Pre-Season Friendly Week 1

First topic message reminder :

Teams be named by 1800hrs Saturday 7/1/12
Predictions by 1800hrs Monday 9/1/12

ALL GAMES AT NEUTRAL VENUES

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BATH RUGBY v NORTHAMPTON SAINTS
Heavy rain, moderate wind

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Bath Rugby

Manager – Bathite

01.D.Flatman	09.M.Claassens
02.L.Mears	10.S.Donald
03.A.Perenise
04.D.Attwood	11.M.Banahan
05.S.Shaw	12.O.Barkley(k)
06.L.Moody (c)	13.D.Hipkiss
07.F.Louw	14.T.Biggs
08.C.Fearns	15.N.Abendanon

16.D.Wilson 17.R.Batty 18.N.Catt 19.R.Caldwell 20.S.Taylor 21.C.Cook 22.T.Heathcote 23.O.Woodburn[/quote]

Tactics -

* Back row are mobile and athletic, look to link play and pressurise Lamb immensely
* Back row compete for the ball in opposing third, unafraid of giving away a few penalties, with the hope of when , we win a few, we can convert to points
* At scrum time, look to secure ball, rather than aggressively drive back, as heavy rain makes it difficult. Use channel 1 ball to hook.
* Encourage runners of 9 at lineout time, use 1/2 phases to gain hard yards before kicking
* Barkley used to change point of attack looking for diagonal low kicks to touch for Hipkiss to pressurise wingers
* Donald to take the ball on the gainline and look for a physical mismatch, with Banahan, Attwood, Louw offering 'pop' options
* Use a blitz defence, aiming to keep the ball in the 12/13 channel, with Back Row sweeping up and looking to force turnovers
* Play the conditions, nothing silly. In our third, Donald to use the up and under, with Banahan and Bendy to challenge for
* Don't kick aimlessly and long, avoid kicking thier back 3 time to counter.
* Back three encouraged to use pace and power to counter if/when a poor kick is seen
* Classens playing a sniping game, keeping fringe defence interested, drawing in players around the ruck to give 10/12 more time+space

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Northampton Saints
Manager – SirJohnnyEnglish

01. Alex Waller	09. Lee Dickson
02. Dylan Hartley	10. Ryan Lamb
03. Brian Mujati
04. Courtney Lawes	11. Jamie Elliot
05. Calum Clarke	12. James Downey
06. Phil Dowson	13. John Clarke
07. Tom Wood	14. Chris Ashton
08. Roger Wilson	15. Ben Foden

16. Soane Tonga'uiha, 17. Mike Haywood, 18. Paul Doran-Jones 19. Christian Day 20. Ben Nutley 21. Martyn Roberts 22. Stephen Myler 23. George Pisi

Tactics

General Game Plan:

In these conditions the most important thing is to firstly play the game in the right areas. Dickson and Lamb will look to use an intelligent kicking game to put us in Bath territory. When there we will look to attack in groups so as to win the collisions, using our strong carriers to attack gaps and half gaps in the Bath line, getting us over the gain line and keeping our forward momentum going. We will look to use the offload to support runners only when it is really on so as to retain possession in these conditions. Lamb will look to attack from fly half and inject pace to the proceedings committing the Bath defence and leaving space in wider channels.

On defence, we will use a blitz defence coming up at pace looking to isolate the Bath ball carriers before they can get to the gain line stopping any momentum and allowing us to hit the breakdown harder. Lee Dickson will act as a sweeper to cover any grubbers or chips behind the line while our back three will sit deep ready to cover any kicks down the touch lines.

With the blitz defence in operation we will look to be at the breakdown first hitting it fast and hard. The first two players on the scene will look to ruck past the ball and clear out the Bath players providing quick counter attacking ball to be cleared and used against a disorganised defensive line.

Key Points:

•Scrum
We will look for the scrum at every opportunity and really hammer home any advantage. We feel we have the power to cause the Bath front row real problems and draw penalties and perhaps a trip to the bin.

