Official United Rugby Championship thread

[fishfoodie]

Leinster v Munster
21 - 16 FT

[Uncle fester]

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

Strand hond!

Way way forward on the first big pass.

[Uncle fester]

Leinster v Munster
21 - 16 FT

Would have taken that before the game.

[fishfoodie]

Leinster v Munster
21 - 16 FT

Would have taken that before the game.

Yeah, but after 20mins Munster were favorites.

I'm not looking forward to facing a full on Leinster side next week, who'll have been beaten with a big stick all week after making that many mistakes.

Still; coming back from SA with 1W & 1L is better than a lot of teams will do

[Sards]

Leinster and Munster the teams to lose this URC

[Sards]

What a difference the scrum halves made for the Sharks.
Shocking to think that with 2 such talented scrumhalves we had to deal with Cameron vokken Wrong

[Monk]

Grant Williams makes me smile

[Sards]

Grant Williams makes me smile

He is the type of player the opposition would strategize around. Yet his acceleration leaves them for dead.

[Sards]

One thing that made me very happy was to see the pleasure Eben felt to score that try. He felt like a Sharks player. He belongs

[Zig]

It doesn't really feel like the season has started yet. The derby games next month will kick things off properly with fully loaded squads.

[_Os_]

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

Strand hond!

Way way forward on the first big pass.

No way oom Fester, beautiful flat pass. The brilliance was the line he runs after that pass, runs to where the ball will be well behind the defencive line and far in front of other Bulls players. Doesn't exert himself through any of it, made it all look easy. It's like watching a soccer legend once they're older and playing in their last World Cup, they run less but it's all into the space the ball will be where there's no defenders, they make it look like the ball is always going towards them, they kick/pass less but it's all assists for shots at goal, and it all looks effortless.

Both the Boks and Bulls have a lot of younger strike runners he can put into space and cut supporting lines off, both teams have strong proven coaching setups. This is when we'll see the best from Willie.

[_Os_]

Watched the Sharks v Dragons match again. The stand out for me was the Sharks scrum. Mchunu and Coenie starting props, Ox and Jacobs bench props, that just destroyed the Dragons scrum. Mchunu will have a big Bok career if he stays injury free, looks like he has the highest talent potential of any prop in SA, reminds me of Beast. Impressed by Coenie too looks like he still has it. Jacobs is a unit still haven't seen enough of him to rate. Sharks hookers are a bit average-ish though, you can see why they gave Richardson a run there, try and get some x-factor into the 2 jersey. Strange to think Bongi is out, Koch is out, and Tank went to Bath. We've lost Bok quality frontrow but still look loaded there.

I'm impressed by Emile van Heerden at lock too, first time I've seen him in real 1st XV matches that I can remember was this season. He's Fritz's son.

Plumber is a good coach to get the pack working.

[Sandstorm]

Watched the Sharks v Dragons match again. The stand out for me was the Sharks scrum. Mchunu and Coenie starting props, Ox and Jacobs bench props, that just destroyed the Dragons scrum. Mchunu will have a big Bok career if he stays injury free, looks like he has the highest talent potential of any prop in SA, reminds me of Beast. Impressed by Coenie too looks like he still has it. Jacobs is a unit still haven't seen enough of him to rate. Sharks hookers are a bit average-ish though, you can see why they gave Richardson a run there, try and get some x-factor into the 2 jersey. Strange to think Bongi is out, Koch is out, and Tank went to Bath. We've lost Bok quality frontrow but still look loaded there.

I'm impressed by Emile van Heerden at lock too, first time I've seen him in real 1st XV matches that I can remember was this season. He's Fritz's son.

Plumber is a good coach to get the pack working.

Dragons scrum is the worst in the URC. Nothing to see here.

[Sards]

Dragons scrum is the worst in the URC. Nothing to see here.

I remember clearly Ouboet laughing at the Sharks on their tour after the Stormers beat the Scarlets at home and the Sharks lost to Leinster on tour. Beating the Scarlets was a big deal then. Now we don't even see Ouboet

[OomStruisbaai]

Dragons scrum is the worst in the URC. Nothing to see here.

I remember clearly Ouboet laughing at the Sharks on their tour after the Stormers beat the Scarlets at home and the Sharks lost to Leinster on tour. Beating the Scarlets was a big deal then. Now we don't even see Ouboet

Vokof, Sandy, AF & kie chase me away from posting on your team. You are on your own.

