Fantasy Aviva Premiership Round Fifteen

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Bath Rugby vs. London Irish
Sunny, 8 degrees, 6 mph winds

Bath Rugby
Manager – inthefastlane

01. Charlie Faumuania	09. Aaron Smith
02. Kevin Mealamu	10. Charlie Hodgson
03. Carl Rimmer
04. Luke Romano	11. Cory Jane
05. Sam Whitelock	12. Anthony Allen
06. Tom Guest	13. Aurelien Rougerie
07. David Pocock	14. Nopolini Nalaga
08. JMF Lobbe	15. Rob Miller

16. Jon Golding 17. Chris Brooker 18. Davit Kubrashvilli 19. Graham Kitchener 20. James Haskell 21. Richard Wigglesworth 22. Michael Harris 23. Tim Nanai Williams

Overall: Look to play flowing rugby with Hodgson pulling the strings. We will be looking for big carries all over to get over the gainline.

Scrum: We will look to be competitive at scrum time with Lobbe controlling it from the back. Lobbe will control the scrum from number eight. Apply pressure and look to get nudge on throughout. Look to play the ref and if not going our way use as a restart.

Lineout: Our second row partnership is where we really feel we can have advantage. We will look to hammer this advantage home. We have Whitelock and Lobbe leading our lineout whilst Romano offers a good banker ball. We will look to actively pressure the opposition throw. If we see any weakness we will look to slightly alter the game plan, looking for corners in order to put more pressure on the throw.

We will be looking for big carries from the forwards with the likes of Faumuania, Mealamu, Lobbe and Guest dangerous runners who can really create gaps for our backs. We will be looking for lots of energy from our forwards to open up holes to be exploited. Our carrying is somewhere we feel we have a distinct advantage.

Breakdown: Look to clear hard and fast with Pocock and Lobbe looking to make a real nuisance of themselves and get their hands on the ball

Backs: We will be looking to use the backs in order to create or go through holes. Smith and Hodgson will look to really get the backs going with a good tempo. Smith will attack fringes and try to keep the defence guessing. Look to get our big runners involved as early as possible with Allen, Rougerie, Jane and Nalaga seeing lots of the ball.

Defence: Use a blitz defence in order to put pressure on Irish key decision makers and prevent them from playing. Aaron Smith to sweep in behind.

Substitutes: Our subs will look to keep a high tempo. Golding, Brooker and Kubrashvilli will look to keep the scrum strong. Kitch will look to add grit late as well as another quality lineout operator. Haskell will look to really come on and bully tired legs. Wigglesworth will prove a composed head to control tempo late. Harris + TNW will come on early in the second half and will look to get their hands on the ball for big carries against tired legs.

Irish are a team in transition and with a new manager looking to put his imprint on the team as well as an influx of new players trying to settle in they will surely not be at their best.


London Irish
Manager – Prop_Lyd

01.Matt Stevens	09.Ruan Pienaar (c)
02.Andrew Hore	10.Nick Evans (k)
03.Brok Harris
04.Nick Kennedy	11.Sailosi Tagicakibau
05.Matt Garvey	12.Luke McCalister
06.Yannick Nyanga	13.Conrad Smith
07.Will Fraser	14.JP Pieterson
08.Netani Talei	15.Tom Homer (lk)

16. Tom Lindsay 17. Jean Baptiste-Poux 18. WP Nel 19. Stuart Hooper 20. Ben Morgan 21. Neil De Kock 22. Henry Trinder 23. Marland Yarde

Key Points

Prove Their Worth
With a new coach in place and new players looking to prove themselves they will be looking to put all their efforts into this game. The gameplan will be looking to use our rolling maul and then release our potent backs who are all proven scorers. We can play attractive rugby but for the first 20 mintues we'll play ugly to tire them out.

9-10-12
We feel we have one of the strongest 9-10-12's in the league with 9 and 12 happy to fill in at 10 as well and alter our style of game. We will look to use Pienaar for his eye for a gap, McCalister for his offloading skills and Evans for his calmness and control. Outside them we have a world cup winner in Smith who can make something out of nothing for our dangerous back three.

Silence Pocock
We know what danger he can cause and we will look to silence him and his backrow colleagues as much as possible. Whether this is taking him out off the ball, holding him down or looking to avoid him in contact. To do this we will look for an offloading game and Nyanga will target him at the breakdown.

Attacking

• We want to force errors from Bath and will be targetting Allen by sending big runners down his channel.

• Pienaar and Evans to play what's in front of them and look to release McCalister (who will be our playmaker) or snipe as much as possible. If it isn't on then Evans will stick it in the corners and, with Kennedy and Garvey we have the number jumpers to gain the ball back.

• Look for runners off of 10 and 12 channel to make the initial break before sending the ball out wide to Pieterson and Tagi.

• We will look to use our big pack to carry alot of ball and, if it isn't on then run off of 9 and take a couple of 'up the jumper' phases to drag defenders in.

• Our back three will look to come off their wings and hit the right angles.

• Control to come off the bench in Hooper and De Kock to shore up our victory and to keep the scoreboard ticking, Poux, Nel and Morgan bring grunt and Trinder and Yarde bring raw talent.

Set Piece

• Strong scrum which will get the edge up on the tighthead side and a good bench to come on as well to continue the pressure, 8-9-10 is a move we will use alot.

• We will use the maul to get ourselves up the pitch quickly and power over from short distance.

• Lineout has been mentioned previously where we have many strong jumpers here who will look to control attacking and defensive ones.

Defending

• Banana blitz defence targetting Hodgson led by Smith so he has no time to kick or give quick ball to the centres, we will protect the channels to stop Smith sniping.

• Pienaar will look to sweep and counter attack off any kick through's.

• We will hit the breakdown quick to give Fraser time to get over the ball and obliterate any protection they have in place.

• If the turnover isn't on we won't commit and will fan out defending inside-out.

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Harlequins vs. Leicester Tigers
Sunny Intervals, 9 degrees, 6 mph winds

Harlequins
Manager – Steven_Sharks

01. Tony Woodcock	09. Lee Dickson
02. Schalk Brits	10. Freddie Burns (k)
03. John Afoa
04. Bakkies Botha	11. Zac Guildford
05. Steve Borthwick (c)	12. Anthony Faainga
06. George Kruis	13. Jonathan Joseph
07. Michael Hooper	14. Luke Morahan
08. Nick Easter	15. Andre Taylor

16. Rob Buchanan 17. Wyatt Crockett 18. Ben Franks 19. James Gaskell 20. Sam Warburton 21. Karl Dickson 22. Quade Cooper 23. Matt Smith

Tactics

Game Plan

Keep the ball in hand in the opposition half and use our strong carriers upfront to make yards and tie in defenders before we look to get the ball into wider channels and into the hands of Joseph and our back three players who are electric with ball in hand. The tempo of the game will be controlled by Lee Dickson and Freddie Burns will look to stand flat and put others into gaps.

Our front 5 (excluding Brits) will look to carry off 9 and the inside shoulder of 10 with Brits and our backrow carrying of 10’s outside shoulder and off 12. The forwards will look to come from deep and will carry at pace. They will look to win the collisions and keep the legs pumping after the initial contact. If the option is one they will look for the offload as we will always look to carry with support so the offload is on or we can ruck quickly and get quick ball.

Key to playing the game at our tempo requires effective rucking and this will be an important part of our tactics.

Forwards

Our pack will look to carry hard and hit rucks hard. We will not attempt to overcommit to rucks as a maximum of 3 should be able to clear out effectively with proper technique low to the ground. The first 3 players to every ruck will do the rucking and the numbers on the players back will not matter.

At the set piece we will look to control the scrums with two technically sounds props backed up by big locks. Woodcock will look to disrupt the Leicester tight head and Afoa will look to get underneath the loosehead. At the lineout we will look to shorten the line when we are between the two 22m lines with Easter and Hooper out in the midfield as carrying options. At the opposition lineout we will look to mark the Leicester jumpers will Kruis, Borthwick and Botha working as a team to pressurise the receiver and the hooker’s throw.

Backs

Burns will look to stand flat and put others into gaps. Faainga will run a crash line as an option with Burns having forwards, Joseph or Taylor as other options to hit. Morahan in particular will look to come off his wing and look for work as a strong carrier. Dickson and Burns know we need to tie in defenders before we pass the ball out wider so that JJ and the back 3 have more spaces to exploit. Burns will occasionally look to get us into a good position when we are inside our own half if Leicester’s defence is well organised. He will also look to force errors using up and under’s and a strong chase from our ¾’s.

Defence

Quick line speed and controlled by Faainga and we will look to double up in the tackle with one man looking to win the collision and the other looking to target the ball. At the breakdown we will look for our players to try and secure the turnover if they are the first man there. Hooper in particular will search for the turnover but we will not be giving away penalties at the breakdown as we will be disciplined. If we can legally slow the ball down we will but not giving away penalties is key to our game.


Leicester Tigers
Manager – LukeLovesLuka

01. Andrew Sheridan	09. Dimitri Yachvili (k)
02. Stephen Moore	10. Kurtley Beale
03. Cencus Johnston
04. Pascal Pape (c)	11. Ugo Monye
05. Nathan Hines	12. Dominic Waldouck
06. Francois Louw	13. Rene Ranger
07. James Scaysbrook	14. Vincent Clerc
08. Ernst Joubert	15. Isa Nacewa

16. Sebastian Bruno 17. Lee Imiolek 18. Brian Mujati 19. Simon Shaw 20. Thomas Waldrom 21. Michael Claasens 22. Jonny Wilkinson 23. Paul Sackey

We will play an attacking, offloading game getting our backline into space by using the huge carriers in our pack and the brains of our HB's

Key Points:

Breakdown Advantage
We are placing huge emphasis on our work at the breakdown today. With breakdown expert Francois Louw supported by James Scaysbrook, we feel our breakdown play could be crucial. Any opportunity that we get, we will look to win turnover ball.

Impact off the Bench
Look to utilise our bench in the 2nd half to dominate Quins. Bruno and Mujati to keep the set piece on track, and Waldrom to add serious carrying options. Introduce Wilko in the 2nd half to tie the game up for us.

