Any danger of missing the Lions?
URC Season 2024/2025 Official Thread
- OomStruisbaai
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Well you are a SA B team supporter.Slick wrote: Sat Jun 14, 2025 3:20 pm Given how much Finn is schooling Pollard today I’m feeling a bit sorry for the Saffers and might have to support them this evening

OomStruisbaai wrote: Sat Jun 14, 2025 3:22 pmWell you are a SA B team supporter.Slick wrote: Sat Jun 14, 2025 3:20 pm Given how much Finn is schooling Pollard today I’m feeling a bit sorry for the Saffers and might have to support them this evening![]()

All the money you made will never buy back your soul
- fishfoodie
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Croke Park, the one we've played 6N in previously when Lansdowne isn't available.
Thanks, just couldn’t work it outfishfoodie wrote: Sat Jun 14, 2025 4:13 pmCroke Park, the one we've played 6N in previously when Lansdowne isn't available.
All the money you made will never buy back your soul
- fishfoodie
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Agreed !
Yet again we have Refs not wanting to "influence" the match, when that's their fucking job !!
- fishfoodie
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It's the position of the sidelines that's the giveaway; the standard GAA pitch is sooooo much wider & longer, a Rugby pitch looks like a kids setupSlick wrote: Sat Jun 14, 2025 4:14 pmThanks, just couldn’t work it outfishfoodie wrote: Sat Jun 14, 2025 4:13 pmCroke Park, the one we've played 6N in previously when Lansdowne isn't available.
Slick wrote: Sat Jun 14, 2025 4:14 pmThanks, just couldn’t work it outfishfoodie wrote: Sat Jun 14, 2025 4:13 pmCroke Park, the one we've played 6N in previously when Lansdowne isn't available.
You'll remember it from the last time Ireland played an international there
- fishfoodie
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Tichtheid wrote: Sat Jun 14, 2025 4:41 pmSlick wrote: Sat Jun 14, 2025 4:14 pmThanks, just couldn’t work it outfishfoodie wrote: Sat Jun 14, 2025 4:13 pm
Croke Park, the one we've played 6N in previously when Lansdowne isn't available.
You'll remember it from the last time Ireland played an international there






