Official United Rugby Championship thread

[Chilli]

Well done to both the Bulls and Stormers.
Hard luck $harks. If you had a decent 9 and10 you could have won it. I hope for your sake that you get both.

I fear for the Bulls in Leinster.

Stomps will win then have to travel to Leinster.

I agree on all that.

Am I drunk?

[OomStruisbaai]

The only way to stop them is to do what La Rochelle did.

Slow down their quick ball at the ruck and pressure their backs to take away their space and time.
Easier said than done, but the Bulls have the cattle to do both and have done both in the past to many other teams.

I'd still make Leinster the favourites by some margin, but I wouldn't write off the Bulls' ability to make it messy.

La Rochelle's ability to swing the ball wide and get both wings attacking on either side was incredible. Not sure if the Bulls have got the ability to do that.

But yes, make it messy and keep it tight, and hopefully they can get them nervous and making mistakes.

Stormers have this abilities out wide and defensive. BUT they first must get past Ulster.

[Monk]

stormers can win only if they dismantle the Ulster forwards which will take some application - not at all convinced by the stormers lineout

and the going may be soft which should favour Ulster

[OomStruisbaai]

That drop.

[Chilli]

stormers can win only if they dismantle the Ulster forwards which will take some application - not at all convinced by the stormers lineout

and the going may be soft which should favour Ulster

Stomps don't have the locks & hooker for that.

[Masterji]

Is Moodey any good? Lots of hype

[OomStruisbaai]

Is Moodey any good? Lots of hype

He is a Paarl boy, played for Boland Landbou. Very talented and nippy like the other midgets. WP have to many of them.

[OomStruisbaai]

Evan Roos nearly quit rugby because of the $hark$.

Rugbymag

Speaking on SuperSport’s weekly Afrikaans rugby show, ‘Super Rugby’, the 22-year-old said he is really thankful for the playing opportunities the Stormers are giving him.
“It’s just nice to be playing again, together with a great bunch of guys,” said Roos. “I play with a sense of desperation when I carry the ball forward. Not too many people know this but, two years back before I joined the Stormers, I thought about giving up rugby to go study because things weren’t working out at the Sharks.

“But then I got this lifeline at Western Province, and I’m so grateful for it and just glad to be playing again.”

Springbok great Victor Matfield, another pundit on the show, questioned Roos about the Stormers’ positive playing style and the renewed self-confidence of individuals such as Manie Libbok and Hacjivah Dayimani – players who also fell down the pecking order at their previous unions.

“In a recent team meeting, [coach John Dobson] compared us to “absurd heroes” – players who did not receive much playing chances at other unions, who did not get much rhythm at their previous teams and are now playing well together,” said Roos.

“I think everyone’s just comfortable here [at the Stormers]. You can just be yourself. No one forces or pressures you to behave in a certain way. You’re free to express yourself. Everyone’s got a common goal and that’s to win this competition, of course. And we’re all working towards that. I think our management team’s done very well in that regard.”

Commenting on the hype around him in the media and among the South African rugby public regarding a Springbok call-up, Roos said that while he is appreciative of the support he receives from fans, he chooses not to let the noise get to him by taking things “week by week”.

[assfly]

Even Roos was at the $harks?

[Sards]

Even Roos was at the $harks?

We got Kolisi....the ambassador to rugby in South Africa

[OomStruisbaai]

Leinster v Vodacom Bulls

RDS Arena, Dublin – KO 19.35 IRE & UK / 20.35 ITA & SA

Referee: Andrea Piardi (FIR, 24 league game)

AR 1: Craig Evans (WRU) AR 2: Gianluca Gnecchi (FIR)

TMO: Matteo Lipperini (FIR)


DHL Stormers v Ulster

DHL Stadium, Cape Town – KO 14.00 IRE & UK / 15.00 ITA & SA

Referee: Mike Adamson (SRU, 62nd league game)

AR 1: Sam Grove-White (SRU) AR 2: Adam Jones (WRU)

TMO: Ben Whitehouse (WRU)

[OomStruisbaai]

Adamson

[Masterji]

Is Moodey any good? Lots of hype

He is a Paarl boy, played for Boland Landbou. Very talented and nippy like the other midgets. WP have to many of them.

So less than 6ft

[OomStruisbaai]

He is selected for SA U20 team for 6 Nations.

[OomStruisbaai]

Even Roos was at the $harks?

Paarl Boishaai coach Sean Erasmus is from Natal. Obviously scout the likes of Thomas Tank, Evan Roos, Emile van Heerden, Boeta Chamberlain,

[OomStruisbaai]

Zak Burger also went to the Sharks academy. He played SA u20 but had to stand back for Nohamba. What a joke. Zakkie went to Shimlas and Griquas and end up with Jake White at the Bulls.

