URC 2025/26 - Round 13

[Leonormous Boozer]

https://stats.unitedrugby.com/match-centre/2025-26/13

Huuuuuge game for Leinster and Glasgow. Leinster's chances of finishing top probably rely on a win here.

 

[Welsh Exile]

Bulls: Kriel; Jooste, Moodie, Gans, Arendse; Pollard, Papier; Steenekamp, Grobbelaar, Klopper, Wiese, Nortje, Coetzee (capt), Louw, Carr.

Replacements: van Staden, Wessels, Mchunu, Vermaak, Hanekom, Rudolph, de Wet, le Roux.

Cardiff: Winnett; Grady, Millard, B Thomas, Beetham; Sheedy, A Davies; Barratt, Belcher (capt), Sebastian, McNally, Nott, Lawrence, D Thomas, Basham.

Replacements: D Hughes, Southworth, Wainwright, Thornton, Botham, Faletau, Bevan, I Lloyd.

Referee: Eoghan Cross (Ireland)

Assistants: Griffin Colby & Jonathan Lottering (South Africa)

TMO: Gianluca Gnecchi (Italy)

 

[Welsh Exile]

Scarlets: Murray; Rogers, Page, Williams, Mee; Leggatt-Jones, A Hughes; Mathias, Elias, Holz, Lousi, Douglas, Taylor, Macleod (capt), Anderson.

Replacements: Van der Merwe, Henry Thomas, Hawley, Price, Davis, Blacker, Hawkins, I Jones.

Zebre: Belloni; Batista, Zanon, Mazza, Gesi; Da Re, Garcia; Buonfiglio, Ribaldi, Pieretto, Canali, Ortombina, Stavile, Bianchi, Ferrari.

Replacements: Quattrini, Pitinari, Neculai, Ruggeri, Odiase, Dominguez, Roger Farias, Bertaccini.

Referee: Peter Martin (IRFU)

Assistants: Craig Evans & Max Clements (WRU)

TMO: Leo Colgan (IRFU)

 

[Welsh Exile]

Apparently Morgan might be on bench against Benneton (Pivacs first game in charge)

 

[Seeker]

Glasgow over Leinster

 

[Welsh Exile]

Benetton: Smith; Mendy, Odogwu, Fekitoa, Ratave; Umaga, Uren; Gallo, Maile, Zilocchi, Marini, Snyman, Favretto, Izekor, Lamaro (capt).

Replacements: Gasperini, Aminu, Gallorini, Scrafton, Midena, Fa'aso'o, Garbisi, Gallagher.

Ospreys: Hopkins; Kasende, Watkin, K Williams, Giles; Walsh (co-capt), Morgan-Williams; S Thomas, Parry (co-capt), Botha, Fender, R Smith, Ratti, Deaves, Moriarty.

Replacements: L Lloyd, Phillips, Henry, Sutton, Morgan, L Davies, Houston, Boshoff.

Referee: Ian Kenny (Scotland)

Assistants: Federico Vedovelli & Riccardo Bonatto (Italy)

TMO: Paul Haycock (Ireland)

 

[Groundhog]

Good team, bad half backs. Have to hope Hanrahan can at least be serviceable. Great to see both Edigbos and the return of Ahern.

Have to imagine Wood is being given a rest or he would bench which is completely fair. Next season I think we need to start looking at Barrett even as a Y1 academy guy. Coughlan will have his chance to show if he’s at the standard for the rest of the year.

 

[ShropshireAllBlack]

The time spent with the Leinster players in the Ireland camp has improved Doak beyond recognition…

 

[Tooting Carmen]

Could this South African tour ruin Cardiff's league campaign?

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

This match needs a bloopers reel set to the benny hill music

 

[dirty harry]

Could this South African tour ruin Cardiff's league campaign?

Happened last year...

Cardiff seem to enjoy pre Xmas rugby, then post 6N fall off for an 9th place finish, last 2 seasons will it be 3?

 

[dirty harry]

Enjoying the scarlets game, anyone know if Fletcher Anderson can be Welsh qualified?

 

[Tooting Carmen]

Enjoying the scarlets game, anyone know if Fletcher Anderson can be Welsh qualified?

Probably not. Moreover, it is more than a little concerning how dependent the Scarlets are on foreign forwards.

 

[saulan]

Could this South African tour ruin Cardiff's league campaign?

Yea, it’s not looking great. Ahead of them they have the Sharks and Glasgow away and the Stormers at home. Getting one win out of those will be tough (likely would be the Stormers game as their best bet)

 

[dirty harry]

Probably not. Moreover, it is more than a little concerning how dependent the Scarlets are on foreign forwards.

I mean, when you consider their back production includes Page, Roberts, Murray (not really) mee, Lloyd, Griffin, Costelow... im assuming the forwards they produce are also 5'3 lol.

