Official United Rugby Championship thread

[Sandstorm]

It will probably get me accused of sexism or condescension, but I think all the women officials are very good. I suspect there is an element of them having to be better than their male peers before they got appointments as if they failed it would have set female officiating back, so there had to be more than usual confidence in their performances. But so far they have paved the way and showed there is no reason women can't ref men.

Long may it continue.

Maybe because women are better at multitasking?

Well that and we already have OomPaarlBeVok and Weegie perving over them.

Less creepy than Sards perving over Curwin Bosch

[Slick]

It will probably get me accused of sexism or condescension, but I think all the women officials are very good. I suspect there is an element of them having to be better than their male peers before they got appointments as if they failed it would have set female officiating back, so there had to be more than usual confidence in their performances. But so far they have paved the way and showed there is no reason women can't ref men.

Long may it continue.

Maybe because women are better at multitasking?

Well that and we already have OomPaarlBeVok and Weegie perving over them.

Only Hollie to be fair, and I’ll happily join them.

And don’t get on your high horse, it wasn’t that long ago we were all perving over Steve Walsh

[OomStruisbaai]

South Africa keep on giving fatties to Scotland. This time Wit Bulle (Monnas) old boy.

SA Rugbymag

Loosehead prop Nathan McBeth has become the latest South African to target a place in Scotland’s squad after signing for the Glasgow Warriors from the Lions.

The loosehead links up with his new teammates at Scotstoun having made 10 appearances for the Johannesburg-based franchise, his professional debut having come in a 47-39 victory over the Jaguares in March 2019.

McBeth played Scotland U20 during the 2018 U20 Six Nations, but represented South Africa at the Junior World Championship in the same year.

[assfly]

Cant really argue with a surname like that!

[Chilli]

Cant really argue with a surname like that!

[Slick]

Cant really argue with a surname like that!

How odd, I’d never see that before Friday when a Saffer I was speaking with sent it to me on email, now you post it.

Anyway, enjoy your 3 month ban for cultural appropriation. Zapp!

[Chilli]

Cant really argue with a surname like that!

How odd, I’d never see that before Friday when a Saffer I was speaking with sent it to me on email, now you post it.

Anyway, enjoy your 3 month ban for cultural appropriation. Zapp!

Just Google Hoots Mon!

Only 3 months? I expect a perma ban!

[Slick]

Is there a month break now?

[Uncle fester]

Ospreys leading Munster..

Flippin nice ref. Wouldn't mind scrumming her.

I will now watch my recording just to watch her as I have now established it is Hollie Davidson. She is a chum of one of my sons and a very good ref (and a former Scotland player whose career was ended by injury).

Might be wrong but I thought she got injured before she could be capped?

[OomStruisbaai]

Is there a month break now?

Yep. It's hard

ROUND 6
Friday, November 26

[weegie01]

Ospreys leading Munster..

Flippin nice ref. Wouldn't mind scrumming her.

I will now watch my recording just to watch her as I have now established it is Hollie Davidson. She is a chum of one of my sons and a very good ref (and a former Scotland player whose career was ended by injury).

Might be wrong but I thought she got injured before she could be capped?

You are right. She was selected but injured before she could play.

[assfly]

Yep. It's hard

I bet it is

[Sandstorm]

Is there a month break now?

Yep. It's hard

ROUND 6
Friday, November 26

Tough for you Sards, only Test matches for the next month.

[OomStruisbaai]

RESULTS

Glasgow Warriors 15 Leinster 31

Scarlets 34 Benetton 28

Zebre Parma 10 Edinburgh 27

Connacht 36 Ulster 11

Cardiff 31 Dragons 29

Ospreys 18 Munster 10

[handyman]

Is there a month break now?

Yep. It's hard

ROUND 6
Friday, November 26

Tough for you Sards, only Test matches for the next month.

Sards is gone.

[OomStruisbaai]

Specman will join the Stormers before their Zebre match.

Probably team.

