URC 2023/24

AdamD

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121931745#Comment_121931745

Both of whom id back for an Ireland squad tbf, not that it was a particularly good Munster showing. I'd personally disagree with the approach we have taken at both 7 and 15 where we seem to have invested zero time in specialised replacements.

StevenToast

A clean sweep for the South Africans in this round...

What an addition to the league they have been....

Jump_In_Jack

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121932308#Comment_121932308

Without doubt a welcome addition.

But, Sharks have been dire all season. Bulls have been consistent but Stormers and Lions seem to have been up and down. They seem to have issues with turning up week in week out. Perhaps the Currie Cup affects their squads, perhaps their summer coming mid-season affects them physically, and disrupts their training momentum, and perhaps their travel schedule is arduous. Not sure there’s a way to resolve those issues. At least they seem to be able to peak towards the tail end of the season.

StevenToast

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121932353#Comment_121932353

How shìt would the league be without them?!!

The unknown factor with them adds abit of spice to it all....

No one up here could have predicted the Lions rocking up to the Sportsground and handing out a serious spanking to Connacht....with 14men!

Happyhouse22

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121932393#Comment_121932393

I think the unpredictability is key.

if they were just consistently good that would be boring, sure it would up the standard of the league but just losing to them all the time would be less enjoyable than the competition previously.

Ift hey we’re **** that would be ****.

But the way it is now… just ideal , unpredictable, exciting, competitive .

Neil3030

Some great games lined up next week

1st v 2nd

5th v 7th

10th v 9th

15th v 16th

Digifriendly

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121935739#Comment_121935739

What time zones are those matches listed in or is it an April Fool a week early? 😄😃

sydthebeat

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121935739#Comment_121935739

12:35?

Where are you in the world?

sprucemoose

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121936044#Comment_121936044

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121937057#Comment_121937057

looks to be pacific standard time

Burkie1203

Ospreys ripping the Lions apart

Dillonb3

Ospreys climb into playoff spot after that win.

Sharks look to be a threat again now that all their Springboks are back. They might have a say in who makes playoff

bingobango12

Standard is poor but entertaining game on Limerick for a 3-0 half time score line.

Jump_In_Jack

Good season so far, three teams top of the table keeping it interesting with regards to home quarters/semis.
Bit of a contest between next couple of teams for 4th spot for a home quarter.
Next four teams are very close vying for 3 spots, with two more teams behind that group that could potentially sneak up the table.
Cardiff and Sharks are down the table but both are finding form and could upset a few teams’ plans.
Scarlets, Dragons and Zebre have nothing to play for now but there's the hope they could at least keep their matches competitive to the end.

All in all, there's a lot of interesting situations developing down through the table.

For the Irish sides, I think Leinster have a great chance of topping the table, and Munster should be able to hold on to 4th place.
Ulster should do enough to get to the playoffs, but I think Connacht will finish 10th unless they can pull of an upset against Munster or Leinster in which case playoffs would be possible.

Podge_irl

Ospreys up 10 against the Stormers with 15 to go. Highly impressive stuff and a great fillup for Welsh rugby if they can get this over the line.

Dillonb3

Some result for Ospreys against full strength Stormers

Podge_irl

Leinster
Glasgow
Munster
Bulls
Stormers
Lions
Ospreys
Benetton

Current guess for the final 8, but there is a lot of variability there. Could genuinely see Leinster as low as 5th

StevenToast

Well done to the Ospreys today...Cardiff arent complete muck anymore either....imagine how good the league would be if the welsh were consistently competitive....

phog

I'm two minds about interviewing refs immediately after a game but this is great by TG4

https://twitter.com/SportTG4/status/1781786679302361425?t=SrvOkuYS36qIFOFOkJn_Hw&s=19

Rugbymad2020

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122043915#Comment_122043915

no neethling,willemse,jantjies,dweba,zas,fourie ,moerat,van heerden.willemse and van heerden were on the bench tho but still missing a lot of first team players

jacothelad

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121916335#Comment_121916335

I'd be amazed if Ulster came within 20 points of Leinster's 2nds. They have lost their shape, energy and really also seem to have found a brain freeze. Every now and again in a game you can see what they could do and then one of them will chuck the ball back over his head in hope. Or one will drop the ball carelessly or throw a pass at a teammate's head or ankles or get isolated etc. There is no game intelligence. Too much is panic driven rather than by game nous. These are things you do not see Leinster or Glasgow do……and the fact that Ulster haven't got a 10 worth the shirt really is the dog turd on the cake. Poor Richie…..poisoned chalice indeed.

Individually there are very good players in the squad but as yet they don't make a team.

Dubinusa

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122046315#Comment_122046315

They won in Dublin! Lol

Red Silurian

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122044561#Comment_122044561

Personally I think it's a good idea. Plenty of decisions refs make on the pitch that we all question, it would be good to hear how they came to the decisions

Jump_In_Jack

Marcus Horan is a very friendly interviewer, he could interview anyone after a match because he is just asking simple questions in a nice way, and puts people at ease, he doesn't ever seem to focus on negatives like other people might.