Official United Rugby Championship thread

[OomStruisbaai]

Munster: Shane Daly; Calvin Nash, Antoine Frisch, Alex Nankivell, Shay McCarthy; Jack Crowley, Craig Casey; Jeremy Loughman, Scott Buckley, John Ryan; Edwin Edogbo, Tadhg Beirne; Peter O’Mahony (C), John Hodnett, Gavin Coombes.

Replacements: Chris Moore, Josh Wycherley, Stephen Archer, Tom Ahern, Jack O’Donoghue, Conor Murray, Rory Scannell, Alex Kendellen.


Stormers – 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Ben Loader, 13 Ruhan Nel, 12 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Jean-Luc du Plessis, 9 Paul de Wet, 8 Evan Roos, 7 Ben-Jason Dixon, 6 Willie Engelbrecht, 5 Gary Porter, 4 Ruben van Heerden, 3 Neethling Fouche (c), 2 Joseph Dweba, 1 Sti Sithole.
Subs: 16 Andre-Hugo Venter, 17 Ali Vermaak, 18 Brok Harris, 19 Adre Smith, 20 Keke Morabe, 21 Herschel Jantjies, 22 Clayton Blommetjies, 23 Angelo Davids.

Pissing rain forecast for 17:00 on Saturday. Stormers last chance gooorn. They will get pumped!

To be really honest I don't have any hope at all. Feel like before the French WC quarter final. If they can stick to the basics and show some guts I will be OK. Vokken Gelant with his garlic rugby

[OomStruisbaai]

Bulls vs Embra will be a good on. Everett and Schoeman x Bulls. vd Walt at the Bulls. Hope the Bulls keep on the winning form.Ulster should put plenty over the Lions. Sharks will bliksem Connacht.

[Sandstorm]

Vokken Gelant with his garlic rugby

Word. I have no idea how he's allowed to kick (badly) every time he gets the ball when a) he's a great runner ball-in-hand and b) the rest of the backs can score tries for fun too.

[OomStruisbaai]

Vokken Gelant with his garlic rugby

Word. I have no idea how he's allowed to kick (badly) every time he gets the ball when a) he's a great runner ball-in-hand and b) the rest of the backs can score tries for fun too.

Man that try he gave away was mental. Primary school stuff

[Sards]

Bulls are looking very good. Lovely to watch

[Sards]

Loving the ref. Don't know who

[Sards]

Good game

[Sards]

Wow the Lions

[_Os_]

I've been watching Edinburgh v Bulls. Bulls doing really well so far, young squad with some quality older players like Marcell and Goosen, but Edinburgh clearly have the stronger squad. Bulls need to try and create more if they want to win, that missed pen kick to the corner was very bad.

Ulster v Lions maybe the better game and I picked the wrong one? These double booked SA matches aren't good for SA fans.

[_Os_]

Marcell gone, Bulls can't win now.

Do I jump ship and watch the Lions second half?

[Big D]

Skinstad is at it. That is the yellowest of yellows at he says the ref is card happy.

That maul was motoring.

[_Os_]

Hanekom gone now, probably the Bulls' best young backrow. Marcell already gone, their best backrow. Edinburgh score, it's a total collapse.

Time to cross the Jukskei river.

[_Os_]

Watched the Ulster v Lions match for a bit, definitely lower quality than the Bulls match.

[‘tsek]

Holy mother of pearl. These “Ulster” commentators are dire. One eyed would imply they actually see something.

[‘tsek]

Watched the Ulster v Lions match for a bit, definitely lower quality than the Bulls match.

Rain?

[Sandstorm]

Watched the Ulster v Lions match for a bit, definitely lower quality than the Bulls match.

Rain?

No, Marcel wasn’t dominating

[KingBlairhorn]

Wow, looked like Edinburgh were going to go full Edinburgh and snatch defeat from the jaws of victory there but they just about managed to hold on. The Bulls were immense with 14, no idea how they were still going at the end there. Peterson looks a real player.

[_Os_]

Watched the Ulster v Lions match for a bit, definitely lower quality than the Bulls match.

Rain?

