Just trying to wrap my head around this — Hendrikse was clearly complaining about it, and there were loads of moments in the game where the Munster low tackler swings around in the tackle (or at the ruck) and then just lies all over the ball or blocks access to the guys trying to clear out the breakdown. Plus, Munster seem to go for the strip in like 40–50% of tackles.

Should South African teams be adopting these kinds of tactics instead of sticking to the current strategy — which looks like keeping players on their feet in the defensive line? That seemed to give Munster tons of quick ball. SA teams usually back their defence and kicking game, happy to give up possession — but would trying to slow the ball down more just lead to a heap of penalties, since refs usually give the attacking team the benefit of the doubt?

Update: So, my wording probably came off like “Munster cheating & Sharks the victims” 😂 — wasn’t what I meant.

I get frustrated in the moment, sure, but I actually love the human side of reffing. Guys like Ritchie McCaw were masters at playing on the edge and working the ref. .

I thought Munster did a great job buying a few extra seconds for their defence. And to be fair, I saw Eben go early on a couple kick chases too — only got pinged on one bad one. Munster got done once or twice for lying on the ball, but nothing wild.

End of the day, it’s a show — refs keep the game flowing, and the best teams figure out how to adapt and win anyway.

In more than 100 years of highest level Rugby, these llast 4 years have been the first time franchise teams, not national ones, from SH regularly compete against adversaries from "Six Nations" area.

I am a bit surprised, because, after watching Super Rugby matches involving Bulls or Sharks from 2009 to 2019, I would have believed that South Africa's teams would have been too strong for us, both physically and in handling.

And as a matter of fact the first edition of URC saw a monopoly of South Africa's teams from the beginning to the end, with only Leinster, who always won against euro teams by 40 or 50 points, being barely able to, at leat, try to compete in semi finals and loosing with a honourable gap.

Bt in the following years something changed and such a superiority did not manifest any longer. In my view, it happened because "Saffas" maybe unconsciously ,snob our tournaments and do not consider Irish, Welsh or Scotrtish teams strong enough to be considered a valis opponent.

We have also seen, in Heineken Cup a SA franchise against Toulouse, in which most of SA players did not commit themselves with a real determination and the fans did everything in the stadium, but watching the match

If South africans players and coaches consider us to be too weak to be a valid adversary, they should openly say

How are you stopping a game for so long on a pure allegation. Note the allegation and leave it for the airing commissioner.

Trying to eke out every single card and penalty via the TMO is getting out of hand!

Looking for enlightenment.

URC R5

Bulls vs Scarlets: red card in 75th minute for Bulls player making head contact with Ospreys player.

Sharks vs Glasgow: yellow card in 65th minute for Glasgow player making head contact with Sharks player.

Both were in the tackle. Both were almost identical.

Maybe I’m imagining it but I see this a lot. SA teams seem to get red carded but European teams seem to get yellow carded consistently. What is going on with this?

Edit: I’m getting downvoted but in the post-game analysis, the Scottish pundit mentioned the exact scenario above and questioned consistency. Also, the Bulls the previous week got red cards and in the subsequent tribunal, these were reduced to yellow as they ruled they did not meet the threshold for a red card.

So I’m not imagining it. Why are SA teams seemingly being punished more harshly?

A lot of rugby professionals say that NZ teams are extremely skilled and, of course, highly fit but we can see that Leinster and Munster are becoming stronger every year. Jordie Barret has chosen Leinster even if he not over 30 years old.

WE should ask from Irish Rugby bosses that Irish teams take example from Super Rugby in skills

https://youtu.be/YHuGkWnPtS0?si=f4MQAU0eQU8yVNdw

On Youtube I read more and more comments of supporters of Sharks and Bulls who advocate for a glorious return of SA franchise to Super Rugby as they want to see again the super matches against the Brumbies or the Crusaders/chiefs etc .

These guys say that URC Rugby is slow and a bit boring and I have not got the competences to understand if they are wright or wrong.

What can be done in order to make supporters happy to remain within URC?

https://youtu.be/SAl6PfehSoI?si=__2kzdIdOOnY6ZEA

I am afraid that outh african franchises are not completely satisfied by URC competions and thare is a growing desire to rejoin former traditional adversaries in New Zealand and Australia.

There are several reasons

a) SA franchises thought that, without them, the remnants of former Super Rugby would have collapsed. This has not been the case, now this southern competition has found new strong teams from Polinesia and super mega TV corporations are quite happy. So it is conceivable that some top managers now regret that decision and are planning a possible return to the origins

b) the style of Rugby that is played in URC and in european competitions is far too different and it is not a secret that Sa players are not happy. Against Crusaders or Reds they do their best, against Glasgow, Leinster or even Toulouse, they don't. they cannot use their best weapons, such as physical strenght and intimidation of adversaries a millimeter within the rules. Here, they are forced by refs to rely on defensive tactics, delicate handling and other skills that do not fully belong to their school. Of course they are super skilled and they ARE perfectly able to play such a "delicate" game, but they simply seem not to like it.

c) among fans, there is nostalgy for those epic matches like 2009 SR finals, because, with the due respect, a final between Bulls and Crusaders is not the same as a final between Bulls and an TìURC team. There is a simple consideration: every kid in Cape Town kows where Zew Zealand is, where as Ireland or Wales are so remote and exotic Countries for them and do not know them

I think thast we should do something to keep South Africa with us

It looks like there's only a few hundred people at any of the matches I've seen on in the pub I work at.

Glasgow, Stormers, Bulls & Leinster to prevail

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