Away Form
12 wins out of 14 in the league, we are absolutely flying at the minute sitting top of the pile. Our away form has been a real plus point - having already beat Irish, Sale, Saracens, Wasps, Welsh and Worcester away from home.

General Tactics:

- Attack all scrums with our huge pack - Two out-and-out scrummaging props in Johnston and Sheridan - look to really get the shove on.

- Attack all lineouts. Use safe option of Joubert at the front, and also use Hines/Pape/Scaysbrook in the middle or at the back.
Shortened lineouts with Louw in midfield as crash/decoy option.

- Physical, abrasive pack made up of massive line-breakers. The likes of Louw, Hines, Pape, Joubert and Moore to be used to win the collisions in attack.
Play an offloading game.

- Look to win battle at the breakdown - Louw and Scaysbrook to really look to get into the breakdown and give Quins problems.

- Yachvili and Beale to control proceedings - We want to play an attacking, running game, and have selected Beale at 10 to carry gameplan this out.

- Serious runners in the back line in the dry conditions. In Beale and Ranger alone, we have some serious options to attack Quins and test their back line defensively.

- We will look to employ a blitz defence, focusing on a quick line speed to hit the ball carrier before he gets to the gainline, and look to win the collisions in defence. Yachvili to sweep behind with an eye on short kicks.

- Use Wilkinson to win us the game - We want to introduce Wilko in the 2nd half to control the territory and win the game for us.

Yachvili to kick all penalites.

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London Welsh vs. Sale Sharks
Sunny, 8 degrees, 6 mph winds

London Welsh
Manager – Ozzy3213

01. Alex Corbisiero	09. Morgan Parra
02. Bismarck du Plessis	10. Elton Jantjies
03. Dave Wilson
04. Sitaleki Timani	11. James Simpson-Daniel
05. George Skivington	12. Pat McCabe
06. Tom Johnson	13. Digby Ioane
07. Maurie Fa'asavalu	14. Bryan Habana
08. Duane Vermeulen (c)	15. Jaco Taute

16. Chris Whitehead 17. Steven Kitschoff 18. Ben Alexander 19. James Hanks 20. Luke Wallace 21. Paul Hodgson 22. Owen Farrell 23. Andrew Trimble

Tactics

Key Points

• Home Advantage Always has to be worth a few points in predictions.
  
• Form/Momentum We are unbeaten in 12 matches, with 10 wins and 2 draw (away at Saints & Tigers).
  
• Sale Fatigue Ouedraogo, Sexton and Zebo all started both 6 Nations games for their countries and are thrown straight in here from the start. (I appreciate that the Irish boys never finished the England game, but still a big ask being thrown in. The two I've started both have had minutes off the bench and have points to prove.)
  
• Sefensive Strength Solid defenders throughout the team mean that it will take something special to score points against us.
  
• Mobile, Dynamic Pack We have selected a pack that can hold their own in the set piece, but will be good in open play, as the conditions are set to allow decent running rugby.
  
• Impact Bench We have players to bring on who can make a real difference in the game.
  

Basic Game Plan
Basic tactical premise for us to control possession and be solid defensively. Focus will be on winning the gainline collisions in both attack and defence. In order to do this we have picked a dynamic, physical and mobile pack to dominate this area of the game. We will however be looking for gaps rather than contact and looking to offload to support runners. We will look to apply pressure to Sale by keeping the ball for long periods and wearing them down defensively, and also by maintaining a solid defence and denying them opportunities to get on the score board. Pressure forces mistakes, and we will look to capitalise on any that Sale make.

Specifics

• Support runners to ruck past the ball quickly if the carrier goes to ground in order to secure quick ball to go again.
  
• Parra to use his boot to keep us playing in the right area of the field.
  
• Keep the scoreboard ticking over by taking all penalties on offer.
  
• We will look to play a blitz defence with quick line speed to hit the ball carrier before he gets to the gainline and knock him back even further. Parra will sweep in behind.
  
• We will not overcommit to the breakdown. If a turnover is on, we will go for it, counter rucking and hitting on the break. If it is not on to win the ball, we will send in a couple of players to legally slow it, and get our defensive line set quickly and strongly a la France in the World Cup. We want to control the gainline in defence and attack.
  
• Look to play quick from the scrum and lineout, going off the top and quickly into midfield as our default option. We will mix it up dependant on the situation though. Bekker is the go to man for the Sale lineout and we will look to attack him on their throw. If they start going elsewhere we will contest accordingly.
  

Sale Sharks
Manager – SJE

01. Marcos Ayerza	09. Danny Care
02. David Paice	10. Johnny Sexton
03. Davit Zirakishvilli
04. Brodie Retalick	11. Kyle Eastmond
05. Andries Bekker	12. Francois Steyn
06. Fulgence Quedragao	13. Robbie Freuen
07. Matt Kvesic	14. Simon Zebo
08. Wycliffe Palu	15. Nick Abendanon

16. Ross Harrison 17. Darren Dawdiuk 18. Luc Ducalcon 19. Dave Attwood 20. Alex Tulou 21. Ben Spencer 22. James Hook 23. Will Addison

Key Points
6 Nations Players
Sexton & Zebo return having played less than half an hour last week. Quedragao returns to the club looking to prove himself to the French management. After playing only 50 minutes last week he is ready and raring for Welsh.

Breakdown
There is a misbalance to the Welsh back row at the breakdown and so we have selected two flankers strong here and they, with the help of Retalick, Bekker & Ayerza, will look to make a mess of Welsh ball.

Defensive Frailties
Attack Ioane, who is not a 13, with Freuen running down his channel and the wings running lines either side looking to get in behind.

Attacking

• Look to play high tempo, high intensity rugby. Ball in hand, look to use our big line breakers to make the hard yards and tie up defenders creating space in wider channels for Sexton to exploit.

• We see the offload as a crucial weapon and our carriers will all be looking to offload in contact, continuing our forward momentum and breaking the defensive line.

• Care will look to tie the Welsh backrow to the breakdown with his sniping game allowing Sexton to play flat on the gain line. Sexton will look to bring our dangerous runners in to the game or find mismatches for himself to hit on the wrap around.

• Our back three will look to get involved as much as possible running support lines of the midfield looking for the inside ball or offload.

Set Piece

• 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 Welsh territory, with 4 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.

• On Welsh lineouts Bekker will stand at the front and challenge. At 6ft 10" Welsh will need to have their darts spot on.

Defending

• 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 Welsh momentum before it can get going.

• Care 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 Quedragao & Kvesic 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 vs. Newcastle Falcons
Sunny, 8 degrees, 7 mph winds

Saracens Football Club
Manager – DHLS07

01. Matt Mullan	09. Dewaldt Duvenage
02. John Smit (c)	10. Gareth Steenson
03. Jannie du Plessis
04. Flip van der Merwe	11. Luke Fitzgerald
05. Louis Deacon	12. Ma'a Nonu
06. Keegan Daniel	13. Jean de Villiers
07. Steffon Armitage	14. Adam Thompstone
08. Joe van Niekerk	15. Ben Smith

16. George Chuter 17. Max Lahiff 18. Sekope Kepu 19. Rob Simmons 20. Phil Dowson 21. Will Chudley 22. Ian Humphreys 23. Mark Cueto

Tactics

- Very much a traditional South African game plan as adopted by Heyneke Meyer.

- Big emphasis on the forwards dominating their opponents with their physicality.

- Tight forward dominated game with big carriers punching holes in the opposition defence.

- Kick/Chase game using our wingers to hunt the ball as it drops and if the opposition winger takes it to wrap him up in the tackle and isolate him to either win us the turnover or the penalty.

- Really go for it on turnover ball and get the ball through the hands and exploit the disorganised defence.

- Play in the right areas, territory over possession.

- Solid defensive line with Steffon Armitage either stealing or slowing the ball at the breakdown.


Newcastle Falcons
Manager – Driver

01.Soane Tonga'uhia	09.Jimmy Cowen
02.Agustin Creevey	10.Toby Flood
03.Paul Doran Jones
04.Ed Slater	11.Adam Ashley Cooper
05.Brad Thorn	12.Scott Williams
06.Tom Croft	13.George Lowe
07.Richie McCaw (c)	14.Alex Cuthbert
08.Chris Masoe	15.Jared Payne

16.Luke Cowen Dickie 17.Alex Waller 18.Owen Franks 19.Juandre Kruger 20.Joel Conlon 21.Ben Youngs 22.Henry Slade 23.Dom Shipperly

Falcons have picked a big front 5 to get them on on the front foot with plenty of power in the set piece mixed in with a prowesk in the loose. This will suit us down to a tea as it will allow our mobile back row and dynamic backs to make the use of space around the fringes and outwide. Jimmy Cowen and Toby Flood will play what is in front of them and keeping the tempo high by moving the ball wide.

- Use our big scrummaging props to secure our ball at he scrum and get Creevy to hook the ball clean back with us focusing on a intial driver to allow Masoe/Cowen to mix the game up.

- As well as feeding the backs Jimmy Cowen will look to snipe and take the ball to the line and test Saracens offside and the refs patience.

- Toby Flood will play what is in front of him , kicking in behind the wings or spreading the ball with our back 3 hitting the line.

• Target Fitzgerald and Thompstones kicking game by kicking the ball right in behind them forcing them to hang deep and give Cuthbert and AAC broken field to run at.
  

- Tom Croft to call the lineout and target the opposition throw with him and Thorn getting at them. Throw to McCaw at the tail aswell

- McCaw to do what he does and target the deck along with running round in the loose and linking play.

- McCaw and Masoe will look to target the isolated runners and smash them and look for the turnover

- Scott Williams to take the ball flat and at the line being used as a pivot with Flood on the run round or the wings coming off him

- Flood to kick the goals to build us a lead and to boom it into there half from penalties in our half

- Short kick offs 15metres at most , but hanging high to let us get under the ball and lift Croft to claim it.

