Fantasy Aviva Premiership season 4

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Welcome to the Aviva Premiership Season 4

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Teams

Bath RFC	InTheFastLane
Exeter Chiefs	Driver - RIP 606
Gloucester	Anonmattyt
Harlequins	Steven_Sharks
Leicester Tigers	LukeLovesLuka
London Irish	stnick88
London Wasps	Arry
Newcastle Falcons	Sgt_Pooly
Northampton Saints	Dammit_Chris
Sale Sharks	SirJohnnyEnglish
Saracens	LDCPete
Worcester Warriors	prop_lyd

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Links
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Aviva Premiership League Table
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Waiting List
1. Sam
2. pullthestrings
3. Bathite

Delve should start at 8 with faletau as impact. Lydiate 6 and warburton 7 would be tidy backrow. Like faletau and think I will be after him for next foreign.

Yeah exactly...Lydiate-Delve-Warbs would be an awesome br! Not sure about my next foregin as of yet...hopefully w.c will help.

How did Gray look when he came on Nick? I was in and out the last 20mins of match but think he got on.

AP Team of the Week sponsored by Ibex Earth...

1. Domingo (Saints)
2. Botha (Sarries)
3. Mujati (Quins)
4. Elstadt (Sarries)
5. Jack (Tigers)
6. Messam (Saints)
7. Robshaw (Newcastle)
8. Chabel (Sale)
9. Care (Sale)
10. Evans (Newcastle)
11. Siviatu (Saints)
12. Flutey (Quins)
13. Fruen (Sale)
14. Maitland (Newcastle)
15. Poitrenaud (Tigers)

That's a pretty tasty WC side....

Player Watch 2011/2012 - London Wasps:

Heartbeat of the Club: Tom Johnson - simply put if he played for Newcastle or Gloucester Johnson would not be lining up against Leicester this weekend. A great ball carrier and high work rate mark Johnson out as one of Wasps most valuable assets.

Star Player: Jamie Roberts - it has taken him the best part of two seasons to show signs of recovering his 2009 Lions form, but the end of last season and Roberts was causing defences trouble throughout the Premiership. Time will tell if that was because of the influence of Berrick Barnes but Arry's managerial style should continue to get the best out of the big Welshmen.

One to Watch: Billy Vunipola - at just 18 Billy Vunipola (younger brother of Saints prop Mako) has got the world at his feet - son of a former Tongan international the Vunipola the younger is already getting first team experience during the WC. Expect him to play in next year's under 20 World Cup.

Player Watch 2011/2012 - Newcastle Falcons

Heartbeat of the Club: Juan Smith - unbelievably dropped by Peter de Villiers in the build up to the World Cup, will ultimately cost the Boks the chance of retaining the trophy they won in 2007. Most definitely Newcastle's gain, and should ensure that England's most northern club remain in the top 4 throughout the WC.

Star Player: Nick Evans - this could be quite a surprising call considering that Newcastle have Richie McCaw, Johnny O'Connor and Conrad Smith, but for us Evans is only second behind Dan Carter in the world's top fly halves. He wins games and securing Evans from Bath in pre-season was arguably Pooly's greatest bit of business.

One to Watch: Alex Gray - a fantastic under 20 World Cup, saw Alex Gray gain raving reviews, a combative, all action backrower whose pace and eye for the tryline will alert a number of top Premiership clubs. The issue around Gray is whether Newcastle will give him a taste of first team action this season with Pooly notoriously reluctant to give his academy players a taste of first team action.

Players to Watch 2011/2012 - Northampton Saints

Heartbeat of the Club: Carl Hayman - a stalwart of the Saints pack, a man who has never taken a backward step and the rock that Saints build their powerful pack around. You can't help but think that the All Blacks would be a far better team if they were anchored by Hayman. Club captain and one of the best tighthead's in world rugby.

Star Player: Sergio Parisse - for a club that builds its team around a formidable forward unit, Northampton Saints are able to call upon the leadership and flair of the greatest number 8 of the professional era - Sergio Parisse. It is no surprise that Saints have struggled each time Parisse has picked up long-term injuries - an injury free return from the World Cup could be the catalyst to turn Saints into a top 4 side again.

