Fantasy Aviva Premiership Round Nineteen

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Bath Rugby vs. London Welsh
Sunny Intervals, 5 degrees, 15 mph winds.

Bath Rugby
Manager – inthefastlane

01. Cian Healy	09. Aaron Smith
02. Chris Brooker	10. Tom Heathcote
03. Carl Rimmer
04. Luke Romano	11. George North
05. Graham Kitchener	12. Anthony Allen
06. Tom Guest	13. Jonathon Davies
07. David Pocock	14. Cory Jane
08. JMF Lobbe	15. Stuart Hogg

16. Jon Golding 17. Will Tanner 18. Davit Kubrashvilli 19. James Gaskell 20. David Seymour 21. Fourie Du Preez 22. Luther Burrell 23. Nopolini Nalaga

Overall: Look to get dominance in the set piece and use lots of big carries to our advantage.

Scrum: Expecting to have an advantage at scrum time with 3 big scrummagers and look to really get at the scrum whenever possible. Lobbe will control the scrum from number eight. Apply pressure and look to get nudge on throughout. Look to play the ref.

Lineout: Our second row partnership is somewhere we feel confident.We have Kitchener 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 Healy, Romano, 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 Heathcote 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, Davies, Jane and North seeing lots of the ball. We shall look to target JSD + McCabe with our carries all of whom we feel could struggle defensively.

Defence: Use a blitz defence in order to put pressure on Saints 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, Tanner and Kubs will look to keep the scrum strong. Gaskell will look to add grit late as well as another quality lineout operator. Seymour is someone who can come on and look to damage at the breakdown late on. FDP will prove a composed head to control tempo late. Burell + Nalaga will come on early in the second half and will look to get their hands on the ball for big carries against tired legs.


London Welsh
Manager – Ozzy3213

01. Ben Alexander	09. Morgan Parra
02. Rob Hawkins	10. Owen Farrell
03. Dave Wilson
04. Jim Hamilton	11. James Simpson-Daniel
05. James Hanks	12. Pat McCabe
06. Rynhardt Elstadt	13. Tim Nanai Williams
07. Thierry Dusautoir (c)	14. Bryan Habana
08. Duane Vermeulen	15. Gareth Anscombe

16. Chris Whitehead 17. Brett Sturgess 18. Martin Castrogiovanni 19. Semisi Taulava 20. Tom Johnson 21. Tomas O’Leary 22. Elton Jantjies 23. Joel Tomkins

Key Points

• Form/Momentum. One defeat in 16 games.
  
• Fired Up. We lost last week, the team will be fired up to get back to winning ways immediately.
  
• Fresh top class players We ran Gloucester close last week and have 3 top class internationals returning to the side this week after being rested. That makes us considerably stronger this time out.
  
• Welsh defence. Solid defenders throughout the team mean that it will take something special to score points against us.
  
• Big Game This is a big game for us, as win and we are still in with a shout of top 6, lose and it becomes very unlikely. We have big game players throughout our side and will relish the atmosphere in this one.
  

Basic Game Plan
Basic tactical premise for us to control possession and be solid defensively. We have picked a powerful and mobile pack to try to put pace on the game up front. We will be looking for gaps rather than contact and looking to offload to support runners. We will look to apply pressure to Bath 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 Bath 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.
  
• JSD and Habana to both be tracking inside ball and coming off their wings looking for offloads from the ball carrier.
  
• Target Heathcote relentlessly. Bath have no 10 replacement and he has to play 80 minutes. We will hit him hard and often in attack and defence.
  
• Target the scrum and look to get a platform from it. Hamilton to pack down on the right of the locks, with Elstadt also packing down on the tighthead side to give us real grunt.
  
• 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.
  

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Gloucester vs. Harlequins
Sunny Intervals, 6 degrees, 14 mph winds.

Gloucester
Manager - Mat

01. Nick Wood	09. Dan Robson
02. Deon Fourie	10. Dan Carter
03. Nicolas Mas
04. Eben Etzebeth	11. Matt Banahan
05. George Robson	12. Matt Scott
06. Willem Alberts	13. Richard Kahui
07. Akapusi Qera	14. Charlie Sharples
08. Immanol Harinordoquoy ©	15. Israel Dagg

16. Dan Murphy 17. Mike Heywood 18. Rupert Harden 19. Tom Palmer 20. Jamie Heaslip 21. Will Genia 22. Johan Goosen 23. Iain Balshaw

+ Form/Momentum We are on a great run and top of
Form league we have steamroller momentum which counts at end of season
+ Superior carriers 1-8 carry and carry well we have dynamism and hard yards
+ See Brookes as someone who can be got
At as has no form, game time or reputation
+ 8,9,10 axis able to control and dictate. Also are a regular units.
Is this laid laws first game at 9 for Quins ? Generally plays 10 for them.
+ Carter vs burns. burns not a
Man To control a game. Questions over his ability to lead an attack in big games.
+ Mobile, Dynamic Pack We have selected a pack that can hold their own in the set piece, but who offer a huge amount of carrying and impact.
+ lineout forwards all over able to disrupt ball.
Kruis not starting for sarries for a while so will be targeted

+Impact Bench We have players to bring on who can make a real difference in the scrum and loose. Proven internationals and young dynamic talent . Quins debuting Botha and spies who signed a day ago.

Game plan

We are targetting the Big home win and know we have to win the battle and right to play our quick brand of rugby. We will be looking to get our big runners on the front foot and get over the gain line to produce quick ball for Robson to hit carter to play wide and direct.

Our pack is huge and mobile but great in set piece and we will be targetting the lineouts and Scrums with mas and wood looking to dominate.
Mas after a great 6 n will
Look
To destroy. Target lineout arrows relentlessly to affect quality of their ball.
Drive lots of lineout ball and try and hit Qera and Alberts of rucks in to burns channel.

To pressure Quins halfbacks. Burns thrives on quick attacking ball whereas laidlaw likes play to come of him

As ever we look to keep the ball and force Quins in to mistakes to start with and will look to build tempo as we start to get on top. Once we have won the battles and rights to play we will open up and start to really increase the tempo with our bench contributing and keeping the foot on the pedal.

We will be targeting the 10 channel a lot to make the defence narrow to able us to then whip it wide and isolate runners with back 3

Look to pressure Quins knowing if its a kicking battle carter will win
Carter to try and isolate banahan with Quins wingers on cross kicks

Specifics

- send Kahui gear Alberts etc at burns channel
- take all points on offer with carter
- look to use the bomb early on to target Morahan and huget
- Territory early doors and pressure their lineout
- kick in behind back 3 and pressure
- put pressure on laidlaw To make him
Shovel ball to burns.
- Kahui and banahan to interchange where necessary to keep big running option to interest defenders
- blitz defence with scrum half sweeping
- look to send in numbers to breakdown to disrupt and turnover.
- target new Quins signings when on and
Take advantage of their unfamiliarity
- carry relentlessly to keep ball and build pressure. We only use the ball when we have front foot quality ball


Harlequins
Manager – Steven_Sharks

01. Tony Woodcock	09. Greig Laidlaw
02. Schalk Brits	10. Freddie Burns (k)
03. Kieran Brookes
04. Bakkies Botha	11. Luke Morahan
05. George Kruis	12. Jamie Roberts
06. Tom Wood	13. Florian Fritz
07. Michael Hooper	14. Yoann Huget
08. Nick Easter (c)	15. Rob Kearney

16. Gary Botha 17. Joe Marler 18. Will Collier 19. Charlie Matthews 20. Sam Warburton 21. Pierre Spies 22. Karl Dickson 23. Jonathan Joseph

Tactics

Game plan

Aim to retain possession and tire out Gloucester. We will build phases with our forwards carrying hard and looking to win collisions and get across the gain line. As we make yards and tie in defenders we will look to spread the ball into wide channels and involve out outside backs. We have some powerful carriers in our side to will look to use them coming onto the ball at pace.

We will look for carriers to hit lines at pace and in numbers and keep the legs pumping in contact. If it is on we will look to offload to the supporting player and if it isn’t on we will recycle the ball quickly and continue the phases. Quick ball is key to us being able to run at an unorganized defence, cross the gain line and make yards.

Forwards

We will look to hit the rucks hard to get us quick ball to play on the front foot with. At the set piece we will secure our own ball and pressure Gloucester ball as much as possible. We will look for our front 5 to carry off 9 and off 10s inside shoulder with our back row carrying in the midfield. Brookes supported by Botha will look to win the hit and keep it going with the ball being put in immediately by Laidlaw so as to get us on the front foot. At the lineout we will look to shorten the line and get Easter and Hooper in the midfield as carriers.

Backs

We have a huge set of outside backs which will be controlled by Laidlaw and Burns. We will look to put them into gaps and damage the Gloucester defence. Support lines will be key from our backs so as to key our attacking momentum. We will look to get the ball into the wide channels and in the hands of our back 3 when Gloucester’s defence is tied in. Burns will stand flat and Laidlaw will marshall our pack. In our own half we might use the kicking game of our half backs to gain field position if it is on. This will mean box kicks, up and unders or cross field kicks. Our outside backs are all tall and excellent under the high ball.

Defence

We will employ a quick line speed and get in the faces of Gloucester’s decision makers. We will particularly stay tight at the fringes to negate Genia. We will combine this with aggressive counter rucking from one or two forwards to try and make the ball he receives slow and disrupt his momentum. When we have the first men to the breakdown we will look to legally compete. We will look to attack off turnover ball and milk penalties if we can so as to win us territory.

Key Points

Control the breakdown – In attack and defence we want to control this area. We will commit extra men if required to get quick ball and will look to turnover and disrupt in defence.