•Lineout
In these conditions we will look to keep things simple and use Wood, Lawes and Clark as banker ball. We will look to bring the ball down into the maul and use the physicality of our back to make good ground.

•Territorial Game
Dickson and Lamb will look to employ low kicks in behind the Bath wingers and away from the fullback looking for touch where we will contest looking to force Bath to play from deep or rush their clearances giving us a good attacking platform.

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EXETER CHIEFS v LONDON IRISH
Heavy rain, strong wind

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Exeter Chiefs

Manager – Ozzy3213

01. Perry Freshwater	09. Haydn Thomas
02. Neil Clark	10. Ignacio Mieres
03. Chris Budgen
04. Tommy Hayes	11. Paul Sackey
05. James Hanks	12. Sireli Naqelevuki
06. Tom Johnson	13. Jason Shoemark
07. Steffon Armitage	14. Josh Tatupu
08. James Phillips	15. Luke Arscott

16. Simon Alcott 17. Brett Sturgess 18. Craig Mitchell 19. Peter Short 20. Richard Baxter 21. Junior Poluleuigaga 22. Gareth Steenson 23. Gonzalo Camacho

Our generic gameplan revolves around a high intensity attacking and defensive game. We will work as units and play a structured game (as the Chiefs and Saracens do in real life). We will put a lot of emphasis on the set piece, and look to use both as a real platform to play from, whilst not allowing our opponents to do the same.

Specific Tactics

• Target Irish lineout - lack of a lineout leader in the Irish side and we will try to steal at every opportunity.
  
  
• Slow opposition ball down - Look to legally (do not give penalties away) slow the ball at the breakdown to deny Irish any momentum.
  
  
• Play in the right areas - Mieres to use his boot to ensure we play in the right half of the pitch.
  
  
• Use big carriers - Pack and centres to carry hard and direct and force Irish to make lots of tackles.
  
  
• Take all points on offer - Mieres to take every kickable penalty at goal.
  

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London Irish

Manager – Pullthestrings

01. Clarke Dermody (c)	09. Paul Hodgson
02. David Paice	10. Daniel Bowden
03. Paulică Ion
04. Matthew Garvey	11. Topsy Ojo
05. Bryn Evans	12. Shontayne Hape
06. Declan Danaher	13. Joe Ansbro
07. Jamie Gibson	14. Tom Homer (k)
08. Richard Thorpe	15. Delon Armitage

16. James Buckland, 17. Alex Corbisiero, 18. Faan Rautenbach, 19. Bob Casey, 20. Ofisa Treviranus, 21. Darren Allinson, 22. Shane Geraghty, 23 Jonathan Joseph

Tactics
To follow

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LEICESTER TIGERS v NEWCASTLE FALCONS
Cold, light wind

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Leicester Tigers
Manager – Sgt_Pooly

01. Marco Ayerza	09. Ben Youngs
02. Rob Webber	10. Toby Flood
03. Martin Castrogiovani
04. Lewis Deacon(c)	11. Horacio Agulla
05. Geoff Parling	12. Billy Twelvetrees
06. Tom Croft	13. Manu Tuilagi
07. Craig Newby	14. Christian Wade
08. Thomas Waldroum	15. Geordan Murphy

16. Tom Youngs 17. Dan Cole 18. Boris Stankovich 19. Ed Slater 20. Luke Wallace 21. Micky Young 22. Anthony Allen 23. Scott Hamilton

Tactics

Overall we'll be playing a quick tempo safe offloading game with the focus on keeping the ball alive. We'll look to play off the back off a solid set piece with Flood pulling the stings at 10. Youngs will look for the gaps and we'll look to get Waldroum to make gaps in the Newcastle defence with Croft supporting. We'll use Manu as the go to ball and Tweletrees will act as second kicking option if needed. We'll put the squeeze on in the scrum and refresh midway through the 2nd half. Look to get Wallace on as impact sub for Newby.

