Official United Rugby Championship thread

[fishfoodie]

Another fantastic team try by Leinster, finished by Hugo Keenan

3 - 17 with 29 mins gone

[sorCrer]

Another fantastic team try by Leinster, finished by Hugo Keenan

3 - 17 with 29 mins gone

Such a polished outfit.

Duvenhage scores off a clear forward against Scarlets.

[GogLais]

My connection dropped out. Was the Benetton try from the forward pass (?) given?
Just seen above - Kyffin hell.

[sorCrer]

My connection dropped out. Was the Benetton try from the forward pass (?) given?

Yep. No clear evidence it went forward out of the hands ( ) due to angle.

[sorCrer]

Some fine rugby from both teams.

[fishfoodie]

Glasgow get a try, after a, hmmm, ref decision; & Leinster get a YC from a forward brain fart.

10 - 17 HT

[Tichtheid]

Is there no one to stand up to the Blue Mean Machine?

Leinster are a very good rugby team, no matter who wears the jersey. Their tries came relatively easily, Glasgow had to work their nuts off for the reply.

[fishfoodie]

Is there no one to stand up to the Blue Mean Machine?

Leinster are a very good rugby team, no matter who wears the jersey. Their tries came relatively easily, Glasgow had to work their nuts off for the reply.

The player production line they have is fairly awesome; & something similar, is what every team should be trying for, as their goal

[sorCrer]

WTF Scarlets!

That is an absolute cracking props try.

[fishfoodie]

Leinster have been just crushing Glasgow in the 2nd half; they've barely managed to get inside their half; & because they've had so little possession; when they do get their hands on the ball, they go for the moves that only have a 5% chance of success; with the predictable results.

Glasgow aren't a bad side; but there's bugger all you can do with no ball, or ball in your own 22; or shite ball anywhere else on the pitch.

10 - 31 with 5mins to go

[Yr Alban]

Fair play to Glasgow for fighting to the end and getting a second try, but it’s truly depressing how far ahead of everyone else Leinster seem to be, even when they are understrength and their opponents aren’t.

[sorCrer]

Fair play to Glasgow for fighting to the end and getting a second try, but it’s truly depressing how far ahead of everyone else Leinster seem to be, even when they are understrength and their opponents aren’t.

They are klarse but the Saffa teams are missing around 50 Boks. Yeah, I know that quite a few of them play overseas.

[GogLais]

Scarlets v Benetton an eight try thriller. Am I right in thinking we’re getting better games this season? However one defines better of course.

[Tichtheid]

Fair play to Glasgow for fighting to the end and getting a second try, but it’s truly depressing how far ahead of everyone else Leinster seem to be, even when they are understrength and their opponents aren’t.

They are klarse but the Saffa teams are missing around 50 Boks. Yeah, I know that quite a few of them play overseas.

I thought that the SA team would be more competitive even without their Boks and playing away from home. We'd seen the Cheetahs and the Kings but we were told the other sides were so much better than them.

Leinster are a special club, even with the Boks I think they'd give your teams a good go of it.

[Sandstorm]

Fair play to Glasgow for fighting to the end and getting a second try, but it’s truly depressing how far ahead of everyone else Leinster seem to be, even when they are understrength and their opponents aren’t.

They are klarse but the Saffa teams are missing around 50 Boks. Yeah, I know that quite a few of them play overseas.

I thought that the SA team would be more competitive even without their Boks and playing away from home. We'd seen the Cheetahs and the Kings but we were told the other sides were so much better than them.

Leinster are a special club, even with the Boks I think they'd give your teams a good go of it.

Bok sides have been shite away from home forever. They’ll be much better at home.

But I agree, Leinster are a cut above at present.

[Tichtheid]

They are klarse but the Saffa teams are missing around 50 Boks. Yeah, I know that quite a few of them play overseas.

I thought that the SA team would be more competitive even without their Boks and playing away from home. We'd seen the Cheetahs and the Kings but we were told the other sides were so much better than them.

Leinster are a special club, even with the Boks I think they'd give your teams a good go of it.

Bok sides have been shite away from home forever. They’ll be much better at home.

But I agree, Leinster are a cut above at present.

