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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Waiting List
1. Sam
2. pullthestrings
3. Bathite

i think he will Pete - the year in the Championship did him the world of good and he gained even more experience there against a lot of experienced and tough front row opponents. Hope he avoids going to somewhere like TIgers or Saints though as he wont get the gametime he needs - was amazed Kitchener went to Tigers, think that move will stall his career by a few years.

Guys: what boot do Robinson and Vesty kick off?

Robinson - left
Vesty - right

Awesome cheers Pete!!

back now.

Chris I will try and get my team in tonight or early tomorrow. Will do tactics after you've put yours in

Nz:

1. Tony Woodcock
2. Andrew Hore
3. Owen Franks
4. Brad Thorn
5. Ali Williams
6. Jerome Kaino
7. Richie McCaw (c)
8. Victor Vito
9. Jimmy Cowan
10. Daniel Carter
11. Isaia Toeava
12. Sonny Bill Williams
13. Ma’a Nonu 
14. Richard Kahui
15. Israel Dagg
Replacements:
16. Corey Flynn
17. Ben Franks
18. Anthony Boric
19. Sam Whitelock
20. Piri Weepu
21. Colin Slade
22. Cory Jane

resting players early. Makes sense I suppose. 5 or so player there who I wouldn't expect to start in the strongest NZ side.

Very pleased to see Anthony Faainga playing for Oz. His defence is as good as I've ever seen. You can understand JOC not starting after the last Oz performance but still surprised he didn't go back in.

Anybody seen a AP team of the week around. Didn't see much this week and seen no highlights so could do with being clued in.

"There might be the same 10 or 12 (players) on a regular basis,'' he said. "We've got a group of players who are going to play a lot of the games, and there's going to be not a lot of games for some other people."


Maybe his side isn't what we might think...

1. Tony Woodcock
2.
3. Owen Franks
4. Brad Thorn
5. Ali Williams
6. Jerome Kaino
7. Richie McCaw (c)
8. Victor Vito
9. Jimmy Cowan
10. Daniel Carter
11. Isaia Toeava
12.
13. Ma’a Nonu  (12)
14.
15.

Would they be the regulars?

Not sure who does it these days Steven, but I'd have Varndell, Southwell, Wentzle and Poff from Wasps - actually throw in Chris Bell there too. Then Mullan and Goode from Worcester - there was a young Leicester wing who got two tries. From the Saints game Dowson was a standout, and their new second row (Manu I think) had a good game - but the young Glaws centre May had a blinder.

I'd say they were

1. Woodcock
2.
3. Franks
4. Thorn
5.
6. Kaino
7. McCaw
8. Read
9. Cowan
10. Carter
11.
12. Nonu
13. Smith
14.
15.

Would be my guess with SBW swapping in.

not sure about Cowan
Mealamu should be a regular

Steve's is more close to been regulars for me. Woodcock & Cowen the only two I think they're question marks over. Woodcock really needs some form and Weepu seems to be prefered over Cowen lately.

Don't think Toeava is anywhere near a starter especially with the wing talent available. Vito will start first few games with Read struggling but I imagine Read is one of the first names on the teamsheet these days.

Read definitely a guarantee'd starter
agree woodcock needs form but is a class act

Was Woodcocks first game back last week and was pretty poor. Think they'll be after getting him as much gametime as poss as they only have Franks to cover.

Hearing rumours Cueto is out for the first game, with Armitage to start in his place.
Be quite pleased with that to be honest.

Me too nick. Cueto has not done it for a while. That news is confirmed. Think we missed a trick in not taking sharples for impact.

Armitage has looked dangerous

Yeh would of liked to see Sharples involved as he is a more natural winger than Delon. Sure Delon will do a good job though, definitely more dangerous than Cueto ball in hand.

Yes i think injury may be forcing MJ into playing his best side by accident. Think armitage will link well and offer more threat.

