NPR

Blake wrote: ↑Sat Oct 01, 2022 8:06 pm

TheNatalShark wrote: ↑Sat Oct 01, 2022 7:56 pm This is pretty pathetic from the Sharks, little desire to do any hard work, only interest seems to be in running around.

Team of individuals.
So much less than the sum of its parts.

Quite

Dragons a bit knackered by injuries at the end, hope they turn out alright.

A lot for the Sharks to work through

Not really getting the negativity. Win away from home against a side with a strong defence that pressured us. Seems good?

James Venter made the wrong call at the end, should've gone to the corner to eat the clock in the Dragons corner. Lucky that penalty didn't go over.

I will gladly take that win . Gutsy performance all around.

4 out of 4 again. Next week all our teams play up north. Going to be a real test for them.

7 Oct
20:35 SAST (18:35 GMT): Edinburgh v Lions
DAM Health Stadium, Edinburgh

20:35 SAST (18:35 GMT): Connacht v Munster
The Sportsground, Galway

8 Oct
16:00 SAST (14:00 GMT): Zebre Parma v Stormers
Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, Parma

18:05 SAST (16:05 GMT): Leinster v Sharks
RDS Arena, Dublin

18:15 SAST (16:15 GMT): Scarlets v Cardiff
Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli

20:35 SAST (18:35 GMT): Glasgow Warriors v Bulls
Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow

20:35 SAST (18:35 GMT): Ulster v Ospreys
Kingspan Stadium, Belfast

9 Oct
15:45 SAST (13:45 GMT): Benetton v Dragons
Stadio Comunale di Monigo, Treviso

Just about managed to stay awake for the first half of the $harks match. Our execution is still pretty pants, but I think it's about as good as it gets considering our players that are available. We'll be so much better with our injured players back and our Boks back.

Shout-out to the local crowd. I loved the noise from the stands, you could actually here what the fans were shouting, it must have been uncomfortable for the $harks players and lifted the Dragons. Give me a small stadium with a noisy crowd over a large, quarter-full stadium any day.

assfly wrote: ↑Mon Oct 03, 2022 6:14 am Just about managed to stay awake for the first half of the $harks match. Our execution is still pretty pants, but I think it's about as good as it gets considering our players that are available. We'll be so much better with our injured players back and our Boks back.

Shout-out to the local crowd. I loved the noise from the stands, you could actually here what the fans were shouting, it must have been uncomfortable for the $harks players and lifted the Dragons. Give me a small stadium with a noisy crowd over a large, quarter-full stadium any day.

People are underrating the Dragons against second string sides

Sards wrote: ↑Mon Oct 03, 2022 6:43 am

assfly wrote: ↑Mon Oct 03, 2022 6:14 am Just about managed to stay awake for the first half of the $harks match. Our execution is still pretty pants, but I think it's about as good as it gets considering our players that are available. We'll be so much better with our injured players back and our Boks back.

Shout-out to the local crowd. I loved the noise from the stands, you could actually here what the fans were shouting, it must have been uncomfortable for the $harks players and lifted the Dragons. Give me a small stadium with a noisy crowd over a large, quarter-full stadium any day.

People are underrating the Dragons against second string sides

All the Wales and Italy teams seem to improve this season. Our teams real test is this weekend. All tough away matches coming up.

Was at the Stormers game with my laaitie on Saturday. Slow , stop/start first half, but played well in the second half. Willemse is really starting to impress.

handyman wrote: ↑Mon Oct 03, 2022 8:13 am Was at the Stormers game with my laaitie on Saturday. Slow , stop/start first half, but played well in the second half. Willemse is really starting to impress.

Awesome. Did you braai after the match?

OomStruisbaai wrote: ↑Mon Oct 03, 2022 8:42 am

handyman wrote: ↑Mon Oct 03, 2022 8:13 am Was at the Stormers game with my laaitie on Saturday. Slow , stop/start first half, but played well in the second half. Willemse is really starting to impress.

Awesome. Did you braai after the match?

Nope, laaitie was op moeg. Too much excitement.

handyman wrote: ↑Mon Oct 03, 2022 8:13 am Was at the Stormers game with my laaitie on Saturday. Slow , stop/start first half, but played well in the second half. Willemse is really starting to impress.

