Fantasy 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 thought he was gonna get their to be honest but was a good cover tackle.

Really like the look of Woodburn

Yea he looks tricky, got some good youngsters coming through

Woodburn looks quite strong also.
Never heard of him until a few weeks ago

I'd not heard of him until recently, don't think he's played any England age group rugby, similar to Addison and Brady.

Looks a very handy player with ball in hand.

Just watching a bit of the Saints game, can't believe how bad Hartley is playing. I honestly thought he was the answer to our hook issues but he's really dropped off.

Think it's time to go with Paice or Gray in the 6N. Like to see Gray with some strong scrummaging props to see if he's up to it. His throw is like a dart though. Paice seems a good allrounder with a good work rate, I'd be happy with that combo

Not sure if Paice is quite England quality. But deserves a chance I guess. Gray definitely one for the future.

Hartley easily England's best option at hooker atm.

Really don't see it Steve, think he's living off last seasons form a bit. Been pretty poor when I've seen him this year

Whether he is playing well or not there is no one who would do a better job for England.

Liked the look of Haywood when he came on v Scarlets.

Disagree a bit with that, Tommo performed better than Hartley has recently and I think Gray could step up. Don't know until we try a few of these guys. Always thought Hartley was overated myself.

for me hartley is very inconsistent.
on form is our best option and a very good hooker

Hartley will be seen as first choice hooker no matter who takes the England position. He's basics are pretty solid but in a age where hookers are making 50 metre breaks (Schalk Brits , Kieth Wood) this is over looked and it's a bit harsh on the little pudding when he gets slannder for it.

I read an article on the BBC website written by his jnr coach over in New Zealand who told him that he would stand out in England because of his exceptional skill levels compared to other hookers.

I wouldn't have Paice near the England set up for me , good solid AP player but doesn't seem to react quick enough mentally and is contact prone.

Out of all the English hooks in the AP the main contenders for the 6 nations start against Wales at Twickenham are Dylan Hartley , Joe Grey , Chris Whitehead and Tom Youngs.

whitehead and youngs no chance

Really? Chris Whitehead has been part of one of the best set pieces in AP and Europe this season and scrummages a lot better than most in the AP and he's one of only a hand full of EQ hookers.

Youngs isn't even first choice at his club, has barely played at AP and HC level and for me should be nowhere near the England first team this season.

Agree with Nick on the Whitehead and Youngs having no chance.

Expect it will probably be Hartley and Mears in 22 in the first 6 nations game with one of Webber and Paice also in the squad.

Gray isn't a regular starter for Quins this season. He and Chris Brooker have pretty much shared the starts. He has to nail down that shirt as his own first.

I would have gray and Hartley. Grays basics are great

Who'd people have as engine room, with the thinking Palmer isn't available?

Parling playing very well.
Could he partner Lawes?

Attwood also playing well.

Attwood does not start for bath. How bad was parlings injury ,??

Would rather deacon than Parling.

Not many 2nd rows coming through to be honest

Stuart Hooper and Ryan Caldwell have been the Bath locks of late????

I'd prob look to go:

Deacon, Lawes, Parling, Attwood

Maybe with Robson, Launchbury in Saxons?!?!

5 backrow options (no Haskell)?

Lawes, Deacon, Skivington and Day would be my choices.

Palmer walks in if he returns to England.

Backrow would be Wood, Croft, Fourie, Easter and Waldrom.

I'd put Garvey over launchbury.
robson has been excellent.

backrow
wood, easter, robshaw, fourie, waldrom

on form i would not include croft, robshaw has been superb
fourie no form as injured but an out an out 7 we lack, if he could repeat his leeds form from last season for england would be superb

On form I would be surprised if robson not in squad been unreal for over a year and is at his peak

I wouldn't have Waldrom anywhere near the England squad.

Really like Robson but zero carrying game keeps him behind the others, would like to see him in Saxons though at least.

I'd love to see flanks of Wood & Robshaw with Waldroum at 8. Think that backrow has the lot but Croft has to be involved as he brings so much. I'd like

Wood, Croft, Robshaw, Waldroum and a promising youngster like Kvesic, Gibson brought in to learn the ropes.

Robson carrys ok and is good in the loose. Does anyone know if parlings injury was bad yesterday???

Kvesic Gibson etc need to be first choice for clubs first

Gibson is first choice 7 at Irish.

Waiting on checks tomorrow on him and Croft but not expected serious I read. Chris's contacts reckon out for 3 years so he'll probably line up next week.

I don't think an ok carrier is what we need alongside Lawes/Deacon. I do like Robson though, not many better on own lineout.

haha the notorious contacts

gibson not ready for england yet.

Yea the "contacts" lol....can make up anything when you have contacts

driver where did you read about classens to irish?
that is one i havent heard from my contact.

It was in the rugby paper today mate , apparently Cowen wants o join Bath so there happy to release Classens

Yes but gibsons long term future is not at 7 and certainly not for England. Always thought 6 or 8.

he is never an 8 for me. too lightweight and doesnt seem that dominant, controlling player, more of a moody type.

I'd take classens, get rid of samson and hodgson!!

Yeah I think 6 ideal for him. Have any of you watched the sarries Biarritz game!? Battle!!

pete interesting team u put up on the irish forum.
agree with your backline 100%, but in the forwards i wouldnt put siggery in over danaher. happy to see grey play but dont think he will.
would also go garvey/evans as the lock combo. like to see casey on the bench and see how he does coming off the bench.
do you prefer buckland to paice?