- DOMINATE SCRUM THROUGHOUT
- PLAY OFF SOLID SET PIECE
- FLOOD TO GET BACKS INTO PLAY WITH MANU RUNNING LINES OFF 36

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Newcastle Falcons

Manager – Fluxy

01. Graham Shiels	09. Chris Pilgrim
02. Rob Vickers	10. Jimmy Gopperth (K)
03. Euan Murray
04. James Hudson (C)	11. Jack Cuthbert
05. Tom Palmer	12. Tom May
06. Tom Guest	13. Jamie Helleur
07. Magnus Lund	14. Seb Stegman
08. Ally Hogg	15. Alex Tait

16. Tom Mercey 17. Joe Graham 18. Tim Swinson 19. Michael Lipman 20. Joel Hodgson 21. Jeremy Manning 22. Luke Fielden 23. Jon Golding

Tactics

With the recent flurry of transfers in to the Falcons sqaud and lineup, there are some important new ethos's into how the Falcons shall play. The unit up front are well drilled and shall be more than capable of holding the Leicester pack. Likewise the locks should be more than capable to provide the power at crum time. Furthermore The new signing of lock forward Palmer should make a more imperious foward unit at set piece time. Then the back row can cover ground support and also attack well off the scrum, with Guest, Lund and Hogg all providing cover and big ball carriers across the ground. Gopperth will look to get us playing in the right areas first and foremost, however if the game opens up and there are numbers in front of us we shall look to play wide, using the pace and distribution of May to feed our pace runners; Stegman, Cuthbert and Tait, who can cut most backlines to shreds. Gopperth to take any kickable kicks, and Cuthbert and take any out of Gopperths range.

- Target set piece due to our strengths in these areas.
- Back row to close down Flood quickly
- Backs to get the forwards playing in the right areas.

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GLOUCESTER v SALE SHARKS
Mild, light wind

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Gloucester

Manager – prop_lyd

01. Nick Wood	09.Dave Lewis
02. Scott Lawson	10. Freddie Burns (k)
03. Rupert Harden
04. Jim Hamilton	11. Charlie Sharples
05. Alex Brown	12. EFS
06.Aliasdair Strokosch	13. Henry Trinder
07. Akapusi Qera	14. JSD
08. Luke Narraway (c)	15. Ollie Morgan

16. Darren Dawiduk 17. Dario Chistolini 18. Dan Murphy 19. Will James 20. Andy Hazell 21. Rory Lawson 22. Jonny May 23. Iain Balshaw[/quote]

Tactics
Outline
We have selected a squad that knows each other well and will look to bed in some partnerships from the start. Up front we have selected Narraway as captain but Wood will lead the pack as we look to mould him into a successor. Our backs will attack hard and play fast attractive rugby whilst our forwards will aim for quick ball and commit as little men as possible to the defensive breakdown unless a Sharks player is isolated. Every player needs to prove their worth as a team and we have experience on the bench at 19, 20, 21 and 23 and will look to use them as well as blooding the youngsters and our young front row waiting in the wings.

Overall
*We have picked a very mobile pack with 2nd rows who will dominate both the lineout and the scrum.
*Wood to put pressure on his side,
*Challenge all lineouts,
*EFS to be our playmaker,
*We will also look to carry up off the centres who will hit the gaps hard,
*Look at up and unders to chase with a potent back 3 to cause problems and run most kicks back for exciting rugby,
*Test new moves and look to bed in partnerships,
*Hard blitz banana preventing the ball getting out from 10,
*Use all our backs and look at an EFS-May centre partnership and bringing Balshaw on,
*Play attractive rugby.