Willemse had a shocker on Saturday though.

LoveOfTheGame wrote: ↑Mon Oct 03, 2022 12:14 pm

handyman wrote: ↑Mon Oct 03, 2022 8:13 am Was at the Stormers game with my laaitie on Saturday. Slow , stop/start first half, but played well in the second half. Willemse is really starting to impress.

Willemse had a shocker on Saturday though.

I noticed they were skipping him to get the ball to the wings.

Maybe a ploy but it worked in the second half

Wonder if its a short stay kind of think like Am did last year.

No Nkosi or Moodie or Grobbies

Embra must be tired of SA teams. Lions are waiting for them full of confidence. Embra big favorites.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7

Connacht v Munster
(The Sportsground, Galway – Kick-off: 19.35; 18.35 GMT)
Referee: Chris Busby (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Frank Murphy (Ireland) & Dan Carson (Ireland)
TMO: Brian MacNeice (Ireland)

Edinburgh Rugby v Lions
(The DAM Health Stadium, Edinburgh – Kick-off: 19.35; 20.35 Sa Time)
Referee: Andrea Piardi (Italy)
Assistant referees: Ru Campbell (Scotland) & Jonny Perriam (Scotland)
TMO: Stefano Roscini (Italy)

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 8

Zebre Parma v Stormers
(Stadio Lanfranchi, Parma – Kick-off: 16.00; 16.00 SA Time)
Referee: Eoghan Cross (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Dario Merli (Italy) & Alberto Favaro (Italy)
TMO: Olly Hodges (Ireland)

Leinster v Sharks
(RDS Arena, Dublin – Kick-off: 17.05: 18.05 SA time)
Referee: Craig Evans (Wales)
Assistant referees: Peter Martin (Ireland) & Keane Davison (Ireland)
TMO: Jon Mason (WRU)

Scarlets v Cardiff Rugby
(Parc Y Scarlets, Scarlets – Kick-off: 17.15; 14.15 GMT)
Referee: Adam Jones (Wales)
Assistant referees: Elgan Williams (Wales) & Mark Butcher (Wales)
TMO: Ian Davies (Wales)

Glasgow Warriors v Bulls
(Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow – Kick-off: 19.35; 20.35 SA Time)
Referee: Andy Brace (Ireland)
Assistant referees: David Sutherland (Scotland) & Ru Campbell (Scotland)
TMO: Mark Patton (Ireland)

Ulster v Ospreys
(Kingspan Stadium, Belfast – Kick-off: 19.35)
Referee: Ben Blain (Scotland)
Assistant referees: Paul Haycock (Ireland) & Andrew Fogarty (Ireland)
TMO: Andrew McMenemy (Scotland)

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 9

Benetton v Dragons RFC
(Stadio Monigo, Treviso – Kick-off: 15.45; 14.45 IRE & UK)
Referee: Sam Grove-White (Scotland)
Assistant referees: Andrea Piardi (Italy) & Simone Boaretto (Italy)
TMO: Colin Stanley (Scotland)

Lions vs Embra – 15 Andries Coetzee (13 tests 2017), 14 Stean Pienaar, 13 Henco van Wyk, 12 Marius Louw, 11 Quan Horn, 10 Gianni Lombard, 9 Sanele Nohamba, 8 Franke Horn, 7 Ruan Venter, 6 Sibusiso Sangweni, 5 Reinhard Nothnagel (c), 4 Pieter Jansen van Vuren, 3 Ruan Dreyer (4 tests 2016/17), 2 PJ Botha, 1 Sti Sithole.
Subs: 16 Jaco Visagie, 17 JP Smith, 18 Ruan Smith, 19 Emmanuel Tshituka, 20 Ruhan Straeuli, 21 Morne van den Berg, 22 Jordan Hendrikse, 23 Zander du Plessis.

Looks like the run of wins for SA teams ends this round.

Sadly South Africa have a massive hole in the way of our contracting system.

Obviously PoC play a massive role. Sad to see youngsters like Puma 13 Sebastiaan de Klerk not playing in the URC. He'll make a difference for the Lions and Sharks.

