Official United Rugby Championship thread

[OomStruisbaai]

There is no expectation for me of any victory this weekend

Yep any bonus point will be a bonus. Black Saturday.

[average joe]

Die manne met die klein peepees.

[handyman]

I'm missing the Cheetahs playing in this tournament.

[Tichtheid]

Unless you have a conveyor belt of young talent like Leinster do most clubs go through cycles of highs and rebuilding. Glasgow have lost a dozen or more of the squad that won the league and got to finals more often than not.

There are a hell of a lot of very promising young colts in the squad now, Darge, Dobie and McLean are particular names to check, but this will still be a building season for Glasgow, I think.
Having said that they did better than I expected in Ulster last weekend, that is never an easy trip and with a bit more experience Glasgow might well have won it.

[average joe]

The last time the Cheetahs played in this comp we ended 6th on the log with two players in the top ten highest scoring players. Hope your team can do better.

[Sards]

The last time the Cheetahs played in this comp we ended 6th on the log with two players in the top ten highest scoring players. Hope your team can do better.

You lot didn't have the Boks vokking up your squad................we have 11 players....almost a team , sitting carrying tackle bags

[Tichtheid]

The last time the Cheetahs played in this comp we ended 6th on the log with two players in the top ten highest scoring players. Hope your team can do better.

You lot didn't have the Boks vokking up your squad................we have 11 players....almost a team , sitting carrying tackle bags

The new competition is supposed to stop that happening, Edinburgh and Glasgow lost most of their starting lineups during the November tests and the 6N (we usually had nearly twenty players each in the Scotland squad, give or take). The Italian sides were the same, it affected the Welsh and Irish but it was spread out over four teams instead of two for them.

Leinster had such a great squad that their internationals rarely played away from home in the league, again the new competition is trying to address that (so they say).
It's tough for the SA teams this time around, but if the RC is played earlier next year there will be less of an impact.

[yermum]

Reckon Bulls may well take the spoils in Galway, can't call Lions game and expecting Stormers to be better in Thomond than last weekend.

Glasgow favourites unless Sharks win a lot more ball.

Munster need de Allende and Farrell back and firing as the centres vs the sharks were dreadful.

[robmatic]

There is no expectation for me of any victory this weekend

Yep any bonus point will be a bonus. Black Saturday.

Maybe a bit difficult away from home and while still adjusting to the referees etc, but the mid-table Celtic teams like Scarlets and Glasgow are beatable if your forwards are up for it.

[OomStruisbaai]

Reckon Bulls may well take the spoils in Galway, can't call Lions game and expecting Stormers to be better in Thomond than last weekend.

Glasgow favourites unless Sharks win a lot more ball.

Munster need de Allende and Farrell back and firing as the centres vs the sharks were dreadful.

Stormers need their Springbok desperately. RG Snymand and Kleyn are going to have a feast in the lineouts. Stormers will need to defend well and run as much as they can to keep it under 40.

[average joe]

The last time the Cheetahs played in this comp we ended 6th on the log with two players in the top ten highest scoring players. Hope your team can do better.

You lot didn't have the Boks vokking up your squad................we have 11 players....almost a team , sitting carrying tackle bags

Yes we had no Boks, we had no-name school kids straight out of varsity.

[Sards]

The last time the Cheetahs played in this comp we ended 6th on the log with two players in the top ten highest scoring players. Hope your team can do better.

You lot didn't have the Boks vokking up your squad................we have 11 players....almost a team , sitting carrying tackle bags

Yes we had no Boks, we had no-name school kids straight out of varsity.

And Poepies..........my favorite old timer

[average joe]

You lot didn't have the Boks vokking up your squad................we have 11 players....almost a team , sitting carrying tackle bags

Yes we had no Boks, we had no-name school kids straight out of varsity.

And Poepies..........my favorite old timer

Poepies was broken half the season and not in a good way.

[Sards]

SHARKS TEAM
1. Khwezi Mona,
2. Fez Mbatha,
3. Thomas du Toit,
4. Le Roux Roets,
5. Ruben van Heerden,
6. Dylan Richardson,
7. Gerbrandt Grobler,
8. Phepsi Buthelezi (capt),
9. Ruan Pienaar,
10. Boeta Chamberlain,
11. Thaakir Abrahams,
12. Murray Koster,
13. Werner Kok,
14. Yaw Penxe,
15. Curwin Bosch.

