URC Ocean's 11 (th round)

It's getting trickier with these thread names lol. Anyway we take another break from 6 Nations for round 11 of the URC. A bunch of internationals missing could make for some real interesting games and the post Dan McFarland era begins at Ulster as well.

Friday 1st March 2024

Edinburgh Rugby v Ospreys
Hive Stadium, Edinburgh – KO 19.35 IRE & UK / 20.35 ITA / 21.35 SA
Live on: Viaplay, BBC Wales, SuperSport, Premier Sports, Flo Rugby & URC.tv

Munster v Zebre Parma
Virgin Media Park, Cork – KO 19.35 IRE & UK / 20.35 ITA / 21.35 SA
Live on: TG4, Viaplay, SuperSport, Premier Sports, Flo Rugby & URC.tv

Saturday 2nd March 2024

Emirates Lions v Hollywoodbets Sharks
Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg – KO 13.00 IRE & UK / 14.00 ITA / 15.00 SA
Live on: SuperSport, Viaplay, TG4, Premier Sports, Flo Rugby & URC.tv

Benetton v Glasgow Warriors
Stadio Monigo, Treviso – KO 15.00 IRE & UK / 16.00 ITA / 17.00 SA
Live on: Sky Italia, Viaplay, SuperSport, Premier Sports, Flo Rugby & URC.tv

Vodacom Bulls v DHL Stormers
Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria – KO 15.05 IRE & UK / 16.05 ITA / 17.05 SA
Live on: SuperSport, Viaplay, TG4, Premier Sports, Flo Rugby & URC.tv

Connacht v Scarlets
Dexcom Stadium, Galway – KO 17.05 IRE & UK / 18.05 ITA / 19.05 SA
Live on: TG4, S4C, Viaplay, Premier Sports, SuperSport, Flo Rugby & URC.tv

Cardiff Rugby v Leinster
Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff – KO 19.35 IRE & UK / 20.35 ITA / 21.35 SA
Live on: S4C, RTÉ, Viaplay, SuperSport, Premier Sports, Flo Rugby & URC.tv

Ulster v Dragons RFC
Kingspan Stadium, Ulster – KO 19.35 IRE & UK / 20.35 ITA / 21.35 SA
Live on: Viaplay, Premier Sports, SuperSport, Flo Rugby & URC.tv

Am I the only one thinking these are some great combinations of fixtures? Murphys law they'll all end up lop-sided but barring Zebre getting annihilated by Munster down in Cork, the rest look like good matchups of sides.

A lot of them are prove it games. The best are probably:

Bulls vs Stormers. Both sides will be fully stocked and Bulls are threatening to generate a bit of a gap between themselves and fourth. Win here would go a long way towards that. Stormers win and Bulls get pulled into the jostling for position tier of teams.

Edinburgh vs O's is probably more fascinating in an almost and your in scenario. O's have benefitted from a weak schedule so far and got away with the last gasp victory last week. Edinburgh are missing a fair few players, also hitting a tricky part of the schedule and have faltered in the league regularly in the last few seasons.

Teams up for Ulster-Dragons game :
Ulster
(15-9) Will Addison (Upper Eden RUFC), Ethan McIlroy (Ballynahinch RFC), James Hume (C) (Instonians RFC), Jude Postlethwaite (Lisburn RFC), Mike Lowry (Dromore RFC), Billy Burns (Walcot RFC), John Cooney (Gonzaga College);

(1-8) Steven Kitshoff (Maties RFC), Tom Stewart (Belfast Academy), Tom O’Toole (Ashbourne RFC), Cormac Izuchukwu (Tullamore RFC), Harry Sheridan (Civil Service NI RFC), David McCann (Cooke RFC), Marcus Rea (Ballymena RFC), Nick Timoney (Blackrock College).

Replacements: John Andrew (Ballymena RFC), Andrew Warwick (Ballymena RFC), Scott Wilson (Dromore RFC), Kieran Treadwell (Chipstead RFC), Sean Reffell (Bromley RFC), Nathan Doak (Lisburn RFC), Luke Marshall (Ballymena RFC), Jacob Stockdale (Ballynahinch RFC)

Dragons
Ewan Rosser (Pontypool United RFC), Joe Westwood (Blackwood RFC), Steff Hughes (c) (Llanelli Wanderers), Aneurin Owen (Newport High School Old Boys RFC), Corey Baldwin (Llandeilo RFC), Will Reed (Cwmbran RFC), Dane Blacker (Ynysybwl RFC); Rodrigo Martinez (Los Tordos RFC), James Benjamin (Whiteheads RFC), Chris Coleman (Garndiffaith RFC), Sean Lonsdale (Rhyl RFC), Matthew Screech (Porth Harlequins), Dan Lydiate (Rhayader RFC), Harry Taylor (Chepstow RFC), Taine Basham (Talywain RFC)

Replacements: Brodie Coghlan (Newport High School Old Boys RFC), Aki Seiuli (Taieri Eels RFC), Luke Yendle (Caerphilly RFC), Barny Langton-Cryer (Cowbridge RFC), George Nott (Chester RUFC), Gonzalo Bertranou (Los Tordos RFC), Harri Ackerman (Newbridge RFC), Huw Anderson (Caerphilly RFC)

Could be interesting with Ulster in crisis (aren't we always?) and an interim coaching ticket. Will home advantage and the usual immediate bounce back after a coaches sacking be enough?