[assfly]

I know it was only the Dragons, but it was nice to see the $harks finally click. The Boks made a massive difference. Although the real test will be next week against the Bulls.

I agree with Ox, Mchunu is the real deal. He's only 24 years old, can you believe it.
I really like our stock of locks too. Nice to have Eben back but we have some great youngsters coming through.
Buthelezi starting to look better and better at 7.
Backline also looks much more balanced. Mapimpi's workrate was unreal. But I do wonder why he looked so miffed when getting his MOTM medal.

[Sards]

I know it was only the Dragons, but it was nice to see the $harks finally click. The Boks made a massive difference. Although the real test will be next week against the Bulls.

I agree with Ox, Mchunu is the real deal. He's only 24 years old, can you believe it.
I really like our stock of locks too. Nice to have Eben back but we have some great youngsters coming through.
Buthelezi starting to look better and better at 7.
Backline also looks much more balanced. Mapimpi's workrate was unreal. But I do wonder why he looked so miffed when getting his MOTM medal.

Lovely to see the Bulls and Lions also hitting form and putting up big scores

[Sards]

Our puppy was finally ready to take home yesterday. He was born into a litter that occurred during the RWC and so the litter all got named after players in the Springboks team. Ours is called Ox.

[Sards]

Dragons scrum is the worst in the URC. Nothing to see here.

I remember clearly Ouboet laughing at the Sharks on their tour after the Stormers beat the Scarlets at home and the Sharks lost to Leinster on tour. Beating the Scarlets was a big deal then. Now we don't even see Ouboet

Vokof, Sandy, AF & kie chase me away from posting on your team. You are on your own.

Are the Springboks returning this weekend...
Surely the holiday is over now???

Who are they

[OomStruisbaai]

I remember clearly Ouboet laughing at the Sharks on their tour after the Stormers beat the Scarlets at home and the Sharks lost to Leinster on tour. Beating the Scarlets was a big deal then. Now we don't even see Ouboet

Vokof, Sandy, AF & kie chase me away from posting on your team. You are on your own.

Are the Springboks returning this weekend...
Surely the holiday is over now???

Who are they

Sandy will reply to your idiotic trolling.

[OomStruisbaai]

Leinster v Munster
21 - 16 FT

Would have taken that before the game.

Yeah, but after 20mins Munster were favorites.

I'm not looking forward to facing a full on Leinster side next week, who'll have been beaten with a big stick all week after making that many mistakes.

Still; coming back from SA with 1W & 1L is better than a lot of teams will do

Ja you need to thank the Sharks for that. But then they let the kakkest team in URC history beat them. So it was always a gift to Connacht.

[Blake]

I don't understand how Dweba was even considered for the Boks. He is such a liability. I suspect it was to make him affordable.

He was red hot for the Cheetahs before he left for France and I suspect the Book brain trust were hoping his experience gained in France would be beneficial to the Bok's RWC campaign.

Unfortunatly that thinking didn't take into consideration that he started playing like shit, which became very apparent when he returned to the Stormers and had a couple of runs with the Boks.

Thank goodness Rasnaber dropped him and didn't even bother parachuting him in when Marx got injured. Could you imagine him playing 77 minutes in a RWC Final agains the All Blacks?

I have no idea how long the Stormers are going to be saddled with this donkey at hooker, but he can't fuck off fast enough as far as I am concerned.

Jeez, I can't believe how excited I was when we signed him after Bongi left for the Sharks. Probably my worst call ever on a player.

[assfly]

But how do you really feel about him Blake

[Blake]

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

Strand hond!

Not gonna lie, it looks fucking weird seeing him in a blue jersey, but I think he'll do great at the Bulls. They really need a player like him in their backline. Currently their only real playmaker is Gans. I think they will work very well in tandem which is going to cause a headache for Rassie with Am, Moodie and Gans all looking like terrific prospects at 13 while Kriel as also improved a lot.

We are going to go from having no viable backup for Am, to have 4 quality outside center prospects.

[Blake]

But how do you really feel about him Blake

Dude, I am done with him. Fuck that guy. Built like a brick shithouse, but probably one of the softest, laziest players I've seen. If he had a rock solid lineout throw I could maybe forgive his low workrate around the park, but he doesn't even have that. All he has is that he looks indimidating...that's it.

He hasn't shown any of the skills that we've come to expect from a modern hooker. Players like Bismark and Bongi and Marx have redefined the role as far as I am concerned. First of all you you must have a pinpoint lineout game and be solid at scrumtime, those are non-negotiable. But there are hundreds of players that offer that, so as a hooker you need to have a extra skill as well.

