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Exeter Chiefs	Driver - RIP 606
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Harlequins	Steven_Sharks
Leicester Tigers	LukeLovesLuka
London Irish	stnick88
London Wasps	Arry
Newcastle Falcons	Sgt_Pooly
Northampton Saints	Dammit_Chris
Sale Sharks	SirJohnnyEnglish
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Worcester Warriors	prop_lyd

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Waiting List
1. pullthestrings
2. Bathite

Gloucester scrum took a pounding tonight though, Harden got a right pasting

Quins were as dominant as I've seen any scrum I've seen this season. Brooker makes a difference to there scrum.

Everyone else was s h i t e . Care has a disaster from start to finish and Quins lacked leaders. Make no mistake Connacht were very impressive. So aggressive and committed.

They're a very capable side at home Steve, that's why I thought they'd sneak your young lineup on here.

Quins seem to be running out of gas a little, Burns played well for Gloucester

There first win since September I believe.

May looked good for Gloucester. That first try is one of the worst mistakes I've seen by a rugby player. I'd have considered hauling him off for it.

Beauxis is garbage, such a flakey FH. Can't believe Toulouse signed him. Just finishing second half....Gloucester getting pasted in scrum all game but immense second half

May ok at FB, kicking is pretty dire though, can see why he runs everything! Couldn't believe the lad done that tbh, crazy

Disagree that Quins were dominant at the scrum last night, thought it was pretty 50/50 for me, with both teams getting the nudge on on a few occasions.

I do think Quins could be heading for a period of indifferent results. They seem to only have plan A, which involves their bigger ball carriers such as Marler, Johnstone, JTH smashing it up and then looking to go wide quickly to Hopper, Monye et all. This is ok as long as the big guys get over the gainline (a la Tiny, Mujati, Downey at Saints), but last night they got smashed back in the tackle with some regularity, and I wonder whether some fo them are starting to feel a little heavy legged having played a lot of rugby since the start of the season.

http://www.rugbyweek.com/news/article.asp?id=33493

Twelvetrees to Gloucester!!

That's a hell of a coup, Bowden to Tigers too?

Listening to cash offers for Mike Blair and Ruaridh Jackson.

That would be a great signing for Gloucester

10. Burns
11. ??
12. 36
13. Trinder
14. Sharples
15. May

That is a very very tasty back line. Get a big Samoan carrier on the wing for the go forward and it looks very handy.

Great move Leinster and finish from Kearney

i'd be gutted if bowden went to leicester. would suprise me a bit as he is very close friends with shontayne hape. also his wife plays for chelsea ladies so living in london area is ideal. i know we are talking to him still.
cant blame him though if he did, playing behind a pack like leicesters he would be immense, on front foot he is top quality.

Be good 10/12 cover for Tigers when Flood away and I imagine he'd link up well with Flood with Manu at 13. Gives them good options and the kind of signing Cockers has been talking about.

id have him over flood

I doubt very much he'd be brought in to replace Flood, who'd be place kicker?

How on earth have Leinster kept 15 players on the pitch in this half - every single breakdown and they slow it down, put their hands it. Makes them impossible to play.

Still amazing defence by the Irishmen, but bl oody hell they dont half get away with a lot of cheating!

Such an impressive squad though, they're the benchmark in the NH

fair point pooly
9 youngs
10 flood
12 bowden
13 tuilagi

would be quality

All the best teams have been adept at the dark arts Chris. Its all about playing the ref. Look at New Zealand and what they get away with. South Africa in 2007... England in 2003...

That's what I was thinking Nick, also gives actual competition for Flood rather than Staunton who's pretty dire. Will keep him on his toes knowing Bowden could step in if he doesn't perform.

Also gives a 6N backline of:

9. Harrison/Youngs
10. Bowden
12. Allen
13, Smith

Which is pretty tasty too

Fofana looks a real talent for ASM, not sure Ulster can weather the storm

Would have Clermont as the only team that can stop Leinster winning again.

Rougerie and Siviatu link up very well - Clermont a very physical team.

Can any Welsh teams go through?

Cardiff look likely I think, good game this

Be very disappointing if Ulster went out. The couple of top class forwards have made a huge difference adding to what Pienaar has brought.

I think Ulster are already through Steve, playing for a home QF

No Ulster will be away I think mate, best runner up.

That's what I meant, they were already through before todays game. You said it would be disappointing if Ulster went out...

