URC Season 2024/2025 Official Thread

[Uncle fester]

Sharks intent on throwing the highest number of suicidal short balls in a match.

No intention of going through phases or planned attack

Keep it going another week please.

[fishfoodie]

Sharks intent on throwing the highest number of suicidal short balls in a match.

No intention of going through phases or planned attack

Keep it going another week please.

Well at least Munster know how to win down south, & I'm sure plenty of the fans will go down to see some of their departing players close out their careers

[OomStruisbaai]

Sharks intent on throwing the highest number of suicidal short balls in a match.

No intention of going through phases or planned attack

Keep it going another week please.

Well at least Munster know how to win down south, & I'm sure plenty of the fans will go down to see some of their departing players close out their careers

It can be a dream tour for Munster, first Sharks then Bulls then Stormers in the final.

[Dogbert]

So if Venter got 3 weeks for less, how much is this worth ?

[Tichtheid]

Someone on the Weegie board named him "Cheap shot Beavis", which made me lol.

[Chilli2]

So if Venter got 3 weeks for less, how much is this worth ?

It's not Tiddlywinks is it?

[Chilli2]

Difficult to over state how awful the Sharks, particularly the backs, have been.

Masuku going off is probably a blessing

The Sharks need a new coach.

[OomStruisbaai]

Difficult to over state how awful the Sharks, particularly the backs, have been.

Masuku going off is probably a blessing

The Sharks need a new coach.

That game yesterday was below SA Cup level.

[Uncle fester]

Keep it going another week please.

Well at least Munster know how to win down south, & I'm sure plenty of the fans will go down to see some of their departing players close out their careers

It can be a dream tour for Munster, first Sharks then Bulls then Stormers in the final.

We can dream!
LSD trip fever dream style.

[OomStruisbaai]

Munster had this unbelievable end run two years ago. The biggest worry at the moment is the form of the Springboks in the Sharks team. Look like real old age Homer's.

[Chilli2]

Difficult to over state how awful the Sharks, particularly the backs, have been.

Masuku going off is probably a blessing

The Sharks need a new coach.

That game yesterday was below SA Cup level.

It was just a terrible match.

Think back to the glory days. Oxwagon would have been posting pages and pages about the Sharks.

Their current decline is rather sad.

[TheNatalShark]

Sharks only hope against Munster is individual players and Munster having an off day. Fully expecting to get reamed in the set piece, backfield play and handling.

[OomStruisbaai]

Stormers also have no chance against Glasgow. They show some real mettle against Leinster last night in a high quality game. Also without Damian Willemse. The best back in South Africa.

[Sards]

The Sharks need a new coach.

That game yesterday was below SA Cup level.

It was just a terrible match.

Think back to the glory days. Oxwagon would have been posting pages and pages about the Sharks.

Their current decline is rather sad.

And yet

Sharks lie in 3rd place on the URC log. With 3 or 4 more victories than the Stormers ( shock , horror)
Hold the Shield trophy
Currie Cup trophy

The jealousy is a sweet taste on my lips

As Plum mentioned during the game. The defensive efforts from both sides were sensational. The only way to win it was for the best number 15 in South Africa to step up and kick those crucial penalties.

[Sards]

Bad luck to all those falling away after the weekend.
Let's hope next season there will be a better turnaround

[Chilli2]

That game yesterday was below SA Cup level.

It was just a terrible match.

Think back to the glory days. Oxwagon would have been posting pages and pages about the Sharks.

Their current decline is rather sad.

And yet

Sharks lie in 3rd place on the URC log. With 3 or 4 more victories than the Stormers ( shock , horror)
Hold the Shield trophy
Currie Cup trophy

The jealousy is a sweet taste on my lips

As Plum mentioned during the game. The defensive efforts from both sides were sensational. The only way to win it was for the best number 15 in South Africa to step up and kick those crucial penalties.

Yeah Sards they are 3rd on the log while playing some absolutely terrible rugby.

I agree with Piet Snor that winning is better than losing, but my word the Sharks play ugly rugby at times.

[assfly]

I was at the Stormers game on Friday night, happened to be in town for work.