One to Watch: George Ford - the first question was where to start, in the first game of the season Saints gave full Premiership debuts to Christian Wade and Joe Launchbury. During the 2010/11 season Liam Gill, Julian Savea, Tyler Bleyendal and Manu Tuilagi all cemented themselves in the first team squad. However, this year's player to watch is George Ford, who at 16 became the youngest player to ever play in the Premiership. Currently on loan at Exeter, Ford should see his fair share of first team rugby this season.

Players to Watch 2011/2012 - Sale Sharks

Hearbeat of the Club: Neil Best - he's been passed around quite a few clubs in recent seasons but Best has got back to his, erm well, best under SJE's management. He plays every game as if its his last and his workrate is up there with the world class players in the Premiership. Will shine during the World Cup and would imagine he will be top of the turnovers come November.

Star Player: Johnny Sexton - having won the tussle for the 10 shirt from Ronan O'Gara with something approaching ease, Sexton is fast becoming one of the world's best flyhalves. Composure, attacking flair and a great kicking game make him as valuable to Ireland as Sean O'Brien, Brian O'Discoll and Paul O'Connell. A world class talent, whose shone for Sale for the best part of two seasons.

One to Watch: Matt Kvesic - yet another young English backrow player, Kvesic is comfortable all across the backrow and was widely tipped as the most likely to be future England international after last season's u20 World Cup. A key part of his development will be whether he is given game time during the World Cup - if he is we expect him to take his chance brilliantly.

"The issue around Gray is whether Newcastle will give him a taste of first team action this season with Pooly notoriously reluctant to give his academy players a taste of first team action.."

I like to win thats why!!!! lol

Just dropping in to let you all know it's 32 degrees , spent all day by\in pool with waiter service bringing me my pints

Only downside is outside there's cars driving paste waving Libya flags with people hanging out the window shouting free gadaffi! Lol

Thought you might pick up on that Pooly lol.

Driver there was a reason Libya was so cheap to go on holiday, should have stuck with your first choice Afghanistan...

You not doing your player watch for Saracens then Chris?

It was a fair point Chris. Afghan is lovely this time of year I'll have you know!

Watch yr self Michael, they like little blonde Northerners over there!

Especially for you Pete...and I am up way passed my bed time now!

Players to Watch 2011/2012 - Saracens

Heartbeat of the Club: Joe Van Niekerk - we've asked every single rugby pundit we could find to try and explain why Joe Van Niekerk is not in the South African squad - no one could tell us. One explanation was that he is actually too good for them! He screams world class and is an ever present for Saracens, leading from the front and is a menace in defence and attack. Could be one of the players of the season.

Star Player: Morgan Parra - the player that makes Saracens tick. The little Frenchmen controls the tempo, balances forward and backplay perfectly and is up there with Will Genia as the best no9 in this league. He is vital to the Sarries cause and is going to be sorely missed whilst France are involved in New Zealand. When he's back in the black shirt, expect Saracens to march straight back into top 4 contention.

One to Watch: Owen Farrell - Owen has already featured a number of times for the Sarries first team and LCD Pete has won many admirers for his trust in playing young English players. Farrell could be the solution to Saracens current problem in midfield, he plays and reads the game like a veteran, has one of the best kicking games in the league and tackles like a man twice his size. Twelvetrees will be looking over his shoulder for the trip to Bath.

dammit_chris wrote:Farrell could be the solution to Saracens current problem in midfield, he plays and reads the game like a veteran, has one of the best kicking games in the league and tackles like a man twice his size. Twelvetrees will be looking over his shoulder for the trip to Bath.

Have you got a spy in my training camp leaking information on my teamsheet or something?!?

Players to Watch 2011/2012 - Worcester Warriors

Heartbeat of the Club: Sebastian Chabel - the caveman is one of the most instantly recognisable figures in world rugby, the flowing locks, the beard and the rampaging runs. Overlooked by France, Chabel will be looking to take his frustration out on the Premiership and there aren't many who can stop him crashing over that gainline. A key player for Worcester, but is likely to feature more as a lock than in the backrow, which could be a mistake.

