AP Round 7

Predictions

Northampton v Saracens - Saracens
Gloucester v Leicester - Leicester
Irish v Quins - Irish
Wasps v Welsh - Wasps
Worcester v Sale - Worcester
Bath v Exeter - Bath

Very very interesting predictions stnick88.

I'll put mine when I see the teams.

I think the first 3 are certainly the most interesting and could go either way.

I'm going with all the away teams:
Sarries
Leicester
Quins
Welsh
Sale
Chiefs

brave prediction but it's feasible. Very close match ups this round!

I'm pleased with Exe's start to their prem campaign, 3 wins out of 6 and the top 4 all played once already, ahead of last year too at this point. Bath are a bugbear however, and I can't help but fear that we will be nursing some bruised and battered bodies after Leinster and Clermont. Tough one

C'mon As! We're going to OWN them!

London Irish team to face Harlequins:

15. Anthony Watson; 14. Topsy Ojo*; 13. Jonathan Joseph*; 12. Guy Armitage; 11. Sailosi Tagicakibau*; 10. Ian Humphreys; 9. Tomás O’Leary*; 1. Max Lahiff; 2. David Paice*; 3. Halani Aulika*; 4. Bryn Evans*; 5. Matt Garvey; 6. Declan Danaher (Captain); 7. Jamie Gibson; 8. Chris Hala’ufia*

Replacements: 16. Scott Lawson*; 17. Cai Griffiths; 18. Leo Halavatau; 19. Kieran Low; 20. Ofisa Treviranus*; 21. Alex Gray; 22. Steven Shingler; 23. Darren Allinson

Danaher's 250th appearance for Irish.

Northampton v Saracens - Sarries
Gloucester v Leicester - Glaws
Irish v Quins - Quins
Wasps v Welsh - Wasps
Worcester v Sale - Wuss
Bath v Exeter - Exe

Saracens line-up vs Northampton Saints

15 Alex Goode
14 Chris Ashton
13 Joel Tomkins
12 Brad Barritt
11 David Strettle
10 Owen Farrell
9 Neil de Kock
1 Mako Vunipola
2 Schalk Brits
3 Matt Stevens
4 Steve Borthwick
5 Alistair Hargreaves
6 Kelly Brown
7 Will Fraser
8 Jackson Wray

16 John Smit
17 Nick Auterac
18 Carlos Nieto
19 Mouritz Botha
20 Ernst Joubert
21 Richard Wigglesworth
22 Charlie Hodgson
23 Chris Wyles


I knew Farrell was going to be picked at fly half. Let's see what he can do. Please show some more attacking flair, pretty please?

Uh oh - I remember Strettle vs Saints last season.

I fear for our scrum with the penalty machine at tighthead.

Still a strong side.

CHIEFS SIDE TO FACE BATH

15 Luke Arscott
14 Gonzalo Camacho
13 Phil Dollman
12 Jason Shoemark
11 Matt Jess
10 Gareth Steenson
9 Haydn Thomas
1 Brett Sturgess
2 Simon Alcott
3 Carl Rimmer
4 Dean Mumm
5 James Hanks
6 Tom Johnson
7 James Scaysbrook
8 Richard Baxter

16 Chris Whitehead
17 Ben Moon
18 Chris Budgen
19 Aly Muldowney
20 Dave Ewers
21 Kevin Barrett
22 Ignacio Mieres
23 Ian Whitten

15 Stephen MYLER
14 Ken PISI
13 George PISI
12 Dom WALDOUCK
11 Vasily ARTEMYEV
10 Ryan LAMB
9 Lee DICKSON
1 Soane TONGA'UIHA
2 Dylan HARTLEY (capt)
3 Paul DORAN JONES
4 Courtney LAWES
5 Mark SORENSON
6 Phil DOWSON
7 Tom WOOD
8 GJ VAN VELZE

Replacements
16 Mike HAYWOOD
17 Alex WALLER
18 Brian MUJATI
19 Samu MANOA
20 Rhys OAKLEY
21 Martin ROBERTS
22 Tom MAY
23 Luther BURRELL

Saints side. Myler at FB? Wtf?