Build pressure – In the Gloucester half we will build pressure and look for penalties to kick at goal. Pressure will be built by effective rucking, quick ball and strong carries.

Outside backs – We have a very big set of outside backs Morahan (6 ft 2in), Roberts (6 ft 4in), Fritz (6 ft 1in), Huget (6 ft 3in) and Kearney (6 ft 1in). We will look to be physical in the backs and will look to use this height to challenge under high balls effectively, aimed at the Gloucester wings

Aggressive in contact – We will look to be aggressive in the contact in both attack and defence. We will look to win the collisions and give our forward a target to hit at ruck time.

Bench – we will look to introduce Warburton , Spies and Joseph after around 55 mins. They will look to get right into the action and give us an injection of pace and momentum. Other subs will be used if and when required.

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London Irish vs. Sale Sharks
Grey Cloud, 5 degrees, 12 mph winds.

London Irish
Manager - prop_lyd

01. Jean Baptiste-Poux	09. Ruan Pienaar
02. Andrew Hore	10. Nick Evans(k)
03. Adam Jones
04. Stuart Hooper (c)	11. Marland Yarde
05. Hugh Pyle	12. Shane Geraghty
06. Mamuka Gorgodze	13. Conrad Smith
07. Justin Tipuric	14. Sailosi Tagicakibau
08. Ben Morgan	15. Tom Homer (lk)

16. Tom Lindsay 17. Matt Stevens 18. Charlie Beech 19. Dean Mumm 20. Will Fraser 21. Julien Dupuy 22. Lionel Beauxis 23. Henry Trinder

Key Points

Balanced Backrow
We have a strong and balanced back row on show today with Gorgodze doing alot of carrying down the 9-10 channel to tie them into the defense. Morgan will be on the shoulder of 10-12 and Tips will have free regin to terrorise Sale.

Sale 9-10
We know they are a very good pairing but feel we can match them here. We will look to slow down their ball at the breakdown and drag both their 9 and 10 into defensive duties early to remove them from our attacks.


Run Back Balll
We know in Steyn they have a good boot so our back three have been told to run back as much ball as possible and to stand deep ready to receive the kicks. They will look for mis-matches or to run into our forwards for quick ball.

Attacking

• We want to force errors from Warriors and will target the 10-12 channel by sending big runners down his channel.

• Pienaar and Evans to play what's in front of them and look to release Gerghaty (who will link with Smith with quick ball) or snipe as much as possible. If it isn't on then Evans will stick it in the corners and, with Hooper, Gorgodze and Pyle we have the number jumpers to gain the ball back, we know Sale will be dangerous here so will look to avoid his area and mix up our lineouts.

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

• 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.

• Experience to close out the win in Stevens and Mumm, Fraser will have a field day against tired legs, excitement to continue to target the tired players through Dupy's sniping, heavy impact at the scrum to come on and Trinder and Beauxis can continue to control the game and bring further excitement and pace..

Set Piece

• Strong scrum which will get the edge up on the Jones 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 10-12 led by Smith so he has no time to kick or give quick ball to the centres (we will have a backrower on Evans' shoulder to look for quick turnover ball, we will protect the channels to stop Thomas sniping.

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

• We will hit the breakdown quick to give Tipuric 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.

Sale Sharks
Manager – SJE

01. Jerome Schuster	09. Kahn Fotuaili'i
02. David Paice	10. Johnny Sexton
03. Davit Zirakishvilli
04. Dave Attwood	11. Sam Smith
05. Andries Bekker	12. Francois Steyn
06. Alex Tulou	13. Gael Fickou
07. Matt Kvesic	14. David Strettle
08. Louis Picamoles	15. Nick Abendanon

16. Vasil Kakovin 17. Tommy Taylor 18. Luc Ducalcon 19. Christian Day 20. Victor Vito 21. Ben Spencer 22. James Hook 23. Luke Rooney

Key Points

Mobility
Look to take advantage of the extra mobility in our front 5 and play a high paced expansive game. Look to get the Irish front row blowing with the intensity of the game. For all the power in the Irish backrow we can rely on Tulou the best carrier in European club rugby this year and Picamoles the best of the 6 nations.

Attack Geraghty
Get the big carriers running down the Irish 12 channel with a lot of ground to be made there. Put Geraghty under pressure and Irish may well struggle on defence.

Play for the turnover
Irish will be looking to play mostly down the 10-12 channel where we have two of the best defenders in the world in their respective positions. Kvesic has been instructed to defend in this channel and get at the breakdown first looking for the turnover.

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.

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

• On opposition lineouts Bekker will stand at the front and challenge. At 6ft 10" Irish 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 Irish momentum before it
  can get going.

• Fotuaili'i 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 off 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 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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Northampton Saints vs. Leicester Tigers
White Cloud, 4 degrees, 13 mph winds.

Northampton Saints
Manager - Dammit Chris

01. Mako Vunipola	09. Mike Phillips
02. Tatafu Polota-Nau	10. Juan Martin Hernandez
03. Carl Hayman
04. Joe Launchbury	11. Leigh Halfpenny (k)
05. Patricio Albacete	12. Weslie Fofana
06. Julian Bonnaire	13. Elliot Daly
07. Sam Cane	14. Christian Wade
08. Sergio Parisse (c)	15. Ben Foden

16. Motu Matu'u 17. Thomas Domingo 18. Henry Thomas 19. Courtney Lawes 20. Billy Vunipola 21. Nick Phipps 22. Danny Cipriani 23. Manu Tuilagi

Tactics:Beginning to build some momentum at the end of the season after winning the last 3 games in a row and the team has been boosted by the return of Mako Vunipola, Thomas Domingo, Joe Launchbury, Sergio Parisse, Mike Phillips, Leigh Halfpenny, Manu Tuilagi and Weslie Fofana into the match day 23. We have chosen to keep Daly and Wade in the starting lineup due to their impressive form in recent weeks.

Our game is based on power, getting over the gainline and taking a physical/aggressive defence to force mistakes from Tigers, before using our impact bench in the final 20-25minutes to finish the game strongly. We are confident of winning the kicking battle with Hernandez, Daly and Halfpenny in the backline and getting ourselves into try scoring positions to launch attacks with our backline.

We will also target Rory Clegg throughout the game and place him under pressure.

Attack: We will be able to mix up our attack throughout the 80minutes, we are happy to play a patient game, work through the phases and make hard yards, use Bonnaire's lineout presence to secure attacking ball or to start rolling mauls in the Tigers half. But our team is full of gainline breakers Vunipola, TFN, Launchbury, Parisse in the pack, Phillips, Fofana, Daly, Wade and Foden in the backs and our game will be built around getting our gainline breakers on the ball and attacking Tigers.

Getting over the gainline and putting Tigers on the backfoot is key to giving the likes of Daly and Wade with attacking opportunities.

Defence: We've picked a powerful and mobile pack who can put in big hits and look to force Tigers into turnovers and mistakes. We will look to utilise a similar defensive system to Saracens and England, based around physicality and slowing down the oppositions attack. Need to stop Mafi and O'Brien so will go low and get them to the ground early with two tacklers.

Mike Phillips return will aid this, and he will sweep behind the defensive line. With Foden and Halfpenny we have two top-class defensive backthree players and can use Daly and Wade's pace for any line breaks.

Set piece: Strong scrum and lineout jumpers of Bonnaire, Albacete and Launchbury - will use the lineout to set up more phases for our forwards to go through and generate quick ball from those phases and first phase Fofana or Foden to punch holes in Tigers defensive line.

Breakdown: Without an out and out 7 in their starting lineup, we feel that this is a key area to target and will look to really use Sam Cane at this area as much as possible. Launchbury's mobility will also assist here and getting turnovers is key in this game to get our backs away.

Target Clegg: A key part of our game will be targetting Rory Clegg in attack and defence, sending Parisse and Fofana at his defensive channel and then putting him under pressure with an aggressive defence. If we put him off his game we can stop the Tigers backline.

Key Points:• Patient game, working through the phases and getting our gainline breakers on the ball.
• Experience at 2, 8, 9 and 10 who can help win the big games.
• Hernandez, Daly and Halfpenny can win the kicking battle and put us in key areas to attack.
• Target the Tigers flyhalve(s) and the breakdown.


Leicester Tigers
Manager – LukeLovesLuka

01. Gethin Jenkins (c)	09. Dimitri Yachvili (k)
02. Stephen Moore	10. Rory Clegg
03. Dan Cole
04. Nathan Hines	11. Drew Mitchell
05. Geoff Parling	12. Billy Twelvetrees
06. Steve Mafi	13. Rene Ranger
07. Sean O'Brien	14. Vincent Clerc
08. Ernst Joubert	15. Isa Nacewa

16. Tom Youngs 17. Lee Imiolek 18. Cencus Johnston 19. Simon Shaw 20. Ryan Jones 21. Micky Young 22. Frederic Michalak 23. Paul Sackey

Play to our strengths and use Yachvili to dictate and control our heavy pack - then look to get the runners in our back line into space.

Key Points:

Fatigue/Motivation:
Saints went all the way to the LV Final, and their players haven't had a great deal of time off in the past 2 months. The likes of TPN, Hayman and Bonnaire in particular have played a lot of games in that period - whereas we had those two weeks off where the cup games were. Saints have publically stated they are targetting the cups this year, and next week have a huge game at home to Leinster in the HC that their mind may be on.

Pressure the set piece
Our scrummaging front row, anchored by Cole, will look to target the likes of Vunipola and TPN in particular. Call for scrums if we get the upper hand. On Saints lineout, pressure TPN's throws with great stealers in the shape of Mafi, Joubert and Parling, and look to nick every ball.

