Fantasy Aviva Premiership season 4

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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

Why does Mallinder need more experience before being appointed? He's took Saints to a HC final and to being one of the best sides in Europe. He's also been involved with the England set-up with the Saxons.

Jim Mallinder said the week before last he would love the job but wants moer experience first.

Interesting reading Stuart Barnes and Dewi Morris, BArnes wants Henry because he's the best manager at developing coaches, whilst Morris wants Mallet as he's got int experience of SA and Italy.

You've got to take into account that the RFU is in shambles, doesnt know its right from left and the whole coaching set up needs someone who wont take crap from the top - not sure if Mallinder is quite at that level yet - see him as a great future England head coach.

I reckon we will eitehr get Mallet or Henry. Not saying I agree with that, but that's just what think the RFU will do.

MALLET RULES HIMSELF OUT OF ENGLAND RUNNING

http://www.espnscrum.com/england/rugby/story/154398.html

Think it's Henrys to lose now

Surprising, really thought he'd fancy it. Another embarrassment for the RFU though. Mallinder for me now I think

See Eddie O'Sullivan has quit USA.....coincidence?

God no!

We'll have Tindall at 13 till his 45!

Yeah I thought Mallett would have been a shoe in!! Bit of a long shot but: Kingsley Jones?

Id go something along the lines of

Head coach: Graham Henry
Attack :Wayne Smith/Brian Ashton
Defense: Dave Ellis
Player development coach: Connor O'Shea
Scrum:Graham Rowntree


I have a feeling they won't appoint till after the 6Ns and leave Stuart Lancaster in charge for then.

http://www.espnscrum.com/premiership-2011-12/rugby/story/154328.html

Edwards Tigers?

My pick of 3 upcoming games this weekend along with a small preview.

Newport Gwent Dragons vs Perpignan

The Welsh side will be filled with confidence following a 30 point thrashing of Prato away from home last week, The returns of Falatau and Charteris to the Parade should be a massive boost. James Hook will be out to prove a point that he is the man to don the red 10 jersey and will look to put on a show

Northampton vs Scarlets

This promises to be a try fest with both teams preparing to run the ball rather than punt it and stuff up the jumper. Ryan Lamb will be out to amend the wrongs of last weeks devastating loss at Thomond park. Scarlets over came a stutter last time out to record a victory over Castres which shows they can muscle it up front as well as dance about in the backs

Biarittz vs Saracens

If you love forward orientated games i would leave your couch for this one this without doubt will be tight phases smashing s**t out of each other for 60 minutes with it being decided at the death - all the ingredients for a classic

Driver - apparently Gatland wants Rowntree as Welsh forwards coach!

I'd take that!!

Anyone think Baxter may get involved in the backroom?

He's our only good coach Prop!

Although I think Ford has done a great job with the defence - England still dont concede many tries...probably only good thing with that team at the moment!

Du Plessis to Wasps!!!!!

http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,3551_7312446,00.html

Henry over whelming favourite definitely needs english coaches. Not a fan at all if they bring Henry in.

When he was lions coach certain players left the tour and went of backpacking he was so bad at man management. He has also had some real gaffes as Nz and Wales manager.

For a second I thought you meant Bismarck!

4 week ban for Hape.
Am lost for words.

That is urine poor and means i will have to change my Heino team

That is a joke

Did he plead not guilty stnick?

Steffon Armitage was right, rugby is turning soft!

Don't know pete have only been told the duration. Think he pleaded guilty though and it was due to the fact that he concussed Denton.

Didn't he just tap tackle someone?

right I held back earlier but this has proper f ucked me off now
those c unts at the ERC have only given Cox a 1 week ban for his blatant forearm to Hape's face when he was on top of him. Yet Shape gets 4 weeks for a tackle.

How does that work!?!!?!

The ERC have made a mess of this whole thing.

It's an absolute joke mate. Monsieur Poite was right on top of the tackle and gave a scrum to us for Denton knocking on.

I have been looking through the ERC disciplinary reports for last season and the only citing that I can find to compare it to in terms of the tackles being similar was Xavier Rush on Courtney Lawes, and Rush got a 1 week ban.

Cox came onto the field and had a pop at Hape straight away and then pinned him to the ground and forearm smashed him in the face.

The two decisions together are an utter disgrace.

Apologies for my language it just does my head in.

I remember that tackle by Rush and would say that was more malicious than Hape's.

What have you boys done to pi ss off the ERC so much!