- Blitz line with Cowen sweeping along with support from blindside wing.[list][*]

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London Wasps vs. Gloucester
Sunny, 7 degrees, 5 mph winds

London Wasps
Manager – Fluxy

01. Benn Robinson	09. Haydn Thomas
02. Huia Edmonds	10. Brock James
03. James Slipper
04. Bradley Davies	11. Tom Varndell
05. Marco Wentzel (C)	12. Dan Bowden
06. Dave Dennis	13. George Pisi
07. Jonathan Poff	14. Topsy Ojo
08. Jordan Crane	15. Matt Tait

16. Rob Webber 17. Alec Hepburn 18. Shaun Knight 19. Dan Tuohy 20. Gus Jones 21. Mike Blair 22. Stephen Myler 23. Jamie Elliot

Tactics
Adams Park is our fortress and we want to make it difficult for anyone that wants to come and even look for a LBP. 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, therefore James will look to keep us penned in the Glos 22. If the Glos are to score against us they will have to run the ball 80+ metres. We will look to go through simple phases to reproduce quick ball to cut the defence open. Slow ball we will look to set up pods and runners off James , as this will drag Glos defenders further apart and produce wholes or mismatches. We have a physical pack and will look to dominate from 1-10, so we will to set quick rucks to tie in their boys to allow time and space for our backs. We have experienced players all other the pitch in Wentzel, James and Pisi, and they will lead the team. With the changeable conditions, we will keep the gameplan simple and effective.

Tactics

• Solid scrummagers on and off the bench, we will look to secure our own ball and at least pressure the Glos feed. Sometimes look to legally wheel their feed to cut of the scrum-half from the backline.
  
  
• With a strong lineout, Wentzel will lead the lineout and use himself as banker ball at the front of the line with Poff jumping in the middle. Look to run full number lineouts to tie in the opposing pack.
  
  
• Our whole pack is mobile and capable of snaffling ball at the breakdown. With Saull not being the most acclompished on the deck, we will pile men intot the rucks to secure turnover possession.
  
  
• 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. They have some very big boys and some good fetchers, so constantly moving the ruck will tire them out and prevent them from snaffling any possession. James will direct traffic with the use of quick pods systems outside the guards of the rucks.
  
  
• James to use Pisi and Dennis to get over the gainline, quick ball will be span out to the backs in the next phase.
  
  
• James will look to kick in behind Gear and May, both of whom aren't best defensively when under high ball pressure, likewise with Balshaw prone to the odd mistake under the high ball.
  
  
• We will run a slow drift line in defence, with Thomas sweeping. We won't look to blitz, as with the line the Glos carriers then have to go through us. If they begin to look to kick, a blitz can be deployed later on.
  
  
• 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.
  
  
• James kick all points, he can kick from within their half, so this indicates that Glos should be wary of giving away penalties.
  
  
• With home advantage it should be even harder to get a win for the away team, even if they have better quality in their team. There are other aspects to a game than just ability

Gloucester
Manager – Mat

01. Nick Wood	09. Will Genia
02. Adriaan Strauss	10. Dan Carter
03. Jamie Johnstone
04. Eben Etzebeth	11. Hosea Gear
05. George Robson	12. Berrick Barnes
06. Willem Alberts	13. Juan de Jongh
07. Andy Saull	14.J onny May
08. Immanol Harinordoquoy	15. Iain Balshaw

16. Dan Murphy 17. Joe Grey 18. Juan Figallo 19. Tom Palmer 20. Steven Ferris 21. Dan Robson 22. Israel Dagg 23. Charlie Sharples
Tactics

Glos travel to Adams park bang in form having won away at Saints last week. We will be targeting a bonus point win away to a wasps side with very poor form currently. We will be playing a controlled balanced game focused on getting our big ball carriers on the front foot and then looking to play for position targetting in behind ojo and varndell or looking to open it up and create mismatches like may did against pisi on the weekend.

We will put a huge emphasis on the set pieces and think our big scrummaging pack and multiple jumpers can have a field day.

Control the ball and territory and you win.

We feel they are light on carrying and size and will look to exploit this.
As ever our spine is strong at. 2 ,8,9,10,12 and this allows us to boss the game


- hugely target scrums particularly Edmonds who struggle with set piece full stop. Great in loose mind.
- challenge every lineout. Feel they are overly reliant on wentzel whereas we have 5 jumpers. Will look to pressure Edmunds throw
- look to send numbers in to breakdown as they are quite light and we think we can target this

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Worcester Warriors vs. Northampton Saints
Sunny Intervals, 9 degrees, 4 mph winds

Worcester Warriors
Manager - stnick88

01. Tendai Mtawarira	09. Dwayne Peel
02. Richardt Strauss	10. Patrick Lambie
03. BJ Botha
04. Dean Schofield	11. Julien Malzieu
05. Luke Charteris	12. Olly Barkley
06. Tom Savage	13. Matt Hopper
07. Ross Rennie	14. James Short
08. Pierre Spies	15. Marcelo Bosch

16. Korree Britton 17. Nathan Catt 18. Paul James 19. Kearnen Myall 20. Shane Jennings 21. Tawera Kerr-Barlow 22. Sam Vesty 23. Olly Morgan

Tactics

Look to win the battle upfront. We have a big powerful Saffa front row who will look to get us an advantage at scrum time. Beast and Strauss are lively in the loose and will look to carry and make hard yards. We have a powerful engine room of Schofield and Charteris that will look to control the tight areas. Charteris will be our main go to man in the lineout, with Spies, Schofield and Savage also providing options.

We have picked a big backrow to overpower Saints with. Savage at 6 gives us real grunt and workrate. Rennie will target the breakdown and look to stop any Saints momentum.

At half backs, Peel and Lambie will control the game and look to get us in the right areas. We have Barkley at 12 to give us a second kicking option and we will look to kick in behind Wade and test him with high balls as he is up against Malzieu who is a big strong runner and can really give Wade a physical game.

Lambie will kick all pens for goal. Any out of range will be kicked for touch. We will try and secure lineout ball and use our powerful front 8 to maul forwards.

We are not expecting to play the most attractive rugby ever, but it will be effective, forward dominated power rugby to squeeze the Saints and stop them playing.


Northampton Saints
Manager – Dammit Chris

01.Thomas Domingo	09.Joe Simpson
02.TFN	10.Matt Giteau
03.Carl Hayman
04.Mano Samoa	11.Ben Foden
05.Patricio Albacete(c)	12.Ashley Beck
06.Julian Bonnaire	13.Elliot Daly
07.Calum Clark	14.Christian Wade
08.Liam Messam	15.Juan Martin Hernandez(k)

16.Dylan Hartley 17.Mako Vunipola 18. Henry Thomas 19. Courtney Lawes 20. Same Cane 21. Nick Phipps 22. Danny Cipriani 23. Julian Savea

Tactics: We have picked a strong forward pack to take on Worcester up front and ensure that they do not get the upper hand and control possession. We will bring on Hartley, Vunipola and Lawes at half time and up the intensity of the game and allow our backline to play a fast paced game that aims to really put Worcester on the backfoot. To use our bench to win the game.

Attack: We have pace throughout our backline and will look to secure quick ball from our pack and look to use Giteau's passing ability to pull holes in the Worcester defence and put Wade, Foden and Daly into space. Will look to send our big ball runners into the Worcester midfield and get over the gainline.

In form Simpson to snipe around the fringes.

Will bring Hernandez into the midfield to add to the Saints kicking game and pin Worcester in areas where we can force them into mistakes and turnovers.

Take points when they are on offer (Hernandez & Daly's boot).

Defence: Need to stop the Worcester pack building momentum and have picked a strong defensive pack to ensure we put Worcester players on their backsides before they can form mauls.

Will be playing a blitz defence to put pressure on the Worcester midfield and will have Simpson sweeping behind defensive line.

Foden selected on wing to copy England's defensive system.

Set piece: Make sure we are competitive in the scrum and use our bench to secure some dominance in the second half. With Bonnaire and Albacete in the Lineout we will look to generate quick attacking ball for our backline and put Worcester under pressure here.

Breakdown: We will put numbers in to the breakdown, slow down the ball and ensure that our defence is set to stop Worcester going through the phases. In the second half we will bring on Cane and push for turnovers and generate quick ball.

Key Points:
• Look to contain Worcester in first half and then win the game with our bench.
• Hernandez/Giteau/Daly kicking game to allow Saints to win the territory battle.
• Hartley, Vunipola and LAwes on at half time to up intensity in our pack.
• Lineout: Use as an attacking platform,
• Bring on Savea and Cane early in the second half.

---

Does that include LV ? Assume it does.

I will be sending my strongest team to wasps and looking forward to being back at Kingsholm for a few weeks after.

Last 6 games have been 2 in each competition. Gives an idea of squad depth as much as strength of best XV.

And amount of southern/northern hem players around!

Newcastle Falcons

Manager – Driver

01.Soane Tonga'uhia	09.Jimmy Cowen
02.Agustin Creevey	10.Toby Flood
03.Paul Doran Jones
04.Ed Slater	11.Adam Ashley Cooper
05.Brad Thorn	12.Scott Williams
06.Tom Croft	13.George Lowe
07.Richie McCaw (c)	14.Alex Cuthbert
08.Chris Masoe	15.Jared Payne

16.Luke Cowen Dickie 17.Alex Waller 18.Owen Franks 19.Juandre Kruger 20.Joel Conlon 21.Ben Youngs 22.Henry Slade 23.Dom Shipperly

Falcons have picked a big front 5 to get them on on the front foot with plenty of power in the set piece mixed in with a prowesk in the loose. This will suit us down to a tea as it will allow our mobile back row and dynamic backs to make the use of space around the fringes and outwide. Jimmy Cowen and Toby Flood will play what is in front of them and keeping the tempo high by moving the ball wide.

- Use our big scrummaging props to secure our ball at he scrum and get Creevy to hook the ball clean back with us focusing on a intial driver to allow Masoe/Cowen to mix the game up.

- As well as feeding the backs Jimmy Cowen will look to snipe and take the ball to the line and test Saracens offside and the refs patience.

- Toby Flood will play what is in front of him , kicking in behind the wings or spreading the ball with our back 3 hitting the line.

• Target Fitzgerald and Thompstones kicking game by kicking the ball right in behind them forcing them to hang deep and give Cuthbert and AAC broken field to run at.
  

- Tom Croft to call the lineout and target the opposition throw with him and Thorn getting at them. Throw to McCaw at the tail aswell

- McCaw to do what he does and target the deck along with running round in the loose and linking play.

