Official United Rugby Championship thread

[CM11]

Bit disappointed with that

I'd have preferred to have the win, & make HEC next year absolutely certain, even if it meant a long haul down to SA for the playoffs.

Realistically we ain't winning the league, but getting into the HEC means extra money next year, & the fans love to see the big names playing at the Sportsground.

Ah, you're probably fine. Do you think one of Scarlets/Treviso will win Challenge Cup? Scarlets small chance but Treviso highly unlikely.

[fishfoodie]

Bit disappointed with that

I'd have preferred to have the win, & make HEC next year absolutely certain, even if it meant a long haul down to SA for the playoffs.

Realistically we ain't winning the league, but getting into the HEC means extra money next year, & the fans love to see the big names playing at the Sportsground.

Ah, you're probably fine. Do you think one of Scarlets/Treviso will win Challenge Cup? Scarlets small chance but Treviso highly unlikely.

I can't right off Benetton completely, because they were bloody good against Connacht in it, & Toulon probably aren't too pushed; Glasgow aren't too pushed either now, & might just rest a shitload of players, so there's a non-zero chance of both of them ending up in the Final

[Jim Lahey]

Some season for the Welsh sides, Cardiff best placed in 10th

Surprised to see the Pisspreys so low. They looked really good in the couple of games I seen of them this season. Really pushed Sarries in the Champions Cup as well. Hopefully they can build on those for next year.

[fishfoodie]

Some season for the Welsh sides, Cardiff best placed in 10th

Surprised to see the Pisspreys so low. They looked really good in the couple of games I seen of them this season. Really pushed Sarries in the Champions Cup as well. Hopefully they can build on those for next year.

The whole shield thing is becoming ever more bullshit with the decline of the Welsh sides. At the very least it should become a case of there having to be a playoff between shield qualifiers & the sides above them who qualify on merit.

[GogLais]

Some season for the Welsh sides, Cardiff best placed in 10th

Surprised to see the Pisspreys so low. They looked really good in the couple of games I seen of them this season. Really pushed Sarries in the Champions Cup as well. Hopefully they can build on those for next year.

Don’t care. It’s all about Wrexham now.

[fishfoodie]

Some season for the Welsh sides, Cardiff best placed in 10th

Surprised to see the Pisspreys so low. They looked really good in the couple of games I seen of them this season. Really pushed Sarries in the Champions Cup as well. Hopefully they can build on those for next year.

Don’t care. It’s all about Wrexham now.

Its a great feelgood story, & tells us what we should already know, that success ultimately comes from a club being supported at a community level, & then having some finance behind that support to build.

[LoveOfTheGame]

The travel has really had an impact on Munster. Stormers were unlucky to get them so fresh.

Sharks are just going into the knockouts a better team than the Stomps.

No they are not. I've never been so frustrated with the Sharks as this season. The sooner it ends for them the better. No chance of HC next year as well, what colossal waste of money.

[Slick]

What are the play off games and when are they?

I saw a graphic earlier with Leinster V Sale so I'm not convinced it was accurate

[LoveOfTheGame]

What are the play off games and when are they?

I saw a graphic earlier with Leinster V Sale so I'm not convinced it was accurate

Wrong Sharks...

[CM11]

What are the play off games and when are they?

I saw a graphic earlier with Leinster V Sale so I'm not convinced it was accurate

It's Leinster v Sharks. You're just thinking of the wrong Sharks (or someone messed up the graphic).

Anyway, it's:

Leinster v Sharks
Ulster v Connacht
Stormers v Bulls
Glasgow v Munster

No dates/times yet.

[CM11]

https://www.unitedrugby.com/match-centre/2022-23/19

Ulster Friday, Stormers followed by Leinster followed by Glasgow on Saturday.

[assfly]

If the $harks were playing at the RDS Arena then I'd give us a chance.

But at the Aviva it will be a walkover.

[CM11]

If the $harks were playing at the RDS Arena then I'd give us a chance.

But at the Aviva it will be a walkover.

Why do you think you'd find it easier playing us in our home ground?

[assfly]

Why do you think you'd find it easier playing us in our home ground?

I have absolutely no evidence whatsoever

But it's this type of conjecture that keeps me a $harks fan, year after year

[OomStruisbaai]

All Saffers support Connacht in the quarters. How is their record against Ulster?

[CM11]

All Saffers support Connacht in the quarters. How is their record against Ulster?

Not the best, I think. Hardly ever beat them, if memory serves.

[OomStruisbaai]

[Slick]

Was reading some comments today from AJ Venter that the Saffers are genuinely worried about playing Scotland at the WC and really rate the team.

Is this just him being nice to the reporter or is there that feeling amongst supporters?

