Heineken Cup Semi Finals

Gloucester vs Sale Sharks
at Twickenham
Heavy Rain , 12mph wind , 12 degrees.

Gloucester
Manager – Mat

01. Guthro Steenkamp	09. Will Genia
02. Joe Grey	10. Dan Carter
03. Nicola Mas
04. Richie Grey	11. Charlie Sharples
05. George Robson	12. berrick barnes
06. Stephen Ferris	13. Richard Kahui
07. Andy Saull	14. JSD
08. Immanol Harinordoqouy	15. Israel Dagg

16. Nick Wood 17. Darren Dawiduik 18. Julian White 19. Tom Palmer 20. Willem Alberts 21. Connor Murray 22. Johnny May 23. Julien Bonnaire

---

Gloucester go in to this game raring to get in the final. We beat this opposition last week and have freshened up in a few key positions for what is going to be a fairly attritional game in heavy heavy rain. Dan Carter comes back in to ten where his experience and game management will be to the fore.

We go in to this game with serious momentum and also the psychological edge of beating sale last week.

Set Piece

We have gone for a strong scrummaging front 5 and Stennkamp Grey and Mas will be looking to get after there opponents. With the power of robson and grey we will look to maintain steady ball for ourselves with a slight wheel to pick up and try and disrupt their ball.

Lineout.

This will be a key key area of the game as there will be a lot of kicking. We have gone for 5 jumpers and in grey, Robson and hari we think we have an amazing artillery to go after this side of the game.

We will be looking to drive the ball for territory on our own ball to create a platform to move off with runners or to allow genia and carter to dictate the play.

On Sale ball we will be looking to steal or disrupt to affect the flow of possession and also to create panic in their ranks. If they win the ball we want it to be messy or tapped and for Saull, genia, Ferris etc to stream through and put further pressure on.

In conditions such as this you need experience and know how and gloucester have this in abundance.

Generally forwards will be looking to maintain possession and get dominant field position. this will involve a slow possesion based game with lots of kicking for field position and looking to utilise our lineout to pressure further. The bench will play a key role in this game and we have gone for a ball carrying bench to continue the onslaught with Alberts, Wood, palmer and Bonnaire all being brought on to complement our relentless ball carrying style.

Control the ball and you control the game in the wet. With this pack and our spine of 8,9,10 we expect to be able to do this comfortably.

Backs.

8,9,10 are the key to controling any game particularly in the wet. we have arguably the best 8,9,10 in the world in each position and see this as the key to our success.

Genia will be getting good quality ball from the pack and will be looking to give Carter an armchair ride. genia will be used to box kick where necessary with our back 3 chasing to put pressure on.

generally in our half he will look to hit carter who will be looking to pin in behind the sale back 3 and force them to kick it back. if they go for touch we will get field position and the chance to win our own throw. IF they miss touch we have the skills to counter attack or the ability to maintain possession work field postion and go again. We see the sale back 3 as not having much of a kicking game and will look to pressure this. Abendanons first instinct is to run

Carter will certainly test out the sale back 3 under the high ball. Also he will look to hit forwards of the shoulder and to hit kahui into Hooks channel and try and get runners on the shoulder.

Whilst it heavy conditions we will run it when on and not be afraid to counter attack.

We also have a side packed with kickers out of hand in Barnes, cartetr and daggin our 22 where right we will get dagg to use his massive boot for distance to touch. dagg will also kick penalties to touch when it is on his right side. Barnes will come in to first receiver when necessary to offer a different option and keep their defence guessing.

Both Sharples and JSD have played full back and so allow us to be solid under the high ball


Bench is the key in the wet and we have gone 6-2 we will look to utilise bonnaire, wood, Palmer, Alberts etc to have a great effect.


Key points

Supreme lineout options
rock steady scrum
Leaders all over the field with great experience
best 8,9,10 spine in the game
Impact carrying bench.


Sale Sharks
Manager – SJE

01. Marcos Ayerza	09. Danny Care
02. David Paice	10. Johnny Sexton
03. Davit Zirakishvilli
04. Alun Wyn Jones	11. David Strettle
05. Andries Bekker	12. James Hook
06. Adam Thomson	13. Robbie Freuen
07. Peter O'Mahony	14. Luke Rooney
08. Louis Picamoles	15. Nick Abendanon

16. Nathan Catt 17. Guilleme Guirado 18. Luc Ducalcon 19. Christian Day 20. Matt Kvesic 21. Ben Spencer 22. Aaron Cruden 23. Jordan Turner Hall

---

General Game Plan:

We will use our strong carriers to attack in groups at gaps and half gaps in the Gloucester line, looking to get over the gain line and keep our forward momentum going. Care will look to play around the fringes and tie up the Gloucester back row with his sniping game while Sexton will look to attack flat from fly half and inject pace to the proceedings committing the Gloucester defence whom might well be tempted to drift on to our bigger carriers in these conditions.