No Mujati starting is a relief (now PDJ will have a stormer)

Glaws side:

Rob Cook; Charlie Sharples, Mike Tindall (captain), Billy Twelvetrees, James Simpson-Daniel; Freddie Burns, Jimmy Cowan; Nick Wood, Huia Edmonds, Rupert Harden; Tom Savage, Will James; Sione Kalamafoni, Akapusi Qera, Ben Morgan

Replacements:

Koree Britton, Dan Murphy, Shaun Knight, Peter Buxton, Matt Cox, Dan Robson, Martyn Thomas, Shane Monahan

Big Jim getting injured in the Amlin=

mawhis wrote:London Irish team to face Harlequins:

15. Anthony Watson; 14. Topsy Ojo*; 13. Jonathan Joseph*; 12. Guy Armitage; 11. Sailosi Tagicakibau*; 10. Ian Humphreys; 9. Tomás O’Leary*; 1. Max Lahiff; 2. David Paice*; 3. Halani Aulika*; 4. Bryn Evans*; 5. Matt Garvey; 6. Declan Danaher (Captain); 7. Jamie Gibson; 8. Chris Hala’ufia*

Replacements: 16. Scott Lawson*; 17. Cai Griffiths; 18. Leo Halavatau; 19. Kieran Low; 20. Ofisa Treviranus*; 21. Alex Gray; 22. Steven Shingler; 23. Darren Allinson

Danaher's 250th appearance for Irish.

Massive respect to Brian Smith for having the balls to stick with Guy and Anthony for this one after their performances last weekend. I am super excited about that backline. If we get any sort of decent ball them boys are going to be on fire.

COME ON YOU IRISH

Tigers to play Glos:

15 Geordan Murphy (c)
14 Scott Hamilton
13 Manusamoa Tuilagi
12 Anthony Allen
11 Vereniki Goneva
10 Toby Flood
9 Ben Youngs
1 Logovi'i Mulipola
2 Tom Youngs
3 Dan Cole
4 Louis Deacon
5 Geoff Parling
6 Steve Mafi
7 Thomas Waldrom
8 Jordan Crane

Replacements
16 George Chuter
17 Marcos Ayerza
18 Martin Castrogiovanni
19 Ed Slater
20 Graham Kitchener
21 Sam Harrison
22 George Ford
23 Matt Smith

About 4 of those would make the Glaws XV

beshocked think sarries pack will get the upper hand and farrell kick the points. plus hodgson to bring on is a big help.

saints pack has looked below par last few games.

irish v quins could go either way should be a belter. no JTH and Evans is a big loss for them though.

Bath Rugby team to face Exeter Chiefs

15. Nick Abendanon
14. Kyle Eastmond
13. Dan Hipkiss
12. Ben Williams
11. Tom Biggs
10. Stephen Donald
9. Michael Claassens

1. Paul James
2. Lee Mears
3. David Wilson
4. Dominic Day
5. Dave Attwood
6. Carl Fearns
7. Francois Louw (c)
8. Ben Skirving

Replacements
16. Brett Sharman
17. Nathan Catt
18. Anthony Perenise
19. Stuart Hooper
20. Will Skuse
21. Mark McMillan
22. Sam Vesty
23. Horacio Agulla

"About 4 of those wouldnt make the Glaws XV"
There fixed it for you English

Harlequins: 15 Mike Brown, 14 Tom Williams, 13 Matt Hopper, 12 Tom Casson, 11 Ugo Monye, 10 Ben Botica, 9 Danny Care, 8 Nick Easter, 7 Chris Robshaw (C), 6 Tom Guest, 5 George Robson, 4 Olly Kohn, 3 James Johnston, 2 Rob Buchanan, 1 Joe Marler.
Replacements: 16 Dave Ward, 17 Mark Lambert, 18 Will Collier, 19 Charlie Matthews, 20 Maurie Fa'asavalu, 21 Karl Dickson, 22 Rory Clegg, 23 Seb Stegmann