No, Marcel wasn’t dominating

I mostly watched the Bulls match, with about 20 minutes of the Lions second half. Both sides in the Bulls match were better, just a higher quality match closer to test match standard. Bulls compared to Lions, Bulls were more accurate on attack, even the small things the Bulls were doing were better than the Lions like once an attack was closed down putting in a medium length (bit longer than a grubber) stabbing kick along the ground to give a 50/50 chance of restarting the attack, it's something the All Blacks used to do I don't think any of them came off but on a different day it could've made a difference, way more dangerous than going 30+ phases to nowhere. Bulls defence also good against a strong attacking team.

[_Os_]

I'm now wondering how good Willie will be in that Bulls backline.

[Tichtheid]

Good win for Edinburgh despite still not really hitting their straps, they are improving every week under a coach who took over a couple of months ago and that is about as much as we can wish for.

It was a great game to watch though

[OomStruisbaai]

Why did Matta got yellow but Marcel Coetzee got red?

If it was the other way round the Scots would argue for years.

[OomStruisbaai]

Both the Bulls and Lionslost but played with passion. That's OK. Bull at least deserved a bonus point.

[robmatic]

Why did Matta got yellow but Marcel Coetzee got red?

If it was the other way round the Scots would argue for years.

Mata should have got a red as well but made no difference to the game with less than 10 minutes to go. Wouldn't be surprised if he gets cited this week.

I thought the ref was a bit questionable both ways.

[OomStruisbaai]

Why did Matta got yellow but Marcel Coetzee got red?

If it was the other way round the Scots would argue for years.

Mata should have got a red as well but made no difference to the game with less than 10 minutes to go. Wouldn't be surprised if he gets cited this week.

I thought the ref was a bit questionable both ways.

I don't care about the ref. Found it a bit irritating after all the moans after the WC. There is always a reason to bitch. Just want to prove winners never bitch about the ref. Always losers like some Scots on here.

[S/Lt_Phillips]

Why did Matta got yellow but Marcel Coetzee got red?

If it was the other way round the Scots would argue for years.

Mata should have got a red as well but made no difference to the game with less than 10 minutes to go. Wouldn't be surprised if he gets cited this week.

I thought the ref was a bit questionable both ways.

I don't care about the ref. Found it a bit irritating after all the moans after the WC. There is always a reason to bitch. Just want to prove winners never bitch about the ref. Always losers like some Scots on here.

What are you going on about? This makes absolutely no sense.

[Simian]

Why did Matta got yellow but Marcel Coetzee got red?

If it was the other way round the Scots would argue for years.

Mata should have got a red as well but made no difference to the game with less than 10 minutes to go. Wouldn't be surprised if he gets cited this week.

I thought the ref was a bit questionable both ways.

I don't care about the ref. Found it a bit irritating after all the moans after the WC. There is always a reason to bitch. Just want to prove winners never bitch about the ref. Always losers like some Scots on here.

If you don’t care about the ref why ask the question in the first place?

They both should have been red, fwiw. I’ll be surprised if there’s no citing for Mata tho (like a weir’s YC last week). Bulls winger should have had a card for the tackle in the air too, imo.

You’re right that the losing side are generally going to be more aggrieved by the officiating than the winning side though (for obvious reasons). That’s why I thought the rather sanctimonious crowing over not complaining about the Refs from some saffer fans after the RWC was kinda funny.

[Slick]

Why did Matta got yellow but Marcel Coetzee got red?

If it was the other way round the Scots would argue for years.

Yes, you can just imagine in 10 years time Scots across the world still moaning about a red in a URC game on a November night.

[weegie01]

Why did Matta got yellow but Marcel Coetzee got red?

If it was the other way round the Scots would argue for years.

With all due respect, I think you'll find that Scots, more than most other supporters, will have a moan at the time, then shrug our shoulders and let it go. We are not saints, but we are so used to getting 'little team' calls it just does not bother us that much any more.

[assfly]

The best thing about URC is OomPB having so many new fans to confuse

[Sards]

I've been watching Edinburgh v Bulls. Bulls doing really well so far, young squad with some quality older players like Marcell and Goosen, but Edinburgh clearly have the stronger squad. Bulls need to try and create more if they want to win, that missed pen kick to the corner was very bad.

Ulster v Lions maybe the better game and I picked the wrong one? These double booked SA matches aren't good for SA fans.

