About v2AP Round 12
+7
CJB
'Arry Spurs
Ozzy3213
LukeLovesLuka
Sgt_Pooly
Steven_Sharks
Driver
11 posters
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AP Round 12
by Driver Tue 27 Dec 2011, 6:02 pm
First topic message reminder :
Newcastle Falcons v Northampton Saints
Cloudy with heavy showers, 7 degrees, 6 mph winds.
Newcastle Falcons
Manager – Sgt Pooly
16.Marius Tincu 17. Paul Doran-Jones 18. Alex Waller 19. Geoff Parling 20.Juan Smith 21. Heinrich Brussow 22. Jonny Arr 23. Toby Flood
Tactics:
Gameplan – Simple rugby.......With the game away and in extremely wet conditions we’ll be looking to control the set piece, pack and look to play in the right areas of the pitch. Evans will dictate play and will look to clear his lines from our own 22. We’ll look to put pressure on the Saints set piece throughout the game and we think we can get the upperhand in both scrum & lineout.
Defence – We’ll be deploying the rush defence and targeting the Saints 10/12 channel. Saints have a new half back pairing each week so we expect a little rustiness. Barritt will look to cut off the 12 axix and will hit JDV early. With Saints lack of kicking options in midfield we expect contact to be looked for, McCaw will look come in after the tackler and tie JDV or Manu up, either slowing ball down or gaining a pen/turnover.
Set piece – Wet conditions usually means plenty of knock on which means plenty of scrums. We’ve went for a hefty scrummaging unit to really tear into Saints from the off. Franks & Barcella will look to get a strong hit on then look to drive through the Saints props. We foresee plenty of pens coming our way so will look for the corners in our own half where POC lead the line and secure safe ball. Franks & Servat will look to target Mullen who’s making his first start for Saints alongside a new front row unit.
We’ll look for the take and drive on our own ball with Servat being the key man here. With 5 good jumpers and POC pulling the strings we’ll keep things solid on our own throw whilst looking to target Saints’s throw all game.
Pack – We’ve went for numerous carrying options in the pack and will look to use short pick and drives and keep things simple. McCaw will lead the assault and will also look to make a bit of a mess of the breakdown. With the poor conditions they’ll be plenty of opportunity to get hands in rucks and force turnover ball which will be used to force Saints retreating back.
Backs – We’ve named a strong defensive unit that will look to keep Saints under wraps whilst also giving us kicking options and power in the contact. Barritt and AAC will look to take contact and give us potential line breaking options. JOC will float around the backline and look to pop up at 12 giving us a strong kicking option alongside Evans with AAC also giving a strong kicking game to go to. On centre scrums (they’ll be plenty!) we’ll look to pair Bowe/AAC & JOC/Barritt giving us power/kicking/pace options on either side.
Subs – we’ll look to keep the pack refreshed and have named 3 top draw front row options to turn the screw in the second half. 6/2 forwards to keep forwards fresh with the two SA lads bring huge intensity in the final 3rd of the game.
KEY POINTS:
SCRUM – Target Mullen & Stevens – The scrum is a unit that takes time to gel. Mullen is having his first start for Saints, he’s a class act but is being thrown in at the deep end against one of the best TH’s in world rugby.
SCRUM – In the conditions they’ll be numerous scrums, we’ll look to really pressure Saints here then hit the corners if a pen gained
LINEOUT – Dominate our own ball whilst targeting opposition throw. Williams is quality operator but he has only been with the Saints for a few weeks, how will he know all the calls???? Saints will have to operate a simple call system, POC will look to dismantle Saints here.
James O’Connor – To come in at second receiver on attacking ball to give us extra kicking option
Pack subs – Keep pack fresh and high intensity in the contact 6/2 split as forward control is key.
Confidence – We’re in great form and more importantly we’re playing winning rugby. An away win at Sale last week (first team to win there in 2 years!) whilst Saints have slumped to 3rd bottom and had a demoralising defeat at home last week.
Goal Kicking – Goal kicking will be key in the conditions, Giteau is flaky at best over the last few years so we feel confident of Evans keeping us ticking over
HOME FORM - We're unbeaten at home in 18months whilst Saints have LOST every away game in the AP this season
Northampton Saints
Manager – dammit_chris
16. Dimitri Szaweski 17. Thomas Domingo 18. Henry Thomas 19. Bradley Davies 20. Liam Messam 21. Joe Simpson 22. Danny Cirpiani 23. Siti Siviatu
Tactics
Overall Gameplan – the conditions arent suited to free flowing rugby so we have picked a team that will look to play to our strengths and expose perceived Newcastle weaknesses. We have picked a team that thrives in taking the ball into contact and enjoys the physical tussle and can grant Matt Giteau solid ball to dictate the pace and style of the game. We will look to put pressure on Newcastle with an aggressive, blitz defence and force mistakes. Think of us playing exactly as Saracens do in real life.
Attack – Our main point of attack will be putting that ball up our jumpers and keeping it phase after phase controlling the ball and getting our big ball carriers the chance to hit the ball up from the base of rucks and mauls and running off Giteau. We’ve made sure that Giteau will have options in the midfield with de Villiers and Tuilagi and a very steady backthree with Foden, Halfpenny and Evans all suited to the conditions. Our attack is all about control, patience and stopping any tempo/patterns develop in the Newcastle attack. If they havent got the ball they wont score and our team has the bigger, better ball carriers throughout the pack and backs to work this tactic well.
Defence – We will be playing an aggressive blitz defence where we look to stop Newcastle ball carriers first time and drive them back in the contact. We will target Youngs where the conditions do not suit his running game and we will look to pressurise his passing with Phillips more aggressive and robust style of play. We will try and target Evans with Courtney Lawes and the backrow, just as Sarries did so successfully against him in real life against him at the weekend.
Phillips will act as sweeper behind the Saints defensive line and when contact is made we will look to use de Villiers, Tuilagi and Phillips as additional flankers in the breakdown area and clear the likes of McCaw and co out of the contact area, at the very least slow down the ball and cause a complete nuisance of ourselves.
Set piece – Interesting fact – in internationals there are an average of 16 scrums per game (including 9 resets) – we know that the scrum is not our greatest strength but with a very strong second row and Parisse excellent handling at the back we know that we can cope and wont go backwards. On our own scrums we will look to get the ball in and out as quickly as possible to either use Parisse from base of the scrum or for de Villiers or Tuilagi to take it into contact.
We will look to utilise each of our front row replacements early in the second half with Domingo on at 40mins and others on by 55th minute – we feel the scrum more than evens itself out when each team empties their front row subs bench. We’ve also been resting our front row forwards very well over the last month, so it will be a very even contest.
In the lineout the conditions are shocking for any complex calls and the winner of this area will be the ones who keep it simple and win their own ball. We have got four options at the lineout with Lawes, Williams, Clark and Parisse so will alternate the front line jumpers so O’Connell has a difficult time of reading the calls etc.
We will not contest the majority of Newcastle ball so that we can line up our defence properly and put emphasis on the first hit – this will include placing Elsom into the backline as first tackler to place Evans under pressure, with Phillips guarding the 5metre channel. We feel that this is the best tactic in the conditions because if there are too many people contesting the ball can spill and become unpredictable and can lead to try scoring opportunities against unorganised defences.
Pack/Breakdown – We know that our packs strength lies in its ball carrying prowess and will focus on the ball going through phase after phase and stopping any momentum build in the game.
The conditions means that the ability to slow ball down at the breakdown isnt a major issue because we will be playing slowly and making hard yards. We have no interest in fast ball and will be playing the crash ball game to get over the gainline.
On Newcastle attacks we will look to clear out rucks by getting Elsom, Lawes etc to target McCaw and just get him away from the breakdown areas – we don’t see Newcastle as an overly physical team in comparison to say Gloucester in this league and we have to take advantage of this. We will guard the fringes on each breakdown and maul and at each opportunity drive Newcastle ball carriers backwards.
Backs – Our backline is picked specifically for the conditions, a strong defensive unit with a lot of physicality and power. We have a very sound back three, all solid under the high ball and importantly have played their whole careers in these conditions. We will play it simple and get our strong runners on the ball off Giteau who will look to suck Barritt out of the defensive line and put Tuilagi and Foden through any gaps left. We really do want to keep hold of the ball and stop Newcastle having possession so our backs will also be doing a lot of carrying.
We will go through the phases and rely on Giteau & Halfpenny to utlise their kicking games to ensure that we do not play for prolonged periods in our own half and will specifically target the channel between Miles Benjamin and Ashley-Cooper.
Subs – We have kept our forwards very fresh over the last month, but will bring each of our forwards into the mix early in the second half to give each at least 25-30mins of gametime. We will also get Siviatu on early in the second half to get him running against Benjamin.
KEY POINTS:
BALL CARRIERS – The whole team is packed full of ball carriers who thrive in the conditions, we will look to go through phase after phase and get over the gainline with our pack and backs.
PHYSICALITY – We feel Newcastle can struggle in a really physical game, as they are much more suited to free-flowing rugby. The conditions turn this contest into an arm wrestle and we will look to keep hold of the ball and make Newcastle work for every yard. We feel our team is more physical and will look to drag Newcastle into a dog fight.
DISCIPLINE – We wont dive into rucks and mauls and will keep our defensive discipline by relying on our defensive capabilities and allow Newcastle to work through the phases and ensure we make the tackles. It isnt going to be an attacking game, so will make sure we play to the conditions.
PACK – To keep hold of the ball and frustrate Newcastle, we aren’t looking for quick ball but to work through the phases, keep the pace slow and set up mauls and rucks.
INTENSITY & PRESSURE – Our team is very well suited to playing in awful conditions, we know it isnt going to be a high scoring game. We will look to pressurise Newcastle at every opportunity, hit them hard and drive them back in the tackle area and force them into mistakes.
KEEPING THE BALL – We are going to keep hold of the ball and make Newcastle work for every bit of possession they have. We wont take any chances in our own 22 or areas where Evans can kick for goal – so will keep our play simple and play some old school rugby.
Exeter Chiefs v Harlequins
Heavy Rain, 13 degrees, 15 mph winds.
Exeter Chiefs
Manager – Driver - RIP 606
16.Neil Clark 17.Brett Sturgess 18.Dave Wilson 19.Flip Van Der Merwe 20.Lewis Moody 21.Haydn Thomas 22.Colin Slade 23.George Pisi
Tactics
- In shot conditions we have picked a mean grizzeled pack who will look to keep the phases tight and recycle possention rucking the defenders away allowing for sharp pick and drives to put us on the front foot.
- ROG to ping the ball into the corners and behind the Quins wingers.
- D'Arcy and Tindall are both in the midfield to take the ball flat and at pace to set us a platform to split the defense down the middle running at Cooper/Contipomi.
- Back 3 all have excellent kicking games with Fitz and Byrne in top form aswell.
- Target Brits at the set piece. Varley and Zirka are mean at scrum time and will look to pull Marler away from brits to give Zirka the chance to get under him and force him up.
- Easter/Kelleher/ROG to control the tempo and slow the game down and turn it into a slug fest.
- Impact bench - Sturgess/Clark/Wilson/FVM/Moody are all dogged players and ideal for this type of battle.
Harlequins
Manager – Steven_Sharks
Harlequins name a strong side capable of playing fast tempo rugby. We've picked a pack to be especially to be strong when it comes to the breakdown and ball carrying.
