URC Season 2024/2025 Official Thread

[LoveOfTheGame]

Jake White accuses Moody of overeating in his time with the Boks, and that he's come back to the Bulls out of shape.

I'm not sure if this is something you should really be saying at a press conference, but rather during a private conversation with the S&C team.

Yeah I read that and thought it's poor form from Jake. Not disagreeing with him, but having a go at your players in front of the media is not a good look.

[Sards]

Jake White accuses Moody of overeating in his time with the Boks, and that he's come back to the Bulls out of shape.

I'm not sure if this is something you should really be saying at a press conference, but rather during a private conversation with the S&C team.

Yeah I read that and thought it's poor form from Jake. Not disagreeing with him, but having a go at your players in front of the media is not a good look.

If you cannot accept honest criticism then you shouldn't be playing top level sport. I said during the match he looked way off the pace. Fragile egos and mentality are traits of weakness. I don't believe Moodie has a fragile ego. Nothing like vokken Libbok.

Regarding the reffing. Vok me I am surprised the Sharks accept Marius adjudication the matches. It's like clockwork when the Sharks play the Stormers. The complaints about him after the match are thunderous. I keep saying he is s cheating p#%s. Sharks should have beaten the Stormers soundly. If not for his ridiculous officiating. And no my complaints are not a new thing. I have been saying it for years

[assfly]

I also thought that Dan du Plessis was clearly carrying an injury after his knee was strapped. Spent the rest of the game avoiding contact or getting run over.

[LoveOfTheGame]

Jake White accuses Moody of overeating in his time with the Boks, and that he's come back to the Bulls out of shape.

I'm not sure if this is something you should really be saying at a press conference, but rather during a private conversation with the S&C team.

Yeah I read that and thought it's poor form from Jake. Not disagreeing with him, but having a go at your players in front of the media is not a good look.

If you cannot accept honest criticism then you shouldn't be playing top level sport. I said during the match he looked way off the pace. Fragile egos and mentality are traits of weakness. I don't believe Moodie has a fragile ego. Nothing like vokken Libbok.

Regarding the reffing. Vok me I am surprised the Sharks accept Marius adjudication the matches. It's like clockwork when the Sharks play the Stormers. The complaints about him after the match are thunderous. I keep saying he is s cheating p#%s. Sharks should have beaten the Stormers soundly. If not for his ridiculous officiating. And no my complaints are not a new thing. I have been saying it for years

Sheez Sards, don't you think it's time for some new material. Lazy and boring. Up your game dude.

[clydecloggie]

After 7 rounds, Leinster, Glasgow and the Bulls are in a happy place. Would not surprise me to see them finsih as the Top-3 at the end of the season. You'd expect Cardiff to drop away, but they have the benefit of playing 6 matches against the other Welsh teams.

Munster, Ulster and the Stormers the surprises at the wrong end of the table so far.

[Sandstorm]

Regarding the reffing. Vok me I am surprised the Sharks accept Marius adjudication the matches. It's like clockwork when the Sharks play the Stormers. The complaints about him after the match are thunderous. I keep saying he is s cheating p#%s. Sharks should have beaten the Stormers soundly. If not for his ridiculous officiating. And no my complaints are not a new thing. I have been saying it for years

Eh? You think Marius reffed the game and favoured the Stormers????

[Sandstorm]

Libbok is very different to Curwin. He make stupid mistakes but fuck me his the ability to put his backline in space. Bosch the opposite kick like a donkey but thats all. No defense, no distribution.

That wasn't quite my point. The similarity is that at some point the Sharks had to accept that his confidence was rock bottom, he's not going to re-find the form of his best years, and that the fans had stopped backing him. The best thing he could do is get some experience away from SA. I believe the Stormers have the same problem with Libbok.

You're not wrong about Libbok, however the Stormers have an even bigger problem at 10:

Sasha: hospital case
Willemse: hospital case
Du Plessis: shite
Matthee: double shite

So it's Libbok or Moerat at 10.