- McCaw and Masoe will look to target the isolated runners and smash them and look for the turnover

- Scott Williams to take the ball flat and at the line being used as a pivot with Flood on the run round or the wings coming off him

- Flood to kick the goals to build us a lead and to boom it into there half from penalties in our half

- Short kick offs 15metres at most , but hanging high to let us get under the ball and lift Croft to claim it.

- Blitz line with Cowen sweeping along with support from blindside wing.[list][*]

What is the general consensus regarding playing 6N players this weekend?

Wasn't going to myself but if others are

They'll be back at there clubs tomorrow morning and i can't see a issue with someone being away for 2 weeks.

Depends how much rugby they've played.

If you played a. 6 n game 2 weeks running I will mark down massively. It's the reason there is a break in the competition.

I would mark down about 2 points per player

Agree Luke someone like Robshaw would get marked heavily. Sexton less

Likes of Wood, Marler, Denton, Huget, Fritz, Henry won't get game time for me.

Warburton will likely play some part along with maybe Rees.

I will take into account the sides who do play 6N players for the next break and even the game after the 6N. Eg Cuthbert might need more rest after 6N not having a break this weekend.

Flood not getting on today has helped me in the sense he'll be pretty fresh.

Manager – Dammit Chris

01.Thomas Domingo	09.Joe Simpson
02.TFN	10.Matt Giteau
03.Carl Hayman
04.Mano Samoa	11.Ben Foden
05.Patricio Albacete(c)	12.Ashley Beck
06.Julian Bonnaire	13.Elliot Daly
07.Calum Clark	14.Christian Wade
08.Liam Messam	15.Juan Martin Hernandez(k)

16.Dylan Hartley 17.Mako Vunipola 18. Henry Thomas 19. Courtney Lawes 20. Same Cane 21. Nick Phipps 22. Danny Cipriani 23. Julian Savea

Tactics: We have picked a strong forward pack to take on Worcester up front and ensure that they do not get the upper hand and control possession. We will bring on Hartley, Vunipola and Lawes at half time and up the intensity of the game and allow our backline to play a fast paced game that aims to really put Worcester on the backfoot. To use our bench to win the game.

Attack: We have pace throughout our backline and will look to secure quick ball from our pack and look to use Giteau's passing ability to pull holes in the Worcester defence and put Wade, Foden and Daly into space. Will look to send our big ball runners into the Worcester midfield and get over the gainline.

In form Simpson to snipe around the fringes.

Will bring Hernandez into the midfield to add to the Saints kicking game and pin Worcester in areas where we can force them into mistakes and turnovers.

Take points when they are on offer (Hernandez & Daly's boot).

Defence: Need to stop the Worcester pack building momentum and have picked a strong defensive pack to ensure we put Worcester players on their backsides before they can form mauls.

Will be playing a blitz defence to put pressure on the Worcester midfield and will have Simpson sweeping behind defensive line.

Foden selected on wing to copy England's defensive system.

Set piece: Make sure we are competitive in the scrum and use our bench to secure some dominance in the second half. With Bonnaire and Albacete in the Lineout we will look to generate quick attacking ball for our backline and put Worcester under pressure here.

Breakdown: We will put numbers in to the breakdown, slow down the ball and ensure that our defence is set to stop Worcester going through the phases. In the second half we will bring on Cane and push for turnovers and generate quick ball.

Key Points:
• Look to contain Worcester in first half and then win the game with our bench.
• Hernandez/Giteau/Daly kicking game to allow Saints to win the territory battle.
• Hartley, Vunipola and LAwes on at half time to up intensity in our pack.
• Lineout: Use as an attacking platform,
• Bring on Savea and Cane early in the second half.

London Irish

Manager – Prop_Lyd

01.Matt Stevens	09.Ruan Pienaar (c)
02.Andrew Hore	10.Nick Evans (k)
03.Brok Harris
04.Nick Kennedy	11.Sailosi Tagicakibau
05.Matt Garvey	12.Luke McCalister
06.Yannick Nyanga	13.Conrad Smith
07.Will Fraser	14.JP Pieterson
08.Netani Talei	15.Tom Homer (lk)

16. Tom Lindsay 17. Jean Baptiste-Poux 18. WP Nel 19. Stuart Hooper 20. Ben Morgan 21. Neil De Kock 22. Henry Trinder 23. Marland Yarde

Key Points

Prove Their Worth
With a new coach in place and new players looking to prove themselves they will be looking to put all their efforts into this game. The gameplan will be looking to use our rolling maul and then release our potent backs who are all proven scorers. We can play attractive rugby but for the first 20 mintues we'll play ugly to tire them out.

9-10-12
We feel we have one of the strongest 9-10-12's in the league with 9 and 12 happy to fill in at 10 as well and alter our style of game. We will look to use Pienaar for his eye for a gap, McCalister for his offloading skills and Evans for his calmness and control. Outside them we have a world cup winner in Smith who can make something out of nothing for our dangerous back three.

Silence Pocock
We know what danger he can cause and we will look to silence him and his backrow colleagues as much as possible. Whether this is taking him out off the ball, holding him down or looking to avoid him in contact. To do this we will look for an offloading game and Nyanga will target him at the breakdown.

Attacking

• We want to force errors from Bath and will be targetting Allen by sending big runners down his channel.

• Pienaar and Evans to play what's in front of them and look to release McCalister (who will be our playmaker) or snipe as much as possible. If it isn't on then Evans will stick it in the corners and, with Kennedy and Garvey we have the number jumpers to gain the ball back.

• Look for runners off of 10 and 12 channel to make the initial break before sending the ball out wide to Pieterson and Tagi.

• We will look to use our big pack to carry alot of ball and, if it isn't on then run off of 9 and take a couple of 'up the jumper' phases to drag defenders in.

• Our back three will look to come off their wings and hit the right angles.

• Control to come off the bench in Hooper and De Kock to shore up our victory and to keep the scoreboard ticking, Poux, Nel and Morgan bring grunt and Trinder and Yarde bring raw talent.

Set Piece

• Strong scrum which will get the edge up on the tighthead side and a good bench to come on as well to continue the pressure, 8-9-10 is a move we will use alot.

• We will use the maul to get ourselves up the pitch quickly and power over from short distance.

• Lineout has been mentioned previously where we have many strong jumpers here who will look to control attacking and defensive ones.

Defending

• Banana blitz defence targetting Hodgson led by Smith so he has no time to kick or give quick ball to the centres, we will protect the channels to stop Smith sniping.

• Pienaar will look to sweep and counter attack off any kick through's.

• We will hit the breakdown quick to give Fraser time to get over the ball and obliterate any protection they have in place.

• If the turnover isn't on we won't commit and will fan out defending inside-out.

Falcons edited to reflect the retirement of Lee Mears.

Bath Rugby
Manager – inthefastlane

01. Charlie Faumuania	09. Aaron Smith
02. Kevin Mealamu	10. Charlie Hodgson
03. Carl Rimmer
04. Luke Romano	11. Cory Jane
05. Sam Whitelock	12. Anthony Allen
06. Tom Guest	13. Aurelien Rougerie
07. David Pocock	14. Nopolini Nalaga
08. JMF Lobbe	15. Rob Miller

16. Jon Golding 17. Chris Brooker 18. Davit Kubrashvilli 19. Graham Kitchener 20. James Haskell 21. Richard Wigglesworth 22. Michael Harris 23. Tim Nanai Williams

Overall: Look to play flowing rugby with Hodgson pulling the strings. We will be looking for big carries all over to get over the gainline.

Scrum: We will look to be competitive at scrum time with Lobbe controlling it from the back. Lobbe will control the scrum from number eight. Apply pressure and look to get nudge on throughout. Look to play the ref and if not going our way use as a restart.

Lineout: Our second row partnership is where we really feel we can have advantage. We will look to hammer this advantage home. We have Whitelock and Lobbe leading our lineout whilst Romano offers a good banker ball. We will look to actively pressure the opposition throw. If we see any weakness we will look to slightly alter the game plan, looking for corners in order to put more pressure on the throw.

We will be looking for big carries from the forwards with the likes of Faumuania, Mealamu, Lobbe and Guest dangerous runners who can really create gaps for our backs. We will be looking for lots of energy from our forwards to open up holes to be exploited. Our carrying is somewhere we feel we have a distinct advantage.

Breakdown: Look to clear hard and fast with Pocock and Lobbe looking to make a real nuisance of themselves and get their hands on the ball

Backs: We will be looking to use the backs in order to create or go through holes. Smith and Hodgson will look to really get the backs going with a good tempo. Smith will attack fringes and try to keep the defence guessing. Look to get our big runners involved as early as possible with Allen, Rougerie, Jane and Nalaga seeing lots of the ball.

Defence: Use a blitz defence in order to put pressure on Irish key decision makers and prevent them from playing. Aaron Smith to sweep in behind.

Substitutes: Our subs will look to keep a high tempo. Golding, Brooker and Kubrashvilli will look to keep the scrum strong. Kitch will look to add grit late as well as another quality lineout operator. Haskell will look to really come on and bully tired legs. Wigglesworth will prove a composed head to control tempo late. Harris + TNW will come on early in the second half and will look to get their hands on the ball for big carries against tired legs.

Irish are a team in transition and with a new manager looking to put his imprint on the team as well as an influx of new players trying to settle in they will surely not be at their best.

Saracens Football Club
Manager – DHLS07

01. Matt Mullan	09. Dewaldt Duvenage
02. John Smit (c)	10. Gareth Steenson
03. Jannie du Plessis
04. Flip van der Merwe	11. Luke Fitzgerald
05. Louis Deacon	12. Ma'a Nonu
06. Keegan Daniel	13. Jean de Villiers
07. Steffon Armitage	14. Adam Thompstone
08. Joe van Niekerk	15. Ben Smith

16. George Chuter 17. Max Lahiff 18. Sekope Kepu 19. Rob Simmons 20. Phil Dowson 21. Will Chudley 22. Ian Humphreys 23. Mark Cueto

Tactics

- Very much a traditional South African game plan as adopted by Heyneke Meyer.

- Big emphasis on the forwards dominating their opponents with their physicality.

- Tight forward dominated game with big carriers punching holes in the opposition defence.