16. Matthew Rees 17. Tony Woodcock 18. Kieran Brookes 19. James Gaskell 20. Phil Dowson 21. Karl Dickson 22. Freddie Burns 23. Zac Guildford
Tactics
We are where we are in the table as we have been able to pick up results away from Home. Wins at Irish, Bath and Wasps as well as a draw at Worcester has seen us rise to higher than many expected in the AP table and picking up points away from home is a very good habit for us to keep up. To try and keep this up we have picked what we consider to be a balanced side which is capable of being dangerous in attack and strong in defence. In conditions which will reward a good kicking game as well as enterprising attacking play.
Game Plan
Two points which we are really wanting to concentrate on are high tempo attacking and to attempt to starve Exeter of quality ball. In attack we want to use strong runners to get us over the gain line and then look to the axis of Dickson, Cooper and Contepomi to use the quick ball to launch our attacks. When we are in the Exeter half we are going to keep the ball for as long as we can. We want to maintain a high tempo in attack but this doesn't mean we will rush things. We will be patient for the right time to throw caution to the wind. If the ball is slowed down then we use our forwards to set the platform and get some quick ball again. We really want to emphasize that Dickson and Cooper will look to play at a quick tempo when we get the quick ball.
In order to slow the Exeter ball down we will look to be aggressive in defence and really hit Exeter hard in the tackle. As well as this we will look for Warburton, Louw and he rest of our pack to really target the breakdown and aim to turnover the ball or at least slow down and disrupt Exeter. This is something we are really going to concentrate on. It takes at most 3 people working effectively to cause Exeter problems so this shouldn't affect our defensive line.
As always away from home the target is the win. We will kick the points whenever we get the chance.
Forwards
Up front we have a strong pack which will be a real force in the loose. We feel we have the men to secure our own ball at the scrum and lineout and perhaps could even cause issues for Exeter at the lineout. In the loose we are looking for our players to carry hard and in numbers with the aim of winning the collisions and to keep driving the legs to get us over the gain line. We want our forwards to run different lines so as to keep the Exeter defence guessing.
Backs
In the backs we have the men who can cause problems for Exeter. We have a creative pairing and 10 and 12 which we see as important for us today. They are both very comfortable with ball in hand or putting us in the right area of the pitch should be need to. Both are comfortable at first receiver. We will be looking for Cooper and Contepomi to stand very flat when we have quick ball. We will really be looking for Lowe to isolate Tindall and then burn him on the outside shoulder.
Defence
In defence we will look to have a quick line speed and look for players to really pressure ROG. We will also swap Cooper to the wing and move Joseph to inside centre with Lowe and Contepomi moving in one in defence. We will have Cooper and Kearney deep when we defend to cover the kicks and Heymans will also drop deep should we need him to.
Key Points
- High Tempo in attack when we get quick ball. Look for Cooper/Contepomi to stand flat and feed runners.
- Make a mess of Exeter ball when we can. turnovers ideal but will settle for disruption.
- Cooper, Kearney and Heymans (if required) to stay deep to make it hard for Exeter to kick behind us)
- Get the gamebreakers (Cooper, Brits, Joseph etc) on the ball when we have quick ball. Play at pace (But not Rushed!!!)
Opposition Points
- Going to be a lot of pressure on ROG as he is the man who will be managing the Exeter game on his own with their not really being another man who can relieve the pressure in the midfield. We will really look to give him very little time and make his day a misery.
- We see a real lack of creation in the Midfield for Exeter and see it being very one dimensional with the D'Arcy/Tindall combo. This will only add to the pressure on ROG as we don't see our midfield defence to be a weakness in anyway.
- I feel there is lack of dynamic carriers in the back 5 of the Exeter pack and this will make it hard for them to cross the gain line on a regular basis.
- Brits's set piece is hardly a weakness. Lineout throwing has been as good as any hookers this season.
Saracens v Gloucester
Cloudy with light showers, 9 degrees, 7 mph winds
Saracens
Manager – Ozzy3213
16. George Chuter 17. Tendai Mtwarira 18. Jannie du Plessis 19. Dave Attwood 20. Alessandro Zanni 21. Paul Hodgson 22. Owen Farrell 23. Tom Homer
Tactics
Our generic gameplan revolves around a high intensity attacking and defensive game.
In attack our primary gameplan is always to control possession and run the ball, utilising big carriers attacking gaps in the line, and looking to offload to support runners to continue getting over the gainline and keep the ball alive. If the offload is not on, we will take the contact and look to recycle quickly at the breakdown. If running the ball is not on we will uitilise the kicking game of one of our backs to take us into the right area of the pitch.
In defence we will look to blitz, with our scrum half sweeping behind the defensive line. Key for us is line speed, getting up to make the tackle before the ball carrier hits the gainline, and confidence and trust in the man next to you in the defensive line, meaning we will not jump out or get pulled to far away from the next defender leaving gaps that can be exploited.
At the breakdown, we will not overcommit players. If the ball is not there to be won, then we will commit 1 or 2 players to legally slow it down whilst maintaining a strong defensive line across the pitch. If the ball looks like it is there to be won, we will look to get more numbers there quickly, with the first 1 or 2 players immediately rucking past the ball to clear the opposition players who are trying to get hands on it, and the next man in will then look to get it out quickly for us to counter attack on turnover ball.
We will look to really attack the scrum, both in attack and defence. We will not be looking to drop the scrum at all, and Joe van Niekerk in his role as captain will be talking to the referee constantly to ensure that he is aware that we want to scrummage. We will look to be aggressive in this area throughout.
Game Specific Tactics
Key Points
Gloucester
Manager – Insert text here
16. Gurthro Steenkamp 17. Jamie George 18. Rupert Harden 19. George Robson 20. Julien Bonnaire 21. Dave Lewis 22. Stephen Donald 23. James Simpson-Daniel
Tactics
We welcome travelling to Saracens in great conditions for rugby.
We want to play high intensity and really outmanouver saracens but we know we need to earn the right to.
We have gone with a big mobile ball carrying pack that we
Want to ProVide quick ball.
Set piece
As ever a hard scrummaging pack backed with a back 5 to add grunt. We are aiming to get a nudge on their ball and get a wheel on our ball to launch our
Back row off.
Lineout
We have 5 jumpers and see ourselves as being able to profit here on their ball. This will get even better for us when bonnaire and crew come
On.
On our ball we will be catching and driving to start with to suck them in and tire their players out. As game progresses we will be using quick off the top ball and looking to put pace on the game.
General. The aim is to use our dynamic carriers p
Punch and win the collisions. We want to get
Past the gainline and create quick ball to go to the backs. We see Our pack as having lots more ball carriers and this will help us dictate the play.
We want to play a territory and hard
Yards game until being in a position to launch our super quick backs. Being on front foot allows better kicks in behind to win territory and also bette ball to run with.
Backs
As ever they want front foot ball to attack but we will not be adverse to carter Barnes and dagg kicking in behind them. We have the lineout to pressure theirs so in initial stages we will look to play percentages. This is easier to do with quick front foot ball from a pack going over the gain line.
Carter will look to hit forwards or strike runners into the rOberts banahan channel and create quick ball to then strike wide.
The up and under will be utilised but as the game starts to break up we will start tO play looser. Quick throw ins and the de structuring of the game will allow our lightning back 3 to run wild
Key points
Lineout advantage and pressure on saracens throw
Mobile ball carriers in every pack position
I believe we have a big advantage in the engine room
The spine of our team 8,9,10,12 is maybe unrivalled and offers great control of tempo and wc players in key positions.
3 wc kicking options out of hand
Dynamic bench to enter the fray
Leicester Tigers v Sale Sharks
Heavy Rain, 8 degrees, 8 mph winds.
Leicester Tigers
Manager – LukeLovesLuka
16. Andrew Sheridan 17. Lee Mears 18. Cencus Johnston 19. Alex Brown 20. Tom Croft 21. Ersnt Joubert 22. Micky Young 23. Clement Poitrenaud
Tactics
GENERAL:
- Play a game suited for the conditions - a structured gameplan where we look to utilise our big carriers, kicking options and set piece strength. If this turns into a kicking contest, we believe our back three have the upper hand.
- Defensively we will look to blitz, with Yachvili sweeping behind the defensive line to deal with any short kicks.
- If the game is tight and the ball isn't coming quickly, Wilkinson will look to drop into the pocket and keep the scoreboard ticking over with drop goals.
- Yachvili to kick all penalties in range.
- Utilise our 6/2 bench split in the 2nd half - Sheridan, Johnston, Croft and Joubert to make a massive impact in the loose and set-piece.
FORWARDS:
- Look to Moore and Cole to get the shove on right from the first scrum. If we are dominating as expected, we will call for scrums every time we can.
- At the lineout we have 3 huge jumpers in Horwill, Hines and Vickerman. We will generally play safe with front jumpers being used. We will look to exert as much pressure as possible on the Sale throws, especially deep in their half.
- We have selected a massive pack for wet conditions. Led by Waldrom, and supported by Horwill, Pocock, Hines, Jenkins, Moore and Vickerman, we want our carriers running straight lines and not taking risks with the offload with the wet ball.
- Target the breakdown massively with Sale having no fetcher - Pocock is the man charged with reaching the breakdown first, securing first phase possession for us and pilfering the possession of Sale. We will always look to attack quickly off turnover ball.
BACKS:
- In general attacking play, we will play off 9 with Yachvili as our little general pulling the strings.
- Yachvili, Wilkinson and Twelvetrees will look to get us winning the territory battle and test Sale's back three with their kicking game. We won't be kicking aimlessly - in the wet conditions we will use low raking kicks to pen Sale back in their half and force them into making mistakes by kicking behind their back three. We will also use box-kicks and the up and under, with the target of landing it outside Sale's 22.
- Twelvetrees can act as our second receiver and take the pressure off Wilkinson. He can also hit the gain line hard to make yards. BOD to play his natural game, be the leader in our midfield, and look to get our back three into the game.
- We have selected a back three that are versed full backs, and all are very comfortable under pressure and receiving kicks. All three are flyers, and we will look to the intelligence and passing ability in Twelvetrees and BOD to unleash them at the right time.
- Jane and Nacewa encouraged to come into midfield and influence the game with their pace and skill.
KEY POINTS:
- Home Advantage - Unbeaten at home in 2 years. Welford Road is the fortress that we all know.
- Form and confidence. We are on an unbelievable run, beating Worcester away last week, Leinster home and away, and have lost just twice in our last 13 games. Sale had their unbeaten home record taken last week,and confidence may be an issue.
- Massive pack for wet conditions. Our starting pack weighs in at around 18st per player, and we have just as much power to bring on from the bench.
- Attack the scrum relentlessly - call for scrums whenever we can.
- Use our advantage of having a 9, 10 and 12 combo with exceptional kicking games - keep Sale penned back in their own half and force their back three into making mistakes.
- Target the breakdown massively with Sale having no fetcher - Pocock is the man charged with reaching the breakdown first, securing first phase possession for us and pilfering the possession of Sale.
Sale Sharks
Manager – SJE
16. Jerome Schuster 17. Guilleme Guirado 18. Neemia Tialata 19. Christian Day 20. Matt Kvesic 21. Danny Care 22. Olly Barkley 23. Sam Smith
General Game Plan
On attack, we will look to control possession with our strong carrying game. We will look to our big carriers to get over the gain line and where possible offload to support runners breaking the defensive line and keeping our forward momentum going.