At scrum time we will look to contest each and every engagement. On our own feed we will look to get the wheel on and create extra room for our 8-9-10 axis to work in. Picamoles will look for the pick and go from the back of the scrum and rampage as much as possible. On Gloucester feeds we will disrupt the put in looking for penalties or to create rushed, poor ball for the Gloucester halfbacks.

In these conditions we want to keep things simple and use Bekker, Thomson and POM as banker ball. We will look to bring the ball down into the maul and use the physicality of our pack to make good ground before using Picamoles of the back.

On defence, we will use a blitz defence, playing on the fringes of the offside line coming up at pace looking to isolate the Gloucester ball carriers before they can get to the gain line stopping any momentum and allowing us to hit the breakdown harder. Danny Care 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 and look to return the ball on the counter at pace.

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 Gloucester players while our flanker duo come in and look to poach the ball. We will look to contest the breakdown throughout the game

---

Key Points:

•Neutral Ground
Being a Heineken Cup semi final this game is played at Twickenham and Gloucester lose the familiar advantage of Kingsholm.

•Real Life Form
We have some serious real life form on show with Ayerza, Zirka, Bekker, AWJ, Thomson, POM, Sexton, Hook, Cruden, Freuen, JTH and Strettle in top shape currently.

•Playing Possession
We will not be looking to the boot here. We want to starve Gloucester of possession throughout the game forcing them to play on the back peddle and tiring early to leave space for Sexton to take advantage off. The kicking game of Gloucester suits this even more for us with neither Carter or Barnes on top form this season kicking from hand allowing us more possession.

•Breakdown Battle
We have a flanker duo well versed at poaching the ball and with a more mobile front 5 overall in support we will look to really target this area of the game making the breakdown a real mess for Gloucester.

•Head to Head
In the 4 times that we have played Gloucester in the last 2 seasons the head to head stands at 3-1 in our favour. Gloucester management may highlight the recent win last week but we took the opportunity to rest several first team players to come in fit and firing this week. We are becoming a bogey team for this Gloucester side!

•Playing Two Fronts
Gloucester find themselves competing on two fronts this season. Last season we saw them effectively give up the race for a home playoff at this stage and target the cup while putting out a 2nd string in the league playoffs. The season before we saw an implosion as they lost out in both the Heino and League. Winning these big games over two competitions is as much about mental edge as playing ability. Do Gloucester have this based on the last two seasons?

---

Saracens vs Toulouse
at Welford Road
Heavy Rain , 11mph wind , 16 degrees.

Saracens
Manager – Ozzy3213

01. Tendai Mtwarira	09. Morgan Parra
02. George Chuter	10. Patric Lambie
03. Jannie du Plessis
04. Lionel Nallet	11. Digby Ioane
05. Steve Borthwick	12. Ma'a Nonu
06. Tom Johnson	13. Jonathon Davies
07. George Smith (c)	14. Mark Cueto
08. Alessandro Zanni	15. Tom Homer

16. Gary Botha 17. Max Lahiff 18. Brok Harris 19. Dave Attwood 20. Tom Wood 21. Francois Hougaard 22. Alex Goode 23. Henry Trinder

TACTICS

With heavy rain forecast we will be looking to play a territorial game and ensure that most of the 80 minutes are spent in the Toulouse half of the pitch. Parra, Lambie, Cueto and Homer will all look to keep the French side penned in their 22 by using their boots to good effect. This will include kicks in behind Matanavou and garryowens up onto all of the back three to test their handling skills in the conditions. We will also kick for touch in the corners and put pressure on their lineout in their territory.

We will take all points on offer and have selected 3 top class goal kickers in Parra, Lambie and Homer to ensure that we can maximise scoring opportunities from anywhere within about 60 metres of the posts.


Toulouse
Manager – Guy Noves

01. Jean-Baptiste Poux	09. Luke Burgess
02. William Servat	10. Lionel Beauxis
03. Census Johnston
04. Yoann Maestri	11. Yves Donguy
05. Patricio Albacete	12. Yann David
06. Jean Bouilhou	13. Florian Fritz
07. Yannick Nyanga	14. Timoci Matanavou
08. Louise Picamoles	15. Yannick Jauzion

16. Aksventi Giorgadze 17. Daan Human 18. Yohan Montes 19. Gregory Lamboley 20. Jean-Marc Doussain 21. Clement Poitrenaud 22. Shaun Sowerby 23. Gillian Galan

Saracens select a starting XV which contains 13 full internationals, along with Saxons cap Tom Johnson and former England U20 star Tom Homer to face Toulouse in this weeks Heineken Cup semi final. Head coach Ozzy3213 had this to say on team selection.