[OomStruisbaai]

URC Award Winners List 2021-22

Tackle Machine: Alan O’Connor (Ulster)

Turnover King: Jac Morgan (Ospreys)

Gilbert Golden Boot: Gareth Anscombe (Ospreys)

Top Try Scorer: Leolin Zas (DHL Stormers)

Ironman: Ruan Nortje (Vodacom Bulls)

Dream Team: Warrick Gelant (DHL Stormers), Seabelo Senatla (DHL Stormers), James Hume (Ulster), Damian Willemse (DHL Stormers), Leolin Zas (DHL Stormers), Ross Byrne (Leinster), Craig Casey (Munster); Ox Nche (Cell C Sharks), Johan Grobbelaar (Vodacom Bulls), Thomas du Toit (Cell C Sharks), Jean Kleyn (Munster), Ruan Nortje (Vodacom Bulls), Marcell Coetzee (Vodacom Bulls), Nick Timoney (Ulster), Evan Roos (DHL Stormers).

[SaintK]

URC Award Winners List 2021-22

Tackle Machine: Alan O’Connor (Ulster)

Turnover King: Jac Morgan (Ospreys)

Gilbert Golden Boot: Gareth Anscombe (Ospreys)

Top Try Scorer: Leolin Zas (DHL Stormers)

Ironman: Ruan Nortje (Vodacom Bulls)

Dream Team: Warrick Gelant (DHL Stormers), Seabelo Senatla (DHL Stormers), James Hume (Ulster), Damian Willemse (DHL Stormers), Leolin Zas (DHL Stormers), Ross Byrne (Leinster), Craig Casey (Munster); Ox Nche (Cell C Sharks), Johan Grobbelaar (Vodacom Bulls), Thomas du Toit (Cell C Sharks), Jean Kleyn (Munster), Ruan Nortje (Vodacom Bulls), Marcell Coetzee (Vodacom Bulls), Nick Timoney (Ulster), Evan Roos (DHL Stormers).

Only one Leinster player in it

[Chilli]

URC Award Winners List 2021-22

Tackle Machine: Alan O’Connor (Ulster)

Turnover King: Jac Morgan (Ospreys)

Gilbert Golden Boot: Gareth Anscombe (Ospreys)

Top Try Scorer: Leolin Zas (DHL Stormers)

Ironman: Ruan Nortje (Vodacom Bulls)

Dream Team: Warrick Gelant (DHL Stormers), Seabelo Senatla (DHL Stormers), James Hume (Ulster), Damian Willemse (DHL Stormers), Leolin Zas (DHL Stormers), Ross Byrne (Leinster), Craig Casey (Munster); Ox Nche (Cell C Sharks), Johan Grobbelaar (Vodacom Bulls), Thomas du Toit (Cell C Sharks), Jean Kleyn (Munster), Ruan Nortje (Vodacom Bulls), Marcell Coetzee (Vodacom Bulls), Nick Timoney (Ulster), Evan Roos (DHL Stormers).

Only one Leinster player in it

A little pathetic.

[Camroc2]

That's normal. We generally only get 1 or 2 players in.

Mainly due to our rotation policy which means very few players play enough games to get enough points to qualify.

For instance we have played 60 players in the URC this season, which makes it very difficult for any player in a stats based choice.

[FalseBayFC]

Is Moodey any good? Lots of hype

He is a Paarl boy, played for Boland Landbou. Very talented and nippy like the other midgets. WP have to many of them.

So less than 6ft

Midgets? The dude is a 90kg 1.9m 19 years old who will probably end up at 100 kegs once he has filled out. He is neither nippy nor a midget. He is a tall outside back with good acceleration off the mark and elite level top end pace.

[assfly]

Leinster are an amazing team collectively, but individually they are shit individual players.

[SaintK]

Leinster are an amazing team collectively, but individually they are shit individual players.

Individually from 15 to 1 they would each walk into any other team in the URC

[LoveOfTheGame]

Leinster are an amazing team collectively, but individually they are shit individual players.

You are talking absolute shit.

[assfly]

thanks gents

[OomStruisbaai]

Will be nice if the Bulls can roll them.

[Blake]

Leinster are an amazing team collectively, but individually they are shit individual players.

Smelly bait often works best. Well played.

[Chilli]

Leinster are an amazing team collectively, but individually they are shit individual players.

Smelly bait often works best. Well played.

Should we say that they are naive or gullible?

