Aviva Premiership Round 10

Team Sheets and tactics due by Saturday (20:00)
Predictions due till Tuesday (23:00)

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Exeter Chiefs v London Wasps
Location - Sandy Park
- Sunny Intervals, 8 Degrees, 3mph Winds

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Exeter Chiefs
Manager – Luke

01. Tendai Mtawarira	09. Dwayne Peel
02. Rob Webber	10. Jonny Wilkinson (k)
03. John Afoa
04. Loius Deacon	11. Gonzalo Camacho
05. James Horwill (c)	12. Sireli Naqelevuki
06. Steve Mafi	13. Richard Kahui
07. Steffon Armitage	14. Matt Jess
08. Ernst Joubert	15. Isa Nacewa

16. Brett Sturgess 17. Neil Clark 18. Hoani Tui 19. James Hanks 20. James Scaysbrook 21. Kevin Barrett 22. Ian Humphreys 23. Paul Sackey

Tactics

We will play a structured game built around our massive ball carriers, the strength of our set piece and getting our lightning backline into space.

- Attack the scrum as a weapon - and call when we can. Look to really get the shove on.

- Use Wilkinson's boot to attack our strong lineout with Horwill, Joubert, Mafi and Deacon all massive jumpers. We will relentlessly target the opposition's throws.

- Massive line-breakers right throughout the side that will look to tire down the opposition defence. We will use our big carriers consistently to tire down the opposition.
The likes of Afoa, Mafi, Armitage, Beast, Horwill, Joubert and Naqelevuki used off the shoulder crashing through the opposition defence.

- Armitage is the man charged with reaching the breakdown first and look to turnover possession. We will always look to attack quickly off turnover ball.

- Box kicks from Peel and up and unders from Wilkinson to give the opposition problems in the air.
Lightning back line to really get the chase on.

- Look to play attacking rugby in the backs, getting the likes of Kahui, Camacho and Nacewa on the ball when we can.

- Our back three are encouraged to do what they do best - counter attacking and running the ball back. If isolated all have good kicking games, but the counter is what we ask them to look for.

- Wilkinson to kick all penalites.

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London Wasps

Manager – CF

01. Tim Payne	09. Micky Young
02. Dimitri Swarzeski	10. Shane Geragthy
03. Nicolas Mas
04. George Skivington	11. Tom Varndell
05. Marco Wentzel	12. Billy Twelvetrees
06. Thierry Dusatoir (c	13. JAcque Fourie
07. Julien Salvi	14. Ugo Monye
08. Thomas Waldrom	15. Richard Haughton

16.Chuter 17.Stankovich 18.Castex 19.Cannon 20.Davies 21.Gopperth 22.Cheeseman 23.Ingall

After last week's stunning against the tigers, we welcome back, Swarzeski at hooker, and Mas at Prop. With Care and Farrell still away, Davies and Geraghty retain their places..we will place an Emphasis, at the scrum and lineouts, while also being solid at the breakdown and not giving away silly penalties..Forwards will run the ball whilst the backs will look to use their pace after the forwards tire the exeter defence. Geraghty will loook to kick for territory giving the chance, twelvetrees can also kick if need be. Look to get quick ball and place exeter under pressure.

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Harlequins v Worcester Warriors
Location - Twickenham Stoop
- White Cloud, 5 Degrees, 7mph Winds

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Harlequins

Manager – Driver

01.Marcos Ayerza	09.Richard Wrigglesworth
02.Joe Grey	10.Morne Steyn (K)
03.James Johnstone
04.Mauritz Botha	11.George North
05.Alistair Hargreaves	12.Wesley Fofana
06.Tom Croft(c)	13.Sam Stuart
07.Marcell Coatzee	14.James Short
08.Dave Denton	15.Jared Payne

16.John Smit 17.Mark Lambert 18.Chris Budgen 19.Eben Etzebeth 20.Hienrich Brussouw 21.Luke Burguss 22.Nicky Robinson 23.Ollie Lindsey Hague


Big pack to get ontop the Wuss front 5 and put them under the cosh at the Scrum and rucks with plenty of impact from the bench.

Scrummage for 80 minutes with strong scrummagers on the bench to come on if need

Steyn to test Worcester backs 3s position game with Kicks in behind with North and Short chasing with neither being on the small side.

Fofana to take the ball on the gain line and ask questions of the Worcester back line.