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Sale Sharks
Manager – Steven_Sharks

01. Andrew Sheridan	09. Dwayne Peel
02. Marc Jones	10. Jonny Wilkinson (k)
03. Vadlim Cobilas
04. Frazer McKenzie	11. Mark Cueto
05. Dean Schofield	12. Sam Tuitupou (c)
06. Richie Vernon	13. Jonny Leota
07. Hendrie Fourie	14. Tom Brady
08. Andy Powell	15. Rob Miller

16. Joe Ward 17. Alasdair Dickinson 18. Tony Buckley 19. James Gaskell 20. Onasai Auva'a 21. Scott Mathie 22. Nick Macleod 23. Joaqain Tucalet

Tactics

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LONDON WASPS v SARACENS
Light rain, moderate wind

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London Wasps
Manager – Stnick88

01. Tim Payne	09. Joe Simpson
02. George Chuter	10. Nicky Robinson
03. Zak Taulafo
04. Ross Filipo	11. Tom Varndell
05. Marco Wentzel	12. Riki Flutey
06. Steve Mafi	13. Dom Waldouck
07. Julien Salvi	14. Alesana Tuilagi
08. John Hart	15. Hugo Southwell

16. Aaron Jarvis 17. Ben Broster 18. Tom Lindsay 19. Richard Birkett 20. Tinus Du Plessis 21. Nic Berry 22. Danny Cipriani 23. Elliot Daly

Tactics
- Look to play at a reasonably high tempo but wont be playing any silly passes or too many offloads in the wet.
- Keep things tight early on use big ball carriers to make in roads and gain momentum
- Tuilagi to be used on the crash ball and come inside at times to look for work
- Salvi to look for turnovers and any turnover ball to be counter atacked
- Simpson to attack the fringes and keep defence guessing
- Robinson to kick all pens, Cipriani on in 2nd half to take over.

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SARCENS
Manager – Luke

01. Matt Stevens	09. Richard Wigglesworth
02. Schalk Brits	10. Charlie Hodgson
03. Carlos Nieto
04. Steve Borthwick (c)	11. David Strettle
05. Mouritz Botha	12. Brad Barritt
06. Kelly Brown	13. Owen Farrell (k)
07. Jacques Burger	14. James Short
08. Ernst Joubert	15. Alex Goode

16. Rhys Gill 17. Jamie George 18. John Smit 19. Hugh Vyvyan 20. Andy Saull 21. Ben Spencer 22. Derick Hougaard 23. Joe Maddock

Tactics

TBC

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WORCESTER WARRIORS v HARLEQUINS
Heavy rain, strong wind

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Worcester Warriors

Manager – InTheFastLane

01. Mullan	09. Arr
02. Lutui	10. Goode
03. Taumoepeau
04. Percival	11.Monye
05. Jones	12. Grove
06. Haskell	13. Hopper
07.Fasa	14.Garvey
08.Morgan	15.Rooney

16. Shervington 17. Jones 18. Porter 19. Gulliver 20. Abbott 21. Perry 22. Carlisle 23. CLaasens

Harlequins

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Manager – Driver

01.Joe Marler	09.Danny Care
02.Joe Grey	10.Nick Evans
03.James Johnstone
04.George Skivington	11.Tom Williams
05.George Robson	12.Jordan Turner Hall
06.Neil Best	13.George Lowe
07.Chris Robshaw(C)	14.Miles Benjamin
08.Nick Easter	15.Mike Brown

16.Chris Brooker 17.Tim Fairbrother 18.Mark Lambert 19.Charlie Matthews 20.Matt Kvesic 21.Karl Dickson 22.Rory Clegg 23.Ollie Lindsey Hague

Tactics

- Play at a tempo which we will set using the world class Nick Evans to dictate play and put us into the right areas of the pitch.
- Keep the Scrum up and use it as a platform rather than a restart. Robshaw will let the Ref know this before the game just so he's in our frame of mind
- Use the width if its on , play what is in front of us. Just because it's passing down doesn't mean it's a slug fest.
- Robson and Skivington to secure our own ball and really pressure the opposition going for two tours at there lineout.
- Care to bomb there back 3 with high balls

Tigers 19 - 9 Newcastle
The tigers just have too much firepower upfront and this doesn't change throughout the game, with the addition of Stanko and Cole for the last 20. Youngs and Flood played freely and seemed to thrive from the instruction to tattack and look for the offload. The tigers back 5 have a great combo of pace, power and intelligence and tries from speedster Wade and veteran Murhpy sealed this. Newcastle looked threatening at times, but lacked the killer punch, with Goppert playing behind the gainline at times

More to come, man alive, this takes some time and thinking!

