Official United Rugby Championship thread

[GrahamWa]

The Lions were simply superb. I don’t know when last I saw a 14 man side dismantle the opposition so effectively. (The sharks away to Otago in the 90s maybe. )They did not miss a beat. Just got stuck in and nullified the dodgy officials.That 7 man pack was awesome.

Another video to show the 20mind red card trial advocates in the SH.

[OomStruisbaai]

The Lions were simply superb. I don’t know when last I saw a 14 man side dismantle the opposition so effectively. (The sharks away to Otago in the 90s maybe. )They did not miss a beat. Just got stuck in and nullified the dodgy officials.That 7 man pack was awesome.

Another video to show the 20mind red card trial advocates in the SH.

If you pack scrum well with 7 men then the red card is easy. But if they kak in the scrum then it's game over.

[GrahamWa]

The Lions were simply superb. I don’t know when last I saw a 14 man side dismantle the opposition so effectively. (The sharks away to Otago in the 90s maybe. )They did not miss a beat. Just got stuck in and nullified the dodgy officials.That 7 man pack was awesome.

Another video to show the 20mind red card trial advocates in the SH.

If you pack scrum well with 7 men then the red card is easy. But if they kak in the scrum then it's game over.

So 20 min red card if your forwards are shite, no reduction for backs getting a red card cause they don't matter. Seems sensible.

[OomStruisbaai]

Another video to show the 20mind red card trial advocates in the SH.

If you pack scrum well with 7 men then the red card is easy. But if they kak in the scrum then it's game over.

So 20 min red card if your forwards are shite, no reduction for backs getting a red card cause they don't matter. Seems sensible.

Depend when in the match it happens.

[OomStruisbaai]

Leinster: Bulls (H), Lions (A), Stormers (A), Ospreys (H), Ulster (A), Connacht (H)
Bulls: Leinster (A), Munster (H), Ospreys (H), Glasgow (H), Benetton (H), Sharks (A)
Glasgow: Scarlets (A), Sharks (H), Zebre (A), Bulls (A), Lions (A), Zebre (H)
Munster: Cardiff (H), Bulls (A), Lions (A), Connacht (H), Edinburgh (H), Ulster (A)
Stormers: Ulster (H), Ospreys (H), Leinster (H), Dragons (A), Connacht (A), Lions (H)
Edinburgh: Sharks (A), Scarlets (H), Cardiff (A), Zebre (H), Munster (H), Benetton (A)
Ulster: Stormers (A), Cardiff (H), Benetton (H), Scarlets (A), Leinster (H), Munster (A)
Lions: Ospreys (A), Leinster (H), Munster (H), Cardiff (H), Glasgow (H), Stormers (A)
Connacht: Benetton (A), Zebre (H), Dragons (A), Munster (A), Stormers (H), Leinster (A)
Benetton: Connacht (H), Dragons (H), Ulster (A), Sharks (A), Bulls (A), Edinburgh (H)
Ospreys: Lions (H), Stormers (A), Bulls (A), Leinster (A), Dragons (H), Cardiff (A)
Cardiff: Munster (A), Ulster (A), Edinburgh (H), Lions (A), Sharks (A), Ospreys (H)
Scarlets: Glasgow (H), Edinburgh (A), Sharks (H), Ulster (H), Zebre (A), Dragons (H)
Sharks: Edinburgh (H), Glasgow (A), Scarlets (A), Benetton (H), Cardiff (H), Bulls (H)
Zebre: Dragons (A), Connacht (A), Glasgow (H), Edinburgh (A), Scarlets (H), Glasgow (A)
Dragons: Zebre (H), Benetton (A), Connacht (H), Stormers (H), Ospreys (A), Scarlets (A)

[Sandstorm]

Interesting how few bonus points Edinburgh have. Not scoring enough tries…..

[clydecloggie]

Of the three top teams Glasgow have by far the easiest run-in. Their SA away trip will be tough but the other games are all winnable. Game against the Bulls possibly decisive for home SF qualification. Home QF should be in the bag from where they are now.

[Jock42]

Interesting how few bonus points Edinburgh have. Not scoring enough tries…..

No but have won more games than last season.

[OomStruisbaai]

https://x.com/EdinburghRugby/status/177 ... 45018?s=20

WP Nel have no lui bang bal haar nie.