General Tactics:

- Yachvili to control our game, dictating where our huge forwards play the game. We have the personnel in our side to play a mixture of different styles, and we will play the game as we see it.
Kick regularly to Wade, targetting him with both high balls and kicks in behind.

- Yachvili and Twelvetrees to support Clegg. In attacking play, we will play with two first recievers in Clegg and Twelvetrees. Keep Saints guessing with our attacking options.

- Use the mix of runners in our backline. With the likes of Ranger and Nacewa we have silky runners; Twelvetrees as our powerful centre; and two speedster wingers - we have a real set of options behind Clegg.

- Target the scrum with our huge pack - Cole particularly target the Vunipola/TPN hit - look to really get the shove on.

- Target the lineout - led by Parling. Five jumpers - and some of the best in the AP in Parling, Mafi and Joubert. Mix up jumpers on a consistent basis. Always look to steal on Saints throws putting real pressure on TPN.

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

- 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.

- Yachvili to kick all penalites.

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London Wasps v Saracens
White Cloud, 4 degrees, 10 mph winds.

London Wasps

Manager – Fluxy

01. Ben Robinson	09. Maxime Machenaud (K)
02. Rob Webber	10. Rhys Priestland
03. Logovii Mulipola
04. Bradley Davies	11. Tom Varndell
05. Donnacha Ryan (C)	12. Brad Barritt
06. Iain Henderson	13. Keith Earls
07. Jonathon Poff	14. Topsy Ojo
08. Netani Talei	15. Mike Brown

16. Nathan Morris 17. Ryan Grant 18. Shaun Knight 19. Mouritz Botha 20. Dave Dennis 21. Jonah Holmes 22. Dan Bowden 23. Matt Tait

Tactics
After the heart break of losing a winning lead last week, this week the lads look to set the record straight. From the off we will look to dominate the possession and territory, with the use of clever kicks, or by using our very athletic and strong carrying pack. Priestland and Machenaud will pull the strings form midfield, under little pressure. If Saracens want to score against our strong defence they will have run the ball from within their 22.

In attack we will look for the overlap or to develop one by the use of simple phases to reproduce quick ball to cut the defence open. Slow ball we will look to set up pods and runners off Priestland. This will drag Saints defenders further apart and produce wholes or mismatches. This allows the use of our dangerous back three that have been in great form with ball in hand.

There is a belief in this team that they can produce the result that are needed in the relegation run in, and with quality players like Ryan, Barritt, Earls and Brown back in the side, these boys can create a moment of skill to win games for the cause. This is one of the big games in the run in and at home, like last week - Wasps won't go down without a fight and without playing some decent rugby.

Tactics

• We have some great technicians in the scrum and with our big front five, this is an area we want to get an advantage in. Look to target this area, as Saracens do not possess the most technical props. Looking to wheel and cut the scrum off from the opposing backline.
  
  
• With Armitage playing Eight we will look to put him under pressure in a position he isn't accomplished in. Doing this by cutting him off from his back-line at scrums and also pressure his picks up from the base of the scrum.
  
  
• With a strong lineout, Ryan will lead the lineout and use himself as banker ball at the front of the line with Davies jumping in the middle. Look to run full number lineouts to tie in the opposing pack. This will create space for our backs.
  
  
• Look to clear every ruck out quickly. Much like England and NZ we want to cleanly win our own possession and quickly.
  
  
• Similar to the point above but we want to legally get men over the ball and competing for possession to slow down the Sarries possession.
  
  
• We will look to keep the ball alive, preventing them from setting any defensive lines and moving the point of attack. They have picked some good boys over the ball at the breakdown. Constantly moving the ball will prevent them from turning over possession. Furthermore it adds to our offloading game as we can gain yardage with some slick hands and heavy carries.
  
  
• Preistland will look to use our pacy backline often. Just because we are in a dogfight doesn't mean we can't not turn on the style to score tries. He can use Barritt as a straight line option to make yards or go out the back to the pace of Earls and our back three.
  
  
• Machenaud willl control the pack and direct traffic, just like all little french general scrum half's. He will take look to test the Saracens back three with kicks in behind them and look to make them make tough decisions in defence.
  
  
• We will run a banana blitz in defence, with Machenaud sweeping. This will cut down the time and space for their danger midfield and halfbacks. Sending them inside to the guards of the rucks and creating a chance of isolation and turnover.
  
  
• 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.
  
  
• Machenaud to kick all on opportunity points, within range. Any other penalties will be sent long to gain a territorial edge with our strong lineout.

Saracens Football Club
Manager – DHLS07

01. Paul James	09. Dewaldt Duvenage
02. George Chuter	10. Gareth Steenson
03. Jannie du Plessis
04. Flip van der Merwe	11. Lachie Turner
05. Lionel Nallet	12. Ma'a Nonu
06. Alessandro Zanni	13. Matt Hopper
07. Liam Gill	14. Adam Thompstone
08. Steffon Armitage	15. Ben Smith

16. John Smit 17. Max Lahiff 18. Phil Swainston 19. James Craig 20. Keegan Daniel 21. Chris Cook 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 Liam Gill or Steffon Armitage either stealing or slowing the ball at the breakdown.

---

Worcester Warriros vs. Newcastle Falcons
White Cloud, 5 degrees, 13 mph winds.

Worcester Warriors
Manager - stnick88

01. Tendai Mtawarira	09. Tawera Kerr-Barlow
02. Richardt Strauss	10. Pat Lambie
03. Brian Mujati
04. Dean Schofield	11. Sean Maitland
05. Johann Muller (c)	12. Olly Barkley
06. Tom Savage	13. Mathieu Bastereaud
07. Shane Jennings	14. James Short
08. Johnnie Beattie	15. Delon Armitage

16. Matt Parr 17. Koree Britton 18. Werner Kruger 19. Alun Wyn-Jones 20. Thomas Waldrom 21. Dwayne Peel 22. Tom Casson 23. Ben Ransom

Team News
- Worcester recall Johnnie Beattie, Mathieu Bastereaud and Sean Maitland after giving them a week off following the 6N. Brian Mujati replaces Werner Kruger, who drops to the bench. New signing Thomas Waldrom has to settle for a place on the bench whilst there is no space for other new signings Dave Denton or Matthew Rees. Warriors are still without Phil Dowson, Ali Williams, Dave Ward, BJ Botha and Julien Malzieu through injury.

Tactics

- Look to win the forward battle. Big collisions, big carries and get over the gainline. Wear the Falcons down in defence.

- Earn the right to go wide. We will not do this too early and wait until defenders are sucked in before spreading it to the wings.

- Barkley to kick all pens for goals.

- Lambie and Barkley to be the play makers, getting us in the right areas of the pitch.

- Bastereaud is on good form and we will use him as a crash ball player and a decoy. He will attract a lot of defensive attention and we will look for Armitage to join the line of attack when Bast is acting as a decoy.

- Jennings to be a menace at the breakdown and slow down as much ball as possible and gain turnovers to hurt Falcons and hit them on the counter.

- Kerr-Barlow to snipe around the fringes and look for gaps to exploit.

- Lambie and Barkley will look to kick in behind Cuthbert and get him turned.


Newcastle Falcons
Manager – Driver

01.Fabian Barcella	09.Ben Youngs
02.Rory Best	10.Toby Flood
03.Owen Franks
04.Ed Slater	11.Alex Cuthbert
05.Juandre Kruger	12.Scott Williams
06.Chris Robshaw(c)	13.Adam Ashley Cooper
07.Heinrich Brussouw	14.Tommy Bowe
08.Toby Falatau	15.Alex Goode

16.Jamie George 17.Soane Tonga'uhia 18.Scott Wilson 19.Brad Thorn 20.Kelly Brown 21.Sam Harrison 22.Ben Williams 23.George Lowe

- High tempo game plan based on dictating the tight and securing ball along with disrupting the Worcester game and preventing any rhythem to it.

- Our big scrummagers in the front 5 will look to really get on top of the Wuss pack and win plenty of ball for Youngs and Flood.

- Aim to win every one of our throws , Kruger is the best lineout operator on show and will look to take alot of ball from Best and set the drive or free Youngs up.

- Brussouw to target the breakdown and try to steal as much ball as possible within the full limitations of the rule book. Robshaw and Falatau will look to carry plenty along with Franks , Best and Slater.

- Flood to stand flat and allow Cuthbert and Bowe into the line giving us plenty of options from deep or use Scott Williams and AAC to smash the ball up.

- Falatau/Cuthbert/Williams to go charging down Olly Barkleys channel to ask questions of his defense.

- Youngs/Flood to play whats in front of them.

- High balls on Delon with a few 'cheeky' hits to test his temperment.

Subs

Tonga for Barcella - 60mins
Thorn for Slater - 55mins
Brown for Brussouw - 65mins
Harrison for Youngs -60mins

---

01. Jean Baptiste-Poux	09. Ruan Pienaar
02. Andrew Hore	10. Nick Evans(k)
03. Adam Jones
04. Stuart Hooper (c)	11. Marland Yarde
05. Hugh Pyle	12. Shane Geraghty
06. Mamuka Gorgodze	13. Conrad Smith
07. Justin Tipuric	14. Sailosi Tagicakibau
08. Ben Morgan	15. Tom Homer (lk)

16. Tom Lindsay 17. Matt Stevens 18. Charlie Beech 19. Dean Mumm 20. Will Fraser 21. Julien Dupuy 22. Lionel Beauxis 23. Henry Trinder

Key Points

Balanced Backrow
We have a strong and balanced back row on show today with Gorgodze doing alot of carrying down the 9-10 channel to tie them into the defense. Morgan will be on the shoulder of 10-12 and Tips will have free regin to terrorise Sale.