Croft to run our lineout whilst Denton and Coatzee will look to smash rucks to slow down and Wuss ball.

Jumpers from 4-8 in our pack giving Joe Grey plenty of targets.

Wrigglesworth to control the tempo , feeding Morne Steyn the ball at the right times and using his own vision to snipe and put the ball in behind Wuss.

Blitz Defence to stop Wuss backs playing with Wrigglesworth sweeping behind

Impact from the bench will see this game through Smit will keep things calm up front , Etzebeth will come on and smash everything in front of him. Brussouw on to win key penalties on the deck. Burguss and Robinson are a exciting half back pair and will put plenty of pace onto the game.

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Worcester Warriors

Manager – InTheFastLane

01. Joe Marler	09. Will Genia
02. Ed Shervington	10. Andy Goode
03. Juan Figallo
04. George Robson	11. David Strettle
05. Graham Kitchener	12. Jordan Turner Hall
06. Matt Kvesic	13. Matt Hopper
07. Andy Saull	14. Marcel Garvey
08. Ben Skirving	15. Luke Rooney

16. Will Radburn 17. George Porter 18. Tevita Taumepeau 19. Gerhard Mostert 20. Sam Betty 21. Jonny Arr 22. George Ford 23. Eerie Claasens

Overall: Look to play a territory based game

We will look to use our kicking game to really put Quins in trouble. We will look for deep corners, either in or out of touch depending on kick.

We feel we can really dominate our own lineout and can possibly take Quins ball so will look to use this advantage as much as possible

Look to put in plenty of effort at the breakdown with lots of bodies looking to clear out so Kvesic and Saull can both get to working on the floor where we feel they will be effective in slowing down opposition ball or winning turnovers

Look for Genia to control tempo and make big decisions. He will look to use his sniping runs if possible.

Look for strong carriers from the likes of Taylor, Kitchener, Skirving, Rooney etc.

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Leicester Tigers v Bath
Location - Welford Road
- White Cloud, 5 Degrees, 8mph Winds

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Leicester Tigers
Manager – Sgt_Pooly

01. Thomas Domingo	09. Karl Dickson
02. Bismark du Plessis	10. Toby Flood
03. Martin Castrogiovani
04. Ed Slater	11. Miles Benjamin
05. Richie Gray	12. James O’Connor
06. Willam Alberts	13. Matt Smith
07. Maurie Fa'asalavu	14. Christian Wade
08. Sergio Parisse(c)	15. Rob Kearney

16. Jamie George 17. Luke Cowan-Dickie 18. Aaron Jarvis 19. Tom Price 20. Luke Wallace 21. Sam Harrison 22. Danny Cipriani 23. Geordan Murphy

Tactics:

Overall - In the cold conditions we'll look to play a high tempo game with big carrying options in the pack to get us over the gain line. We'll look to give our halfbacks a strong carrying 2nd reciever option (Alberts, Fasa, Gray, BdP) and use primarly to set up the next phase ball. Dickson will look for gaps that will be exploited with the opposition defence set for big running options from the pack.

Flood will play flat to the line to give JOC more room to work in and exploit space/ lack of pace in the opposition midfield. We'll look to take the scrum as an option at every oppertunity and target the oppositoin TH.

Look to play the drift defence and force opposition 10 into making calls. Dickson to sweep in behind looking for the gruber.

- TARGET SCRUM ALL GAME - Use Castro to neautralise Healy/Mears and allow BdP/Domingo to angle into KPN and drive the Bath scrum down/backwards
- Use BdP/Fasa to target breakdown and slow opposition ball down
- Flood/JOC to alternate 1st reciever and keep opposition guessing
- Look to get Alberts up as front jumper and target opposition throw, Slater/Gray to attack the middle and Parisse the rear
- BIG RUNNERS AT BARKLEY - Look to get Alberts/Gray running down the 10 channel and isolate Barkely
- TARGET BACK 3 - With little fluidity in the oppostion back 3 due to games played together will look to kick in behind and get Wade running onto the ball

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Bath Rugby
Manager – Bathite

01. C.Healy	09. M.Classens (c)
02. L.Mears	10. O.Barkley (k)
03. K.P-Newport
04. J.Muller	11. K.Eastmond
05. D.Attwood	12. F.Steyn (lk)
06. S.O'Brien	13. C.Laulala
07. F.Louw	14. T.Bowe
08. S.Kalamafoni	15. R.Cook

16. A.Perenise 17. R.Batty 18. N.Catt 19. R.Caldwell 20. C.Fearns 21. C.Cook 22. E.Daly 23. M.Banahan

TACTICS

General
- Coming off the back of three straight wins, confidence is high

- We want to make sure that we play rugby in the opposition half and force handling errors, where we can attack the scrum. Use the physicality of our pack to our advantage, keeping the ball tight in the middle section of the pitch to retain possession and build a platform to attack from. In our third clear to touch and challenge for the ball at lineout.

