URC 2022/23 - Round 7

[TRF_stormer2010]

Friday Oct 28th
Scarlets V Leinster
Glasgow V Benetton

Saturday Oct 29th
Lions V Stormers
Dragons V Zebre
Munster V Ulster
Ospreys V Connacht

Sunday Oct 30th
Bulls V Sharks
Cardiff V Edinburgh

Leinster for another W and then 7 coin tosses.

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

I'd say Glasgow to smash Benetton then 6 coin tosses (Zebre heavy underdogs too). Even the Leinster game is interesting as it is already probably 'last chance saloon' for the a Scarlets team that looks good on paper.

I did think coach Dwayne Peel's body language leaves a little to be desired. A couple of weeks back they are mid game and he is just sitting there alone eating a meal in the stands and not seeming particularly engaged in the match. I could easily be reading too much into things and he is a different character when infront of his players.

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Zebre and Benetton probably both in for a loss as you say but I wouldn't place any sort of money on any of it really.

Very concerned about our game vs the Lions. We lost one to them last year before the break and had a horrible tour first up as well and went on to win the tournament BUT our tour last year included a few of the bigger teams whereas this year we are only facing the bigger sides towards the latter half of the tournament.

That said, we should have a stronger side in the latter half as well. It might be just the cautious optimism any Stormers fan has adopted over the last 2 decades but my expectation at this stage is that if we are to launch a title defence its unfortunately not going to be in Cape Town like we had in the QF and SF last time around. Maybe if we are lucky a home QF at least but TBH I'd be surprised.

 

[DragonCraig45]

Friday Oct 28th
Scarlets V Leinster
Glasgow V Benetton

Saturday Oct 29th
Lions V Stormers
Dragons V Zebre
Munster V Ulster
Ospreys V Connacht

Sunday Oct 30th
Bulls V Sharks
Cardiff V Edinburgh

Leinster for another W and then 7 coin tosses.

Leinster
Glasgow
Stormers
Dragons
Ulster
Ospreys
Bulls
Cardiff
the winners

 

[rN_X]

Sharks team to face the Bulls at Loftus

15 Aphelele Fassi,
14 Werner Kok,
13 Francois Venter,
12 Ben Tapuai,
11 Thaakir Abrahams,
10 Boeta Chamberlain,
9 Cameron Wright,
8 Phepsi Buthelezi,
7 Vincent Tshituka,
6 Dylan Richardson,
5 Hyron Andrews,
4 Gerbrandt Grobler,
3 Thomas du Toit (c),
2 Kerron van Vuuren,
1 Ntuthuko Mchunu.

Subs:
16 Dan Jooste,
17 Dian Bleuler,
18 Carlu Sadie,
19 Justin Basson,
20 James Venter,
21 Sikhumbuzo Notshe,
22 Grant Williams,
23 Marnus Potgieter.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Leinster Rugby (caps in brackets):

15. Chris Cosgrave (2)
14. Rob Russell (9)
13. Liam Turner (7)
12. Charlie Ngatai (5)
11. Dave Kearney (176)
10. Ross Byrne (134)
9. Luke McGrath (180)
1. Ed Byrne (89)
2. John McKee (7)
3. Thomas Clarkson (19)
4. Ross Molony (145)
5. Jason Jenkins (5)
6. Rhys Ruddock (212) CAPTAIN
7. Scott Penny (43)
8. Max Deegan (86)

16. Tadgh McElroy (0)
17. Michael Milne (18)
18. Vakhtang Abdaladze (20)
19. Brian Deeny (3)
20. Martin Moloney (9)
21. Nick McCarthy (50)
22. Charlie Tector (0)
23. Ben Brownlee (0)

Really feels like a new wave of Ster players coming through. Some potential there but don't see any absolute stars.

 

[The Seeker]

Glasgow over Benetton

 

[Tooting Carmen]

Ospreys: Max Nagy; Luke Morgan, Tiaan Thomas-Wheeler, Keiran Williams, Keelan Giles; Jack Walsh, Reuben Morgan Williams; Rhys Henry, Scott Baldwin (capt), Tom Botha, Rhys Davies, Huw Sutton, Ethan Roots, Harri Deaves, Morgan Morris.

Replacements: Sam Parry, Garyn Phillips, Ben Warren, Jack Regan, Tristan Davies, Matthew Aubrey, Luke Scully, Cai Evans.

Connacht: Tiernan O'Halloran; Alex Wootton, Tom Farrell, David Hawkshaw, John Porch; Jack Carty (capt), Caolin Blade; Denis Buckley, Dylan Tierney-Martin, Jack Aungier, Oisín Dowling, Gavin Thornbury, Shamus Hurley-Langton, Conor Oliver, Jarrad Butler.