Gelant, Specman, JdJ, Willemse, Petersen, Libbok, Herschel, Roos, Engelbrecht, Fourie, Orie, Moerat, Neethling, Scarra, Brok.

Whole backline and 10 PoC in my team.

[OomStruisbaai]

Sharks situation
Iol

On their return from Wales a fortnight ago, the Sharks were immediately joined by their three latest recruits in Argentinian flyhalf Joaquin Bonilla, Samoan international flank Olajuan Noa and former Wallaby centre Ben Tapuai.

Not such good news is that Eduan Keyter, the Griquas wing who starred in the recent Currie Cup, seriously injured ankle ligaments playing against the Sharks in the semi-final and will only be able to play for his new team in the new year.

That is also when Sikhumbuzo Notshe will at last be back from injury, and so will Tinotenda Mavesere, the No 8 who was named the forward of the Varsity Cup (for UWC) and is now with the Sharks but has undergone a knee operation.

[OomStruisbaai]

Gelant player of the month
https://www.unitedrugby.com/latest/news ... -the-month

Warrick Gelant’s sensational return from injury and the vital role he played for the DHL Stormers in the opening four rounds of matches in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship has seen the fullback crowned the competition’s first Player of the Month (POM) for October.

South Africa’s rugby media were unanimous in their nomination of Gelant for Vodacom URC Player of the Month.

Gelant was roundly praised for the impact he has made since returning from an ACL injury, and the more complete player he has become despite the challenge he had to overcome.

The consensus amongst the media was that Gelant has not only established himself as one of the leading players in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship but has also made a strong claim on a return to the Springbok squad he was a part of before his injury.

Congratulations to Warrick Gelant.

[FalseBayFC]

Sharks situation
Iol

On their return from Wales a fortnight ago, the Sharks were immediately joined by their three latest recruits in Argentinian flyhalf Joaquin Bonilla, Samoan international flank Olajuan Noa and former Wallaby centre Ben Tapuai.

Not such good news is that Eduan Keyter, the Griquas wing who starred in the recent Currie Cup, seriously injured ankle ligaments playing against the Sharks in the semi-final and will only be able to play for his new team in the new year.

That is also when Sikhumbuzo Notshe will at last be back from injury, and so will Tinotenda Mavesere, the No 8 who was named the forward of the Varsity Cup (for UWC) and is now with the Sharks but has undergone a knee operation.

Pity about Keyter. I was looking forward to see him as I rate him highly.

[robmatic]

Gelant player of the month
https://www.unitedrugby.com/latest/news ... -the-month

Warrick Gelant’s sensational return from injury and the vital role he played for the DHL Stormers in the opening four rounds of matches in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship has seen the fullback crowned the competition’s first Player of the Month (POM) for October.

South Africa’s rugby media were unanimous in their nomination of Gelant for Vodacom URC Player of the Month.

Gelant was roundly praised for the impact he has made since returning from an ACL injury, and the more complete player he has become despite the challenge he had to overcome.

The consensus amongst the media was that Gelant has not only established himself as one of the leading players in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship but has also made a strong claim on a return to the Springbok squad he was a part of before his injury.

Congratulations to Warrick Gelant.

He's a pretty classy player from what I've seen of him so far this season.

[OomStruisbaai]

Autumn tests nearly done and weird the year isn't done. Two important rounds for our teams at home.


ROUND 6
Friday, November 26 Connacht v Ospreys | 19:35 UK / 20:35 ITA/ 21:35 SA | RTE, BBC Wales, Premier Sports

Saturday, November 27 DHL Stormers v Zebre | 13:00 UK / 14:00 ITA / 15:00 SA | Super Sport, Premier Sports Benetton v Glasgow Warriors | 13:00 UK / 14:00 ITA / 15:00 SA | Italian TV, Premier Sports Cell C Sharks v Scarlets | 15:30 UK / 16:30 ITA / 17:30 SA | Super Sport, S4C, Premier Sports Dragons v Edinburgh | 17:15 UK / 18:15 ITA / 19:15 SA | Premier Sports Vodacom Bulls v Munster | 17:45 UK / 18:45 ITA / 19:45 SA | Super Sport, TG4, Premier Sports Leinster v Ulster | 20:00 UK / 21:00 ITA / 22:00 SA | RTE, Premier Sports