Sale 9-10
We know they are a very good pairing but feel we can match them here. We will look to slow down their ball at the breakdown and drag both their 9 and 10 into defensive duties early to remove them from our attacks.


Run Back Balll
We know in Steyn they have a good boot so our back three have been told to run back as much ball as possible and to stand deep ready to receive the kicks. They will look for mis-matches or to run into our forwards for quick ball.

Attacking

• We want to force errors from Warriors and will target the 10-12 channel by sending big runners down his channel.

• Pienaar and Evans to play what's in front of them and look to release Gerghaty (who will link with Smith with quick ball) or snipe as much as possible. If it isn't on then Evans will stick it in the corners and, with Hooper, Gorgodze and Pyle we have the number jumpers to gain the ball back, we know Sale will be dangerous here so will look to avoid his area and mix up our lineouts.

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

• 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.

• Experience to close out the win in Stevens and Mumm, Fraser will have a field day against tired legs, excitement to continue to target the tired players through Dupy's sniping, heavy impact at the scrum to come on and Trinder and Beauxis can continue to control the game and bring further excitement and pace..

Set Piece

• Strong scrum which will get the edge up on the Jones 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 10-12 led by Smith so he has no time to kick or give quick ball to the centres (we will have a backrower on Evans' shoulder to look for quick turnover ball, we will protect the channels to stop Thomas sniping.

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

• We will hit the breakdown quick to give Tipuric 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.

Northampton Saints
Manager: Dammit Chris

01. Mako Vunipola	09. Mike Phillips
02. Tatafu Polota-Nau	10. Juan Martin Hernandez
03. Carl Hayman
04. Joe Launchbury	11. Leigh Halfpenny (k)
05. Patricio Albacete	12. Weslie Fofana
06. Julian Bonnaire	13. Elliot Daly
07. Sam Cane	14. Christian Wade
08. Sergio Parisse (c)	15. Ben Foden

16. Motu Matu'u 17. Thomas Domingo 18. Henry Thomas 19. Courtney Lawes 20. Billy Vunipola 21. Nick Phipps 22. Danny Cipriani 23. Manu Tuilagi

Tactics:Beginning to build some momentum at the end of the season after winning the last 3 games in a row and the team has been boosted by the return of Mako Vunipola, Thomas Domingo, Joe Launchbury, Sergio Parisse, Mike Phillips, Leigh Halfpenny, Manu Tuilagi and Weslie Fofana into the match day 23. We have chosen to keep Daly and Wade in the starting lineup due to their impressive form in recent weeks.

Our game is based on power, getting over the gainline and taking a physical/aggressive defence to force mistakes from Tigers, before using our impact bench in the final 20-25minutes to finish the game strongly. We are confident of winning the kicking battle with Hernandez, Daly and Halfpenny in the backline and getting ourselves into try scoring positions to launch attacks with our backline.

We will also target Rory Clegg throughout the game and place him under pressure.

Attack: We will be able to mix up our attack throughout the 80minutes, we are happy to play a patient game, work through the phases and make hard yards, use Bonnaire's lineout presence to secure attacking ball or to start rolling mauls in the Tigers half. But our team is full of gainline breakers Vunipola, TFN, Launchbury, Parisse in the pack, Phillips, Fofana, Daly, Wade and Foden in the backs and our game will be built around getting our gainline breakers on the ball and attacking Tigers.

Getting over the gainline and putting Tigers on the backfoot is key to giving the likes of Daly and Wade with attacking opportunities.

Defence: We've picked a powerful and mobile pack who can put in big hits and look to force Tigers into turnovers and mistakes. We will look to utilise a similar defensive system to Saracens and England, based around physicality and slowing down the oppositions attack. Need to stop Mafi and O'Brien so will go low and get them to the ground early with two tacklers.

Mike Phillips return will aid this, and he will sweep behind the defensive line. With Foden and Halfpenny we have two top-class defensive backthree players and can use Daly and Wade's pace for any line breaks.

Set piece: Strong scrum and lineout jumpers of Bonnaire, Albacete and Launchbury - will use the lineout to set up more phases for our forwards to go through and generate quick ball from those phases and first phase Fofana or Foden to punch holes in Tigers defensive line.

Breakdown: Without an out and out 7 in their starting lineup, we feel that this is a key area to target and will look to really use Sam Cane at this area as much as possible. Launchbury's mobility will also assist here and getting turnovers is key in this game to get our backs away.

Target Clegg: A key part of our game will be targetting Rory Clegg in attack and defence, sending Parisse and Fofana at his defensive channel and then putting him under pressure with an aggressive defence. If we put him off his game we can stop the Tigers backline.

Key Points:• Patient game, working through the phases and getting our gainline breakers on the ball.
• Experience at 2, 8, 9 and 10 who can help win the big games.
• Hernandez, Daly and Halfpenny can win the kicking battle and put us in key areas to attack.
• Target the Tigers flyhalve(s) and the breakdown.

Director or Rugby Flux has named a slightly improved side this weekend, ahead of the big clash against fellow strugglers Saracens. Flux has named Netani Talei at number eight instead of Dave Dennis who drops to the bench. Also coming back into the side are captain Donnacha Ryan and England International Mike Brown, along with Ireland international Keith Earls at 13. Flux stated that despite the sore result last weekend, his team are itching to put things right this week.

London Wasps

Manager – Fluxy

01. Ben Robinson	09. Maxime Machenaud (K)
02. Rob Webber	10. Rhys Priestland
03. Logovii Mulipola
04. Bradley Davies	11. Tom Varndell
05. Donnacha Ryan (C)	12. Brad Barritt
06. Iain Henderson	13. Keith Earls
07. Jonathon Poff	14. Topsy Ojo
08. Netani Talei	15. Mike Brown

16. Nathan Morris 17. Ryan Grant 18. Shaun Knight 19. Mouritz Botha 20. Dave Dennis 21. Jonah Holmes 22. Dan Bowden 23. Matt Tait

Tactics
After the heart break of losing a winning lead last week, this week the lads look to set the record straight. From the off we will look to dominate the possession and territory, with the use of clever kicks, or by using our very athletic and strong carrying pack. Priestland and Machenaud will pull the strings form midfield, under little pressure. If Saracens want to score against our strong defence they will have run the ball from within their 22.

In attack we will look for the overlap or to develop one by the use of simple phases to reproduce quick ball to cut the defence open. Slow ball we will look to set up pods and runners off Priestland. This will drag Saints defenders further apart and produce wholes or mismatches. This allows the use of our dangerous back three that have been in great form with ball in hand.

There is a belief in this team that they can produce the result that are needed in the relegation run in, and with quality players like Ryan, Barritt, Earls and Brown back in the side, these boys can create a moment of skill to win games for the cause. This is one of the big games in the run in and at home, like last week - Wasps won't go down without a fight and without playing some decent rugby.

Tactics

• We have some great technicians in the scrum and with our big front five, this is an area we want to get an advantage in. Look to target this area, as Saracens do not possess the most technical props. Looking to wheel and cut the scrum off from the opposing backline.
  
  
• With Armitage playing Eight we will look to put him under pressure in a position he isn't accomplished in. Doing this by cutting him off from his back-line at scrums and also pressure his picks up from the base of the scrum.
  
  
• With a strong lineout, Ryan will lead the lineout and use himself as banker ball at the front of the line with Davies jumping in the middle. Look to run full number lineouts to tie in the opposing pack. This will create space for our backs.
  
  
• Look to clear every ruck out quickly. Much like England and NZ we want to cleanly win our own possession and quickly.
  
  
• Similar to the point above but we want to legally get men over the ball and competing for possession to slow down the Sarries possession.
  
  
• We will look to keep the ball alive, preventing them from setting any defensive lines and moving the point of attack. They have picked some good boys over the ball at the breakdown. Constantly moving the ball will prevent them from turning over possession. Furthermore it adds to our offloading game as we can gain yardage with some slick hands and heavy carries.
  
  
• Preistland will look to use our pacy backline often. Just because we are in a dogfight doesn't mean we can't not turn on the style to score tries. He can use Barritt as a straight line option to make yards or go out the back to the pace of Earls and our back three.
  
  
• Machenaud willl control the pack and direct traffic, just like all little french general scrum half's. He will take look to test the Saracens back three with kicks in behind them and look to make them make tough decisions in defence.
  
  
• We will run a banana blitz in defence, with Machenaud sweeping. This will cut down the time and space for their danger midfield and halfbacks. Sending them inside to the guards of the rucks and creating a chance of isolation and turnover.
  
  
• 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.
  
  
• Machenaud to kick all on opportunity points, within range. Any other penalties will be sent long to gain a territorial edge with our strong lineout.

Leicester Tigers have named their side to play Northampton Saints this week.

Tigers have made 5 changes to the side that beat Newcastle 24-23 last week. With the Six Nations finished, and all those starting players rested last week, Tigers boast the return of Gethin Jenkins, Dan Cole, Geoff Parling, Sean O'Brien and Vincent Clerc to their side.

Young fly half Rory Clegg remains at 10 after, alongside Dimitri Yachvili, guiding Tigers to a sensational win away to league champions Newcastle last week. Tigers have won their last 3 games, and will be looking to cement their place at the top of the league with only 4 games remaining.

In the absence of James Horwill and Brian O'Driscoll, Gethin Jenkins captains the side.


