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URC 2024/25

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Comments

  • #482
    OldRio
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,530 ✭✭✭OldRio


    All this chatter about who is to blame for the lack of Irish teams qualifying for the Champions Cup are forgetting one thing.

    The league is much stronger. The SA teams have pushed the standard higher. It's much more difficult to get into the top 8.



  • #483
    sydthebeat
    Subscribers Posts: 43,028 ✭✭✭✭sydthebeat


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123439965#Comment_123439965

    100%

    People have very short memories.

    Leinster didnt even make the play offs in 2014/15, munster failed in 2015/16 and Ulster didnt in 2016/17 or even in 2017/18 when it was expanded to 16 teams.

    It was only in the 18/19 season did the 4 irish provinces become competitive with all making the play offs, mainly due to the cheetahs being half decent in SA and taking points off the rest of the teams there, but not being strong enough to challenge for the title.

    Now we have possibly 3 south africa teams who could be title contenders, especially now that the sharks have finally gotten their sh!t together.

    fans were crying out for competitiveness in the Pro XX by its end times, now they have it.



  • #484
    Ciaran
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 984 ✭✭✭Ciaran


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123440078#Comment_123440078

    Munster's situation, at worst, is similar to those years where teams finished 5th or 6th and missed qualifying for the semi-finals, and there are mitigating circumstances with the coaching upheaval. Ulster could very well finish 14th only ahead of Zebre and the Dragons, that's the real concern for me.

    BTW, saying that things aren't too bad because they're similar to when Matt O'Connor was in charge in Leinster is seriously damning with faint praise! 😉



  • #485
    sydthebeat
    Subscribers Posts: 43,028 ✭✭✭✭sydthebeat


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123440547#Comment_123440547

    2 irish teams had "coaching upheaval" this year, and one last year. Does that go some what towards explaining the current situation? very possibly.

    My point isnt that the irish teams arent "bad", its that they have no god given right to be in the play offs…. and measuring the standard of the irish teams by comparing this season to seasons where all (or 3) of the irish teams made the play offs is a false equivalence because the leagues are not the same. ProXX was way easier than the URC.

    3 of the south African teams are now real title contenders.

    In the last ProXX season (2017/18), we had 2 teams in the play offs (Leinster and Munster). This season we will likely have 2 teams in the play offs (Leinster and Munster).

    And your Matt O Connor point actually proves my point of the irish teams having no god given right to make the play offs. Leinster WERE sh!t that year, and paid the price. However they got their sh!t together, sacked MOC, and reached the final the following year, in Leos first season. Heres hoping Munster and Connacht have that "new coach" bounce next season.

    Ulsters issues go way beyond the coaching set up…..



  • #486
    Ciaran
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 984 ✭✭✭Ciaran


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123440640#Comment_123440640

    I think we largely agree, teams missing the playoffs is much more highlighted this year because they're also missing Europe.



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  • #487
    bingobango12
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 612 ✭✭✭bingobango12


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123440640#Comment_123440640

    I think your correct in that. I'd go as far as saying all 4 teams have an issue with the coaching teams to some degree.

    Leinster losing to Northampton I would put squarely on Cullen and Co and there is something seriously wrong with mentality when that group of players have won nothing in so long.
    Munster haven't had a head coach for basically the year. Add in a forwards coach and they were up against it all season. Injuries didn't help and I don't think Leamy is that great personally either.
    Connacht had a head coach go on sick leave during the season and then stepped down. I assume he has been talking to Benetton for a decent period of time for his new gig to be announced today so would question how concentrated he actually was on Connacht at all the past while.
    Ulster have a guy working as a head coach for the first time at this level. It is probably going to take a bit of time to get to grips with everything but as you said, they have issues that go beyond coaching. They have a good backline and good young forwards in the pack to build on.