Effervescing Elephant wrote:CHIEFS SIDE TO FACE BATH

15 Luke Arscott
14 Gonzalo Camacho
13 Phil Dollman
12 Jason Shoemark
11 Matt Jess
10 Gareth Steenson
9 Haydn Thomas
1 Brett Sturgess
2 Simon Alcott
3 Carl Rimmer
4 Dean Mumm
5 James Hanks
6 Tom Johnson
7 James Scaysbrook
8 Richard Baxter

16 Chris Whitehead
17 Ben Moon
18 Chris Budgen
19 Aly Muldowney
20 Dave Ewers
21 Kevin Barrett
22 Ignacio Mieres
23 Ian Whitten

very happy with that side - well-earned rests for Tommy Hayes and Ian Whitten, brining in Big Dean Mumm and Gonzo Camacho. Barrett replaces Chudders on the bench with the latter going under the knife soon

stnick88 wrote:no JTH and Evans is a big loss for them though.

Botica has been stepping up, but yeah, always going to miss NEv.

No JTH is a shame, especially with Lowe out as well.

Wasps side

15. Hugo Southwell
14. Tom Varndell
13. Andrea Masi
12. Lee Thomas
11. Christian Wade
10. Nick Robinson
9. Joe Simpson
1. Tim Payne
2. Tom Lindsay
3. Zak Taulafo
4. Joe Launchbury
5. Marco Wentzel
6. Ashley Johnson
7. James Haskell
8. Billy Vunipola

Replacements
16. T Rhys Thomas
17. Phil Swainston
18. Fabio Staibano
19. James Cannon
20. Jonathan Poff
21. Charlie Davies
22. Tommy Bell
23. Elliot Daly

London Welsh
15. Tom Voyce
14. Phil MacKenzie
13. Sonny Parker
12. Seb Jewell
11. Nick Scott
10. Gavin Henson
9. Tyson Keats
1. Franck Montanella
2. Neil Briggs
3. Paulica Ion
4. Martin Purdy
5. Matt Corker
6. Jonathan Mills
7. Michael Hills
8. Ed Jackson

Replacements
16. Dan George
17. Tom Bristow
18. Arthur Joly
19. Kirill Kulemin
20. Alfie To’oala
21. Nick Runciman
22. James Lewis
23. Joe Ajuwa.


Strong Wasps side but missing Stephen Jones who I would have preferred at 10. Imposing back row & will be disappointed if we don't put LW away convincingly on Sunday.

Even though he's playing the Tigers, i'm hoiping for Sharples to play well this weekend. I would love him to show some form before the AIs!

Heck of a backline for London Irish. Could be a great game to watch.

Praying for no injuries to any of the EPS boys!

bluestonevedder wrote:Even though he's playing the Tigers, i'm hoiping for Sharples to play well this weekend. I would love him to show some form before the AIs!

Heck of a backline for London Irish. Could be a great game to watch.

Praying for no injuries to any of the EPS boys!

Even Farrell or Botha or Dowson?

Haha, of course not beshocked! Would never wish an injury on anyone.....although, maybe a terribly debilitating case of the common cold...

Very nervous, but a chance for Quins to retake the top

Nervous and excited here, massive game for us today against the jokers!

COME ON YOU IRISH!!!

Just watched first 30mins of LI/Quins on fast foward.

Good opportunism by Care to score the try, balanced by a shocking decision to pass to Botica rather than taking the responsibility himself. The box kick is ugly and overused - but surely that was the right time for one?

Shocking decision to YC Brown. He was trying to slap the ball backwards.

I missed most of the match because every single pub I've checked in Ireland was showing Liverpool and soon Man U vs Chelsea instead >

Will watch the match replay later in the week

all down to the TMO - I reckon it should be a try, the TMO says........



"YES"

Madj goes crazy.

So is that not even a BP then?