Replacements: Grant Stewart, Jordan Duggan, Sam Illo, Darragh Murray, Paul Boyle, Kieran Marmion, Tom Daly, Adam Byrne

Referee: Sam Grove-White (SRU, 28th league game)

Assistant referees: : Adam Jones & Mark Butcher (WRU)

TMO: Andrew McMenemy (SRU)

The chances of Ospreys winning with that team out...

 

[Tooting Carmen]

Scarlets: Johnny McNicholl; Tom Rogers, Steff Evans, Jonathan Davies (capt), Ryan Conbeer; Dan Jones, Gareth Davies; Steff Thomas, Daf Hughes, Harri O'Connor, Jac Price, Tom Price, Aaron Shingler, Dan Thomas, Sione Kalamafoni.

Replacements: Shaun Evans, Kemsley Mathias, WillGriff John, Morgan Jones, Iwan Shenton, Archie Hughes, Rhys Patchell, Corey Baldwin.

Leinster: Chris Cosgrave; Rob Russell, Liam Turner, Charlie Ngatai, Dave Kearney; Ross Byrne, Luke McGrath; Ed Byrne, John McKee, Thomas Clarkson, Ross Molony, Jason Jenkins, Rhys Ruddock (capt), Scott Penny, Max Deegan.

Replacements: Tadgh McElroy, Michael Milne, Vakhtang Abdaladze, Brian Deeny, Martin Moloney, Nick McCarthy, Charlie Tector, Ben Brownlee

Referee: Andrea Piardi (FIR)

Assistant referees: Adam Jones & Simon Mills (WRU)

TMO: Matteo Liperini (FIR)

That Scarlets side is none too shabby, but given how they have been this season and the fact it is Leinster they are facing, I don't rate their chances too highly either.

 

[Tooting Carmen]

Dragons: Angus O'Brien; David Richards, Steff Hughes, Max Clark, Jared Rosser; Sam Davies, Rhodri Williams; Aki Seiuli, Elliot Dee, Lloyd Fairbrother, Joe Davies, Sean Lonsdale, Aaron Wainwright, Harrison Keddie (capt), Ross Moriarty.

Replacements: James Benjamin, Rob Evans, Chris Coleman, Huw Taylor, Ben Fry, Gonzalo Bertranou, JJ Hanrahan, Aneurin Owen.

Zebre: Richard Kriel; Latu Latunipulu, Tommaso Boni, Damiano Mazza, Jacopo Trulla; Tiff Eden, Chris Cook; Juan Pitinari, Jacques Du Toit (capt), Matteo Nocera, Andrea Zambonin, Leonard Krumov, Davide Ruggeri, Iacopo Bianchi, Taina Fox-Matamua.

Replacements: Marco Manfredi, Alessio Sanavia, Muhamed Hasa, Jan Uys, Giacomo Ferrari, Ratko Jelic, Geronimo Prisciantelli, Lorenzo Pani.

Referee: Ben Blain (SRU)

Assistant referees: Gareth Newman & Gwyn Morris (WRU)

TMO: Mike Adamson (SRU)

Dragons should win, even if not by much.

 

[Tooting Carmen]

Cardiff Rugby: Ben Thomas; Jason Harries, Mason Grady, Max Llewellyn, Theo Cabango; Jarrod Evans, Lloyd Williams; Rhys Carré, Kirby Myhill, Dmitri Arhip, Josh Turnbull (capt.), Rory Thornton, James Botham, Thomas Young, James Ratti

Replacements: Liam Belcher, Corey Domachowski, Will Davies-King, Teddy Williams, Gwilym Bradley, Ellis Bevan, Aled Summerhill, Cameron Winnett

Edinburgh: Henry Immelman; Emiliano Boffelli, Matt Currie, Chris Dean, Wes Goosen; Charlie Savala, Charlie Shiel; Boan Venter, Adam McBurney, Luan de Bruin Pierce Phillips, Jamie Hodgson, Ben Muncaster, Luke Crosbie (capt), Viliame Mata.

Replacements: Patrick Harrison, Nick Auterac, Angus Williams, Marshall Sykes, Connor Boyle, Henry Pyrgos, Jaco van der Walt, Jack Blain.

Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi (FIR)

Assistant referees: Mike English & Lewis Harrison (WRU)

TMO: Stefano Roscini (FIR)

Cardiff look the stronger of the two sides, but you never know. Still, I think they will win, as they have been building up quite well lately.

 

[Groundhog]

Munster

15. Mike Haley
14. Shane Daly
13. Malakai Fekitoa
12. Rory Scannell
11. Patrick Campbell
10. Jack Crowley
9. Paddy Patterson
1. Dave Kilcoyne
2. Diarmuid Barron
3. John Ryan
4. Edwin Edogbo
5. Eoin O'Connor
6. Jack O'Donoghue (C)
7. John Hodnett
8. Alex Kendellen.