Replacements: 16. Kerron van Vuuren, 17. Ntuthuko Mchunu, 18. Lourens Adriaanse, 19. Hyron Andrews, 20. Thembelani Bholi, 21. James Venter, 22. Tian Meyer, 23. Jeremy Ward

Boeta was kak last week....hopefully he gets going this week

[assfly]

Still not the most inspiring team, but hopefully good enough to get the W.

[handyman]

SHARKS TEAM
1. Khwezi Mona,
2. Fez Mbatha,
3. Thomas du Toit,
4. Le Roux Roets,
5. Ruben van Heerden,
6. Dylan Richardson,
7. Gerbrandt Grobler,
8. Phepsi Buthelezi (capt),
9. Ruan Pienaar,
10. Boeta Chamberlain,
11. Thaakir Abrahams,
12. Murray Koster,
13. Werner Kok,
14. Yaw Penxe,
15. Curwin Bosch.

Replacements: 16. Kerron van Vuuren, 17. Ntuthuko Mchunu, 18. Lourens Adriaanse, 19. Hyron Andrews, 20. Thembelani Bholi, 21. James Venter, 22. Tian Meyer, 23. Jeremy Ward

Boeta was kak last week....hopefully he gets going this week

You're going nowhere with that pack.

[OomStruisbaai]

6. Dylan Richardson,
7. Gerbrandt Grobler,
8. Phepsi Buthelezi (capt),
You're going nowhere with that pack.

I don't agree. Wise move to get GG in 7. Much better loose forwards combination. Will be nice if the Sharks can get a win on Saturday.

[FalseBayFC]

The last time the Cheetahs played in this comp we ended 6th on the log with two players in the top ten highest scoring players. Hope your team can do better.

You lot didn't have the Boks vokking up your squad................we have 11 players....almost a team , sitting carrying tackle bags

The new competition is supposed to stop that happening, Edinburgh and Glasgow lost most of their starting lineups during the November tests and the 6N (we usually had nearly twenty players each in the Scotland squad, give or take). The Italian sides were the same, it affected the Welsh and Irish but it was spread out over four teams instead of two for them.

Leinster had such a great squad that their internationals rarely played away from home in the league, again the new competition is trying to address that (so they say).
It's tough for the SA teams this time around, but if the RC is played earlier next year there will be less of an impact.

I think one of our main issues is the coaches and players we have lost to the T14 and Premiership. The Lions lost a whole generation of talent when Ackerman left. Robert du Preez took a whole host of Sharks with him too.

[OomStruisbaai]

You lot didn't have the Boks vokking up your squad................we have 11 players....almost a team , sitting carrying tackle bags

The new competition is supposed to stop that happening, Edinburgh and Glasgow lost most of their starting lineups during the November tests and the 6N (we usually had nearly twenty players each in the Scotland squad, give or take). The Italian sides were the same, it affected the Welsh and Irish but it was spread out over four teams instead of two for them.

Leinster had such a great squad that their internationals rarely played away from home in the league, again the new competition is trying to address that (so they say).
It's tough for the SA teams this time around, but if the RC is played earlier next year there will be less of an impact.

I think one of our main issues is the coaches and players we have lost to the T14 and Premiership. The Lions lost a whole generation of talent when Ackerman left. Robert du Preez took a whole host of Sharks with him too.

with our teams in the URC will only make this more worse. Our best play on the NH platform now and our franschises cant compete with the budget of any of the NH clubs. They will simply poach them.

When the Bokke play it will hurt them more then us.

[Tichtheid]

You lot didn't have the Boks vokking up your squad................we have 11 players....almost a team , sitting carrying tackle bags

The new competition is supposed to stop that happening, Edinburgh and Glasgow lost most of their starting lineups during the November tests and the 6N (we usually had nearly twenty players each in the Scotland squad, give or take). The Italian sides were the same, it affected the Welsh and Irish but it was spread out over four teams instead of two for them.

Leinster had such a great squad that their internationals rarely played away from home in the league, again the new competition is trying to address that (so they say).
It's tough for the SA teams this time around, but if the RC is played earlier next year there will be less of an impact.

I think one of our main issues is the coaches and players we have lost to the T14 and Premiership. The Lions lost a whole generation of talent when Ackerman left. Robert du Preez took a whole host of Sharks with him too.

That's a fair point, The Scottish teams don't have the moolah to sign a Juan Smith or a Bakkies Botha, the ex-Boks who are perhaps looking for a good pension in the last couple of playing years, let alone a Faff or a Vermeulen.

We did sign guys who could have done a job for your teams at Currie Cup level or with the Super teams, WP Nel, Pierre Schoeman, Cornell Du Preez at Edinburgh and Josh Strauss at Glasgow.