- Kick/Chase game using our wingers to hunt the ball as it drops and if the opposition winger takes it to wrap him up in the tackle and isolate him to either win us the turnover or the penalty.

- Really go for it on turnover ball and get the ball through the hands and exploit the disorganised defence.

- Play in the right areas, territory over possession.

- Solid defensive line with Steffon Armitage either stealing or slowing the ball at the breakdown.

Disappointed to see the form Irish have been in since I left

Sure Prop will get them back up where they belong.

Gloucester xxiii[/b]

Manager – Mat

01.Nick Wood	09.Will Genia
02.Adriaan Strauss	10.Dan Carter
03.Jamie Johnstone
04.Eben Etzbeth	11. Hosea Gear
05.George Robson	12.Berrick Barnes
06.Willem Alberts	13.Juan de Jongh
07.Andy Saull	14.Jonny May
08.Immanol Harinordoquoy	15.Iain Balshaw

16.Dan Murphy 17.Joe Grey 18.Juan Figallo 19.Tom Palmer 20.Steven Ferris 21.Dan Robson 22.Israel Dagg 23. Charlie Sharples[/quote]

Tactics

Glos travel to Adams park bang in form having won away at Saints last week. We will be targeting a bonus point win away to a wasps side with very poor form currently. We will be playing a controlled balanced game focused on getting our big ball carriers on the front foot and then looking to play for position targetting in behind ojo and varndell or looking to open it up and create mismatches like may did against pisi on the weekend.

We will put a huge emphasis on the set pieces and think our big scrummaging pack and multiple jumpers can have a field day.

Control the ball and territory and you win.

We feel they are light on carrying and size and will look to exploit this.
As ever our spine is strong at. 2 ,8,9,10,12 and this allows us to boss the game


- hugely target scrums particularly Edmonds who struggle with set piece full stop. Great in loose mind.
- challenge every lineout. Feel they are overly reliant on wentzel whereas we have 5 jumpers. Will look to pressure Edmunds throw
- look to send numbers in to breakdown as they are quite light and we think we can target this
- big ball carriers relentlessly trucking it up off the back of rucks and mauls to get good quality ball to be moved from Genia to carter
- where possible look for the offload to keep forward momentum and to get in behihd wasps
- target ojo and varndell with high ball
- try to isolate players for may and gear to run at
- blitz defence with Genia sweeping
- carter to kick all points on offer
- empty the bench when necessary. We have top players on bench and would like to see really target some of the young lads I have not heard of on the wasps bench
- once on top really up the ante and pace of the game by counter attacking kicks , quick throw ins and by generally playing a bit looser targetting the try BP

Do you fancy seeing if you can work some magic with Worcester nick?

stnick88 wrote:Disappointed to see the form Irish have been in since I left

Sure Prop will get them back up where they belong.

I'll try my best!! Feel free to pass on any tips haha!!

Leicester Tigers have named their side to play Quins this week.

Tigers make 2 changes to the side that drew with London Welsh last week. James Scaysbrook comes into the backrow for Steve Mafi, whilst Isa Nacewa comes into the backline for Jonny Wilkinson.

In a bold move, Tigers clearly will be looking to play an attacking game this week, and with ideal weather conditions for running rugby, the selection of Beale at 10 could prove vital to the result.


Leicester Tigers
Manager – LukeLovesLuka

01. Andrew Sheridan	09. Dimitri Yachvili (k)
02. Stephen Moore	10. Kurtley Beale
03. Cencus Johnston
04. Pascal Pape (c)	11. Ugo Monye
05. Nathan Hines	12. Dominic Waldouck
06. Francois Louw	13. Rene Ranger
07. James Scaysbrook	14. Vincent Clerc
08. Ernst Joubert	15. Isa Nacewa

16. Sebastian Bruno 17. Lee Imiolek 18. Brian Mujati 19. Simon Shaw 20. Thomas Waldrom 21. Michael Claasens 22. Jonny Wilkinson 23. Paul Sackey

We will play an attacking, offloading game getting our backline into space by using the huge carriers in our pack and the brains of our HB's

Key Points:

Breakdown Advantage
We are placing huge emphasis on our work at the breakdown today. With breakdown expert Francois Louw supported by James Scaysbrook, we feel our breakdown play could be crucial. Any opportunity that we get, we will look to win turnover ball.

Impact off the Bench
Look to utilise our bench in the 2nd half to dominate Quins. Bruno and Mujati to keep the set piece on track, and Waldrom to add serious carrying options. Introduce Wilko in the 2nd half to tie the game up for us.

Away Form
12 wins out of 14 in the league, we are absolutely flying at the minute sitting top of the pile. Our away form has been a real plus point - having already beat Irish, Sale, Saracens, Wasps, Welsh and Worcester away from home.

General Tactics:

- Attack all scrums with our huge pack - Two out-and-out scrummaging props in Johnston and Sheridan - look to really get the shove on.

- Attack all lineouts. Use safe option of Joubert at the front, and also use Hines/Pape/Scaysbrook in the middle or at the back.
Shortened lineouts with Louw in midfield as crash/decoy option.

- Physical, abrasive pack made up of massive line-breakers. The likes of Louw, Hines, Pape, Joubert and Moore to be used to win the collisions in attack.
Play an offloading game.

- Look to win battle at the breakdown - Louw and Scaysbrook to really look to get into the breakdown and give Quins problems.

- Yachvili and Beale to control proceedings - We want to play an attacking, running game, and have selected Beale at 10 to carry gameplan this out.

- Serious runners in the back line in the dry conditions. In Beale and Ranger alone, we have some serious options to attack Quins and test their back line defensively.

- We will look to employ a blitz defence, focusing on a quick line speed to hit the ball carrier before he gets to the gainline, and look to win the collisions in defence. Yachvili to sweep behind with an eye on short kicks.

- Use Wilkinson to win us the game - We want to introduce Wilko in the 2nd half to control the territory and win the game for us.

Yachvili to kick all penalites.

go on then pete might be a challenge. il knock up a page.

one request, the foreign worcester bought (mccarthy) has gone to irish in that swap deal. any chance i can get to sign a foreign in this window? is that fair?

Worc will need a cash injection to give Nick a chance to play around with the squad only 3.5m in the bank

Nick - you can have a £15m cash injection and 1 foreign.

Top man.

Worcester Warriors

01. Tendai Mtawarira	09. Dwayne Peel
02. Richardt Strauss	10. Patrick Lambie
03. BJ Botha
04. Dean Schofield	11. Julien Malzieu
05. Luke Charteris	12. Olly Barkley
06. Tom Savage	13. Matt Hopper
07. Ross Rennie	14. James Short
08. Pierre Spies	15. Marcelo Bosch

16. Korree Britton 17. Nathan Catt 18. Paul James 19. Kearnen Myall 20. Shane Jennings 21. Tawera Kerr-Barlow 22. Sam Vesty 23. Olly Morgan

Tactics

Look to win the battle upfront. We have a big powerful Saffa front row who will look to get us an advantage at scrum time. Beast and Strauss are lively in the loose and will look to carry and make hard yards. We have a powerful engine room of Schofield and Charteris that will look to control the tight areas. Charteris will be our main go to man in the lineout, with Spies, Schofield and Savage also providing options.

We have picked a big backrow to overpower Saints with. Savage at 6 gives us real grunt and workrate. Rennie will target the breakdown and look to stop any Saints momentum.

At half backs, Peel and Lambie will control the game and look to get us in the right areas. We have Barkley at 12 to give us a second kicking option and we will look to kick in behind Wade and test him with high balls as he is up against Malzieu who is a big strong runner and can really give Wade a physical game.

Lambie will kick all pens for goal. Any out of range will be kicked for touch. We will try and secure lineout ball and use our powerful front 8 to maul forwards.

We are not expecting to play the most attractive rugby ever, but it will be effective, forward dominated power rugby to squeeze the Saints and stop them playing.

Harlequins
Manager – Steven_Sharks

01. Tony Woodcock	09. Lee Dickson
02. Schalk Brits	10. Freddie Burns (k)
03. John Afoa
04. Bakkies Botha	11. Zac Guildford
05. Steve Borthwick (c)	12. Anthony Faainga
06. George Kruis	13. Jonathan Joseph
07. Michael Hooper	14. Luke Morahan
08. Nick Easter	15. Andre Taylor

16. Rob Buchanan 17. Wyatt Crockett 18. Ben Franks 19. James Gaskell 20. Sam Warburton 21. Karl Dickson 22. Quade Cooper 23. Matt Smith

Tactics

Game Plan

Keep the ball in hand in the opposition half and use our strong carriers upfront to make yards and tie in defenders before we look to get the ball into wider channels and into the hands of Joseph and our back three players who are electric with ball in hand. The tempo of the game will be controlled by Lee Dickson and Freddie Burns will look to stand flat and put others into gaps.

Our front 5 (excluding Brits) will look to carry off 9 and the inside shoulder of 10 with Brits and our backrow carrying of 10’s outside shoulder and off 12. The forwards will look to come from deep and will carry at pace. They will look to win the collisions and keep the legs pumping after the initial contact. If the option is one they will look for the offload as we will always look to carry with support so the offload is on or we can ruck quickly and get quick ball.

Key to playing the game at our tempo requires effective rucking and this will be an important part of our tactics.

Forwards

Our pack will look to carry hard and hit rucks hard. We will not attempt to overcommit to rucks as a maximum of 3 should be able to clear out effectively with proper technique low to the ground. The first 3 players to every ruck will do the rucking and the numbers on the players back will not matter.

At the set piece we will look to control the scrums with two technically sounds props backed up by big locks. Woodcock will look to disrupt the Leicester tight head and Afoa will look to get underneath the loosehead. At the lineout we will look to shorten the line when we are between the two 22m lines with Easter and Hooper out in the midfield as carrying options. At the opposition lineout we will look to mark the Leicester jumpers will Kruis, Borthwick and Botha working as a team to pressurise the receiver and the hooker’s throw.

Backs

Burns will look to stand flat and put others into gaps. Faainga will run a crash line as an option with Burns having forwards, Joseph or Taylor as other options to hit. Morahan in particular will look to come off his wing and look for work as a strong carrier. Dickson and Burns know we need to tie in defenders before we pass the ball out wider so that JJ and the back 3 have more spaces to exploit. Burns will occasionally look to get us into a good position when we are inside our own half if Leicester’s defence is well organised. He will also look to force errors using up and under’s and a strong chase from our ¾’s.