[charltom]

Was reading some comments today from AJ Venter that the Saffers are genuinely worried about playing Scotland at the WC and really rate the team.

Is this just him being nice to the reporter or is there that feeling amongst supporters?

I'd be really surprised if that's the case, and I am absolutely counting on it not being, as that may give us our only chance!

[fishfoodie]

All Saffers support Connacht in the quarters. How is their record against Ulster?

Not the best, I think. Hardly ever beat them, if memory serves.

If memory serves, when we beat them a couple of years ago up in Belfast, that was our first away victory.

[CM11]

All Saffers support Connacht in the quarters. How is their record against Ulster?

Not the best, I think. Hardly ever beat them, if memory serves.

If memory serves, when we beat them a couple of years ago up in Belfast, that was our first away victory.

Rings a bell.

[fishfoodie]

Not the best, I think. Hardly ever beat them, if memory serves.

If memory serves, when we beat them a couple of years ago up in Belfast, that was our first away victory.

Rings a bell.

This is all both sides have to play for, it's your classic cup tie situation & when no one has to rest players, it could be a belter

[assfly]

If Swys is correct, that's an absolute howler from the officials. Especially with so much riding on the result.

[C T]

Was reading some comments today from AJ Venter that the Saffers are genuinely worried about playing Scotland at the WC and really rate the team.

Is this just him being nice to the reporter or is there that feeling amongst supporters?

Every time without fail, before the South Africa game I always find myself talking about how it should be such a great match. Two contrasting styles, they're big and strong, we're smaller but with a bit more imagination and pace. A great advertisement for rugby.

Then, without fail we end up getting squashed.

[Slick]

Was reading some comments today from AJ Venter that the Saffers are genuinely worried about playing Scotland at the WC and really rate the team.

Is this just him being nice to the reporter or is there that feeling amongst supporters?

Every time without fail, before the South Africa game I always find myself talking about how it should be such a great match. Two contrasting styles, they're big and strong, we're smaller but with a bit more imagination and pace. A great advertisement for rugby.

Then, without fail we end up getting squashed.

I must say, I never have that feeling, just the crushed one.

I don't see it personally, think we will just be steamrollered as usual, just trying to see what the average view is in SA

[PornDog]

If Swys is correct, that's an absolute howler from the officials. Especially with so much riding on the result.

Is it really? The ref made the right call according to how he thought it played out. I mean technically he did make a mistake, but only by a couple of millimetres and a minute fraction of a second.

The game has too much of an officiating magnifying glass on it already, the last thing we need is to increase the amount fo time it takes to ref the game. It was a marginal call that went against the sharks. Suck it up and don't be such a Rassie about it!

[Slick]

God bless totally rational Irish rugby

[PornDog]

It was a mistake - but when you're talking those fine margins then "ABSOLUTE HOWLER" is completely overblowing it

[assfly]

Is it really? The ref made the right call according to how he thought it played out. I mean technically he did make a mistake, but only by a couple of millimetres and a minute fraction of a second.

The game has too much of an officiating magnifying glass on it already, the last thing we need is to increase the amount fo time it takes to ref the game. It was a marginal call that went against the sharks. Suck it up and don't be such a Rassie about it!

Normally I let these things slide, as the refs are human. But that could have potentially cost us a place in the Champions Cup.

Can't change it now.

[PornDog]

Is it really? The ref made the right call according to how he thought it played out. I mean technically he did make a mistake, but only by a couple of millimetres and a minute fraction of a second.

The game has too much of an officiating magnifying glass on it already, the last thing we need is to increase the amount fo time it takes to ref the game. It was a marginal call that went against the sharks. Suck it up and don't be such a Rassie about it!

Normally I let these things slide, as the refs are human. But that could have potentially cost us a place in the Champions Cup.

Can't change it now.

Ah I get the disappointment, and again I agree it was an error, it's just when its that fine margins you just have to suck it up.


It's like when your fullback drops a catch and the ball goes straight down or even slightly backwards - the refs going to call it a knock on 95% of the time. It's just one of those things you have to shrug your shoulders about and move on.

[Slick]

It was a mistake - but when you're talking those fine margins then "ABSOLUTE HOWLER" is completely overblowing it

It was pretty poor, but what does make me laugh in these situations is that the players who made 3 ABSOLUTE HOWLERS in the lead up to the try get away with it and it's a pile on the ref.

Wingers positioning
FB not taking the Munster guy out, or at least making it more difficult
Player allowing the ball to squirt under him

Shit rugby all round, but ITS ALL THE REFS FAULT

[PornDog]

It was a mistake - but when you're talking those fine margins then "ABSOLUTE HOWLER" is completely overblowing it

It was pretty poor, but what does make me laugh in these situations is that the players who made 3 ABSOLUTE HOWLERS in the lead up to the try get away with it and it's a pile on the ref.

