URC 2022 /2023 Round 13

[TRF_stormer2010]

Round 13

Fri 27 Jan Scarlets v Bulls (7.35pm)

Fri 27 Jan Ulster v Stormers (7.35pm)

Sat 28 Jan Benetton v Munster (2.30pm)

Sat 28 Jan Dragons v Glasgow Warriors (3pm)

Sat 28 Jan Leinster v Cardiff (5.05pm)

Sat 28 Jan Edinburgh v Sharks (5.15pm)

Sat 28 Jan Connacht v Lions (7.35pm)

Sun 29 Jan Zebre Parma v Ospreys (3pm)

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Ulster set to get their first win over us as we are sending a weakend squad.

Stormers squad:

Forwards: Kwenzo Blose, Ben-Jason Dixon, Willie Engelbrecht, Connor Evans, Brok Harris, JJ Kotze, Lee-Marvin Mazibuko, Scarra Ntubeni, Marvin Orie (captain), Junior Pokomela, Evan Roos, Sazi Sandi, Marcel Theunissen, Ruben van Heerden, Andre-Hugo Venter, Ali Vermaak.

Backs: Clayton Blommetjies, Juan de Jongh, Jean-Luc du Plessis, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Suleiman Hartzenberg, Herschel Jantjies, Imad Khan, Ruhan Nel, Cornel Smit, Stefan Ungerer, Kade Wolhuter.

Some of it is injury enforced but we are keeping a lot of guys back as well- not just Bokke either- and I suppose it makes sense.

 

[saulan]

Yea, our backline looks like its going to be a bit thrown together, I doubt there's going to be much cohesion in our running play. We are also sending 3 scrumhalves, so guess one of them is covering another position.

 

[Al Bangor]

Glasgow over Dragons

 

[irisht]

Leinster missing about 27 players.

 

[Groundhog]

Huge game for us. Must win really. Benneton will hopefully be pretty weak, while we can probably field something like:

Wycherley, Scannell, Ryan, Kleyn, Wycherley, O'Sullivan, Hodnett, Kendellen, Patterson, Carbery, Nash, Frisch, Fekitoa, Daly, Campbell

 

[saulan]

Ohhh... I hadn't factored in the Six Nations into our chances this weekend (although I do believe they will remain low). Are players not available from this week and if so, how much has the Ulster team been weakened by call-ups?

 

[Groundhog]

Ohhh... I hadn't factored in the Six Nations into our chances this weekend (although I do believe they will remain low). Are players not available from this week and if so, how much has the Ulster team been weakened by call-ups?

Irish squad players will not be available for this week's round of games. Ulster are down 5 players to Ireland duty - McCloskey, O'Toole, Henderson, Stockdale and Herring. Down another couple (Marshall, Baloucoune) through injury. They should be able to field a decent team though.

 

[saulan]

Irish squad players will not be available for this week's round of games. Ulster are down 5 players to Ireland duty - McCloskey, O'Toole, Henderson, Stockdale and Herring. Down another couple (Marshall, Baloucoune) through injury. They should be able to field a decent team though.

Still think we lose this one then if it's just those many out.

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Yea, our backline looks like its going to be a bit thrown together, I doubt there's going to be much cohesion in our running play. We are also sending 3 scrumhalves, so guess one of them is covering another position.

I'm thinking

Harris, Venter, Sandi
Dixon, Orie
Pokomela, Theunissen, Roos

Jantjies, Wolhuter

Mngomezulu, Nel
Khan maybe on the wing with Hartzenberg
Blommetjies

Stuart McCloskey their only REAL loss IMO. Our injury list isn't helping us one bit. I'm on board resting the ones being rested everything considered. Thinking a losing BP would be a good return if we can manage.

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

Very nice fixtures, likely spoilt a bit by 6N commitments. At least it's only once or twice a season now.

Player availability should help Sharks, Ospreys, Dragons and Munster to unexpectedly comfortable wins.

Connacht vs Lions would be my game of the week given player availability and the fact they are both fringe contenders for playoffs (i.e. lose this and you are almost effectively eliminated).