I must hand it to the locals, they really turn up in numbers and make it such a party atmosphere. It felt more like a 7s tournament. It obviously helps that you can walk to the Waterfront for beers and dinner too.

Such an amazing stadium too.

My only gripe is the music. At every possible moment they are playing music, even a scrum reset. It didn't help that the game was very stop-start so the music just never stopped. I'm not sure if other stadiums are like this, but sometimes it's nice to hear what's going on around us rather than Sweet Caroline for the 3rd time.

[Sards]

As Plum mentioned during the game. The defensive efforts from both sides were sensational. The only way to win it was for the best number 15 in South Africa to step up and kick those crucial penalties.

Yeah Sards they are 3rd on the log while playing some absolutely terrible rugby.

I agree with Piet Snor that winning is better than losing, but my word the Sharks play ugly rugby at times.

I remember how the rugby world kept saying how boring the Springboks were....but they kept winning. One thing about the Sharks. They have been behind so many times and had the temperament to fight back and win those games..

But damn. Jayden Hendrikse must be the slowest 9 in history. His box kicks make him better than Junktjies, otherwise they would be competing

[Sards]

Early bird Tickets sold out for the Sharks quarter final

[Chilli2]

As Plum mentioned during the game. The defensive efforts from both sides were sensational. The only way to win it was for the best number 15 in South Africa to step up and kick those crucial penalties.

Yeah Sards they are 3rd on the log while playing some absolutely terrible rugby.

I agree with Piet Snor that winning is better than losing, but my word the Sharks play ugly rugby at times.

I remember how the rugby world kept saying how boring the Springboks were....but they kept winning. One thing about the Sharks. They have been behind so many times and had the temperament to fight back and win those games..

But damn. Jayden Hendrikse must be the slowest 9 in history. His box kicks make him better than Junktjies, otherwise they would be competing

After the very mediocre coach, he is or biggest problem.

[Chilli2]

Early bird Tickets sold out for the Sharks quarter final

45 tickets have been sold already?

[Sards]

Early bird Tickets sold out for the Sharks quarter final

45 tickets have been sold already?

Lots of scammers selling tickets....

[bok_viking]

As Plum mentioned during the game. The defensive efforts from both sides were sensational. The only way to win it was for the best number 15 in South Africa to step up and kick those crucial penalties.

Yeah Sards they are 3rd on the log while playing some absolutely terrible rugby.

I agree with Piet Snor that winning is better than losing, but my word the Sharks play ugly rugby at times.

I remember how the rugby world kept saying how boring the Springboks were....but they kept winning. One thing about the Sharks. They have been behind so many times and had the temperament to fight back and win those games..

But damn. Jayden Hendrikse must be the slowest 9 in history. His box kicks make him better than Junktjies, otherwise they would be competing

The problem is that very few of the Boks playing for the Sharks look good. If they were not boks and well-known names, they would not make the Bok squad on those Shark performances. Their saving grace is that people know they can play well for the Boks. Yes the Sharks are 3rd but many of their wins this season was lucky / very unconvincing considering they have the 2nd best squad of players in the competition behind Leinster and could on paper arguably be on par with Leinster considering they have 13 capped Springboks in their squad.

[Sards]

The problem is that very few of the Boks playing for the Sharks look good. If they were not boks and well-known names, they would not make the Bok squad on those Shark performances. Their saving grace is that people know they can play well for the Boks. Yes the Sharks are 3rd but many of their wins this season was lucky / very unconvincing considering they have the 2nd best squad of players in the competition behind Leinster and could on paper arguably be on par with Leinster considering they have 13 capped Springboks in their squad.

I will take
The shield
The Currie Cup
3rd on the log

Bulls and us are pretty much on par....stormers are way behind and deserving of having to travel.
All the bitching about how bad the Sharks are and here we are sitting pretty.
Jordan Hendrikse is resting. Grant Williams is resting. Those 2 already will make a huge difference. Fassi is sensational.
I fancy our chances of getting to the semis. From there its whoever is on fire on the day.
So everyone can bitch as much as you like.