Very special that he get his 200th on WP's home ground (WP= Western Province)

[Sandstorm]

Just watched the Scarletts v Benetton. Ref and TMO did his very best to do anything to disallow the winning Welsh try.

[OomStruisbaai]

Another big round 13 coming up. Leinster B vs Bulls is going to be a massive game. Stormers vs Ulster, Sharks vs Embra & Ospreys vs Lions.

[Jim Lahey]

I'd happily take a point for Ulster against Stormers but 99% certain it'll be a murder picture for us.

[clydecloggie]

Looking for Glasgow to take advantage of the Bulls - Leinster clash and move into the top-2.

[OomStruisbaai]

I'd happily take a point for Ulster against Stormers but 99% certain it'll be a murder picture for us.

Ulster is always a tough match for the Stormers. Wish we can have Kitshoff in LH.

[Jim Lahey]

I'd happily take a point for Ulster against Stormers but 99% certain it'll be a murder picture for us.

Ulster is always a tough match for the Stormers. Wish we can have Kitshoff in LH.

You might have him back for next season if the rumours are to be believed . . . .

[OomStruisbaai]

Leinster Rugby (caps in brackets)
15. Jordan Larmour (100),14. Rob Russell (27)13. Robbie Henshaw (84)12. Jamie Osborne (39)11. James Lowe (74)10. Harry Byrne (61)9. Luke McGrath (204) CAPTAIN 1. Cian Healy (274)2. Rónan Kelleher (55)3. Michael Ala’alatoa (61)4. Ross Molony (174)5. Joe McCarthy (28)6. Ryan Baird (62) 7. Josh van der Flier (135)8. Jack Conan (139)

Replacements: 16. Dan Sheehan (55) 17. Michael Milne (34) 18. Tadhg Furlong (139) 19. Jason Jenkins (31) 20. Caelan Doris (75) 21. Jamison Gibson-Park (134) 22. Ross Byrne (154) 23. Liam Turner (26)

Bulls: 15 Willie Le Roux, 14 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 13 Canan Moodie, 12 David Kriel, 11 Devon Williams, 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Marcell Coetzee (co-captain), 7 Elrigh Louw, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Ruan Nortje (co-captain), 4 Ruan Vermaak, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Akker van der Merwe, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp.
Replacements: 16 Johan Grobbelaar, 17 Simphiwe Matanzima, 18 Mornay Smith, 19 Reinhardt Ludwig, 20 Mpilo Gumede, 21 Izak Burger, 22 Chris Smith, 23 Harold Vorster.

Date: Friday, March 29
Venue: RDS Arena, Dublin
Kick-off 19.35 (19.35 GMT; 21.35 SA Time)
Referee: Craig Evans (Wales)
Assistant referees: Chris Busby (Ireland) and Andy Fogarty (Ireland)
TMO: Ben Whitehouse (Wales)

[OomStruisbaai]

Sharks: 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Werner Kok, 13 Lukhanyo Am (captain), 12 Francois Venter, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Siya Masuku, 9 Jaden Hendrikse, 8 Phepsi Buthelezi, 7 Vincent Tshituka, 6 James Venter, 5 Emile van Heerden, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Vincent Koch, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ox Nche.
Replacements: 16 Dan Jooste, 17 Ntuthuko Mchunu, 18 Hanro Jacobs, 19 Corne Rahl, 20 Jeandre Labuschagne, 21 Cameron Wright, 22 Curwin Bosch, 23 Ethan Hooker.

Date: Saturday, March 30
Venue: Kings Park, Durban
Kick-off: 15.00 (13.00 UK & Ireland time; 13.00 GMT)
Referee: Eoghan Cross (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Cwengile Jadezweni (South Africa) and Jonothan Lottering (South Africa)
TMO: Marc Patton (Ireland)

[OomStruisbaai]

DHL Stormers: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Suleiman Hartzenberg, 13 Dan du Plessis, 12 Damian Willemse, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Paul de Wet, 8 Evan Roos, 7 Hacjivah Dayimani (50th DHL Stormers cap), 6 Willie Engelbrecht, 5 Ruben van Heerden, 4 Salmaan Moerat (captain), 3 Neethling Fouche, 2 Joseph Dweba, 1 Brok Harris.
Replacements: 16 JJ Kotze, 17 Leon Lyons, 18 Frans Malherbe, 19 Adre Smith, 20 Ben-Jason Dixon, 21 Marcel Theunissen, 22 Herschel Jantjies, 23 Ben Loader.