On defence, we will use a blitz defence coming up at pace looking to isolate the ball carrier before he gets to the gain line stopping any momentum and allowing us to hit the breakdown hard. Ben Spencer will act as a sweeper to cover any grubbers behind the line while our back three will sit deep ready to run back any loose kicks.
At the breakdown, if the ball looks available we will look to seriously commit numbers to clear the ruck allowing Thomson and Quedragao to come in and secure us turnover ball. At all other times we will commit 1 or 2 to the breakdown and look to counter ruck legally slowing down Tigers ball allowing our defensive line more time to set.
We will look to use the set piece as a weapon throughout. We will target the scrum with a technically strong front row looking to get under and disrupt. With 5 jumping options and a reliable thrower at hook we will look to attack from the lineout. We will look to mix things up bringing the ball down into the maul or playing the ball of the top and spreading it through the backs.
Key Points
• Possession
We will be looking to keep possession of the ball for as much as possible today. There will be no aimless kicking. We will look to work through the phases with our strong carrying game and starve Leicester of the ball. We want to move their big pack around the park and have the carrying game from 1-15 to really test the Tigers defensive line
• Breakdown
With two flankers with expertise at the breakdown today we will look to seriously target the breakdown. With our blitz defence stopping Togers before the gain line we will look to our pack, Thomson and Quedragao in particular, to hit the breakdown area hard and fast looking to get their hands on turnover ball before the Tigers pack can get on the scene. We want to seriously disrupt the quality of the ball the Tigers halfbacks are receiving.
•Target BOD
We will look to target BOD at 13 on both attack and defence. On attack we will send our strong carriers down this channel looking to get through the defensive line by either breaking the tackle or offloading to support runners. On defence we will rush up in the blitz, with our big tacklers in this channel looking to put serious pressure on BOD forcing mistakes and disjointed play for Tigers.
Bath Rugby v London Irish
Heavy Rain, 11 degreesm 14 mph winds.
Bath Rugby
Manager – inthefastlane
16. Richard Skuse 17. Joe Ward 18. Euan Murray 19. Rob Simmons 20. Will Skinner 21. Tom Guest 22. Fourie Du Preez 23. Dominic Waldouck
Tactics
Psychological
Seven wins on the trot has left the team energized and very confident. We feel there is no one that can beat us at the moment and that has really spread all over the team. Also we feel our team is in top form in real life while most of Nick’s team are struggling.
Overall
Our game plan is based on simple rugby. In the poor conditions we will be looking to dominate the set piece and general forward play. We will be looking to use our kicking weapons to put us in good positions.
Set Piece
Our formidable front row has been picked to win scrums. Kubrashvilli and Healy will be looking to get a strong hit and drive through the Irish front row. Our front row is also on great form with Healy and Kubrashvilli especially two of the form props in the Northern Hemisphere. Lobbe will control it at the back. If we are dominant in the scrum we will look to take it as penalty option to really use our advantage. At the lineout we have options with Whitelock, Lobbe and O’Brien all capable of taking opposition ball. At the front we have Deacon offering the banker ball if the conditions become too treacherous for accurate throwing.
Kicking
Our game plan revolves around our good kicking options that will look to get the ball deep either behind the Irish back three or into touch. Hodgson, Steyn, Beale and Monye all have good boots and we feel that we can use these options so they can’t target one kicker. If we put the ball behind the back three we feel confident we can put it a good chase pressuring Irish. JMF Lobbe especially is one of the best chasers in the world and he will lead the chase. Our other option is to put the ball in touch where we feel we have a significant advantage and a chance of stealing Irish ball. With the wind how it is we will not be going for drop goals and even penalties we will only take a kick on if it’s fairly easy.
Ball in Hand
With the ball in hand we will be looking for big carries to get over the gain line. Our team is full of players capable of making big gains and we will look to use this to our advantage in these conditions. We will be looking for players like SOB, Deacon, Lobbe and Rougerie to get their hands on the ball. In these conditions we will not be looking to play offloads.
Defence
We will look for a quick defensive line to put pressure on the key Irish decision makers. Lydiate is a huge tackler so we will be putting him on Butch James. Our defense will leave Beale trailing to get any deep kicks. He will be able to either return with interest or able to make a good run.
Replacements
Off the bench we have gone for a 6-2 split between forwards and backs. Up front we have picked subs who we feel can really continue our dominance in the scrum. Euan Murray is a feared scrummager to match Poux coming off their bench. Rob Simmons is someone who can really provide added grunt in the engine room. Tom Guest can make some good yards against tired opposition while Will Skinner can really disrupt Irish ball at the end of the game. In the backs we have FDP who can come on early in the second half and really control the game. He is a brilliant box kicker and has good experience in close matches. Dominic Waldouck will also add to our carrying game and is solid defensively.
London Irish
Manager – stnick88
16. Darren Fearn 17. Neil Briggs 18. Jean Baptiste Poux 19. Mouritz Botha 20. Hendrie Fourie 21. Julien Dupuy 22. Juan Martin Hernandez 23. Matthew Tait
Tactics
- Target the set-piece. Castro and Tonga to go after their men and look for penalties for Pienaar to kick. Look to push Bath off their own ball and drive our own ball as far forward as possible.
- Kennedy as main lineout man, also to disrupt opposition ball. Garvey and Kaino other options for our own ball.
- We will use Kaino to line up SOB to stop any momentum from him. We want to force Bath to have slow ball and will hit the rucks hard and fast with Garvey, Rush, Kaino, Castro and Tonga targetting the rucks and Botes our breakdown specialist.
- In horrible conditions, we are going to use the ball carriers. Tonga, Rush, Garvey, Castro, Kaino, Naqalevuki will carry all game long to tire Bath defence. We will keep the ball tight and work the ball forward. Any gaps appearing in the defence we will get the ball to James and Pienaar to put runners through. We will use Pienaars boot for box kicks, with JP, Armitage and Sackey putting pressure and trying to claim the kick or at least put pressure on the Bath receiver.
- we are looking to disrupt and bath flow and momentum by ruthlessly targetting charlie hodgson. butch, naqa and all our big fellas will look for big hits and carries on hodgson, as bath have no fly half on the bench if he gets injured. we will run at him in attack and see him and see the bath defensive 10-12-13 as an area we can get some joy.
- on the subject of form, i woulnt say tonga'uhia, buckland, castro, garvey, kennedy, armitage, naqalevuki are strugglin for form at all. fair enough a few havent played for a while like fourie, james, kaino..but neither have steyn, wigglesworth, beale for you.
London Wasps v Worcester Warriors
Heavy Rain, 10 degrees, 8 mph winds.
London Wasps
Manager – ‘Arry
16. Andy Titterell 17. Charlie Beech 18. CJ Van Der Linde 19. Richard Birkett 20. John Hart 21. Steve Mafi 22. Mike Blair 23. Steven Myler
Tactics
After last weeks disappointing defeat at the hands of Gloucester we return to Adams Park where we have only lost one game in the league all season. We are looking to gain a victory against an impressive Worcester outfit. With the conditions, we have gone for a 6/2 split on the bench, due to the fact we know this will be a physically relentless game for forwards due to the amount of work they will be doing.
We are intent upon controlling the pack and the set piece. Stephen Jones will control our play and look to put us in the right areas of the pitch where we can exert pressure upon Worcester. We'll look to maintain plenty of pressure upon the Worcester back three throughout the game with Jones and Mortlock kicking in behind them to try and keep Worcester pinned back in their own half where we can pressurize them into mistakes.
Our pack is gritty, physical and powerful they will carry the ball all day long for us. We will look to the set piece for a platform and get our big carriers in the back line to get us over the gain line. Power and sheer physicality are the two main parts of our game plan. Keeping things simple in the forwards will be vital, good hands and good retention of the ball.
We will look to our forwards to carry the ball for a number of phases recycling the ball efficiently wearing Worcester down each time we take the ball into the contact. We have several carrying options in the pack and will look to pick and drive, keeping things simple. We will ensure our carriers have plenty of support players to secure the ball at the breakdown. We will look to really assert ourselves physically and hit the contact area hard.
With the ball in hand we will look for Roberts, Mortlock and Banahan to carry hard and get us over the gain line, targeting the inside shoulders of the Worcester players and attacking gaps and half gaps. If we win the collisions we intend to use short, compact offloads to keep the ball moving, if not our support players will look to keep them on their feet, and drive them over the gain line building up momentum and speed within our attacks. With our big, crash ball centers and Banahan we will look to suck in plenty of Worcester defenders to create space elsewhere for us to exploit.
At the breakdown we will look to counter ruck when possible, with the poor conditions we feel there will be plenty of chances to get our hands in rucks and force turnover ball which will be used to pin Worcester back. We will work really hard at rucks and look to isolate the Worcester carriers and dominate the tackle/breakdown area, by remaining strong and staying on our feet to compete.
At the set piece we will look to exert real pressure on Worcester and earn some penalties for Stephen Jones to make use of. We will keep things simple at the lineout. Wentzel is the key man for us, we will look to employ the maul and drive Worcester backwards which will really test their discipline. As we gain ground, hopefully more and more Worcester defenders will be drawn in which will create space elsewhere for us to exploit and make use of.
Worcester Warriors
Manager – prop_lyd
16. Richard Strauss 17. David Flatman 18. Chris Budgen 19. Ben Gulliver 20. Scott Higginbotham 21. Ben McCalman 22. Jimmy Cowan 23. Sam Vesty
Tactics
Forwards
We have picked a big heavy pack who will look to get involved in a forwards battle. The back 3 can all win good turnover ball and Newby will lead from the front here. Chabal will look to run off 12-13 channel and make breaks in that gap looking for the offload to the wingers on his shoulder. We will challenge every lineout and we have a good lineout out today, scrums we feel we will match or at least disrupt them getting clean ball. The back 5 will look to slow down their ball to let our backs blitz their attack.
Backs
Steyn to run the show here. Quick ball will come from Peel and we will look to release our back line as much and as early as possible. After 20 minutes we will switch to tactical kicking before doing the same in the 2nd half. When we kick we will look to pin them back or send high balls for our wingers and back 3 to chase and put pressure on. Clarke will look to take on ball off of Chabal's breaks and Habana and Garvey have enough pace and power to make yards. We are looking for tries today but will take 3 points when required or the option is given.
Defence
Hard blitzed defence with a flanker on 10's shoulder looking for the turnover. Peel will sweep behind looking to capitalise on any loose ball or kicks.
Overall
*Quick ball,
*Forwards to use their brute force to dominate upfront,
*Backs to be released for 20mins and then Steyn to go for tactical kicking,
*Hard defence,
*Take the points when on but go for tries if possible.
Newcastle Falcons v Northampton Saints
Cloudy with heavy showers, 7 degrees, 6 mph winds.
Newcastle Falcons
Manager – Sgt Pooly
| 01. Fabien Barcella | 09. Ben Youngs |
| 02. William Servat | 10. Nick Evans |
| 03. Owen Franks | |
| 04. Dean Schofield | 11. Miles Benjamin |
| 05. Paul O’Connell | 12. Brad Barritt |
| 06. Chris Robshaw | 13. Conrad Smith |
| 07. Richie McCaw(c) | 14. James O’Connor |
| 08. Kieran Read | 15. Adam Ashley-Cooper |
16.Marius Tincu 17. Paul Doran-Jones 18. Alex Waller 19. Geoff Parling 20.Juan Smith 21. Heinrich Brussow 22. Jonny Arr 23. Toby Flood
Tactics:
Gameplan – Simple rugby.......With the game away and in extremely wet conditions we’ll be looking to control the set piece, pack and look to play in the right areas of the pitch. Evans will dictate play and will look to clear his lines from our own 22. We’ll look to put pressure on the Saints set piece throughout the game and we think we can get the upperhand in both scrum & lineout.
