URC 2025/26 - Round 17

[Demfad]

This is pretty bang on, Cardiff have 4 seasons straight of good starts and 9th / 10th finishes. Noone seems to understand at Cardiff that tight 5s win games, they just keep shipping them out and replacing them with kids and semi pros...

Connaught deserve to travel to Glasgow to lose in the knockouts.

As a side, odd year for the Irish teams, Ulster have gone backwards, despite an aeful and unlucky last season, as has Munster, Connaught have regrouped but Leinsters dominance has gone. Are we seeing the national team having to manage elder players more to the detriment of the clubs? Is it a bot of a lions hangover?

Cardiff could and should be top 8 year on year by keeping a strong pack as you say.

Leinster still dominant in Ireland despite an early loss to Munster which means that getting 4 in the top 8 would be an enormously positive reflection on the other 3. Ulster and Connacht have to ship two losses to Leinster year on year.
Connacht are looking good for next year, Ulster too and Munster have the makings of a strong team.
Leinster will be strong in a world cup year but 2027-2028 might be a reckoning of sorts for them with of few heavy weight retirements. Half back depth may be at issue also. McGrath will be a big loss at scrum half.

 

[Tooting Carmen]

I hope Cardiff hold on to top eight. I attended Ospreys v Scarlets - the quality and passion varied during the match.

 

[saulan]

A question to Ulster fans - What is going on with the Werner Kok contract? Every time I watch Ulster games he plays out of his skin both in the grunt work as well as still having his pace and strength. Then this weekend he also played a key role in the Stormers result. I see he might be in the running for Ulster player of the season... What's the reason for him likely being offloaded? Needing to bring in another foreign player to cover a weaker position and therefore sacrificing Kok?

 

[munstermuffin]

A question to Ulster fans - What is going on with the Werner Kok contract? Every time I watch Ulster games he plays out of his skin both in the grunt work as well as still having his pace and strength. Then this weekend he also played a key role in the Stormers result. I see he might be in the running for Ulster player of the season... What's the reason for him likely being offloaded? Needing to bring in another foreign player to cover a weaker position and therefore sacrificing Kok?

Not an Ulster fan but looking likely he is returning home. Nearly sure I saw the Sharks mentioned. Agreed though he is a huge player for them.

 

[saulan]

Not an Ulster fan but looking likely he is returning home. Nearly sure I saw the Sharks mentioned. Agreed though he is a huge player for them.

There is definitely talk of the Sharks being interested in taking him back, but more in a - he has to leave Ulster and we are happy to have him rather than a - We are going to buy him out of Ulster to get him back. Sharks would be lucky to have him. I'd gladly have him back at the Stormers... I think wing is a position where we are lacking depth

 

[munstermuffin]

There is definitely talk of the Sharks being interested in taking him back, but more in a - he has to leave Ulster and we are happy to have him rather than a - We are going to buy him out of Ulster to get him back. Sharks would be lucky to have him. I'd gladly have him back at the Stormers... I think wing is a position where we are lacking depth

I think it may be a case of they have greater need for NIQ spot elsewhere. Not fully sure