[assfly]

Eish. You may need to raid the Paarl U16s for your next flyhalf.

[Sards]

Regarding the reffing. Vok me I am surprised the Sharks accept Marius adjudication the matches. It's like clockwork when the Sharks play the Stormers. The complaints about him after the match are thunderous. I keep saying he is s cheating p#%s. Sharks should have beaten the Stormers soundly. If not for his ridiculous officiating. And no my complaints are not a new thing. I have been saying it for years

Eh? You think Marius reffed the game and favoured the Stormers????

How is it he always officiates for the Stormers against the Sharks. It's beyond corruption

And the Sharks disallowed try and the try granted to the Stormers with chaser clearly infront of the kicker
.....man. Thats next level.
And he is the only ref I criticise

[Sandstorm]

Regarding the reffing. Vok me I am surprised the Sharks accept Marius adjudication the matches. It's like clockwork when the Sharks play the Stormers. The complaints about him after the match are thunderous. I keep saying he is s cheating p#%s. Sharks should have beaten the Stormers soundly. If not for his ridiculous officiating. And no my complaints are not a new thing. I have been saying it for years

Eh? You think Marius reffed the game and favoured the Stormers????

How is it he always officiates for the Stormers against the Sharks. It's beyond corruption

And the Sharks disallowed try and the try granted to the Stormers with chaser clearly infront of the kicker
.....man. Thats next level.
And he is the only ref I criticise

Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa)
TMO: Marius Jonker (South Africa)

I think you need to more specific which Marius you are talking about.....Jonker called them back for the block on Venter. He convinced VD Westhuizen it was a penalty.

Both ref and TMO agreed that there "was no clear evidence that Zas was in front of the ball...." Personally I think he was in front and the try shouldn't have stood.

BUT you (typically because you only get your Rugby news from Bookface) completely ignored VD Westhuizen penalising Vermaak at every scrum when it was actually Koch that was running away like a French soldier!

He's a shite ref, but he didn't favour the Stormers for 79 mins.

[Sards]

I don't want him near a Sharks vs Stormers game...but there he is every time without fail.

[_Os_]

The natural order has been restored and everything is right in the world. The Sharks are winning, everyone knows they're SA's best side even if they cannot admit to themselves they will have to support us in the playoffs. The Sharks are the team to beat. The bitter and arrogant men from the Cape are crying, the fans of all the other provinces are jealous and crying about how unfair it is too. I see Bok Viking was supporting the Stomps during the match and got upset about reality. Funny how the supposed greatest rivalry in SA rugby is always put aside when the Sharks play, almost like it's really the Sharks no one can stand losing to and the North v South derby is irrelevant.

Not even the bent refs Sardy voices his concerns over can stop us, we're back! The URC is in the bag. I instead await Hooker and Wright both becoming Boks.

[OomStruisbaai]

The Stormers draw a good crowd on Saturday, like they always do.

[Sandstorm]

I instead await Hooker and Wright both becoming Boks.

You'll be waiting a long time....sit here in this comfortable chair:

[_Os_]

I instead await Hooker and Wright both becoming Boks.

You'll be waiting a long time....sit here in this comfortable chair:

Seeing Waylon Murray play for the Boks is high up the list of my favourite moments as a supporter. Two sons of Westville in the same team? I will be standing to attention trying to hold the tears back.

I'm am not a chicken licken Sharks supporter like the suspiciously Zimbo Assfly and Scot NatalShark, who always cry the sky is falling down. URC in the bag and our players become Boks.

[assfly]

Seeing Waylon Murray play for the Boks is high up the list of my favourite moments as a supporter. Two sons of Westville in the same team? I will be standing to attention trying to hold the tears back.

I'm am not a chicken licken Sharks supporter like the suspiciously Zimbo Assfly and Scot NatalShark, who always cry the sky is falling down. URC in the bag and our players become Boks.

I too will struggle to hold my tears back if Wright ever becomes a Springbok

[LoveOfTheGame]

I instead await Hooker and Wright both becoming Boks.