- With slow ball, look to mix up first receiver between Steyn and Barkley and then look for back row runners on inside shoulder

- Steyn to ensure we play sensible rugby in the right areas, kicking long for touch in our 22, using the up and under in the centre of the pitch and delicate grubbers in behind centres to chase and force kickable penalties.

- Steyn leads the rush defence, with SOB flying up to cramp 10 for time and space and ensuring he takes the ball deep behind the gainline and starving their outside backs of ball. Classens sweeps up behind for counter attacks

- Big impact bench, with the likes of Perenise, Catt, Fearns, Caldwell providing ball carrying options up front. Banahan and Fearns will wreak havoc in the last 20 minutes, as the space opens up. Real advantage over the opposition in terms of bench options

Forwards
* In Louw, we have a world class in form flanker to compete at the breakdown. He looks to stay on his feet and slow opposition ball, stealing the turnovers
* Louw and SOB released to play as out and out flankers, linking play. Kalamafoni provides the physicality off the back of the scrum in defence and attack
* Picked a very physical pack to make sure that we defend strongly and smash over the gainline.
* At the lineout, Muller will lead the calls as in real life and look to pressurise opposition hooker and compete at every throw.
* Use ball carriers of Catt, Attwood, O'Brien, Kalamafoni to make hard yards up the pitch and draw defenders into the ruck area, looking to create space around the fringes for Laulala to exploit

Backs
* Eastmond given free rein in attack, looking to come into the line either side of Laulala. Laulala to look for the half gap with power and offload (only if on), with the pace of Biggs and Cook on their shoulder to make the break
* Barkley to take the ball flat on the gainline, drawing defenders and buying time and space for Steyn. Steyn often used as dummy runner to keep it unpredictable
* Use the inside pass with forward runners of SOB, Attwood, Fearns to keep the inside shoulder honest and force the 10 to make tackles.
* Get Laulala on the ball early on and encourage a very pacy back three to run off his shoulder. Only offload if it is on, otherwise, crash it up and use SOB and Healy to clear out and Fearns to secure.
* Banahan to come on after 50/60 minutes to run straight and hard at a tired defence, particularly the 10 channel

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London Welsh v London Irish
Location - Kassam Stadium
- White Cloud, 5 Degrees, 9mph Winds

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London Welsh

Manager – Fluxy

01. Rhys Gill	09. Will Chudley
02. Tom Lindsay	10. Nick Evans
03. Craig Mitchell
04. Steve Borthwick (C)	11. Topsy Ojo
05. Dean Mumm	12. Dominic Waldlouck
06. Ashley Johnson	13. George Lowe
07. Jamie Gibson	14. Maxime Medard
08. Nick Easter	15. Hugo Southwell

16. Tom French 17. Tom Mercey 18. Chirs Whitehead 19. Tim Swinson 20. Chris Hala'ufia 21. Paul Hodgson 22. Gavin Henson 23. Ben Ransom

Tactics

We look to impose ourselves from the off and let the opposition know how we are going to play the game and how we want to dictate the pace of the game. Our brand of rugby is physical and fast, however we won't just run the ball at every opportunity. We will only play in the right areas of the paddock, and Evans knows when to attack and when we need to clear the lines. We will look to go through simple phases to reproduce quick ball to cut the defence open. We have brilliant leaders all other the pitch in Borthwick, Easter and Evans, and they know what will be required to get we want from the game - a win. With the terrible conditions, they also know how we will want to play our game. We will look to force Saints to play from in their 22 and use our strong lineout and kicking game to pressure them. After last weeks god win, we will look to build some momentum and look to take another win at home.