Leicester Tigers
Manager – LukeLovesLuka

01. Gethin Jenkins (c)	09. Dimitri Yachvili (k)
02. Stephen Moore	10. Rory Clegg
03. Dan Cole
04. Nathan Hines	11. Drew Mitchell
05. Geoff Parling	12. Billy Twelvetrees
06. Steve Mafi	13. Rene Ranger
07. Sean O'Brien	14. Vincent Clerc
08. Ernst Joubert	15. Isa Nacewa

16. Tom Youngs 17. Lee Imiolek 18. Cencus Johnston 19. Simon Shaw 20. Ryan Jones 21. Micky Young 22. Frederic Michalak 23. Paul Sackey

Play to our strengths and use Yachvili to dictate and control our heavy pack - then look to get the runners in our back line into space.

Key Points:

Fatigue/Motivation:
Saints went all the way to the LV Final, and their players haven't had a great deal of time off in the past 2 months. The likes of TPN, Hayman and Bonnaire in particular have played a lot of games in that period - whereas we had those two weeks off where the cup games were. Saints have publically stated they are targetting the cups this year, and next week have a huge game at home to Leinster in the HC that their mind may be on.

Pressure the set piece
Our scrummaging front row, anchored by Cole, will look to target the likes of Vunipola and TPN in particular. Call for scrums if we get the upper hand. On Saints lineout, pressure TPN's throws with great stealers in the shape of Mafi, Joubert and Parling, and look to nick every ball.

General Tactics:

- Yachvili to control our game, dictating where our huge forwards play the game. We have the personnel in our side to play a mixture of different styles, and we will play the game as we see it.
Kick regularly to Wade, targetting him with both high balls and kicks in behind.

- Yachvili and Twelvetrees to support Clegg. In attacking play, we will play with two first recievers in Clegg and Twelvetrees. Keep Saints guessing with our attacking options.

- Use the mix of runners in our backline. With the likes of Ranger and Nacewa we have silky runners; Twelvetrees as our powerful centre; and two speedster wingers - we have a real set of options behind Clegg.

- Target the scrum with our huge pack - Cole particularly target the Vunipola/TPN hit - look to really get the shove on.

- Target the lineout - led by Parling. Five jumpers - and some of the best in the AP in Parling, Mafi and Joubert. Mix up jumpers on a consistent basis. Always look to steal on Saints throws putting real pressure on TPN.

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

- 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.

- Yachvili to kick all penalites.

Falcons name there strongest side available to face Worcester after resting numerous players against Tigers.

On Ben Youngs;

'Ben played very well last week for the 50 minutes he was on and he's keeping the shirt for the time being , He's had a few days of R&R this week to get over the 6Ns and he's back to being fully fit and ready to go'

On Resting players vs Tigers;

'It will work well for us , we took a LBP from league leaders and we're still in the race for top 4 with a decent end of season run in. Our guys are fresh and ready to rock and roll and we've benifited from that break'

On Welsh mentality

'Begininning of 6Ns Wales suffered a pretty bad defeat to Ireland and guys like Toby , Al and Scott where a key part of turning that round and they'll bring that winning mentallity to the side for this weeks game so mentally we are in a good place'

Newcastle Falcons

Manager – Driver

01.Fabian Barcella	09.Ben Youngs
02.Rory Best	10.Toby Flood
03.Owen Franks
04.Ed Slater	11.Alex Cuthbert
05.Juandre Kruger	12.Scott Williams
06.Chris Robshaw(c)	13.Adam Ashley Cooper
07.Heinrich Brussouw	14.Tommy Bowe
08.Toby Falatau	15.Alex Goode

16.Jamie George 17.Soane Tonga'uhia 18.Scott Wilson 19.Brad Thorn 20.Kelly Brown 21.Sam Harrison 22.Ben Williams 23.George Lowe

- High tempo game plan based on dictating the tight and securing ball along with disrupting the Worcester game and preventing any rhythem to it.

- Our big scrummagers in the front 5 will look to really get on top of the Wuss pack and win plenty of ball for Youngs and Flood.

- Aim to win every one of our throws , Kruger is the best lineout operator on show and will look to take alot of ball from Best and set the drive or free Youngs up.

- Brussouw to target the breakdown and try to steal as much ball as possible within the full limitations of the rule book. Robshaw and Falatau will look to carry plenty along with Franks , Best and Slater.

- Flood to stand flat and allow Cuthbert and Bowe into the line giving us plenty of options from deep or use Scott Williams and AAC to smash the ball up.

- Falatau/Cuthbert/Williams to go charging down Olly Barkleys channel to ask questions of his defense.

- Youngs/Flood to play whats in front of them.

- High balls on Delon with a few 'cheeky' hits to test his temperment.

Subs

Tonga for Barcella - 60mins
Thorn for Slater - 55mins
Brown for Brussouw - 65mins
Harrison for Youngs -60mins

Saracens Football Club
Manager – DHLS07

01. Paul James	09. Dewaldt Duvenage
02. George Chuter	10. Gareth Steenson
03. Jannie du Plessis
04. Flip van der Merwe	11. Lachie Turner
05. Lionel Nallet	12. Ma'a Nonu
06. Alessandro Zanni	13. Matt Hopper
07. Liam Gill	14. Adam Thompstone
08. Steffon Armitage	15. Ben Smith

16. John Smit 17. Max Lahiff 18. Phil Swainston 19. James Craig 20. Keegan Daniel 21. Chris Cook 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 Liam Gill or Steffon Armitage either stealing or slowing the ball at the breakdown.

Harlequins
Manager – Steven_Sharks

01. Tony Woodcock	09. Greig Laidlaw
02. Schalk Brits	10. Freddie Burns (k)
03. Kieran Brookes
04. Bakkies Botha	11. Luke Morahan
05. George Kruis	12. Jamie Roberts
06. Tom Wood	13. Florian Fritz
07. Michael Hooper	14. Yoann Huget
08. Nick Easter (c)	15. Rob Kearney

16. Gary Botha 17. Joe Marler 18. Will Collier 19. Charlie Matthews 20. Sam Warburton 21. Pierre Spies 22. Karl Dickson 23. Jonathan Joseph

Tactics

Game plan

Aim to retain possession and tire out Gloucester. We will build phases with our forwards carrying hard and looking to win collisions and get across the gain line. As we make yards and tie in defenders we will look to spread the ball into wide channels and involve out outside backs. We have some powerful carriers in our side to will look to use them coming onto the ball at pace.

We will look for carriers to hit lines at pace and in numbers and keep the legs pumping in contact. If it is on we will look to offload to the supporting player and if it isn’t on we will recycle the ball quickly and continue the phases. Quick ball is key to us being able to run at an unorganized defence, cross the gain line and make yards.

Forwards

We will look to hit the rucks hard to get us quick ball to play on the front foot with. At the set piece we will secure our own ball and pressure Gloucester ball as much as possible. We will look for our front 5 to carry off 9 and off 10s inside shoulder with our back row carrying in the midfield. Brookes supported by Botha will look to win the hit and keep it going with the ball being put in immediately by Laidlaw so as to get us on the front foot. At the lineout we will look to shorten the line and get Easter and Hooper in the midfield as carriers.

Backs

We have a huge set of outside backs which will be controlled by Laidlaw and Burns. We will look to put them into gaps and damage the Gloucester defence. Support lines will be key from our backs so as to key our attacking momentum. We will look to get the ball into the wide channels and in the hands of our back 3 when Gloucester’s defence is tied in. Burns will stand flat and Laidlaw will marshall our pack. In our own half we might use the kicking game of our half backs to gain field position if it is on. This will mean box kicks, up and unders or cross field kicks. Our outside backs are all tall and excellent under the high ball.

Defence

We will employ a quick line speed and get in the faces of Gloucester’s decision makers. We will particularly stay tight at the fringes to negate Genia. We will combine this with aggressive counter rucking from one or two forwards to try and make the ball he receives slow and disrupt his momentum. When we have the first men to the breakdown we will look to legally compete. We will look to attack off turnover ball and milk penalties if we can so as to win us territory.

Key Points

Control the breakdown – In attack and defence we want to control this area. We will commit extra men if required to get quick ball and will look to turnover and disrupt in defence.

Build pressure – In the Gloucester half we will build pressure and look for penalties to kick at goal. Pressure will be built by effective rucking, quick ball and strong carries.

Outside backs – We have a very big set of outside backs Morahan (6 ft 2in), Roberts (6 ft 4in), Fritz (6 ft 1in), Huget (6 ft 3in) and Kearney (6 ft 1in). We will look to be physical in the backs and will look to use this height to challenge under high balls effectively, aimed at the Gloucester wings

Aggressive in contact – We will look to be aggressive in the contact in both attack and defence. We will look to win the collisions and give our forward a target to hit at ruck time.

Bench – we will look to introduce Warburton , Spies and Joseph after around 55 mins. They will look to get right into the action and give us an injection of pace and momentum. Other subs will be used if and when required.

Bath Rugby
Manager – inthefastlane

01. Cian Healy	09. Aaron Smith
02. Chris Brooker	10. Tom Heathcote
03. Carl Rimmer
04. Luke Romano	11. George North
05. Graham Kitchener	12. Anthony Allen
06. Tom Guest	13. Jonathon Davies
07. David Pocock	14. Cory Jane
08. JMF Lobbe	15. Stuart Hogg

16. Jon Golding 17. Will Tanner 18. Davit Kubrashvilli 19. James Gaskell 20. David Seymour 21. Fourie Du Preez 22. Luther Burrell 23. Nopolini Nalaga

Overall: Look to get dominance in the set piece and use lots of big carries to our advantage.

Scrum: Expecting to have an advantage at scrum time with 3 big scrummagers and look to really get at the scrum whenever possible. Lobbe will control the scrum from number eight. Apply pressure and look to get nudge on throughout. Look to play the ref.