If you are not a world-class jackler like Bismarck or Marx, you need to have speed like Coles or Akker to be a useful edge-forfard, or if you don't have those you need to be a wrecking ball carrier like Bongi in attack and defense.

Dweba ticks none of those boxes at present. He doesn't even meet the basic requirements, and then he is too slow around the park to be threat and to really specialise and contribute in any of those niche areas.

Just like we wasted a bunch of Bok caps on him, the Stormers are now also wasting caps they could be spending on A-H Venter and JJ Kotze. Time to boot Dwaba down to Currie Cup.

[Sards]

Are the Springboks returning this weekend...
Surely the holiday is over now???

Who are they

Sandy will reply to your idiotic trolling.

Wtf are you on about.

Have they muzzled you.


Genuine question for any Stomp that knows

[Blake]

Are the Springboks returning this weekend...
Surely the holiday is over now???

Who are they

Pretty sure all the Boks that are fit will be eligable for URC selection this weekend again yes.

The Stormers have a home game (finally), so we'll finally be able to start getting Libbok, Willemse, Fourie and Malherbe back into the fold.

Hopefully that will help us turn our season around; because it's been a shitshow thus far. Keen to see what Dobson decides to do with the glut of playmakers we'll have with Libbok, Sasha, Willemse, Galant and Blommetjies all in contention and how they are going to be shuffled around. If he can get them to click and release our speedsters on the outside, the rest of the season could be a lot of fun.

Or they could implode and it will be a disaster. Could go either way.

[assfly]

But how do you really feel about him Blake

Dude, I am done with him. Fuck that guy. Built like a brick shithouse, but probably one of the softest, laziest players I've seen. If he had a rock solid lineout throw I could maybe forgive his low workrate around the park, but he doesn't even have that. All he has is that he looks indimidating...that's it.

He hasn't shown any of the skills that we've come to expect from a modern hooker. Players like Bismark and Bongi and Marx have redefined the role as far as I am concerned. First of all you you must have a pinpoint lineout game and be solid at scrumtime, those are non-negotiable. But there are hundreds of players that offer that, so as a hooker you need to have a extra skill as well.

If you are not a world-class jackler like Bismarck or Marx, you need to have speed like Coles or Akker to be a useful edge-forfard, or if you don't have those you need to be a wrecking ball carrier like Bongi in attack and defense.

Dweba ticks none of those boxes at present. He doesn't even meet the basic requirements, and then he is too slow around the park to be threat realy specialise and contribute in any of those niche areas.

Just like we wasted a bunch of Bok caps on him, the Stormers are now also wasting caps they could be spending on A-H Venter and JJ Kotze. Time to boot Dwaba down to Currie Cup.

Ja I feel you.

Watching what Rassie has done with the Boks over the last few years has taught me a lot about workrate in rugby. To the point that I get angry when I see players walking around the field, getting up slowly after a ruck, etc.

[Sards]

Are the Springboks returning this weekend...
Surely the holiday is over now???

Who are they

Pretty sure all the Boks that are fit will be eligable for URC selection this weekend again yes.

The Stormers have a home game (finally), so we'll finally be able to start getting Libbok, Willemse, Fourie and Malherbe back into the fold.

Hopefully that will help us turn our season around; because it's been a shitshow thus far. Keen to see what Dobson decides to do with the glut of playmakers we'll have with Libbok, Sasha, Willemse, Galant and Blommetjies all in contention and how they are going to be shuffled around. If he can get them to click and release our speedsters on the outside, the rest of the season could be a lot of fun.

Or they could implode and it will be a disaster. Could go either way.

There's been a huge amount of pressure on Sascha. He has carried a huge load. Would be great at 12 without stressing about all the rest. Your scrum will improve. Fourie will be your strongest asset coming back.

So it does look a lot more positive going forward

What's your feelings ouboet

[OomStruisbaai]

Are the Springboks returning this weekend...
Surely the holiday is over now???

Who are they

Pretty sure all the Boks that are fit will be eligable for URC selection this weekend again yes.

The Stormers have a home game (finally), so we'll finally be able to start getting Libbok, Willemse, Fourie and Malherbe back into the fold.

Hopefully that will help us turn our season around; because it's been a shitshow thus far. Keen to see what Dobson decides to do with the glut of playmakers we'll have with Libbok, Sasha, Willemse, Galant and Blommetjies all in contention and how they are going to be shuffled around. If he can get them to click and release our speedsters on the outside, the rest of the season could be a lot of fun.

