It’s a mystery to me, the game commences, for the usual fee, plus expenses, He could throw that ball by you, Make you look like a fool boy. As neither Mark Knopfler nor Bruce Springsteen actually sang. But this is it, after months of travel and travails, outlandish skill and outrageous decisions, flashy footwork and plodding power, sleight of hand, nothing bland, we arrive at the knockouts of the URC. The last eight sides still in with a shout, four matches this weekend that could produce some stunning upsets or predictable eye-rolling. Let’s see.
Glasgow Warriors vs Connacht sets the ball rolling in Scotland on Friday night, with 1st vs 8th on the log being about as deceptive as you’ll get. Glasgow are stacked full of internationals and top the table after a fine season, but they had a couple of notable wobbles later on, losing badly on their tour of South Africa, and sneaking past Ulster in the final fixture to guarantee top spot. Connacht really came out of nowhere after a slow start to the season, but arguably finished the league phase as the form side – a solitary loss to the Lions (of course) in Johannesburg their only defeat since the end of January. Eight wins from their last nine, including wins over the Stormers, Munster – and Glasgow underpinning their pedigree, despite the lack of big-ticket names. Can they pull off what would be one of the shocks of the season thus far? Unlikely – the Warriors have a 100% record at home this season and are fiendishly difficult to beat on their home patch.
Verdict: The Weedge by a whisker!
Bulls vs Munster gets Saturday rolling on the highveld at the ridiculous time of 1:30pm this side, when most parents and kids are still at schools for rugby. Oh well. Both sides had indifferent starts to the campaign, but both have gathered a head of steam lately. The Bulls have only lost two URC matches this year (both to the Stormers) and have scalped Munster, Cardiff and the Lions during that run (as well as Edinburgh to avoid outrage). Both home losses were against local opposition, with a perfect record against European teams. A helluva pack of forwards and some good outside backs along with Pollard’s boot has seen off most at Loftus for a couple of seasons now, but Munster ran them desperately close a few weeks back – 3 points in it. Munster? Won six of their first seven URC matches this season and folks were talking about them being back. Since then, though it’s five wins and six losses, which suggests a side still struggling to get on a run and to finish off the tight matches. Both sides are capable of winning, both have the odd brainfart to undermine them too.
Verdict: Bulls by bugger-all!
Stormers vs Cardiff has upset written all over it. But who is the underdog? Cardiff gave the Stormers a lesson in cohesive, quick-thinking rugby a couple of weeks ago and won’t fear Cape Town Stadium, close to Llandudno, a fabulous, overpriced beach community down there. The Stormers got off to a flyer this season, with eight wins on the bounce, bookended by Leinster at home and then four in Europe, with Munster the final one. After that, though, they’ve spluttered through a series of embarrassing performances, their defence more passive than a noun in a corporate training manual, and their attack more ragged than a tramp’s coat in a tempest. They’ve lost confidence and there are dark mutterings in the camp. The Diff gave them the stiff in the last round, but have been mercurial in their own right this season: two relatively heavy defeats to Glasgow and the Bulls aside, most of their matches have finished within a score – eleven out of the other sixteen. They’re difficult to put away, but can also be their own worst enemies, or perhaps are lacking a little on the bench? A wild ride in, with three wins and three losses, but crucially, all the losses were away, with two in South Africa.
Verdict: Stormers by a sailor’s stubble.
Leinster vs Lions: Obviously the rugby world is backing the Lions to slay the rough beast that slouches towards Scotstoun. Not as obvious is how the Lions will achieve this most magnificent of results. Leinster may be battered and bruised from their hammering by Bordeaux, but they still have pretty much a British and Irish Lions side there. Definitely an Irish international side. Despite whispers of Jacques Nienaber stitching them from the inside, they remain a formidable side, well oiled and with excellent depth. A few injuries for sure, but the Lions are without three key players too – and without anywhere near the squad depth Leinster have. The Pride of Joburg ran Leinster close three weeks ago, being within a score until the last 10 minutes or so, before falling away having tackled themselves to a standstill. They stayed in Ireland and have had two weeks to prepare, whilst Leinster have been battling for higher honours. The word is that they’ve taken the lessons on board from that last match and have a plan. But as Mike Tyson said, “everybody got a plan ‘til they get punched in the face.” I fear we’re going to get punched in the face.
Verdict: The Lions will be more brave, brave Sir Robin than Killer Rabbit of Caerbannog slayers. Leinster by a length.
Deliberations by Deebee7
Good words Deebee.
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Have to say, I’m not overly confident of Bristol’s chances against Bath this evening.
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Words Deebs.
‘Mon ra Weedge!!
‘Mon ra Lions!!
Sadly for Trisk and Thaums’ Mister I think it’ll be SA wins in the other 2 games.
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Bugger.
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Nearly 10 mins played and Bristol haven’t conceded any points yet, I’ll take that as a win. I think we’re helped by Finn not playing tonight.
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Good start by Connacht, but Glasgow are so dangerous with ball in hand. Wow! Yellow already.
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Bristol seem to have a working defence, for the most part. Bath have finally breached it, after 20mins. A couple of big carries by Joe C and Ted Hill and then Ollie Lawrence dives over from close range. 0-7
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I haven’t liked Connacht very much (sorry, Claw!) since they lost Pat Lam. This card probably won’t be their last.