Lineout: Our second row partnership is somewhere we feel confident.We have Kitchener 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 Healy, Romano, 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 Heathcote 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, Davies, Jane and North seeing lots of the ball. We shall look to target JSD + McCabe with our carries all of whom we feel could struggle defensively.

Defence: Use a blitz defence in order to put pressure on Saints 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, Tanner and Kubs will look to keep the scrum strong. Gaskell will look to add grit late as well as another quality lineout operator. Seymour is someone who can come on and look to damage at the breakdown late on. FDP will prove a composed head to control tempo late. Burell + Nalaga will come on early in the second half and will look to get their hands on the ball for big carries against tired legs.

Worcester Warriors
Manager - stnick88

01. Tendai Mtawarira	09. Tawera Kerr-Barlow
02. Richardt Strauss	10. Pat Lambie
03. Brian Mujati
04. Dean Schofield	11. Sean Maitland
05. Johann Muller (c)	12. Olly Barkley
06. Tom Savage	13. Mathieu Bastereaud
07. Shane Jennings	14. James Short
08. Johnnie Beattie	15. Delon Armitage

16. Matt Parr 17. Koree Britton 18. Werner Kruger 19. Alun Wyn-Jones 20. Thomas Waldrom 21. Dwayne Peel 22. Tom Casson 23. Ben Ransom

Team News
- Worcester recall Johnnie Beattie, Mathieu Bastereaud and Sean Maitland after giving them a week off following the 6N. Brian Mujati replaces Werner Kruger, who drops to the bench. New signing Thomas Waldrom has to settle for a place on the bench whilst there is no space for other new signings Dave Denton or Matthew Rees. Warriors are still without Phil Dowson, Ali Williams, Dave Ward, BJ Botha and Julien Malzieu through injury.

Tactics

- Look to win the forward battle. Big collisions, big carries and get over the gainline. Wear the Falcons down in defence.

- Earn the right to go wide. We will not do this too early and wait until defenders are sucked in before spreading it to the wings.

- Barkley to kick all pens for goals.

- Lambie and Barkley to be the play makers, getting us in the right areas of the pitch.

- Bastereaud is on good form and we will use him as a crash ball player and a decoy. He will attract a lot of defensive attention and we will look for Armitage to join the line of attack when Bast is acting as a decoy.

- Jennings to be a menace at the breakdown and slow down as much ball as possible and gain turnovers to hurt Falcons and hit them on the counter.

- Kerr-Barlow to snipe around the fringes and look for gaps to exploit.

- Lambie and Barkley will look to kick in behind Cuthbert and get him turned.

Glos team

1 wood
2 fourie
3 mas
4 Etzbeth
5. Robson
6 Alberts
7 Qera
8 Hari
9 Robson
10 Carter
11 banahan
12 Scott
13 Kahui
14 Sharples
15 Dagg
16 murphy
17 Haywood
18 harden
19 Tom palmer
20 heaslip
21 Genia
22 Goosen
23 Balshaw

+home advantage is massive and Kingsholm is a fortress
+ Form/Momentum We are on a great run and top of
Form league we have steamroller momentum which counts at end of season
+ Superior carriers 1-8 carry and carry well we have dynamism and hard yards
+ See Brookes as someone who can be got
At as has no form, game time or reputation
+ 8,9,10 axis able to control and dictate. Also are a regular units.
Is this laid laws first game at 9 for Quins ? Generally plays 10 for them.
+ Carter vs burns. burns not a
Man To control a game. Questions over his ability to lead an attack in big games.
+ Mobile, Dynamic Pack We have selected a pack that can hold their own in the set piece, but who offer a huge amount of carrying and impact.
+ lineout forwards all over able to disrupt ball.
Kruis not starting for sarries for a while so will be targeted

+Impact Bench We have players to bring on who can make a real difference in the scrum and loose. Proven internationals and young dynamic talent . Quins debuting Botha and spies who signed a day ago.

Game plan

We are targetting the Big home win and know we have to win the battle and right to play our quick brand of rugby. We will be looking to get our big runners on the front foot and get over the gain line to produce quick ball for Robson to hit carter to play wide and direct.

Our pack is huge and mobile but great in set piece and we will be targetting the lineouts and Scrums with mas and wood looking to dominate.
Mas after a great 6 n will
Look
To destroy. Target lineout arrows relentlessly to affect quality of their ball.
Drive lots of lineout ball and try and hit Qera and Alberts of rucks in to burns channel.

To pressure Quins halfbacks. Burns thrives on quick attacking ball whereas laidlaw likes play to come of him

As ever we look to keep the ball and force Quins in to mistakes to start with and will look to build tempo as we start to get on top. Once we have won the battles and rights to play we will open up and start to really increase the tempo with our bench contributing and keeping the foot on the pedal.

We will be targeting the 10 channel a lot to make the defence narrow to able us to then whip it wide and isolate runners with back 3

Look to pressure Quins knowing if its a kicking battle carter will win
Carter to try and isolate banahan with Quins wingers on cross kicks

Specifics

- send Kahui gear Alberts etc at burns channel
- take all points on offer with carter
- look to use the bomb early on to target Morahan and huget
- Territory early doors and pressure their lineout
- kick in behind back 3 and pressure
- put pressure on laidlaw To make him
Shovel ball to burns.
- Steve targetting Genia who is not even playing
- Kahui and banahan to interchange where necessary to keep big running option to interest defenders
- blitz defence with scrum half sweeping
- look to send in numbers to breakdown to disrupt and turnover.
- target new Quins signings when on and
Take advantage of their unfamiliarity
- carry relentlessly to keep ball and build pressure. We only use the ball when we have front foot quality ball

Only 4 EQ starting there Matt

Cheers Steve I had gray on the Bench and starting. Now binned him for goosen

London Welsh make 4 changes to the side for this weeks trip to The Rec to take on Bath. In that pack Jim Hamilton and Thierry Dusautoir replace Tom Johnson and Siya Kolisi, with Rynhardt Elstadt moving from to the blindside flank from lock. Owen Farrell and Gareth Anscombe come into the back line for Eltin Jantjies and Jaco Taute.

London Welsh
Manager – Ozzy3213

01. Ben Alexander	09. Morgan Parra
02. Rob Hawkins	10. Owen Farrell
03. Dave Wilson
04. Jim Hamilton	11. James Simpson-Daniel
05. James Hanks	12. Pat McCabe
06. Rynhardt Elstadt	13. Tim Nanai Williams
07. Thierry Dusautoir (c)	14. Bryan Habana
08. Duane Vermeulen	15. Gareth Anscombe

16. Chris Whitehead 17. Brett Sturgess 18. Martin Castrogiovanni 19. Semisi Taulava 20. Tom Johnson 21. Tomas O’Leary 22. Elton Jantjies 23. Joel Tomkins

Key Points

• Form/Momentum. One defeat in 16 games.
  
• Fired Up. We lost last week, the team will be fired up to get back to winning ways immediately.
  
• Fresh top class players We ran Gloucester close last week and have 3 top class internationals returning to the side this week after being rested. That makes us considerably stronger this time out.
  
• Welsh defence. Solid defenders throughout the team mean that it will take something special to score points against us.
  
• {b]Big Game[/b] This is a big game for us, as win and we are still in with a shout of top 6, lose and it becomes very unlikely. We have big game players throughout our side and will relish the atmosphere in this one.
  

Basic Game Plan
Basic tactical premise for us to control possession and be solid defensively. We have picked a powerful and mobile pack to try to put pace on the game up front. We will be looking for gaps rather than contact and looking to offload to support runners. We will look to apply pressure to Bath 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 Bath 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.
  
• JSD and Habana to both be tracking inside ball and coming off their wings looking for offloads from the ball carrier.
  
• Target Heathcote relentlessly. Bath have no 10 replacement and he has to play 80 minutes. We will hit him hard and often in attack and defence.
  
• Target the scrum and look to get a platform from it. Hamilton to pack down on the right of the locks, with Elstadt also packing down on the tighthead side to give us real grunt.
  
• 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.
  

Sale Sharks
Manager – SJE

01. Jerome Schuster	09. Kahn Fotuaili'i
02. David Paice	10. Johnny Sexton
03. Davit Zirakishvilli
04. Dave Attwood	11. Sam Smith
05. Andries Bekker	12. Francois Steyn
06. Alex Tulou	13. Gael Fickou
07. Matt Kvesic	14. David Strettle
08. Louis Picamoles	15. Nick Abendanon

16. Vasil Kakovin 17. Tommy Taylor 18. Luc Ducalcon 19. Christian Day 20. Victor Vito 21. Ben Spencer 22. James Hook 23. Luke Rooney

Key Points

Mobility
Look to take advantage of the extra mobility in our front 5 and play a high paced expansive game. Look to get the Irish front row blowing with the intensity of the game. For all the power in the Irish backrow we can rely on Tulou the best carrier in European club rugby this year and Picamoles the best of the 6 nations.

Attack Geraghty
Get the big carriers running down the Irish 12 channel with a lot of ground to be made there. Put Geraghty under pressure and Irish may well struggle on defence.

Play for the turnover
Irish will be looking to play mostly down the 10-12 channel where we have two of the best defenders in the world in their respective positions. Kvesic has been instructed to defend in this channel and get at the breakdown first looking for the turnover.

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.

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

• On opposition lineouts Bekker will stand at the front and challenge. At 6ft 10" Irish 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 Irish momentum before it
  can get going.

• Fotuaili'i 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 off 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 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.