What's going on with you guys over in Cardiff? It looks like yous are heading for another near sell out, and this during the 6 nations period!

It would seem like the new owners are actually putting effort in to sell Cardiff rugby to the people and I'm glad it seems.to be working.
I want strong Welsh teams in our league

Unclear wrote:Teams up for Ulster-Dragons game :
Ulster
(15-9) Will Addison (Upper Eden RUFC), Ethan McIlroy (Ballynahinch RFC), James Hume (C) (Instonians RFC), Jude Postlethwaite (Lisburn RFC), Mike Lowry (Dromore RFC), Billy Burns (Walcot RFC), John Cooney (Gonzaga College);

(1-8) Steven Kitshoff (Maties RFC), Tom Stewart (Belfast Academy), Tom O’Toole (Ashbourne RFC), Cormac Izuchukwu (Tullamore RFC), Harry Sheridan (Civil Service NI RFC), David McCann (Cooke RFC), Marcus Rea (Ballymena RFC), Nick Timoney (Blackrock College).

Replacements: John Andrew (Ballymena RFC), Andrew Warwick (Ballymena RFC), Scott Wilson (Dromore RFC), Kieran Treadwell (Chipstead RFC), Sean Reffell (Bromley RFC), Nathan Doak (Lisburn RFC), Luke Marshall (Ballymena RFC), Jacob Stockdale (Ballynahinch RFC)

Dragons
Ewan Rosser (Pontypool United RFC), Joe Westwood (Blackwood RFC), Steff Hughes (c) (Llanelli Wanderers), Aneurin Owen (Newport High School Old Boys RFC), Corey Baldwin (Llandeilo RFC), Will Reed (Cwmbran RFC), Dane Blacker (Ynysybwl RFC); Rodrigo Martinez (Los Tordos RFC), James Benjamin (Whiteheads RFC), Chris Coleman (Garndiffaith RFC), Sean Lonsdale (Rhyl RFC), Matthew Screech (Porth Harlequins), Dan Lydiate (Rhayader RFC), Harry Taylor (Chepstow RFC), Taine Basham (Talywain RFC)

Replacements: Brodie Coghlan (Newport High School Old Boys RFC), Aki Seiuli (Taieri Eels RFC), Luke Yendle (Caerphilly RFC), Barny Langton-Cryer (Cowbridge RFC), George Nott (Chester RUFC), Gonzalo Bertranou (Los Tordos RFC), Harri Ackerman (Newbridge RFC), Huw Anderson (Caerphilly RFC)

Could be interesting with Ulster in crisis (aren't we always?) and an interim coaching ticket.  Will home advantage and the usual immediate bounce back after a coaches sacking be enough?

Coleman up against Kitshoff, I'm not sure how Dai Flan can keep a straight face

Hazel Sapling wrote:Edinburgh vs O's is probably more fascinating in an almost and your in scenario. O's have benefitted from a weak schedule so far and got away with the last gasp victory last week. Edinburgh are missing a fair few players, also hitting a tricky part of the schedule and have faltered in the league regularly in the last few seasons.

Benefitted from a weak schedule?

Ulster v Dragons will not be competitive. It’s a pretty poor Dragons team.

I think Flanagan has got the backs all wrong. Why move Rosser out of position, to play a centre on the wing? Just as well have given Anderson a go.

Pack is about as good as we can put out (I wouldn’t start Benjamin or Coleman, yet alone employ them). It will be very painful for this team though.

Dragons will have a chance to get at Ulster lineout, 2 young, inexperienced players at lock for Ulster with the injuries and the line out was not functioning well before that.

The rest of the Ulster team looks strong, Lowry on the wing is not something I'm hugely enthused on but lets see what happens.

This is a chance for these Ulster players and staff to show if it was Dan that was the problem or them.

Dragons if they can would be well served to strike early and see if Ulster's fragile confidence holds up.

Munster looking strong early v Zebre

I cant help but feel the games being played in 6 Nations weekends is still hurting the URC overall.

I wish they could just schedule the season in blocks. Something like 3 Months for International Fixtures on one block - 3 Months Rest for players with the remaining 6 month window going to league seasons. Ideally I also would like to see Europe be played in a block of its own as well.

I think this would allow 2nd tier nations access to their players as well as clubs wouldnt need to hold them for club matches if there wasnt a direct conflict.

You can tell the difference it's made to SA sides this year not being able to focus on one competition with Europe causing them extra headaches. I just think both tournaments would benefit from having their own dedicated windows.