Sunday, November 28 Emirates Lions v Cardiff | 14:00 UK / 15:00 ITA / 16:00 SA | Super Sport, S4C, Premier Sports

ROUND 7
Friday, December 3 Vodacom Bulls v Scarlets | 17:35 UK / 18:35 ITA / 19:35 SA | Super Sport, BBC Wales, Premier Sports Edinburgh v Benetton | 19:35 UK / 20:35 ITA / 21:35 SA | Premier Sports Leinster v Connacht | 19:45 UK / 20:45 ITA / 21:45 SA | TG4, Premier Sports

Saturday, December 4 Cell C Sharks v Zebre | 13:00 UK / 14:00 ITA / 15:00 SA | Super Sport, Italian TV, Premier Sports Ospreys v Ulster | 15:00 UK / 16:00 ITA / 17:00 SA | Premier Sports Emirates Lions v Munster | 15:30 UK / 16:30 ITA / 17:30 SA | Super Sport, RTE, Premier Sports Glasgow Warriors v Dragons | 17:15 UK / 18:15 ITA / 19:15 SA | Premier Sports DHL Stormers v Cardiff | 17:45 UK / 18:45 ITA / 19:45 SA | Super Sport, S4C, Premier Sports


All teams will probably have their internationals back which will give the competition a total new flavor.

Springboks to franchises

Sharks: Thomas du Toit, Ox, Bongi, Kolisi, Grant Williams , Amm, Mapimpi, Fassi, , Nkosi
Stormers: Kitshoff, Orie, Moerat, Herschel, Willemse,
Bulls: Trevor

[OomStruisbaai]

Damian de Ellende (Munster) Duanne Vermeulen (Ulster)

[Sards]

Gelant player of the month
https://www.unitedrugby.com/latest/news ... -the-month

Warrick Gelant’s sensational return from injury and the vital role he played for the DHL Stormers in the opening four rounds of matches in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship has seen the fullback crowned the competition’s first Player of the Month (POM) for October.

South Africa’s rugby media were unanimous in their nomination of Gelant for Vodacom URC Player of the Month.

Gelant was roundly praised for the impact he has made since returning from an ACL injury, and the more complete player he has become despite the challenge he had to overcome.

The consensus amongst the media was that Gelant has not only established himself as one of the leading players in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship but has also made a strong claim on a return to the Springbok squad he was a part of before his injury.

Congratulations to Warrick Gelant.

He's a pretty classy player from what I've seen of him so far this season.

You should see his fb page....a masterpiece of marketing

[Sards]

I see Jayden is back at training with the Sharks. We have a lot of new signings which should be interesting. Fassi, Nkosi back. Mapimpi, Ox , Amm , Kolisi to arrive later. Dylan Richardson playing for Scotland this weekend. Not sure if Bongi is joining yet. I reckon the URC is going to go up a number of levels.

[assfly]

I see Jayden is back at training with the Sharks. We have a lot of new signings which should be interesting. Fassi, Nkosi back. Mapimpi, Ox , Amm , Kolisi to arrive later. Dylan Richardson playing for Scotland this weekend. Not sure if Bongi is joining yet. I reckon the URC is going to go up a number of levels.

I see Notshe is also up and running again, but still a few weeks away from being game-ready as I understand it.

[Sards]

I see Jayden is back at training with the Sharks. We have a lot of new signings which should be interesting. Fassi, Nkosi back. Mapimpi, Ox , Amm , Kolisi to arrive later. Dylan Richardson playing for Scotland this weekend. Not sure if Bongi is joining yet. I reckon the URC is going to go up a number of levels.

I see Notshe is also up and running again, but still a few weeks away from being game-ready as I understand it.

Saw him in the training pics....but very little word on him so suspect too that he is a way off the pace.