Defence – We’ll be deploying the rush defence and targeting the Saints 10/12 channel. Saints have a new half back pairing each week so we expect a little rustiness. Barritt will look to cut off the 12 axix and will hit JDV early. With Saints lack of kicking options in midfield we expect contact to be looked for, McCaw will look come in after the tackler and tie JDV or Manu up, either slowing ball down or gaining a pen/turnover.
Set piece – Wet conditions usually means plenty of knock on which means plenty of scrums. We’ve went for a hefty scrummaging unit to really tear into Saints from the off. Franks & Barcella will look to get a strong hit on then look to drive through the Saints props. We foresee plenty of pens coming our way so will look for the corners in our own half where POC lead the line and secure safe ball. Franks & Servat will look to target Mullen who’s making his first start for Saints alongside a new front row unit.
We’ll look for the take and drive on our own ball with Servat being the key man here. With 5 good jumpers and POC pulling the strings we’ll keep things solid on our own throw whilst looking to target Saints’s throw all game.
Pack – We’ve went for numerous carrying options in the pack and will look to use short pick and drives and keep things simple. McCaw will lead the assault and will also look to make a bit of a mess of the breakdown. With the poor conditions they’ll be plenty of opportunity to get hands in rucks and force turnover ball which will be used to force Saints retreating back.
Backs – We’ve named a strong defensive unit that will look to keep Saints under wraps whilst also giving us kicking options and power in the contact. Barritt and AAC will look to take contact and give us potential line breaking options. JOC will float around the backline and look to pop up at 12 giving us a strong kicking option alongside Evans with AAC also giving a strong kicking game to go to. On centre scrums (they’ll be plenty!) we’ll look to pair Bowe/AAC & JOC/Barritt giving us power/kicking/pace options on either side.
Subs – we’ll look to keep the pack refreshed and have named 3 top draw front row options to turn the screw in the second half. 6/2 forwards to keep forwards fresh with the two SA lads bring huge intensity in the final 3rd of the game.
KEY POINTS:
SCRUM – Target Mullen & Stevens – The scrum is a unit that takes time to gel. Mullen is having his first start for Saints, he’s a class act but is being thrown in at the deep end against one of the best TH’s in world rugby.
SCRUM – In the conditions they’ll be numerous scrums, we’ll look to really pressure Saints here then hit the corners if a pen gained
LINEOUT – Dominate our own ball whilst targeting opposition throw. Williams is quality operator but he has only been with the Saints for a few weeks, how will he know all the calls???? Saints will have to operate a simple call system, POC will look to dismantle Saints here.
James O’Connor – To come in at second receiver on attacking ball to give us extra kicking option
Pack subs – Keep pack fresh and high intensity in the contact 6/2 split as forward control is key.
Confidence – We’re in great form and more importantly we’re playing winning rugby. An away win at Sale last week (first team to win there in 2 years!) whilst Saints have slumped to 3rd bottom and had a demoralising defeat at home last week.
Goal Kicking – Goal kicking will be key in the conditions, Giteau is flaky at best over the last few years so we feel confident of Evans keeping us ticking over
HOME FORM - We're unbeaten at home in 18months whilst Saints have LOST every away game in the AP this season
Northampton Saints
Manager – dammit_chris
| 01. Matt Mullan | 09. Mike Phillips |
| 02. Dylan Hartley | 10. Matt Giteau (k) |
| 03. Matt Stevens | |
| 04. Ali Williams | 11. Leigh Halfpenny |
| 05. Courtney Lawes | 12. Jean de Villiers |
| 06. Rocky Elsom | 13. Manu Tuilagi |
| 07. Calum Clark | 14. Max Evans |
| 08. Sergio Parisse (c) | 15. Ben Foden |
16. Dimitri Szaweski 17. Thomas Domingo 18. Henry Thomas 19. Bradley Davies 20. Liam Messam 21. Joe Simpson 22. Danny Cirpiani 23. Siti Siviatu
Tactics
Overall Gameplan – the conditions arent suited to free flowing rugby so we have picked a team that will look to play to our strengths and expose perceived Newcastle weaknesses. We have picked a team that thrives in taking the ball into contact and enjoys the physical tussle and can grant Matt Giteau solid ball to dictate the pace and style of the game. We will look to put pressure on Newcastle with an aggressive, blitz defence and force mistakes. Think of us playing exactly as Saracens do in real life.
Attack – Our main point of attack will be putting that ball up our jumpers and keeping it phase after phase controlling the ball and getting our big ball carriers the chance to hit the ball up from the base of rucks and mauls and running off Giteau. We’ve made sure that Giteau will have options in the midfield with de Villiers and Tuilagi and a very steady backthree with Foden, Halfpenny and Evans all suited to the conditions. Our attack is all about control, patience and stopping any tempo/patterns develop in the Newcastle attack. If they havent got the ball they wont score and our team has the bigger, better ball carriers throughout the pack and backs to work this tactic well.
Defence – We will be playing an aggressive blitz defence where we look to stop Newcastle ball carriers first time and drive them back in the contact. We will target Youngs where the conditions do not suit his running game and we will look to pressurise his passing with Phillips more aggressive and robust style of play. We will try and target Evans with Courtney Lawes and the backrow, just as Sarries did so successfully against him in real life against him at the weekend.
Phillips will act as sweeper behind the Saints defensive line and when contact is made we will look to use de Villiers, Tuilagi and Phillips as additional flankers in the breakdown area and clear the likes of McCaw and co out of the contact area, at the very least slow down the ball and cause a complete nuisance of ourselves.
Set piece – Interesting fact – in internationals there are an average of 16 scrums per game (including 9 resets) – we know that the scrum is not our greatest strength but with a very strong second row and Parisse excellent handling at the back we know that we can cope and wont go backwards. On our own scrums we will look to get the ball in and out as quickly as possible to either use Parisse from base of the scrum or for de Villiers or Tuilagi to take it into contact.
We will look to utilise each of our front row replacements early in the second half with Domingo on at 40mins and others on by 55th minute – we feel the scrum more than evens itself out when each team empties their front row subs bench. We’ve also been resting our front row forwards very well over the last month, so it will be a very even contest.
In the lineout the conditions are shocking for any complex calls and the winner of this area will be the ones who keep it simple and win their own ball. We have got four options at the lineout with Lawes, Williams, Clark and Parisse so will alternate the front line jumpers so O’Connell has a difficult time of reading the calls etc.
We will not contest the majority of Newcastle ball so that we can line up our defence properly and put emphasis on the first hit – this will include placing Elsom into the backline as first tackler to place Evans under pressure, with Phillips guarding the 5metre channel. We feel that this is the best tactic in the conditions because if there are too many people contesting the ball can spill and become unpredictable and can lead to try scoring opportunities against unorganised defences.
Pack/Breakdown – We know that our packs strength lies in its ball carrying prowess and will focus on the ball going through phase after phase and stopping any momentum build in the game.
The conditions means that the ability to slow ball down at the breakdown isnt a major issue because we will be playing slowly and making hard yards. We have no interest in fast ball and will be playing the crash ball game to get over the gainline.
On Newcastle attacks we will look to clear out rucks by getting Elsom, Lawes etc to target McCaw and just get him away from the breakdown areas – we don’t see Newcastle as an overly physical team in comparison to say Gloucester in this league and we have to take advantage of this. We will guard the fringes on each breakdown and maul and at each opportunity drive Newcastle ball carriers backwards.
Backs – Our backline is picked specifically for the conditions, a strong defensive unit with a lot of physicality and power. We have a very sound back three, all solid under the high ball and importantly have played their whole careers in these conditions. We will play it simple and get our strong runners on the ball off Giteau who will look to suck Barritt out of the defensive line and put Tuilagi and Foden through any gaps left. We really do want to keep hold of the ball and stop Newcastle having possession so our backs will also be doing a lot of carrying.
We will go through the phases and rely on Giteau & Halfpenny to utlise their kicking games to ensure that we do not play for prolonged periods in our own half and will specifically target the channel between Miles Benjamin and Ashley-Cooper.
Subs – We have kept our forwards very fresh over the last month, but will bring each of our forwards into the mix early in the second half to give each at least 25-30mins of gametime. We will also get Siviatu on early in the second half to get him running against Benjamin.
KEY POINTS:
BALL CARRIERS – The whole team is packed full of ball carriers who thrive in the conditions, we will look to go through phase after phase and get over the gainline with our pack and backs.
PHYSICALITY – We feel Newcastle can struggle in a really physical game, as they are much more suited to free-flowing rugby. The conditions turn this contest into an arm wrestle and we will look to keep hold of the ball and make Newcastle work for every yard. We feel our team is more physical and will look to drag Newcastle into a dog fight.
DISCIPLINE – We wont dive into rucks and mauls and will keep our defensive discipline by relying on our defensive capabilities and allow Newcastle to work through the phases and ensure we make the tackles. It isnt going to be an attacking game, so will make sure we play to the conditions.
PACK – To keep hold of the ball and frustrate Newcastle, we aren’t looking for quick ball but to work through the phases, keep the pace slow and set up mauls and rucks.
INTENSITY & PRESSURE – Our team is very well suited to playing in awful conditions, we know it isnt going to be a high scoring game. We will look to pressurise Newcastle at every opportunity, hit them hard and drive them back in the tackle area and force them into mistakes.
KEEPING THE BALL – We are going to keep hold of the ball and make Newcastle work for every bit of possession they have. We wont take any chances in our own 22 or areas where Evans can kick for goal – so will keep our play simple and play some old school rugby.
Exeter Chiefs v Harlequins
Heavy Rain, 13 degrees, 15 mph winds.
Exeter Chiefs
Manager – Driver - RIP 606
| 01. Wyatt Crockett | 09. Byron Kelleher |
| 02. Damien Varley | 10. Ronan O'Gara |
| 03. Davit Zirakashvili | |
| 04. Simon Shaw | 11. Luke Fitzgerald |
| 05. James Hudson | 12. Gordon D'Arcy |
| 06. Ben Skirving | 13. Mike Tindall |
| 07. Shane Jennings | 14. Isaia Toeava |
| 08. Nick Easter (c) | 15. Lee Byrne |
16.Neil Clark 17.Brett Sturgess 18.Dave Wilson 19.Flip Van Der Merwe 20.Lewis Moody 21.Haydn Thomas 22.Colin Slade 23.George Pisi
Tactics
- In shot conditions we have picked a mean grizzeled pack who will look to keep the phases tight and recycle possention rucking the defenders away allowing for sharp pick and drives to put us on the front foot.
- ROG to ping the ball into the corners and behind the Quins wingers.
- D'Arcy and Tindall are both in the midfield to take the ball flat and at pace to set us a platform to split the defense down the middle running at Cooper/Contipomi.
- Back 3 all have excellent kicking games with Fitz and Byrne in top form aswell.
- Target Brits at the set piece. Varley and Zirka are mean at scrum time and will look to pull Marler away from brits to give Zirka the chance to get under him and force him up.
- Easter/Kelleher/ROG to control the tempo and slow the game down and turn it into a slug fest.
- Impact bench - Sturgess/Clark/Wilson/FVM/Moody are all dogged players and ideal for this type of battle.
