RACE FOR THE EIGHT | URC PREVIEW

Team news and predictions ahead of the penultimate round of games in the URC

[@Mojo16011973]

URC is turning into one hell of a league

[@Comerford1986]

URC = Best League

[@Comerford1986]

Bloody excellent preview! Love the URC branding, Race for the Eight - rugby needs more of this 👏 URC = Best League

[@davidjacobs2401]

i love the fact that you are so well versed in all things rugby from around the rugby world. Appreciate the insight and i think you have a major soft spot for the SPRINGBOKS!

[@patrickkeane2067]

Brilliant win munster. Hard fought. Nearly sh it me pants tho. Christ.

[@kerrylass2]

Well Cullen did a 180 degree turn regarding saying he would play his first team through to Toulose. Stunned how many he is resting...the entire pack for starters. Neither Lowe or McCarthy have played since Northamptom and rested here too. Yes Ringrose looks like he is out for Toulose but relieved to see Ryan and Keenan back after longtime out with injury. Hope its enough tomorrow to get back up to speed for Toulose. Will be at the match in Belfast cheering on da boys. CMON Leinster!

[@OranBurns-r7c]

He didn't say that.

[@brianboyle2681]

I’ve come round to thinking it must be coming from above - specifically IRFU. From their perspective a game primed player for the champions cup final is a negative vs one extra week of rest in the year before the summer tour. Other countries don’t have as union directed a system and undercooked players for club rugby is just the upshot of that.

[@kerrylass2]

@@OranBurns-r7c in the interview directly after the Northampton game he said he was "relieved" and then on this topic he went on to say and I quote "Leinster will not rest players between now and the Champions Cup final"

[@OranBurns-r7c]

He hasn't rested players. Everybody has played.

[@brianboyle2681]

@@OranBurns-r7c no one is sharp. Prepare to be cut to ribbons by top 14 v ail level out half

[@jonnywalker5361]

What I like about this channel is that he actually gives opinions as to who will win. He puts it out there. Too many pundits sit on the fence and are lazy with the “it could go either way”

[@computerager]

He was spot on re Munster edging it against Edinburgh!

[@jonnywalker5361]

@@computerager right you are! (And right he was!)

[@glogan001]

Great preview, going to be a tense weekend! Evan Roos has 14 turnovers won so far this year, 4th most of any player which I was surprised by. keen to see how he goes playing 6 for Stormers

[@Graham159871]

Loving the URC, so many great players and teams and so close this year. Dont miss super rugby at all

[@timslade5808]

Having Keenan and Ryan back is huge for Leinster. Hopefully they come away from this game with no knocks and will be available for the final. No Ringrose is a concern but Osborne has been brilliant this season so far so I back him for the final next week

[@normanstewart7130]

Ulster will fancy their chances tomorrow. The Leinster team are individually excellent players, but it's not just about the players; they have to have played together as a team.

[@rainbowman7986]

Getting kicked out of Super Rugby was the worst and best thing to happen to South Africa. I've never been this excited for rugby. I still watch Super Rugby highlights from time to time, but as a South African I believe the URC is way superior. It's wonderful to see Northern Hemisphere supporters coming to South Africa and actually watching their teams winning in the Republic. Good luck to all the teams for this weekend.

[@rothnieoosthuizen3728]

We got kicked out of SuperRugby? This is news to me.

[@Graham159871]

​@@rothnieoosthuizen3728where have you been? NZR paid a consulting company millions to do a review of super rugby and said whatever the company suggested would be the direction they went and they suggested kicking SA teams out which is what NZR did. Australian Rugby never liked SA teams in the comp and were all too happy to oblige. I watched how many Breakdown shows where Kirwan and co were bullish about kicking SA teams out and Covid finally gave them the excuse. SARU then had to scramble to get SA teams in an international comp or be left out in the wild, thats why SA teams are only receiving full revenue from the URC and Euro comp from next season. SA teams never wanted the comp to be split up, it was NZ the kicked us out. Saying otherwise is just ignorant

[@rothnieoosthuizen3728]

@@Graham159871 where have I been? Not in fantasy land apparently. Here's the official version from September 2020: "The South African Rugby Union (SARU) has confirmed it will withdraw teams from Super Rugby in favour of playing in Europe's PRO14 league, blaming New Zealand for its exit from the competition. The decision was made after a vote of SARU's provincial unions and the defection could come into effect as soon as next year if an agreement is reached with PRO Rugby Championship, which runs the PRO14." Making up your own version around the braai, is just BS. If you want to equate "getting kicked out" to "withdraw teams", go for it, but maybe just go read the definition of ignorant first. Alternatively, provide proof. You know like "Jurie Roux said:", or "Mark Alexander said:" Otherwise, it's just like your opinion, man.

[@kiaoragin]

Good call on the Munster game. Munster just sneaked by.

