URC 2025/26 - Emd of Dec / Start of Jan Fixtures

[Leonormous Boozer]

Rounds get a bit muddled between now and Europe (and the SA teams will play their fixtures in February) so will have a thread to cover all games for the turn of the year.

https://stats.unitedrugby.com/match-centre/2025-26/8

The age of Harry Byrne is upon us. All hail Ireland's new, old starting 10.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

The age of Harry Byrne is upon us

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

View attachment 25254
View attachment 25255

 

[dirty harry]

Cardiff tried hard to lose to Dragons, almost managed it.

Thomas Young and De Beer really have made a huge difference in Newport.

Im currenrly watching the Harry Deaves show in Llanelli he has seemingly taken the hype around Fletcher Anderaon personally

 

[Groundhog]

Probably said this the last time we played but the gulf in the front rows alone will rightly have Leinster favourites. We will probably need to go after their breakdown a lot and hope Leinster’s discipline gets away from them.

Praying that hothead thug James Ryan does another:

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Probably said this the last time we played but the gulf in the front rows alone will rightly have Leinster favourites. We will probably need to go after their breakdown a lot and hope Leinster’s discipline gets away from them.

Praying that hothead thug James Ryan does another:
View attachment 25257

Him and Ala'alatoa to knock each other clean out and get 8 week bans in the process is the only certainty in this one.

 

[Seeker]

Glasgow > Edinburgh...again.

 

[Bluemoon]

Cardiff tried hard to lose to Dragons, almost managed it.

Thomas Young and De Beer really have made a huge difference in Newport.

Im currenrly watching the Harry Deaves show in Llanelli he has seemingly taken the hype around Fletcher Anderaon personally

Thought DeBeer was good but man did we target him in attack. Went through and over him quite a few times to the point they moved AOB to ten near the end.

Another game where if Cardiff took shots at goal it’d have been a very comfortable win. Concerned about the attack the moment, Sheedy back to his wild self again.

Only positive is Grady is really playing well. Bowen is a little unlucky as he is also a x-factor player but the decision to keep Grady in was merited tonight. I’d like to see Grady at 13 for a game as he’d be hard to stop.

Going to need to be much better against the O’s if Cardiff are looking to stay top 8 for end of the season.

 

[dirty harry]

Thought DeBeer was good but man did we target him in attack. Went through and over him quite a few times to the point they moved AOB to ten near the end.

Another game where if Cardiff took shots at goal it’d have been a very comfortable win. Concerned about the attack the moment, Sheedy back to his wild self again.

Only positive is Grady is really playing well. Bowen is a little unlucky as he is also a x-factor player but the decision to keep Grady in was merited tonight. I’d like to see Grady at 13 for a game as he’d be hard to stop.

Going to need to be much better against the O’s if Cardiff are looking to stay top 8 for end of the season.

I absolutely agree that if we took the 3 shots at goal earlier in the 2nd half the contest would have been over...

But Grady?!?!? He gave away 2 tries single handedly, he was absolute trash last week, and if im going out on a limb, Bowen who is our top try scorer, and ex factor player, would have finished 1 of the 2 chances Grady fluffed at minimum.

I dont understand why Grady, who isnt quick enough at wing, ousts Bowen who is on fire, and Milllard who is a failed winger at 13 is selected. The only selection worse than those was Beetham at 13, who positionally embarrassed himself over and over.

 

[munstermuffin]

Rounds get a bit muddled between now and Europe (and the SA teams will play their fixtures in February) so will have a thread to cover all games for the turn of the year.

https://stats.unitedrugby.com/match-centre/2025-26/8

The age of Harry Byrne is upon us. All hail Ireland's new, old starting 10.

Strange to not play The Next Sending of Chriat in a big game. Leo and Co seem to have it right. Harry is the form 10 for Leinster and I would rather he wasn't playing.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Strange to not play The Next Sending of Chriat in a big game. Leo and Co seem to have it right. Harry is the form 10 for Leinster and I would rather he wasn't playing.

He'd got his opportunities off the back of being the best ball playing 10 in the country (he still is) but on the condition his physicality would get there. It hasn't happened and Leinster and Oreland aren't good enough to carry anymore either. Had to happen.

HB looks like our only chance to take a properly international class 10 into the World Cup. Hopefully he goes well the next few months, he has his flaws but is far more balanced than Prendergast and Crowley.

Also, Edinburgh v Glasgow has been ******* awful.

 

[big ginger 8]

'At last the red hand are landing slaps on Connacht' - oh Robbo.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Shite enough coverage for Ulster and Connacht here. Talking about Munster v Leinster at HT...

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Never seen advantage being called over from a 5m penalty before. Should have gone back for the penalty if anything because Leinster gained nothing.

 

[big ginger 8]

Never seen advantage being called over from a 5m penalty before. Should have gone back for the penalty if anything because Leinster gained nothing.

Calling a knock on after calling tackle in VDF as well.

Still the best start we've had in a long time. Loved the first lineout. Baited Beirne into attempting a steal and then got a maul set vs two defenders in the edge.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Calling a knock on after calling tackle in VDF as well.

Still the best start we've had in a long time. Loved the first lineout. Baited Beirne into attempting a steal and then got a maul set vs two defenders in the edge.

Bernie*

Can't wait to have a full set of backs and stick Reiko on the wing. In the centre, he is... not good

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Passion merchant O'Donoghue attacking Harry Byrne rather than securing his own ball and giving away a penalty. Lovely.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Leinster dominating set piece and Munster the breakdown. Ref all over the place. Neither team fluid enough to excel at the intensity the game is being played at.

Jackman on comms with Zebo on punditry is cruel and unusual punishment.

HB the better 10 with no midfield to use whatsoever.

Positive enough for Leinster overall, feel like if Osborne and Ringrose were in midfield it'd be comfortable.

 

[Seeker]

Glasgow 21 Edinburgh 3 That's four in a row!

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Very strange game. Positive for both sides to play at that intensity again and right result just about. Both sides and Ireland can build from it.

Ref was way out of his depth, probably made both teams look worse that they were.

HB takes the 10 battle despite being forced to play 10 man rugby.