Official United Rugby Championship thread

[fishfoodie]

24 - 12

And Hawkshaw gone off with what looks a bad knee injury, after Larmour turned the Connacht defense inside out. He'll have to be played in the 6N with the form he's in.

[fishfoodie]

Carty binned for slowing down ball on a penalty.

We're in for 10 minutes of real punishment; I think I'll go hide behind the couch.

[fishfoodie]

That's a Kodak moment !

Connacht survive the 10 minute YC, without conceding any points

Thankfully Leinsters lineout is a complete shambles tonight, so a Connacht losing BP isn't an impossible dream.

[OomStruisbaai]

There are still time.

The Irish teams is much closer then the Saffer teams in strength.

[fishfoodie]

There are still time.

The Irish teams is much closer then the Saffer teams in strength.

We've got the IRFU holding the purse strings, & David Nucifora having a word in players ears, to try & maximize the resources that are available to us; hence Hawkshaw in Connacht, & Carbury in Munster etc, etc.

Those two quick tries have fecked my wish for a <20 pt defeat

[fishfoodie]

God above that's a beautiful try from the bastards

[fishfoodie]

41 - 12 FT

Entertaining game, & Connacht played better than that gap suggests, but Leinster might have the cattle this year to win it all.

[OomStruisbaai]

Leinster & Munster still have to tour SA, Ulster have to play the Sharks in SA.

Agree on Leinster. They are the measurement in Europe.

[fishfoodie]

Sextons face will put a halt to our gallop

It's Deja Vu all over again !

It's amazing the way history has this way of repeating itself, when it comes to replacing OH's.

Humphries & O'Gara; & Contipomi & Sexton

It's no harm for Sexy to sit on the sideline for a few weeks.

[Uncle fester]

Sextons face will put a halt to our gallop

It's Deja Vu all over again !

It's amazing the way history has this way of repeating itself, when it comes to replacing OH's.

Humphries & O'Gara; & Contipomi & Sexton

It's no harm for Sexy to sit on the sideline for a few weeks.

Big difference is that the replacement was obvious then. It's not really clear who can be the long term replacement now.

[fishfoodie]

Sextons face will put a halt to our gallop

It's Deja Vu all over again !

It's amazing the way history has this way of repeating itself, when it comes to replacing OH's.

Humphries & O'Gara; & Contipomi & Sexton

It's no harm for Sexy to sit on the sideline for a few weeks.

Big difference is that the replacement was obvious then. It's not really clear who can be the long term replacement now.

That's very true !

A part of me wonders if Paddy Jackson has done enough penance to be allowed back in the Country, but I know it can't happen.

I guess it'll have to be Harry pushing his brother out of the way.

[OomStruisbaai]

Stormers tour squad:

Forwards: Hacjivah Dayimani, Ben-Jason Dixon, Joseph Dweba, Willie Engelbrecht, Connor Evans, Neethling Fouche, Deon Fourie, Brok Harris, Steven Kitshoff, JJ Kotze, Simon Miller, Marvin Orie, Junior Pokomela, Sazi Sandi, Marcel Theunissen, Andre-Hugo Venter, Ali Vermaak.

Backs: Clayton Blommetjies, Angelo Davids, Paul de Wet, Dan du Plessis, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Suleiman Hartzenberg, Imad Khan, Manie Libbok, Stefan Ungerer, Damian Willemse, Leolin Zas.

*Unavailable: Jean Luc du Plessis, Herschel Jantjies, Alapati Leuia, Frans Malherbe, Godlen Masimla, Salmaan Moerat, Ruhan Nel, Scarra Ntubeni, Gary Porter, Evan Roos, Seabelo Senatla, Adre Smith, Ernst van Rhyn, Nama Xaba.

8 January: Glasgow Warriors (URC)
14 January: London Irish (Heineken Cup)

[Sandstorm]

14 January: London Irish (Heineken Cup)

Sunday 15 January

[OomStruisbaai]

14 January: London Irish (Heineken Cup)

Sunday 15 January

Keo, your friend info. Dobson keeping the likes of Roos, Malherbe , Nel for Clermont at home.

[fishfoodie]

I wonder with the Sharks choose to send a competitive side up to Connacht this weekend, in the URC, or keep their best at home for the HEC, at home, the following weekend ?

After such a horrendous start to the season, Connacht need to start getting some points, & moving up the table.

