United Rugby Championship: Round 2

[Groundhog]

Connacht saving themselves for their two good performances of the year against Leinster and Munster early on this season! Respect!

 

[TRF_Olyy]

This league serves as a great reminder that even if you can't start for a URC side you can go be a star in the premiership

50% of the starting fullbacks for Ireland's franchises come from Sale, and we're stuck with Simon Hammersley
Depressing

 

[Groundhog]

Sale.....depressing

Think you've solved your own riddle there

 

[unrated]

Just because they name the team late in the media doesn't mean they haven't named to the team already. They will always pick their side p early in the week so they can train with them.

Yea but who are they hiding their team from by announcing the team late? Do they think their opposition will be in the dark?

 

[Groundhog]

Yea but who are they hiding their team from by announcing the team late? Do they think their opposition will be in the dark?

Just always been the norm to announce your team lunchtime before the game here. Don't think there's any mindgames to it although the opposition probably won't know who's playing because teams change constantly.

Duality of Connacht here. Nice try and then just awful kickoff clearence. Some good tackling there though. Could hear the air leaving the Bulls players lungs a few times.

 

[Groundhog]

Great try by Hansen what a run

 

[unrated]

Bulls mentality is embarrassing at the moment

 

[Groundhog]

Connacht came into the second half completely dictating the tempo. Bulls genuinely haven't fired a shot yet this half and the discipline is really poor. Decisions going against them and it's affecting them.

Edit: Can hear Bismarck constantly complaining to the ref and it's not a great look

 

[unrated]

Connacht came into the second half completely dictating the tempo. Bulls genuinely haven't fired a shot yet this half and the discipline is really poor. Decisions going against them and it's affecting them.

Edit: Can hear Bismarck constantly complaining to the ref and it's not a great look

Bismarck came on and was just looking for **** giving away three penalties. This is the supposed experienced and calm heads on the bench.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Connacht came into the second half completely dictating the tempo. Bulls genuinely haven't fired a shot yet this half and the discipline is really poor. Decisions going against them and it's affecting them.

Edit: Can hear Bismarck constantly complaining to the ref and it's not a great look

Bit funny from a Munster fan

 

[Groundhog]

Bit funny from a Munster fan

We we do it, it works. Even O'Mahony has enough cop on to back off when the ref is turning against him.

 

[unrated]

I believe the Sharks can beat the Warriors today. If i look at what happened with the SA side last night then i should probably go and change my predictions. But hope is nice.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Didn't watch the Bulls game but how much did they struggle with the wind?

 

[unrated]

Didn't watch the Bulls game but how much did they struggle with the wind?

Wind was inconsequential. It was their decision making and lack of composure which cost them the game.

 

[Groundhog]

Didn't watch the Bulls game but how much did they struggle with the wind?

Not massively I'd say. Weather got a bit nasty towards the end but practically tropical for the sportsground. Right on Lough Atalia it's usuay ******* Baltic. You'd want to wrap up if you ever visit.

In all honesty rough conditions should have suited the bulls with a big close quarters pack, but it didn't. Wasteful with possession, made some nice line breaks they didn't capitalise from and as I already said the discipline was poor. Connacht grew into the game to be fair to them after starting really poorly. Defense was extremely quick off the line and their centres (Tom x2) in particular started to punch holes as the game went on.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Sounds like edinburgh game was a cracker

 

[unrated]

I dont know whats happening, this Sharks team is not as bad as this. Something is off.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Cheetahs fans must be feeling smug AF watching these SA teams

 

[unrated]

So Glasglow leads 28 -10 going into halftime. Utterly dominating every aspect of the game.

I have a few takeaways. This is very uncharacteristic of the Sharks and I don't buy the "need to acclimatise first argument"

1. We are missing very easy tackles that you normally would not miss. Guys like Kok who is a seven one on one specialist is like a turnstile in this game as is the rest of the team
2. This fast pitch will suit our running playstyle, yet we play a pick and go style not associated with this team, while the opposition is making use of fast running opportunities.
3. We got a penalty advantage, instead of trying to make something happen, they just immediately kick to the middle of the field to force the penalty, why not make use of the advantage? This is very very questionable
4. Glasgow is constantly being allowed through small gaps in the middle of your defensive line. We think they go wide then they go to the middle and we don't stop them, then they go wide and we decide to defend inwards forcing the overlap every time.
5. We are literally losing all the setpieces.
6. When we have the ball they are making very dodgy decisions, such as when Bosch received the ball on his own line and tried to run it, he got tackled and Glasgow scored, or when we decided to go for a pick and go on their line when we could have taken the scrum or Lineout (Which admittedly we can't win). Another dodgy decision was when we got a penalty on the halftime mark, we are behind by far 28 -7 at this point, but they go for the poles... wtf is the players thinking do they have absolutely no composure?
7. Are the Sharks ( and by extension the rest of the sa teams) in Shock by the much stricter refereeing found in the URC than in the Currie Cup and Super rugby? The ref like to blow for everything, I think our players are very surprised, usually in Super rugby most of the stuff that was called would have been let go.
8. Cant keep the ball without knocking for longer than two phases. Usually, we can go 13+ phases.
9. Every decision we make results in a penalty for Glagow.

 

[JohnKA]

I wonder if the Sharks know you need more points than the other team to win the game