URC Round 4

Round 4 already and some great games so far. Few of the South African teams getting on the board last weekend so let’s see if they continue that into this week.

Round fixtures (all kick offs BST)

FRIDAY, 15th OCTOBER 2021

Ulster v Emirates Lions- 19.35- BBC NI, RTÉ 2, Premier Sports 1, SuperSport
Dragons v DHL Stormers- 19.35- BBC Wales, SuperSport, Premier Sports 2, SuperSport

SATURDAY, 16th OCTOBER 2021

Zebre v Glasgow Warriors- 13.00- Mediaset, Premier Sports 1
Benetton v Ospreys- 15.05- Mediaset, S4C, TG4, Premier Sports 1
Leinster v Scarlets- 17.15- TG4, S4C, Premier Sports 2
Edinburgh v Vodacom Bulls- 17.15- Premier Sports 1, SuperSport
Munster v Connacht-19.35- RTÉ 2, Premier Sports 2
Cardiff v Cell C Sharks- 19:35- S4C, Premier Sports 1, SuperSport

Thanks again Neil. Looking forward to Dragons v Stormers. Was going, but now self isolating. Hope it gets a good crowd to show Brok Harris some appreciation. Although obviously the love of the supporters was never in doubt, it’s more the love of the board etc

Suspect I’ll watch all of the Welsh teams, to be honest.

Neilthom, all the URC matches are on Supersport mate.

My thinking for this weekend. I wouldn't put money on those choices.

FRIDAY, 15th OCTOBER 2021

Ulster v Emirates Lions- 19.35- BBC NI, RTÉ 2, Premier Sports 1, SuperSport
Dragons v DHL Stormers- 19.35- BBC Wales, SuperSport, Premier Sports 2, SuperSport

SATURDAY, 16th OCTOBER 2021

Zebre v Glasgow Warriors- 13.00- Mediaset, Premier Sports 1
Benetton v Ospreys- 15.05- Mediaset, S4C, TG4, Premier Sports 1
Leinster v Scarlets- 17.15- TG4, S4C, Premier Sports 2
Edinburgh v Vodacom Bulls- 17.15- Premier Sports 1, SuperSport
Munster v Connacht-19.35- RTÉ 2, Premier Sports 2
Cardiff v Cell C Sharks- 19:35- S4C, Premier Sports 1, SuperSport

Dragons played well last weekend didn't they?

Old Man wrote:Dragons played well last weekend didn't they?

Yeah they have a good pack this season. Its a hard call but I think the SA teams will be a bit wiser again at the weekend.

Old Man wrote:Dragons played well last weekend didn't they?

Yeah, but traditionally we’re the worst of the Welsh regions (and that’s saying something!).  We’re always around the bottom of the league.  We’ve had a good start (for us).  Two losses and a win, but close losses against strong opposition (e.g. Leinster).  We seem to have a bit more of a steely edge and better defence so far.  However.......I’m sure I’m not the only Dragons fan on here that’s just waiting for the inevitable implosion and everything unravelling in a dramatic way!  I assumed it would be us to be the first ones out of the welsh teams to lose to an SA side, so glad the other teams did that before us!

Or to put it another way - after years and years of abject failure I’m never confident that we can do much in the league

Old Man wrote:Neilthom, all the URC matches are on Supersport mate.

Cheers Old man, good to know for future rounds

Here are my guesses


Ulster v Emirates Lions-
Ulster to win.  Lions defence is to porous for the Ulster attack.  Lions strenght has been their pack but feel Ulster can negate it.
Dragons v DHL Stormers
Dragons should win this but face a mental challange as they would be seen as favourites.  They weren't expected to get much from the first 3 games so added pressure now that they are especially in front of their fans.  If it's tight I think Stormers win but if Dragons build a lead of 10 they win.


Zebre v Glasgow Warriors
Glasgow to win in a high scoring game. Maybe TB for Zebre
Benetton v Ospreys
I feel Benetton will win this in a sub 20 points each game with it being pack dominated. If it comes down to the backs then Benetton could run away with it but not likely.
Leinster v Scarlets
Leinster to win but Scarlets to keep it tight first half as they but in an effort.
Edinburgh v Vodacom Bulls
Feel Bulls will take this one with Edinbugh getting a LBP.
Munster v Connacht
Munster to win in a tight came with 3 yellow cards and ref asking the two captains to control players at least twice.
Cardiff v Cell C Sharks
Same as last week.  Sharks to win.  Expect a tight physical game plan after the Bulls showing last week that it exposes Cardiff's weakness.

News Clip

Pierre Schoeman talks about playing the Bulls and hoping to play against the Springboks

News Clip

South African woman referee Aimee Barrett Theron making her debut as referee for match Benetton vs Ospreys in the URC

That should have been a try, thats a criminal knock on by McCann when he would have been in

Lions very impressive at half time here, a lot of fight there, Ulster hasn't quite clicked in attack so could be doing better but very tight at half time

Thats a bad looking leg injury for Will Adisson, going to be stretchered off, out of a freak moment too, I feel so bad for the guy, he just cannot stay injury free

How did the lions not get a penalty there?

Hell. The referee watched as the isolted player was holding on, and did nothing, this seriously needs to be sorted

two ulster men go down at the ruck, one clears from the side. No penalty.

It seems the European teams can do no wrong in the referees eyes

Good win for Ulster getting the bonus point, Lions impressive, very energetic in defence although they faded a bit in the last 20 mins. Ulster were not amazing but right now its all about getting these wins while we have so many injuries, hopefully get some of those players back soon

Well done Stormers. Hard work.

Stormers will almost be happy, I would think 8 points from their tour would have been their target considering they still have their Boks to come back.

