LV= Cup Round 3

First topic message reminder :

Round 3 - January 25-27 (I know, it's up early)

Harlequins v London Welsh

At the Twickenham Stoop, London, snow, -1 degrees C, 4 mph winds

Harlequins

Manager – Driver

01.Marcos Ayerza	09.Richard Wrigglesworth
02.Joe Grey	10.Morne Steyn (K)
03.James Johnstone
04.Eben Etzebeth	11.Bryan Habana
05.Alistair Hargreaves(C)	12.Hudson Tonga'uhia
06.Tom Croft	13.Adam Ashley - Cooper
07.Marcell Coatzee	14.Mark Cueto
08.Semisi Taulava	15.Jared Payne

16.John Smit 17.Darryl Marfo 18.Will Collier 19.Mourtiz Botha 20.Heinrich Brussouw 21.Matt Kayte 22.Nicky Robinson 23.James Short


Big pack to get ontop the Welsh 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 Welsh backs 3s position game with Kicks in behind with Habana and Cueto chasing with neither being on the small side.

Tonga/AAC to take the ball to the gain line and ask questions of the Welsh back line with Habana/Cueto/Payne coming into the line to cause problems

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

Jumpers from 4-8 in our pack giving Joe Grey plenty of targets with Etzebeth and Corft targeting the Welsh Lineout.

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 Welsh.

Blitz Defence to stop Irish backs playing with Wrigglesworth sweeping behind

Impact from the bench will see this game through Smit will keep things calm up front , Botha will come on and smash everything in front of him.


London Welsh

Manager – Fluxy

01. Tom French	09. Will Chudley
02. Chris Whitehead	10. Gavin Henson (k)
03. Tom Mercey
04. James Percival (C)	11. Topsy Ojo
05. Tomas Vallejos	12. Dominic Waldlouck
06. Ben Nutley	13. Tom May
07. Jamie Gibson	14. Adam Thompstone
08. Chris Hala'ufia	15. Ben Ransom

16. Rhys Gill 17. Craig Mitchell 18. David Paice 19. Paul O'Connell 20. Nick Easter 21. Joel Hodgson 22. George Lowe 23. Horatio Agulla

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Bath Rugby v Exeter Chiefs

At the Recreation Ground, Bath, 1 degree C, sleet, 9 mph winds

Bath Rugby
Manager – Bathite

01. N.Catt	09. C.Cook
02. C.Tolufua	10. O.Barkley (k)
03. O.Tomascyzk
04. J.Muller (c)	11. T.Biggs
05. F.vd Merwe	12. B.Williams
06. C.Skuse	13. M.Carraro
07. J.Salvi	14. O.Woodburn
08. S.Kalamafoni	15. E.Daly (lk)

16. O.Franks 17. L.Mears 18. J.Golding 19. S.Hooper 20. S.O'Brien 21. M.McMillan 22. S.Vesty 23. M.Banahan

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ExeterChiefs
Manager – LukeLovesLuka

01. Tendai Mtawarira	09. Dwayne Peel
02. Simon Alcott	10. Jonny Wilkinson (k)
03. John Afoa
04. Louis Deacon	11. Matt Jess
05. Pascal Pape (c)	12. Sireli Naqelevuki
06. Steve Mafi	13. Bryan Rennie
07. Steffon Armitage	14. Cory Jane
08. Ernst Joubert	15. Isa Nacewa

16. Brett Sturgess 17. Scott Spurling 18. Hoani Tui 19. James Horwill 20. James Scaysbrook 21. Kevin Barrett 22. Ian Humphreys 23. Luke Arscott

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Newport Gwent Dragons v Ospreys

At the Rodney Parade, Newport, moderate persistent rain, 8 degrees C, 20mph winds

Newport-Gwent Dragons

01. Owen Evans	09. Jonathan Evans
02. Steve Jones	10. Lewis Robling (k)
03. Nathan Buck
04. Ian Nimmo	11. Tonderai Chavhanga
05. Robert Sidoli	12. Andy Tuilagi
06. Dan Lydiate (c.)	13. Adam Hughes
07. Jevon Groves	14. Will Harries
08. Tom Brown	15.Tom Prydie

