URC Round 7

So this weekend is round 7 and the last round before the European games. There has been a change to schedule with some of the South African derbies due to be played later in season being moved forward to this weekend.

Due to the ongoing covid situations this match card below is very much subject to change.

All games on Premier Sports, SuperSport and URC TV and kick offs are UK/Ireland time

Friday 03/12/2021

Cell C Sharks v Vodacom Bulls- 17:00
Edinburgh v Benetton-  19.35-  Mediaset
Leinster v Connacht- 19.45- TG4

Saturday 04/12/2021

DHL Stormers v Emirates Lions- 15:00
Ospreys Rugby v Ulster Rugby- 15.00
Glasgow Warriors v Dragons Rugby- 19.35

Things can only get better for Dragons, I hope

I dunno, Risca. They can get a lot, lot worse

I'm still haunted by the 0-50 Sunday home thrashing by Glasgow a number of years ago!

The Oracle wrote:I dunno, Risca.  They can get a lot, lot worse

I'm still haunted by the 0-50 Sunday home thrashing by Glasgow a number of years ago!

I am not sure we do 50-nil thrashings any more

That’s certainly good news!

The Oracle wrote:I dunno, Risca.  They can get a lot, lot worse

I'm still haunted by the 0-50 Sunday home thrashing by Glasgow a number of years ago!

Oh heck. Good point.

Another nice fixture to kick off the weekend;

Leinster: Hugo Keenan; Jordan Larmour, Garry Ringrose, Robbie Henshaw, James Lowe; Harry Byrne Luke McGrath (capt); Cian Healy, Dan Sheehan, Michael Alaalatoa; Ryan Baird, Devin Toner; Rhys Ruddock, Josh van der Flier, Caelan Doris.

Replacements: Rónan Kelleher, Andrew Porter, Vakh Abdaladze, Josh Murphy, Max Deegan, Nick McCarthy, Ross Byrne, Tommy O'Brien.

Connacht: Oran McNulty; Alex Wootton, Sammy Arnold, Peter Robb, Mack Hansen; Jack Carty (capt), Kieran Marmion; Matthew Burke, Dave Heffernan, Finlay Bealham; Oisín Dowling, Ultan Dillane; Eoghan Masterson, Conor Oliver, Jarrad Butler.

Replacements: Shane Delahunt, Jordan Duggan, Jack Aungier, Leva Fifita, Cian Prendergast, Caolin Blade, Conor Fitzgerald, Tom Farrell.

Dragons: Jordan Williams; Jonah Holmes, Aneurin Owen, Jamie Roberts, Rio Dyer; Sam Davies, Dan Babos; Aki Seiuli, Ellis Shipp, Leon Brown, WIll Rowlands, Joe Maksymiw, Harrie Keddie (capt), Ollie Griffiths, Aaron Wainwright.

Replacements: James Benjamin, Josh Reynolds, Mesake Doge, Joe Davies, Huw Taylor, Tavis Knoyle, Josh Lewis, Adam Warren.


Dragons bolstered by some internationals returning to the starting line up (Brown, Rowlands and Wainwright). Think the bench looks a little weak in parts again, although I prefer our replacement props this week. The hooker is a converted open side flanker (flanker-centre-hooker). A fairly inexperienced 9 might put a bit of pressure on Davies. Hopefully we use Roberts a lot better this week.

Connacht backing up their interpro performances. Leinster under the cosh losing 7-12 at the RDS.

Ringrose gets in for another after lovely link play between backs and forwards.

Back in the lead 14-12.

Sickener for Connacht - lost their concentration and some deft passing gets to Sheehan who goes over on the right wing.
19-12 at halftime.

What a try by Sheehan!
Leinster 19 - 12 Connacht

Sharks beat Bulls 30-16

Old Man wrote:Sharks beat Bulls 30-16

Saw that OM. Deserved win by the looks of it.

And no sooner does the second half kick off than Leinster are over for the bonus point try after a perfect backline move with Larmour on the end of it.
26-12.

Connacht getting the backlash now. Doris gets over after a series of punishing drives.

33-12.

FT. 47-19.

Connacht never give up. But outclassed in the second half.