They can look forward to settling now and push for some home wins. Still not out of it for the play offs

Definitely still in with a shout of the playoffs, only 4 games into the season yet and no home games for any South African team yet so a lot could change.

I was jumping between the Lions and Stormers matches so didn't see everything, saw  this video this morning, unbelievable and downright incompetent for the referee and assistant referees to simply ignore a player obviously injured and out of it and not stop the game

I never actually seen that live but that should have been stopped, was he taken off after that? I don't remember any subs but can't find anywhere to check, he definitely should have been subbed off after that one too

Didn't see the incident

Checked online commentary of the match, Rass was replaced in the 37th minute.

Glasgow making slightly hard work of it but just score their second try.

Pretty turgid game so far, both sides struggling to string attacks together, expect some changes to the side sooner rather than latter in the second half

On the head injury last night.  Surely the the TMO should have been all over that to be checking signs of HIA.

Not a great look.  Normally if the player looks slow to get up after a head knock the ref stops the game or gets one of the AR to check on his progress. The moment that blood was seen or as soon as he stood up it should have been stopped.

Was it a case of white line fever from the ref and if it had been on halfway he would have stopped it.

Another win for Glasgow, but nothing like the quality of rugby we saw from them a few games back.

Pretty awful really, but I guess we will take the points.

Brendan wrote:On the head injury last night.  Surely the the TMO should have been all over that to be checking signs of HIA.

Not a great look.  Normally if the player looks slow to get up after a head knock the ref stops the game or gets one of the AR to check on his progress.  The moment that blood was seen or as soon as he stood up it should have been stopped.

Was it a case of white line fever from the ref and if it had been on halfway he would have stopped it.

The referee should be hauled over the coals for that, but the Assistant referees as well, it was clear that Manuel Rass was completely dazed and out of it by the way he first just sat there and then in the manner he just ambled unsure on his feet.

It is impossible for none of them to have realised what happened.

Benetton are playing some nice rugby here.

Ospreys coming back. Benetton plays too deep from inside their half, turnove against them becomes danger ball for them

Bennetton should have recieved a penalty there, Ospreys forward changing lanes and pushing player at the 77 minute mark.

I agree, that definitely went the wrong way. If it had been the Benetton player fault it should have been a red!

Was a good game though, I thought Amee had a good performance, but that penalty to Ospreys have spoilt an otherwise good officating performance from her.

Ospreys lucky to get away with that one, draw probably would have been fair result.

yep

So you can push a player into a guy competing in the air and YOU get the penalty?!? Wtf is happening to rugby.

I think the emphasis of player safety to the player in the air, or player in posssession has blinded common sense.

You could see the referee didn't even consider the changing of lanes and push as illegal.

To add to that, this incident just proves how dangerous it is when a player colliding into a player in the air that does not have control over his body is

Old Man wrote:I think the emphasis of player safety to the player in the air, or player in posssession has blinded common sense.

You could see the referee didn't even consider the changing of lanes and push as illegal.

If its player safety than the Ospreys player needs to penalised, as pushing a player into somebody jumping is one of the most dangerous things you can do imo. World rugby needs to look at this immediately.

Old Man wrote:I think the emphasis of player safety to the player in the air, or player in posssession has blinded common sense.

You could see the referee didn't even consider the changing of lanes and push as illegal.

Well she did, but only as mitigation to stop him getting a card, probably red.

What she did not do was follow that logical process through and take it back to the first foul.


As you say, when someone gets taken out in the air, someone on the other side always has to be at fault, even if they are not!

Benetton unlucky but 2pts moves them up to 10pt.

Ospreys lineout was poor to put it mildly.

Fights for 8th will be a great side show this year as everyone seems to be beating everyone. Obviously excluding Munster, Ulster and Leinster and the mighty Zebre (who should have got a LBP)

BigGee wrote:

Old Man wrote:I think the emphasis of player safety to the player in the air, or player in posssession has blinded common sense.

You could see the referee didn't even consider the changing of lanes and push as illegal.

Well she did, but only as mitigation to stop him getting a card, probably red.

What she did not do was follow that logical process through and take it back to the first foul.


As you say, when someone gets taken out in the air, someone on the other side always has to be at fault, even if they are not!

Exactly

I'm guessing everyone on here didn't see the wide angle which showed no change of line by Botha. Benetton extremely lucky to not get a red card, but the better team held on to win in the end. After a horror start it was good to see a pretty much second side get the win out there.

LeinsterFan4life wrote:

Old Man wrote:I think the emphasis of player safety to the player in the air, or player in posssession has blinded common sense.

You could see the referee didn't even consider the changing of lanes and push as illegal.

If its player safety than the Ospreys player needs to penalised, as pushing a player into somebody jumping is one of the most dangerous things you can do imo. World rugby needs to look at this immediately.

While it would be harsh I think the player who pushes the player into someone else should get consequence of what the pushed player did.  In this case the Ospreys player should have got at a yellow.  It doesn't take much for a player to take a boot to the face when they are pushed at someone.

Filo8 wrote:I'm guessing everyone on here didn't see the wide angle which showed no change of line by Botha. Benetton extremely lucky to not get a red card, but the better team held on to win in the end. After a horror start it was good to see a pretty much second side get the win out there.

If you call being 20pts ahead and just about get over the line a good win fair enough. Ospreys have been poor for the most part but will not do well against the better teams.

Filo8 wrote:I'm guessing everyone on here didn't see the wide angle which showed no change of line by Botha. Benetton extremely lucky to not get a red card, but the better team held on to win in the end. After a horror start it was good to see a pretty much second side get the win out there.

Whatch the hips of the Ospreys player. If that isn't changing line I don't know what is.

Hard to say who the better team was in that match.