Brian Smith is furious, looks like he smashed his laptop.

you won CJ

Oh. Who scored? I am surprised

Quins threw everything into the final assault. Monye heading for the left corner is smashed by Armitage. throws the ball inside to Casson who fails to gather - knocks the ball over the line and falls on it with his gut. Casson is distraught but Wiggy goes to TMO. As it transpires Monye throws it back, Casson nudges it with fingers but ball goes back from hands on to knee then over line. Casson gets the try.

Lucky us, I'll take that though, winning games at the death is an important skill to have

Gutted for irish. Great game though.

Just hope Robshaw is OK

Or was his head injury of the come off, come back on straight away after concussion check nature?

Robshaw was interviewed after the game. He took a boot to the eye, but should be ok for monday.

LondonTiger wrote:Shocking decision to YC Brown. He was trying to slap the ball backwards.

But he didnt and in the process disrupted a strong counter attacking opportunity, YC worthy IMO

LondonTiger wrote:Quins threw everything into the final assault. Monye heading for the left corner is smashed by Armitage. throws the ball inside to Casson who fails to gather - knocks the ball over the line and falls on it with his gut. Casson is distraught but Wiggy goes to TMO. As it transpires Monye throws it back, Casson nudges it with fingers but ball goes back from hands on to knee then over line. Casson gets the try.

Didn't go hand to knee. Went hand, directly downwards onto the ground, then up onto knee and over the line. Question is whether directly down at 90 degrees is a knock on or not. I am not 100% sure of the answer to that question so have posed it on the ask the ref thread.

Scoped wrote:

LondonTiger wrote:Shocking decision to YC Brown. He was trying to slap the ball backwards.

But he didnt and in the process disrupted a strong counter attacking opportunity, YC worthy IMO

Surely it can only be a YC if it's a deliberate knock on? If the player is clearly trying to knock it backwards, then by definition it can't be deliberately forward.

IRB Rule book says "A knock-on occurs when a player loses possession of the ball and it goes forward, or when a player hits the ball forward with the hand or arm, or when the ball hits the hand or arm and goes forward, and the ball touches the ground or another player before the original player can catch it.
‘Forward’ means towards the opposing team’s dead ball line."

If it went straight down (i.e. not even marginally forward), it is not a knock on and the try is fair. If it goes a micrometer forward it is a knock on and not a try

Poorfour wrote:

Scoped wrote:

LondonTiger wrote:Shocking decision to YC Brown. He was trying to slap the ball backwards.

But he didnt and in the process disrupted a strong counter attacking opportunity, YC worthy IMO

Surely it can only be a YC if it's a deliberate knock on? If the player is clearly trying to knock it backwards, then by definition it can't be deliberately forward.

12.1 THE OUTCOME OF A KNOCK-ON OR THROW FORWARD
(a) Unintentional knock-on or throw forward. A scrum is awarded at the place of infringement.

(b) Unintentional knock-on or throw forward at a lineout. A scrum is awarded 15 metres from the touchline.

(c) Knock-on or throw forward into the in-goal. If an attacking player knocks-on or throws-forward in the field of play and the ball goes into the opponents’ in-goal and it is made dead there, a scrum is awarded where the knock-on or throw forward happened.

(d) Knock-on or throw forward inside the in-goal. If a player of either team knocks-on or throws-forward inside the in-goal, a 5-metre scrum is awarded in line with the place of infringement not closer than 5 metres from the touchline.

(e) Intentional knock or throw forward. A player must not intentionally knock the ball forward with hand or arm, nor throw forward.
Sanction: Penalty kick. A penalty try must be awarded if the offence prevents a try that would probably otherwise have been scored.

Whilst on the subject of the laws can anyone explain why Aulika was penalised just before half time when he picked the ball up from the ruck and went straight throgh the middle setting up a play that looked like it could easily have led to a try?

I thought the last man bound was allowed to do that as you see it happen often enough - and he was clearly the last man bound ...

