URC 24/ 25: Round 15

[Leonormous Boozer]

https://www.unitedrugby.com/match-centre/2024-25/15
Some tasty ties this week. @unrated 's breakdown is great to figure out which but Edinburgh v Sharks, Stormers v Connacht, Munster v Bulls and Leinster v Ulster all have big significance for both sides.

 

[big ginger 8]

TG4 will be the exclusive Irish provider for free to air URC matches next year.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Putting the life savings on Connacht for the Irish shield.

 

[saulan]

Putting the life savings on Connacht for the Irish shield.

That’s a Connacht team with a number of key injuries in midfield vs a Stormers team getting a lot of players back from injury and playing home for the first time since mid-Feb.

Should be a good round though. Tonight’s game should be entertaining. Sharks have gotten quite a few of their big names back from injury and into the team… but they’re an SA team playing in Europe and it’s a decent Edinburgh team that just beat the Bulls, so should be a good watch.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

That's a Connacht team with a number of key injuries in midfield vs a Stormers team getting a lot of players back from injury and playing home for the first time since mid-Feb.

Should be a good round though. Tonight's game should be entertaining. Sharks have gotten quite a few of their big names back from injury and into the team… but they're an SA team playing in Europe and it's a decent Edinburgh team that just beat the Bulls, so should be a good watch.

Oh I meant for the divisional shield next year haha in response to BG8. TG4 is the Irish speaking TV channel and Connacht is the region in Ireland with the most concentrated (and probably most populous) Irish speaking population.

I think their competitive season will end this week.

 

[Seeker]

Look for Glasgow to punish Zebre. The Warriors could use a big win after getting blown out by Leinster last week.

 

[saulan]

Front row feels a little weak, but otherwise a pretty strong Stormers side for tomorrow. We should have full chaos attack going with Gelant, SFM and Willemse all on the field.

 

[saulan]

And the Sharks as expected are going into the Edinburgh game looking very strong on paper.

 

[saulan]

Sharks have started well and looking sharp on defense, but haven’t got their attack clicking yet. Game still feels quite stop start with basic mistakes

 

[saulan]

Two tries down the same wing again. Mapimpi trying to go inside or trying to get the intercept and it has not worked out well.

 

[saulan]

I’ve said it before, but I do feel for Sharks fans at the moment. This team should be performing way better than they have been the last three years. That’s 12 Springboks in the team and so unstructured and poor. It’s like supporting 2010-2014 Stormers. Look great on paper, but just can’t get things across the line (although the main issue we had back then was an inability to score points in the AC days of no real attacking coaching)

 

[ChicagoKid]

Scottish teams try to act tough vs. South African teams and then they crumble.

 

[ChicagoKid]

I've said it before, but I do feel for Sharks fans at the moment. This team should be performing way better than they have been the last three years. That's 12 Springboks in the team and so unstructured and poor. It's like supporting 2010-2014 Stormers. Look great on paper, but just can't get things across the line (although the main issue we had back then was an inability to score points in the AC days of no real attacking coaching)

The Bulls, Sharks, and Lions all have the exact same problem: No fly-half. They either have a flyhalf or a 12 playing 10 and it doesn’t work.

There is a reason why the Bulls just paid a king’s ransom to get Pollard. No 10 = No championships.

 

[saulan]

Sharks had that dragged across the line for them by a couple of players, mainly Esterhuysen. Ox did well also and Masuku did some positive things on attack to finish things off. You would’ve expected them to be better aerially with their back 3 though. Etzebeth had some great moments mixed with some brain fade ones. Sad to also see Fassi get injured on his first game back.

They’d definitely take that though. Any win away from SA in the crunch period is super important.

 

[saulan]

@TRF_Olyy - something for you to look forward to (unfortunately) for next season (from following the Lions game)

 

[saulan]

Man SFM is having a monster of a game. Hat trick after 28 minutes and making so much out of nowhere.

 

[pagliaccio_euforico]

Sharks coach thinks he can roll that team out there and win, it works most the time but I don't see them beating similarly talented teams.

 

[big ginger 8]

Stupid that something like that can happen right in front of the ref, him wave play on and then call it back when the try is scored.

Very Connacht way for things to happen.

 

[saulan]

Stormers wing defense was terrible in that game, we got carried by our flashy rugby in the first half (mainly SFM), but it just consistently felt like there were easy holes for Connacht to run through.

The ref was calling those obstructions in person all game, he was right there again and should’ve picked that one up rather than losing the last 2 minutes and it being so painful for the Connacht side.

Credit to the Connacht side, they did way better than I expected them to do.

Lions were terrible today and haven’t been the same since February, so I think Connacht stand a good chance in the Highveld.

 

[saulan]

Lol, Dobson is absolutely ******, gave the interview berating the team and because of the poor cross content coverage when it's a SuperSport game, they showed the first 3 seconds of him speaking to Jean De Villiers casually… which was "F*** that was shocking."

That team is about to be destroyed in a post-game locker room chat

 

[Bluemoon]

Good win for Cardiff, good to see us find our confidence with finishing again. Sheedy is going to end up out undoing this season at some point, if he hasn’t already in some of our other games. Going to be a big game against Munster next Friday at the arms park.

As for dragons, they’ve made some good signings for next season, but Angus OBrien just continues to be an Achilles heel for them at ten and when he’s at fullback. They are getting on the front foot a lot in this game with the scarlets but the control just isn’t there at the moment.

 

[ChicagoKid]

The Bulls will win a championship with Pollard. It’s shocking how Johan, Embrose, Burger, Williams, and the backup flyhalf have ZERO composure.

Match that pack with Pollard/Le Roux and you’re getting silverware.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

The Bulls will win a championship with Pollard. It's shocking how Johan, Embrose, Burger, Williams, and the backup flyhalf have ZERO composure.

Match that pack with Pollard/Le Roux and you're getting silverware.

 

[ChicagoKid]

View attachment 23356

Beautiful eyebrows. The saying is true: Irish, good hair, bad skin.

 

[big ginger 8]

I ******* love TOB.

 

[Seeker]

Final: Glasgow 14 Zebre 6

Closer than I expected, but it's a Warriors win.

 

[Tooting Carmen]

Congratulations to Cardiff and Scarlets. Looks like the Ospreys' run-in in Europe has exhausted and literally injured them. As for the Dragons, they can be competitive but ultimately don't quite cut it. Could Cardiff be dark horses to win the league?

 

[irisht]

I ******* love TOB.

A Leinster wing with real pace.

 

[IT157]

Congratulations to Cardiff and Scarlets. Looks like the Ospreys' run-in in Europe has exhausted and literally injured them. As for the Dragons, they can be competitive but ultimately don't quite cut it. Could Cardiff be dark horses to win the league?

If by win the league, you mean make the top 8, then yes.

 

[Tooting Carmen]

If by win the league, you mean make the top 8, then yes.

But once they make the top eight, they could win all the knockout matches.