Harlequins
Manager – Steven_Sharks
Harlequins name a strong side capable of playing fast tempo rugby. We've picked a pack to be especially to be strong when it comes to the breakdown and ball carrying.
| 01. Joe Marler | 09. Lee Dickson |
| 02. Schalk Brits | 10. Quade Cooper |
| 03. Brian Mujati | |
| 04. Nathan Sharpe | 11. Cedric Heymans |
| 05. George Skivington | 12. Felipe Contepomi (k) |
| 06. Francois Louw | 13. George Lowe |
| 07. Sam Warburton (c) | 14. Jonathan Joseph |
| 08. Jamie Heaslip | 15. Rob Kearney |
16. Matthew Rees 17. Tony Woodcock 18. Kieran Brookes 19. James Gaskell 20. Phil Dowson 21. Karl Dickson 22. Freddie Burns 23. Zac Guildford
Tactics
We are where we are in the table as we have been able to pick up results away from Home. Wins at Irish, Bath and Wasps as well as a draw at Worcester has seen us rise to higher than many expected in the AP table and picking up points away from home is a very good habit for us to keep up. To try and keep this up we have picked what we consider to be a balanced side which is capable of being dangerous in attack and strong in defence. In conditions which will reward a good kicking game as well as enterprising attacking play.
Game Plan
Two points which we are really wanting to concentrate on are high tempo attacking and to attempt to starve Exeter of quality ball. In attack we want to use strong runners to get us over the gain line and then look to the axis of Dickson, Cooper and Contepomi to use the quick ball to launch our attacks. When we are in the Exeter half we are going to keep the ball for as long as we can. We want to maintain a high tempo in attack but this doesn't mean we will rush things. We will be patient for the right time to throw caution to the wind. If the ball is slowed down then we use our forwards to set the platform and get some quick ball again. We really want to emphasize that Dickson and Cooper will look to play at a quick tempo when we get the quick ball.
In order to slow the Exeter ball down we will look to be aggressive in defence and really hit Exeter hard in the tackle. As well as this we will look for Warburton, Louw and he rest of our pack to really target the breakdown and aim to turnover the ball or at least slow down and disrupt Exeter. This is something we are really going to concentrate on. It takes at most 3 people working effectively to cause Exeter problems so this shouldn't affect our defensive line.
As always away from home the target is the win. We will kick the points whenever we get the chance.
Forwards
Up front we have a strong pack which will be a real force in the loose. We feel we have the men to secure our own ball at the scrum and lineout and perhaps could even cause issues for Exeter at the lineout. In the loose we are looking for our players to carry hard and in numbers with the aim of winning the collisions and to keep driving the legs to get us over the gain line. We want our forwards to run different lines so as to keep the Exeter defence guessing.
Backs
In the backs we have the men who can cause problems for Exeter. We have a creative pairing and 10 and 12 which we see as important for us today. They are both very comfortable with ball in hand or putting us in the right area of the pitch should be need to. Both are comfortable at first receiver. We will be looking for Cooper and Contepomi to stand very flat when we have quick ball. We will really be looking for Lowe to isolate Tindall and then burn him on the outside shoulder.
Defence
In defence we will look to have a quick line speed and look for players to really pressure ROG. We will also swap Cooper to the wing and move Joseph to inside centre with Lowe and Contepomi moving in one in defence. We will have Cooper and Kearney deep when we defend to cover the kicks and Heymans will also drop deep should we need him to.
Key Points
- High Tempo in attack when we get quick ball. Look for Cooper/Contepomi to stand flat and feed runners.
- Make a mess of Exeter ball when we can. turnovers ideal but will settle for disruption.
- Cooper, Kearney and Heymans (if required) to stay deep to make it hard for Exeter to kick behind us)
- Get the gamebreakers (Cooper, Brits, Joseph etc) on the ball when we have quick ball. Play at pace (But not Rushed!!!)
Opposition Points
- Going to be a lot of pressure on ROG as he is the man who will be managing the Exeter game on his own with their not really being another man who can relieve the pressure in the midfield. We will really look to give him very little time and make his day a misery.
- We see a real lack of creation in the Midfield for Exeter and see it being very one dimensional with the D'Arcy/Tindall combo. This will only add to the pressure on ROG as we don't see our midfield defence to be a weakness in anyway.
- I feel there is lack of dynamic carriers in the back 5 of the Exeter pack and this will make it hard for them to cross the gain line on a regular basis.
- Brits's set piece is hardly a weakness. Lineout throwing has been as good as any hookers this season.
Saracens v Gloucester
Cloudy with light showers, 9 degrees, 7 mph winds
Saracens
Manager – Ozzy3213
| 01. Alex Corbisiero | 09. Morgan Parra |
| 02. Bismarck du Plessis | 10. Francois Trinh-Duc |
| 03. Adam Jones | |
| 04. Lionel Nallet | 11. Digby Ioane |
| 05. Steve Borthwick | 12. Ma'a Nonu |
| 06. Joe van Niekerk (c) | 13. Henry Trinder |
| 07. Thierry Dusautoir | 14. Mark Cueto |
| 08. Luke Narraway | 15. Patric Lambie |
16. George Chuter 17. Tendai Mtwarira 18. Jannie du Plessis 19. Dave Attwood 20. Alessandro Zanni 21. Paul Hodgson 22. Owen Farrell 23. Tom Homer
Tactics
Our generic gameplan revolves around a high intensity attacking and defensive game.
In attack our primary gameplan is always to control possession and run the ball, utilising big carriers attacking gaps in the line, and looking to offload to support runners to continue getting over the gainline and keep the ball alive. If the offload is not on, we will take the contact and look to recycle quickly at the breakdown. If running the ball is not on we will uitilise the kicking game of one of our backs to take us into the right area of the pitch.
In defence we will look to blitz, with our scrum half sweeping behind the defensive line. Key for us is line speed, getting up to make the tackle before the ball carrier hits the gainline, and confidence and trust in the man next to you in the defensive line, meaning we will not jump out or get pulled to far away from the next defender leaving gaps that can be exploited.
At the breakdown, we will not overcommit players. If the ball is not there to be won, then we will commit 1 or 2 players to legally slow it down whilst maintaining a strong defensive line across the pitch. If the ball looks like it is there to be won, we will look to get more numbers there quickly, with the first 1 or 2 players immediately rucking past the ball to clear the opposition players who are trying to get hands on it, and the next man in will then look to get it out quickly for us to counter attack on turnover ball.
We will look to really attack the scrum, both in attack and defence. We will not be looking to drop the scrum at all, and Joe van Niekerk in his role as captain will be talking to the referee constantly to ensure that he is aware that we want to scrummage. We will look to be aggressive in this area throughout.
Game Specific Tactics
- Control Territory and Possession - We will keep the ball using big carriers and will happily take contact and recycle. If we are getting nowhere we will use one of the 5 players in our backline with excellent kicking games to find touch deep in Gloucester territory and force them to either play from deep or kick back to us.
- Move the Gloucester pack around - We will look to really vary our point of attack by moving the ball quickly to support runners in order to keep the Gloucester pack continually working in defence and having to cover a lot of ground. We will look to attack the wide channels with big carriers targetting May and Sharples in order to try to pull other defenders into wide areas, before picking running lines back inside to hit the gaps created.
- Fringe Defence - We will look to stay tight around the fringes of rucks and deny Genia opportunities to make sniping breaks and force him into become predictable by continually going to his first reciever. If we can narrow down Gloucesters attacking options by taking this threat away it will make them much easier to defend against.
Key Points
- In Game Form - Unbeaten in 8 games and off the back of a very good away draw with Harlequins we go into this game full of confidence.
- Home Advantage - We are unbeaten at home since season 1. Vicarage Road is our fortress and in less than perfect conditions it would be very tough for an away side to some and win there. Our matches with Gloucester have traditionally been close affairs where home advantage has been a big contributory factor in the result.
- Real Life Form - We have selected players in excellent real life form. Ioane, Nonu, Dusautoir - International standouts in their positions this year. Borthwick, Narraway, Parra, Trinh-Duc, Trinder, Cueto - All in fantastic form for their clubs in real life (Narraway and Trinder both exceptional for Glaws this week and Cueto bagged his 73rd AP try to put him just 3 behind Steve Hanley's all time scoring record!)
- Bench - We have a bench packed with players in excellent form who can make and impact and we can and will use them to either see the game out or swing it our way in the final quarter.
- Experience - Across the team we have full internationals in key positions, along with at least 4 players who have captained their country, and numerous more who have captained their clubs. That gives us a huge plus in terms of decision making on the field, and the ability to take the game by the scruff of the neck.
Gloucester
Manager – Insert text here
| 01. Nick Wood | 09. Will Genia |
| 02. Darren Dawidiuk | 10. Dan Carter |
| 03. Nicolas Mas | |
| 04. Bakkies Botha | 11. Charlie Sharples |
| 05. Tom Palmer | 12. Berrick Barnes |
| 06. Stephen Ferris | 13. Richard Kahui |
| 07. Schalk Burger | 14. Jonny May |
| 08. Imanol Harinordoquy | 15. Israel Dagg |
16. Gurthro Steenkamp 17. Jamie George 18. Rupert Harden 19. George Robson 20. Julien Bonnaire 21. Dave Lewis 22. Stephen Donald 23. James Simpson-Daniel
Tactics
We welcome travelling to Saracens in great conditions for rugby.
We want to play high intensity and really outmanouver saracens but we know we need to earn the right to.
We have gone with a big mobile ball carrying pack that we
Want to ProVide quick ball.
Set piece
As ever a hard scrummaging pack backed with a back 5 to add grunt. We are aiming to get a nudge on their ball and get a wheel on our ball to launch our
Back row off.
Lineout
We have 5 jumpers and see ourselves as being able to profit here on their ball. This will get even better for us when bonnaire and crew come
On.
On our ball we will be catching and driving to start with to suck them in and tire their players out. As game progresses we will be using quick off the top ball and looking to put pace on the game.
General. The aim is to use our dynamic carriers p
Punch and win the collisions. We want to get
Past the gainline and create quick ball to go to the backs. We see Our pack as having lots more ball carriers and this will help us dictate the play.
We want to play a territory and hard
Yards game until being in a position to launch our super quick backs. Being on front foot allows better kicks in behind to win territory and also bette ball to run with.
Backs
As ever they want front foot ball to attack but we will not be adverse to carter Barnes and dagg kicking in behind them. We have the lineout to pressure theirs so in initial stages we will look to play percentages. This is easier to do with quick front foot ball from a pack going over the gain line.
Carter will look to hit forwards or strike runners into the rOberts banahan channel and create quick ball to then strike wide.
The up and under will be utilised but as the game starts to break up we will start tO play looser. Quick throw ins and the de structuring of the game will allow our lightning back 3 to run wild
Key points
Lineout advantage and pressure on saracens throw
Mobile ball carriers in every pack position
I believe we have a big advantage in the engine room
The spine of our team 8,9,10,12 is maybe unrivalled and offers great control of tempo and wc players in key positions.
3 wc kicking options out of hand
Dynamic bench to enter the fray
Leicester Tigers v Sale Sharks
Heavy Rain, 8 degrees, 8 mph winds.
