Official United Rugby Championship thread

[Slick]

Is rugby growing really rapidly amongst the black population? Every year there seems to be more and more black faces in the crowd.

I guess having so many top players coming through helps that but is the traditional resistance to rugby breaking down quickly?

Rugby has had longstanding grassroots in the Eastern Cape and Western Cape amongst Xhosa and Coloured communities. That's maybe 15 million people so not insignificant. Most antipathy towards the Springboks and rugby as a sport has almost entirely disappeared. The emergence of role models like Habana, Kolisi, Beast, Mapimpi etc have played a huge role in growing the popularity of the game.

This. You only need to go to our schoolboy level, the future of our rugby to realise the difference.

Thanks chaps

[OomStruisbaai]

I haven't watched last night's games. Look like Scarlets and Benetton played well Just show how competitive the URC is at the moment. Also surprise about the Bulls win over the Sharks in CC in Durbs. Does this mean the Bulls have more depth then the $hark$?

[FalseBayFC]

Ruan Vermaak is a Bok lock in the making. He impresses me in every match he plays. We need back up no.4 locks.

[FalseBayFC]

What a try on the hooter by Bulls!

[fishfoodie]

Different cast, but the same product from Leinster

[OomStruisbaai]

Different cast, but the same product from Leinster

Look a bit shaky at the moment

[FalseBayFC]

Francke Horn is better than Evan Roos. That's a great try by the Leinster tighthead. Make me proud as an ex front row fattie.

[fishfoodie]

Different cast, but the same product from Leinster

Look a bit shaky at the moment

Yep, Lions responding well to Leinster pulling in front again, & too many soft tackles.

[_Os_]

Francke Horn reminds me of Joe van Niekerk sometimes. He'll be a Bok.

[OomStruisbaai]

Lions should have take the 3 points

[OomStruisbaai]

Lions mustn't fucked it up from here

[fishfoodie]

These two teams always seem to have humdinger games

[OomStruisbaai]

Lions defense is kak.

[fishfoodie]

Lions defense is kak.

Leinsters the same; a draw is probably a fair result for both sides

[fishfoodie]

And there you see why I've a perma hard on for Sam

The little offload in contact, & then 50-22

[CM11]

And there you see why I've a perma hard on for Sam

The little offload in contact, & then 50-22

50/22 was Cosgrave but point stlll stands!

[salanya]

Impressive win by the Leinster youngsters, great to see them grafting till the end
Some lovely play on both sides.

[fishfoodie]

Impressive win by the Leinster youngsters, great to see them grafting till the end
Some lovely play on both sides.

Really entertaining game, & it was good to see them tighten up the defense in the 2nd half

Great game obviously by Lions too, & hard to understand how they're the bottom SA side when they can play like that.

[Uncle fester]

Damn. Was hoping we'd keep them out.

[FalseBayFC]

Great needle in this game. Both teams going in hard. POM is such a cock but also a great player.

[Uncle fester]

Thought our second try had split fully off the maul tbf.

[_Os_]

Lions v Leinster felt like a Super Rugby match. This one is like a mini test match so far. Both good.

[FalseBayFC]

POM is such a pain.

[fishfoodie]

POM is such a pain.

On the pitch. You couldn't meet a nicer bloke off of it.

[FalseBayFC]

POM is such a pain.

On the pitch. You couldn't meet a nicer bloke off of it.

Oh I'm sure. But I was talking about his brilliant steal there. He looks a class man to have a pint and a bit of craic with.

[PCPhil]

Great to be able to watch on u tub.

[fishfoodie]

POM is such a pain.

On the pitch. You couldn't meet a nicer bloke off of it.

Oh I'm sure. But I was talking about his brilliant steal there. He looks a class man to have a pint and a bit of craic with.

He's like a throwback to the amateur days; 100% focused on the game, & an absolute prick to play against,& then when he's out having drinks with you later, he's; in his case, talking about his garden, & his kids, & anything but Rugby

Speaking of which,he should probably have a word with whoever prepared todays pitch

https://toprated.ie/news/2023/04/unveil ... -and-kids/

[PCPhil]

Wow. Munster looking like ,,,,,,Munster.

[FalseBayFC]

On the pitch. You couldn't meet a nicer bloke off of it.

Oh I'm sure. But I was talking about his brilliant steal there. He looks a class man to have a pint and a bit of craic with.

He's like a throwback to the amateur days; 100% focused on the game, & an absolute prick to play against,& then when he's out having drinks with you later, he's; in his case, talking about his garden, & his kids, & anything but Rugby

Speaking of which,he should probably have a word with whoever prepared todays pitch

https://toprated.ie/news/2023/04/unveil ... -and-kids/

The pitch is being relayed in July this year.

The City of Cape Town is pleased to confirm that it has embarked on a process to install a new pitch at the DHL Stadium Cape Town. The future pitch will be a combination of artificial and natural grass – offering greater stabilisation and the most recent technology in pitch design, to ensure that the DHL Stadium remains aligned to the very best international benchmarks for both rugby and soccer.

[CM11]

Holy shit just saw the young fellas won. That's a brilliant win for those lads. How'd Prendergast go. I thought a bit too much smoke was being blown up his arse

Prendergast was MOTM.

Starting Irish FH next season.

[_Os_]

Will Munster winning mean Glasgow go all out to win the final league phase match?

[_Os_]

Great win by Munster. Thought RG Snyman had a rusty performance with errors, needs to get more game time.

[fishfoodie]

Great win by Munster. Thought RG Snyman had a rusty performance with errors, needs to get more game time.

He's still being handled with kid gloves, but he'll be the better for bring him back gradually.

[Sards]

Well played Munster.

Bulls the most impressive SA team of the round

[Uncle fester]

Great win by Munster. Thought RG Snyman had a rusty performance with errors, needs to get more game time.

He's barely played any rugby in years. Wouldn't expect him back at full tilt until next season.

[Uncle fester]

Well played Munster.

Bulls the most impressive SA team of the round

Zebre are no good as a barometer.

[lemonhead]

Will Munster winning mean Glasgow go all out to win the final league phase match?

Don't need to. Did the job on us at home and now we can't catch them.

Might give some lads gametime but that match is basically fishbait for them now, can't improve their league position and a European knockout the week after.

[FalseBayFC]

Well done Irishers! Showed great intensity, skill and persistence both teams.

[fishfoodie]

Well done Irishers! Showed great intensity, skill and persistence both teams.

Looked like their was a few Munster supporters on tour; lock up your cousins

[fishfoodie]

Yikes !, that's a nasty one for Noel Lane.

As Hansen jumped to catch the Garryowen, he ran into his knee; fortunately he looks okay.