[OomStruisbaai]

I wonder with the Sharks choose to send a competitive side up to Connacht this weekend, in the URC, or keep their best at home for the HEC, at home, the following weekend ?

After such a horrendous start to the season, Connacht need to start getting some points, & moving up the table.

The Sharks won both their Heineken matches. So they can afford to play their B team. However all the Springboks must rest during the 6 Nations tournament to freshen up for the WC. So they will want to use them as much as possible specifically in the URC.

[fishfoodie]

I wonder with the Sharks choose to send a competitive side up to Connacht this weekend, in the URC, or keep their best at home for the HEC, at home, the following weekend ?

After such a horrendous start to the season, Connacht need to start getting some points, & moving up the table.

The Sharks won both their Heineken matches. So they can afford to play their B team. However all the Springboks must rest during the 6 Nations tournament to freshen up for the WC. So they will want to use them as much as possible specifically in the URC.

Damn !

We'll have to go with Plan B, & organize gale force winds.

[OomStruisbaai]

URC
Fans Turn Up in Record Numbers as URC Makes History

History was made as the overall attendance record for a single round in the United Rugby Championship was broken in Round 11 with over 123,000 fans packing into stadiums across both hemispheres.
The total of 123,307 surpassed the previous record of 121,177 as sell-out crowds and season-high attendances were reported in Belfast, Cardiff, Dublin, Durban, Edinburgh and Parma.

Both the 1872 Cup game between Edinburgh and Glasgow Warriors in Scotland and the Cell C Sharks v Vodacom Bulls fixture drew in crowds of 25,000 while games in Dublin (17,560), Belfast (16,672) and Cape Town (15,001) all drew attendances of over 15,000.

It caps an impressive two-week period for the United Rugby Championship with nearly a quarter of a million fans attending the Christmas and New Year derby games. Of those 16 fixtures there were three sell-outs and a total of nine season-high attendances.

Underscoring the impressive achievement, Martin Anayi, CEO, United Rugby Championship said: “To break the overall attendance record for a single round in the league’s history is yet another boost for the United Rugby Championship. This comes just a week after the Christmas attendance was broken and again shows the superb work our clubs are doing to grow the game.

“To put this achievement in context, the previous record included a 62,000 crowd from Judgement Day in Cardiff in 2018, so to break it without hosting a major double-header is fantastic. There was barely a spare seat in Ireland, the Cardiff Arms Park in Wales was full, Edinburgh did a terrific job to get so many into BT Murrayfield for the 1872 Cup game while Zebre also had their biggest crowd of the season.

“In South Africa, the concept of playing over Christmas and New Year was very new to their market but fans have embraced ‘summer rugby’ with almost 100,000 attending over two weekends. Right now fans will have lots of demands on how they spend their money and to see so many choosing to buy tickets to support their teams in the URC is humbling.”

R10 and R11 URC Attendances

30,003 DHL Stormers v Vodacom Bulls (R10)

25,813 Cell C Sharks v Vodacom Bulls (R11)

25,600 Munster v Leinster (R10)

25,137 Edinburgh v Glasgow Warriors (R11)

24,721 Cell C Sharks v Emirates Lions (R10)

17,560 Leinster v Connacht (R11)

16,672 Ulster v Munster (R11)

15,001 DHL Stormers v Emirates Lions (R11)

12,125 Cardiff Rugby v Ospreys (R11)

11,480 Ospreys v Scarlets (R10)

8,566 Scarlets v Dragons RFC (R11)

8,582 Dragons RFC v Cardiff Rugby (R10)

7,338 Glasgow Warriors v Edinburgh (R10)

6,041 Connacht v Ulster (R10)

3,683 Benetton v Zebre Parma (R10)

2,433 Zebre Parma v Benetton (R11)

Across Round 10 and 11 of the United Rugby Championship close to a quarter of a million fans attended 16 games where the average attendance was 12,500. South Africa had the highest attendance by country with 95,538 fans attending the four derby matches in Cape Town and Durban.

This was followed by 65,873 in Ireland with one game apiece played in Belfast, Dublin, Galway and Limerick while in Wales there were two sell-outs and a season high attendance (Ospreys) across Cardiff, Llanelli, Newport and Swansea among the 40,753 attendees.