Tactics

• Gill and Mitchell are solid technicians and will secure our own feed, to provide first phase possession for our backs. We have strong props on the bench as well, so we should not be outclassed throughout the game
  
  
• With a strong lineout, Borthwick will lead the lineout and use himself as banker ball at the front of the line with Mumm jumping in the middle. If winning own ball Borth will look to cut the lineout to five, to allow Easter to get a chance to run at the defence in open field.
  
  
• Our whole pack is mobile and capable of snaffling ball at the breakdown. Collectively we will look to (legally!) slow down Irish' ball as much possible, only committing men to rucks if the turnover is on, to prevent them any front foot ball for their big carriers.
  
  
• The backrow will target the halfbacks, allowing them no time on the ball, which will lead to them rushing and making handling errors and mistakes.
  
  
• We will look to keep the ball alive, preventing them from setting any defensive lines and moving the point of attack. Evans will direct traffic with the use of quick pods systems outside the guards of the rucks.
  
  
• Off any first phase possession, the blindside winger will come in to create options off Evans so that it can keep the defence guessing to whether we will go wide, or cut against the grain.
  
  
• We will look to test the Irish back three with Chudleys's clever box kicking and Evans throwing the odd bomb in. Their back three can be got at here as they won't be the best defensively, and their urge to attack will find them short in most cases. All kicks will be chased.
  
  
• Look to use our strong bench for impact later in the game. To get an advantage in the scrum, and collisions with big impact players.
  
  
• Evans will kick all points, he can kick from within our half, so this indicates that Irish should be wary of giving away penalties.
  
  
• We are in a good form and this will allow the whole team to act with confidence in everything they do. The Red steam roller won't stop all game.

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London Irish

Manager – Pullthestrings

01. Max Lahiff	09. Joe Simpson
02. James Buckland	10. Quade Cooper
03. Leo Halavatu
04. Tom Palmer	11. Sailosi Tagicakibau
05. Nick Kennedy	12. Daniel Bowden
06. Jerome Kaino	13. Regan King
07. Imanol Harinordoquy(c)	14. Marlande Yarde
08. Tom Guest	15. Delon Armitage

16. Rob Herring, 17. Paulică Ion, 18. Tom Smallbone, 19. Simon Shaw, 20. David Sisi , 21. Darren Allinson, 22. Brock James, 23. Anthony Watson

Tactics
- Quade gets the nod at 10 - we're looking for exciting, attacking rugby. Simpson and Quade to keep the tempo high.

- Set a decent platform to attack from and gain some confidence. Quick ball to Quade if we're stable, Guest to pick and go if it's messy.

- In the lineout, we have plenty of options. Opt for full lineouts mostly in their half to tie in their pack, leaving more space out wide. Compete for their ball.

- Target the breakdown for possible turnovers, with Pocock staying strong on his feet. When they arise, lets use them to our advantage. If the back three are sparse, look to kick for territory. If there are mis-matches, lets have a go.

- Be disciplined at the breakdown, with a guard and bodyguard at every breakdown to stop those easy yards around the fringes. No excuses here.

- Simpson to keep the tempo high, getting the ball quickly away from the breakdown and releasing the backs. The back three to be hungry and look to get involved.

- Big efforts in defence, particularly from Bowden and King. Pocock to work his socks off getting across and chopping them down before they get momentum.

- For slow ball, look to get outside their guards and bodyguards to suck in more and more forwards at each breakdown. This will give more time to the backs.

- Bench is full of impact players to keep the intensity high and have a run at the Welsh's tired legs.

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Sale Sharks v Northampton Saints
Location - Salford City Stadium
- Sunny Intervals, 4 Degrees, 7mph Winds

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Sale Sharks

Manager – LondonIrishOllie

01.Andrew Sheriden	09.Hadyn Thomas
02.Gary Botha	10.Johan Goosen
03.Davit Kubriashvilli
04.Matt Garvey	11.Cameron Shephard
05.Dean Schofield	12.Luther Burrell
06.James Gaskell	13.Sam Tuitupou
07.Dave Seymour	14.Tom Brady
08.Jordan Crane	15.Nick McLeod

Subs 16.Marc Jones 17.Henry Thomas 18.Logovoi Mulipola 19.Yoann Maestri 20.Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe 21.Scott Mathie 22.Rob Miller 23.Will Addison

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Northampton Saints
Manager – SirJohnnyEnglish