16. Sam Parry 17. Nathan Williams, 18. Dan Way, 19.Adam M Jones, 20. Nic Cudd, 21. Joe Bedford, 22. Steffan Jones, 23. Daniel Evans


Ospreys

01. Duncan Jones	09. Kahn Fotuali'i
02. Richard Hibbard	10. Dan Biggar (k)
03. Adam Jones
04. Ian Gough	11.Eli Walker
05. Alun Wynn-Jones (c.)	12. Ashley Beck
06. Ryan Jones	13.Andrew Bishop
07. Justin Tipuric	14. Hanno Dirksen
08. George Stowers	15. Richard Fussell

16. Aaron Jarvis 17. Matthew Dwyer, 18. James Goode, 19.Matthew Dwyer, 20. Tom Habberfield , 21. Matthew Morgan 22. Jonathan Spratt 23. Morgen Allen

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Northampton Saints v Gloucester Rugby

At Franklin Gardens, Northampton, 2 degrees C, fog, 12 mph winds

Northampton Saints
Manager – SirJohnnyEnglish

01. Steven Kitshoff	09. Martin Roberts
02. Brett Sharman	10. Ryan Lamb
03. Brian Mujati
04. Mark Sorenson	11. Vasily Artemiev
05. Christian Day	12. Scott Armstrong
06. James Craig	13. John Clarke
07. Phil Dowson	14. Noah Cato
08. Roger Wilson	15. Greig Tonks

16. Alex Waller 17. Richardt Strauss 18. Danny Herriot 19. Andries Bekker 20. Teimana Harrison 21. Ryan Glynn 22. Stephen Myler 23. Jamie Elliot

Gloucester

Manager- prop_lyd

01. Dan Murphy	09. Dan Robson
02. Darren Dawiduk	10. Freddie Burns (k)
03. Adam Jones
04. Sam Whitelock	11. JSD
05. Tom Savage	12. Rob Horne
06. Peter Buxton	13. Henry Trinder
07. Akapusi Qera	14. Charlie Sharples
08. Luke Narraway (c)	15. Jonny May

16. Korree Britton 17. Tom Heard 18. Rupert Harden 19. Will James 20. Sam Cane 21. Rory Lawson 22. Jamie Roberts 23. Ryan Mills

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Sale Sharks v Scarlets

At Salford City Stadium, Salford, 5 degrees C, cloudy, 16 mph winds

Sale Sharks
Manager – LondonIrishOllie

01.Andrew Sheridan	09.Scott Mathie
02.Gary Botha	10.Aaron Cruden (k)
03.Davit Kubriashvilli
04.Matt Garvey (c)	11.Tom Brady
05.James Gaskell	12.Sam Tuitupou
06.Richie Vernon	13.Jonathan Joseph
07.Schalk Burger	14.Cameron Shephard
08.JMF Lobbe	15.Rob Miller

Subs 16.Marc Jones 17.Ross Harrison 18.Henry Thomas 19.Yoann Maestri 20.Jordan Crane 21.Hadyn Thomas 22.Nick McLeod 23.Charlie Amesbury



Scarlets

01. Rhodri Jones	09. Gareth Davies
02. Matthew Rees	10. Rhys Priestland (k)
03. Samson Lee
04. Sione Timani	11. Andy Fenby
05. Richard Kelly	12.Jonathan Davies (c.)
06. Rob McCusker (c)	13. Scott Williams
07. Aaron Shingler	14. George North
08. Kieran Murphy	15. Liam Williams

16. Jacobie Adriaanse 17. Ken Owens, 18. Phil John, 19. Tomas Vallejos, 20. Josh Turnball, 21. Aled Davies, 22. Jordan Williams, 23. Morgan Stoddard

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Leicester Tigers v London Wasps