Defence

Quick line speed and controlled by Faainga and we will look to double up in the tackle with one man looking to win the collision and the other looking to target the ball. At the breakdown we will look for our players to try and secure the turnover if they are the first man there. Hooper in particular will search for the turnover but we will not be giving away penalties at the breakdown as we will be disciplined. If we can legally slow the ball down we will but not giving away penalties is key to our game.

London Wasps

Manager – Fluxy

01. Benn Robinson	09. Haydn Thomas
02. Huia Edmonds	10. Brock James
03. James Slipper
04. Bradley Davies	11. Tom Varndell
05. Marco Wentzel (C)	12. Dan Bowden
06. Dave Dennis	13. George Pisi
07. Jonathan Poff	14. Topsy Ojo
08. Jordan Crane	15. Matt Tait

16. Rob Webber 17. Alec Hepburn 18. Shaun Knight 19. Dan Tuohy 20. Gus Jones 21. Mike Blair 22. Stephen Myler 23. Jamie Elliot

Tactics
Adams Park is our fortress and we want to make it difficult for anyone that wants to come and even look for a LBP. 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, therefore James will look to keep us penned in the Glos 22. If the Glos are to score against us they will have to run the ball 80+ metres. We will look to go through simple phases to reproduce quick ball to cut the defence open. Slow ball we will look to set up pods and runners off James , as this will drag Glos defenders further apart and produce wholes or mismatches. We have a physical pack and will look to dominate from 1-10, so we will to set quick rucks to tie in their boys to allow time and space for our backs. We have experienced players all other the pitch in Wentzel, James and Pisi, and they will lead the team. With the changeable conditions, we will keep the gameplan simple and effective.

Tactics

• Solid scrummagers on and off the bench, we will look to secure our own ball and at least pressure the Glos feed. Sometimes look to legally wheel their feed to cut of the scrum-half from the backline.
  
  
• With a strong lineout, Wentzel will lead the lineout and use himself as banker ball at the front of the line with Poff jumping in the middle. Look to run full number lineouts to tie in the opposing pack.
  
  
• Our whole pack is mobile and capable of snaffling ball at the breakdown. With Saull not being the most acclompished on the deck, we will pile men intot the rucks to secure turnover possession.
  
  
• 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. They have some very big boys and some good fetchers, so constantly moving the ruck will tire them out and prevent them from snaffling any possession. James will direct traffic with the use of quick pods systems outside the guards of the rucks.
  
  
• James to use Pisi and Dennis to get over the gainline, quick ball will be span out to the backs in the next phase.
  
  
• James will look to kick in behind Gear and May, both of whom aren't best defensively when under high ball pressure, likewise with Balshaw prone to the odd mistake under the high ball.
  
  
• We will run a slow drift line in defence, with Thomas sweeping. We won't look to blitz, as with the line the Glos carriers then have to go through us. If they begin to look to kick, a blitz can be deployed later on.
  
  
• 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.
  
  
• James kick all points, he can kick from within their half, so this indicates that Glos should be wary of giving away penalties.
  
  
• With home advantage it should be even harder to get a win for the away team, even if they have better quality in their team. There are other aspects to a game than just ability

---

Would it be possible to get tactics in first thing in the morning please? Been dumped with a set of accounts that need to be done this evening and my first Valentines married will be a bloody massacre if I'm on here tonight! Putting together a teamsheet now so you know the side Pete if allowed

Sale Sharks
Manager – SJE

01. Marcos Ayerza	09. Danny Care
02. David Paice	10. Johnny Sexton
03. Davit Zirakishvilli
04. Brodie Retalick	11. Kyle Eastmond
05. Andries Bekker	12. Francois Steyn
06. Fulgence Quedragao	13. Robbie Freuen
07. Matt Kvesic	14. Simon Zebo
08. Wycliffe Palu	15. Nick Abendanon

16. Ross Harrison 17. Darren Dawdiuk 18. Luc Ducalcon 19. Dave Attwood 20. Alex Tulou 21. Ben Spencer 22. James Hook 23. Will Addison

Key Points
6 Nations Players
Sexton & Zebo return having played less than half an hour last week. Quedragao returns to the club looking to prove himself to the French management. After playing only 50 minutes last week he is ready and raring for Welsh.

Breakdown
There is a misbalance to the Welsh back row at the breakdown and so we have selected two flankers strong here and they, with the help of Retalick, Bekker & Ayerza, will look to make a mess of Welsh ball.

Defensive Frailties
Attack Ioane, who is not a 13, with Freuen running down his channel and the wings running lines either side looking to get in behind.

Attacking

• Look to play high tempo, high intensity rugby. Ball in hand, look to use our big line breakers to make the hard yards and tie up defenders creating space in wider channels for Sexton to exploit.

• We see the offload as a crucial weapon and our carriers will all be looking to offload in contact, continuing our forward momentum and breaking the defensive line.

• Care will look to tie the Welsh backrow to the breakdown with his sniping game allowing Sexton to play flat on the gain line. Sexton will look to bring our dangerous runners in to the game or find mismatches for himself to hit on the wrap around.

• Our back three will look to get involved as much as possible running support lines of the midfield looking for the inside ball or offload.

Set Piece

• 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 Welsh territory, with 4 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.

• On Welsh lineouts Bekker will stand at the front and challenge. At 6ft 10" Welsh will need to have their darts spot on.

Defending

• 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 Welsh momentum before it can get going.

• Care 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 Quedragao & Kvesic 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.

London Welsh make two changes to the side that drew at Welford Road last week for this weeks visit of Sale Sharks to the Kassam Stadium. Dave Wilson and Morgan Parra, who have had very limited game time in the 6 Nations replace Ben Alexander and Paul Hodgson in the starting line up, with both of those players dropping to the bench. Head coach Ozzy3213 had this to say;-

"Last weeks performance and result was an excellent one, as nobody else has stopped Leicester Tigers from winning at home for a very long. There was a temptation to go with the same side again this week, but we just felt that we needed to freshen up a small amount, and in Dave (Wilson) and Morgan (Parra) we have two guys coming in who are chomping at the bit to show what they can do. It also means that Ben (Alexander), who is very unfortunate to drop to the bench, can come on and provide real impact for us in the second half in what is forecast to be good conditions this week. We know that it will be a real battle as Sale, like ourselves, are in good form, but we are confident that at home, if we are on our game, this is a match that we can win."

London Welsh
Manager – Ozzy3213

01. Alex Corbisiero	09. Morgan Parra
02. Bismarck du Plessis	10. Elton Jantjies
03. Dave Wilson
04. Sitaleki Timani	11. James Simpson-Daniel
05. George Skivington	12. Pat McCabe
06. Tom Johnson	13. Digby Ioane
07. Maurie Fa'asavalu	14. Bryan Habana
08. Duane Vermeulen (c)	15. Jaco Taute

16. Chris Whitehead 17. Steven Kitschoff 18. Ben Alexander 19. James Hanks 20. Luke Wallace 21. Paul Hodgson 22. Owen Farrell 23. Andrew Trimble

Tactics

Key Points

• Home Advantage Always has to be worth a few points in predictions.
  
• Form/Momentum We are unbeaten in 12 matches, with 10 wins and 2 draw (away at Saints & Tigers).
  
• Sale Fatigue Ouedraogo, Sexton and Zebo all started both 6 Nations games for their countries and are thrown straight in here from the start. (I appreciate that the Irish boys never finished the England game, but still a big ask being thrown in. The two I've started both have had minutes off the bench and have points to prove.)
  
• Sefensive Strength Solid defenders throughout the team mean that it will take something special to score points against us.
  
• Mobile, Dynamic Pack We have selected a pack that can hold their own in the set piece, but will be good in open play, as the conditions are set to allow decent running rugby.
  
• Impact Bench We have players to bring on who can make a real difference in the game.
  

Basic Game Plan
Basic tactical premise for us to control possession and be solid defensively. Focus will be on winning the gainline collisions in both attack and defence. In order to do this we have picked a dynamic, physical and mobile pack to dominate this area of the game. We will however be looking for gaps rather than contact and looking to offload to support runners. We will look to apply pressure to Sale by keeping the ball for long periods and wearing them down defensively, and also by maintaining a solid defence and denying them opportunities to get on the score board. Pressure forces mistakes, and we will look to capitalise on any that Sale make.

Specifics

• Support runners to ruck past the ball quickly if the carrier goes to ground in order to secure quick ball to go again.
  
• Parra to use his boot to keep us playing in the right area of the field.
  
• Keep the scoreboard ticking over by taking all penalties on offer.
  
• We will look to play a blitz defence with quick line speed to hit the ball carrier before he gets to the gainline and knock him back even further. Parra will sweep in behind.
  
• We will not overcommit to the breakdown. If a turnover is on, we will go for it, counter rucking and hitting on the break. If it is not on to win the ball, we will send in a couple of players to legally slow it, and get our defensive line set quickly and strongly a la France in the World Cup. We want to control the gainline in defence and attack.
  
• Look to play quick from the scrum and lineout, going off the top and quickly into midfield as our default option. We will mix it up dependant on the situation though. Bekker is the go to man for the Sale lineout and we will look to attack him on their throw. If they start going elsewhere we will contest accordingly.
  

SJE, best of luck mate.

Match thread is updated and predictions are OPEN, although we are still waiting for SJE's tactics.

Tactics added cheers Pete

Should be an interesting one mate, we both play similar tactics, would be a good game to watch I reckon.

who is at home, me or Chris?

Saints team has been put above mine but above that it says Worcester at home?

You're at home nick, I've amended it mate.

Bath 25 - 23 London Irish

This is essentially a battle of which pack can get good ball to their talented back line in the right areas of the pitch the most often,and I think that battle will be won by Bath. I don't see much give at all in the front rows with Harris and Rimmer both struggling a little against the opposition loosehead, but I think I prefer the Bath back 5 of the scrum and think that is where it will be won. There are 3 genuinely world class players in the Bath back 5 yet their isn't for Irish (this week.) Half backs have the slight advantage to Irish with the outside backs evens. Good game which is nicked by Bath at home. Bith sides look strong for when the 6N is over.