[@michaelmclaggan4275]

Love this channel. Props and Whingers also did a great preview on Spotify but I love the video with the visual accompaniments. Munster have taken a bit of a risk but with a view to the bigger picture. Bulls should get 10 points out of their next two games. Hoping the Stormers take the win on Saturday eve.

[@aymericboulle6813]

1st... who cares. Love your content mate! Long live the f****** scrum

[@matthewlambert7508]

Scrum is Rugby!

[@aaronreid116]

Leinster named a "weak" team..Will be an interesting game in Ulster

[@frankvghn1955]

I enjoyed that analysis!

[@TheSebmiester]

Love your videos, video for the Top 14 ?

[@PhillipDawson10]

Scarlets, Munster ... Bulls, Dragons, Lions, Connacht, Sharks, Ulster

[@Driver2616]

I think you’re right. Garry Ringrose not playing v Ulster rules him out of the final next week. OK yes, he is an exceptional player, an all rounder, but if he’s not fit this weekend and he’s been out of action for a long period, then no, he can’t play next week.

[@davidpells4298]

Ma'Nonu reckons SA rugby hit the jackpot joining the URC ...I reckon Irl , Scotland , Wales hit the jackpot getting SA in..😁

[@DoddyIshamel]

The run ins for all the doemstic leagues look so good this year, for all the doomsaying rugby is a pretty great product these days

[@colinkavanagh1708]

Disappointed no Ringrose this week for Leinster, so might not see him this season again. nice to see Deegan though after signing new contract

[@kennethallen3843]

Tim, you called that Edinburgh v Munster match

[@peadarr]

Every game since Christmas has felt like a must win game for half the URC teams. Osprey loss to the dragons earlier in the season must really grate right now, had they won that, they’d be going into the last 2 games against bottom 4 clubs and just 1 point outside the top 8

[@daveh2344]

Great preview Tim

[@davidjones272]

"We missed out the 6 teams that can't make the play offs", well that comment aged like milk on a radiator.

[@chrissheldon9427]

Ospreys can still make it mathematically, however unlikely

[@CutieSenussi]

Tim why don't you have the review for Connacht Leinster already online? It's been over an hour

[@ilmarlatti]

your family must love you

[@rothnieoosthuizen3728]

As a South African ignorant of the history of the European comps, why can't the "local" comps like the URC be finished first and then have the Heineken cup start? Just seems like managing a squad and having to make tough decisions (like Leinster has to this weekend) will inevitably devalue the matches in one of the comps. That Leinster victory against an exhausted La Rochelle, must've been a bit hollow too, I'd imagine. Same for the Bulls over Lyon and the Saints over the Bulls. Is there a reason I'm unaware of? To me it just makes more sense to finish the URC/Prem/Top 14, then start up the Heineken and teams will be competing on a more level playing field.

[@mikeyfoley2240]

Its a bit of history and a bit of greed Its always been this so they probably won't change and if they did change it they would likely have less teams matches and moneyfor whoevers in charge A good compromise id say is to have QFs on a week or two after the domestic leagues finish and keep the pool stage at the same time of year

[@rothnieoosthuizen3728]

@@mikeyfoley2240 thanks, sounds like a decent compromise. At least it'll prevent situations where one team has next week's QF/SF/Final in mind, while the other is already out of the secondary comp and can go hell for leather.

[@amantedellopera1681]

I think you will find leinster beat la rochelle on their own door step in december....where they exhausted then too?????????

[@rothnieoosthuizen3728]

@@amantedellopera1681 I'm not a La Rochelle supporter, have no dog in that fight. But the fact is, to finally beat La Rochelle in a knockout match, it took catching them on the bounce after two trips across the equator. If that fills Leinster fans with pride, good on them. For me, it's about as impressive as Ireland's unbeaten record in RWC SFs.

[@lizzyhanahoe4197]

@@rothnieoosthuizen3728 post office!

[@FraserTopham]

Osborne has to start. Ringrose off the bench.

[@Jan-p4y]

Strong Bulls team! A shame Chris Smith is out and Goosen is in. Smith is far more reliable than Goose

[@NicholasWilliams-mm7of]

I think you will find that if the Ospreys gain 10 points in their last 2 games they can still reach the top 8. So a poor summary😢

[@gerryrafferty7500]

We need no incentive to beat Ulster

[@crossboarding9453]

NOSHARKS PREVIW

[@EggchasersRugby]

There'll be a big one ahead of next Friday:) (but their game tomorrow means next to nothing)

[@wot4922]

​@@EggchasersRugbywe're greedy.. Sharks supporters. All Rugby loving Saffas getting back into club rugby after years of disinterest due to the weird broadcast times of Super Rugby. Finding our club passion again.

[@OranBurns-r7c]

Seems like the URC is trumping the premiership big time!

[@amantedellopera1681]

It wouldnt be too difficult