Star Player: Morne Steyn: Prop will be the first to admit that his team arent going to face a relegation battle this season - to win those battles you are going to need a cool, calm and deadly accurate place kicker. Step forward Morne Steyn, the man who could single handidly save Worcester from relegation with the continuous collection of points from penalties and drop goals. He isnt going to set up many tries, but is guaranteed 15+ points per game - if he avoids injury then Worcester will avoid relegation.

One to Watch: Greg Tonks - signed from the Leicester academy a few seasons ago, Tonks is an exciting, try scoring full back who will be eager to prove that he can do a job in the Premiership. His positional play is exceptional and could be the player who injects some try scoring threat into the Worcester backline. Don't be surprised if he starts a few games for Worcester on the wing during the WC period.

Why do you think I sold you Farrell Pete? ;-)

Arg side:

15.Martin Rodriguez, 14.Gonzalo Camacho, 13.Gonzalo Tiesi, 12.Santiago Fernandez, 11.Horacio Agulla, 10.Felipe Contepomi (captain), 9.Nicolas Vergallo, 8.Juan Fernandez Lobbe, 7.Juan Manuel Leguizamon, 6.Julio Farias Cabello, 5.Patricio Albacete, 4.Manuel Carizza, 3.Juan Figallo, 2.Mario Ledesma, 1.Rodrigo Roncero.

Replacements: 16.Agustin Creevy, 17.Martin Scelzo, 18.Mariano Galarza, 19.Alejandro Campos, 20.Alfredo Lalanne, 21.Marcelo Bosch, 22.Juan Jose Imhoff.

I'm in Tunisia and there waving the flags lol

Is there a iPhone app which let's me watch itv?

The boy Figallo is a beast Pooly, interested to see how he goes at tighthead for the Argies.

Didn't he start against Wales?!?! If so, not too well.

France: Cedric Heymans; Vincent Clerc, Aurelien Rougerie, Fabrice Estebanez, Maxime Medard; Francois Trinh-Duc, Dimitri Yachvili; Fabien Barcella, William Servat, Nicolas Mas; Julien Pierre, Lionel Nallet; Thierry Dusautoir (capt), Imanol Harinordoquy, Raphael Lakafia.

Replacements: Dimitri Szarzewski, Jean-Baptiste Poux, Pascal Pape, Julien Bonnaire, Morgan Parra, David Skrela, David Marty.


Australia: 15 Kurtley Beale, 14 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 13 Anthony Fainga'a, 12 Pat McCabe, 11 Digby Ioane, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Will Genia, 8 Radike Samo, 7 David Pocock, 6 Rocky Elsom, 5 James Horwill (c), 4 Dan Vickerman, 3 Ben Alexander, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Sekope Kepu.

Replacements: 16 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 17 James Slipper, 18 Rob Simmons, 19 Ben McCalman, 20 Scott Higginbotham, 21 Luke Burgess, 22 James O'Connor.

Not sure mate, didn't watch the Argies v Wales game, only tend to watch top international rugby

England shouldn't be at all worried facing that side. If we perform as we did against Ireland it should be a comfortable win.

That Argies team will be very tough, just hope the rain stays away for the games versus Argentina and Scotland - I think we've got too many good players if the conditions allow us to play our game properly...

If we win our group can see us going all the way to the final, escpc as NZ, SA and Ireland should all stay in the other group!

Argentina rely too much on Contepomi these days, can see the pressure being too much for him and his kicking go astray. With Wilkinson we will win this game and the Wilko, Tins, Tuilagi midfield will be too strong defensively for anyone in our group.

French + Oz line ups bit different to what I'd go with

Marty + Parra should be starting

JOC should start

Not really tough games for starters so imagine both are resting a bit.

JOC was never going to start after that team gave NZ a beating. I've got a feeling from reading the press that JOC might come on at 12 at some point, think it's something Deans has been thinking about but has been short on the wings.

5/2 split suprising for Oz.

Same as NZ game I think Luke. JOC cover 10-15 so is a canny option on the bench. Think Deans expects a bruising upfront battle.

Guys: random question: who has horstmann/an eq 7 available to loan?

Sale have Horstman prop, and I can do you Scaysbrook or Rowan on loan.

Does anyone use twitter and follow Will Greenwood? He's been tweeting his notes from the weekends games, interesting to see his thoughts on things.