[OomStruisbaai]

Sards Viking and Chilli is Bulls supporters, they feel vokol for the Stormers.

[TheNatalShark]

At least Williams should be back for the quarters, but Jaden will start of course.

[Chilli2]

Sards Viking and Chilli is Bulls supporters, they feel vokol for the Stormers.

Excuse me? A Bulls supporter?

The Stormers, with their squad, should be doing much better. Just like the Sharks.

The difference is that the Stormers play a prettier game than the ugly Sharks game.

[Biffer]

25/26 fixtures are apparently being released today at 1200 BST.

Hope those reports are right, very early compared to previous seasons but great to see, more notice lets fans plan away trips more easily.

[Biffer]

Full fixture list published

https://www.unitedrugby.com/latest/news ... 26-written

I really hope this is the URC deliberately putting pressure on the other leagues and in particular the EPCR to release as early as possible for the benefit of traveling fans.

[Sandstorm]

Full fixture list published

https://www.unitedrugby.com/latest/news ... 26-written

I really hope this is the URC deliberately putting pressure on the other leagues and in particular the EPCR to release as early as possible for the benefit of traveling fans.

Round 1 – Friday, Sep 26
DHL Stormers v Leinster (DHL Stadium)

This year's finalists play the opening match next season.

[Blake]

I was at the Stormers game on Friday night, happened to be in town for work.

I must hand it to the locals, they really turn up in numbers and make it such a party atmosphere. It felt more like a 7s tournament. It obviously helps that you can walk to the Waterfront for beers and dinner too.

Such an amazing stadium too.

My only gripe is the music. At every possible moment they are playing music, even a scrum reset. It didn't help that the game was very stop-start so the music just never stopped. I'm not sure if other stadiums are like this, but sometimes it's nice to hear what's going on around us rather than Sweet Caroline for the 3rd time.

Yeah, it's getting very old now, but I can't see it changing anytime soon. It was bad pre-covid, but I feel it has gotten so much worse in the last 5 years.
I theorise that post-covid the stadiums were so empty that the unions felt they had to do something to try and drum up some artificial atmosphere and fill the silence. Sevens provided a template and they just ran with it, cranked it to 11 and never looked back.

Some people dig it. Small kids and partners not really into the game seem to have a blast singing and dancing along, but I hate it more and more, especially when it starts encroaching on play time. The DJ's used to be pretty respectful and only played music when there was an extended break in play or maybe if they had allocated a specific song to a player and that player scored (Liefling for Hougaard, Simply the Best for Morne Steyn etc.) but now its a boring, recycled playlist at full blast for 2 hours with some rugby in between.

[OomStruisbaai]

Full fixture list published

https://www.unitedrugby.com/latest/news ... 26-written

I really hope this is the URC deliberately putting pressure on the other leagues and in particular the EPCR to release as early as possible for the benefit of traveling fans.

Round 1 – Friday, Sep 26
DHL Stormers v Leinster (DHL Stadium)

This year's finalists play the opening match next season.

We'll get them in the semi final IF we beat Glasgow.

[Uncle fester]

IMG-20250521-WA0001.jpg (228.46 KiB) Viewed 104 times

Black clouds on the horizon.

[bok_viking]

Full fixture list published

https://www.unitedrugby.com/latest/news ... 26-written

I really hope this is the URC deliberately putting pressure on the other leagues and in particular the EPCR to release as early as possible for the benefit of traveling fans.

Round 1 – Friday, Sep 26
DHL Stormers v Leinster (DHL Stadium)

This year's finalists play the opening match next season.

Unfortunately that is going to be a game between B teams at best. That same weekend the Boks are playing Argentina I think, and I would not be surprised if the Leinster Lions players are still on holiday. The following weekend against the Bulls will be the same as the Bok players will all be resting as well after the Rugby Championship. Would it not be semi finalists? At best one of those teams will fall out in the semis, I think they are destined to meet in the semis if both win next weekend.

[Slick]

IMG-20250521-WA0001.jpg

Black clouds on the horizon.

Yeah, always felt a bit queasy laughing at the Premiership, it is all fucked.