    As an aside, on paper, the top 4 this year are the strongest 4 teams. Munster and Stormers probably next up as 5th/6th strongest. Again, just my opinion but there is a gap then to the group of next best teams (although fully fit and firing I'd have Benetton just behind Munster/Stormers) so Ulster and Connacht may find themselves fighting for the final 2 playoff positions for the immediate future since the SA teams have come in.



  • #488
    phog
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 25,921 ✭✭✭✭phog


    Ulster rugby have announced that they will host 7 of their 9 home URC games in 2025/26 on Friday nights

    20250513_205359.jpg


  • #489
    Red Silurian
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,937 ✭✭✭✭Red Silurian


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123439965#Comment_123439965

    It is worth noting that we lost to Glasgow, Edinburgh, Zebre and Cardiff this year as well as getting spanked twice by Leinster. Not sure you can blame that on the SA teams. The season is also 4 matches shorter. Pro12 had 22 regular season games so you'd think this would help with the toughness of the league



  • #490
    OldRio
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,530 ✭✭✭OldRio


    Beating poor Welsh or Italian teams twice a season doesn't exactly toughen yany team up



  • #491
    icdg
    Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 12,325 Mod ✭✭✭✭icdg


    Final round fixtures:

    Today

    6pm Stormers 5-0 Cardiff BBC Two Wales Prem 1

    7:35pm Munster v Treviso TG4 Prem 1

    7:35pm Edinburgh v Ulster Prem 2

    Tomorrow

    2pm Bulls v Dragons S4C

    4:15pm Lions v Ospreys S4C

    5pm Zebre v Connacht TG4 Prem 2

    6:30pm Sharks v Scarlets S4C

    7:35pm Leinster v Glasgow RTE2 Prem 2



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  • #492
    Dillonb3
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,911 ✭✭✭Dillonb3


    That red card probably screws Cardiff



  • #493
    Jump_In_Jack
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,073 ✭✭✭Jump_In_Jack


    Cardiff trail by 7 at half time, and have to play with 14 men in the second half after they picked up a red card.



  • #494
    Jacovs
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,054 ✭✭✭Jacovs


    Stormers also with a red card for about the last 15 minute of the game. Sasha only on the field a while but already play opening up a bit. 31-17 with 6 minutes to play.



  • #495
    Clegg
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 18,717 ✭✭✭✭Clegg


    Ulster are tragic. Losing contact after contact.



  • #496
    Paddy_Mag
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4 ✭Paddy_Mag


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123455675#Comment_123455675

    hint of going through the motions abt them so far. Does final league position matter in seedings for challenge cup groups?



  • #497
    Clegg
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 18,717 ✭✭✭✭Clegg


    Ulster knock on every time they start to build some momentum



  • #498
    Jacovs
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,054 ✭✭✭Jacovs


    Cardiff got it to 31-24 to earn 2 BP, but a last second penalty made it 34-24 so they leave with only 1 point.



  • #499
    Jacovs
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,054 ✭✭✭Jacovs


    Lads, it says "Eat Pink" on the back of Benetton's jerseys. The wife is trying to google what it means…



  • #500
    StevenToast
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,049 ✭✭✭StevenToast


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123455764#Comment_123455764

    What does she want it to mean?

    "Don't piss down my back and tell me it's raining." - Fletcher



  • #501
    Jacovs
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,054 ✭✭✭Jacovs


    Not what I want it to mean, im sure.

    Stormers secured 5th place.



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  • #502
    phog
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 25,921 ✭✭✭✭phog


    Both Scottish teams, 3 from 4 SA teams, 2 from 4 Irish teams and 1 from 4 Welsh team into the knockouts and the Champions Cup.

    No Italian team makes it through.



  • #503
    Digifriendly
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,104 ✭✭✭Digifriendly


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123446910#Comment_123446910

    Ulster defeated Glasgow at Kingspan early in the season.



  • #504
    bingobango12
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 612 ✭✭✭bingobango12


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123455675#Comment_123455675

    I was trying to watch both games last night. The bits I saw from Ulster was pathetic. I’ve said it before a couple of times that they have some good players, particularly in the backline but look really really poorly coached.



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