Leicester Tigers
Manager – LukeLovesLuka
| 01. Gethin Jenkins | 09. Dimitri Yachvili (k) |
| 02. Stephen Moore | 10. Jonny Wilkinson |
| 03. Dan Cole | |
| 04. Dan Vickerman | 11. Isa Nacewa |
| 05. James Horwill (c) | 12. Billy Twelvetrees |
| 06. Nathan Hines | 13. Brian O'Driscoll |
| 07. David Pocock | 14. Cory Jane |
| 08. Thomas Waldrom | 15. Rob Miller |
Tactics
GENERAL:
- Play a game suited for the conditions - a structured gameplan where we look to utilise our big carriers, kicking options and set piece strength. If this turns into a kicking contest, we believe our back three have the upper hand.
- Defensively we will look to blitz, with Yachvili sweeping behind the defensive line to deal with any short kicks.
- If the game is tight and the ball isn't coming quickly, Wilkinson will look to drop into the pocket and keep the scoreboard ticking over with drop goals.
- Yachvili to kick all penalties in range.
- Utilise our 6/2 bench split in the 2nd half - Sheridan, Johnston, Croft and Joubert to make a massive impact in the loose and set-piece.
FORWARDS:
- Look to Moore and Cole to get the shove on right from the first scrum. If we are dominating as expected, we will call for scrums every time we can.
- At the lineout we have 3 huge jumpers in Horwill, Hines and Vickerman. We will generally play safe with front jumpers being used. We will look to exert as much pressure as possible on the Sale throws, especially deep in their half.
- We have selected a massive pack for wet conditions. Led by Waldrom, and supported by Horwill, Pocock, Hines, Jenkins, Moore and Vickerman, we want our carriers running straight lines and not taking risks with the offload with the wet ball.
- Target the breakdown massively with Sale having no fetcher - Pocock is the man charged with reaching the breakdown first, securing first phase possession for us and pilfering the possession of Sale. We will always look to attack quickly off turnover ball.
BACKS:
- In general attacking play, we will play off 9 with Yachvili as our little general pulling the strings.
- Yachvili, Wilkinson and Twelvetrees will look to get us winning the territory battle and test Sale's back three with their kicking game. We won't be kicking aimlessly - in the wet conditions we will use low raking kicks to pen Sale back in their half and force them into making mistakes by kicking behind their back three. We will also use box-kicks and the up and under, with the target of landing it outside Sale's 22.
- Twelvetrees can act as our second receiver and take the pressure off Wilkinson. He can also hit the gain line hard to make yards. BOD to play his natural game, be the leader in our midfield, and look to get our back three into the game.
- We have selected a back three that are versed full backs, and all are very comfortable under pressure and receiving kicks. All three are flyers, and we will look to the intelligence and passing ability in Twelvetrees and BOD to unleash them at the right time.
- Jane and Nacewa encouraged to come into midfield and influence the game with their pace and skill.
KEY POINTS:
- Home Advantage - Unbeaten at home in 2 years. Welford Road is the fortress that we all know.
- Form and confidence. We are on an unbelievable run, beating Worcester away last week, Leinster home and away, and have lost just twice in our last 13 games. Sale had their unbeaten home record taken last week,and confidence may be an issue.
- Massive pack for wet conditions. Our starting pack weighs in at around 18st per player, and we have just as much power to bring on from the bench.
- Attack the scrum relentlessly - call for scrums whenever we can.
- Use our advantage of having a 9, 10 and 12 combo with exceptional kicking games - keep Sale penned back in their own half and force their back three into making mistakes.
- Target the breakdown massively with Sale having no fetcher - Pocock is the man charged with reaching the breakdown first, securing first phase possession for us and pilfering the possession of Sale.
Sale Sharks
Manager – SJE
| 01. Marcos Ayerza | 09. Ben Spencer |
| 02. David Paice | 10. Johnny Sexton |
| 03. Luc Ducalcon | |
| 04. Romain Millo Chluski | 11. David Strettle |
| 05. Alun Wyn Jones | 12. Jordan Turner Hall |
| 06. Adam Thomson | 13. Robbie Freuen |
| 07. Fulgence Quedragao | 14. Keith Earls |
| 08. Louis Picamoles | 15. Luke Rooney |
16. Jerome Schuster 17. Guilleme Guirado 18. Neemia Tialata 19. Christian Day 20. Matt Kvesic 21. Danny Care 22. Olly Barkley 23. Sam Smith
General Game Plan
On attack, we will look to control possession with our strong carrying game. We will look to our big carriers to get over the gain line and where possible offload to support runners breaking the defensive line and keeping our forward momentum going.
On defence, we will use a blitz defence coming up at pace looking to isolate the ball carrier before he gets to the gain line stopping any momentum and allowing us to hit the breakdown hard. Ben Spencer will act as a sweeper to cover any grubbers behind the line while our back three will sit deep ready to run back any loose kicks.
At the breakdown, if the ball looks available we will look to seriously commit numbers to clear the ruck allowing Thomson and Quedragao to come in and secure us turnover ball. At all other times we will commit 1 or 2 to the breakdown and look to counter ruck legally slowing down Tigers ball allowing our defensive line more time to set.
We will look to use the set piece as a weapon throughout. We will target the scrum with a technically strong front row looking to get under and disrupt. With 5 jumping options and a reliable thrower at hook we will look to attack from the lineout. We will look to mix things up bringing the ball down into the maul or playing the ball of the top and spreading it through the backs.
Key Points
• Possession
We will be looking to keep possession of the ball for as much as possible today. There will be no aimless kicking. We will look to work through the phases with our strong carrying game and starve Leicester of the ball. We want to move their big pack around the park and have the carrying game from 1-15 to really test the Tigers defensive line
• Breakdown
With two flankers with expertise at the breakdown today we will look to seriously target the breakdown. With our blitz defence stopping Togers before the gain line we will look to our pack, Thomson and Quedragao in particular, to hit the breakdown area hard and fast looking to get their hands on turnover ball before the Tigers pack can get on the scene. We want to seriously disrupt the quality of the ball the Tigers halfbacks are receiving.
•Target BOD
We will look to target BOD at 13 on both attack and defence. On attack we will send our strong carriers down this channel looking to get through the defensive line by either breaking the tackle or offloading to support runners. On defence we will rush up in the blitz, with our big tacklers in this channel looking to put serious pressure on BOD forcing mistakes and disjointed play for Tigers.
Bath Rugby v London Irish
Heavy Rain, 11 degreesm 14 mph winds.
Bath Rugby
Manager – inthefastlane
| 01. Cian Healy | 09. Richard Wigglesworth |
| 02. Kevin Mealamu | 10. Charlie Hodgson |
| 03. Davit Kubrashvilli | |
| 04. Louis Deacon | 11. Ugo Monye |
| 05.Sam Whitelock | 12. Francois Steyn |
| 06. Dan Lydiate | 13. Anthony Allen |
| 07. Sean O’Brien | 14.Aurelien Rougerie |
| 08. JMF Lobbe | 15. Kurtley Beale |
Tactics
Psychological
Seven wins on the trot has left the team energized and very confident. We feel there is no one that can beat us at the moment and that has really spread all over the team. Also we feel our team is in top form in real life while most of Nick’s team are struggling.
Overall
Our game plan is based on simple rugby. In the poor conditions we will be looking to dominate the set piece and general forward play. We will be looking to use our kicking weapons to put us in good positions.
Set Piece
Our formidable front row has been picked to win scrums. Kubrashvilli and Healy will be looking to get a strong hit and drive through the Irish front row. Our front row is also on great form with Healy and Kubrashvilli especially two of the form props in the Northern Hemisphere. Lobbe will control it at the back. If we are dominant in the scrum we will look to take it as penalty option to really use our advantage. At the lineout we have options with Whitelock, Lobbe and O’Brien all capable of taking opposition ball. At the front we have Deacon offering the banker ball if the conditions become too treacherous for accurate throwing.
Kicking
Our game plan revolves around our good kicking options that will look to get the ball deep either behind the Irish back three or into touch. Hodgson, Steyn, Beale and Monye all have good boots and we feel that we can use these options so they can’t target one kicker. If we put the ball behind the back three we feel confident we can put it a good chase pressuring Irish. JMF Lobbe especially is one of the best chasers in the world and he will lead the chase. Our other option is to put the ball in touch where we feel we have a significant advantage and a chance of stealing Irish ball. With the wind how it is we will not be going for drop goals and even penalties we will only take a kick on if it’s fairly easy.
Ball in Hand
With the ball in hand we will be looking for big carries to get over the gain line. Our team is full of players capable of making big gains and we will look to use this to our advantage in these conditions. We will be looking for players like SOB, Deacon, Lobbe and Rougerie to get their hands on the ball. In these conditions we will not be looking to play offloads.
Defence
We will look for a quick defensive line to put pressure on the key Irish decision makers. Lydiate is a huge tackler so we will be putting him on Butch James. Our defense will leave Beale trailing to get any deep kicks. He will be able to either return with interest or able to make a good run.
Replacements
Off the bench we have gone for a 6-2 split between forwards and backs. Up front we have picked subs who we feel can really continue our dominance in the scrum. Euan Murray is a feared scrummager to match Poux coming off their bench. Rob Simmons is someone who can really provide added grunt in the engine room. Tom Guest can make some good yards against tired opposition while Will Skinner can really disrupt Irish ball at the end of the game. In the backs we have FDP who can come on early in the second half and really control the game. He is a brilliant box kicker and has good experience in close matches. Dominic Waldouck will also add to our carrying game and is solid defensively.
London Irish
Manager – stnick88
| 01. Soane Tonga'uhia | 09. Ruan Pienaar |
| 02. James Buckland | 10. Butch James |
| 03. Martin Castrogiovanni | |
| 04. Matt Garvey | 11. Paul Sackey |
| 05. Nick Kennedy | 12. Sireli Naqalevuki |
| 06. Jerome Kaino | 13. Jaque Fourie |
| 07. Jacques Botes | 14. J.P Pieterson |
| 08. Xavier Rush | 15. Delon Armitage |
16. Darren Fearn 17. Neil Briggs 18. Jean Baptiste Poux 19. Mouritz Botha 20. Hendrie Fourie 21. Julien Dupuy 22. Juan Martin Hernandez 23. Matthew Tait
Tactics
- Target the set-piece. Castro and Tonga to go after their men and look for penalties for Pienaar to kick. Look to push Bath off their own ball and drive our own ball as far forward as possible.
- Kennedy as main lineout man, also to disrupt opposition ball. Garvey and Kaino other options for our own ball.
- We will use Kaino to line up SOB to stop any momentum from him. We want to force Bath to have slow ball and will hit the rucks hard and fast with Garvey, Rush, Kaino, Castro and Tonga targetting the rucks and Botes our breakdown specialist.
- In horrible conditions, we are going to use the ball carriers. Tonga, Rush, Garvey, Castro, Kaino, Naqalevuki will carry all game long to tire Bath defence. We will keep the ball tight and work the ball forward. Any gaps appearing in the defence we will get the ball to James and Pienaar to put runners through. We will use Pienaars boot for box kicks, with JP, Armitage and Sackey putting pressure and trying to claim the kick or at least put pressure on the Bath receiver.
- we are looking to disrupt and bath flow and momentum by ruthlessly targetting charlie hodgson. butch, naqa and all our big fellas will look for big hits and carries on hodgson, as bath have no fly half on the bench if he gets injured. we will run at him in attack and see him and see the bath defensive 10-12-13 as an area we can get some joy.
- on the subject of form, i woulnt say tonga'uhia, buckland, castro, garvey, kennedy, armitage, naqalevuki are strugglin for form at all. fair enough a few havent played for a while like fourie, james, kaino..but neither have steyn, wigglesworth, beale for you.