I thought it was still mathmatically possible if they didn't get an LBP

Love watching an Irish scrum getting a munching! Come on Saints.

wow - sweet jesus Mafi just go tonked

and a penalty try - at last a referee who doesnt let the Irish teams get away with cheating!

Was the penalty try down to scrums?

yeah it was - Saints have got some very good props, but its the power from behind that is just immense so far. Think Hartley is a very underated scrummager!

Who underates Hartley as a scrummager? His basics have always been strong, Welsh don't seem to think so mind

Ref has got to give a yellow card on this scrum soon - demolishing them.

Loving the manoa hits. Like hala'ufia but legal

For England to beat Ireland in the 6N they need to demolish them at the scrum (which is very possible if not likely) and make them work hard at the lineout.

Can't see England dominating scrum and definatley not the lineout v Irish....

We can still beat them though!!

how important is defence in rugby these days - Leinster and Munster defend so much better than any other team, think that is the difference as don't really see them as the best attacking teams, when compared to say Toulouse or Clermont. Its the intensity that the Irish play at that no one has an answer for. and the fact they get away with murder all the time.

Saints have really missed Lawes and Wood today

Think Saints should have started with Myler, brings a lot more control to Saints.

absolutely stuffing. really not good for English rugby.

though I guess Munster are the equivalent of Northampton and Leicester as a combined team in their whole set up - don't think English teams can compete in Heineken Cup anymore.

Leinster are a great attacking unit, watch the game against Bath. I'd have them up there above ASM and possibly Toulouse

World cup really hurt Tigers/Saints this year and having to play their best team to catch up in the prem

Some fantastic Heineken Cup rugby today. In amongst it all though Exeter beat Perpignan to make the Amlin quarter finals. That is some achievement, really liking what Rob Baxter is doing down there on a very limited budget. Just shows what team spirit and good old fashioned hard work can achieve.

U have to massively respect what Baxter has done, fantastic job. On limited resources as well.

Really good article in the Telegraph today about why Irish clubs are so much better in Europe - about how French and English clubs are wanting a more even split in number of teams involved e.g. 8 clubs from each league and how the Irish teams are able to rest most of their players after a European game because they are guaranteed a spot for next year's competition.

It said that out of the 45 starting players playing for Munster, Ulster and Leinster after the last round only 4 featured in the next domestic league game, so they all concentrate on Europe, whilst French and English clubs can't afford that luxury. Makes a huge difference.

Also said England's midfield next week will be Hodgson, Farrell and Barritt.

Great signing glos. EFS has been on his way out since WC as we cant put up with his stupidity and apparently has been putting in less than 100%

We need ball carrying second rows and an 8 most

Yeah i'm really chuffed to get him over matt!

Would love to get Ben Morgan in cherry and white too and then maybe use the marquee signing for another 2nd row.

Morgan is a real possibilty also. He is ex dursley and his family are in bristol

I am just about to fly home and indulge in a HC mammoth catch up/.

Which games would you recommend. Obviously glos is first on my list.

Is this Zebo any good for munster always looks angerous when i see him

Morning all

Unless the Ospreys run in 17 tries away at Biarritz later today the Heineken Cup quarter final seedings in this game are as follows…

1. Gloucester
2. Leicester Tigers
3. Sale Sharks
4. Saracens
5. Newcastle Falcons
6. London Irish
7. Toulouse
8. ASM Clermont Auvergne

Giving quarter finals of…

Gloucester vs. ASM Clermont Auvergne
Leicester Tigers vs. Toulouse
Sale Sharks vs. London Irish
Saracens vs. Newcastle Falcons

At present the teams dropping into the Amlin Challenge Cup are…

9. Leinster
10. Munster
11. Edinburgh

… however these seedings can be affected by results today with Biarritz and Ospreys potentially able to make it, and Edinburgh could go up from 11th to 9th.

Amlin Cup seedings are as follows…

1. Northampton Saints
2. Bath Rugby
3. Exeter Chiefs
4. London Wasps
5. Stade Francais

The quarter final draw is…

Northampton Saints vs. Stade Francais
Bath Rugby vs. Heineken Cup 11th seed
Exeter Chiefs vs. Heineken Cup 10th seed
London Wasps vs. Heineken Cup 9th seed

Question for all.

Do you want to follow the real life semi final draw which takes place later today, or do you want me to do an independent semi final draw, as we did last season?

Who've Gloucester signed? Have I missed something

ahhh right 36 seen it now.

Would be best to follow real life draw Pete I reckon

Worcester from 1st seeds to out! That's why you can't take the amlin lightly