Or they could implode and it will be a disaster. Could go either way.

There's been a huge amount of pressure on Sascha. He has carried a huge load. Would be great at 12 without stressing about all the rest. Your scrum will improve. Fourie will be your strongest asset coming back.

So it does look a lot more positive going forward

What's your feelings ouboet

The Stormers haven't lost at home plus the sneak one away win. Far from panicking

[OomStruisbaai]

Are the Springboks returning this weekend...
Surely the holiday is over now???

Who are they

Sandy will reply to your idiotic trolling.

Wtf are you on about.

Have they muzzled you.


Genuine question for any Stomp that knows

They moan about me posting negatively about the Sharks.

[OomStruisbaai]

Are the Springboks returning this weekend...
Surely the holiday is over now???

Who are they

Pretty sure all the Boks that are fit will be eligable for URC selection this weekend again yes.

The Stormers have a home game (finally), so we'll finally be able to start getting Libbok, Willemse, Fourie and Malherbe back into the fold.

Hopefully that will help us turn our season around; because it's been a shitshow thus far. Keen to see what Dobson decides to do with the glut of playmakers we'll have with Libbok, Sasha, Willemse, Galant and Blommetjies all in contention and how they are going to be shuffled around. If he can get them to click and release our speedsters on the outside, the rest of the season could be a lot of fun.

Or they could implode and it will be a disaster. Could go either way.

There's been a huge amount of pressure on Sascha. He has carried a huge load. Would be great at 12 without stressing about all the rest. Your scrum will improve. Fourie will be your strongest asset coming back.

So it does look a lot more positive going forward

What's your feelings ouboet

I am gatvol with Blommetjies and Prince in 10. Libbok must het back and they must give SMZ moe playtime in 10. That's his best position.

[OomStruisbaai]

But how do you really feel about him Blake

You post negative about the Stormers. Should I cry like ou?

[assfly]

You post negative about the Stormers. Should I cry like ou?

I believe you'll find it was Blake who was negative about him in two posts. I didn't even mention his name.

[clydecloggie]

Just saw the Embra result !

Ordinarily I'd be , but this season there's been a lot more fight about the Italian sides, & I think the battle for the playoffs is going to be a massive dogfight.

Nah - Just Edinburgh being Edinburgh

Glasgow beat Benetton last week collecting all 5 points ( and Glasgow really didn't play that well )

Benetton have improved, and will most likely make the playoff as will Edinburgh - but we can probably pick the Top six now - with a dogfight only for the last couple of places

4 Irish sides, Glasgow, Bulls?

Not too sure, things are still pretty congested. Glasgow, for instance, despite leading the log still have Munster away, the SA tour, 1872 games and Benetton away to negotiate which are all tough. They should get more than enough points from all the Welsh games and Zebre double header to comfortably finish in the top-4 though.

The Saffer sides will come back into it with the Boks available and could challenge top-4 still.

[Sards]

The Stormers haven't lost at home plus the sneak one away win. Far from panicking

Munster???

[Sards]

They moan about me posting negatively about the Sharks.

And Curwin. Ja....I can understand. It was becoming a bit much .

And murphies law it bites you in the butt.

But you are your own man
Vok thrm

[Sards]

You post negative about the Stormers. Should I cry like ou?

I believe you'll find it was Blake who was negative about him in two posts. I didn't even mention his name.

I did first. I think ultimately it's that constant chewing and posturing. Can't stand people chewing bubble gum so that was my trigger. Anyway. He hasn't made it at the Stormers

[Sards]

4 Irish sides, Glasgow, Bulls?

Not too sure, things are still pretty congested. Glasgow, for instance, despite leading the log still have Munster away, the SA tour, 1872 games and Benetton away to negotiate which are all tough. They should get more than enough points from all the Welsh games and Zebre double header to comfortably finish in the top-4 though.

The Saffer sides will come back into it with the Boks available and could challenge top-4 still.

We hope our boks will make a difference.
Unfortunately the Sharks played all the top teams on tour so won't have any effect on the top teams. But the Bulls and Stormers ( if they get their act together) and possibly the Lions could affect outcomes. Especially with their boks back

[OomStruisbaai]

The Stormers haven't lost at home plus the sneak one away win. Far from panicking

Munster???

away. We played our best game against them with our C team. at least we picked up 3 bonus point for losing within 7. Your Sharks team got a thrashing, lost against Zebre.