Aviva Cup Final

First topic message reminder :

This year’s Aviva Cup final would be fought between two of the form teams towards the end of the domestic season. London Irish who overcame Saracens at home in the Semi-finals will come up against an Exeter Chiefs side which has had a revival in fortunes since the return of head coach Pete. With a close look at each side it would be difficult to pick out just one key man, but we have managed to pick influential players in the forwards and backs for either side. For Irish up front the signing of Euan Murray has been a big improvement to their pack, however the signing of David Pocock would embellish any side and he has done wonders to help Irish get to this point. In the backs the creative Bowden gets a mention, but the ever elusive Sailosi Tagicakibau has been in wonderful form.
for the Chiefs the ever green Perry Freshwater will play in his final game before retiring will do his best to get them on the front foot, but the ever present Tom Johnson will look to do the dirty work for Chiefs as he will look to negate Pocock at the breakdown. In the backs Hadyn Thomas will get the backs moving nicely for Chiefs, but the big bustling presence of Richard Kahui will present an array of problems for the Irish.

Venue; Twickenham Stadium
Referee; Steve Walsh
Assitant Referee’s; Nigel Owens, Craig Joubert
Television Match Official; Vinny Munro

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Team to start extra time (replacements who have come on are in bold.

Exeter Chiefs

Head Coach – Ozzy3213

01. Brett Sturgess	09. Haydn Thomas
02. Bismarck du Plessis	10. Aaron Cruden
03. Hoani Tui
04. James Hanks	11. Matt Jess
05. James Horwill (c)	12. Sireli Naqalevuki
06. Tom Johnson	13. Richard Kahui
07. Steffon Armitage	14. Paul Sackey
08. Richard Baxter	15. Isa Nacewa

16. Neil Clark 21. Kevin Barrett 22. Ignacio Mieres

Tactics

We would look to really open the game up and use the offloading skills of players to keep Irish moving in defence in order to create gaps against tired legs which we would look to exploit. If BdP, Thomas or Cruden tire during extra time then they will be replaced but only if they are literally dying out there.

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Replacements made are shown in bold.

London Irish

Manager – Pullthestrings

01. Max Lahiff	09. Darren Allinson
02. James Buckland	10. Shane Geraghty
03. Euan Murray
04. Steve Mafi	11. Tom Homer (k)
05. Nick Kennedy	12. Daniel Bowden
06. Jamie Gibson	13. Regan King
07. David Pocock (c)	14. Sailosi Tagicakibau
08. Imanol Harinordoquy	15. Delon Armitage

Subs:
17. Paulica Ion, 20. Tom Guest, 23. Topsy Ojo

Tactics
We head into extra time confident of getting the job done. One of our key points was the strength of out bench so we'll be looking for them to make an impact.

- After 60 mins + of battering in the scrum, Lahiff and Buckland have come on to ensure it remains steady. If Murray's flagging, we'll bring on Ion.

- Get the back three involved as much as possible, with them coming off their wings and picking gaps in the Exeter back line. Ojo on stand by if any feel like the need a rest.

- Work hard to make the breakdowns and spot possible turnovers. With tired legs, make sure we get the ball out quickly and let Geraghty run at players, with support runners either side.

- Big efforts in defence from the back row - attempt to wrap up attackers and prevent the offloads. If any are flagging, Guest can come on to work his socks off.

- Allinson to sweep behind in defence and shut out any half breaks. Boss the pack and don't let them get lazy in defence.

- Keep up the pressure on the Exeter midfield by rushing up and causing mistakes. Shut off the back three and keep them tight where we can snuff out any attacks.

- Homer to go for points at every opportunity. The leading points scorer in the premiership - his boot can make the difference in extra time.

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Key points
- Targeted this competition from the start

- Low confidence in the scrum for the Chiefs

- Bowden to midfield to help nullify attacks

- Get our back three involved to run at Exeter's tired legs.

I am highlighting the assumption that Jenkins, Servat, Murray would have had a bit of joy against Freshwater, BdP and Mitchell for the first hour, that's all.

