URC 24/25 Round 4

Round 4 on it's way. 3 Derbies this weekend headlined by Leinster v Munster will be held at Croke Park and is already almost a sell out so that should be a fantastic watch.

Friday 11th October 2024

Glasgow Warriors v Zebre Parma
Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow – KO 19.35 IRE & UK / 20.35 ITA & SA
Live on: Premier Sports, SuperSport, Flo Rugby & URC.tv

Saturday 12th October 2024

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

Cardiff Rugby v Scarlets
Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff – KO 15.00 IRE & UK / 16.00 ITA & SA
Live on: Premier Sports, SuperSport, Flo Rugby & URC.tv

Edinburgh Rugby v DHL Stormers
Hive Stadium, Edinburgh – KO 17.15 IRE & UK / 18.15 ITA & SA
Live on: Premier Sports, SuperSport, Flo Rugby & URC.tv

Leinster v Munster
Croke Park, Dublin – KO 17.45 IRE & UK / 18.45 ITA & SA
Live on: RTÉ, Premier Sports, SuperSport, Flo Rugby & URC.tv

Ospreys v Vodacom Bulls
Swansea.com Stadium, Swansea – KO 19.35 IRE & UK / 20.35 ITA & SA
Live on: S4C, SuperSport, Premier Sports, Flo Rugby & URC.tv

Ulster v Connacht
Kingspan Stadium, Belfast – KO 20.00 IRE & UK / 21.00 ITA & SA
Live on: BBC NI, TG4, Premier Sports, SuperSport, Flo Rugby & URC.tv


Sunday 13th October 2024

Dragons RFC v Emirates Lions
Rodney Parade, Newport – KO 14.30 IRE & UK / 15.30 ITA & SA
Live on: BBC Wales, SuperSport, Premier Sports, Flo Rugby & URC.tv

Prepared to be amazed, as Dragons finally break their SA team losing streak

Glasgow got a somewhat favourable early season fixture list this year.

We've always struggled against the Lions because of their set piece, which could be stronger than at least 2 of the other SA franchises set pieces. Our duck against SA teams should have been well and truly broken against Sharks. Lions have good momentum, I'd be more confident if Dragons actually had some more players available!

Think those Irish inter pros are going to be the pick of these weekends games.

Welshmushroom wrote:Think those Irish inter pros are going to be the pick of these weekends games.  

I'll be watching from behind the sofa. The Ulster scrum horror show isn't pretty, I'm having nightmares already about it. Home advantage counts for nothing if you don't have a set piece.
The big game, Leinster v Munster with a sell out of over 80,000 is definitely the box office game this week. What a crowd, what an atmosphere and Croker is some ground. Cannot wait, I'm a Leinster/Ulster halfbreed so there's always a part of with the boys in blue apart from when playing my boys in white (or caviar that they're playing in this weekend)

Keep an eye out for Ulster new kit though, I reckon it's their nicest design since kits began. To think we were worried Castore wouldn't come up with anything, it's stunning and yes, when ordering the kit the colour is described as caviar. Go take a look, it's art.

I don't want to jinx it, but I have a good feeling about the Dragons game. Fingers crossed.

(p.s. if we lose it's 'cos it's on a Sunday )

The altitude and heat may well have given the Lions a bit of an advantage against Ulster and Edinburgh but it's not worth that half time lead they took against Edinburgh. They simply are playing sublime rugby at the minute. Yes they were at home and yes they had the Currie Cup to get up to speed but they really do have a little more ROAR about them this season.

Just don't kick deep to them and they might be easier corralled, they love to run at and bamboozle defences.

A Dragon should kill a Lion shouldn't it ?

Damn. I've still got it in my head for some reason that they are somehow the worst of the 4 SA sides. A quick refresher of last years URC table shows me they finished around midtable and therefore should not be taken lightly! Especially by a Dragons fan!

Lions have been the worst of the 4 SA side since joining, at least for one season as last year they were saved by an inept Sharks, but still they are very good. Great set piece, dangerous runners in the backs who can score from anywhere. From what I remember they usually start the season very well, but fall off towards the end. That was the case last year when they were often winning home and away but then fell off and didn't make the play-offs. You'd assume Sharks will be a lot better this year which might make the Lions the worst SA franchise again.

We should've beaten the Lions 2/3 times, two seasons ago. I remember the game at YM in particular.

Last season was a bit different in SA.

But anyway, this game is Dragons to lose

So forgot to post my predictions last week so here goes for this week:-

Glasgow vs Zebre - Glasgow by 25 given the line ups and the fact they are home
Cardiff vs Scarlets - Cardiff by 10. Showed enough last week to suggest a comfortable win given Scarlets are not great at the moment and I reckon the pressure on Peel now must be pretty high.
Benetton vs Sharks - Quite a few big guns back for Benetton but for me the Sharks pinch this with their exciting centre pairing. Sharks by 3
Edinburgh vs Stormers - Edinburgh are so bad at the moment. At home they have to be better but I still think stormers win. Stormers by 7.
Leinster vs Munster - Munster have a ton of injuries. Leinster lineup looks strong as well. Leinster by 10.
Ospreys vs Bulls - Bulls lineup looks very strong this week. They have a stronger bench as well. Think this will be Bulls by 5.
Ulster vs Connacht - not a comfortable prediction given its a inter pro but I have to go Ulster at home. Ulster by 7.
Dragons vs Lions - Was not going to predict a Dragons win all season in case i jinx them. But im going to buck that trend and say Dragons by 3.