[PornDog]

Well you caught an Englishman and a Noob with his first post - I wouldn't be all

[bok_viking]

He is a Paarl boy, played for Boland Landbou. Very talented and nippy like the other midgets. WP have to many of them.

So less than 6ft

Midgets? The dude is a 90kg 1.9m 19 years old who will probably end up at 100 kegs once he has filled out. He is neither nippy nor a midget. He is a tall outside back with good acceleration off the mark and elite level top end pace.

Yeah he is a big unit, but he is looking good so far, both on the wing and solid at the back while Arendse was injured. Definitely got a bit of speed and can brush off tackles. Looking forward to see how he develops over the next couple of seasons. And as mentioned he will definitely fill out a bit more.

[Monk]

anyone taken note of Caleb Abrahams playing at 9 for Grey College?

very very talented youngster

[FalseBayFC]

So less than 6ft

Midgets? The dude is a 90kg 1.9m 19 years old who will probably end up at 100 kegs once he has filled out. He is neither nippy nor a midget. He is a tall outside back with good acceleration off the mark and elite level top end pace.

Yeah he is a big unit, but he is looking good so far, both on the wing and solid at the back while Arendse was injured. Definitely got a bit of speed and can brush off tackles. Looking forward to see how he develops over the next couple of seasons. And as mentioned he will definitely fill out a bit more.

He's a got a much higher ceiling than Arendse in my opinion. Arendse is doing well on the harder fields here but at 76kg is even lighter that Kolbe, Breyten Paulse and Gio Aplon by 5kg. I would be a little concerned if he was facing PI power wingers from Aus/NZ /Tonga/Fiji/Samoa.

Even the ligher NH wingers like Villere and Rees-Zammit outweigh him by 10-12kg. Arendse is a super talented player but more a 7s than 15s exponent imo.

[Chilli]

Bulls: 15 Canan Moodie, 14 David Kriel, 13 Cornal Hendricks, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Madosh Tambwe, 10 Chris Smith, 9 Izak Burger, 8 Elrigh Louw, 7 Arno Botha, 6 Marcell Coetzee (captain), 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Walt Steenkamp, 3 Mornay Smith, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp.
Replacements: 16 Bismarck du Plessis, 17 Simphiwe Mantanzima, 18 Robert Hunt, 19 Janko Swanepoel, 20 WJ Steenkamp, 21 Embrose Papier, 22 Morné Steyn, 23 Kurt-Lee Arendse

[fishfoodie]

United Rugby Championship semi-final: Leinster v Bulls
Venue: RDS Arena, Dublin Date: Friday, 10 June Kick-off: 19:35 BST

Leinster: O'Brien; Larmour, Ringrose, Henshaw, O'Loughlin; Byrne; Gibson-Park; Porter, Sheehan, Furlong, McCarthy, Ryan (capt), Doris, Van der Flier, Conan.

Replacements: Cronin, Healy, Ala'alatoa, Molony, Baird, McGrath, Sexton, Frawley.


Bulls: Moodie; Kriel; Hendricks, Vorster, Tambwe, Smith, Burger; Steenekamp, Grobbelaar, Smith, Steenkamp, Nortje, Coetzee (capt), Botha, Louw.

Replacements: Du Plessis, Matanzima, Hunt, Swanepoel, Steenkamp, Papier, Steyn, Arendse.

[FalseBayFC]

Early evening rain forecast in Ireland. That would favour the home team I should think. Leinster should take it comfortably. But the Bulls do have a bit of x-factor and some grunt up front.with Morne Steyn on the bench they also have a seasoned knockout rugby veteran but so do Leinster in Sexy. I'll be supporting the Bulls but see it as 65/35 in favour of Leinster.

[Sards]

Huge Marcel fan. He was so influential at the Sharks before he went abroad and continued to grow in stature. He has led the Bulls with distinction. I am supporting the Bulls

[Chilli]

I'll always support the SA teams, but there is no chance of the Bulls winning this.
Leinster by 30 odd.

[FalseBayFC]

Huge Marcel fan. He was so influential at the Sharks before he went abroad and continued to grow in stature. He has led the Bulls with distinction. I am supporting the Bulls

A good old-fashioned Durban Boy who went to Port Natal High School. Lekker to see the smaller schools produce legends.

[assfly]

I'll always support the SA teams, but there is no chance of the Bulls winning this.
Leinster by 30 odd.

Yes I agree, my optimism for the Bulls drained away when I saw the teams announced. Let's hope they keep is respectable.

[FalseBayFC]

anyone taken note of Caleb Abrahams playing at 9 for Grey College?

very very talented youngster

He is a reincarnation of Joost. Runs just like him. He looks a big solid kid too for a scrummie.