You'll be waiting a long time....sit here in this comfortable chair:

Seeing Waylon Murray play for the Boks is high up the list of my favourite moments as a supporter. Two sons of Westville in the same team? I will be standing to attention trying to hold the tears back.

I'm am not a chicken licken Sharks supporter like the suspiciously Zimbo Assfly and Scot NatalShark, who always cry the sky is falling down. URC in the bag and our players become Boks.

As always I like the confidence Ox. Try not to disappear like Sards when the inevitable collapse happens.

[LoveOfTheGame]

Seeing Waylon Murray play for the Boks is high up the list of my favourite moments as a supporter. Two sons of Westville in the same team? I will be standing to attention trying to hold the tears back.

I'm am not a chicken licken Sharks supporter like the suspiciously Zimbo Assfly and Scot NatalShark, who always cry the sky is falling down. URC in the bag and our players become Boks.

I too will struggle to hold my tears back if Wright ever becomes a Springbok

[Sards]

Seeing Waylon Murray play for the Boks is high up the list of my favourite moments as a supporter. Two sons of Westville in the same team? I will be standing to attention trying to hold the tears back.

I'm am not a chicken licken Sharks supporter like the suspiciously Zimbo Assfly and Scot NatalShark, who always cry the sky is falling down. URC in the bag and our players become Boks.

I too will struggle to hold my tears back if Wright ever becomes a Springbok

Hooker is sensational. Kid gives everything and leaves nothing on the park. Very much like The Sharks favorite son , Werner Kok. Except Hooker has power to break tackles and safe hands. Stomps can cry all thety want but he is the future.

[_Os_]

For the Stomps and the Shark chicken lickens who hate Wright:

[_Os_]

I too will struggle to hold my tears back if Wright ever becomes a Springbok

Hooker is sensational. Kid gives everything and leaves nothing on the park. Very much like The Sharks favorite son , Werner Kok. Except Hooker has power to break tackles and safe hands. Stomps can cry all thety want but he is the future.

In a Sharks press conference it was basically stated he had been moved to wing, to test him in another position and increase his chances of making a full strength Sharks side and Bok selection. Start him out on the wing and move him in as he shows what skills he has (more ball skills means 10/15, more size/physicality means 10/12, fast but not winger fast means 13, etc).

To me he doesn't look like a wing at all, looks a bit like when Frans Steyn or Jean de Villiers started out there, it's working because he's young but it doesn't look natural. He's going to end up a specialist 12. Where that puts him in the pecking order after 2027, no clue. Not sure what his kicking is like, possible he has the all round ball skills (kicking, distribution, option taking) for 10/15, just haven't seen enough of the kicking. If he can kick he'll be another Frans Steyn level freak.

Can see in his highlights from the Dragons match how he's on the wing but playing like a centre, taking contact a lot/looking to distribute/doesn't have that top level speed SA wings should have.

[OomStruisbaai]

Local derby weekend. Stormers vs Lions, Sharks vs Bulls.

[GrahamWa]

Seemingly derby games outside SA as well.

Ulster v Munster
Benetton v Zebre
Ospreys v Scarlets
Leinster v Connacht
Glasgow v Edinburgh
Dragons v Cardiff

[clydecloggie]

Seemingly derby games outside SA as well.

Ulster v Munster
Benetton v Zebre
Ospreys v Scarlets
Leinster v Connacht
Glasgow v Edinburgh
Dragons v Cardiff

Yes, this is the derby period. Glasgow v Edinburgh is in Hampden stadium for the first time.

[OomStruisbaai]

Seemingly derby games outside SA as well.

Ulster v Munster
Benetton v Zebre
Ospreys v Scarlets
Leinster v Connacht
Glasgow v Edinburgh
Dragons v Cardiff

Yes, this is the derby period. Glasgow v Edinburgh is in Hampden stadium for the first time.

You can expect good attendances.