London Wasps v Worcester Warriors
Heavy Rain, 10 degrees, 8 mph winds.
London Wasps
Manager – ‘Arry
| 01. Perry Freshwater | 09. Michael Claassens |
| 02. Benjamin Kayser | 10. Stephen Jones |
| 03. Carlos Nieto | |
| 04. Stuart Hooper | 11. Matt Banahan |
| 05. Marco Wentzel (c) | 12. Jamie Roberts |
| 06. James Haskell | 13. Stirling Mortlock |
| 07. Jacques Burger | 14. Tom Williams |
| 08. Roger Wilson | 15. Geordan Murphy |
16. Andy Titterell 17. Charlie Beech 18. CJ Van Der Linde 19. Richard Birkett 20. John Hart 21. Steve Mafi 22. Mike Blair 23. Steven Myler
Tactics
After last weeks disappointing defeat at the hands of Gloucester we return to Adams Park where we have only lost one game in the league all season. We are looking to gain a victory against an impressive Worcester outfit. With the conditions, we have gone for a 6/2 split on the bench, due to the fact we know this will be a physically relentless game for forwards due to the amount of work they will be doing.
We are intent upon controlling the pack and the set piece. Stephen Jones will control our play and look to put us in the right areas of the pitch where we can exert pressure upon Worcester. We'll look to maintain plenty of pressure upon the Worcester back three throughout the game with Jones and Mortlock kicking in behind them to try and keep Worcester pinned back in their own half where we can pressurize them into mistakes.
Our pack is gritty, physical and powerful they will carry the ball all day long for us. We will look to the set piece for a platform and get our big carriers in the back line to get us over the gain line. Power and sheer physicality are the two main parts of our game plan. Keeping things simple in the forwards will be vital, good hands and good retention of the ball.
We will look to our forwards to carry the ball for a number of phases recycling the ball efficiently wearing Worcester down each time we take the ball into the contact. We have several carrying options in the pack and will look to pick and drive, keeping things simple. We will ensure our carriers have plenty of support players to secure the ball at the breakdown. We will look to really assert ourselves physically and hit the contact area hard.
With the ball in hand we will look for Roberts, Mortlock and Banahan to carry hard and get us over the gain line, targeting the inside shoulders of the Worcester players and attacking gaps and half gaps. If we win the collisions we intend to use short, compact offloads to keep the ball moving, if not our support players will look to keep them on their feet, and drive them over the gain line building up momentum and speed within our attacks. With our big, crash ball centers and Banahan we will look to suck in plenty of Worcester defenders to create space elsewhere for us to exploit.
At the breakdown we will look to counter ruck when possible, with the poor conditions we feel there will be plenty of chances to get our hands in rucks and force turnover ball which will be used to pin Worcester back. We will work really hard at rucks and look to isolate the Worcester carriers and dominate the tackle/breakdown area, by remaining strong and staying on our feet to compete.
At the set piece we will look to exert real pressure on Worcester and earn some penalties for Stephen Jones to make use of. We will keep things simple at the lineout. Wentzel is the key man for us, we will look to employ the maul and drive Worcester backwards which will really test their discipline. As we gain ground, hopefully more and more Worcester defenders will be drawn in which will create space elsewhere for us to exploit and make use of.
Worcester Warriors
Manager – prop_lyd
| 01. Sylvain Marconnet | 09. Dwayne Peel |
| 02. Chris Fortey | 10. Morne Steyn (k) |
| 03. John Andress | |
| 04. Danie Russouw | 11. Marcel Garvey |
| 05.Ollie Kohn | 12. Pat McCabe |
| 06. Kearnen Myall | 13. Jon Clarke |
| 07. Craig Newby (c) | 14.Bryan Habana |
| 08. Sebastian Chabal | 15. Ollie Morgan |
Tactics
Forwards
We have picked a big heavy pack who will look to get involved in a forwards battle. The back 3 can all win good turnover ball and Newby will lead from the front here. Chabal will look to run off 12-13 channel and make breaks in that gap looking for the offload to the wingers on his shoulder. We will challenge every lineout and we have a good lineout out today, scrums we feel we will match or at least disrupt them getting clean ball. The back 5 will look to slow down their ball to let our backs blitz their attack.
Backs
Steyn to run the show here. Quick ball will come from Peel and we will look to release our back line as much and as early as possible. After 20 minutes we will switch to tactical kicking before doing the same in the 2nd half. When we kick we will look to pin them back or send high balls for our wingers and back 3 to chase and put pressure on. Clarke will look to take on ball off of Chabal's breaks and Habana and Garvey have enough pace and power to make yards. We are looking for tries today but will take 3 points when required or the option is given.
Defence
Hard blitzed defence with a flanker on 10's shoulder looking for the turnover. Peel will sweep behind looking to capitalise on any loose ball or kicks.
Overall
*Quick ball,
*Forwards to use their brute force to dominate upfront,
*Backs to be released for 20mins and then Steyn to go for tactical kicking,
*Hard defence,
*Take the points when on but go for tries if possible.
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Re: AP Round 12
by SirJohnnyEnglish Sun 01 Jan 2012, 3:58 pm
Newcastle Falcons 22-15 Northampton Saints
Pack battle goes to Newcastle here. They can get some serious joy at the set piece for me and have an edge at the breakdown as well. Half backs go to Falcons as well with Youngs playing into a bit of form now. Both midfields are well suited to the conditions while Saints are a bit stronger defensively in the back 3. On the bench Falcons can look to dominate the scrum and breakdown in the last quarter.
Falcons at home with a dominant pack should see off a Saints side that doesn’t travel well.
Exeter Chiefs 18-12 Harlequins
Chiefs with a gnarly front 5 can cause problems in the scrum and loose. Both sides should hold their own lineout in these conditions. Back row Quins have an edge but Jennings-Warburton will be a very interesting battle at the breakdown. In the backs Cooper will struggle at 10 in these conditions. Chiefs haven’t got a creative spark but that’s no issue in these conditions and with their game plan. Quins with a lot of pace but haven’t that gain line breaker on show leaving a lot of pressure on Heaslip to do well here. On the bench Quins can strengthen up the scrum but Chiefs can look to shut up shop and tackle to their hearts content.
Think Quins will struggle attacking wise here and a strong Chiefs outfit should pick up a very good home win.
Saracens 19-15 Gloucester Rugby
Scrum battle to Sarries here but lineout should be fairly even. In the backrow Matt should see a bit more go forward but clever call with JVN at 6 makes it a tight battle. At halfback, Carter been out a while now so not as highly rated sees the battle even. In the backs Sarries make up for the extra go forward Glaws have in the back row with Nonu and Digby on show. Tactics need to be updated from game to game Matt
Very tight even game to call here and for me it comes down to an in form Sarries playing at home to win this one. At Matts place it would be the other way around.
Bath Rugby 16-12 London Irish
Scum battle slight edge to Irish as Castro has had the better of Healy in the past. Edge the other way at the lineout. Backrow even at 8 with Lobbe out a while but Bath with an advantage overall on the flanks. The back lines overall are fairly even to be honest.
Another tight one here but Bath have an edge in the backrow battle and at home should take this one.
London Wasps 20-15 Worcester Warriors
Two very very similar looking line ups here. Main differences being that little bit extra quality in the backrow and midfield for Wasps whih should see them pick up the win here.
Pack battle goes to Newcastle here. They can get some serious joy at the set piece for me and have an edge at the breakdown as well. Half backs go to Falcons as well with Youngs playing into a bit of form now. Both midfields are well suited to the conditions while Saints are a bit stronger defensively in the back 3. On the bench Falcons can look to dominate the scrum and breakdown in the last quarter.
Falcons at home with a dominant pack should see off a Saints side that doesn’t travel well.
Exeter Chiefs 18-12 Harlequins
Chiefs with a gnarly front 5 can cause problems in the scrum and loose. Both sides should hold their own lineout in these conditions. Back row Quins have an edge but Jennings-Warburton will be a very interesting battle at the breakdown. In the backs Cooper will struggle at 10 in these conditions. Chiefs haven’t got a creative spark but that’s no issue in these conditions and with their game plan. Quins with a lot of pace but haven’t that gain line breaker on show leaving a lot of pressure on Heaslip to do well here. On the bench Quins can strengthen up the scrum but Chiefs can look to shut up shop and tackle to their hearts content.
Think Quins will struggle attacking wise here and a strong Chiefs outfit should pick up a very good home win.
Saracens 19-15 Gloucester Rugby
Scrum battle to Sarries here but lineout should be fairly even. In the backrow Matt should see a bit more go forward but clever call with JVN at 6 makes it a tight battle. At halfback, Carter been out a while now so not as highly rated sees the battle even. In the backs Sarries make up for the extra go forward Glaws have in the back row with Nonu and Digby on show. Tactics need to be updated from game to game Matt
Very tight even game to call here and for me it comes down to an in form Sarries playing at home to win this one. At Matts place it would be the other way around.
Bath Rugby 16-12 London Irish
Scum battle slight edge to Irish as Castro has had the better of Healy in the past. Edge the other way at the lineout. Backrow even at 8 with Lobbe out a while but Bath with an advantage overall on the flanks. The back lines overall are fairly even to be honest.
Another tight one here but Bath have an edge in the backrow battle and at home should take this one.
London Wasps 20-15 Worcester Warriors
Two very very similar looking line ups here. Main differences being that little bit extra quality in the backrow and midfield for Wasps whih should see them pick up the win here.
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Re: AP Round 12
by Sgt_Pooly Sun 01 Jan 2012, 6:29 pm
Leicester 16-15 Sale
Loads of scrums and two heft solid units that will front up all game, great subs too. Lineouts will be held but Sale have a slightly better engine room for the conditions. Fantastic backrows for the heavy contions, like Hines at 6 with the added grunt and general pack battle there is nothing between them.
Nobody can rival Tigers halfbacks for these conditions and they'll really look to kick the life out of Sale. Sexton in cracking nick though and will keep Sale ticking. Good options in both backlines and strong selections. Real tight one this wit two sides pushing for the playoffs, just think home advantage sneaks it.
Bath 22-20 London Irish
No change upfront in a titanic battle, great props on show. Kaino aside Bath are just a class above in the conditions (where did they get this pack from???) and will control affairs.
Pienaar at 9 is a good call and will pull the strings well, Hodgson in great nick for bath though. Good call from Nick with Naq at 12 but Bath just have a little too much.
Wasps 17-15 Worcester
Two good front rows with a little edge to Wasps in the scrum, perfect engine room though from Prop that will really add to Worcesters physicality around the park. Great backrow from Wasps and cracking balance and workrate.
Hard to split the backs, strong carrying options from both sides. Very tight game that shows the fine line between the top and bottom, if Worcester at home I think they'd sneak it but Wasps are strong at home and just come through.
Loads of scrums and two heft solid units that will front up all game, great subs too. Lineouts will be held but Sale have a slightly better engine room for the conditions. Fantastic backrows for the heavy contions, like Hines at 6 with the added grunt and general pack battle there is nothing between them.
Nobody can rival Tigers halfbacks for these conditions and they'll really look to kick the life out of Sale. Sexton in cracking nick though and will keep Sale ticking. Good options in both backlines and strong selections. Real tight one this wit two sides pushing for the playoffs, just think home advantage sneaks it.
Bath 22-20 London Irish
No change upfront in a titanic battle, great props on show. Kaino aside Bath are just a class above in the conditions (where did they get this pack from???) and will control affairs.