Wingers positioning
FB not taking the Munster guy out, or at least making it more difficult
Player allowing the ball to squirt under him

Shit rugby all round, but ITS ALL THE REFS FAULT

I'm still amazed at how the Sharks defence was that narrow - the kick wasn't even that good. Nash had to check his run and come infield to collect it.

Koch totally should have clobbered Nash instead of pulling out of the tackle. Again he was probably technically correct in pulling out of it, but it was so close I don't think any ref would have penalised him for flattening him.

[Sards]

It was a mistake - but when you're talking those fine margins then "ABSOLUTE HOWLER" is completely overblowing it

It was pretty poor, but what does make me laugh in these situations is that the players who made 3 ABSOLUTE HOWLERS in the lead up to the try get away with it and it's a pile on the ref.

Wingers positioning
FB not taking the Munster guy out, or at least making it more difficult
Player allowing the ball to squirt under him

Shit rugby all round, but ITS ALL THE REFS FAULT

You aren't getting many Sharks supporters complaining because of all the above mentioned mistakes that led to that try.

Sharks supporters don't go blaming the ref for everything that goes wrong . We take accountability.
Look at the other unions supporters.

We dont want to be lumped in that whole ....." Saffers all whinge about the ref non stop....." club , in a grouping headed by Rassie

[OomStruisbaai]

If Swys is correct, that's an absolute howler from the officials. Especially with so much riding on the result.

Swys is always right. Adamson is by far the kakkest test and URC ref by far. Not that he favor one team before the other but he seem to blow the game to a standstill.

[Uncle fester]

If Swys is correct, that's an absolute howler from the officials. Especially with so much riding on the result.

Is it really? The ref made the right call according to how he thought it played out. I mean technically he did make a mistake, but only by a couple of millimetres and a minute fraction of a second.

The game has too much of an officiating magnifying glass on it already, the last thing we need is to increase the amount fo time it takes to ref the game. It was a marginal call that went against the sharks. Suck it up and don't be such a Rassie about it!

It's not. You can touch the ball down in goal while being in touch. As long as you're not holding the ball, it's fine.

[PornDog]

If Swys is correct, that's an absolute howler from the officials. Especially with so much riding on the result.

Is it really? The ref made the right call according to how he thought it played out. I mean technically he did make a mistake, but only by a couple of millimetres and a minute fraction of a second.

The game has too much of an officiating magnifying glass on it already, the last thing we need is to increase the amount fo time it takes to ref the game. It was a marginal call that went against the sharks. Suck it up and don't be such a Rassie about it!

It's not. You can touch the ball down in goal while being in touch. As long as you're not holding the ball, it's fine.

You can, but the ball has to be already in contact with the ground when you touch it. In this case - by a few millimetres and a mere fraction of a second - the ball was actually still off the ground when Nash made contact with it and therefore he was in touch immediately prior to grounding it. The Rassie-ists on SA TV are technically correct, but you'd only know it after breaking out the magnifying glass.

[Sards]

Who really cares.

Nothing will change.

Its one hell of a complicated law and the ref and TMO have probably never adjudicated it before. I mean. How many of us knew it before Swys

[assfly]

Its one hell of a complicated law and the ref and TMO have probably never adjudicated it before. I mean. How many of us knew it before Swys

It is a ridiculous law. I had no idea it even existed before this morning, so it's hard to be outraged.

[OomStruisbaai]

URC quarter-finals schedule:

FRIDAY, MAY 5

Ulster (2) v Connacht (7)

Kingspan Stadium, Belfast

KO: 19:35 UK & IRE / 20:35 SA

SATURDAY, MAY 6

DHL Stormers (3) v Vodacom Bulls (6)

DHL Stadium, Cape Town

KO: 14:30 UK & IRE / 15:30 SA

Leinster (1) v Cell C Sharks (8)

Aviva Stadium, Dublin

KO: 17:00 UK & IRE / 18:00 SA

Glasgow Warriors (4) v Munster (5)

Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow

KO: 19:35 UK & IRE / 20:35 SA

[Sards]

URC quarter-finals schedule:

FRIDAY, MAY 5

Ulster (2) v Connacht (7)

Kingspan Stadium, Belfast

KO: 19:35 UK & IRE / 20:35 SA

SATURDAY, MAY 6

DHL Stormers (3) v Vodacom Bulls (6)

DHL Stadium, Cape Town

KO: 14:30 UK & IRE / 15:30 SA

Leinster (1) v Cell C Sharks (8)

Aviva Stadium, Dublin

KO: 17:00 UK & IRE / 18:00 SA

Glasgow Warriors (4) v Munster (5)

Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow

KO: 19:35 UK & IRE / 20:35 SA

Can't wait to see the officials