Leinster will send college age kids to play in South Africa, along with a couple of long-toothed guys. They will still be tough to beat because of their systems.
That's how they bring along their next generation, next thing you know these kids are full blown internationals, their supply from Dublin and environs seems to be never-ending, they ship players out to the other provinces if there is a gridlock in certain positions.

[fishfoodie]

Scarlets v Benetton an eight try thriller. Am I right in thinking we’re getting better games this season? However one defines better of course.

Its not just you !

Every team has started the league with a higher intensity than we've seen before; & while we'd normally maybe expect the likes of the Italian teams, or the Dragons to lose in the first few games by +20 pts, against the presumed playoff teams; that certainly isn't happening this year.

It's one reason why I'm not as down on the SA teams results; as some of their fans are. The rest of the league was ready, & waiting for them; & they didn't do badly, all things considered.

I think this could be a corker of an opening year for the URC !

[sorCrer]

It's been excellent and interesting. The time zone fit os great too. Sadly, I'd only occasionally watch a great clash like Saders - Chiefs on Soup as it's on a 9am on a Saturday. Watching Scarlets - Benneton at 20:30 on a Saturday really works for me.

[fishfoodie]

It's been excellent and interesting. The time zone fit os great too. Sadly, I'd only occasionally watch a great clash like Saders - Chiefs on Soup as it's on a 9am on a Saturday. Watching Scarlets - Benneton at 20:30 on a Saturday really works for me.

you've suffered systematic timezone abuse for years; it's only just, that you now get to enjoy rugby when the human body is designed to be awake .... & ready to consume beer & unhealthy food .... .... enjoy !

[sorCrer]

It's been excellent and interesting. The time zone fit os great too. Sadly, I'd only occasionally watch a great clash like Saders - Chiefs on Soup as it's on a 9am on a Saturday. Watching Scarlets - Benneton at 20:30 on a Saturday really works for me.

you've suffered systematic timezone abuse for years; it's only just, that you now get to enjoy rugby when the human body is designed to be awake .... & ready to consume beer & unhealthy food .... .... enjoy !

[Rinkals]

Fair play to Glasgow for fighting to the end and getting a second try, but it’s truly depressing how far ahead of everyone else Leinster seem to be, even when they are understrength and their opponents aren’t.

They are klarse but the Saffa teams are missing around 50 Boks. Yeah, I know that quite a few of them play overseas.

I thought that the SA team would be more competitive even without their Boks and playing away from home. We'd seen the Cheetahs and the Kings but we were told the other sides were so much better than them.

Leinster are a special club, even with the Boks I think they'd give your teams a good go of it.

They seem to be struggling to get to grips with the competition.

The games I've watched have been littered with basic handling errors and stupid mistakes, but I expect these to be a lot better as they bed in.

[FalseBayFC]

They are klarse but the Saffa teams are missing around 50 Boks. Yeah, I know that quite a few of them play overseas.

I thought that the SA team would be more competitive even without their Boks and playing away from home. We'd seen the Cheetahs and the Kings but we were told the other sides were so much better than them.

Leinster are a special club, even with the Boks I think they'd give your teams a good go of it.

They seem to be struggling to get to grips with the competition.

The games I've watched have been littered with basic handling errors and stupid mistakes, but I expect these to be a lot better as they bed in.

I don't think people understand the full extent of the player drain. Even Israel are getting into the act. The USA is fast becoming a destination for our guys too. I see Dillon Smit the Lions scrumhalf has just signed for Houston.

Tel Aviv Heat plays in the Rugby Europe Super Cup Eastern Conference competition and has 16 South African squad members. A good few of them with senior rugby experience in SA and abroad.

While it has a devastating effect on the standard of our local game, I am starting to see it in a more positive light. We have more pros playing rugby in different leagues and the majority of them qualify for the Boks. The new qualifying period of 5 years means that we'll lose fewer players due to naturalisation. Our kids get to earn amazing salaries and be eligible for the Boks.

Squad for Tel Aviv Heat, some of the names are very recognizable.

Capture.PNG (88.76 KiB) Viewed 1523 times

[Rinkals]

I should also add that, although all the SA teams have been losing games, the margins of the losses have been quite narrow, so if and when we do adjust, we should be a lot more competitive.

[FalseBayFC]

Lions team in the Super rugby final 2018. This team would have been top 3 in the URC imo.