Top Three League Attendances for a Single Round

123,307 R11 Dec 30-Jan 1, 2022/23

121,117 R21 Apr 28, 2018

117,448 R10 Dec 23-26, 2022

[OomStruisbaai]

Bulls Touring Squad:

Forwards (16): Simphiwe Matanzima, Johan Grobbelaar, Mornay Smith, Ruan Vermaak, Ruan Nortje (captain), Marco van Staden, Cyle Brink, Elrigh Louw, Gerhard Steenekamp, Bismarck Du Plessis, Sebastian Lombard, Janko Swanepoel, Reinhardt Ludwig, WJ Steenkamp, Dylan Smith, and Nizaam Carr

Backs (12): Zak Burger, Embrose Papier, Johan Goosen, Chris Smith, Bernard van der Linde, David Kriel, Harold Vorster, Cornal Hendricks, Wandisile Simelane, Tiaan Lange, Canan Moodie and Kurt-Lee Arendse

[OomStruisbaai]

FRIDAY, JANUARY 6:

Munster v Lions
(Musgrave Park, Cork – Kick-off: 19.35; 19.35 GMT; 21.35 SA time)
Referee: Hollie Davidson (Scotland)
Assistant referees: Andrew Cole (Ireland), Sam Holt (Ireland)
TMO: Sam Grove-White (Scotland)

Dragons v Bulls
(Rodney Parade, Newport – Kick-off: 19.35; 19.35 GMT; 21.35 SA time)
Referee: Mike Adamson (Scotland)
Assistant referees: Mike English (Wales), Tom Spurrier (Wales)
TMO: Andrew McMenemy (Scotland)

SATURDAY, JANUARY 7:

Benetton v Ulster
(Stadio Monigo, Treviso – Kick-off: 14.00; 13.00 Ireland & UK time; 13.00 GMT)
Referee: Ben Whitehouse (Wales)
Assistant referees: Filippo Russo (Italy); Filippo Vinci (Italy)
TMO: Sean Brickell (Wales)

Edinburgh v Zebre Parma
(Edinburgh Rugby Stadium, Edinburgh – Kick-off: 15.00; 15.00 GMT; 16.00 Italy time)
Referee: Aimee Barrett-Theron (South Africa)
Assistant referees: David Sutherland (Scotland), Finlay Brown (Scotland)
TMO: Jon Mason (Wales)

Cardiff v Scarlets
(Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff – Kick-off: 17.15; 17.15 GMT)
Referee: Joy Neville (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Gareth Newman (Wales), Gwyn Morris (Wales)
TMO: Brian MacNeice (Ireland)

Connacht v Sharks
(The Sportsground, Galway – Kick-off: 17.15; 17.15 GMT; 19.15 SA time)
Referee: Adam Jones (Wales)
Assistant referees: Andrew Cole (Ireland), Robbie Jenkinson (Ireland)
TMO: Wayne Davies (Wales)

Ospreys v Leinster
(Swansea Stadium, Swansea – Kick-off: 19.35; 19.35 GMT)
Referee: Andrea Piardi (Italy)
Assistant referees: Dewi Phillips (Wales), Jason Bessant (Wales)
TMO: Matteo Liperini (Italy)

SUNDAY, JANUARY 8:

Glasgow Warriors v Stormers
(Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow – Kick-off: 15.00; 15.00 GMT; 17.00 SA time)
Referee: Andrew Brace (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Jonny Perriam (Scotland), Ross Mabon (Scotland)
TMO: Mark Patton (Ireland)

[Sards]

URC

R10 and R11 URC Attendances

30,003 DHL Stormers v Vodacom Bulls (R10)

25,813 Cell C Sharks v Vodacom Bulls (R11)

25,600 Munster v Leinster (R10)

25,137 Edinburgh v Glasgow Warriors (R11)

24,721 Cell C Sharks v Emirates Lions (R10)

17,560 Leinster v Connacht (R11)

16,672 Ulster v Munster (R11)

15,001 DHL Stormers v Emirates Lions (R11)

12,125 Cardiff Rugby v Ospreys (R11)

11,480 Ospreys v Scarlets (R10)

The Sharks are pulling impressive numbers.
That's the draw of having superstars in your side

[OomStruisbaai]

Look like the $hark$ touring squad for Connacht disappeared with Kolisi to Racing.

[OomStruisbaai]

I wonder with the Sharks choose to send a competitive side up to Connacht this weekend, in the URC, or keep their best at home for the HEC, at home, the following weekend ?