"The big games are coming thick and fast at the moment and this is no exception. We felt that for this game up against a strong Toulouse side that we needed to ensure that we had experienced, cool heads out there, especially with the forecast being for poor conditions. For that reason the likes of the two Georges (Chuter & Smith), Lionel (Nallet), Steve (Borthwick) and Mark (Cueto) were no brainers for selection this week. It's also good to have Digby (Ioane) back from suspension and Francois (Hougaard) back from injury as they are players who can inject pace into the game for us if that is what is required at any given time."

Saracens
Manager – Ozzy3213

01. Tendai Mtwarira	09. Morgan Parra
02. George Chuter	10. Patric Lambie
03. Jannie du Plessis
04. Lionel Nallet	11. Digby Ioane
05. Steve Borthwick	12. Ma'a Nonu
06. Tom Johnson	13. Jonathon Davies
07. George Smith (c)	14. Mark Cueto
08. Alessandro Zanni	15. Tom Homer

16. Gary Botha 17. Max Lahiff 18. Brok Harris 19. Dave Attwood 20. Tom Wood 21. Francois Hougaard 22. Alex Goode 23. Henry Trinder

TACTICS

With heavy rain forecast we will be looking to play a territorial game and ensure that most of the 80 minutes are spent in the Toulouse half of the pitch. Parra, Lambie, Cueto and Homer will all look to keep the French side penned in their 22 by using their boots to good effect. This will include kicks in behind Matanavou and garryowens up onto all of the back three to test their handling skills in the conditions. We will also kick for touch in the corners and put pressure on their lineout in their territory.

We will take all points on offer and have selected 3 top class goal kickers in Parra, Lambie and Homer to ensure that we can maximise scoring opportunities from anywhere within about 60 metres of the posts.

I don't understand Toulouse , they have a quality 15 on the bench and pick Jauzion at 15. Strange I thinks

I did think that when I saw their QF line up, but Noves knows a thing or two I guess.

Guess that's why he's the coach of a European juggernaut and we just pretend we are ha

Sale Sharks name their side to play Gloucester on neutral ground in the Heineken Cup semi final

---

Sale Sharks
Manager – SJE

01. Marcos Ayerza	09. Danny Care
02. David Paice	10. Johnny Sexton
03. Davit Zirakishvilli
04. Alun Wyn Jones	11. David Strettle
05. Andries Bekker	12. James Hook
06. Adam Thomson	13. Robbie Freuen
07. Peter O'Mahony	14. Luke Rooney
08. Louis Picamoles	15. Nick Abendanon

16. Nathan Catt 17. Guilleme Guirado 18. Luc Ducalcon 19. Christian Day 20. Matt Kvesic 21. Ben Spencer 22. Aaron Cruden 23. Jordan Turner Hall

---

SJE you have two James Hook's buddy

Fixed. Cheers Steve

---

Gloucester
Manager – Mat

01. Guthro Steenkamp	09. Will Genia
02. Joe Grey	10. Dan Carter
03. Nicola Mas
04. Richie Grey	11. Charlie Sharples
05. George Robson	12. berrick barnes
06. Stephen Ferris	13. Richard Kahui
07. Andy Saull	14. JSD
08. Immanol Harinordoqouy	15. Israel Dagg

16. Nick Wood 17. Darren Dawiduik 18. Julian White 19. Tom Palmer 20. Willem Alberts 21. Connor Murray 22. Johnny May 23. Julien Bonnaire

---

[/quote]

Gloucester go in to this game raring to get in the final. We beat this opposition last week and have freshened up in a few key positions for what is going to be a fairly attritional game in heavy heavy rain. Dan Carter comes back in to ten where his experience and game management will be to the fore.

We go in to this game with serious momentum and also the psychological edge of beating sale last week.

Set Piece

We have gone for a strong scrummaging front 5 and Stennkamp Grey and Mas will be looking to get after there opponents. With the power of robson and grey we will look to maintain steady ball for ourselves with a slight wheel to pick up and try and disrupt their ball.

Lineout.

This will be a key key area of the game as there will be a lot of kicking. We have gone for 5 jumpers and in grey, Robson and hari we think we have an amazing artillery to go after this side of the game.

We will be looking to drive the ball for territory on our own ball to create a platform to move off with runners or to allow genia and carter to dictate the play.