Back home tactics by 8 am fellas

Match thread updated, predictions are OPEN

Just for information purposes:

Bonnaire didn't play in semi final, so just one game he's played.
TFN and Hayman, only played in last two games and rested before.
Only players to feature regularly are Daly, Wade and Hernandez - good old rotation policy we have at Saints ;p

Will do my predos this afternoon.

Bath 26 - 23 London Welsh

Overall the packs to Bath with a particularly strong back 5 of the pack. Bath back row should cause havoc around the park. Half backs to Welsh but I do like the Bath unit. Outside backs I think prefer Bath. A lot of excitement in the Welsh outside backs but not convinced they will get the front foot ball required to cause maximal damage. Defensively Bath very strong in the backs and have a lot on the front foot an expect them to be very dangerous will ball in hand. Good game which goes to the home side.

London Irish 29 - 26 Sale

Expect Irish to get a good advantage at the scrum with Sale edging the lineouts. Irish back row is quality and will be a huge presence in the loose. Irish are much stronger on the flanks than Sale yet Picamoles form brings the back row contest back a little. Two greats sets of half backs and I prefer the Irish pairing to control the game better and get in the right areas of the pitch. Both sets of half backs could be stronger with Conrad Smith the best on show with Frans Steyn's form suspect to say the least. Getting Fickou down Geraghty's channel will be effective but with Smith outside and a top back row this can be fixed.

This is a good battle and with an advantage up front and top quality half backs this game goes to Irish.

Northampton 24 - 22 Leicester

Perhaps a scrum advantage to Leicester with nothing at lineout. Breakdown edges the way of Saints and I prefer the Saints pack in the loose. Yach strong but overal Saints stronger at half back as a unit. Prefer Saints in the centres with Fofana creating gaps for Daly to enjoy. Back three also to Saints. At Home I feel Saints are two strong and take the win.

London Wasps 20 - 19 Saracens

Think Saracens will edge the scrum but Wasps a bit more at the lineout. Breakdown will be controlled by Saracens with Gill and Armitage having a real impact here. Armitage capable as an 8 for me. Half backs to Wasps with the centres even. Back 3 goes to Wasps. This is one where home advantage sneaks it for Wasps and it is a massive win for them!

Worcester 22 - 22 Newcastle

Scrum time goes to Worcester with a powerful unit baced up with big locks and get a small advantage. Lineout the same with a few more options for Worcester in their back 5. Half backs even with TKB in great form. Back row to Newcastle with a more powerful unit although I'd have started Brown ahead of Brussow with the form he is in. Outside backs also to Newcastle but not by a lot. Really tough to cal this one and it ends up a draw.

Bath 20-20 London Welsh

Scrum: Little bit more from the Welsh props here but not overly dominant.
Lineout: Both sides should do enough to hold their own ball.
Breakdown: Bath can get an edge here with Pocock poaching a few balls.
HB's: Welsh are a step up with Heathcote a weak link for Bath.
Attack: Both sides with dangerous runners but Bath have a little more carrying wise.
Defence: Heathcote will struggle at times with big runners down his channel.
Bench: No back up 10 is a big issue for Bath.
Tactics: Don’t see Bath getting any change from the scum as aimed for. Welsh targeting Heathcote in a big way is a big plus. See a messy game with Bath disrupting Welsh ball but Heathcote letting Bath down.


Gloucester 17-14 Harlequins

Scrum: Edge to Glaws with Brookes struggling.
Lineout: Good battle and both sides should hold their own.
Breakdown: See Quins more capable of slowing Glaws down.
HB's: Good battle but Glaws edge slightly with Burns not playing his best rugby recently.
Attack: Plenty of carrying from both sides and they have dangerous runners in space. Quins possibly lacking a bit of creativity in the backs with Burns a little out of form.
Defence: Banahan can be caught on the turn for Glaws but ground can be made down Burns channel at times.
Bench: Glaws with that little bit more of the bench and can change the tempo in the last quarter.
Tactics: Good solid game plans from both sides. Glaws targeting all the right areas and at home win out. Quins keep it tight though stopping Glaws wide game going making the breakdown a mess.


Northampton 32-28 Leicester

Scrum: Edge to Tigers with Cole getting on top.
Lineout: Decent battle both sides should hold their own.
Breakdown: Good battle. Tigers lacking an out and out 7 up against Cane but their front 5 more then capable of turning ball over.
HB's: Edge to Saints. Clegg is a weak link at this level.
Attack: Bit more brain to Tigers attack but serious runners in the Saints backline.
Defence: Ground to be made down Dalys/Cleggs channel.
Bench: Good impact for both sides of the bench.
Tactics: Good game plans from both sides. See a cracking game between two attacking sides. Tigers make a valid point on Saints minds being elsewhere but Saints relentlessly targeting Clegg sees Tigers off their game.


Wasps 19-21 Saracens

Scrum: Slight edge to Sarries with more meat in the 2nd row supporting.
Lineout: Edge to Wasps with better quality jumpers and more of them.
Breakdown: Edge to Sarries with the backrow really getting at the ball.
HB's: Wasps more capable of creating something but Priestlands lack of form sees Sarries edge here.
Attack: Sarries a bit one dimensional. Wasps capable of scoring from deep with great runners.
Defence: Ground can be made through Hooper. Earls can be caught positionally by an intelligent attack.
Bench: Can’t see either side getting an advantage from here.
Tactics: Not sure Wasps are going to out kick Sarries so the territory first approach won’t work. Wasps have tries in them but see Sarries on the front foot with great breakdown work.


Worcester 22-21 Newcastle Falcons

Scrum: Can’t see either side getting on top here.
Lineout: Another good battle and can’t see either side getting an advantage.
Breakdown: Good battle but Falcons that bit more capable of turning ball over.
HB's: Two good sets of halfbacks. More then capable of getting their sides moving.
Attack: Big carriers on both sides and good finishers out wide.
Defence: Ground can be made down Barkleys channel.
Bench: See Falcons getting an edge at the scrum as benches come in.
Tactics: Decent game plans and don’t see one getting an edge over the other. Falcons may just shade the quality overall but don’t see them winning the forwards battle which is always crucial away from home.

Bath Rugby 19-23 London Welsh
In the front rows both looseheads are the standout players. There is not really much between the hookers, but Wilson is far closer to Healy than Rimmer is to Alexander, and Welsh will have an advantage at the scrum as a result. Both sides with good options in the lineout and it will come down to whose darts are better are neither side has a real stealer. Breakdown will be fascinating with Pocock the standout on the deck, Lobbe and Dusautoir both super intelligent players, and Elstadt and Vermeulen massively physical. Hamilton v Romano could see sparks fly. Tough battle here, but Rimmer at tighthead sees the scrum to Welsh, with lineout and breakdown even. Decent carriers in both sides as well as strong defenders mean it is pretty even in the loose. Half backs go to Welsh. Parra controls the game better than Smith who is electric but sometimes erratic, and Farrel is a couple of steps up on Heathcote in terms of control. Welsh tactic is to target Heathcote and with no cover he could struggle physically and mentally as the game wears on. Bath talk in tactics about targetting Simpson-Daniel and McCabe defensively. Simpson-Daniel can certainly be got at, but I don't see any change coming from McCabe who is a strong defender. Bath tactics also talk about areas they expect to have an advantage, the scrum and carrying, and I don't see an advantage for them in those areas as I have said, so I question if that is where they basing being on top whether they actually have things right tactically and are trying to target the right areas. Two good sets of outside backs, and I have to look how the teams will use them. I'd have liked to have seen more from Bath tactically about how they would get Hogg involved as he is a sensational strike runner, but they in the main talk about big carriers where I think they would be better off using his pace to pick holes. Simpson-Daniel coming off his wing to create is a good option, as he does this for Gloucester in real life and suits his game. I wouldn't expect either bench to come on and change this game, but Bath not having replacement fly half hurts them. Scrum advantage, tactics that suit and the fly half issue for Bath wins the game for Welsh. Tight.

Gloucester 32-26 Harlequins
Brookes is an issue for Quins in a key position at tighthead. They are fortunate that he is up against Wood and not a world class loosehead otherwise it would be a bigger issue. Gloucester have a slight scrum advantage with that although it is negated a bit by Quins meaty second row who will scrummage well. Lineout I think both can secure their own ball, but Gloucester more likely to steal with Robson and Harinordoquy involved, although Wood may poach a couple for Quins as well. Breakdown will be keenly contested with Hooper good over the ball and the Gloucester flankers very physical and good at clearing me. I was going to continue about players but am reading tactics and something has leapt out at me. Gloucester say they will target the 10 channel to attempt to narrow the Quins defence and then spin it wide quickly to exploit the space on the outside. They have the players to do this well, with Carter great at it and Matt Scott an excellent distributer at twelve. Quins in tactics talk about staying in tight around the fringes on defence to counter Genia, who isn't actually starting. Staying in too tight here will play into Gloucesters hands with how they are trying to play, and I can see some real attacking joy for Gloucester through Sharples and Dagg on the outside. Quins big outside backs will be physical, but they are going to have to be very alert and quick to deal with things defensively. Gloucester also have huge momentum and will be very tough to stop now I think. Harlequins also in good form and will make this a real tough battle as they want that home semi final. Scrum advantage, workable tactics and their moment mean that the Gloucester juggernaut rolls on. High scorer.