Lovely to see the ex Sharks players making such a difference in the other teams

OomStruisbaai wrote: ↑Wed Oct 05, 2022 2:34 pm Lions vs Embra – 15 Andries Coetzee (13 tests 2017), 14 Stean Pienaar, 13 Henco van Wyk, 12 Marius Louw, 11 Quan Horn, 10 Gianni Lombard, 9 Sanele Nohamba, 8 Franke Horn, 7 Ruan Venter, 6 Sibusiso Sangweni, 5 Reinhard Nothnagel (c), 4 Pieter Jansen van Vuren, 3 Ruan Dreyer (4 tests 2016/17), 2 PJ Botha, 1 Sti Sithole.
Subs: 16 Jaco Visagie, 17 JP Smith, 18 Ruan Smith, 19 Emmanuel Tshituka, 20 Ruhan Straeuli, 21 Morne van den Berg, 22 Jordan Hendrikse, 23 Zander du Plessis.

Edinburgh suddenly have the big man Duhan VDM back. That's a nice in-season pick me up!

FalseBayFC wrote: ↑Thu Oct 06, 2022 5:45 am

OomStruisbaai wrote: ↑Wed Oct 05, 2022 2:34 pm Lions vs Embra – 15 Andries Coetzee (13 tests 2017), 14 Stean Pienaar, 13 Henco van Wyk, 12 Marius Louw, 11 Quan Horn, 10 Gianni Lombard, 9 Sanele Nohamba, 8 Franke Horn, 7 Ruan Venter, 6 Sibusiso Sangweni, 5 Reinhard Nothnagel (c), 4 Pieter Jansen van Vuren, 3 Ruan Dreyer (4 tests 2016/17), 2 PJ Botha, 1 Sti Sithole.
Subs: 16 Jaco Visagie, 17 JP Smith, 18 Ruan Smith, 19 Emmanuel Tshituka, 20 Ruhan Straeuli, 21 Morne van den Berg, 22 Jordan Hendrikse, 23 Zander du Plessis.

Edinburgh suddenly have the big man Duhan VDM back. That's a nice in-season pick me up!

Graham, Bofelli and van der Merwe is as good a back there as you'll get. With a good array of backups aswell in Hoyland, Immelman, Goossen, Blain etc

Boff's back

Will be a massive upset if the Lions beat Embra and the Sharks Leinster. But you never know, specially the Sharks who has been on the background quietly.

OomStruisbaai wrote: ↑Thu Oct 06, 2022 1:52 pm Will be a massive upset if the Lions beat Embra and the Sharks Leinster. But you never know, specially the Sharks who has been on the background quietly.

Both are in for a bit of a hiding, I think.

LoveOfTheGame wrote: ↑Thu Oct 06, 2022 2:14 pm

OomStruisbaai wrote: ↑Thu Oct 06, 2022 1:52 pm Will be a massive upset if the Lions beat Embra and the Sharks Leinster. But you never know, specially the Sharks who has been on the background quietly.

Both are in for a bit of a hiding, I think.

I don't know. Both teams seem to always lift against tough opposition. I certainly wouldn't bet against either.

Sharks – 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Werner Kok, 13 Rohan Janse van Rensburg, 12 Ben Tapuai, 11 Thaakir Abrahams, 10 Boeta Chamerlain, 9 Grant Williams, 8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 7 Dylan Richardson, 6 James Venter, 5 Hyron Andrews, 4 Justin Basson, 3 Thomas du Toit (c), 2 Kerron van Vuuren, 1 Ntuthuko Mchunu.
Subs: 16 Dan Jooste, 17 Dian Bleuler, 18 Carlu Sadie, 19 Reniel Hugo, 20 Phepsi Buthelezi, 21 Cameron Wright, 22 Nevaldo Fleurs, 23 Marnus Potgieter.

LoveOfTheGame wrote: ↑Thu Oct 06, 2022 2:14 pm

OomStruisbaai wrote: ↑Thu Oct 06, 2022 1:52 pm Will be a massive upset if the Lions beat Embra and the Sharks Leinster. But you never know, specially the Sharks who has been on the background quietly.

Both are in for a bit of a hiding, I think.

I thought Lions played quite an intelligent game to win last week. They'll be hoping to keep it tight again against Embra.

The teams for this evenings 1st match on the new 4G pitch in the Sportsground.