It normally takes me an hour or so, good reading though. It's just hard not to take offence sometimes when you get slated!

I'm judging on tactics as well as team..

Bath 12-14 Northamton Saints

Really impressive tactics from both, good work Bathite! There's generally a lot of set piece esp scrums in the poor conditions and I see Saints getting a little nudge on here but Bath will contest with a fierce engine room. Great graft from both back 5's and a real contest.

Not 100% sold on Donald but he does look a wet weather FH with a good boot and could be the difference between halfbacks. Well set out in the back and some good form for both sets of teams. I think Saints just edge this one but Bath will the addition of a few top players will be a huge threat this season.

Exeter Chiefs 16-8 London Irish

Irish's lack of a gameplan hinders them in this one and I see Exeter really getting at their set piece especially. Exeter also have a bit more dog in the backrow and the Exeter pack will generally dominate.

Irish have a definate advantage in the backs but will live off scraps in the conditions and I only see one winner.

Gloucester 26-15 Sale

Agains Sale's lack of game plan hinders them in this one. Not much between the packs generally altough Sheridans lack of form will see Gloucester edge the scrum.

Loving the Sale halfbacks and they'll really get Sale in it although Gloucester will be dangerous on the outside. Solid game plan see Gloucester through.

Wasps 20-20 Saracens

Sarries lack of game plan hinders them. See Sarries getting the edge on in the scrum but the signings of Salvi & Mafi give Wasps great options and sure lineout although Sarries have a real strong pack and big carriers.

I think Sarries have the better form and quality in the backline although Tuilagi for Wasps give them a go to ball which is a good tactic. Sarries with the better side but Wasps have a decent game plan and they'll snatch a draw.

Worcester Warriors 15-19 Harlequins

Again tactics cost Worcester. Big scrum advantage for Worcester althoough Quins are scattered with jumpers and will contest here. Fantasic backrow for Worcester and possibly the best in the league, Robshaw will really be on the back foot but will look to drag Quins through.

More class in the Quins backline and with Evans pulling the strings they'll dominate here. good game and would have been really tight with a Worcester game plan, just think Quins have enough.

Bath Rugby 16 Northampton Saints 18
Not much in it in terms of personnel in the starting lineups, and both teams set out well in terms of tactics with the conditions. Looking at the benches though, i can see Saints taking it late on, with the power they have to bring on. Close though.

Leicester Tigers 23 Newcastle Falcons 12
Can see Leicester having a big scrum advantage here, but not as much in the lineout with Webbers darts a bit suspect. Enough form in the Tigers backs to get some scores off that platform and just don't see where Falcons will score tries, meaning their score has to be divisible by three, and don't see Tigers conceding a huge amount of penalties. (Sorry Fluxy)

Gloucester 24 Sale Sharks 16
In bad conditions I would worry about that Gloucester front 5, as was shown against Worcester in real life yesterday. They do have some serious strike runners in the backs though, and given any sort of platform in good conditions will score tries. No tactics from Sale make them hard to judge and I mark them down slightly as a result, but it's a combative pack who will fight all the way out there.

London Wasps 17 Saracens 19
Saracens lack of tactics make them difficult to predict on they are marked down slightly as a result. Their pack is comabtive though, and on paper is too strong man for man for Wasps here. In wet and windy conditions the Wasps half backs are a little inconsistent for me, and I think they could struggle to generate decent possession as a result. Saracens have form and quality which sees them get the win for me.

Worcester Warriors 15 Harlequins 18
No tactics from Worcester see them slightly arked down, but I have to say I like their pack which would be very combative in these conditions. Very little in it in terms of form/ability of players, but Quins have a gameplan which they can execute and gives them a win.

Lot easier predicting in this game than the original AP one the moment. Teams still close to real life here so easy to assess how players work as combos and relative form. Much tougher in the other game with world class players in every line up and guess work needed on how they'd perform together.

Surprised people wanted tactics. Didn't realise.