Edinburgh with a bonus point win over Benetton move up to second in the table. Going well.

Lions neat Stormers 37-19, with bonus point for tries

That was a really poor game from Ulster, bad decisions being made too often, scrum was destroyed and a complete inability to put points on the board during the long periods of posession at the start of either half.

Credit Ospreys for a dominant scrum and good defence in that game as well as their ability to get the points when they did have attacks.

Old Man wrote:Lions neat Stormers 37-19, with bonus point for tries

That result was a bit of a surprise.  Going off the other results picking up away win are very important.  They got plenty cards in that game but managed to keep going.  Finished last in the Currie Cup  but are top of the SA conference.

Well a different Glasgow team turned up this week.

Very comfortable winners against the Dragons.

Not sure what else I can add.

Didn’t get to watch it, as I was away. Sounds like it was very poor. More and more supporters are starting to question Dean Ryan now, which isn’t great.

Hear Babos had a poor game. Bringing on Knoyle isn’t a great option then either. We desperately need Rhodri and Bertranou back. I may watch it later, so I can make my own mind up, but it’s probably not worth it (albeit I would benefit from having some use out of my premier subscription).

Sharks 30 - 16 Bulls
Edinburgh 24 - 10 Benetton
Leinster 47 - 19 Connacht
Ospreys 19 - 13 Ulster
Stormers 19 - 37 Lions
Glasgow Warriors 33 - 14 Dragons

One victory for a team on the road.
1 Leinster 7 29
2 Edinburgh 7 28
3 Ulster 7 25
4 Ospreys 7 21
5 Glasgow 7 21
6 Munster 5 19
7 Connacht 7 16
8 Benetton 7 16
9 Cardiff Rugby 5 14
10 Lions 5 11
11 Scarlets 5 11
12 Sharks 5 9
13 Dragons 7 9
14 Stormers 5 7
15 Bulls 5 5
16 Zebre 5 1

I suspect 45 log points will be the requirement to make the top eight

thebandwagonsociety wrote:Sharks 30 - 16 Bulls
Edinburgh 24 - 10 Benetton
Leinster 47 - 19 Connacht
Ospreys 19 - 13 Ulster
Stormers 19 - 37 Lions
Glasgow Warriors 33 - 14 Dragons

One victory for a team on the road.
1 Leinster 7 29
2 Edinburgh 7 28
3 Ulster 7 25
4 Ospreys 7 21
5 Glasgow 7 21
6 Munster 5 19
7 Connacht 7 16
8 Benetton 7 16
9 Cardiff Rugby 5 14
10 Lions 5 11
11 Scarlets 5 11
12 Sharks 5 9
13 Dragons 7 9
14 Stormers 5 7
15 Bulls 5 5
16 Zebre 5 1

From the table it looks like good for Edinbrugh but they haven't faced any of the bigger teams.  But they have an ability to get the BP and will only be disappointed they didnt see out the reverse game v Italy.
Ospreys and Ulster will be disappointed with the loss over the last two weeks and have given ground to Munster. Ospreys though seem to have a plan to turn over the bigger teams at home.
Glasgow has played Ulster, Leinster and Sharks.their next 3 games makes or breaks them as they play the 1872 and Os at home.
Lions will be pleased with their work so far especially after the Currie Cup.  They must be eyeing a sneak into 8th though it's compeditive.
Rest of the teams will be dissaapointed with their results.

And shout to the Dragons having all their wins come away from home.  I hope Europe builds back some confidence because they really seem to have fallen off compared to the start. Hard to see wins coming except v Cardiff and Zebre isn't till the end of April which is difficult problem for Ryan.

Now we know for sure that the issue with Wales' set piece and forward play is down to Pivac and Humphries! Why on earth Nicky Smith isn't picked ahead of Rhodri Jones for Wales I do not know. Hopefully he gets in next time and Parry is injury-free for the remainder of the season.

When does Tom Botha become WQ? He is 31 now, and if captured within the next couple years he could provide us with a solid option for a brief period. On form the only TH he isn't better than is Francis.

I think he’s WQ now. I’m sure I’ve seen Os fans talk about it and WOL did a clickbait too.