After such a horrendous start to the season, Connacht need to start getting some points, & moving up the table.

The Sharks won both their Heineken matches. So they can afford to play their B team. However all the Springboks must rest during the 6 Nations tournament to freshen up for the WC. So they will want to use them as much as possible specifically in the URC.

Damn !

We'll have to go with Plan B, & organize gale force winds.

B Team. Travel factor.

https://supersport.com/rugby/united-rug ... -boks-home

[OomStruisbaai]

Look like the 40 hours flights got to the Saffer teams. Jake White show the way by sending B teams north and keep the A team at home.

Dobson rotating at least 5 players per game probably a bit wiser

[OomStruisbaai]

[SaintK]

Look like the 40 hours flights got to the Saffer teams. Jake White show the way by sending B teams north and keep the A team at home.

Dobson rotating at least 5 players per game probably a bit wiser

What!!
Are they flying via New Zealand and the West coast of the US?

[OomStruisbaai]

Vrydag 6 Januarie 2023 in Ierland, afskop 21:35

Referee: Hollie Davidson (SRU, 5th league game)
AR 1: Andrew Cole (IRFU)
AR 2: Sam Holt (IRFU)
TMO: Sam Grove-White (SRU)

Munster: 15. Mike Haley, 14. Shane Daly, 13. Malakai Fekitoa, 12. Rory Scannell, 11. Liam Coombes, 10. Ben Healy, 9. Paddy Patterson, 8. Alex Kendellen, 7. John Hodnett, 6. Jack O'Donoghue (c), 5. Gavin Coombes, 4. Jean Kleyn, 3. Roman Salanoa, 2. Diarmuid Barron, 1. Josh Wycherley.
Replacements: 16. Scott Buckley, 17. Dave Kilcoyne, 18. Stephen Archer, 19. Cian Hurley, 20. Jack O'Sullivan, 21. Conor Murray, 22. Dan Goggin, 23. Patrick Campbell

Leeus: 15. Quan Horn, 14. Stean Pienaar, 13. Henco van Wyk, 12. Marius Louw (c), 11. Edwill van der Merwe, 10. Jordan Hendrikse, 9. Morne van den Berg, 8. Emmanuel Tshituka, 7. Emile van Heerden, 6. Jarod Cairns, 5. Darrien Landsberg, 4. Ruan Venter, 3. Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 2. PJ Botha, 1. JP Smith.
Replacements: 16. Michael van Vuuren, 17. Morgan Naude, 18. Ruan Smith, 19. Willem Alberts, 20. Sibusiso Sangweni, 21. Andre Warner, 22. Gianni Lombard, 23. Manuel Rass.

[Chilli]

Look like the 40 hours flights got to the Saffer teams. Jake White show the way by sending B teams north and keep the A team at home.

Dobson rotating at least 5 players per game probably a bit wiser

What!!
Are they flying via New Zealand and the West coast of the US?

Via Doha.
Only 18 hours

[SaintK]

Look like the 40 hours flights got to the Saffer teams. Jake White show the way by sending B teams north and keep the A team at home.

Dobson rotating at least 5 players per game probably a bit wiser

What!!
Are they flying via New Zealand and the West coast of the US?

Via Doha.
Only 18 hours

Thats still a long haul
Why not direct flights into UK?
Is it costs, logistics?

[OomStruisbaai]

What!!
Are they flying via New Zealand and the West coast of the US?

Via Doha.
Only 18 hours

Thats still a long haul
Why not direct flights into UK?
Is it costs, logistics?

Quatar sponsor.

SS

The Stormers took more than 40 hours to get to Glasgow, where they face the Warriors on Sunday, and such trips are becoming common place. The Sharks’ journey to Galway would have been similarly drawn out.

The travel factor, with South African teams all traveling economy class via Doha, is becoming a big influencer on how the coaches select and prepare their teams

[SaintK]

Via Doha.
Only 18 hours

Thats still a long haul
Why not direct flights into UK?
Is it costs, logistics?

Quatar sponsor.

SS

The Stormers took more than 40 hours to get to Glasgow, where they face the Warriors on Sunday, and such trips are becoming common place. The Sharks’ journey to Galway would have been similarly drawn out.