I think at present Buckland's set piece work has been better than Paice, but Paice has been better in the loose. We need to get a platform, which is why I would go with the three best scrummagers in the front row to start, with the dynamic three coming off the bench.

I'd be amazed if the team I posted is what plays next week, but I think we are making basic errors at the moment, and are in a bit of a rut and a mini shake up is needed, with an injection of both experience and energy in the pack.

Im about 20mins in Matt. Hari looking good in lineout and Stevens getting pasted in the scrum. Good contest everywhere else so far

fair enough, i dont know if siggery, grey and casey are fit.
if shingler gets a 3 week ban which is likely, i believe he, hape, delon and the hoff are all back the same week, which is the week after the sarries game? not sure who we have.

Racing Metro (away)

Didn't Siggery play for the A team on Monday night? And I thought Gray did as well but might be wrong.

Planet rugby team of the week for HC

15 Mike Brown (Harlequins) - If you think of real club men then full-back Brown is one that immediately springs to mind. His man-of-the-match performance at Kingsholm saw him score an early try as Quins made it 12 straight wins this term. Mentions for Scarlet Liam Williams and Leinster's Rob Kearney.

14 Andrew Trimble (Ulster) - Now this was a tough call as both Martin Bustos Moyano and Tommy Bowe stood out for their respective sides while Isa Nacewa impressed in blue. But for his all-action showing at Welford Road we have gone for Trimble, who was tireless.

13 Eoin O'Malley (Leinster) - A cameo gong would undoubtedly go to Will Chambers for his 37 minute effort that had Castres clutching at fresh air on numerous occasions. Tommaso Benvenuti's stocks in Italy also continued to strengthen but for two tries, it is O'Malley.

12 Wesley Fofana (Clermont) - Our toughest decision. Why? Well there wasn't really anyone who significantly stood out. Gordon D'Arcy and Jordan Turner-Hall were solid while not scintillating so for his out-of-position showing, Fofana's smooth effort must be hailed.

11 Tim Visser (Edinburgh) - Time and time again Visser shows just what a good finisher he is and his two tries, the latter leading to Greig Laidlaw knocking over the winning two points, brought an end to an unbelievable game at Murrayfield. He edges Shane Williams.

10 Rhys Priestland (Scarlets) - It became a toss-up between a Beaver and a Dragon. Bath recouped some of the money they had spent on Stephen Donald as he created a couple of tries in his home debut. However, he just misses out to Priestland as on away soil the 10 directed traffic superbly for the Scarlets. He could soon be partnering the man below.

9 Lloyd Williams (Cardiff Blues) - Again we had more than one standout nominee for this one as Greig Laidlaw continued to put his name into Scotland's selection process with a good running and kicking display. The same will be said about Williams though, who is set for great things in a Welsh jersey. With Mike Phillips unavailable, he should face Australia.

8 Jamie Heaslip (Leinster) - The recent RWC saw Heaslip surprisingly in the shadows of Sean O'Brien and Stephen Ferris, however he was the star of the show in Dublin on Sunday and deserved his try. Thomas Waldrom and Ben Morgan also impressed in Round 2.

7 Sam Warburton (Cardiff Blues) - Another faultless day from the retained Welsh captain as he was a constant nuisance to London Irish at the breakdown. The future looks bright for Wales at the moment and for the Blues for that matter as they have two wins from two.

6 Jacques Burger (Saracens) - Jean Bouilhou was solid while scoring a try for Toulouse that got the ball rolling in Galway while Chris Masoe also stood out against Munster. But for another hard-nosed display for Sarries, Burger is in. The Namibian flank is a machine.

5 Dan Tuohy (Ulster) - He simply had to make the XV after a tireless carrying performance at Welford Road. This isn't the first time Tuohy has received a mention for his Ulster efforts and it is surely now a case of when and not if he will add to his international tally with Ireland.

4 Thibaut Privat (Montpellier) - It would have been very tough to leave out Ospreys lock Ryan Jones who, like Tuohy, carried well for his side. But Privat was quite simply superb and fully merits his number four jersey. That horizontal take of a restart was one standout.

3 Rhys Thomas (Scarlets) - After an early morning chat with a colleague 10,000km away, it was Thomas who received a glowing reference for the way he negated Soane Tonga'uiha at Franklin's Gardens on Friday. He edges out strong Cardiff Blues tighthead Taufa'ao Filise.

2 Rory Best (Ulster) - There was nothing flash about Best's effort against Leicester but he did all the necessary things well while throwing in a few breakdown turnover penalties. T Rhys Williams did impress for the Blues against Irish but for his solidity, Best makes it.

1 Marcos Ayerza (Leicester) - Argentina's number one jersey is in very safe hands when Rodrigo Roncero hangs up his international boots. Ayerza was excellent for the Tigers at both scrum-time and in the loose and pips Harlequins prop Joe Marler, whose tackle on Henry Trinder foiled a certain Gloucester try. Allan Jacobsen also deserves a mention.

The link would have done lol

Looks like Henry has ruled himself out:

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/21112011/2/rugby-henry-rules-england-job.html

Just watched Gloucester v Quins

What a odd game. Gloucester backs looked lethal in patches with all their young lads playing well and Quins just played consistently well for 80 mins.

Great 1st two rounds of the HC. Can't wait for the double headers! Bath and Leinster, Munster and Scarlets, Leicester and Clermont, Saracens and Ospreys as well as Toulouse v Quins.

Mouth almost watering at those ties.