URC Quarterfinals Set, Champions Cup semi-finals and Sharks gonna Shark

April 25, 2023 @JudgeRugby

Jared, Shaun and Thala come together to break down the final week of the URC regular season as the quarterfinalist are confirmed.

Starting in Stellenbosch, Stormers beat a game Benetton side 38-22. We discuss the impressive seasons Dan du Plessis and Marvin Orie are having, the madness of Evan Roos’ yellow card and a brilliant try created by prop Thomas Gallo and scored by Alessandro Izekor.

Moving to the Lions 50-35 victory over Zebre, we reflect on some of the Lions best performers this season, including Sanele Nohamba, Marius Louw and Franke Horn. We also bid farewell to Lions legend, Jaco Kriel, in his last match for the union.

The Bulls and the Sharks both confirm their spots in the URC quarterfinals in contrasting fashion. The Bulls give the Leinster C team their largest ever defeat of 62-7. We discuss whether their run of wins against easy opposition is sustainable for their URC quarterfinal against the Stormers, the return of Marcell Coetzee and which of Johan Goosen or Chris Smith should start.

On the other hand, the Sharks went full Sharks by drawing 22-22 to Munster after leading 22-3, meaning that their Champions Cup qualification hopes hang by a thread. We discuss if the Sharks can win the competition from 8th and the unfortunate news of Siya Kolisi’s knee injury.

We look forward to the Champions Cup and Challenge Cup semi-finals this weekend. We discuss whether Leinster can handle Toulouse’s size, if La Rochelle can stop the Exeter Last Dance. Jared predicts doom for Dublin, while Shaun and Thala foresee a repeat of last year’s Champions Cup final.

Our First Phase looked at the video of Pote Human giving a PK (not a penalty kick!) at a Major League Rugby game and we discussed which coaches would win in a fight.