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Leinster will be severely diminished in the arse stakes (in many senses) next season.
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Bloody Ben Spencer with a great snipe into the Bristol 22 and Pepper’s on his shoulder to score. 0-12 after 30mins.
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That’s a big loss for Leinster! Good article explaining the ins and outs of it.
If I were Farrell, I wouldn’t replace him with Stockdale, but perhaps Zac Ward, despite the nightmare performance he put in last week.
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Bristol do a score! Harding over, from a lovely disguised move from a tap-pen. 7-12, 5mins left in the half.
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Booo! Bath score again just before half time. Teams go in 7-19.
At least we’re not 61pts down, like last week 🤷♂️
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There’s another completely terrifying pic of Blair here: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/may/29/tony-blair-says-he-is-all-about-the-future-but-his-vision-is-woefully-stuck-in-the-past
He makes Bond villains look soft and cuddly.
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For a moment, I thought Glasgow had fucked up an easy try there! But they’re looking at something anyway.
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Ooh, yellow for Arundall and a penalty try for Bristol, as the winger just gets a finger to a long pass to LRZ. 14-19.
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Try chalked off.
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Ooh, I thought Bristol were in trouble for a second. They cock up the restart, concede a scrum and then a pen from that. Bath are camped on the line, but Harding makes a good intervention and forces a scrum Bristol’s way.
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Glasgow score a nice one that I don’t think will be contested.
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Yep, 21-7.
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Arse. LRZ gets the ball, chips the ball into the 22 but knocks on trying to gather over the line.
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Genge just flattened Karl Dixon.
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Dixon being the ref? Ha! How to make friends and influence people….
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They appear to be using some kind of gardening tool to stretcher a Connacht player off the pitch.
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To be fair, Dixon stepped back into the path of a Baby Rhino. All smiles after.
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Max Lahiff has finally dome something more than flex his muscles and get folded at the scrum. Drivers over from short range and forces the ball to the floor. 21-19, 66mins.
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Bristol defending in their 22, Underhill flies into the side of a ruck and catches Thacker straight in the head with an arm. Ref goes “nah, it’s fine”. Not even for in at the side.
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Glasgow score again to make it 33-21 with less than 6 mins to go.
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Ted Hill sticks his shoulder into Moroni’s jaw and Dixon goes “nah, just his shoulder”.
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Genge should have hit him harder.
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And that’s the final score.
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Carreras is going for a 55m+ penalty, om the 83rd min. It goes wide and Bristol play on! It’s knocked on. We win, but miss the top 4.
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Phew!
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Can’t say you ever looked like losing, BB!
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Echo that, Thauma. Weedge always looked in control after leveling matters up early on. Not just because of their wonderful attacking lines, but defensive organisation was excellent for the most part too.
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Spot on so far, Deebs, except for the margins!
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Missed both matches earlier, going to a birthday and playing pickle ball. Don’t ask. Was actually more fun than I thought it would be. Bulls travelling to Glasgow next week should be a cracker. Stormers almost certainly travelling to Dublin next week, but can’t see them doing much there even with a big win today.
Would love the Lions to provide a massive upset, but can’t see it happening. May not see it happening one way or another if this damned red wine keeps accosting me.
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Yeah, Thauma, I’ve got Leinster by a decent margin so hopefully I get that badly wrong too LIONS! 🦁
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It would be fun to see an upset!
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Sorry Deebs, but the game’s at Murrayfield next week. Sort of hope that the Bulls do go to the wrong stadium.
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Would love to see a match at Murrayfield. Been there, but not for a game. It would be great if the sides i wanted to see were there too!
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Never actually been to Murrayfield, either for a game or a gig. Would like to go on the tour at some point.
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Keep clicking on the Leinster/Lions game and getting ice hockey instead! Not sure what’s going on.
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Leinster find acres of space out wide and stroll in for the first try. 7-0 with the extras after 10 minutes. Lions lose a player to injury too.
Losing your lineout and conceding a soft penalty after the restart doesn’t help. Leinster must score, but some great defence and held up over the line. Ah, but Leinster are purring and a few phases later the defence falls apart again. 14-0 after 15.
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Good old Premier Sport. They’ve put in on the wrong channel.
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Leinster carving open the Lions defence at will. Lowe fumbles a pass that would’ve put him in under the posts and the Lions get out of jail. But then kick direct into touch for the second time, keeping the pressure on themselves. Leinster are simply strangling them here.
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Lions with a 5m lineout and Clarkson in the bin. They need 7 points here. And Henco van Wyk goes over! 14-5 as Smith misses a relatively easy conversion.
Leinster making metres at will from the restart and have a penalty advantage. And finally they get over. Almost inevitable, really. 21-5 at the break.
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There’s a gulf in class here. Leinster just so organised and composed on both sides of the ball, whereas the Lions are losing lineouts, kicking out on the full and getting tackled behind the advantage line – when they’re not leaking yards on defence. Can’t see the Lions getting within 25 points of Leinster. Maybe more.
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Bah! Lions simply not at the races. Missing tackles, restarts and getting battered in the tackle. Finally get some continuity and flood into the Leinster half, only for Prendergast to intercept and canter in under the posts. 33-5 and getting messy.
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Lions toe it through and score and Smith misses another simple conversion, to go with his four kicks straight into touch. Having a mare on note. Last quarter is entirely academic. Mind you, the 2nd half has been pretty much from the off.
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