Inaugural weekend and panic buying. Probably two phrases you read or heard a lot of lately as the first ever United Rugby Championship kicked off in fine fashion whilst the country’s fuel crisis caused the panic buyers to rush to the petrol pumps in typical ‘don’t panic so we’ll bloody well panic’ mode.
Welcome to the review the weekend’s URC action with a slightly tongue-in-cheek nod to this week’s theme of the current fuel crisis. Get ready to fill up with a petrol-fuelled pun or two…
This week's roundup takes a fuel crisis themed look at the opening weekend of the URC Perhaps the pick of the pumps on the opening evening was to be found at the Kingspan where Ulster, fuelled by substitute scrum-half, Nathan Doak, raced to a 35-29 victory over Glasgow Warriors. Replacing the hamstrung John Cooney, the flame-haired Doak scored a try and kicked three conversions in a topsy-turvy tie which the Warriors, led through George Horne, and ultimately unlead-ed to finish in need of some lubricant.
Meanwhile, in South Wales, the newly-branded Cardiff Rugby (still playing in their distinctive-yet-now-banished-from-their-name, blue) took on the clan from Connacht. They say blue and green should never be seen, but as in Belfast, this was a match not to be missed a total of seven tries and no less drama with Cardiff’s new signing, Rhys Priestland and his replacement, Jarrod Evans, both off going off injured within the first quarter of the match. It was all hands to the pump then, as the Welsh side, attack took the correct Lane to beat the queue of green defenders, not once but twice to race away from their Irish hosts. The men from Galway ran out of gas in the second half after being just a single point behind at the interval despite Kieran Marmion matching Lane’s try-scoring endeavour for the visitors by notching two tries of his own.
Rounding up the opening night’s action was a battle of two animals as the Lions hunted their way to Parma smelling some Zebre blood. They weren’t to be disappointed either, as they feasted on a vulnerable Italian prey, putting their foot to the pedal by racing into an early 35 point lead, scoring five tries in little over the first 30 minutes of URC rugby. The hosts were able to find enough in their tank to mount a second half response that added some respectability to the scoreline but those hopes faded like all of our hopes of averting a national fuel crisis.
The Stormers were left as helpless as a DHL delivery driver out of petrol The inaugural (that word again) Saturday of the URC season saw another Italy-South Africa head-to-head, and this time it was the Italians who took the points as Benetton twice came from behind to pump their way into a late lead that left their visitors as helpless as a DHL delivery driver who’s just ran out of fuel on the side of the motorway. 'We were unable to reach you but we will try again another time', was the message from the beaten Stormers.
The Vodacom Bulls weren’t having much luck in delivering for their supporters over in Dublin either as they looked a shell of the side who won the Currie Cup just a few months ago. The Pretorian side were the only team to fail to register a try in the opening round of fixtures as they dug deep but found the well dry. Josh Van De Flier got the hosts off to a well, Flier, whilst Ross Byrne got perhaps the try of the weekend as his full tank, having replaced Jonny Sexton, was enough to finish a fine team move to leave the Bulls wishing they could panic buy ahead of Round 2.
Van de Flier got his side off to a... flier in their season openerThe long trip to the Irish Republic also proved a station too far for their countrymen, the Cell C Sharks, who became the third southern hemisphere side to go down to an opening defeat against a northern hemisphere rival, cue a national inquisition in the Rainbow Country. The Sharks couldn’t get out of second gear as they stalled against Munster at a lively Thomond Park. The returning prodigal son, Simon Zebo bookended the Irish side’s performance with two fine tries and reminded everyone (as if they needed reminding) of what an asset his energy is, crisis or not.
Prodigal son, Simon Zebo bookended an impressive Munster performance with two tries. Meanwhile, the Scarlets beat the queues and the traffic to make the long journey north to Edinburgh for the first competitive game at the club’s newly-built and newly named DAM Health Stadium (yeh, we’re not quite sure on that one either). The new ground played host to seven tries and 48 points as the home side edged a closely fought tie with Darcy Graham catching the eye, touching down not once but twice on the 3G turf. Ouch, those grass burns might sting like an overpriced fuel fill. Dam!
With an average of more than six tries per game, and almost 400 points scored, the gauntlet was well and truly laid down for the first derby of the new tournament.
Thankfully, the Ospreys had enough fuel for their short trip to Rodney Parade to take on rivals, the Dragons. After the drama of the weekend, this game rocked up calmly like the driver who’s ignored the headlines and avoided the panic buying, to let the proverbial storm pass. Filling his tank very much in the spotlight, was Gareth Anscombe, who made a welcome return to the XV for the visitors, kicking 12 of his side’s 27 points as they overturned a half-time deficit to claim local bragging rights with a four-point victory over their rivals.
If the tank of the parched rugby supporters across the Celtic nations and beyond was running on empty before the weekend's games, the opening round of fixtures will have topped it up to the brim ahead of what should be a very exciting, frenetic and unpredictable journey ahead.
Enjoy the journey.