London Welsh 29 - 29 Sale

At scrum time I see a minor advantage to Welsh but see Sale getting on top at the lineout. Around the park I see an advantage to the Sale pack but not by much but this is counter-acted by Ouedgrago who shouldn't be playing this week for me in a game which will be as physical as this. Slight edge at half back to Sale with Sexton fatiguing a little as the game goes on. Big fan of both centre combinations and think it will be a cracking battle. Prefer Steyn at 12 (marginally)from McCabe and same with Freaun at 13, but I think Ioane will cause him all sorts of problems with ball in hand. Back three goes to Welsh in all three positions. Both sides have good impact off the bench (wouldn't have Farrell their myself so can't give him his high current rating) and will tell in the final 1/4. Key for Sale is that when Ouedrago is brought off they have the excellent Tulou to replace him. Sitting on the fence I'm afraid. Two sides who've not lost for a while and expect them both to keep that intact after this.

Saracens 19 - 18 Newcastle

front 5 goes to Saracens in this one. It's a heavy unit which is technically good and ideal for wet conditions. Scrum edges to Saracens with the lineout to Newcastle (due to Croft only, locks majorly lacking at lineout.) Back row is a good contest but Newcastle get on top there. Half backs go to Newcastle with centres to Saracens and the back 3 evens with Cuthbert not fresh. Tactically DHL has got it spot on and that is what wins them this game. Playing the SA style is right for this team and Steenson a fine 10 to do this. They have a pack which is physical and will not take a backwards step and they have two centres who will get over the gain line all day. It is mightly close, but I think Saracens are set up to win the game. Great win DHL.

Wasps 23 - 28 Gloucester

Up front the pack is taken by Gloucester with what I think are three stronger units. The advantage up front isn't huge but it's enough to give Genia and Carter the ball to do damage. Wasps tactics are good and the correct one's to go with, but the problem is that Gloucester will be lethal with ball in hand and there isn't enough in the Wasps defence to stop them scoring some tries.

Worcester 24 - 26 Northampton

Great battle up front which see's a marginal advantage go to Saints. Rennie should control the breakdown pretty well but there is just a little more quality from 1-8 for Saints. Half backs to Worcester with a classy unit. Not much in it in the centres or in the back 3's and I am not entirely sure about the balance of the Saints back 3. There is a lot of impact on the Saints bench in the pack which I think will be crucial in the last 20 to exert their dominance and get the win.

Bath 20 London Irish 22

This is a pretty tough game and goes down to like so many to the set piece and who can control it and enable there backs to be unleased more. Irish will secure plenty of there own ball throwing to Kennedy. At the scrum Carl Rimmer is a big weakness being Chiefs 2nd/3rd choice TH. Pocock in the 7 shirt hasn't been at his best when he has played whilst Will Fraser is tearing up trees and will pinch a few balls from Bath. Ruan Pienaar and Nick Evans are better as a pair with Smith marginally better than Pienaar and Evans well above Hodgson. Centres to Irish with Rougirie having a off season in Top 14. Back three is a draw with Jane and JP the standouts.

Tactics see this go to IRish here.

We have Whitelock and Lobbe leading our lineout - I can't see either of them leading a lineout. Bakkies calls it at Toulon , Alba for Argintina and Read for Crusaders and ABs.

A banana defense targeting Hodgson is a good call.

Bath Rugby 23-22 London Irish
Lots of emphasis from both sides in tactics on getting big runners over the gainline, and then trying to offload. Irish talk a bit more about Evans pinging the corners as well and I think this is right to do so you are carrying in the right areas and can get some points from it. For Bath Romano carries well and is a good fit for this type of plan, but Irish have players like Garvey and Talei who are equally strong in this area. Given the conditions and tactics I don't see a lot of scrums in the game, so neither team gets a real upper hand there, nor in the lineout with much more focus on possession than territory. I think Bath have the better lineout options and edge this area, but don't get as much of an advantage from me as they would have if they were kicking for the corners and playing that type of game. Overall it's a small edge in the pack to Bath, a similar edge in the halfbacks to Irish, and nothing in it in the backs. At home with the pack edge, I have to give this one to Bath but it's a close game.


Harlequins 33-30 Leicester Tigers
Great forward battle in this one. Looking at it I see Harlequins getting the edge in the scrum. I just feel that Afoa is the type of prop that Sheridan can struggle with as he gets low and Sheridan won't be able to use his undoubted strength to as good effect as he can against others. Not a major edge though, as in the good conditions and with the tactics employed this won't be a scrumfest anyway. Not much in the lineout either way, with good options from both sides. Harlequins forwards good in the lose though, but Leicester better at the breakdown with Louw and Scaysbrook and given that they are targeting turnover ball, having Beale at 10 is a really good option as he will attack better with it than Wilkinson would. The only issue for me with Beale at 10 is defensively, where I think Leicester can be got at through 10,12,13. Joseph not being in great form for Harlequins lessens the impact of the defensive weaknesses, but I do think this is a game where both teams can score points as neither are 100% solid defensively. Both benches have good impact, but in my mind Leicester have to be ahead to bring on Wilkinson, as he can close the game out for them, but can't win it from behind. I just think that Harlequins at home and with a very good pack will keep their noses in front, and when the benches unload I see Cooper on the front foot punishing Leicetser as they try to chase the game.


London Welsh 30-27 Sale Sharks
The two in form teams in the league and an excellent match up. I really like both sides and how they are set out. As with Bath v Irish there is a lot of emphasis on carrying and possession as opposed to playing for territory, and both teams have the players to carry really well and carry out their game plans. I don't see Sexton and Zebo as being an issue physically, but I wouldn't have played Ouedraogo myself so have to mark down a little in the Sale pack. Scrum is marginally to Welsh, and lineout marginally to Sale. In marking Ouedraogo down, this has to effect the breakdown and the loose work of the pack, which would have been even, but has to then go to Welsh. I don't see targeting Ioane in defence as working, as he regularly defends in midfield for Australia and has played outside centre plenty in his career. Both centre combinations are excellent in my opinion and in these conditions which are set for running rugby would work really well. Back three goes to Welsh though. On the bench Tulou can have an impact for Sale, but the Welsh front row replacements can also have an impact for them in the loose and the scrum. Similar to with the Harlequins v Tigers game I see the home side with that little forward edge just continually nudging in front and the away side not quite having enough to overhaul them. Same home winning margin for me.


London Wasps 20-21 Gloucester
Wasps tactically are right again this week against what in a number of positions is a better quality side. Gloucester are set up to just relentlessly come at Wasps time and again, and I can see that being very tiring for Wasps defensively and them getting worn down in the end. Wasps backline is really well balanced, but they don't have the half backs here to consistently allow that backline to trouble Gloucester. They will be difficult and determined, but Gloucester just have that quality to earn them a really tough fought away win. Am really sorry fluxy, I really wanted to give you the win this week as you are setting up the team so well, it's just a quality issue in a couple of key positions.


Worcester Warriors 24-24 Northampton Saints
I am presuming that TFN at hooker for Northampton is Tatafu Polota-Nau, and if so I am not sure about him starting as I think he only signed this week, and his lineout can go awry at the best of times, so under pressure of being at a new team with new calls this would be a worry to me. Overall though, I don't think there is much between the packs, with pluses and minuses for both. Behind that I don't see Giteau as a 10 these days, as he plays almost exclusively at 12 now, and is in excellent form there. He can do a job at 10 without doubt, but I wouldn't rate him as highly there as I would at 12. Lots of attacking threat from the Northampton backline though, and potential issues defensively for the Worcester centre pairing as neither are the best straight on tacklers. Worcester halfback pair works for me, with Peel able to keep the opposition defence honest and buy time for Lambie, which he would use well. If this was at Franklins Gardens I would go for Northampton to win, but I think Worcester are set up well and I am not certain that they would lose this at home. I don't think that Northampton would lose this either though. Draw. Sorry.

Bath 25-25 London Irish

What a game. First up both lineouts tremendous disagree that bath lack a leader. Lobbe or Whitelock could do it easily. Nyanga and Kennedy great jumpers also.

Bath take front 5 just due to locks.

Backrow titanic battle all round and great energy. Think bath more dynamic but Irish more controlled through Evans and Pienaar and this dogs a draw out

Quins30-29 Leicester

Bench wins this one for Quins. Think Leicester and a few others can't wait for. 6n to end.

Front row to Quins good
Lineout battle.
Slightly prefer Quins Backrow with scans brook competitive but not of this class. Louw will turnover plenty.

Half backs one a piece with yach and burns best on show.

Yachvilli plays for himself and can't see him giving the quick ball Beale requires.
It will be a try fest and Quins have a game changing bench.

London welsh 22-22 Sale

I hate giving draws but I can't seperate. Quedrago is a weird one to play and is marked down. Why not play tuloh ??????

Corbs played so little rugby but retains ratings

Good lineout battle but sale edge this department and welsh take Backrow with a tough unit.

Jantjes for me massively unproven and whilst improved is still a tad flaky. Not a fan of dig by in centres but his defence is excellent there as he often defends there.

Think sexton and care see sale draw.

Re Zebo and sexton playing I have no issue however its something to look at in the summer. I benefited from Genias injury in rc and it maybe we say if injured then still not allowed to play

Bath 25 - 21 Irish

Advantage Bath up front for me, and prefer their second row duo too. See them dominating at the lineout, and have a better set piece. Bath have more at 7 & 8, and for me they take a big advanatge in the pack. Good Hb battle, that Irish edge, and see them getting on top in the centres too. Slight advanatge to Bath in the back three. Irish's 9-13 will keep this a good game, but Bath at home have too much in the pack here.


Welsh 24 - 22 Sale

Both LH's to get a shove on but overall prefer Welsh up front. Sale stronger in the 2nd rows though, and should take the lineout. Slight edge to Welsh in the backrow - not sure what Ouedraogo is doing playing. One apiece in the HB's. Good centre battle that Sale edge, and Welsh take the back threes. Good game this, not a great deal in the packs, but Welsh just edge, and with Parra pulling the strings think they'll get the win.