01. Soane Tonga'uiha	09. Lee Dickson
02. Dylan Hartley	10. Johnny Sexton
03. Brian Mujati
04. Samu Manoa	11. Vasily Artemiev
05. Andries Bekker	12. Sonny Bill Williams
06. Stephen Ferris	13. George Pisi
07. Calum Clark	14. JP Pieterson
08. Phil Dowson	15. Ben Foden

16. S. Kitshoff 17. M. Haywood 18. P. Doran-Jones 19. C. Day 20. R. Wilson 21. M. Roberts 22. S. Myler 23. J. Elliot

Key Points

Tactics

We will look to play a fast paced attacking game using big carriers running of the 9/10/12 axis to get us over the gain line and generate quick ball. Keeping the ball alive is crucial so our carriers will be looking for support runners to hit on the offload and get us further over the gain line. Our back three will look to get involved as much as possible running support lines of the halfbacks and midfield looking for the inside ball or offload. If for whatever reason we aren’t getting quick ball, we will look to take control of territory with the boots of Dickson & Sexton and force Sale to come at us from deep.

• With a powerful front 5 on show we will look to keep the scrum up and use it as a weapon. On our own feed we will look to get the wheel on and give our 8-9-10 axis as much room as possible to attack from.

• In Sale territory, with 5 jumping options to use, we will look to play off the top and move the ball out to Sexton and the backs. In our own territory, we will look to take the ball down into the maul and drive ourselves into the right areas.

• We will play an aggressive blitz on defence, playing on the edge of the offside line and coming up at pace, looking to isolate the ball carrier and stop any Sale momentum before it can get going.

• Lee Dickson will act as a sweeper and cover any chips or grubbers behind the defensive line.

• We will leave two players sitting deep to cover any kicks and they will look to counter attack of any loose ball.

• With the blitz in operation, we will look to be at the breakdown first hitting it hard and fast. If the ball looks available we will flood the breakdown with Clark looking to get his hands on the ball.

• If the ball is not immediately available we will only commit 1 or 2 players to legally slow the ball down and instead look to strengthen the defensive line.

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Saracens v Gloucester
Location - Vicarage Road
- White Cloud, 5 Degrees, 7mph Winds

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Saracens

Manager – ChequeredJersey

01. Matt Mullan	09. Morgan Parra (k.)
02. Schalk Brits	10. Charlie Hodgson
03. Carlos Nieto
04. Bakkies Botha	11. Tom Williams
05. Donnacha Ryan	12. Anthony Allen
06. Kelly Brown (c.)	13. Joel Tomkins
07. Will Fraser	14. Vereniki Goneva
08. Billy Vunipola	15. Chris Wyles

16. Alisdair Dickinson 17. Rob Buchanan 18. Kieran Brookes 19. George Kruis 20. Jonathan Poff 21. Jordan Burns 22. Sam Stanley 23. Sam Smith

Tactics-

Simple tactics this week. Put the push on in the scrum and play tight until we have momentum to spin it. Only spin quick ball. Target the breakdown with Fraser and Brown sharing floor duties and Ryan and Billy V clearing out. Carries in packs of 3, lots of mauls then when Parra thinks it's on spread it and use Wyles running inti the line to change the direction of play. Use Brits as the inside crash ball to target their 10. Use back row moves off the scrum with Vunipola and use our kicking prowess at 9/10 plus Botha and Ryan to pin them back in their half and kick all points. Blitz defence led by Allen with Fraser harrying 9 and 10, and emphasis on support running off our centres in the backs and lots of changes of direction to pull them apart.

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Gloucester

01. Nick Wood	09. Dimitri Yachvilli
02. Rory Best	10. Patric Lambie (k)
03. Adam Jones
04. Tom Savage	11. JSD
05. Jim Hamilton	12. Mike Tindall
06. Akapusi Qera	13. Henry Trinder
07. Sam Cane	14. Charlie Sharples
08. JVN (c)	15. Johnny May

16. Korree Britton 17. Dan Murphy 18. Rupert Harden 19. Will James 20. Luke Narraway 21. Dan Robson 22. Billy Burns 23. Shane Monahan

Tactics:
A good win against Sale last week and come in with more confidence. Only 2 changes for the side with Cane coming in to help at the breakdown and Lambie slotting in at 10 cover for Burns who is on England duty. Our forwards will look to dominate the set piece and cause havoc at the breakdown. Our backs will be given quick ball to look to run through and round their opposite numbers. Yachvilli, Tindall and JSD will use their experience to create the space for the youngsters. Back row will look to be all over the park and our front row have the ability and experience to ruffle a few feathers. Forwards rugby for first 20 mins to suck in and tire the defence before the backs take the overlap's created. A good impact bench with experience and youth.