Duhan vd Merwe is a bit of an outlier, he was injured and without a contract before Edinburgh took a punt on him.

Speaking of van der Merwe, Glasgow had DTH van der Merwe, but he'd emigrated to Canada at a very young age, iirc.

[OomStruisbaai]

Connacht: 15 Tiernan O’Halloran 14 John Porch 13 Tom Farrell 12 Tom Daly 11 Mack Hansen 10 Jack Carty 9 Kieran Marmion 8 Abraham Papali’i 7 Jarrad Butler (captain) 6 Cian Prendergast 5 Ultan Dillane 4 Oisin Dowling 3 Finlay Bealham 2 Dave Heffernan 1 Jordan Duggan.
Bench: 16 Shane Delahunt 17 Matthew Burke 18 Jack Aungier 19 Leva Fifita 20 Conor Oliver 21 Caolin Blade 22 Paul Boyle 23 Sammy Arnold.

Bulls: 15 Ruan Combrinck, 14 Cornal Hendricks, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Stravino Jacobs, 10 Johan Goosen. 9 Zak Burger, 8 Elrigh Louw, 7 Arno Botha, 6 Marcell Coetzee, 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Walt Steenkamp, 3 Jacques van Rooyen, 2 Joe van Zyl, 1 Lizo Gqoboka
Replacements: 16 Bismarck du Plessis, 17 Simphiwe Matanzima, 18 Mornay Smith, 19 Janko Swanepoel, 20 Jacques du Plessis, 21 Embrose Papier, 22 Chris Smith, 23 Stedman Gans

KO 19.35 IRE & UK / 20.35 ITA & SA
The Sportsground, Galway
Referee: Ben Blain (SRU, 11th league game)
AR 1: Paul Haycock (IRFU), AR 2: Andrew Cole (IRFU),
TMO: Andrew McMenemy (IRFU)
Live on: TG4, SuperSport & Premier Sports 1

[handyman]

6. Dylan Richardson,
7. Gerbrandt Grobler,
8. Phepsi Buthelezi (capt),
You're going nowhere with that pack.

I don't agree. Wise move to get GG in 7. Much better loose forwards combination. Will be nice if the Sharks can get a win on Saturday.

It does not matter who your loose forwards are when you've got a powderpuff tight 5. As an experienced lyn loper I thought you would know that.

[handyman]

The new competition is supposed to stop that happening, Edinburgh and Glasgow lost most of their starting lineups during the November tests and the 6N (we usually had nearly twenty players each in the Scotland squad, give or take). The Italian sides were the same, it affected the Welsh and Irish but it was spread out over four teams instead of two for them.

Leinster had such a great squad that their internationals rarely played away from home in the league, again the new competition is trying to address that (so they say).
It's tough for the SA teams this time around, but if the RC is played earlier next year there will be less of an impact.

I think one of our main issues is the coaches and players we have lost to the T14 and Premiership. The Lions lost a whole generation of talent when Ackerman left. Robert du Preez took a whole host of Sharks with him too.

with our teams in the URC will only make this more worse. Our best play on the NH platform now and our franschises cant compete with the budget of any of the NH clubs. They will simply poach them.

When the Bokke play it will hurt them more then us.

Will our teams not make more money in the NH competitions? I thought this was the whole idea with the move North?

[assfly]

Bulls: 15 Ruan Combrinck,

Great to see him back in action.

[Sards]

Bulls: 15 Ruan Combrinck,

Great to see him back in action.

Blast from the past....you have to wonder why JW let Gelant go

[OomStruisbaai]

I think one of our main issues is the coaches and players we have lost to the T14 and Premiership. The Lions lost a whole generation of talent when Ackerman left. Robert du Preez took a whole host of Sharks with him too.

with our teams in the URC will only make this more worse. Our best play on the NH platform now and our franschises cant compete with the budget of any of the NH clubs. They will simply poach them.

When the Bokke play it will hurt them more then us.

Will our teams not make more money in the NH competitions? I thought this was the whole idea with the move North?

We make more money, not even close to what the NH clubs get.

[sorCrer]

6. Dylan Richardson,
7. Gerbrandt Grobler,
8. Phepsi Buthelezi (capt),
You're going nowhere with that pack.

I don't agree. Wise move to get GG in 7. Much better loose forwards combination. Will be nice if the Sharks can get a win on Saturday.

It does not matter who your loose forwards are when you've got a powderpuff tight 5. As an experienced lyn loper I thought you would know that.