I do Pete. Massively disagree that Hodgson is the heartbeat of the team, but do agree that Bowden is sheer class!

will they try and get Bowden to play for England do you think?

dammit_chris wrote:will they try and get Bowden to play for England do you think?

They've tried to get everyone else who's a SH reject

I'm a big Hodgson fan nick, just think that he needs the right ten outside him, and would play much better with Bowden there than Jarvis.

sounded from Greenwood as if he thinks Newcastle are going down.

prop_lyd wrote:

dammit_chris wrote:will they try and get Bowden to play for England do you think?

They've tried to get everyone else who's a SH reject

George North?

We're easy pickings Pete, same every year.

Bowden would command a lot quicker ball off Hodgson and would improve Hodgsons game, but still think Hodgson is too slow getting the pass away from rucks and hiss pass is sometimes sloppy.

If Bowden re-signs with Irish then definitely can see him getting a call up. Would solve a problem at 12. Bowden / Tuilagi is a pretty good future combo if you ask me.

Prefer Bowden at 10 than 12, but not convinced he's international class.

He's certainly not an international standard goal kicker which is a problem if you have him at 10. As a creative player and passer I don't think there is many English players better. Solid in defence as well for a small lad.

I'm still hoping that Cipriani comes back into top form - our backline can be so stagnant and a 10 that can unlock defences like he can would be frightening when we have Tuilagi, Foden and Ashton in it!

He might never have the maturity to do it though, such a waste - wonder where he will play for the Rebels next season, with Beale and O'Connor playing for them - imagine O'Connor could end up at 12. That's some backline they have!

I still hope Twelvetrees will come through, but to do that I am certain he will have to leave Leicester because he doesnt get the game time - he must be 23-24 now and if he was good enough he should be playing week in week out for them - beginning to think he might miss out on being a top level player, unless he moves clubs!

Ah trust you to bite SirJ....I reckon you have something against me!!

Players to watch out for in the Aviva Premiership this season:

Jake Abbott - Worcester, plays 6 or 7 - think he's about 23 now, but is meant to be the reason why Worcester let Tom Wood leave for Saints. Eye for the tryline, really good at the breakdown. Could be on a few big clubs radars soon enough.

Matt Mullan - Worcester - best young English prop going, if he isnt in the full England squad by the time of the 6Nations then there is something seriously wrong with the England set up!

Christian Wade - faster than Varndell, the size of Shane Williams, one of the most natural try scorers I've seen. He's just over 4ft though...

Joe Launchbury - won player of the U20 World Cup last year, will play a lot of gmae time for Wasps, espc if Worsley announces his retirement as expected because of a neck injury.

Owen Farrell - going to be tough for him to get as much gametime this year with Sarries stupidly signing Hodgson, but Farrells one of the best talents about, he's more of a 12 than a 10 and Barritt could end up being pushed into the 13 shirt soon enough.

Jonny May - what a performance last week, didnt realise he had so much pace. Could well emerge this season as the answer to England's midfield problems - has a great understanding with Sharples too.

Alex Waller - Saints prop, who I let Pete have and this will come back and bite me massively on the a ss - really good scrummager, mobile around the park. Will be hard pushed for gametime, but he's an awesome prospect.

I am bored today...and workding from home!

I haven't seen the Worcester game from the weekend but according to Will Greenwood Mullan was fantastic in the scrum.

Needs an injury free season to be honest and to do it consistently before England think about bringing him in.

good shouts there Chris.

From an Irish perspective, I think Matt Garvey is our best prospect, whilst JJ looks handy.

Aye I agree Chris: Johnny May looks awesome and must admit that's rather exciting! Keep an eye out for Gareth Evans when he gets gametime for Glaws at 8-only 19.

Pete, Mullan is pretty special - he reminds me of Phil Vickery in the sense he can scrummage and get around the park. Personally think he's the best young English prop around.

When you look at the AP properly there are so many great prospects coming through the ranks at the moment, especially in areas where we've failed to produce good ones for a no. of years e.g. frontrow, second row.

All the money the RFU places in development is finally reaping rewards.

Don't get me wrong Chris, I know the potential Mullan has, hence the fact I have kept him in this game through a long spell out injured and a year in the Championship.

He could go all the way, he just needs to show that can do it consistently.