The travel factor, with South African teams all traveling economy class via Doha, is becoming a big influencer on how the coaches select and prepare their teams

Bloody hell!
Hopefully the travel costs are fully subsidised by the sponsorship otherwise that's ridiculous

[GrahamWa]

There are no direct flights to Glasgow, Edinburgh or Cardiff (or further west) so bus trips from Heathrow are required and connecting flights to Scotland as required all adds to the travel time. I think they can fly to Dublin but then they face the same issue.

The 40 hours quoted I took as return journey times which would be about right.

[OomStruisbaai]

Don't think it's return journey time.

The Stormers took more than 40 hours to get to Glasgow,

They fly out on Monday and arrived on Wednesday.

[LoveOfTheGame]

Don't think it's return journey time.

The Stormers took more than 40 hours to get to Glasgow,

They fly out on Monday and arrived on Wednesday.

Surely that can't be right? Almost two days? They'll have to fix that chop-chop if true, players can't be hanging around airport lounges for two days ffs.

[OomStruisbaai]

Don't think it's return journey time.

The Stormers took more than 40 hours to get to Glasgow,

They fly out on Monday and arrived on Wednesday.

Surely that can't be right? Almost two days? They'll have to fix that chop-chop if true, players can't be hanging around airport lounges for two days ffs.

They should use this

Does Qatar airport have a gym?
Conveniently located inside the passenger terminal at Hamad International Airport, the centre hosts a selection of exceptional recreational facilities including an indoor swimming pool, a hydrotherapy tub, a fully-equipped gymnasium and shower facilities.

[LoveOfTheGame]

Don't think it's return journey time.


They fly out on Monday and arrived on Wednesday.

Surely that can't be right? Almost two days? They'll have to fix that chop-chop if true, players can't be hanging around airport lounges for two days ffs.

They should use this

Does Qatar airport have a gym?
Conveniently located inside the passenger terminal at Hamad International Airport, the centre hosts a selection of exceptional recreational facilities including an indoor swimming pool, a hydrotherapy tub, a fully-equipped gymnasium and shower facilities.

Flying economy, I doubt these (rather big) players would be getting a proper night's sleep on the flight up. Never mind still sitting around waiting for connecting flights/trains/busses. 18 Hrs yes, at a push 20. But 40 is effing ridiculous.

[OomStruisbaai]

vs Glasgow

DHL Stormers: 15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 Suleiman Hartzenberg, 13 Dan du Plessis, 12 Damian Willemse, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Paul de Wet, 8 Hacjivah Dayimani, 7 Willie Engelbrecht, 6 Deon Fourie, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Ben-Jason Dixon, 3 Neethling Fouche, 2 Joseph Dweba, 1 Steven Kitshoff (captain).
Replacements: 16 JJ Kotze, 17 Brok Harris, 18 Sazi Sandi, 19 Connor Evans, 20 Junior Pokomela, 21 Marcel Theunissen, 22 Imad Khan, 23 Angelo Davids.

[Sandstorm]

vs Glasgow

DHL Stormers: 15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 Suleiman Hartzenberg, 13 Dan du Plessis, 12 Damian Willemse, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Paul de Wet, 8 Hacjivah Dayimani, 7 Willie Engelbrecht, 6 Deon Fourie, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Ben-Jason Dixon, 3 Neethling Fouche, 2 Joseph Dweba, 1 Steven Kitshoff (captain).
Replacements: 16 JJ Kotze, 17 Brok Harris, 18 Sazi Sandi, 19 Connor Evans, 20 Junior Pokomela, 21 Marcel Theunissen, 22 Imad Khan, 23 Angelo Davids.

Sunday at 15:00 GMT - that'll give me something to do.

Weather forecast is for wind and rain

[OomStruisbaai]

Sandy SMK Boet.

[OomStruisbaai]

Sharks: 15 Anthony Volmink, 14 Yaw Penxe, 13 Murray Koster, 12 Rohan Janse van Rensburg, 11 Marnus Potgieter, 10 Nevaldo Fleurs, 9 Cameron Wright, 8 Celimpilo Gumede, 7 Henco Venter, 6 James Venter, 5 Reniel Hugo (captain), 4 Thembelani Bholi, 3 Carlü Sadie, 2 Fezo Mbatha, 1 Ntuthuko Mchunu.
Replacements: 16 Kerron van Vuuren, 17 Dian Bleuler, 18 Khutha Mchunu, 19 Ockie Barnard, 20 Corne Rahl, 21 Grant Williams, 22 Lionel Cronje, 23 Ethan Hooker.