On Sale ball we will be looking to steal or disrupt to affect the flow of possession and also to create panic in their ranks. If they win the ball we want it to be messy or tapped and for Saull, genia, Ferris etc to stream through and put further pressure on.

In conditions such as this you need experience and know how and gloucester have this in abundance.

Generally forwards will be looking to maintain possession and get dominant field position. this will involve a slow possesion based game with lots of kicking for field position and looking to utilise our lineout to pressure further. The bench will play a key role in this game and we have gone for a ball carrying bench to continue the onslaught with Alberts, Wood, palmer and Bonnaire all being brought on to complement our relentless ball carrying style.

Control the ball and you control the game in the wet. With this pack and our spine of 8,9,10 we expect to be able to do this comfortably.

Backs.

8,9,10 are the key to controling any game particularly in the wet. we have arguably the best 8,9,10 in the world in each position and see this as the key to our success.

Genia will be getting good quality ball from the pack and will be looking to give Carter an armchair ride. genia will be used to box kick where necessary with our back 3 chasing to put pressure on.

generally in our half he will look to hit carter who will be looking to pin in behind the sale back 3 and force them to kick it back. if they go for touch we will get field position and the chance to win our own throw. IF they miss touch we have the skills to counter attack or the ability to maintain possession work field postion and go again. We see the sale back 3 as not having much of a kicking game and will look to pressure this. Abendanons first instinct is to run

Carter will certainly test out the sale back 3 under the high ball. Also he will look to hit forwards of the shoulder and to hit kahui into Hooks channel and try and get runners on the shoulder.

Whilst it heavy conditions we will run it when on and not be afraid to counter attack.

We also have a side packed with kickers out of hand in Barnes, cartetr and daggin our 22 where right we will get dagg to use his massive boot for distance to touch. dagg will also kick penalties to touch when it is on his right side. Barnes will come in to first receiver when necessary to offer a different option and keep their defence guessing.

Both Sharples and JSD have played full back and so allow us to be solid under the high ball


Bench is the key in the wet and we have gone 6-2 we will look to utilise bonnaire, wood, Palmer, Alberts etc to have a great effect.


Key points

Supreme lineout options
rock steady scrum
Leaders all over the field with great experience
best 8,9,10 spine in the game
Impact carrying bench.

Just a cheeky mark

Just waiting for tactics from SJE and then predos will be open.

Error from me there pete was just adding about my form to tactics. Damn my ineptitude

Is it just this you want added Mat?....


Momentum we are the form team in the league

Pete is does not matter really I was just reading my tactics and thought I have left off form.

I then stupidly quoted whole thread.

Deserve to be docked points for stupidity lol.

Two good semi finals. Toulouse are a team on the decline too many players like Jauzion, servat, boillouh, sowerby, albacete etc who are passed it. Not starting poitrenaud is bizarre.

The guy makes mistakes but is a fb unlike Jauzion.

Matanavou is a horror show In the wet and when having to defend full stop.

Saw earlier this weekends ulster heino semi described as battle between 2 non tackling 10s.

Laid law and humph certainly no wilko in the tackle

If sje can't get on let him enter tactics late it's a semi final
After all

I'm a big fan of iHumph's attacking game when he is on song, but yeah, he's never going to be a wall in defence.

---

Sale Sharks
Manager – SJE

01. Marcos Ayerza	09. Danny Care
02. David Paice	10. Johnny Sexton
03. Davit Zirakishvilli
04. Alun Wyn Jones	11. David Strettle
05. Andries Bekker	12. James Hook
06. Adam Thomson	13. Robbie Freuen
07. Peter O'Mahony	14. Luke Rooney
08. Louis Picamoles	15. Nick Abendanon

16. Nathan Catt 17. Guilleme Guirado 18. Luc Ducalcon 19. Christian Day 20. Matt Kvesic 21. Ben Spencer 22. Aaron Cruden 23. Jordan Turner Hall

---

General Game Plan:

We will use our strong carriers to attack in groups at gaps and half gaps in the Gloucester line, looking to get over the gain line and keep our forward momentum going. Care will look to play around the fringes and tie up the Gloucester back row with his sniping game while Sexton will look to attack flat from fly half and inject pace to the proceedings committing the Gloucester defence whom might well be tempted to drift on to our bigger carriers in these conditions.

At scrum time we will look to contest each and every engagement. On our own feed we will look to get the wheel on and create extra room for our 8-9-10 axis to work in. Picamoles will look for the pick and go from the back of the scrum and rampage as much as possible. On Gloucester feeds we will disrupt the put in looking for penalties or to create rushed, poor ball for the Gloucester halfbacks.