Connacht: Conor Fitzgerald; John Porch, Byron Ralston, David Hawkshaw, Mack Hansen; Jack Carty (capt), Kieran Marmion; Denis Buckley, Dave Heffernan, Finlay Bealham; Gavin Thornbury, Oisin Dowling; Shamus Hurley-Langton, Conor Oliver, Jarrad Butler.

Replacements: Grant Stewart, Peter Dooley, Jack Aungier, Niall Murray, Josh Murphy, Colm Reilly, Tom Daly, Paul Boyle.

Munster: Joey Carbery; Conor Phillips, Malakai Fekitoa, Dan Goggin, Patrick Campbell; Ben Healy, Conor Murray; Dave Kilcoyne, Niall Scannell, Keynan Knox; Jean Kleyn, Tadhg Beirne; Jack O'Donoghue, Peter O’Mahony (capt), Gavin Coombes.

Replacements: Scott Buckley, Jeremy Loughman, Stephen Archer, Edwin Edogbo, Jack O’Sullivan, Craig Casey, Rory Scannell, Fionn Gibbons.

Dobson rotating. Huge risk against Zebre. Glad to see Xaba back in the mix

3rd time lucky for Connacht

Glasgow

15 Josh McKay, 14 Sebastian Cancelliere, 13 Sione Tuipulotu (captain), 12 Sam Johnson, 11 Cole Forbes, 10 Tom Jordan, 9 George Horne, 8 Matt Fagerson, 7 Thomas Gordon, 6 Gregor Brown, 5 Richie Gray, 4 Scott Cummings, 3 Zander Ferguson, 2 Fraser Brown, 1 Jamie Bhatti

Substitutes: 16 George Turner, 17 Oli Kebble, 18 Lucio Sordoni, 19 JP du Preez, 20 Sintu Manjezi, 21 Ryan Wilson, 22 Ali Price, 23 Domingo Miotti

Bulls

15 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 14 Cornal Hendricks, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 David Kriel, 11 Stedman Gans, 10 Chris Smith, 9 Zak Burger, 8 Elrigh Louw, 7 Marco van Staden, 6 Marcell Coetzee (captain), 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Walt Steenkamp, 3 Francois Klopper, 2 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp

Substitutes: 16 Bismarck du Plessis, 17 Simphiwe Matanzima, 18 Mornay Smith, 19 Janko Swanepoel, 20 Reinhardt Ludwig, 21 Embrose Papier, 22 Morne Steyn, 23 Wandi Simelane

Leinster:15 Jimmy O’Brien, 14 Jordan Larmour, 13 Robbie Henshaw, 12 Charlie Ngatai, 11 Rob Russell, 10 Johnny Sexton (c), 9 Luke McGrath, 8 Jack Conan, 7 Will Connors, 6 Ryan Baird, 5 Jason Jenkins, 4 Ross Molony, 3 Michael Ala’alatoa, 2 Dan Sheehan, 1 Andrew Porter
Replacements: 16 John McKee, 17 Cian Healy, 18 Vakhtang Abdaladze, 19 James Ryan, 20 Rhys Ruddock, 21 Cormac Foley, 22 Ross Byrne, 23 Garry Ringrose

Sharks: 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Werner Kok, 13 Rohan Janse van Rensburg, 12 Ben Tapuai, 11 Thaakir Abrahams, 10 Boeta Chamberlain, 9 Grant Williams, 8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 7 Dylan Richardson, 6 James Venter, 5 Hyron Andrews, 4 Justin Basson, 3 Thomas du Toit (c), 2 Kerron van Vuuren, 1 Ntuthuko Mchunu
Replacements: 16 Dan Jooste, 17 Dian Bleuler, 18 Carlu Sadie, 19 Reniel Hugo, 20 Phepsi Buthelezi, 21 Cameron Wright, 22 Nevaldo Fleurs, 23 Marnus Potgieter

Venue: RDS Arena
Kick-off: 17:05 BST (16:05 GMT)
Referee: Craig Evans (Wales)
Assistant referees: Peter Martin (Ireland), Keane Davison (Ireland)
TMO: Sean Brickell (Wales)

Nice crowd in

Something definitely happened

Jock42 wrote: ↑Fri Oct 07, 2022 7:01 pm Something definitely happened

Yeah, you would hope there will be a citing there.

Flintstone kicking

Good try from aggressive attack there