What a disgraceful weekend of rugby

By our so called top sides

What more can we expect when these stupid unions think it’s ok to field B sides, disrespecting the Champions Cup in preference for the less prestigious URC

Its fucking madness

Get your fucking priorities right SA rugby

The only player to come out with any credit this weekend was Manu Tsituka and to a lesser extent Theunissen, BJ Dixon, Ruben v Heerden, Mavesera, Willemse, David Kriel and Corne Rahl

What the hell has happened to Pollard, ever since his Bok demotion to 3rd in line his performances have justified his slip. Another player that has gone to shit is Masuku at 10 for the Sharks

At least the Lions did us proud in the Challenge Cup fielding their A side with Batho bagging man of the match

Have to agree with you there Dave…how can these young chaps get a winning attitude, which has been so key to our success, when they are sent out there to be slaughtered.

A classic case of the Boks doing us proud while our provincial sides are doing the polar opposite

Maybe SA rugby should launch an investigation into how matters are run at provincial level

This weekend taught us three things . . .

1. Our depth is not as good as we think it is. I know a lot of our teams were 2nd string sides but given that we are always boasting about our depth, this weekend was a wake-up call.
2. Rassie is under-appreciated as a coach. The same players play a heck of a lot better for Rassie than they do for their provincial coaches.
3. The Hapless Stompies are a one man team. Take Sacha out and they go from world-beaters to average at best.

The All Blacks are coming. We need to get back to winning ways.

Let's be honest, the URC and Champions Cup being played concurrently is a hot mess.

Don’t forget we’re all playing the Prem as well.

I don't like us playing in the northern hemisphere.

First off, rugby is a winter game.

Secondly, with the EPCR, the URC, and the Investec Champions League all part of the season, it's hard to know in which tournament your team is playing on any weekend making it hard to get invested..

Finally, New Zealand, Australia and the Pacific Island are weaker without us and the Southern Hemisphere is fast losing the dominance it had for so many decades.

I'd go back to Super Rugby in a heartbeat.

Well said, Rooinek ! It just makes no sense at all.

I don’t mind playing in the NH but I preferred us playing in the SH - better conditions and the ultimate challenge is playing against Kiwi sides

Secondly, with the EPCR, the URC, and the Investec Champions League all part of the season, it's hard to know in which tournament your team is playing on any weekend making it hard to get invested.

Problems seems to be marketing, they haven't done a great job of selling the Champions Cup to the South African public, fans don't seem to be aware of what it is. For what ever reason the URC has been marketed better.

Just to clarify the EPCR is the governing body that over see's the Investec Champions Cup (not league) and EPCR Challenge Cup. Both tournaments are on at the same weekends, with the Challenge Cup grand final being held the day before the Champions Cup final.

The Champions Cup should be seen as the rugby equivalent of the UEFA Champions League, while the lower tier Challenge Cup should be seen as the equivalent of UEFA Europea League.

The format of the Champions Cup needs to be looked at. It's simply too easy to get out of groups, that in the group stages teams frequently send weak teams to the away games and just focus on winning their home games, its not just the SA teams doing it. Hell you can even got out of group with just one win, its nonsense.

Stormer were really stupid though. They have a 5 point gap at the top of the URC, and while I know SA teams can't host a home semi final, they should have tried to get maximum points and the best possibly sending to get home last 16 and quarter finals.

As for the other SA teams, big pile of meh, frankly Sharks are dog poo, they will probably scrap through in the last 16 but they are just an also ran. Bulls were screwed once they lost their first home game. Fair play to Lions but its the Challenge Cup, so who really cares.

Sharks are ‘dogpoo’…what a turn of phrase you have……I assume that excludes the 4 Sharks who were part of the Bok team that beat Ireland recently?

Different team, different coaches, different competition. Another poor attempt at trolling, almost as dog poo as the Shark are at rugby.

Do try to answer the question.

Ou Rooitwit wants us to go back to playing superugby so we can prop up NZ and Oz financially and get screwed by their bent crooked refs.

No thanks. Until these down under cheats repent of all their nonsense we should continue playing the more demanding rugby we find in the NH.

Dave is right. Stop fielding second string sides in the superb Champions Cup. Surely the greatest club competition of all.

Rooitwit echoes my comment regarding the fact we don't have endless depth a situation made worse by us having numerous players plying their trade overseas. Rooitwit also is is of course right about Rassie. Amazing ou Rooitwit get a staggering 2 out of 3 points correct!

I feel my tuition of Rooitwit is bearing fruit after many years of coaching.

I would also like to say to the NH parasites you are importing players to prop your sides up. I trust you do realize that you do this because you are not good enough otherwise.

I think it was a disgrace that Dobson chose the team he did. A full strength Stormers would doubtless have thumped the Quins. This stupidity should never be allowed to happen again. I can take a loss but getting thrashed like that because if selections is intolerable.

Rooitwit made a point which is very evident. The Bulls Boks play much better under Rassie. But Rooitwit forgets the Stormers have won without Sascha.

Defence is also about attitude and the attitude of the Sharks and Bulls were poor.

I excuse the Stormers because that second string were simply out if their depth for the most part. Hopefully they will have learned what it takes to compete st this level and will work hard to improve.

All this makes the MGU complaints about Rassie and the Boks totally rediculous. You couldn't get it more wrong if you tried. Bwahahahahaha.

These are From World Rugby:

"The new guidelines state that players should:

1. Play no more than 30 games in a single season or six consecutive match weeks
2. Have a dedicated 5 week off season break
3. Be entitled to minimum rest periods should they be selected for international fixtures of at least 1 week.
4. Across a year, have 12 weeks of non-contact time"

I can get where the coaches are coming from even though I don't agree with it.

We're burning the candle from both ends and so the coaches have to prioritise the game they're willing to send the trackers to.

The Bulls have no excuse as they went full noise against Bristol but with the wrong gameplan. Pick the strongest scrum and lineout in the URC and then play 7s rugby. Also altitude is not a game plan.

Dobson thought he could get a bonus point or two and thats all they needed to ensure a top 2 finish and host the last 16 round. You can't play the 2nd team at home and expect the fans to cough up for tickets. They want to see their stars so he has to rest them for the home games.

As for the Sharks?? A basket case in a fish tank. Here's hoping JP can get them firing again although I think there are too many chiefs and not enough indians in that setup. I'm actually glad to see the back of Kolisi and if he could take some of the other Boks back with him that would be great. No hunger to play for the Black and White jersey.

Sharks look like the Stormers' academy these days :-)

@DbDraad .

Simmer down fella, We kept it under 50. :-)

"Simmer down fella, We kept it under 50. :-)"

Ja ja, well done...simmer se gat, al die spanne was k@k ie naweek...Stormers hell bent to set a challenge for themselves for the season ahead.... :-)