Capture.PNG (16.49 KiB) Viewed 1509 times

[GrahamWa]

I thought that the SA team would be more competitive even without their Boks and playing away from home. We'd seen the Cheetahs and the Kings but we were told the other sides were so much better than them.

Leinster are a special club, even with the Boks I think they'd give your teams a good go of it.

They seem to be struggling to get to grips with the competition.

The games I've watched have been littered with basic handling errors and stupid mistakes, but I expect these to be a lot better as they bed in.

I don't think people understand the full extent of the player drain. Even Israel are getting into the act. The USA is fast becoming a destination for our guys too. I see Dillon Smit the Lions scrumhalf has just signed for Houston.

Tel Aviv Heat plays in the Rugby Europe Super Cup Eastern Conference competition and has 16 South African squad members. A good few of them with senior rugby experience in SA and abroad.

While it has a devastating effect on the standard of our local game, I am starting to see it in a more positive light. We have more pros playing rugby in different leagues and the majority of them qualify for the Boks. The new qualifying period of 5 years means that we'll lose fewer players due to naturalisation. Our kids get to earn amazing salaries and be eligible for the Boks.

Squad for Tel Aviv Heat, some of the names are very recognizable.

Capture.PNG

Josh Strauss is also with them now. The team line up has a few other recognisable names if not the lay out of the image.
https://www.telavivheat.com/post/tel-av ... iewer-k8bs

Stream available for those outside of Israel on the rugby europe website (user account required but free) https://www.rugbyeurope.eu/rugby-europe ... aviv-heat/

[Uncle fester]

Lions team in the Super rugby final 2018. This team would have been top 3 in the URC imo.

Capture.PNG

Whatever happened to Warren Whiteley? He looked electric a few years ago.

[Slick]

Where are Connaught playing?

[Tichtheid]

Where are Connaught playing?

The Aviva in Dublin, they chose it when there were restrictions in place for some reason

[Slick]

Where are Connaught playing?

The Aviva in Dublin, they chose it when there were restrictions in place for some reason

Thanks, thought it looked familiar!

[Slick]

Next question, switching between games, what was the Cardiff player sent off for?

[OomStruisbaai]

Lions team in the Super rugby final 2018. This team would have been top 3 in the URC imo.

Capture.PNG

Whatever happened to Warren Whiteley? He looked electric a few years ago.

Retired. Coach at the Lions now at the Sharks.

[Sandstorm]

Next question, switching between games, what was the Cardiff player sent off for?

Head shot

[OomStruisbaai]

Ulster take a bit of a beating here.

[OomStruisbaai]

Ospreys leading Munster..

Flippin nice ref. Wouldn't mind scrumming her.

[Uncle fester]

Headless stuff from Munster. Ospreys kept their heads nicely and accepted the gifts as they got them.

[Slick]

Ospreys leading Munster..

Flippin nice ref. Wouldn't mind scrumming her.

She trains in the park next to me, really nice woman, always has a chat to the kids.

[weegie01]

Ospreys leading Munster..

Flippin nice ref. Wouldn't mind scrumming her.

I will now watch my recording just to watch her as I have now established it is Hollie Davidson. She is a chum of one of my sons and a very good ref (and a former Scotland player whose career was ended by injury).

[weegie01]

It will probably get me accused of sexism or condescension, but I think all the women officials are very good. I suspect there is an element of them having to be better than their male peers before they got appointments as if they failed it would have set female officiating back, so there had to be more than usual confidence in their performances. But so far they have paved the way and showed there is no reason women can't ref men.

Long may it continue.

[Sandstorm]

It will probably get me accused of sexism or condescension, but I think all the women officials are very good. I suspect there is an element of them having to be better than their male peers before they got appointments as if they failed it would have set female officiating back, so there had to be more than usual confidence in their performances. But so far they have paved the way and showed there is no reason women can't ref men.

Long may it continue.

Maybe because women are better at multitasking?

[sorCrer]

It will probably get me accused of sexism or condescension, but I think all the women officials are very good. I suspect there is an element of them having to be better than their male peers before they got appointments as if they failed it would have set female officiating back, so there had to be more than usual confidence in their performances. But so far they have paved the way and showed there is no reason women can't ref men.

Long may it continue.

Maybe because women are better at multitasking?

Well that and we already have OomPaarlBeVok and Weegie perving over them.