The upcoming URC matches this coming weekend

I watched all four matches this weekend and I was delghed by soe matches involving SA teams thsi eekend - but also saw soe deficiencies that soem playes displayed, So which matches wllt ake palce thie coming weekend and what do I hink will happen in those matches,

1. Glasgow vs the Bulls
2. Storrners vs Benetton
3. Lions vs Connacht
4. Ulster vs Sharks,

My comments on those four matches are briefly s follows:-

Glasgow vs Bulls

With the Bulls struggling his weekend to beat Munster the chances of the Bulls beatibg Glasgow is zero-minus. Glasgow is a vey good team at present second on the log, They have a better backline than Munster and a beter coach than the Bulls have. He would know how to beat the Bulls and that is why Glasgiow would beat the Bulls, .

Stormers vs Benetton

The first priority is that Gelant should be sent packing and be sent to play for Witgatwortelfontein second team - he was a serious liability for the Stormers in recent past, I would rather also like to see 100% improement in backline defense by the wings and even the no 13 center.

Although I disagree with the concept I would rather play Wilemse at full back instead of Gelant or maybe they should call up the Maties or Ikeys Varsity Cup full backs and use them ahead of Gelant, I do not know when Nel would be avialable as ouside center - but he is urgently needed at 13 and Dan Du Plessis is a better 12 than he is at 13.

However Dobson is a dumbo coach and one would have to wait and see what he came up with, In any event any player imaginable woud be better than Gelant was in recent matches,

If he defense issue can be crreced I see no reason why the Stomers will not beat Benetton. I expect anther great perforrnace by Sacha the miracle man.

Ulster vs Sharks

I do not think the Sharks can win that match. The fact is that the Sharks team backline malfuctioned on Saturday and anther malfucntioning against Ulster is bound to have negatie implications, I give the Sharks a 50:50 chance to beat Ulster - nothing more,

Lions vs Connacht

I have a weird feeling that the high altitude and better defense may cause the Lions to beat Connacht, Wolhuter had a reasonably good game yesterday and athough not a matchwinner in the Sacha class - he is a dangerous flyhalf, with real thinkg ability, I think the Lions have really good outside backs that could reduce Connacht's attacking ability. Not easy to predict - but would not be surprised by a Lions win.

The Glasgow-Bulls game is the big game of the weekend and will likely decide who finishes second on the log. If Glasgow pick up nothing this weekend it potentially leaves them at risk of dropping to 4th, but I'd make them favorites for this game. Even if they win they will probably need to beat Benetton away to be sure of second place though a bonus point might do. Last game is away to Leinster, which will be very tough.

Bulls have Cardiff and the Dragons in their last two games so that should be 10 points in the bag.

Ulster vs Sharks is hard to call. Ulster have been poor this season but there has been a recent uptick in their performances. Sharks didn't impress me last weekend. I'd think I'd make Ulster marginal favorites.

Stormers-Benetton. Stormers play like they did against Connacht they will lose but they would be favorites at home, just need to shore up the defense.

Lions-Connacht. Lions are out of the running for a top 8 and looked in disarray at the weekend. Connacht thinks to scoring 15 bonus points are just about in the running for a top 8 but need a maximum 15 points from their last 3 games. They should fancy their chances and beat the Lions.

Think with the top 8, Scarlets are not going make it, very difficult last 3 games. Leinster at home and away to the Lions and Sharks. Can't see them getting results against either Leinster or the Sharks.

Cardiff, another very difficult run in. Munster at home, Bulls and Stormers away. Think they are also gonna fall out.

Stormers have Benetton, Dragons and Cardiff. Dragons is an absolute 5 point banker for Stormers, but Benetton is a potential banana skin. Cardiff as well but you still got make Stormers the winners there and a top 8 finisher. I'd say they will end up 5th.

Edinburgh have Zebre away, which is no longer a gimmie 5 points but they will be favourites, Connacht away which they would slight underdogs and Ulster at home, which again will be tight. I don't think they will make top 8.

Munster, have Cardiff away, Ulster and Benetton at home. They would be favorites for all 3. They should make top 8, probably 6th.

Benetton, Stormers away, Glasgow at home, Munster away. Very tough run in. Don't think they will make top 8.

Ulster have Sharks at home, Munster and Edinburgh away. I think they will sneak through with wins against Sharks and Edinburgh.

Connacht have, Lions away, Edinbugh at home and Zebre away. All winnable fixtures for my team but absolutely no room left for error.

Thanks for the above - your opinion of the above is comprehensive - it makes for interesting reading.

sdfgb

Gotta laugh. I'm not one for ref bashing, but I noticed it's something of a past time with South African fans and media outfits. I check news sites like South African Rugby Mag and Supersport and they are often highly critical of refs when the South African teams lose.

This weekend the ref Piardi who's usually quite good made two massive blunders in the Munster Bull's. Cameron Hanekon knocked on from his tap and go, that a few phases later led to the Bulls try and Munster where forced to play with 14 men for 14 minutes when Stephen Archer was forced off the pitch after he come on for Oli Jager who went off and failed a HIA. As this result in untested scrums the ref thought this required Munster lose a player, but clearly according tot he rules if the player was forced off by HIA, its not required. He eventually realized his mistake 14 minutes later.

Now in fairness to Munster's management they said those error's were not the reason they lost, but I just find it hilarious that Supersport made no mention of it other than to note that the Bull's where disadvantaged when the game went to uncontested scrums, if that happened the other way round they would writing whole paragraphs on the topic.