Have you got any backs left for this weekend's game?

Is that the tackle where Rush got a red card? That was a shocker - what did Hape actually do? I still cant believe they got rid of the dump tackle, but let southern hem's get away with blatant shoulder charges, happened laods in WC but never picked up at all.

Pooly - apparently they are just waiting for work permits on the Namibian now, should take a few weeks - it was him or an Argentinian they were after who impressed a bit on trial.

Who had Worsley in this game?

Just seen the Saints team - Calum Clark keeps his place again with Dowson on the bench again. Looks like he's got ahead of him in the pecking order now - really hope he develops like he could do, an old school 6!

Do people think that Tom Wood is now shoe in for England 7 shirt? Looks like all his game time is there now for Saints.

We have 10 fit and eligible for selection backs for this weeks game Chris, so they are all in the matchday 23, it was just a case of working out which shirt numbers they would all be wearing.

Is JJ injured Pete? And does that mean Jarvis will start...

JJ is out injured until about Christmas I think.

Jarvis is on the bench with Hodgson and Spratt.

Joseph, Tagicakibau, Yarde are all out injured till around Xmas/January.
Armitage, Hape and Hala'ufia are banned.

I had Worsley Chris!

Do you think you will keep Armitage as he seems to get banned more than he plays! Was speaking to friends yesterday about rugby and they reckon that Gibson is the best young flanker they have seen in years and years. Sounds like you've unearthed a gem there - does he start many games?

He's started most games this season and has arguably been our best forward.

Just has a touch of class about him. Could have a massive England career if he keeps progressing as he has been.

Armitage could well go to Toulon end of season. Don't think he will go anywhere else in England though.

Gibson's workrate and tackling is excellent, and is good in the lineout. just needs to bulk up and improve his carrying which will come with age

tough to say Dowson has been dropped. Played a lot of rugby duirng the WC period for saints so may be being rested. Using a squad rather than a side isnt the same as being dropped.

Will he have to join a decent London team like Wasps to fulfil that potential though Pete

Think Gibson and Launchbury are the two forwards that I've seen with the most potential - can see Launchbury spending next 2 years in backrow for us before he moves to second row when Filipo's contract expires. I just hope we can find a no8 from somewhere!

Surprised Clark kept his place after Munster game, Mallinder must be trying to bring him along. Much prefer Dowson tbh.

Really like Wood but don't think him and Croft look great as a flank pairing

Could Croft end up in 2nd row?

Clark played well in Munster game - got good reviews from reports I read post game too. Mallinder has a good eye for young talent - think him and Dusty Hare will bring a lot of young English talent through.

They signed a lad called James Craig from Leeds in the summer and he looks pretty promising and think its Saints who have a lock called Tom Hicks who is one to watch - best lock I've seen coming through is Spencer at Bath.

Croft could play 2nd row but he'd need to playing there for Leicester really and I can't see that with Deacon, Parling(Leicester player of the month), Skivington, Kitchener, Mafi, Slater on the books!

If he did play there for England you couldn't pair him with Lawes.

Think it's safe to say Clark is ahead of Dowson in pecking order. That's 2 heino games he has been selected for and the Munster one was their best side.


Said to nick and pete on here since game began that Gibson has it all. Always fantastic against glaws at our place

Mat - what do you make of Lamb? Do you think he is capable of going to the next level at Saints, he seems to have some great games and on form is probably the best English 10 - possibly with Hodgson at Sarries. Seem to remember you being quite critical of him with his attitude and interested to see whether you think he can push on and get better?

Not sure if it's been posted: Brits banned for 3 weeks, Hape gets 4 weeks.

Guys earlier in the week I mentioned a great try by Elliot Daly of Wasps, its been uploaded to rugbydump. Not bad! Think Wasps might have a little gem of a player.

http://www.rugbydump.com/2011/11/2241/elliot-daly-solo-effort-for-london-wasps-a-vs-bath-united

good try, poor defending

Don't think you can judge a player from A league stuff. See better defending at the U16's than you saw there, horrendous.

Right folks, all Heino teams and tactics are in, so that means predos for the Heino are now open.

Children in Need Rocks was amazing! epic show

Lamb has always had talent but not application. His performances of late tremendous still think he will implode though

He started like this when he came to Irish as well, then as things got a bit tougher as the season went on he fell to pieces. Be interesting to see how he goes at Saints, perhaps Mallinder will be the one to finally get some consistency from him.