 

[dirty harry]

Yea, it’s not looking great. Ahead of them they have the Sharks and Glasgow away and the Stormers at home. Getting one win out of those will be tough (likely would be the Stormers game as their best bet)

Scarlets away and Ospreys at home...

Cardiff need 3 wins from that lot, 2 is more likely.

 

[saulan]

Haven’t been paying too much attention to Dragons, but looking at the results it looks like they’re unfortunate to be 15th, a lot of close losses.

What’s the Welsh view on the team playing this weekend against us? I’ve read that this is (and I’m quoting because I’m ignorant) “fourth choice props”. If that’s the case it’s going to be a bad time upfront as the scrum is the one area we’ve been super strong on even when we’ve been losing.

Generally for us, we’re really stacked at loose forward, front rows are looking good but lineout throws are wobbly, defense looks good if we keep Nel healthy and have retained the ability to cause backline chaos with Willemse, SFM and our wings without the negative risk factor of what might Gelant throw.

 

[Welsh Exile]

View attachment 25748
View attachment 25749
Haven’t been paying too much attention to Dragons, but looking at the results it looks like they’re unfortunate to be 15th, a lot of close losses.

What’s the Welsh view on the team playing this weekend against us? I’ve read that this is (and I’m quoting because I’m ignorant) “fourth choice props”. If that’s the case it’s going to be a bad time upfront as the scrum is the one area we’ve been super strong on even when we’ve been losing.

Generally for us, we’re really stacked at loose forward, front rows are looking good but lineout throws are wobbly, defense looks good if we keep Nel healthy and have retained the ability to cause backline chaos with Willemse, SFM and our wings without the negative risk factor of what might Gelant throw.

Dragons have been a bit unlucky this season and have been improved to be fair but they’re going to get spanked this game. I’ll be surprised if they keep any loss inside 20 points to be honest. I’m not sure Coleman is 4th choice but I can only think of a handful of games that he’s played in this season.

Not even sure who this Jordan Morris is to be honest so he’s probably down the pecking order quite a bit. Dee is probably 1st/2nd choice hooker but has been injured.

The backline is pretty poor as well to be fair. Dyer aside.

 

[dirty harry]

Dragons have been a bit unlucky this season and have been improved to be fair but they’re going to get spanked this game. I’ll be surprised if they keep any loss inside 20 points to be honest. I’m not sure Coleman is 4th choice but I can only think of a handful of games that he’s played in this season.

Not even sure who this Jordan Morris is to be honest so he’s probably down the pecking order quite a bit. Dee is probably 1st/2nd choice hooker but has been injured.

The backline is pretty poor as well to be fair. Dyer aside.

Ye.not sure if 4th choice is fair, plenty of rotation between these 2, Hunt, Griffiths and Lewis.
Wyne Jones and Martinez are probably 1zr choixe, everyone else is rotated in and out, lla fair few on a small number of appearances.

These 2 are pretty poor quailty, Coleman is a SRC player (who througj desperation toured with Wales last year) and Morris is a former U20 player who cant really scrumage. Hes mobile and light at just over 100kgs.

I expext the Dragons scrum to get mullered, and Dragons not to be very competitive tbh.

The back row is super small also, Beddal Na woodman either side of Keddie.

Good luck Dragons!

 

[dirty harry]

Dragons have been a bit unlucky this season and have been improved to be fair but they’re going to get spanked this game. I’ll be surprised if they keep any loss inside 20 points to be honest. I’m not sure Coleman is 4th choice but I can only think of a handful of games that he’s played in this season.

Not even sure who this Jordan Morris is to be honest so he’s probably down the pecking order quite a bit. Dee is probably 1st/2nd choice hooker but has been injured.

The backline is pretty poor as well to be fair. Dyer aside.

Angus at 10 and Cai at 15 is a bad sign, Owen is a tenacious centre though, i thought he was going to kick on a few seasons ago, but injury and the Dragons merrygo round seem tonhave stalled his progress

 

[saulan]

Really keen to see how the Lions do against Edinburgh here. They’ve been doing quite well against the other SA teams. Hoping they can keep up that momentum

 

[saulan]

Oof. 28-0. At 26 mins. This is just one way traffic

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Reiko just did something!

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Deeny and, even moreso, Kelleher killed Leinster that half. The 13 man period went as expected against Glasgow on a good day in Scotstoun

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

The ref and TMO just reviewed the wrong phase in what looked very like a Leinster try. URC officiating at it's absolute pinnacle.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Jaysus we're shambolic. Cullen seems to have lost his touch with the young lads.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Hope Glasgow make the European semi final after this so we can put them away again.

 

[AlRums]

Cullen seems to have lost his touch with the young lads.

I think you need to rephrase that!

 

[AlRums]

Hope Glasgow make the European semi final after this so we can put them away again.

Glasgow will have their first team back rather than their second.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Glasgow will have their first team back rather than their second.

So will Leinster and we'll smash them again. That nonsense at the end did Glasgow no favours.