[Sandstorm]

For anyone not clear:

Sharks v Edinburgh
Stormers vs Ulster

[bok_viking]

Leinster Rugby (caps in brackets)
15. Jordan Larmour (100),14. Rob Russell (27)13. Robbie Henshaw (84)12. Jamie Osborne (39)11. James Lowe (74)10. Harry Byrne (61)9. Luke McGrath (204) CAPTAIN 1. Cian Healy (274)2. Rónan Kelleher (55)3. Michael Ala’alatoa (61)4. Ross Molony (174)5. Joe McCarthy (28)6. Ryan Baird (62) 7. Josh van der Flier (135)8. Jack Conan (139)

Replacements: 16. Dan Sheehan (55) 17. Michael Milne (34) 18. Tadhg Furlong (139) 19. Jason Jenkins (31) 20. Caelan Doris (75) 21. Jamison Gibson-Park (134) 22. Ross Byrne (154) 23. Liam Turner (26)

Bulls: 15 Willie Le Roux, 14 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 13 Canan Moodie, 12 David Kriel, 11 Devon Williams, 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Marcell Coetzee (co-captain), 7 Elrigh Louw, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Ruan Nortje (co-captain), 4 Ruan Vermaak, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Akker van der Merwe, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp.
Replacements: 16 Johan Grobbelaar, 17 Simphiwe Matanzima, 18 Mornay Smith, 19 Reinhardt Ludwig, 20 Mpilo Gumede, 21 Izak Burger, 22 Chris Smith, 23 Harold Vorster.

Date: Friday, March 29
Venue: RDS Arena, Dublin
Kick-off 19.35 (19.35 GMT; 21.35 SA Time)
Referee: Craig Evans (Wales)
Assistant referees: Chris Busby (Ireland) and Andy Fogarty (Ireland)
TMO: Ben Whitehouse (Wales)

Very experienced Leinster team that, looks like the bulls will do well to get a losing bonus point out of this game.

[OomStruisbaai]

In the old days with long tours the match on Loftus was acknowledge as an extra test. This match is like an extra Bok vs Ier test.

[OomStruisbaai]

Oh vok our Bok coach is in Leinster camp.

[fishfoodie]

Looking forward to tonights game.

[Sards]

Game of the year. Two top sides in the world.
Too tight to call. The Leinster team shows how much they want it

[fishfoodie]

What a try !

[robmatic]

Some angle from Cian Healy there.

[salanya]

What a try !

Lovely.
Nice short passes and great support lines.

[fishfoodie]

Typical Arendse try, but I don't know what McGrath thought he was doing .... and now he's going to pick up a card

[Sards]

Bulls take the shed in the lead. Great advantage for the Bulls.

[Sards]

Typical Arendse try, but I don't know what McGrath thought he was doing .... and now he's going to pick up a card

He looked like he was trying to hit Arendse out the field. Great courage. Poor execution

[OomStruisbaai]

Bulls need to sort their defense

[fishfoodie]

Typical Arendse try, but I don't know what McGrath thought he was doing .... and now he's going to pick up a card

He looked like he was trying to hit Arendse out the field. Great courage. Poor execution

Yeah, I thought he was too old to be that fast, but he hadn't worked out what to do when he arrived

[OomStruisbaai]

Bulls need more bodies at the breakdown

[fishfoodie]

I remember when forwards didn't do that razzle dazzle stuff !

[fishfoodie]

Wow !

[Sards]

The box kicking is definitely not working for the Bulls. You would think they would know after the second try

[fishfoodie]

The box kicking is definitely not working for the Bulls. You would think they would know after the second try

It's like a Pavlovian reaction, but as you say, when you see it isn't working, you either do it better or stop kicking ball away !

[OomStruisbaai]

Bulls are kak tonight.

[fishfoodie]

that was a bit smarter by Bulls.

Good defensive set, nice maul, & then the cross kick when you've already got the advantage

[fishfoodie]

WTF was that from WlR ?