Fair play to Zebre - they really do chuck the ball around....solid start from them so far...

nice running lines from them.....that Zebre back 3 does look dangerous...

Horrible lineout from them in just outside the glasgow 22. Promising position gone to waste.

Glasgow seem a bit out of sorts early on.....couple of errors creeping into their game......

set piece though is killing zebre - they wont win this without a platform...

now glasgow up to zebre 22. first attack in the 22 and they suddenly up the pace a bit. results in a penatly for glasgow.....probably goes to the corner now..

right on the 5m so got to think this will be a driving maul coming - zebre have their work cut out for them here.

And maul try for Glasgow....zebre held the first push pretty well......ref seemed to give them an age to move it a second time but once they do it results in the score....

Conversion as well - glasgow 7-0

Second time they attack from deep and get into the Zebre 22 - couple of phases before the ball gets spun right and they go over in the corner..

Conversion as well so 14-0 now.......

Glasgow defence is really good - really attacking the breakdown tonight....

Got to say early doors of this season with Glasgow having won the URC last year they really have started the season well......going to take a outstanding performance to beat them at home this year.

Zebre did get a penalty back and its 14-3 now...

But Glasgow in the Zebre 22 again....upping the pace again ....phase after phase and they go over.....Zebre couldnt contain them in the end. 19-3 with a conversion to come.

conversion is good - 21-3

Promising attack in Glasgows 22 end with a fumble......Zebre cant afford these sort of mistakes if they want to be competitive.........got to be the third time in the 22 with nothing to show for it.

Lovely move as Glasgow get into the 22. They seem to have scored everytime they get in there tonight.....under the posts as well so conversion is a formality. 28-3

if it stays like this im on the money with my 25 point win......but there is still another 27 mins to play so unless they take their foot of the gas they will win by more than this.

Leinster are tearing Munster apart even though the ref and tmo missed a knock on in the build up to the 2nd try. 21-0 after 16 minutes

Frawley at 10 looks like the option for Leinster, both Byrne brothers might be done in that jersey.

Welshmushroom wrote:Frawley at 10 looks like the option for Leinster, both Byrne brothers might be done in that jersey.

Been saying it for a while now that Frawley is a valid option in that position. His versatility went against him.

Munster wont be getting anything out of this game. Leinster look like they are trying to make a Euro statement today.

Maine man wrote:

Welshmushroom wrote:Frawley at 10 looks like the option for Leinster, both Byrne brothers might be done in that jersey.

Been saying it for a while now that Frawley is a valid option in that position. His versatility went against him.

He does look good there but not perfect. But Ross for me has looked very average there while I thought Harry might still come through. I do wonder what this Leinster side could do if they had a Mo'unga there. Someone who really offers a serious running threat. Not to many of those type of 10's around though.....

Just saw the Benetton-Sharks result as well - looks like they totally humped the sharks today and that was without Albanoz back as well....

So early 4 rounds you have to say Glasgow and Leinster are ahead of the pack by a mile at the moment. Granted no medals handed out in October.

Ekkk Bulls already score against Ospreys.....could be a long night if they keep carrying like that all night

Hopefully the Bulls can put a good few points on them today.

Been another weird weekend for results so far.....just goes to show you cant discount anyone in this league at the moment.....

It’s 19 nil now. It is hard to see how they come back from this against a team like Bulls. Toby Booth picked a similar XV last season, did he think he could try the same thing again and would work? You need big men in your pack to stop the Bulls. You can’t run them around and hope they’ll tire, they will run all day.

Oh dear...

Some really poor play and loose play from Ulster at the end of that half. Brought a lot of those problems on themselves and ended in a try that brings Connacht right back within 2 points at the half.

Also there was a massive head on head shot that ended up with Henderson going off with an HIA, can't believe the TMO didn't look at it. Should have been a yelow at the minimum.

Took Mr Brace a while but spotted the ball being held up on that Connacht try in the end about 5 minutes after the rest of us.

Very tight game here

Connacht with a man in the bin and Ulster take advantage from the line out, just about sneaking over the try. Unconverted so only 7 in it still

More poor play from Ulster and Connacht take full advantage. Game is level.

Ulster really are shooting themselves in the foot at times and the maul defence is non existent so far.

Ulsters scrum isn't so much creaking as it is falling completely apart. Connacht must be licking their lips every time a scrum gets awarded.

That must be a red card, that's really dirty play, shoulder to the head off the ball

And it is. Connacht down to 14 with a red card for Josh Murphy. Very deserved and hopefully a significant ban, that's absolute scumbag play

Ulster lead through the pen and then Ioane hands them a massive let off by driving his penalty out the back of the try area instead of into touch

Timoney dives over and might that be the match winner right there. It's been a real back and forth game this one, very entertaining watch.

Full Time
Ulster 32-27 Connacht

A very entertaining match, swung back and forth the whole way through and was only sealed in the last couple of minutes for Ulster. Connacht come away with 2 bonus points so a very useful night away for them too.

Ulster had a lot of problem, some very loose play, scrum was falling apart and the maul is a real issue too.