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Back for 1 week only! the United Rugby Championship has managed to squeeze in a round between the November Internationals finishing and the Champions Cup Starting, and it threw up some truly insane results! Let’s talk about it…
Beirne (7'), Hodnett (19'), Crowley (27')
Tries
Smith (57'), Maart (67'), Nel (71')
Crowley (8', 19', 27')
Conversions
Matthee (58', 68', 71')
Penalties
Matthee (5', 11')
Back for 1 week only! the United Rugby Championship has managed to squeeze in a round between the November Internationals finishing and the Champions Cup Starting, and it threw up some truly insane results! Let’s talk about it…
Away from home, missing their Springboks, facing a strong opponent – the excuses were ready made for the Stormers up in Munster. In the context of a league season this would have been an acceptable loss and for all the world it looked as though it would be as they trailed 21-6 at half time.
But in the 2nd half they fixed their discipline and lineout issues to stage a brilliant comeback in the final 25 minutes. Fly-half Jurie Matthee – the emerging star of the URC season so far – once again played superbly and chipped in with 5 successful kicks at goal.
Stormers are still not playing dazzling rugby but their ability to control the opposition through physicality and always play the game on their terms is deeply impressive. 6 from 6 to start the season, with the fixtures they’ve had, is inarguable; they are the pace setters.
The first block of 5 games was imperfect from the Bulls but could have been put down to them being a team in transition under new coach Johan Akkerman. Now though, with a home loss to their nearest neighbours the Lions, that excuse doesn’t fly.
The men from Pretoria have no trouble scoring tries but have conceded 27 in 6 games – the joint most in the league - an unacceptable return for a supposed top side.
The Lions, meanwhile, are 3 from 3 since they got home from their early season northern tour and played some thrilling rugby in this match. Neutrals will have loved watching the highlights; the line breaks and offloads were almost reminiscent of what we see from the likes of Toulouse and Bordeaux!
With 4 backs starting for Wales against the Springboks on Saturday and another one injured, Scarlets were forced to turn to their academy to field a team against Franco Smith’s formidable Glasgow Warriors.
Fortunately, the one area where the men from Llanelli are stacked in the backline: the likes of fullback Jac Davies have been hammering down the door for over a year, only to find first choice Welsh internationals blocking their paths.
He and his fellow debutants did coach Dwayne Peel proud as they secured the Scarlets’ first win of the season. It was not a classic, but the Scarlets played smart rugby. There was also a fantastic shift from the pack, which welcomed back first choice players and, more importantly, leaders.
Fly-half Sam Costelow also continued to make a mockery of Steve Tandy’s decision not to select him in the Wales squad with a mature and classy performance. Meanwhile, fit again centre Eddie James once again showed why local fans insist he is the best 12 in Wales.
Wales’ capital region find themselves 2nd in the league with 6 games played – a fantastic achievement. With limited signings and their coach leaving on the eve of the season, one could have forgiven Cardiff for being also-rans this term. Instead, their 5th win from 6 (the one defeat was 2 losing bonus points away in Muster) takes them half-way to a probable top 8 finish with 12 games to go.
This one was a very un-Cardiff performance with previously unheralded hooker Daff Hughes bagging a hat-trick of driving maul tries. In the circumstances, no one will care. Home or away, Cardiff are a credible side this season, delivering a consistent level of performance regardless of who is on the pitch.
As results continue to drop away for the Irish National team the questions grow louder about the omissions of quality players in red hot form not being brought into the fold by Andy Farrell & co. Of all of the Provinces, perhaps Ulster should be the most aggrieved as their excellent start to the URC continued during a thrashing of Benetton on Friday night.
Opposition fans will be praying Farrell continues in his stubborn ways and never picks Jude Postlethwaite for test honours – the young centre played the house down, once again backing up the form he has shown previously in Champions Cup knockout rounds.
Meanwhile, wings Baloucoune and Kok both bagged braces and star signing Jarno Augustus had perhaps his best game in Belfast yet. With Wallabies prop Angus Bell being unveiled on the pitch at half time, one can forgive Ulster fans getting a little giddy after that one!