Pienaar at 9 is a good call and will pull the strings well, Hodgson in great nick for bath though. Good call from Nick with Naq at 12 but Bath just have a little too much.
Wasps 17-15 Worcester
Two good front rows with a little edge to Wasps in the scrum, perfect engine room though from Prop that will really add to Worcesters physicality around the park. Great backrow from Wasps and cracking balance and workrate.
Hard to split the backs, strong carrying options from both sides. Very tight game that shows the fine line between the top and bottom, if Worcester at home I think they'd sneak it but Wasps are strong at home and just come through.
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Re: AP Round 12
by CJB Sun 01 Jan 2012, 7:04 pm
Newcastle 26-20 Saints
Exeter 18-17 Quins
Sarries 19-20 Glaws
Tigers 23-18 Sale
Wasps 19-15 Warriors
Exeter 18-17 Quins
Sarries 19-20 Glaws
Tigers 23-18 Sale
Wasps 19-15 Warriors
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Re: AP Round 12
by 'Arry Spurs Sun 01 Jan 2012, 7:07 pm
Newcastle Falcons 23 - 21 Northampton Saints
Exeter Chiefs 16 - 12 Harlequins
Saracens 16 - 16 Gloucester Rugby
Leicester Tigers 20 - 18 Sale Sharks
Bath 15 - 12 London Irish
Exeter Chiefs 16 - 12 Harlequins
Saracens 16 - 16 Gloucester Rugby
Leicester Tigers 20 - 18 Sale Sharks
Bath 15 - 12 London Irish
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Re: AP Round 12
by LukeLovesLuka Sun 01 Jan 2012, 10:07 pm
Newcastle 26 - 18 Saints
Exeter 9 - 6 Harlequins
Saracens 19 - 19 Gloucester
Bath 21 - 14 London Irish
Wasps 22 - 19 Worcester
Exeter 9 - 6 Harlequins
Saracens 19 - 19 Gloucester
Bath 21 - 14 London Irish
Wasps 22 - 19 Worcester
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Re: AP Round 12
by Ozzy3213 Sun 01 Jan 2012, 10:40 pm
Sorry for no explanations, has been a real rush for time tonight, but just to say with poor conditions home advantage plays a big part...
Newcastle Falcons 12 Northampton Saints 11
Exeter Chiefs 17 Harlequins 15
Leicester Tigers 12 Sale Sharks 10
Bath Rugby 17 London Irish 14
London Wasps 18 Worcester Warriors 16
Newcastle Falcons 12 Northampton Saints 11
Exeter Chiefs 17 Harlequins 15
Leicester Tigers 12 Sale Sharks 10
Bath Rugby 17 London Irish 14
London Wasps 18 Worcester Warriors 16
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Re: AP Round 12
by Guest Sun 01 Jan 2012, 10:43 pm
Sje think many on here reuse tactics and modify them. Petes are fairly similar to last week with generic game plan. For me
Teams play a certain way and don't change week in and out. It's called patterns
Anyhow happy new year all watched Biarritz smash Toulon yesterday and was great
Exeter 17-17 quins
Teams play a certain way and don't change week in and out. It's called patterns
Anyhow happy new year all watched Biarritz smash Toulon yesterday and was great
Exeter 17-17 quins
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Re: AP Round 12
by Ozzy3213 Sun 01 Jan 2012, 10:59 pm
I think SJE is referring to the fact that your tactics say you will be putting strike runners into Roberts and Banahan's channels. Just need to make sure you tweak when you cut and paste 
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Re: AP Round 12
by Guest Sun 01 Jan 2012, 11:00 pm
Exeter 6-6 quins Exeter in form quins with class. Quins backline so disjointed
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Re: AP Round 12
by Sgt_Pooly Sun 01 Jan 2012, 11:04 pm
You've done Exeter-Quins twice lol
Predo's closed now anyway Matt, get to the bar!!!!
Predo's closed now anyway Matt, get to the bar!!!!
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Re: AP Round 12
by Ozzy3213 Sun 01 Jan 2012, 11:04 pm
I know mate, that's why I never made anything of it. Predos closed now, and I think you've done me by a point mate. Well played, home run had to end at some point, and no shame losing it to a side packed with the quality you've got. 
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Re: AP Round 12
by Guest Sun 01 Jan 2012, 11:05 pm
Newcastle Falcons 12 Northampton 11
Leicester Tigers 12 Sale Sharks 10 better scrum and kicking
Bath Rugby 13London Irish 14 savvy Irish and better tactics
London Wasps 18 Worcester Warriors 16 great battle home
advantage wins
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Re: AP Round 12
by Guest Sun 01 Jan 2012, 11:06 pm
Falcons better front row
And
Home advantage. Saints a top 4 side 4 me currently
And
Home advantage. Saints a top 4 side 4 me currently
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Re: AP Round 12
by Sgt_Pooly Sun 01 Jan 2012, 11:07 pm
Can't count the last lot but thanks for getting them in Matt
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Location : Hartlepool
Re: AP Round 12
by Sgt_Pooly Sun 01 Jan 2012, 11:22 pm
Ive done results on laptop, post first thing tomorrow.
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Join date : 2011-04-27
Re: AP Round 12
by Guest Mon 02 Jan 2012, 8:44 am
anonmattyt wrote:Exeter 6-6 quins Exeter in form quins with class. Quins backline so disjointed
Actually re scored this due to weather. Hence it being scored twice. Was cut off midnight ???
Just about to fly home to real world so should be more on the ball then
Guest- Guest
Re: AP Round 12
by Guest Mon 02 Jan 2012, 8:44 am
anonmattyt wrote:Exeter 6-6 quins Exeter in form quins with class. Quins backline so disjointed
Actually re scored this due to weather. Hence it being scored twice. Was cut off midnight ???
Just about to fly home to real world so should be more on the ball then
Guest- Guest
Re: AP Round 12
by Sgt_Pooly Mon 02 Jan 2012, 10:45 am
FINAL SCORES:
Newcastle Falcons 28-16 Northampton Saints
Exeter Chiefs 23-13 Harlequins
Saracens 20-22 Gloucester
Leicester Tigers 26-15 Sale Sharks
Bath Rugby 27-18 London Irish
London Wasps 26-18 Worcester Warriors
Newcastle Falcons 28-16 Northampton Saints
Exeter Chiefs 23-13 Harlequins
Saracens 20-22 Gloucester
Leicester Tigers 26-15 Sale Sharks
Bath Rugby 27-18 London Irish
London Wasps 26-18 Worcester Warriors
Sgt_Pooly- Posts : 36294
Join date : 2011-04-27
Re: AP Round 12
by 'Arry Spurs Mon 02 Jan 2012, 11:37 am
Back to winning ways, very pleased with that! Unlucky Prop, great side you've put together mate.
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Join date : 2011-11-02
Re: AP Round 12
by stnick88 Mon 02 Jan 2012, 12:21 pm
if matts prediction had of stood i would of got a bonus point
dam!
dam!
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Join date : 2011-05-10
Re: AP Round 12
by Sgt_Pooly Mon 02 Jan 2012, 12:26 pm
You wouldn't have Nick, it would have been 26-18....hope that helps a little lol
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Join date : 2011-04-27
Re: AP Round 12
by stnick88 Mon 02 Jan 2012, 12:39 pm
no i would of got a point for a winning prediction, so 26-19
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Join date : 2011-05-10
Re: AP Round 12
by Sgt_Pooly Mon 02 Jan 2012, 12:58 pm
Yes but the score brought your average down to 17 and the bonus point bumped you back up.
It would have been 26-18, I've just put it in the spreadsheet
It would have been 26-18, I've just put it in the spreadsheet
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Join date : 2011-04-27
Re: AP Round 12
by Steven_Sharks Mon 02 Jan 2012, 1:08 pm
Results change things at the top. No BP for me and SJE see Matt and Luke overtake us I think.
Be a hell of a job getting back above them I suspect.
Be a hell of a job getting back above them I suspect.
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Location : Chester/Manchester
Re: AP Round 12
by stnick88 Mon 02 Jan 2012, 1:13 pm
ah i see pooly. that makes me feel a bit better then!
stnick88- Posts : 5345
Join date : 2011-05-10
Re: AP Round 12
by Guest Mon 02 Jan 2012, 4:25 pm
How have bath assembled that pack??? Really did not notice them sneak them in like that.
Super chuffed with my result
Super chuffed with my result
Guest- Guest
Re: AP Round 12
by Sgt_Pooly Mon 02 Jan 2012, 4:39 pm
Full bonus for Steve, Johnny, Pooly.
Half for everyone else except Matt, Chris and Prop who didn't predo fully.
Half for everyone else except Matt, Chris and Prop who didn't predo fully.
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Location : Rogerstone, Wales
Re: AP Round 12
by Ozzy3213 Tue 03 Jan 2012, 4:08 pm
Is someone (driver/SJE/Pooly) doing scorers? I will get league table updated after they are done.
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Age : 48
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Driver- Posts : 11038
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Re: AP Round 12
by Driver Tue 03 Jan 2012, 5:11 pm
FINAL SCORES:
Newcastle Falcons 28 Northampton Saints 16
T: Youngs , Benjiman , Flood ; Foden , Halfpenny
C: Evans (2) ;
P: Evans (3) ; Giteau (2)
Exeter Chiefs 23 Harlequins 13
T: Fitzgerald , Slade ; Warburton
C: O'Gara (2) ; Contipomi (1)
P: O'Gara (2) Slade ; Contipomi (1)
Saracens 20 Gloucester 22
T:B Du Plessie , Narraway ; Genia , Ferris , Simpson - Daniel
C: Parra (2) ; Carter (2)
P: Parra , Lambie ; Donald
Leicester Tigers 26 Sale Sharks 15
T: Joubert ;
P: Yachvilli (7) ; Sexton (5)
Bath Rugby 27 London Irish 18
T:Lobbe , Deacon , Allen ; Rush , Fourie
C: Hodgson (3) ; Pienaar
P: Hodgson (2) ; Pienaar (2)
London Wasps 26 Worcester Warriors 18
T:Wilson , Roberts ;
C: Jones (2)
P: Jones (4) ; Steyn (6)
Newcastle Falcons 28 Northampton Saints 16
T: Youngs , Benjiman , Flood ; Foden , Halfpenny
C: Evans (2) ;
P: Evans (3) ; Giteau (2)
Exeter Chiefs 23 Harlequins 13
T: Fitzgerald , Slade ; Warburton
C: O'Gara (2) ; Contipomi (1)
P: O'Gara (2) Slade ; Contipomi (1)
Saracens 20 Gloucester 22
T:B Du Plessie , Narraway ; Genia , Ferris , Simpson - Daniel
C: Parra (2) ; Carter (2)
P: Parra , Lambie ; Donald
Leicester Tigers 26 Sale Sharks 15
T: Joubert ;
P: Yachvilli (7) ; Sexton (5)
Bath Rugby 27 London Irish 18
T:Lobbe , Deacon , Allen ; Rush , Fourie
C: Hodgson (3) ; Pienaar
P: Hodgson (2) ; Pienaar (2)
London Wasps 26 Worcester Warriors 18
T:Wilson , Roberts ;
C: Jones (2)
P: Jones (4) ; Steyn (6)
Driver- Posts : 11038
Join date : 2011-04-20
Age : 33
Location : Hartlepool
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Age : 48
Location : Sandhurst
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