the SA pro game, within a month or two. Basically player on the wrong side who is obstructing, Hendrikse makes sure the ref knows by making a meal of it. It's basically two player committing a professional foul. Works really fucking well, cannot use it too often though you will be found out, keep it in the back pocket for the Boks.

[OomStruisbaai]

It took a long time from my favorite poster.

[Slick]

OS, you are correct, Wales online known for just making stuff up.

On your second post, I think you are reading rather too much into 1 & 3, which are pretty standard plays/cheating. Number 2 is cool though.

[Sandstorm]

Number 2 is cool though.

Coolest part was Dwebe actually finding his jumper. Useless mong.

[_Os_]

OS, you are correct, Wales online known for just making stuff up.

On your second post, I think you are reading rather too much into 1 & 3, which are pretty standard plays/cheating. Number 2 is cool though.

Take the point on 3, I've just seen Hendrikse do it a lot in a short space of time. Innovation, not really.

1, I had not seen that exploit of the 50/22 law before, where kicking it is the best percentage play and made whilst running the ball rather than through return kicking. Without the 50/22 law the percentage play is probably keeping it in hand, certainly there's more risk to kicking it.

[Slick]

OS, you are correct, Wales online known for just making stuff up.

On your second post, I think you are reading rather too much into 1 & 3, which are pretty standard plays/cheating. Number 2 is cool though.

Take the point on 3, I've just seen Hendrikse do it a lot in a short space of time. Innovation, not really.

1, I had not seen that exploit of the 50/22 law before, where kicking it is the best percentage play and made whilst running the ball rather than through return kicking. Without the 50/22 law the percentage play is probably keeping it in hand, certainly there's more risk to kicking it.

Without wishing to get into a protracted discussion, he literally just kicked the ball because the defence was coming across and there was a lot of space. I don't see it as a well thought out plan.