At Welford Road, Leicester, mist 4 degrees C, 15 mph wind

Leicester Tigers
Manager – Sgt_Pooly

01. Luke Cowen-Dickie	09. Karl Dickson
02. Jamie George	10. Danny Cipriani
03. Aaron Jarvis
04. Tom Price	11. Miles Benjamin
05. Geoff Parling(c)	12. Andrew Forsyth
06. Sam Jones	13. Matt Smith
07. Luke Wallace	14. Charlie Walker
08. Jacque Cronje	15. Matt Tait

16. Tom Youngs 17. Thomas Domingo 18. Martin Castrogiovani 19. Joe Launchbury 20. Liam Gill 21. Ben Youngs 22. Berrick Barnes 23. Digby Ioan

London Wasps
Manager – CF

01. Tim Payne	09. Danny Care
02. Dimitri Swarzeski	10. Jimmy Gopperth
03. Matt Stevens
04. Ross Filippo	11. Charlie Ingall
05. James Cannon	12. Maxime Mermoz
06. Tinis Du Plessis	13. Billy Twelvetrees
07. Peddrie Wannerburg	14. Mike Brown
08. Thomas Waldrom (C)	15. Richard Haughton

16.Chuter 17.Stankovich 18.Castex 19.Everard 20.Young 21.Farrell 22.Fourie 23.Varndell

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Saracens v Cardiff Blues

At Allianz Park, St Albans, driving rain, 4 degrees C, 5 mph wind
Saracens
Manager – ChequeredJersey

01. Matt Mullan	09. Jordan Burns
02. Rob Buchanan	10. Sam Stanley (k)
03. Carlos Nieto
04. Bakkies Botha	11. Tom Williams
05. Charlie Matthews	12. James Fitzpatrick
06. Donnacha Ryan	13. Joel Tomkins
07. Will Fraser	14. Sam Smith
08. Richie McCaw (c)	15. Alex Goode

16. Alisdair Dickinson 17. Schalk Brits 18. Kieran Brookes 19. Maro Itoje 20. Matt Hankin. 21. Julien Dupuy 22. Harry Leonard 23. Nathan Earle


Tactics-

Awful weather this week, so keep it tight and use the consistent carrying of McCaw, Ryan, Botha, Buchanan and Matthews to make hard yards. The focus has got to be on the set piece, defence and breakdown, and we will utilise the kicking games of Stanley, Goode and Leonard+Dupuy on the bench to ensure we play in the right areas and use what should be a formidable lineout. If we do get the chance, we must make it count, so nothing to outrageous in the backs. McCaw to help Burns link and Burns feel free to run himself with the backrow in support if he sees a gap. Use Fitzpatrick as a bosh option with Tomkins supporting RL style and the wings ready to finish. When Brits comes on, send him at Patchell, before then Botha can do it occasionally.

Lineout- we have a ton of options in the lineout with a top class front (Botha) and middle (Ryan, also calls lineout) jumpers plus Matthews, Fraser and McCaw all viable options. Throw middle and short but get other options to peel off and run into the line to utilise them and make it impossible for Cardiff to mark. No long throws in this weather. Contest every defensive throw.

Breakdown- act as a unit, Fraser and McCaw to work the floor, Ryan and Botha to clear out, though Ryan can chip in if need be. Slow as much ball as possible without being penalised. Only go for the turnover if we can do damage with the ball or win a penalty, McCaw can make the calls here. If the ball is lost, Fraser to slow it whilst the other forwards guard our fringes hard.

Scrum- we should crush Cardiff here, with an excellent scrummaging 2nd string front row vs not one of the best scrummaging units around and grunt from the 2nd row.