That's a fair bit of an assumption given that nonevof them three have been in top form this. season and the game finished level at full time so a bit hard to say one side would have been on top in any facet of the game.

I don't know, Bismark will shore up the other two nicely. As a neutral, I'd reckon Irish would have an advantage at the scrum but not much of one

Not sure we should have these comments during predo's lads. Those are the sort of things you can write in your actual prediction as justification.

Are the predo's for extra time now open then?

Agree Bathite..

Just waiting on Flux to update page

Exeter Chiefs 47-43 London Irish

Theres not an awful lot between either pack with Chiefs maybe shading the scrum but feel Chiefs could really punish the Irish 10-12-13 combo with big ball carriers and will see enough points through this to hold off the boot of Homer.

Flux you about???

What am I needed for?

Can you update page with new teams mate pls.

Done

Cheers mate......30-30 it is......PREDO!!!

Predo- Irish 36, Exeter 35.

Irish back row continue to dominate, with some good players still on the bench. Exeter run the ball and find gaps and score in the corner in the backs but can't convert and don't get enough possession to score again. Homer takes his kicks and Irish scrape through by playing conservatively

Is there a deadline for predictions and does everyone know they need to predict again?

Really tough one to predict.

Irish 39 Cheifs 35

For me extra time is bound to be a nervy affair. Any mistake could lose the game for their team so players likely to play conservatively no matter what their manager says.

Irish for me will get the upper hand in the kicking game and there backrow will do a lot to turn this territory into penalties and Homer will get them. Cheifs will score one try and will be pushing near the line at the end but Irish will hold them out to get the win.

We'll close predo's tomorrow night

Irish 37 - Chiefs 33
Think that having Lahiff and Mafi come on here is a huge bonus, two great impact players. Moving Bowden inside is also a stroke of genius and allows another fresh legged playmaker. This game is won with a Bowden break through midfield, Taki finishing and Homer slotting the wide conversion. Heartbreak for the Chiefs, but in an open game, with tiring legs, the Irish win.

Irish 35 Chiefs 33

Irish 39-35 Chiefs - Agree that little more impact in Irish subs. Lahiff and Mafi both good impact players and Geraghty is a game changer. Homers boot to do the business for Irish.

Irish 38-42 Exeter
Good impact subs in the forwards for Irish and while they have big-game players who will not lose their heads I feel Exeter have the half-back combo who can control the game better and the spark in their backs could make all the difference.

London Irish 36 - 39 Exeter Chiefs

The extra mobility of Mafi and Lahiff are an imposing prospect, but Tuani and Baxter are both quality players to have come of the bench. For me late on in the game it will be come about not giving away penalties and successfully converting any. And unfortunately for Irish Cruden won't miss if he tried to, Homer unfortunately has an effort brush the post but on the wrong side of it.

Prop,

Can you predict on extra time please

Will close predos after lunch to give Prop a chance to predict. Result announced around 3ish as I wont be on to do it tonight

The tension is too much to bare!

Is the winner getting an HC place right?

I beleive so, but Irish have a HC spot anyway I think.

so does it go to you pete if you dont win this, or to next league place?

Result:

Exeter Chiefs 40-43 London Irish

Congratulations to Pull! Commiserations to Pete!

Heineken Cup spots in real life go to the top 5 in the league, A/W Cup winners and a 7th spot if an English team wins the Heino/Amlin. If the A/W winner qualifies through the league then the spot goes to 6th in the league hence Sale in the Heino next year as far as I know.

So for Heino rugby next year in this game we have:

Leicester Tigers (Harlequins)
Northampton Saints (Leicester Tigers)
Gloucester Rugby (Saracens)
Bath Rugby (Northampton Saints)
London Wasps (Exeter Chiefs)
London Irish (Sale Sharks)

Brackets is for who you will replace in the real life draw

Well done Pul! Bad luck Pete.

Congratulations pull, well done mate.

Good game Pete, well done mate