I choose to remember it by days like in 2007 when we played England & there was the whole kerfuffle about GSTQ being played, & it was a big nothingburger, apart from Brian Moore saying he had a lump in his throat at the end of the Anthems, & the epic HEC SF between Leinster & Munster before Leinsters 1st HEC win !
fishfoodie wrote: Sat Jun 14, 2025 4:52 pm![]()
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I choose to remember it by days like in 2007 when we played England & there was the whole kerfuffle about GSTQ being played, & it was a big nothingburger, apart from Brian Moore saying he had a lump in his throat at the end of the Anthems, & the epic HEC SF between Leinster & Munster before Leinsters 1st HEC win !
I watched that in an Irish pub in Brighton. I don't think I've witnessed a pub atmosphere like it.
- fishfoodie
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He's only 22, & some days it shows more than others.Slick wrote: Sat Jun 14, 2025 5:31 pm Seems a long time since Prendergast was a nailed on Lions starter
It's just a relief to have finally found an OH who looks like he can become an International starter after so many false dawns
Wasn’t the rest of the rugby world that massively overhyped him. Not sure he’ll be starting for Ireland next yearfishfoodie wrote: Sat Jun 14, 2025 5:34 pmHe's only 22, & some days it shows more than others.Slick wrote: Sat Jun 14, 2025 5:31 pm Seems a long time since Prendergast was a nailed on Lions starter
It's just a relief to have finally found an OH who looks like he can become an International starter after so many false dawns
All the money you made will never buy back your soul
- Uncle fester
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Bulls aren't getting 3 tries anyway!Tichtheid wrote: Sat Jun 14, 2025 5:38 pm I'd have gone for the corner there - there's not much difference between 15 ahead and 18 ahead
- fishfoodie
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Ahh don't blame the rest of us for the whitterings of the "experts".Slick wrote: Sat Jun 14, 2025 5:45 pmWasn’t the rest of the rugby world that massively overhyped him. Not sure he’ll be starting for Ireland next yearfishfoodie wrote: Sat Jun 14, 2025 5:34 pmHe's only 22, & some days it shows more than others.Slick wrote: Sat Jun 14, 2025 5:31 pm Seems a long time since Prendergast was a nailed on Lions starter
It's just a relief to have finally found an OH who looks like he can become an International starter after so many false dawns
He has all the tools, & the right attitude, but he's just a kid & he needs to put on a few kgs, & work on his defense, while not breaking the stuff he does well.
fishfoodie wrote: Sat Jun 14, 2025 5:58 pm
He has all the tools, & the right attitude, but he's just a kid & he needs to put on a few kgs, & work on his defense, while not breaking the stuff he does well.
I'd agree with that, he has a lot more going for him than against him.
On a wider note, there were calls for Leo's head after the Saints game - does this quieten those voices?
ThisTichtheid wrote: Sat Jun 14, 2025 5:49 pm Leinster finished 8 points clear at the top of the table and weren't really challenged during the knockouts, so I don't think there can be any doubts as to the best team this season.
Congratulations Leinster.
- fishfoodie
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I'd say they need to at least get to the European Final next year, & then when Leinster do their EOS review they'll make their decision.Tichtheid wrote: Sat Jun 14, 2025 6:02 pmfishfoodie wrote: Sat Jun 14, 2025 5:58 pm
He has all the tools, & the right attitude, but he's just a kid & he needs to put on a few kgs, & work on his defense, while not breaking the stuff he does well.
I'd agree with that, he has a lot more going for him than against him.
On a wider note, there were calls for Leo's head after the Saints game - does this quieten those voices?
Of course like every other team/club, it's not just about deciding that your boss isn't good enough, it's also about who else who's better is available ?
Fair enough. I do think he will fit very nicely into a Leinster/Ireland system, but once that goes wrong I’m not sure he has it in him to adapt. That’s possibly true of a lot of the teamfishfoodie wrote: Sat Jun 14, 2025 5:58 pmAhh don't blame the rest of us for the whitterings of the "experts".Slick wrote: Sat Jun 14, 2025 5:45 pmWasn’t the rest of the rugby world that massively overhyped him. Not sure he’ll be starting for Ireland next yearfishfoodie wrote: Sat Jun 14, 2025 5:34 pm
He's only 22, & some days it shows more than others.
It's just a relief to have finally found an OH who looks like he can become an International starter after so many false dawns
He has all the tools, & the right attitude, but he's just a kid & he needs to put on a few kgs, & work on his defense, while not breaking the stuff he does well.
All the money you made will never buy back your soul
Yup, no one can argue much with that.
Got to say, I’m beginning to waver a bit on the whole URC thing, not sure it’s going to maintain interest for that long. Been thinking about a 2 division British/Irish/Italian competition
All the money you made will never buy back your soul
Slick wrote: Sat Jun 14, 2025 6:51 pm
Got to say, I’m beginning to waver a bit on the whole URC thing, not sure it’s going to maintain interest for that long. Been thinking about a 2 division British/Irish/Italian competition
I'm not so sure - four different winners from three countries in the four years of the current set up. Viewers and attendances are up, Zebre look to have something stirring over there, Connacht about to open a fantastic stand. I think it's going rather well and the Savos have brought a hell of a lot to the table, we've all had to up our game.
This is nothing against English rugby and especially not against the fans of the clubs, but why the hell would we want to get into bed with the owners of those clubs and the RFU? Since the game went pro they've made it perfectly clear where their loyalty lies, and that is squarely at home.
We (Scottish teams) would be bit part players at best.
- Uncle fester
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Do that and you'd find the English clubs making up reasons why the second Scottish team is not allowed take the place of an English team in the upper division.Slick wrote: Sat Jun 14, 2025 6:51 pmYup, no one can argue much with that.
Got to say, I’m beginning to waver a bit on the whole URC thing, not sure it’s going to maintain interest for that long. Been thinking about a 2 division British/Irish/Italian competition
- fishfoodie
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The travel to SA is undoubtedly a pain, but it seems the NH teams did better when they went to SA this season, & were definitely more competitive, so while the pain will always be there, hopefully everyone is learning to manage the logistics of a trans-hemisphere league.Slick wrote: Sat Jun 14, 2025 6:51 pmYup, no one can argue much with that.
Got to say, I’m beginning to waver a bit on the whole URC thing, not sure it’s going to maintain interest for that long. Been thinking about a 2 division British/Irish/Italian competition
It has made the Tournament tougher, as it really is a case of every game being competitive, which makes for good TV, & hopefully better TV deals which will feed back to the teams.
The gap between the URC & Premiership is negligible, but the gap between the Top14 & the rest is vast. In the Top14 there are 4-6 clubs who can go all out to dominate & spend scary amounts of money to build a team capable of winning it all.
- OomStruisbaai
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Slick is now anti SA after his SA team lost to Leinster.
- fishfoodie
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I don't think he's anti-SA ..... he just wishes you could dig a trench & tow yourselves a bit closerOomStruisbaai wrote: Sat Jun 14, 2025 7:31 pm Slick is now anti SA after his SA team lost to Leinster.

- OomStruisbaai
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Leinster surely deserve the title.
South Africa is now official a share holder in the URC.
South Africa is now official a share holder in the URC.