Heaf wrote:Whilst on the subject of the laws can anyone explain why Aulika was penalised just before half time when he picked the ball up from the ruck and went straight throgh the middle setting up a play that looked like it could easily have led to a try?

I thought the last man bound was allowed to do that as you see it happen often enough - and he was clearly the last man bound ...

Ref said he was not the last man. Ref was wrong.

Ozzy3213 wrote:

LondonTiger wrote:Quins threw everything into the final assault. Monye heading for the left corner is smashed by Armitage. throws the ball inside to Casson who fails to gather - knocks the ball over the line and falls on it with his gut. Casson is distraught but Wiggy goes to TMO. As it transpires Monye throws it back, Casson nudges it with fingers but ball goes back from hands on to knee then over line. Casson gets the try.

Didn't go hand to knee. Went hand, directly downwards onto the ground, then up onto knee and over the line. Question is whether directly down at 90 degrees is a knock on or not. I am not 100% sure of the answer to that question so have posed it on the ask the ref thread.

Pete, in the attempt to be a dramtic I missed that it hit the ground. I reckon, after repeated views, it hit ground behind contac with hand - though so long as it was not in front of the point of contact it is not forward.

LondonTiger wrote:

Heaf wrote:Whilst on the subject of the laws can anyone explain why Aulika was penalised just before half time when he picked the ball up from the ruck and went straight throgh the middle setting up a play that looked like it could easily have led to a try?

I thought the last man bound was allowed to do that as you see it happen often enough - and he was clearly the last man bound ...

Ref said he was not the last man. Ref was wrong.

Thanks LT - thought I understood it correctly ... so if the ref hadn't got it wrong LI could easily have scored from there and the last try from Quins would have been only relevant for Quins getting a LBP. Annoying

Heaf wrote:

LondonTiger wrote:

Heaf wrote:Whilst on the subject of the laws can anyone explain why Aulika was penalised just before half time when he picked the ball up from the ruck and went straight throgh the middle setting up a play that looked like it could easily have led to a try?

I thought the last man bound was allowed to do that as you see it happen often enough - and he was clearly the last man bound ...

Ref said he was not the last man. Ref was wrong.

Thanks LT - thought I understood it correctly ... so if the ref hadn't got it wrong LI could easily have scored from there and the last try from Quins would have been only relevant for Quins getting a LBP. Annoying

Unlucky Irish, a very physical game and I couldn't complain if you had won it.

The only time that Quins seemed to wake up was when we'd gone behind at the death and went through 20+ phases from our own 22 to eventually score. Otherwise Irish negated us fairly easily and caused us a fair few problems. Pretty shocked by the two penalties for deliverate knock ons, Easter's was massively marginal and then to yc Brown was just crazy. Luckily the guys did enough to make sure it didn't matter.

Plenty for Quins to ponder after this game. Scrum, defence and tactical kicking was pretty average while our breakdown work and attack was practically non-existant for 70 minutes.

Are Quins targetting Europe? I think so. Are we focussed on the Prem? To a point; but I get the feeling that the team would be happy with fourth or first place, we're slowly building towards a team that could win one off games home or away against anyone in the League.

Pretty good weekend for the AP I'd say - some excellent games.

Gloucester - Tigers was brutal with plenty of skill. I thought Sharples had a decent game, and Twelvetrees will surely be in the EPS in January. Knight impressed when he came on again - by 2015 we should have two excellent THs.

I enjoyed the LI - Quins game too. I thought LI looked the better side on paper, and they were unlucky not to win. They should be heading up the table shortly. If Lahiff can sort his binding then he may play for England, even with the depth at LH - he is an immensely strong man.

Good to see Sarries continuing to try to play rugby.

I hope that with Hipkiss unavailable Eastmond will get a start at OC.

Sale seem to be playing better, and at present the AP looks a nicely competitive league.

So so gutted to lose that game yesterday, but also very pleased to see the massive improvements that we have made from the start of the season. It was a game that we on another day could easily have won, and I am confident that we will start to climb the table if we can continue to play at that level.