Cueto has been great for england just thinking he is coming to an end and his drop off in pace has been notable. especially with all these new ridiculously quick people around

Still can't believe they didn't take Sharples, backrow looks a bit thin too with Moody injured

personally I struggle to see Armitage making an impact on the wing.

why do you think that Steve?

Simply because I remember him being very average on the wing before he tried his hand at full back. I am not a believer in the idea that a good full back will automatically make a good winger. I do however prefer him there to Banahan

What has cueto offered attacking wise for a while steven. i like armitage as a player although often think we should look elsewhere due to his stupid behaviour.for me a fully fit and firing armitage offers much more than cueto in attack.

Cueto is really good defensively and his positioning is great just seems to have lost his threat

Cueto has clearly worked with Ashton and Foden that much is obvious to anyone. He has played with Foden before and the communication between the 3 is excellent.

I feel a back 3 should have at least one person who excels in defence and positioning and untill foden ups his game to that level Cueto is the best option we have.

Armitage is pretty solid in defence its just his attitude which lets him down but he has never shown that for england, just irish.

I knew Mattias Aguero hadnt played in a while but didnt realise till I went looking that his last game before this week for Aironi was January! He didnt get much game time at all last season!!

good research there Johnny

Not much form to go on...
Had to get it in Nick

No worries. I won't bring up any of your injured players dont worry!

You mean my lads who were all recently injured but whom all had cracking seasons last year? Bekker and Care cruelly missing the world cup... Crane doing his knee in just before the start of the season... Those injuries?

Or are we talking about the long term injuries with no recent form at all??

On another note its great to have the season back up and running!!

Saw the Ulster Glasgow game earlier. Spence was looking bang in form Pete. Think he will be involved with Ireland come the 6 nations at 12 to blood him in before moving to 13. Unless Kidney does the unthinkable and moves BOD to 12 and lets Spence have a crack at 13

From what I've seen Spence would have a horrible time at 12 at international level.

Wouldn't be his fault as his not his position. Can see BOD retiring from International if Ireland have a good World Cup. Try to prolong his Leinster Career

Spence has all the attributes to be a top ball carrying 12 but would need to work on his passing to make it as a top class international there. If Tindall can play 12 internationally I think Spence more then can. Much more suited to 13 though. Could be potentially world class at 13. For all the talk of Tuilagi in England Spence has already run rings around him

I have never seen Spence as a physical player and don't see why you'd play him at 12 instead of 13. I watch an awful lot of Ulster so its not just one or two viewings I'm judging him on.

Particularly with Fergus Mcfadden as a potential 12 I don't see why Spence would get ahead of him as a 12 in the Ireland ranks.

When did Spence run rings round Tuilagi?

Spence isnt in the same league as Tuilagi, it was one international game where the Irish pack put England on the backfoot and gave their backline all of the ball. One game doesnt make a player - look at how Tuilagi has gone on and developed since, Spence hasnt progressed at the same speed. Has better skills than Tuilagi, but physically dwarfed by our English powerhouse!

He's never a 12 either, if you are going to blood him in the Ireland team and not at 13 then you play him on the wing. He hasnt got the attributes to play international rugby there - he's one of the best youngsters in the game.

SJE Tindall is a top class player, no matter what anyone else says, defensively he's one of the best of all time, and a leader of any team. That's why he can play 12 - Spence shouldnt be moved there at all, agree with Steven on that.

you get my PM Pete. you happy?

Got it mate, chuffed. You know it makes sense.

Steve

Spence may not be the biggest but is a very physical player who certainly punches above his weight defensively. He's played a fair bit at 12 for Ulster in the latter part of last season, but is definitely a better 13. As his distribution improves, which it is doing, and he gains experience he could be a very good 12.

dammit_chris wrote:Spence isnt in the same league as Tuilagi, it was one international game where the Irish pack put England on the backfoot and gave their backline all of the ball. One game doesnt make a player - look at how Tuilagi has gone on and developed since, Spence hasnt progressed at the same speed. Has better skills than Tuilagi, but physically dwarfed by our English powerhouse!

