It’ll last two years” was stated by Northern Hemisphere (mainly English) pundits. Now in its fourth season, the United Rugby Championship is continuing to prove why it is such an excellent league. Round 6 saw brutal battles, unlikely comebacks, and former champions falling, each match filled with drama and delight. Local heroes Cardiff bounced back from 19–0 at half-time to come up victorious 21–19, after Ulster scrum-half Nathan Doak’s long-distance attempt fell short five metres of the sticks. Springboks-laden Sharks trounced Münster 41–24 in Durban, showing their intentions, now having defeated two previous champions (Glasgow having been beaten the week before). Leinster became the only undefeated side, beating the Lions 24–6 in a hard fought tussle at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin.
Cardiff, having only won 50% of their matches, and suffering a heavy defeat to Glasgow Warriors, proved that they can fight with the best by not only taking on Ulster and winning, but by taking control of the match after the 30th minute. The Blue and Blacks provided a masterclass in defence, refusing to allow Ulster to get over the gainline and continually pushed them back, as well as fought well in the air, even when the kicking precision was weak from both sides.
Furthermore, the Hollywood Bets Sharks announced their true abilities, and desire to recover from last year’s yo-yoing form, looking for consistency. Makazole Mapimpi in particular has rejuvenated himself into even greater form as he looks to secure his spot not only in the club but also the national side. Münster were no match for the Sharks, with lacklustre attack and ineffective defence, able to be sliced up and torn apart by the scintillating backline. Leinster vs the Lions a couple of years ago would have only had one predicted result, but the Lions showed their potential in the first 40 before dropping off in the tail end. The Irish province of Leinster still remains a dominant force in European rugby, but the young Lions side displayed elements of excellence and could be a challenger for the title of the URC or the Challenge Cup this season. The reason these three have been highlighted is that they all display elements of what makes the URC so incredible. Excellent backline play, strong scrummaging, and interesting tricks at the ruck is at the core of what allows rugby to thrive at its best, and these three matches had it all.
The URC itself is a celebration of such diverse teams and playstyles, embracing its cross-continental nature and developing rivalries with teams who previously had no connection. The Stormers vs Münster five years ago would have been a great hypothetical pub question, now it is a true rivalry, each match an absolute delight. The same goes with the Bulls and Glasgow Warriors. The three aforementioned matches were not the only ones played, but to me they truly highlighted the pure essence of the URC and its excellence. A league above and beyond what has been seen before in rugby, a shining light of what is to come, with stars emerging almost daily it seems sometimes. We can only be glad that it is here to stay, because it truly is what rugby is all about.