Saracens 26 - 25 Newcastle

Not a great deal in the scrum here, with a slight edge to Sarries in the 2nd rows - Thorn not a 5. Really good back row contest - Croft still needs form, and Sarries have a strong unit - McCaw always helps a side so much though. Might edge slightly to Newcastle in the HB's, but good kickers for Sarries, big advanatge to Sarries in the centres, particularly with Williams' fatigue. Advanatge Newcastle back three but Cuthbert gets marked down. Not much in this, home adv swings it for me.


Wasps 24 - 27 Gloucester

Slight edge to Gloucs up front, but a decent unit from Wasps. Good 2nd row contest here, with a tough to call back row battle. Gloucs lacking form but Wasps lacking quality. Difficult to say either side will dominate. Alberts best on show. Class at HB for Gloucs should see them take the advantage, but Genia not played in over 5 months. One piece in the centres, good battle though. Bit more class in Gloucs back three. Think Gloucs just have enough for a good win.


Worcester 21 - 23 Saints

Lack of form up front for Saints see Worcs sneak it, probs edge to Saints in the 2nd row, but not sure how long TFN and Samoa have been with the club? Good back row contest, with not much in it - two good units. Prefer both Worcs HB's here, but slightly prefer Saints in the centres (should have played Manu Chris). Saints take back threes. This is a really good game here, Worcs back line lacks much outside Lambie, and not sure how many tries they would score. Think Saints might just nick it.

Bath v Irish
Front fives close, Whitelock the standout lock but Irish slightly better front row. Pretty even backrows but Lobbe a fair way over Talei. Irish take the HB's and centres with great combos. Wingers close, Miller better than Homer. Benches are even. Sorry cant split.
22-22

Quins v Tigers
Great battle upfront. Think Hooper can get some joy at the breakdown but Scaysbrook is no mug. On form take Burns over Beale at 10 and just prefer the Quins centres.
26-23

Welsh v Sale
No real winner at scrum time. 2nd rows close but prefer Sale backrow think Kvesic can get some joy here. Also prefer Sale HB combo, top notch. Back lines are close. Powerful centres for Welsh, bit more spark for Sale.
20-22

Saracens v Falcons
Good powerful Sarries pack. strong midfield but unsure on the HB combo. Falcons packed with stars but not enough to win away and home advantage swings it here.
25-24

Away for the weekend so just very quick predos this week.

Good to have you back Nick!

Bath 27 - 27 Irish
Struggle to split this one. Really even all over the pitch, I think the Irish players would give that little bit extra this week to impress the new manager and that stops it being a Bath win. Think the props for Bath can also be got at.

Quins 32 - 30 Tigers
Tough game and I think if Beale had played at no10 for a stretch of timeit would have made a big difference because him and Wilko are completely different players and it transforms the way the backline gels/clicks. Quins back row is brilliant and i think that is where the game is won.

Welsh 20 - 19 Sale
Tough game to call, I would have the difference being that Sexton and Zebo both were injured in the game against England and haven't as such been released to play for their clubs this week and have marked Sale down for that (sorry SJE). Both teams have their tactics spot on, but do mark Welsh down for having Farrell on the bench, would have rested him as not been released by England.

Saracens 23 - 22 Falcons
Really tough to call, the packs are even, with Newcastle edging the backrow battle with a great unit. Front fives are hard to separate. Think Falcons can generate more ball, but the thing that stops them is to whether they can get through de Villiers and Nonu in midfield and I think Williams and Lowe will get schooled here and that's where they just fall short.

Wasps 19 - 22 Gloucester
Each week Wasps get their tactics spot on, for me they just need one or two WC players in their backline to get them over the gainline as I think they can be out muscled there a bit. Again the good thing with Gloucester is that they have a very strong spine to their team and with Genia and Carter they can control and win games.

Quins 28-25 Tigers
SP: No advantage for either side here.
BK: Prefer the look of Tigers but Easter in good form and Hooper strong.
HB: 2 great pairing's, Yachvilli's experience will help, Burns over Beale.
AT: Good from both.
DE: Tigers strong.
BE: 2 great impact benches.
TA: Burns flat for Faingaa is a great tactic, don't think Tiger's will get as much joy from breakdown as they think/

Welsh 25-24 Sale
SP: No split again here!
BK: Kvesic in good form.
HB: 2 good pairings from both here which suit plans.
AT: Think Welsh have more here.
DE: Both pretty solid.
BE: Very good from Welsh.
TA: Using Bekker to defend throw is good, Parra will keep scoreboard ticking. Think just to Welsh.

Sarries 29-29 Falcons
SP: 2 good front rows on show-prefer Falcons bench here, lineout's even.
BK: Again great backrow's- Sarries is good but McCaw has that extra quality.
HB: Both steady pairing, don't know who Sarries 9 is!
AT: Outwide to Falcons but Cuthbert will be a bit tired, Sarries have international quality at 13. Falcons centres could be got at.
DE: Both solid.
BE: Good impact forwards for Falcons, Sarries have players who can settle the game down.
TA: Not sure kick-chase will work. Falcons using fron 5 well here.

Wasps 20-25 Glos
SP: Huge front 5 for Glos here, Wentzel will help lineout.
BK: Steady from Wasps, step up for Glos.
HB: More quality from Glos but their hb's need to hit the ground running in S15.
AT: Wasps will score tries, Glos with quick ball will be dangerous.
DE: Both good.
BE: Scary power from Glos who I think will have too much for Wasps.
TA: Using James to pin Glos back and go for points is a great tactic but Glos do have a bit too much, this will stop Glos scoring loads though. Glos using their forward power will take it for their backs.

Warriors 18-20 Saints
SP: Good front 5's from both, think Domingo will get under Botha. Although TPN in too early?
BK: Evens here.
HB: Love the Warrior's pairing, think they'll edge Saints.
AT: Steady from Warriors but strong from Saints.
DE: Solid.
BE: Cane will cause damage here.
TA: Warriors using grunt and placement kicking is a good tactic, Saint's defense tactics very good and to take points will be enough. Maybe should have looked to tackle breakdown more as would be strong on counter attack.

Bath Rugby 27-22 London Irish

Scrum: No edge neither side is particularly destructive.
Lineout: Decent battle both sides hold their own but Bath make more off attacking ball.
Breakdown: Pocock capable of turning ball over but both sides should see quick, clean ball.
HB's: Edge to Irish although the Bath combo is more then capable.
Attack: Irish arguably lacking carriers with a lot to be asked of Talei.
Defence: No real weaknesses to either side.
Bench: Nothing between the benches.
Tactics: Both game plans pretty detailed. Irish struggle in the first 20 trying to out muscle Bath and will find it hard to get over the gain line at times.


Harlequins 30-27 Leicester Tigers

Scrum: Very good scrum battle with a slight edge to Tigers.
Lineout: Little bit more for Quins and they will poach a ball or two but dominate here.
Breakdown: Two 7s from Tigers will see a few turnovers but both sides should see clean ball for most of this game.
HB's: Evens. Bigger names for Tigers but great form for Quins.
Attack: Tigers lacking a go to man in midfield but the front 5 make up for this. More danger from the Tigers back three.
Defence: Tigers struggle through midfield while JJ can be caught at 13 for Quins.
Bench: Can’t see either side gaining much here.
Tactics: Plenty of detail and both work well. Tough game to call but at home and with the easier option of hitting it up the midfield channel Quins win out.


Saracens 23-21 Newcastle Falcons

Scrum: Nothing between the sides.
Lineout: Croft the best jumper on show but not a leader and Falcons lacking options after him. Creevey not always the most accurate either. Sarries get a lot of joy here.
Breakdown: Good battle here. Both 7s capable of turning over and both packs should clear well.
HB's: Edge to Tigers with Flood capable of working his back line.
Attack: Bit more invention from Falcons but great power in midfield for Sarries.
Defence: See the Falcons midfield struggling head on against their opposite numbers. Cuthbert will struggle positionally against Fitzy.
Bench: Some big names for Falcons but Youngs should have probably been rested & Kruger was needed from the start.
Tactics: Both solid game plans but Falcons leaving holes for the Sarries kicking game with the blind side winger sweeping on the blitz. Falcons will score with a good set of backs and with favourable conditions but Sarries game plan is perfect for this game.


London Wasps 17-20 Gloucester


Scrum: Slight edge to Glaws who may draw a few penalties.
Lineout: Decent battle but slight edge to Glaws.
Breakdown: Not an awful lot between the sides and once over the gain line they should get clean ball.
HB's: Step up to Glaws. James has struggled in recent weeks in France.
Attack: Glaws stronger in contact and have more creativity and danger in the backs.
Defence: Both back threes susceptible to the high ball at times.
Bench: Glaws with a stacked bench can up the tempo.
Tactics: More detail to Wasps but the game seems set up for Glaws just to continually run at the Wasps defence and they tire out in the end.


Worcester Warriors 19-19 Northampton Saints

Scrum: Good even battle between the front 5s here.
Lineout: Saints struggle with a new hooker on show not best known for his throwing
Breakdown: Both sides see clean ball but Rennie capable of disrupting a bit of ball.
HB's: Edge to Worcester. Lambie the much more capable 10 these days.
Attack: Both sides with decent options ball in hand. Much prefer Hernadez from FB. Great attacker from deep.
Defence: Worc midfield susceptible to the crash ball but the same can be said of Daly.
Bench: More impact to bring the tempo up for Saints.
Tactics: Bit more detail to Saints but both sides seem set up well. This one looks like an arm wrestle between the two packs and can’t call a winner with Worcester at home but Saints strong in the last quarter.

It’s a pain in the arse having to go through domestics etc to find out who TFN is!!!

Sarries 16-15 Newcastle

Sarries tactics bang on and Newcastle affected by 6 n and some weird selections (eg thorn at 5)

Newcastle will struggle in lineout a bit but have class Backrow although croft needs form despite playing well last weekend. See sarries centres as the key. Can see sarries Backrow hassling the halfbacks who will shovel it to centres where nonu and devilliers will have a field day.

Bench to sarries with Newcastle not having a hooker on the bench which In real life would see game forfeited

I don't think i will be up before 12

QUins 27-25 Tigers
Welsh 23-22 Sale
Sarries 18-20 Newcastle
Wasos 21-25 Glos
Warriors 17-20 Saints