Chris, that's a daft comment. You say he's not in the same league as Tuilagi but then say he has better skills, that is contradictory. Realistically if England had an outside centre in the class of BOD, Tuilagi would not yet be an international, in the same way that Spence is not.

In any case they are very different players, and both at the start of what should be long international careers, so any comparisons would be best off coming a few years down the line.

Pete, Spence isn't in Tuilagi's league - when they played against each other they were very similar but over the last 12 months Tuilagi has developed far, far better than Spence has. Not sure many people would disagree with that and not really a daft comment, just my opinion.

I think Spence is a great player and good prospect, was gutted when you signed him as I would have gone for him too! Just think right now Tuilagi has developed quicker and is a better player.

Chris, i'm not disputing who is the better player, what I am saying is your comment doesn't make sense. You say that Spence is not in Tuilagi's league, but then say that Spence has better skills and intimate that the only dominance that Tuilagi has over Spence is his physicality.

Just seems a contradictory statement to me.

Simon amor has better skills than almost any scrum half but is he better than genia eg?

Pressed send too early. Meant to say lots of 7s players have better skills than other 15s players does not make them better. Carlos Spencer had better skills than carter but carter a better all round game by a mile. Think chris's point is spence has a bag of skills but tuilagi has better game and some exceptional points ie physicality.

Seen spence a few times and looks raw. Some people were saying Chris Henry was better than ferris a while ago but he now looks a club player. It's the entire skill set and more important over all game performance and intelligence that count. So many Polynesians are dynamic and exciting and super skilled. You don't see them at ten for the ab's though

Mat can you be my spokesman from now on please lol

Chris this will not surprise anyone on here that in my opinion. A good big un beats a good small one most of the time. I like my forwards uncompromising and backs to sparkle. However I generally prefer ball players in the backs with a bit of bosh ie chance to play what's in front.

All about balance. For me spence is callow currently although talented. I have not seen him that much but would def see him 13 or wider for experience. Not dissimilar to johnny may in that respect.

Centres development seems to be slower than other positions eg 10s often learn at 15 etc. If a centre is not quick enough for wing they often wait a long time in English rugby.

Spence has played wing when I have seen him
Before. Ulster are great for talent development. I think spence will be a star but will take a while.

How good is Trimble these days?? Love the sa ulster 8/6 wanneberg a monster.

Cave decent also as is McFadden. Great place to learn. Who is ten at ulster this year ?

England: Ben Foden, Chris Ashton, Manu Tuilagi, Mike Tindall (captain), Delon Armitage, Jonny Wilkinson, Richard Wigglesworth, Andrew Sheridan, Steve Thompson, Dan Cole, Louis Deacon, Courtney Lawes, Tom Croft, James Haskell, Nick Easter.

Replacements: Dylan Hartley, Matt Stevens, Tom Palmer, Tom Wood, Ben Youngs, Toby Flood, Matt Banahan.

No surprises really for England, the Telegraph had it yesterday. Good side, maybe would have started Palmer over Lawes, but other than that no complaints.

Should have too much for Argentina.

Just going back to Ulster, they have a great youth system and are really bringing through some talent. Trimble has been a bit of a slow burner. He has always had it in him, but now is actually firing and is very very good.

Wannenburg for me is their best SA signing. People talk about Muller and Pienaar, but Wannenburg was awesome for them last season. The way he plays is just made for a NH winter, and it doesn't get much more wintery than Ravenhill on a Friday night in November.

And Mat, to answer your question, iHumph is 10 for Ulster.

Nice bench too

Palmer has to start for me. that is a bonkers decision. Thommo at hooker is a great shout.

Would have preferred haskell 8 with Wood and croft on the flanks also.

As pooly said great bench. ability to close out a match or really go for it. all of them can make an impact.

quite positive after seeing that