Forwards

*Experienced front row who will look to dominate the set piece and Jones will be the anchor, we will go up on Jones' side and won't go backwards....we go up, forward and down but not backwards.

*2nd rows are two strong players who will look to control the lineout and to put pressure on their back 5 in the scrum with confrontational play.

*Backrow are heavy hitters Qera both terrorising here and JVN providing brute strength off the back of the scrum and off the backs, again the bench provides more experience with Narraway. Cane will look to disrupt ball and carry a lot.



Backs

* Yachvilli to snipe when space but to release Lambie when possible, he will go for goal when in range, Burns is in great form and will look to make his unpredictability show,

* Tindall and Trinder to hit hard and will have a winger on his shoulder at all times and also look for JVN to break through the defence,

* Exciting backs here who will link well and look to constantly run at and through the Sarries defence,

* A fast back 3 here who will always look for work and are strong in defence and under the high ball.



Defence

*Tindall to lead this,

*Cane/Qera to be on 10’s shoulder looking to wrap the ball up,

*Contest at the breakdown and all set piece.

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Predos open, unless anyone finds anything!

Mark

Chiefs 22 - 19 Wasps
Front row pretty much even with Afoa and Mas both getting wins. Prefer Webber at 2, but been out for a very long time and Wasps have good options in Stank and Chuter on bench. Second row also very close and hard to seperate, but I think Wasps just edge it with more form, as the Chiefs pair have been injured for a while. Back row goes to the Wasps. Chiefs have a very strong back row, with 7 and 8 about evens, but Dus makes a big difference at 6, despite the injury.

Peel and Wilko the much better half backs and centres are also a better pair. Wasps might have edged the back three with some good form, but Chiefs wingers also very good players and hugely under rated. Chiefs win th e back three as Nacewa will have a field day with his opposite number, who has very little kicking game either.

Wasps pushed them really really hard in the pack and just about edge it, but there's more quality 9-15 in the Chiefs side so they do more with the possesion.

Irish have pocock playing.

Sorted

Chiefs 22-20 Wasps
Prefer the front row for Chiefs but Szarz is playing pretty well at the moment. Think Chiefs'll win the lineout battle. 2 great backrows on offer with both nullifying each other here. 9-10 to Chiefs but Peel isn't firing at the moment. Good Wasps centres may get some joy if they get the ball. Great finisher's on both sides but Haughton looks out of place here, hopefully I'll get to see him play for Perpignan on Thrus vs Warriors on tv. Bit more in front 5 give's Chiefs the win.

Quins 20-17 Warriors
2 great front row's here with both sets very strong, Quins have a bit mroe on bench here. Prefer the Warriors engine room. Denton the standout in the backrow here. 9 to Warriors and 10 to Quins just. Like both centres here think Warriors may bring a bit more. Think Quins will finish more options with their back 3.

Tigers 18-17 Bath
Tigers will be baying for blood here. Strong Tigers front row and unfortunately think KPN will struggle quite a bit. 2nd rows: prefer Bath combo but Gray brings added control. 2 great backrows on show with Bath edging this and slowing down some Tigers ball. Not much in the half backs. Tigers may have a little more in the centres. Again 2 great sets of back threes here. Looking at the bench I feel Tigers have more upfront to come on but Bath do have good backs subs. Tigers edge it at home in a scrappy game, sorry Bathite.

Welsh 18-18 Irish
Good scrummaging front rows from both here, not sure about either benches to come on. Again evens in the 2nd rows. 6 and 8 to Welsh but 7 to Irish with Hari coming back now. 9 to Irish and think Evans will suit Welsh's tactics, Cooper will show some quality at times. Centres to Irish with King doing well at the moment. Not sure who to give the back 3 to. Shaw will help Irish when he comes on. I feel that this game is going to be hard to split. Going to sit on the fence.