Richardson is actually quite a good player.

[FalseBayFC]

I don't agree. Wise move to get GG in 7. Much better loose forwards combination. Will be nice if the Sharks can get a win on Saturday.

It does not matter who your loose forwards are when you've got a powderpuff tight 5. As an experienced lyn loper I thought you would know that.

Richardson is actually quite a good player.

They been fiddling around with him at hooker. He's very abrasive and physical but might lack a bit of pace.

[assfly]

Richardson is actually quite a good player.

I agree, he's come along well. I suspect we may lose James Venter in the near future because of Richardson's performances.

He's not quite Bok level, but I think URC could be where he really excels. We just need to find a permanent solution at 7 to help him.

[Chilli]

Richardson is actually quite a good player.

I agree, he's come along well. I suspect we may lose James Venter in the near future because of Richardson's performances.

He's not quite Bok level, but I think URC could be where he really excels. We just need to find a permanent solution at 7 to help him.

One would have thought that with the new found riche$ the $harks would have invested in 2 locks and a big bruiser at 7.

[assfly]

One would have thought that with the new found riche$ the $harks would have invested in 2 locks and a big bruiser at 7.

Yes that would be nice. We still haven't found a replacement for JLdP, and it's been a very long time since we had a really good lock.

[handyman]

I don't agree. Wise move to get GG in 7. Much better loose forwards combination. Will be nice if the Sharks can get a win on Saturday.

It does not matter who your loose forwards are when you've got a powderpuff tight 5. As an experienced lyn loper I thought you would know that.

Richardson is actually quite a good player.

Means nothing if the tight five is going backwards. This rugby 101 lads.

[handyman]

Richardson is actually quite a good player.

I agree, he's come along well. I suspect we may lose James Venter in the near future because of Richardson's performances.

He's not quite Bok level, but I think URC could be where he really excels. We just need to find a permanent solution at 7 to help him.

One would have thought that with the new found riche$ the $harks would have invested in 2 locks and a big bruiser at 7.

Must have blown the budget when they bought superstar Murray Koster.

[Sandstorm]

Bulls: 15 Ruan Combrinck,

Great to see him back in action.

Blast from the past....you have to wonder why JW let Gelant go

Always injured

[Chilli]

I agree, he's come along well. I suspect we may lose James Venter in the near future because of Richardson's performances.

He's not quite Bok level, but I think URC could be where he really excels. We just need to find a permanent solution at 7 to help him.

One would have thought that with the new found riche$ the $harks would have invested in 2 locks and a big bruiser at 7.

Must have blown the budget when they bought superstar Murray Koster.

Who?

[handyman]

One would have thought that with the new found riche$ the $harks would have invested in 2 locks and a big bruiser at 7.

Must have blown the budget when they bought superstar Murray Koster.

Who?

Exactly...

[OomStruisbaai]

DHL Stormers: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Sergeal Petersen, 13 Ruhan Nel, 12 Dan du Plessis, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Stefan Ungerer, 8 Evan Roos, 7 Willie Engelbrecht, 6 Nama Xaba, 5 Salmaan Moerat, 4 Adre Smith, 3 Neethling Fouche, 2 Scarra Ntubeni, 1 Brok Harris.
Replacements: 16 Andre-Hugo Venter, 17 Leon Lyons, 18 Sazi Sandi, 19 Ernst van Rhyn, 20 Marcel Theunissen, 21 Godlen Masimla, 22 Tim Swiel, 23 Rikus Pretorius.

[assfly]

Who?

Who are you supporting in URC Chilli? Still the Bulls?

I thought you could become an honourary Sharks fan for the season, especially with the Cheetahs players on loan to the $harks.

[Sards]

DHL Stormers: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Sergeal Petersen, 13 Ruhan Nel, 12 Dan du Plessis, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Stefan Ungerer, 8 Evan Roos, 7 Willie Engelbrecht, 6 Nama Xaba, 5 Salmaan Moerat, 4 Adre Smith, 3 Neethling Fouche, 2 Scarra Ntubeni, 1 Brok Harris.
Replacements: 16 Andre-Hugo Venter, 17 Leon Lyons, 18 Sazi Sandi, 19 Ernst van Rhyn, 20 Marcel Theunissen, 21 Godlen Masimla, 22 Tim Swiel, 23 Rikus Pretorius.

Stormers by 10

[Chilli]

Who?

Who are you supporting in URC Chilli? Still the Bulls?

I thought you could become an honourary Sharks fan for the season, especially with the Cheetahs players on loan to the $harks.

That is / was the plan