In these conditions we want to keep things simple and use Bekker, Thomson and POM as banker ball. We will look to bring the ball down into the maul and use the physicality of our pack to make good ground before using Picamoles of the back.

On defence, we will use a blitz defence, playing on the fringes of the offside line coming up at pace looking to isolate the Gloucester ball carriers before they can get to the gain line stopping any momentum and allowing us to hit the breakdown harder. Danny Care 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 and look to return the ball on the counter at pace.

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 Gloucester players while our flanker duo come in and look to poach the ball. We will look to contest the breakdown throughout the game

---

Key Points:

•Neutral Ground
Being a Heineken Cup semi final this game is played at Twickenham and Gloucester lose the familiar advantage of Kingsholm.

•Real Life Form
We have some serious real life form on show with Ayerza, Zirka, Bekker, AWJ, Thomson, POM, Sexton, Hook, Cruden, Freuen, JTH and Strettle in top shape currently.

•Playing Possession
We will not be looking to the boot here. We want to starve Gloucester of possession throughout the game forcing them to play on the back peddle and tiring early to leave space for Sexton to take advantage off. The kicking game of Gloucester suits this even more for us with neither Carter or Barnes on top form this season kicking from hand allowing us more possession.

•Breakdown Battle
We have a flanker duo well versed at poaching the ball and with a more mobile front 5 overall in support we will look to really target this area of the game making the breakdown a real mess for Gloucester.

•Head to Head
In the 4 times that we have played Gloucester in the last 2 seasons the head to head stands at 3-1 in our favour. Gloucester management may highlight the recent win last week but we took the opportunity to rest several first team players to come in fit and firing this week. We are becoming a bogey team for this Gloucester side!

•Playing Two Fronts
Gloucester find themselves competing on two fronts this season. Last season we saw them effectively give up the race for a home playoff at this stage and target the cup while putting out a 2nd string in the league playoffs. The season before we saw an implosion as they lost out in both the Heino and League. Winning these big games over two competitions is as much about mental edge as playing ability. Do Gloucester have this based on the last two seasons?

---

Carter who was on fire last weekend sje?!. Sje we lost both the finals
In hc and prem the year before. That means we know
What it's like
To be
In a final. We
Are the hc holders. What title do you hold ??

Best
Of
Luck the rain will
Make this
A
Great battle

Predictions are now open

We happen to be the side that has beaten you 3 times in a row before playing a 2nd string last week
How dare you Pete!! I still have 5 minutes of time before the deadline for banter
This is the Carter who still isn’t kicking in real life? Bit of a worry in the wet conditions while Barnes has been struggling with he boot?

As its a semi final, Didn’t get on here early enough to have a full look but just a few notes on Matts tactics...

anonmattyt wrote: This will be a key key area of the game as there will be a lot of kicking. We have gone for 5 jumpers and in grey, Robson and hari we think we have an amazing artillery to go after this side of the game.

We will be looking to drive the ball for territory on our own ball to create a platform to move off with runners or to allow genia and carter to dictate the play.

With heavy rain and moderate winds on forecast the Sale management are happy to see Gloucester looking to play expansively in the air with 5 jumpers looking to play off the top to Genia and Carter. Handling errors will be a major problem.

anonmattyt wrote: generally in our half he will look to hit carter who will be looking to pin in behind the sale back 3 and force them to kick it back. if they go for touch we will get field position and the chance to win our own throw. IF they miss touch we have the skills to counter attack or the ability to maintain possession work field postion and go again. We see the sale back 3 as not having much of a kicking game and will look to pressure this. Abendanons first instinct is to run

Kicking to our back 3 in the hopes that we kick back but stating that running the ball is our players first instinct????????? With our possession based game we will be happy to receive the ball either way.

All about position and possession sje. Kicking in to right areas allows
Pressure and to force you to play from deep.

Never said I was playing off top says
I drive possession.

Good luck banter ended sje we best watch it
Pete will sanction us!!

Ah sure it's a big game, so now worry banter away, I'll only stop you if you get boring!

Saracens 17-12 Toulouse too
Many out of
Form players for Toulouse. They will trouble sarries
On
Lineout but also struggle on their Own as servat been all
Over the place lately. Pete has a nuggety side for
Conditions and half backs that work unlike Toulouse.

Suggestion for next year is one of
Us pick the non english's team if it's in the knock out phases. Toulouse would surely not pick that back 3 in these conditions and that costs them the game. Matanavou and Jauzion liabilities in these conditions and pete
Has a defensively rock solid back 3 that have good kicking games.