Think about who the Bulls have coming back. 2 of the most exciting youngsters in South Africa

[Sards]

Why did Matta got yellow but Marcel Coetzee got red?

If it was the other way round the Scots would argue for years.

With all due respect, I think you'll find that Scots, more than most other supporters, will have a moan at the time, then shrug our shoulders and let it go. We are not saints, but we are so used to getting 'little team' calls it just does not bother us that much any more.

I have to agree. Close enough to the Welsh. Then again it's a toss up between the Stormers and Bulls supporters for biggest whiners, with Lions and Sharks supporters equally a lot more accepting

[OomStruisbaai]

Why did Matta got yellow but Marcel Coetzee got red?

If it was the other way round the Scots would argue for years.

With all due respect, I think you'll find that Scots, more than most other supporters, will have a moan at the time, then shrug our shoulders and let it go. We are not saints, but we are so used to getting 'little team' calls it just does not bother us that much any more.

I have to agree. Close enough to the Welsh. Then again it's a toss up between the Stormers and Bulls supporters for biggest whiners, with Lions and Sharks supporters equally a lot more accepting

You and your Marius vd Westhuizen theories are worse then the Scots.

[OomStruisbaai]

Oh and the standard of refereeing is worse than I remembered, some awful decisions going against us. But we didn't adapt.

Sharks supporter

[OomStruisbaai]

Zebre player fucking dipped into that to less than a metre.

Absolutely fuckong garbage decision from more garbage officiating.

Sharks supporter.

[Simian]

Loving Oom’s ‘everyone is a shit rugby supporter except me’ energy

Have you ever considered setting up a break away code, Oom?

[OomStruisbaai]

Sharks v Connacht
(Kings Park, Durban – Kick-off: 17.00; 15.00 UK & Ireland time; 15.00 GMT)

Teams

Sharks: 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Werner Kok, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Francois Venter (captain), 11 Aphiwe Dyantyi, 10 Curwin Bosch, 9 Cameron Wright, 8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 7 Phendulani Buthelezi, 6 James Venter, 5 Emile van Heerden, 4 Corne’ Rahl, 3 Coenie Oosthuizen, 2 Dylan Richardson, 1 Ntuthuko Mchunu.
Replacements: 16 Daniel Jooste, 17 Dian Bleuler, 18 Hanro Jacobs, 19 Jeandre Labuschagne, 20 Tino Mavesere, 21 Zee Mkhabela, 22 Boeta Chamberlain, 23 Rohan Janse van Rensburg.

Connacht: 15 Tiernan O’Halloran, 14 Byron Ralston, 13 Tom Farrell, 12 Cathal Forde, 11 Andrew Smith, 10 JJ Hanrahan, 9 Colm Reilly, 8 Sean O’Brien, 7 Conor Oliver (captain), 6 Cian Prendergast, 5 Joe Joyce, 4 Oisín Dowling, 3 Finlay Bealham, 2 Tadgh McElroy, 1 Denis Buckle.
Replacements: 16 Dave Heffernan, 17 Peter Dooley, 18 Dominic Robertson-McCoy, 19 Darragh Murray, 20 Shamus Hurley-Langton, 21 Caolin Blade, 22 David Hawkshaw, 23 John Porch.

Referee: Craig Evans (Wales)
Assistant referees: Morné Ferreira (South Africa), Cwengile Jadezweni (South Africa)
TMO: Sean Brickell (Wales)

[OomStruisbaai]

10 people on the pavilion

[TheNatalShark]

More shite from the Sharks so far, powder puff defence, poor set piece and bad positioning in the backs on d.

Little meaningful penetration in attack despite loads of possession

With everyone's favourite 9 giving drilled bullet passes on the try line behind the man. Missing at that range is an extraordinary feat to be honest, great from Wright

[TheNatalShark]

Mchunu's feet and general scrummaging seems to have regressed massively.

Just don't understand what Plumtree hopes to gain by using Kok as a blindside basher. With Wright never going into rucks, you're banking on the flank doing superhuman work to beat the 15/oppo 9 to the ball


Kok not giving the ball for an 8 to outpace a prop form halfway

Dyanti being given the flat ball by Wright to run directly into two tight fives with no support

Outstanding tactics from Plum.

[fishfoodie]

Why aren't the Sharks challenging the Connacht throws ?