[SaintK]

Looks like Zebre are gone! The Italian Federation look like they've found a sucker to put in 5M a year to set up a new franchise to replace them

The Federazione Italiana Rugby will decide Zebre Parma’s future in a meeting scheduled for tomorrow, but it seems the struggling franchise will close its doors next June.
A new Italian URC franchise will likely take Zebre’s place, but this time around it will work independently of the union, in a similar fashion to Benetton’s current setup.

https://www.rugbypass.com/news/zebre-p ... oblivion/

[Biffer]

Looks like Zebre are gone! The Italian Federation look like they've found a sucker to put in 5M a year to set up a new franchise to replace them

The Federazione Italiana Rugby will decide Zebre Parma’s future in a meeting scheduled for tomorrow, but it seems the struggling franchise will close its doors next June.
A new Italian URC franchise will likely take Zebre’s place, but this time around it will work independently of the union, in a similar fashion to Benetton’s current setup.

https://www.rugbypass.com/news/zebre-p ... oblivion/

Has someone seen 80k turning up to internationals and finally thought they might get 8k regularly in Rome or Milan? And then actually get some corporate money?

If they'd done it five years ago I'd be worried for Scottish Rugby, but now it's the Welsh who should be worried.

[OomStruisbaai]

SMZ, Deon Fourie, BJD and Malherbe back against the Lions.

[Sards]

Shark tank sold out for Sharks vs Bulls.

Two top South African sides in a cracking derby

52000 capacity

[assfly]

Shark tank sold out for Sharks vs Bulls.

Two top South African sides in a cracking derby

52000 capacity

I assume that excludes the upper tier.

[Chilli2]

Shark tank sold out for Sharks vs Bulls.

Two top South African sides in a cracking derby

52000 capacity

All the Boneheads from Pretoria on holiday in in Toti going to watch the match.

[OomStruisbaai]

Shark tank sold out for Sharks vs Bulls.

Two top South African sides in a cracking derby

52000 capacity

All the Boneheads from Pretoria on holiday in in Toti going to watch the match.

You cant go with Sards postings. Let he provide the link to it.

[OomStruisbaai]

Sorry Sards is right, only 500 tickets left yesterday

[Sards]

Hollywoodbets Sharks

Ox Nche
Dylan Richardson
Vincent Koch
Jason Jenkins
Emile van Heerden
Phepsi Buthelezi
Manu Tshituka
Siya Kolisi (c)
Jaden Hendrikse
Jordan Hendrikse
Makazole Mapimpi
Andre Esterhuizen
Ethan Hooker
Yaw Penxe
Aphelele Fassi
Replacements

Ethan Bester
Ruan Dreyer
Trevor Nyakane
Corne Rahl
Nick Hatton
Cameron Wright
Siya Masuku
Jurenzo Julius


Stoked to see Hatton and Julius on the bench. Standouts in the CC.
Hatton should have captained the juniors instead of those twats they named
Eben still on holiday....my annual pet peeve
He never plays against the Stormers and probably gets like 3 matches a year for the Sharks
Great to see Koch back. Ruan Dreyer and Trevor great cover on the bench.
I must admit I am grateful now that KLA is in Japan and Moody is out of form....touches wood

[assfly]

I need to see a big game from Jason Jenkins. Still waiting.

Other than that, not a bad team.

Apart from Cameron Fucking Wright on the bench

[Sards]

I need to see a big game from Jason Jenkins. Still waiting.

Other than that, not a bad team.

Apart from Cameron Fucking Wright on the bench

Vok....how did I miss Cameron....

Agree on Jenkins

[Sandstorm]

Apart from Cameron Fucking Wright on the bench

Kleenex for Oxbot please.....

[assfly]

Bradley Davids, a young player who has just re-signed with the Sharks, despite knowing he will be third choice for some time to come.

The perfect opportunity to give him a start.

[Chilli2]

That is quite some starting lineup.

Except for the props the bench is very "meh".

[OomStruisbaai]

You need the lion in 9