Cant wait to see our next starting side

[OomStruisbaai]

Munster Squad For South Africa Tour:
Backs: Neil Cronin, Paddy Patterson, Jack Crowley, Jake Flannery, Ben Healy, Liam Coombes, Dan Goggin, Rory Scannell, Shane Daly, Seán French, Matt Gallagher, Mike Haley.

Forwards: Jeremy Loughman, Liam O’Connor, Josh Wycherley, Diarmuid Barron, Kevin O’Byrne, Niall Scannell, Stephen Archer, Keynan Knox, John Ryan, Thomas Ahern, Jean Kleyn, Fineen Wycherley, Chris Cloete, Jack Daly, Alex Kendellen, Jack O’Donoghue (captain), Jack O’Sullivan.

Games:
27 Nov v Bulls
4 Dec v Lions

[OomStruisbaai]

Returning players for SA teams

Bulls:
Trevor Nyakane (prop)
Johan Grobbelaar (hooker)

Lions:
Tiaan Swanepoel (fullback)
Willem Alberts (flank/lock)
Edwill van der Merwe (wing)

Sharks:
Jaden Hendrikse (scrumhalf)
Ben Tapuai (centre)
Joaquin Diaz Bonilla (flyhalf)
Bongi Mbonambi (hooker)
Dylan Richardson (hooker/flank)
Thomas du Toit (prop)
Ox Nché (prop)
Siya Kolisi (flank)
Lukhanyo Am (centre)
Makazole Mapimpi (wing)
Sbu Nkosi (wing)
Aphelele Fassi (fullback)

Stormers:
Steven Kitshoff (prop)
Frans Malherbe (prop)
Marvin Orie (lock)
Moerat(lock)
Herschel Jantjies (scrum-half)
Kade Wolhuter (flyhalf)
Damian Willemse (fullback)
Specman (wing)
Senatla (wing)

[fishfoodie]

Munster Squad For South Africa Tour:
Backs: Neil Cronin, Paddy Patterson, Jack Crowley, Jake Flannery, Ben Healy, Liam Coombes, Dan Goggin, Rory Scannell, Shane Daly, Seán French, Matt Gallagher, Mike Haley.

Forwards: Jeremy Loughman, Liam O’Connor, Josh Wycherley, Diarmuid Barron, Kevin O’Byrne, Niall Scannell, Stephen Archer, Keynan Knox, John Ryan, Thomas Ahern, Jean Kleyn, Fineen Wycherley, Chris Cloete, Jack Daly, Alex Kendellen, Jack O’Donoghue (captain), Jack O’Sullivan.

Games:
27 Nov v Bulls
4 Dec v Lions

Very green Munster squad, with no Internationals heading down to the sun.

There are some decent prospects in there; & some old stagers, but I think they're after losing bonus points.

[OomStruisbaai]

They should have brought de Ellende. He and your coach know Bulls inside out.

[Chilli]

Returning players for SA teams

Bulls:
Trevor Nyakane (prop)
Johan Grobbelaar (hooker)

Lions:
Tiaan Swanepoel (fullback)
Willem Alberts (flank/lock)
Edwill van der Merwe (wing)

Sharks:
Jaden Hendrikse (scrumhalf)
Ben Tapuai (centre)
Joaquin Diaz Bonilla (flyhalf)
Bongi Mbonambi (hooker)
Dylan Richardson (hooker/flank)
Thomas du Toit (prop)
Ox Nché (prop)
Siya Kolisi (flank)
Lukhanyo Am (centre)
Makazole Mapimpi (wing)
Sbu Nkosi (wing)
Aphelele Fassi (fullback)

Stormers:
Steven Kitshoff (prop)
Frans Malherbe (prop)
Marvin Orie (lock)
Moerat(lock)
Herschel Jantjies (scrum-half)
Kade Wolhuter (flyhalf)
Damian Willemse (fullback)
Specman (wing)
Senatla (wing)

$harks are the big winners here. So much quality coming back into the fold.
They must be the SA team with the best chance.