Sharks 21-28 Saints
No tactics hurt Sharks, Saints don't have their key points so basic game plan. Saints front row doing ok but won't get lots of dominance. Like both 2nd rows but Saints will gain scrum advantage from this and they have a great backrow on show. 9-10 to Saints with Sexton on fire, same with their centres a step up and the same in the back 3. Good forwards bench for Sharks will ensure they get the lbp.

Exeter Chiefs 28-18 London Wasps

Little more to Chiefs at scrum time with more meat in the 2nd row. Nothing between the lineouts. Dusatoir is the difference between the back rows. Chiefs are a class above at halfback though. Nothing between the midfields at the moment with current form. Nacewa offers Chiefs a bit more in the back three. Chiefs with more impact of the bench and a much more detailed game plan. The Wasps back row will never stop trying but Chiefs stronger overall and the territory game doesn’t suit Geraghty at all.


Harlequins 21-15 Worcester Warriors

Not an awful lot between the sides at the set piece. More quality to the Quins back row and they will get the better of the collisions. Halfbacks one a piece. Quins stronger in the back three with more on the counter attack. Fofana the star man in midfield but Worcester as a combo are stronger. Similar set up to both sides but Quins at home with a bit more from the back row pick up the win.


Leicester Tigers 20-25 Bath Rugby

Tigers will get on top at scrum time but Bath will do the same in the air. Cracking back row battle. Not much of an edge either way. Tight at halfback as well. Little more attacking endeavor from the Tigers unit but Bath offer more control. Barkley will get caught at times on defence though. Midfield edges to Bath. Steyn offers more control at 12 while Laulala is a step up at 13. Bath with more on the wings but Kearney a big influence for Tigers at fullback. Not much between the two benches but Bath will have a more physical look to them in the final quarter. See Tigers struggling a little on defence today reverting to the drift. Massive ball carriers throughout the entire Bath side and allowing them build up steam will cause a lot of problems. See Wales v Ireland in the 6 nations. Bath have the players to keep the game in Tigers half and see them making a lot of ground ball in hand and this sees them pick up a famous win!


London Welsh 17-13 London Irish

Nothing between the sides at the set piece. Bigger names in the Irish back row but no form for either of them at the moment. Welsh edge here with some decent real life form. Halfbacks are one a piece. Not much between them as combos. Nothing between the back threes. In midfield both sides have a centre lacking a bit of real life form at the moment but a little more balance to the Welsh unit. Not an awful lot between the benches although James will give Irish a different option at flyhalf if needed. Welsh have enough about them to see of a decent Irish side at home.


Saracens 28-27 Gloucester Rugby

Good even scrum battle but Sarries will get more of the lineout and see their 2nd row offering more quality around the park. Good form for Glaws on the flanks and they edge the back row battle. Good halfback battle and both combos will get their sides moving. More from the Glaws back three but more in midfield for Sarries. Very tight game this. See both sides getting some good platforms and they have the options to take advantage. Home advantage is the decider for me. At Kingsholm Glaws would squek the win.

Quins 23 - 14 Worcs
Front rows are pretty even, with 4 very good props on show, but the extra quality at hooker gives it to Worcs, with Smit also on the bench. Quins also edge the lineout with a touch of international experience over 2 proven league players. Etzebeth to come on will also be a huge addition. Back row is a big win for the Quins, with a great looking, athletic, young unit. Croft gives good lineout points as well.

Halfbacks are hard to seperate, with Goode in good form, but Genia and Steyn not so much, but I think I'll give this to the Warriors. Worcs have a proven combo. Prefer the Quins outside backs with Payne in cracking form.

Wins in lots of key areas for the Quins, so quite a comfortable win in the end at home. Haskell and Hooper in the Worcs back row would have made them really really close

Welsh 16-14 Irish
Front row goes to Welsh, just, with a touch more top level experience and much better bench options. Whitehead hugely under rated for example. Second row goes to Irish for me, Palmer not been in the greatest form, but Shaw remains awesome and will be a good impact player. Neither team has an out and out 7, I rate Hari hugely anywhere in back row, just not convinced by Gibson at 7 yet. Welsh have a lot more form in the back row, but neither team will really dominate the breakdown.

Halfbacks go to Welsh, with Evans vs. Quade the boxer standing out, especially in the wet and cold. Centres also go to the home team, but not by much. Can't really seperate the backs, as Medard is a huge addition and makes a big difference.