Will predict in the morning.

It's just to give the new lads a taster Luke, only a friendly

EXETER CHIEFS 22-12 LONDON IRISH

No game plan from Irish is a big mark down here. Chiefs should get on top here at the set piece with a very gnarly looking front 5 and some good jumping options. Bit more for Irish in the loose from the front 5. Very good balance to the Chiefs back row and Armitage should get his hand on a bit of ball in the break down.

At halfback Irish with a slight edge with Bowden going well this year. In the backs Naqa is the star performer for me but Irish with a stronger lineup overall. Unfortunately they won’t see much of the ball though with Chiefs on top in the pack battle in these conditions. Some good impact players for Irish on the bench though.

Pack dominance for Chiefs in these conditions against an Irish side with no game plan sees a good win for Petes men.


LEICESTER TIGERS 29-15 NEWCASTLE FALCONS

Tigers can get an advantage at the scrum here and cause some problems. Lineout though will see a few problems with Webber not the strongest thrower around missing some targets. Around the park Tigers just shading it in the front 5. In the back row Tigers are a step up. Lund v Newby is a good battle but better form and more quality for Tigers at 6 and 8.

At halfback good battle at 10 with Flood shading on current form but Youngs is a step ahead at 9. In the back line, May as a 2nd play maker covers Gopperths lack of creativity. Tigers with more in midfield overall though. Back 3s closer with Cuthbert a good signing for Fluxy. Tigers as in real life with great depth and a very strong bench on show can look to finish off the game.

Tigers getting on top in the pack and midfield area pick up the win.


GLOUCESTER 22-13 SALE SHARKS

No game plan is a mark down for Sale. Scrum battle fairly even here. Sheridan marked down for a lack of form but Lawson at hook lets Glaws down (Dawdiuk would see Glaws get on top here). Lineout time Brown to rule the air here. Around the park Glaws with a bit more in the front row but its a Sale 2nd row that will get through an awful lot of work. In the back row Glaws with a bit more carrying overall but Fourie will be a real menace at the breakdown with Qera not your traditional 7.

Halfbacks sees a good advantage for Sale very classy combo looking like one of the best in the league. In the backs Glaws with the advantage with a very good attacking unit. Brady and Miller for Sale in great form though. On the bench Sale with some good carriers to bring in but May for Glaws will have the biggest impact against tired legs.

See Glaws winning the lineout battle but Sale edging the back row so good attacking ball for both sides. Sales halfbacks would use the ball better but Glaws with better attackers in the backline. Major difference in this one is lack of Sale tactics which see Glaws pick up the win.


LONDON WASPS 15-16 SARACENS

Lack of tactics for Sarries sees a mark down. Scrum time Sarries can get on top against a weak Wasps unit but lineout is a great battle between Borths and Wentzel. Around the park Sarries with a lot more on show in the front 5. In the back row the battle on the flanks is tight and won’t fall either way but Joubert is extra class at 8 and will give more go forward.

Halfbacks are fairly tight. Simpson is the better scrum half but neither player is particularly on form. Hodgson better then Robinson though. In the backs Wasps strong going forward but Sarries with some good runners in the back 3 and super strong defensively. Sarries overall stronger on the bench as well.

Sarries are overall stronger here and should pick up a good win but no tactics sees it a lot closer then it could have been


WORCESTER WARRIORS 9-19 HARLEQUINS

No tactics a mark down for Warriors. Scrum time Worcester have an advantage against a Quins unit not renowned for its scrummaging. Lineout goes to Quins though with Robson going well this year. Quins with a bit more around the park. Backrow fairly even with some good signings from Worcester.

Halfbacks are an advantage to Quins with a great unit going really well this year although Goode is made for these conditions. Quins can get on top in the midfield battle as well. Worcester stronger ball in hand in the back 3 but their wingers can be got at defensively in these conditions. On the bench Quins can control the game better in the final quarter.

Very close forward battle but Quins with the strength at halfback and midfield to punish the Worcester back 3 in these conditions.