[assfly]

Sharks:

Jaden Hendrikse (scrumhalf)
Ben Tapuai (centre)
Joaquin Diaz Bonilla (flyhalf)
Bongi Mbonambi (hooker)
Dylan Richardson (hooker/flank)
Thomas du Toit (prop)
Ox Nché (prop)
Siya Kolisi (flank)
Lukhanyo Am (centre)
Makazole Mapimpi (wing)
Sbu Nkosi (wing)
Aphelele Fassi (fullback)

$harks are the big winners here. So much quality coming back into the fold.
They must be the SA team with the best chance.

True. But can't see Ox, Bongi, Kolisi, Am or Mapimpi featuring in the next two games.

[Slick]

Looking forward to seeing Mapimpi at this level, he should run riot

[FalseBayFC]

Returning players for SA teams

Bulls:
Trevor Nyakane (prop)
Johan Grobbelaar (hooker)

Lions:
Tiaan Swanepoel (fullback)
Willem Alberts (flank/lock)
Edwill van der Merwe (wing)

Sharks:
Jaden Hendrikse (scrumhalf)
Ben Tapuai (centre)
Joaquin Diaz Bonilla (flyhalf)
Bongi Mbonambi (hooker)
Dylan Richardson (hooker/flank)
Thomas du Toit (prop)
Ox Nché (prop)
Siya Kolisi (flank)
Lukhanyo Am (centre)
Makazole Mapimpi (wing)
Sbu Nkosi (wing)
Aphelele Fassi (fullback)

Stormers:
Steven Kitshoff (prop)
Frans Malherbe (prop)
Marvin Orie (lock)
Moerat(lock)
Herschel Jantjies (scrum-half)
Kade Wolhuter (flyhalf)
Damian Willemse (fullback)
Specman (wing)
Senatla (wing)

$harks are the big winners here. So much quality coming back into the fold.
They must be the SA team with the best chance.

What about Joseph Dweba?

[Chilli]

Returning players for SA teams

Bulls:
Trevor Nyakane (prop)
Johan Grobbelaar (hooker)

Lions:
Tiaan Swanepoel (fullback)
Willem Alberts (flank/lock)
Edwill van der Merwe (wing)

Sharks:
Jaden Hendrikse (scrumhalf)
Ben Tapuai (centre)
Joaquin Diaz Bonilla (flyhalf)
Bongi Mbonambi (hooker)
Dylan Richardson (hooker/flank)
Thomas du Toit (prop)
Ox Nché (prop)
Siya Kolisi (flank)
Lukhanyo Am (centre)
Makazole Mapimpi (wing)
Sbu Nkosi (wing)
Aphelele Fassi (fullback)

Stormers:
Steven Kitshoff (prop)
Frans Malherbe (prop)
Marvin Orie (lock)
Moerat(lock)
Herschel Jantjies (scrum-half)
Kade Wolhuter (flyhalf)
Damian Willemse (fullback)
Specman (wing)
Senatla (wing)

$harks are the big winners here. So much quality coming back into the fold.
They must be the SA team with the best chance.

What about Joseph Dweba?

Isn't he playing in France?

[FalseBayFC]

$harks are the big winners here. So much quality coming back into the fold.
They must be the SA team with the best chance.

What about Joseph Dweba?

Isn't he playing in France?

Yes he was. For some reason I though Jake White had signed him for the Bulls.

[assfly]

Yes he was. For some reason I though Jake White had signed him for the Bulls.

He's 26, so way too young for White. Maybe if he picks up a couple of injuries he'll get on the Bulls radar, they love a sicknote.

[Chilli]

Yes he was. For some reason I though Jake White had signed him for the Bulls.

He's 26, so way too young for White. Maybe if he picks up a couple of injuries he'll get on the Bulls radar, they love a sicknote.

It's nice to have a bit of provincial bias back.

[assfly]

It's nice to have a bit of provincial bias back.

I'm not gonna lie, it felt good

[FalseBayFC]

The Stormers also love them some older players. Dion Fourie, Brok Harris and Juan de Jongh.