We should nominate someone to be the selector
Of neutral sides team moving forward IMO

Matt commented past the deadline so I'm allowed one last one as well pretty please Pete

On the lineout you have said your looking to mix around 5 jumpers surely in these conditions that is a bit excessive?
Your tactics say you want to kick to us to force us to kick for touch at a gain of ground for you and that your game is pretty much about building on territory with your lineout but your admitting we will most likely play it from deep. This surely blows a key part of your game plan out of the water.

Also not sure what defensive strategy your using to try and counteract my side. Surely defensve strategy will be key in conditions like this when your regularly kicking the ball to my back 3.

Thats me done had to make my one comment worth the while!!

Mat

I have no issue with that suggestion for next season mate, but just to clarify for all, I didn't select that Toulouse side, it was their quarter final line up and have always used the line up from their last HC game for non AP teams in European competition.

Saracens 19-12 Toulouse

Forward battle keenly fought here with neither side getting a real advantage but Sarries have that bit more power in the backs for these conditions and have the kickers to take advantage of the Toulouse back 3 and make their way to the final.

Yeah I can confirm that on Pete's behalf as well. It was what I was doing throughout the group stages

I knew that pete I just think its a better idea I floated it during the group stages as some French teams rest players playing away so when you play them away on this game you play a reserve side where
In real life playing French sides away
Is the toughest.

It happened to
Me in the group stages i got away bp's where I
Should not have. We all
Want the Heino more realistic and I think it's a good way.

That is the Toulouse side that lost to Edinburgh I watches
The game. Noves has
Lost the plot this year. Having injuries does
Not help also. Add mcallisters form
Meltdown early in season and you can see why. Toulouse have no spine to their team. Pickles is a great impact player (sorry sje) but not an 80 minute player and walks often. Burgess is good but plays as an individual and beauxis is not a Toulouse 10. 8,9,10 runs a game theirs
Has no leaders

SirJohnnyEnglish wrote:Matt commented past the deadline so I'm allowed one last one as well pretty please Pete

On the lineout you have said your looking to mix around 5 jumpers surely in these conditions that is a bit excessive?
Your tactics say you want to kick to us to force us to kick for touch at a gain of ground for you and that your game is pretty much about building on territory with your lineout but your admitting we will most likely play it from deep. This surely blows a key part of your game plan out of the water.

Also not sure what defensive strategy your using to try and counteract my side. Surely defensve strategy will be key in conditions like this when your regularly kicking the ball to my back 3.

Thats me done had to make my one comment worth the while!!

Did not say I would
Mix jumpers
Said I had 5 jumpers so it keeps opposition guessing.

Defensively you press
In the rain as each time opposition catches it takes longer to
Gather and pass
Hence
Why expansive game
Difficult in wet. Standard defence in wet never
Differs.

I'm open to all suggestions as to how to make the HC more competitive against non AP side next season. Would be good to have some tougher pool games rather than our sides coasting it with 2nd strings teams out.

Toulouse are an odd one. Still have some great players, but something isn't right there for sure.

Think also if they own the player ie Biarritz hari then he plays
For them
And not
Me if we play each other ?? What do you think

That's an idea. Will put all HC ideas to all the managers in the summer.

Can only think of increasing English req for HC to make it sort of equal

Pickles has had no problems playing the 80 minutes for either France or Toulouse Matt ever really from what I've seen. You seem to be the only one who ever mentions this. I rate Pickles really highly very intelligent and such a great carrier. He would walk into most international sides at 8 barring the All Blacks, Italy and France at the moment. And even then hes had a better season then Harri!

Surely you have to referance your defence in tactics? You haven't said your pressing, drifting or anything at all.

"We have gone for 5 jumpers and in grey, Robson and hari we think we have an amazing artillery to go after this side of the game."

Surely that means your looking to switch jumpers Matt?? Its the only way I can read it at all nothing there about keeping the opposition guessing. Its what your tactics say. But either way with us running the ball back from your kicking game you won't get the lineout much anyway messing up your game plan.

Thats 2 a piece post deadline comments. We will get a telling off!! I'm off to bed so best of luck Matt for this game

Patter intense this week!

Bahrain weekend tomorrow so can actually read stuff!

Bahrain full of
Saudis cavorting with Russian hookers
Weird place I do a lot of business there as
Saudi is a git to get into.

More Thai where I've been tonight. Probably not at the Russian class type bars. Typical middle east really, be nice when it's finished but dump now. US Navy are possibly the thickest force I've ever met. Make UK army look like Einstein

Gloucester 17 - 16 Sale

Scrums even for me with the lineout going to Gloucester. Front 5's are pretty even in terms of work around the park. The backs rows also a good contest with Saull the weak link but Ferris the standout so they are also even. Very difficult to separate up front and on neutral ground it is very much even.