Bath 13-17 Saints
Get the feeling Bath will be pushed around in the Scrum and just can't do enough to grab a win.

Exeter 18-12 Irish
Tactics from Exeter give them the win.

Leicester 24-14 Falcons
Much more quality all over for Tigers will be hard to stop.

Gloucester 21-16 Sale
Not much in between the teams but no tactics from Sale gives it to Gloucester.

Wasps 19-18 Sarries
Sarries team is a top quality one but give it to Wasps since they have tactics.

Bath 15 - 19 Northamton Saints

The packs in this game are both relatively equal. However Northampton edge the front row and as the game wears on, the ability to bring on Doran-Jones and Tonga'uhia helps keep Northampton competitive.

The Saints backline can spark a try throughout the duration of the game, but Donald has a relatively successful boot in the conditions. However the Bath backs lack the edge that the back three of Northampton posses.

Exeter Chiefs 15 - 12 London Irish

Lack of tactics don't help Irish here, however they have the personal to help keep the scores respectable. But Exetr capitalise upon the conditions, as their pack gets more than their fair share at set-piece time.

The backs give Irish some points, through the creativity of Bowden and the explosiveness Ojo creates a score for the Irish.

Gloucester 23 - 15 Sale

The creativity of the Glos backline wins the game here. No tactics from Sale don't help their cause. The scrum is pretty even, however I see the glos second row being a bit lighweight in comparison to Sale's but this is made up in their combative back- row.

Wasps 17 - 18 Saracens

Very good close game here. But Saracens personnel in key positions like back row and at halfback get them through this game. Furthermore the strenght on the bench helps the Saracens close out the game late on.

Although the Wasps had stints of possession and domination as they competed well at lineout and around the park with the Saracens, but a few telling penalties were costly.

Worcester Warriors 16 - 22 Harlequins

Overall quality of the Quins team see's them through especially with Evans at the helm. However the Worcester pack make the whole contest competitive especially in the back row. However the form and ability of the the Quins back division see's them securing a couple of tries.

Bath 12-15 Saints
Saints will get the one up at scrum time but think Donald will keep Bath in the match.

Exeter 21-16Irish
Scary pack being built down at Sandy Park!!

Tigers 25-18 Falcons
Tigers pack blitz this and their half backs but I see Falcons building a nice engine room!!

Wasps 18-17 Sarries
Sarries have a big team here who should be winning easily but lack of tactics see them lose.

Warriors 12-28 Quins
Quins better all over. Do like the look of the Warriors back row but looking at form and the lack of tactics makes this an easy win.

Gloucester 20 - 13 Sale
I like Gloucester's tactics, very thorough and makes sense. Sale have the half back combination, but struggle outside of the 10 channel. Gloucester have some big bruisers in that pack and some great ball carriers as well. Sale can match them in the set piece, but think that they lack some mobility. Its a close game until the last 20, where the glos youngsters scamper through a try to seal the win

Wasps 16 - 18 Sarries
The closest game I think and tough to predict. Sarries looked a bit aimless without a real gameplan, but their overall quality ran true. Smit revitalised the scrum and made some great carries late on, with the fresh legs of Spencer keeping the tired fringe defence honest. The Wasps pack looks great though, much improved and real balance to the back and second row partnerships. If they get a run together and some form, they will be tricky to stop, but Sarries had the winning momentum today

Worcester 9 - 19 Quins
It was unfortunate that a much improved Wuss team had to play the form team of the division first up. It was ironic that Benjamin made the difference and that Wuss' back row were the most dominant. Some more direction from Wuss and a bit more spark in the half backs and they would have pushed Quins close

Bath 15 - 10 Northampton

if Saints picked a better side for the conditions then they'd have won this. Not a huge fan of the Bath centres and would use Cararro there if he's at the club. Bath will get the advantage in the forwards and just about have enough in the backs to bring home the advantage. Barkley has a nightmare in defence against Downey.

Exeter 21 - 19 London Irish

Tough game to call this when simply looking at the teamsheets and I see it as pretty even with the teams getting on top in different areas. Good Exeter flankers but improvements needed in the front 5. Irish backs are handy with only a couple more players needed to give them the strongest backs in the league.