Kicking- lots of air on the ball- 1/2p is an excellent but short fullback and we will chase to put him under pressure. Kick for the corners out of hand and for the posts whenever it's on. 3 points will be vital

Defence- McCaw to defend Stanley with Fraser really putting young Patchell under pressure all game. Blitz defence, Goode covering for the chip

Subs- bring Dupuy on in the last 20-30 to let him play with the team and tighten the game further. Brits can come on too, otherwise try to blood the youngsters but only if appropriate


Cardiff Blues

01. Sam Hobbs	09. Lewis Jones
02. Rhys Williams	10. Rhys Patchell
03. Benoit Bourrust
04. James Down	11. Harry Robinson
05. Lou Reed	12. Jamie Roberts
06. Josh Navidi (c)	13. Owen Williams
07. Sam Warburton	14. Alex Cuthbert
08. Robin Copeland	15. Leigh Halfpenny

16. Kristian Dacey 17. Nathan Trevett 18. Scott Andrews 19. Macauley Cook 20. Luke Hamilton 21. Gareth Davies 22. Ceri Sweeney 23. Dafydd Hewitt

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London Irish v Worcester Warriors

Madjeski Stadium, Reading, driving rain, 6 degrees C, 10 mph winds

[London Irish

Manager – Mad for Chelsea

01. Gethin Jenkins	09. Joe Simpson
02. Rob Herring	10. Brock James (k)
03. Paulica Ion
04. Simon Shaw	11. Sailosi Tagicakibau
05. Nick Kennedy	12. Shontayne Hape
06. Jerome Kaino	13. Aurelien Rougerie
07. David Pocock (c)	14. Alesana Tuilagi
08. Imanol Harinordoquy	15. Marland Yarde

16. Scott Lawson 17.Fraan Rautenbach, 18. Tom Smallbone, 19. Kieran Low, 20. Tom Guest, 21. Darren Allinson, 22. Quade Cooper, 23. David Strettle

Tactics: due to the poor weather conditions and injuries we've made some changes to our side. With injuries in the front row Herring and Ion come in. Simon Shaw comes into the second row as they're likely to be a few scrums in these conditions, and he adds grunt to the pack. James replaces Cooper at fly-half, a more controlling presence, and Tuilagi gets the nod over Strettle for his physical impact. We'll look to dominate territory as much as possible through James's tactical kicking, and mostly rely on our strong ball carriers in midfield (and the two wingers) to make advances with ball in hand.

- Try not to play too much rugby in our own half. James is an excellent tactical kicker and will look to keep the Warriors very much penned in their own half. Make the chase good, with the back row swamping the breakdown whenever possible to force turnovers.

- Plenty of line-out options, both for our own throw and to attack the opposition's. Think about the rolling maul when possible.

- With ball in hand, look to use the big ball-carriers. Our centres are both strong and will look to make yard gains, while Tuilagi has licence to come off his wing and look for work through the middle. Target Carter at IC, a position he's not so used to defending at.

- Use the strong ball carriers in our pack - Shaw, Ion, Herring, Harinordoquy - to make the hard yards around the fringes. Don't be afraid to go pick-and-go if nothing is on.

- If we do create the overlap, be prepared to spin the ball wide.

- Play a rush defense, looking to swamp the moves before they get going, and not give the opposition time to place their attacks. Always have at least a couple of players back to field kicks.

Worcester Warriors

Manager – InTheFastLane

01. Joe Marler	09. Shaun Perry
02. Ed Shervington	10. Kurtley Beale
03. Juan Figallo
04. Gerhard Mostert	11. Eerie Claasens
05. Nile Dacres	12. Dan Carter
06. James Haskell	13. Ma’a Nonu
07. Michael Hooper	14. Alex Cuthbert
08. Ben Morgan	15. Tom Homer

16. Stephen Moore 17. George Porter 18. Tevita Taumoepeau 19. George Robson 20. Liam Messam 21. Will Genia 22. George Ford 23. Matt Hopper

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Teams in by Saturday, 8pm please

No I'd rather you left now during LV week as it gives a new manager time to bed in before league game.

Cheers anyway

I'm not quitting

You're just having a whinge then?

If that's what you want to call it. I was saying I was struggling for time, giving you warning that I might not be able to commit, but call it what you want

No point winding each other up on here

I just want some commitment, a few weeks is no good.