Half backs are tough. Gloucester have the better players but there are form issues for Genia and whilst Carter had a big game at 12 last week it would be hard to call him in good form. Level at half backs. Centres marginally to Sale as I think I prefer the balance of the Hook/Freaun combo. Back 3 however goes to Gloucester. In the conditions the marginal advantage in the centres will mean more than an advantage out wide. I prefer the Gloucester bench.

Both tactics work, I think it would be very tough to keep the ball continually for Sale without much kicking whereas Gloucester are looking to kick more and I think I prefer the Gloucester method in this game.

Saracens 22 - 18 Toulouse

The advantage across the board belongs to Saracens except perhaps in the backrow where Toulouse will get on top. Experience in the front 5 is important against Toulouse and Sarries have it in abundance. A nice Saracens back line works well and is stronger than there french opponents.

Gloucester 17 Sale Sharks 19

Where to start is the question here. Two excellent sides packed with international class players, and both managers have worked out a good game plan for their side, with Gloucester looking to kick for field position, and Sale trying to keep hold of the ball a bit more. In the rain, both game plans have their merits and both have risks. I think it is fair to say that there will be a lot of scrums in this game, with Gloucester getting more of the put ins due to the tactics of both sides (Sale knocking on occasionally when kicked to, and also when repeatedly taking the ball into contact).

In terms of the scrum, I do see Sale as having a slight edge due to personnel. Have never been a big Steenkamp fan and he's been injured for a while so does not carry a high rating for me, whereas Ayerza has had a very good season, and the big Georgian tighthead is rarely beaten at scrum time. I think Mat missed a trick in not starting Wood, who was in really good form prior to injury and would carry a better rating than Steenkamp for me. I give Sale the edge here. In the line out, Bekker is the standout for me, but it's more even as Gloucester have good options. Ball carrying I would have a little more for Gloucester, but at the breakdown a little more Sale. Man for man in the back row I don't think either 8 has been great this season, at 7 POM is streets ahead of Saull who has gone backwards, and Ferris better than Thomson, but by nowhere near as much as POM is better than Saull.

Overall, I prefer the Sale Sharks pack, and give them an edge in that area of the game.

In the half backs, which I agree are key to controlling a game, Gloucester have the names, and a world class pair, with Sale just below that in terms of quality. Genia however has looked out of sorts when I have seen him this season, albeit behind an inferior pack in real life than the one he is behind today. But I have to take form at face value as I always do, and Care is in better form than Genia right now. Carter is difficult to judge, as he is coming back from injury, and playing 12 and not kicking in real life, but is undoubted quality and looked good against the Hurricanes last week. Sexton is making Leinster tick, and so overall between the two pairs, I have to call it pretty even.

Put simply, the Gloucester back line has more about it than the Sale Sharks one in terms of attacking spark with ball in hand. How much opportunity they will get to run the ball in the conditions and with the tactics of kicking for field position is a question though. Overall in the outside backs I give Gloucester the edge, but not sure how much effect they can have on this particular game.

Outside of the players, I have to give Gloucester some credit in relation to in game form and momentum. I also have to look at where teams priorities lie. This is the Sharks cup final as they have no chance of the play offs so they will not leave anything out there. Gloucester have the play offs as well, but they will also be fired up as they are the holders and will want to defend the title, so there will some battered bodies at the end of this.

Overall, the way I see it is that the Sale pack will get on top, and they can build points off scrum penalties and could grind out a try from somewhere. They will never quite get away from Gloucester though with the quality they have in their side, and with impact players off their bench they will cause real problems for Sale. I do however think that having got ahead, Sale have enough dog and enough drive in their matchday squad to hang on and take a narrow victory in this one.

Sorry my explanation was so long, but it was so close I felt it deserved to be done justice given the effort both managers had put in.

Gloucester 21 - 19 Sale

Give the edge to Gloucester in the front row, with slightly stronger props. Second rows are even, grey maybe standout there. Two excellent back rows, I might slightly edge to sale. Genia and Barnes aren't setting the world alight right now, but then sale aren't on top form at 9,10,12 either, and kahui vs Fruean a great battle. Better back three for Gloucester. Gloucester better bench. Really really tough to call. I think Gloucester have slightly stronger side, so just giving them the win. 