Leicester 25 - 22 Newcastle

This is a tight battle upfront. Whilst Tigers get joy and the scrum, I don't think Leicester will dominate any other area in the pack. Plenty more in the backs for Leicester but wings don't look as strong as they might do. Couple of additions to the pack and a backline overhaul is needed for Falcons I think.

London Wasps 18 - 18 Saracens

I like the Wasps pack but I don't think that there are enough carriers in there at the moment. Saracens are strong as expected and they won't be playing pretty but it will be effective. Tough call this one and is a draw in my book.

Worcester 23 - 23 Harlequins

Worcester clean up at the scrum and I really like the pack as a whole and think it will get the advantage on paper. Half backs are Harlequins easily but outside that it is a pretty tough call as I really like Worcester again. ITFL doing his usual good things quietly in terms of putting together a side. No tactics for Worcester bring the draw.

Bath v Northampton - Close scrum battle, Tonga'uhia to come on will help Saints a lot. Classens and Donald will control well and use Banahan, Biggs etc well. like to see Pisi at 13 to give Saints more creativity.
18-15

Exeter v London Irish - Workman like Exeter performance and a good backrow which edges Irish's unit. Prefer the Irish backs but think Chiefs tactics and backrow sneak them this one.
20-18

Leicester v Newcastle - Immense Tigers pack wins them lots of ball and I like the 36/Tuilagi combo to get them scoring chances. Add in Youngs and Flood and Tigers have a great side.
27-18

Gloucester v Sale - Close game here, Sale backrow is class and gets them good front foot ball. Think Glos backs are more dangerous and will cause bit more problems. But Peel and Wilko will control well for sale and sneak them a victory.
19-21

Worcester v Quins - Warriors have a good setpiece to secure them good attacking ball. An immense backrow as well. LAcking a little at half backs, but have some pace in the backs and will see good ball. Quins are solid throughout, but not convinced by their scrummaging. Quality half back combo and some pace in the backs. Like the tactics.
20-25

BATH 19 - 21 SAINTS

Close scrum battle, which goes Saints way as the game wears on with some top bench options. Pack battle in general very close, maybe slight edge to Saints. HB's are two good pairs, but i'd go with Saints' centres on form. Back threes quite tight. Edge to Saints in the pack gives them a good away win.



EXETER 18 - 18 IRISH

Overall edge to Exeter in the pack. Irish maybe stronger front row but beyond that nice combo's from Exeter. Advantage Irish in the HB's, and they have more about them in the backs division throughout. Really tough to call. Exter on top in the set piece but Irish much more dangerous when they have the ball. Home advantage may have swung it.



LEICESTER 23 - 15 NEWCASTLE

Decent pack from Newcastle, but Tigers have that bit more quality at 3, 6 and 8 which proves decisive. Think Tiges will dominate the set piece and the carrying battle too. See Tigers having more flair in the backs too, and not sure where Falcons' tries will come from. Too much for Tigers overall.



GLOUCESTER 22 - 23 SALE

Tough game to call. edge to Gloucester in the lineout with Brown, but not much give in the scrum. Two nice back rows that I think neither will dominate. Sale a class above at HB which sees them get good ball to a dnagerous back three, although I see Gloucester which stronger backs. Very tight.



WORCESTER WARRIORS 18 - 25 HARLEQUINS

Decent pack from Worcester, but Quins have a lot of quality to rely on. Robshaw and Easter to prove decisive for me. Quins a class above in the HB's which makes Worcester's life very hard. Some dangerous runners in the back three for Worcester, but Quins' quality enough for victory today over a dogged Worcester side.

RESULTS:

Bath Rugby 17-22 Northampton Saints

Exeter Chiefs 26-14 London Irish

Leicester Tigers 32-15 Newcastle Falcons

Gloucester 28-19 Sale Sharks

London Wasps 20-22 Saracens

Worcester Warriors 15-30 Harlequins