Replacements:
16. Niall Scannell
17. Josh Wycherley
18. Roman Salanoa
19. Evan O'Connell
20. Cian Hurley
21. Neil Cronin
22. Ben Healy
23. Simon Zebo

Quite thin but I still think we can get a result here. If 18 year old O'Connell gets on he will be the youngest player to represent Munster at the senior level, beating out Ruadhan Quinn who set it earlier this season. He's also Paul O'Connels nephew

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

Scarlets: Johnny McNicholl; Tom Rogers, Steff Evans, Jonathan Davies (capt), Ryan Conbeer; Dan Jones, Gareth Davies; Steff Thomas, Daf Hughes, Harri O'Connor, Jac Price, Tom Price, Aaron Shingler, Dan Thomas, Sione Kalamafoni.

Replacements: Shaun Evans, Kemsley Mathias, WillGriff John, Morgan Jones, Iwan Shenton, Archie Hughes, Rhys Patchell, Corey Baldwin.

Leinster: Chris Cosgrave; Rob Russell, Liam Turner, Charlie Ngatai, Dave Kearney; Ross Byrne, Luke McGrath; Ed Byrne, John McKee, Thomas Clarkson, Ross Molony, Jason Jenkins, Rhys Ruddock (capt), Scott Penny, Max Deegan.

Replacements: Tadgh McElroy, Michael Milne, Vakhtang Abdaladze, Brian Deeny, Martin Moloney, Nick McCarthy, Charlie Tector, Ben Brownlee

Referee: Andrea Piardi (FIR)

Assistant referees: Adam Jones & Simon Mills (WRU)

TMO: Matteo Liperini (FIR)

That Scarlets side is none too shabby, but given how they have been this season and the fact it is Leinster they are facing, I don't rate their chances too highly either.

Is Patchell 3rd choice now? I was going to watch this but although Jones is okay, he is no Patchell and Scarlets need to be firing on all cylinders to stand a chance here.

 

[dullonien]

Not sure why Patchell isn't starting this. Dan Jones is a very ordinary player!

As for Ospreys, Rhys Henry being a professional rugby player is tragic, he's plain fat and although only 24, he looks like he's in his mid 30's and hanging on until retirement.

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

Cardiff Rugby: Ben Thomas; Jason Harries, Mason Grady, Max Llewellyn, Theo Cabango; Jarrod Evans, Lloyd Williams; Rhys Carré, Kirby Myhill, Dmitri Arhip, Josh Turnbull (capt.), Rory Thornton, James Botham, Thomas Young, James Ratti

Replacements: Liam Belcher, Corey Domachowski, Will Davies-King, Teddy Williams, Gwilym Bradley, Ellis Bevan, Aled Summerhill, Cameron Winnett

Edinburgh: Henry Immelman; Emiliano Boffelli, Matt Currie, Chris Dean, Wes Goosen; Charlie Savala, Charlie Shiel; Boan Venter, Adam McBurney, Luan de Bruin Pierce Phillips, Jamie Hodgson, Ben Muncaster, Luke Crosbie (capt), Viliame Mata.

Replacements: Patrick Harrison, Nick Auterac, Angus Williams, Marshall Sykes, Connor Boyle, Henry Pyrgos, Jaco van der Walt, Jack Blain.

Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi (FIR)

Assistant referees: Mike English & Lewis Harrison (WRU)

TMO: Stefano Roscini (FIR)

Cardiff look the stronger of the two sides, but you never know. Still, I think they will win, as they have been building up quite well lately.

I have sympathies for Edinburgh but I'd love sides that release players early for out of test window internationals (and other things) to lose, lose, lose. Allez les (Cardiff) Blues.

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

Yet another try from Leinster from a grubber without playing advantage. This time with the kick by a winger rather than centre. Lovely ambition and technique on the kick, if a bit fortunate with the outcome.

There isn't much love for Leo Cullen it seems but for a sport where people tall about the importance of continuity of combinations he can get excellent consistency of performance from wildly changing selections from week to week. I'm not sure who is a better coach in the URC (Ulster, Stormers?). Even though he has an embarassment of riches I rate Cullen.

 

[The Seeker]

Glasgow crushed Benetton, 37-0. We Are Warriors!

 

[dullonien]

Scarlets are ******* useless, getting battered by a bunch of kids ar home! Leinsterbhave played ok in patches, some clinical play, but the amount of mistakes, unforced penalties etc. is amateur hour from Scarlets. Dan Jones was predictably crap, must have given 4+ pens away for offside!

 

[Tooting Carmen]

And so the Scarlets' dreadful season continues. Whatever happened to their passing and running skills?

 

[dullonien]

And so the Scarlets' dreadful season continues. Whatever happened to their passing and running skills?

I think that's the sign of a side low on confidence.

Not sure Peel is up to it tbh, another Welsh coach thrown in at the deep end to drown. How many times do we need to see it happen - Tandy & Mark Jones almost destroyed their careers by being promoted to head coach before they were ready, looks like Peel might have done the same!