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Stormers

15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 Suleiman Hartzenberg, 13 Ruhan Nel, 12 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 11 Cornel Smit, 10 Jean-Luc du Plessis, 9 Stefan Ungerer, 8 Evan Roos, 7 Willie Engelbrecht, 6 Junior Pokomela, 5 Marvin Orie (captain), 4 Ben-Jason Dixon, 3 Brok Harris, 2 JJ Kotze, Ali Vermaak

Substitutes: 16 Scarra Ntubeni, 17 Kwenzo Blose, 18 Sazi Sandi, 19 Ruben van Heerden, 20 Marcel Theunissen, 21 Herschel Jantjies, 22 Kade Wolhuter, 23 Juan de Jongh

 

[Groundhog]

Munster (v Benetton)
15. Shane Daly
14. Calvin Nash
13. Antoine Frisch
12. Malakai Fekitoa
11. Liam Coombes
10. Joey Carbery
9. Paddy Patterson
1. Josh Wycherley
2. Niall Scannell (Captain)
3. Roman Salanoa
4. Jean Kleyn
5. Fineen Wycherley
6. Jack O'Sullivan
7. John Hodnett
8. Alex Kendellen
Replacements:

16. Diarmuid Barron
17. Mark Donnelly
18. Stephen Archer
19. Cian Hurley
20. Ruadhán Quinn
21. Neil Cronin
22. Ben Healy
23. Rory Scannell

Team is about as expected! Ryan won't get his swansong due to personal reasons. Shame, but there's some talk he will be back with us before too long anyway. Big item on that list is Ruadhan Quinn! I thought he'd be unavailable with his Ireland U20 duties. Hope he gets 30 minutes or so.

 

[dullonien]

Enjoyed the Scarlets v Bulls game. Differing styles on show with Scarlets scoring some cracking try's. Bulls turned on the power in the second half and I thought the Scarlets were done for. Some odd decisions from the Bulls though turning down the 3 to take the lead! Scarlets hung onto the lead, and grabbed a try at the end to take them clear.

Feels like the Scarlets may have turned a corner under Peel. Playing some good stuff atm, all too late for this season in the league I expect.

 

[irisht]

Leinster Rugby (caps in brackets):
15. Chris Cosgrave (4)
14. Max O'Reilly (10)
13. Liam Turner (12)
12. Ben Brownlee (1)
11. Dave Kearney (178)
10. Harry Byrne (42)
9. Luke McGrath (186)
1. Michael Milne (24)
2. John McKee (11)
3. Michael Ala'alatoa (38)
4. Ross Molony (154)
5. Brian Deeny (7)
6. Rhys Ruddock (216) CAPTAIN
7. Scott Penny (49)
8. Max Deegan (90)

16. Tadgh McElroy (1)
17. Marcus Hanan (3)
18. Thomas Clarkson (21)
19. James Culhane (0)
20. Will Connors (29)
21. Nick McCarthy (55)
22. Charlie Tector (2)
23. Aitzol King (0)

 

[Groundhog]

Hodnett is an animal

 

[Groundhog]

John Hodnett has literally never had a bad game for Munster. Man's Sean O'Brien reincarnate without the **** kink.

Very important result for us!

 

[Al Bangor]

42-28, Warriors win!

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

Unbeaten Leinster go 16 points clear. Zzzzzzz

It seems like every other playoff side from last year has taken a step backwards and are more likely to lose in Treviso than win in Dublin. Can anyone see a strongish challenger appear or are we already hoping for a Leinster underperformance to at least keep the playoffs interesting.

 

[unrated]

Unbeaten Leinster go 16 points clear. Zzzzzzz

It seems like every other playoff side from last year has taken a step backwards and are more likely to lose in Treviso than win in Dublin. Can anyone see a strongish challenger appear or are we already hoping for a Leinster underperformance to at least keep the playoffs interesting.

I think playoffs are a whole different ball game, id back a full strength Sharks side vs a full strength Leinster side any day. But that's just my opinion...

I say the above, even when considering the below.

I have praise for Leinster, they are a well managed club and if they know anything then they know consistency which must be very nice for their fans. I also respect teams with strong youth academies and internal development and Leinster I hear do it very well especially with their cream of the crop selection from top private rugby schools.