Saracens 23 - 21 Toulouse

People seem to be slating Toulouse, but they are top of the top 14 so going well. This isn't their strongest side though, think a rethink of this is a good shout. 
Slight edge to Toulouse upfront, with Servat on top of Chuter. Second row to the French side too for me with Maestri he standout on form. Sarries take the back row with Dus a big miss. Sarries take the hb's for me, although Beauxis kicks handy in the conditions. Slightly stronger centres from Sarries, although two powerful units. Back three edge to the English side. Toulouse front five to cause them problems, but Sarries have a bit too much. Good win.

Glos 18-19 Sale

Where to start here! Sale take the front row battle with Glos winning 2nd row and lineout. Looking at the back rows I'd say that both will nullify each other but Sale may have a bit more with the runners. In the backs neither 9-10 are in tremendous form but with the conditions I can see Sextong etting on top. Centres go to Glos and the back three in attack to Glos but defence to Sale. Bench edges to Glos. Looking at the tactics I feel that Glos slip up trying to play running rugby and this gives the mistakes which Sale will capitalise on.

Sarries 22-19 Toulouse

Think Toulouse will cause problems in the front 5 here but Sarries will win the breakdown battle in the back 3. Sarries playing so many kickers helps here in the heavy rain as the pressure will be on Toulouse's lineout which has been stuttering. Think Sarries have enough to nick this.`

Gloucester 16-17 Sale Sharks

Great game. Interesting tactics from both managers and I do think they suit each others lineups.

They'll be plenty of scrums and I think Sale are set up better here. Mas and Zira are strong pillars and I can't see much give here. Difference for me is J Gray isn't a particularly strong scrummager whilst Paice is very solid here. Think Ayerza brings a bit more in the tight than Steenkamp also. Close engine rooms, I agree with Matt that they'll get a bit of joy in the lineout but Sale have good options too, just think Gloucester lack a little grunt with two mainly 5's not bringing much physicality in the conditions. Class at 6/8 for Gloucester but not too far behind for Sale and I prefer them as a unit with Saull a little out of his depth against quality opposition. Overall think Sale have edge in pack.

Both 9's aren't fully firing but class acts and I can't see much between them tbh. I think Sexton might just get a little more out of this behind a strong scrum and better real life form. Very similar styled centres, Bit more quality for Gloucester but Barnes poor form evens it a little. Kahui playing well though and think he'll edge Fruen.

Strettle the strongest winger on show but Rooney prob the weakest making it pretty close. Abendanon has been very good this year but Dagg is quality and brings a great boot for conditions.

Can see Sale front row subs giving further dominance but stronger carrying back 5 players for Gloucester making pack a closer battle.

Belting game. Sales strong scrum, slightly better pack and form backs for conditions gives them edge for me. Gloucester will come close 2nd half but fall short.

Saracens 12-15 Toulouse

Can't see Sarries getting a foothold in this one with Toulouse pack stronger nearly man for man. See plenty of scrums and Toulouse much stronger imo. Backs go to Sarries generally but Toulouse set out well. I know Toulouse can be flakey away but on paper they win this for me with pack dominance. Sorry Pete.

Sarries 12 - 6 Toulouse
Can't see this game putting you on the edge of your seat at all and weather conditions are going to be Toulouse's biggest weakness and their backthree is going to lose them the game, Pete's kicking game spot on, though Beauxis always a threat with the boot.

Gloucester 19 - 17 Sale
This was really hard game to choose between the two teams - so many good players on display and the weather really will have a big impact. Both have slightly different tactics, that for me would work - Mat's is a lot more risk adverse, whilst can see that SJE's team might lose the ball a bit more.

Lot of emphasis will be on the setpiece and how both teams adapt their games for that - scrum goes to Sale, lineout to Gloucester and with Mat's kicking game the lineout is going to be as important as the scrums. Thing that sways it for me really here is that Glaws have gone 6-2 split in the pack, pretty much all impact players and will add a lot of go forward in the conditions too.

Question for me was whether Sale could get away from Gloucester in the first 55-60minutes before momentum swung back and I just couldnt see them doing it as Glaws (in this game) have made HC finals, won semi finals etc before and can just see them using that experience to get them over the line in what could be the closest semi-final going in this game!

Sarries 14 - 12 Toulouse

Gloucester 20 - 18 Sale

Sorry for lack of explanations, got to dash now for rehearsal.

Saracens 24 Toulouse 15
Gloucester 18 Sale 19

saracens 12-12 toulouse - toulouse backline isnt great and pete hasnt put out a full strength side, wont be a great game for me in conditions. toulouse get upper hand in back but better backs from sarries means draw.

gloucester 22-20 - little bit more in the backs see glos take this with the forwards an even battle. pom will give saull a going over but ferris is standout for me.

Just ITFL left to predict. Gloucester vs Sale game still in the balance.