Quins have the nudge up front and more form players in the pack, but also in the backs. Irish suffering a bit from real life poor form and some long term injured players. If at home and Brock playing at 10, might well have gone the other way. Evans has the game mgmt to see this one through.

Exeter Chiefs 23 London Wasps 17
Leicester Tigers 17 Bath Rugby 13
London Welsh 17 London Irish 17
Saracens 21 Gloucester Rugby 21
Sale Sharks 15 Northampton Saints 18

Exeter 22 Wasps 19
Quins 23 Worcester 18
Leicester 16 Bath 11
Welsh 12 Irish 10
Sarries 25 Glaws 25

Exeter 23-19 Wasps
Harlequins 24-21 Worcester
Welsh 21-20 Irish
Sale 17-20 Saints (Tactics cost Sale at least draw)
Saracens 27-28 Gloucester (Game of round)

Sale 18 - 17 saints
Would have thought that Saints would be stronger in most areas, but on closer inspection I was surprised. Think sale have the edge in the scrum, with a solid unit and with the saints pairs struggling for form a bit. Second rows are about even, maybe edges to saints. Back row goes to saints but not by much and with lobbe coming on, that a huge second half. Backs pretty well matched until the back three where saints are a different class. Can see an upset here with a good battle up front going to the home team[b]

Sarries 32 - 32 glos

Two really nasty packs with some huge carriers and enforcers. Better props from glos, but second and back rows pretty close. More youth and pace in the glos backs but a great 9 10 for the sarries. I try not to predict draws, but really can't decide on a winner in a high scoring affair, hoping both teams get the 30 point bonus as both deserve more than one point each

Can I post on about 11 ish?

can't see a problem with it.

Exeter Chiefs 24 - 20 London Wasps
Harlequins 27 - 22 Worcester Warriors
Leicester Tigers 18 - 15 Bath
Sale Sharks 22 - 24 Northampton Saints
Saracens 25 - 24 Gloucester

Exeter 25-19 Wasps
Prefer the front and second row of Exeter, quality side. However Wasps may have the slight advantage in the back row, Dus is a quality player. Chiefs for me are better all across the backs.

Tigers 26-22 Bath
See the Tigers front row getting a huge advantage here. Not much in second row, Gray the stand out. Back row for me also goes to Tigers. Half backs go to Tigers but the edge in the centers go to Bath. Back threes very hard to call, maybe Tigers with Cook being the weakness.

Welsh 16-15 Irish
Neither front row particularly stands out, second row from Irish is better. Overall I prefer the back row of Welsh, Kaino I cannot rate and Hari not on best form. Halfbacks also to Welsh, not much in centres tbh. Prefer Irish back three, Medard has played once in 8 months, no form.

Sale 20-27 Saints
great front rows, hard to pick. Second row to Saints and perhaps a slight edge in the backrow. Very good set of backs from Saints although Sale do have a strong bench. No tactics costs them dearly.

Sarries 22-22 Glos
Prefer Gloucester front row, second row goes to Sarries with Bakkies the standout. Gloucester have a stronger backrow. The backs are so close overall. Gloucester have a stronger back three. Too close

Exeter 26 - 23 Wasps

Quins 12 - 14 Worcester

Leicester 22 - 10 Bath

Sale 15 - 19 saints

Saracens 20 - 20 Gloucester

Exeter 21- Wasps 24
Quins 18- Worcester 18
Leicester 28 - Bath 27
Welsh 13 - Irish 11
Sale 20 - Saints 27

If you want feedback on any specific games please feel free to PM me. Sorry I'm being so crap, will have more time round Christmas

Too late to accept predos?

Just a day lol

Crazy busy at work till the 14th, apologies...

No dramas mate, similar

At work till 12pm December 24th then back 7am Decemeber 27th lol

Off from 14th till 2nd jan

Lucky for you lol, It's my own fault for saying i'd work Xmas period.

Scrapping for every coin now! Kinda hoping a Xmas day shift comes along.

Scores- feel free to double-check

Exeter 28 - Wasps 20
Quins 24 - Worcester 18
Leicester 24 - Bath 18
Welsh 19 - Irish 15
Sale 19 - Saints 26
Saracens 26 - Gloucester 25

Taking these as gospel? about to the do the table...

Full: Bathite, CJB, SJE. Prop

Half: CJ, Drive, Ollie, Pooly, Flux, Pull

MARK