London Irish 21-20 Sale Sharks
Scrum has to go to Irish with three top international class front row forwards. I always like the Sale pack which is very balanced, and the front row is decent, but the Irish front row is a step in each position and that could see them being very dominant. Sale are lucky that it's not raining otherwise there would be more scrums and they could get really targetted with high balls. Lineout is Sale's though, with Bekker the standout. Breakdown I am finding tough to call, but think I have to go with Irish just about getting the upper hand. Picamoles and Tulou will clear well for Sale, and in terms of the back row overall are a match for Gorgodze and Morgan, but for the moment Tipuric is a step up on Kvesic and given a decent platform I could see him putting in a real performance in this game. Two top half back partnerships, although what I would say is that neither ten is paired with a scrum half that is similar in style to who they play with in real life so difficult to say exactly how combinations are likely to work. I like both though and don't see either team having an advantage here. There is nothing really in it in the outside backs either. Tactically Irish need to be careful. Just running back very deep kicks from Steyn could be dangerous as if the chase is decent there is a danger that from so deep the ball carrier becomes isolated and gets turned over over a penalty against them. Sale have the boots off the tee to notch up points and actually I think that clearing their lines may be a better option. That said, Yarde and Tagicakibau are decent runners in given a glimpse of a gap in the line they could be through it. Scrum and home advantage the deciders here. Close.

Northampton Saints - Leicester Tigers

Worcester Warriors - Newcastle Falcons

Bath 25 - 25 London Welsh
Find this game a really difficult one to split - would probably have given Pete the win if he had a top class no2 that could have then hammered home some set piece dominance, but I can't really remember the last time I saw Hawkins impress. I do like the Bath backrow and think they are a great combo, Guest has really come into form and the conditions are suited for them, again if the weather was bad it could have been an away win, but I can see Bath getting some good front foot ball here. Welsh do well to target Heathcote, I'd have done the same and this can stop the flow of the Bath backline, which I think has a great balance and boosted by the return of North and Davies. But with Farrell playing very well I can see the scoreboard ticking over and his kicking game is very important. Can't split this one.

Gloucester 29-25 Harlequins
Mat is really targeting the right areas against Steve's team here, and can see it working very well, especially on the no3 and Morahan. This is really the decisive factor for me, both teams do have the right tactics and the backrow battle could even get edged by Quins, but I just see Gloucester having more about them in the front five, which will allow them more possession and then Carter to dictate the game. Also impact of Genia from the bench, if Quins stay tight around the fringes it gives more space outwide for their backline and Carter/Scott is a great midfield to bring in dangerous runners.
.
Wasps 20-19 Saracens
Almost went for the draw (sorry DHL), but when looking at the teams saw a couple of points, which just swung the game for the home team - Barritt can stop Nonu going forward and if Nonu is stopped then it stops a great attacking outlet for Sarries. Whilst Armitage can cover 8 and does for Toulon, his pack there gives him a pretty easy ride, where I don't think he will get in this game - and Wood playing at no8 for England showed how important it is for an out and out no8 to make the hard yards from the base of the scrum. Issue of Priestland's form also not such a big factor when against Steenson, as Preistland quite a few classes above. Think Sarries could do with a player in the backline who can create something from nothing and win a game, as just see Wasps being able to outscore them and they have some big ball carriers in the pack. I think in wet conditions then it would have been an away win.

Worcester 23-23 Newcastle Falcons
Again another difficult game to split, there are more stars in the Falcons team, but Warriors do have a very tough pack and have some good options in the backline. Robshaw definitely benefits from a week off last week as he looked a spent force against Quins. I can't see Falcons winning the pack battle, which they need to in order to get the away win, but the breakdown area can really be a key area for them - though the ball carriers for Worcester can make some inroads. Such a tough one to call, and will have to go for a draw here.

London Irish 28 - 27 Sale
The Irish pack is a very good unit these days, excellent front five and one of the best backrows in the league. THough in saying that Sale also have a strong pack and in my opinion the inform no7 in the AP in Kvesvic. Both sets of half backs are also very good. At home Irish should just edge it, but the form of Steyn at 12 is a slight issue, especially with the conditions suiting a bit more of a running game.

Bath 23-24welsh

Tough game. Heathcote no weak link defensively so
Negates those tactics.

Bath front row not great but better.back 5. As a
Stormers fan I do
Not rate elstadt at 6 and dusatoir been poor
This year despite being one of best players in world so not
Marked down. Bath Backrow in great form although in few months pocock will be marked down.

Welsh half backs better but do think smith will get bath backs
moving better.

Great centre battle. Tnw on fire but bath combo class and both know each others set ups being ex players.

For me welsh do enough to win but at home and bath back 3
Snatch draw however lack of replacement 10 loses them game. Bench
Important and both almost equal but lack of ten
huge. If heatcote injured early it could be ugly.


Bath have great players but their English hurt them. Playing brooker is tough. CJB unlucky.
Bath best 15 amongst best in league. Lack of ten and front row hurts them

Welsh should start Tomkins

Irish 26-25 sale

See front 5 even with both sides having players short on form or not playing in real life. Poux form gone off a cliff.
Bekker great.

Irish Backrow win the game better balance. Picamoles and tuloh massive carriers but both lazy at tackle and Ruck area.

Great half backs but both have dominant 9s with tens who prefer early ball.

Irish more danger here with steyn slumming. Home advantage wins this.

Usually sale half backs win the game but here they have a match

Northampton Saints 24 Leicester Tigers 22

Agree with Pete 100% Tigers normally have an advantage of power in the pack, but Saints pack here has enough to stop them having that. Having done that, at home Saints have the ability behind the [pack to win the game. Clegg can't win Tigers the game away from home unless their pack dominates, which it doesn't here.
Saints have a great form team and hard to beat. Great backline and Leicester need a different 10 to win games away

Wont be able to predict pete just beem called in

No worries mate, cheers for letting us know.

Saints 25-21 tigers
Irish 23-21 sale
Glos 29-26 Quins
Bath 25-24 welsh
Wasps 15-15 Saracens

Glaws 24-21 Quins
Brookes a big weakness in what are otherwise fairly close front rows. Both second rows are quality slight edge to Glocuester but prefer the Quins back row. Carter factor key in the half backs and I think tactically Mat has enough to win this

Irish 26-25 Sale
Front row goes to Irish with dominance all over but a much stronger second row from Irish. Back row goes to Irish although Sale have a quality unit. Both half backs are strong, just edge it to Irish in a tight game. Outside backs also tough to call.

Saints 24-23 Tigers
Front five for me goes toTigers here, pretty much better all over. Back row to Saints if they had a Tipuric/Pocock at breakdown they would really dominate, not so much with Cane. quality but not a Clegg fan, think he will struggle and Saints have an advantage in outside backs. At home they edge it

Wasps 20-21 Sarries
Edge for Sarries in the front row but Wasps have the better second row. Not sure of Armitage at 8 but advantage at the breakdown and think Zanni is a wonderful player. Wasps have stronger half backs but Sarries have a good set of outside backs.

Warriors 18-19 Newcastle
Forwards advantage does go to Newcastle but not by a huge amount. Worcester half backs will have an advantage and Warriors have a good combo for the future it sees. Outside backs to Newcastle and enough to give em the win

Gloucester 28 Harlequins 21
London Irish 25 Sale Sharks 25
Northampton Saints 27 Leicester Tigers 23
Bath 20 London Welsh 19
London Wasps 23 Saracens 21

Wasps 22-22 Sarries

Can't split sorry front row slight edge to sarries second row to wasps. Sarries better outside backs but wasps just about take halfbacks.

Not convinced by armitage at 8. To win away you need to win more ball and I think sarries get close but draw

Warriors 22-23 falcons

Worcester have a strong team on paper but Newcastle shade the pack. Newcastle can have a field day at the breakdown and will profit here.

Worcester better half backs and they keep them in the game. Both benches offer dynamism.

Nick has made Worcester in to a decent side but bigger named Newcastle players and their breakdown work get them a win which will be welcome as they have been on the slide.

Bath 24 - 23 Welsh

See both LH's getting a nudge on, and don't see either side winning it up front. One a piece in the 2nd row with Romano and Hamilton the standouts. Really even back row contest for me, with 2 good units. Slight edge to Welsh maybe, but overall the packs are very close. Prefer Welsh at half back and think they gain a good advantage here, but neither side dominates the centres with 2 good units. McCabe losing ratinbg now for me though Pete. Prefer Bath's back three. Really gbood game here, think, at home, Bath just have enough.



Gloucester 29 - 26 Harlequins

Might edge slightly to Gloucs up front with Wood able to get on top. Tought to call 2nd rows which for me very even. Much more form for Quins in the back row and they take this area - packs fairly tight overall. As a unit am siding with Gloucs at HB and see Carter really controlling this. Just prefer the Quins centre combo, and prefer their back three too. Finding this tough to call - Glouc have some players off form, but not sure QUins can take advantage. High scorer, home win.



Irish 19 - 18 Sale



Wasps 21 - 20 Saracens



Worcester 24 - 24 Newcastle

RESULTS

Bath Rugby 25 (T: Hogg 2, Guest C: Heathcote 2 P: Heathcote 2)
London Welsh 23 (T: Alexander, McCabe C: Farrell 2 P: Farrell 3)

Gloucester 31 (T: Sharples, Dagg, Fourie, Kahui C: Carter 4 P: Carter)
Harlequins 22 (T: Wood, Morahan P: Burns 4)

London Irish 28 (T: Yarde 2, Trinder C: Evans 2 P: Evans 3)
Sale Sharks 23 (T: Tulou, Fotuali'i C: Sexton 2 P: Sexton 3)

Northampton Saints 29 (T: Wade 3 C: Halfpenny P: Halfpenny 4)
Leicester Tigers 23 (T: Hines, Ranger C: Yachvili 2 P: Yachvili 3)

London Wasps 22 (T: Henderson, Varndell P: Machenaud 4)
Saracens 20 (T: Thompstone, Nonu C: Steenson 2 P: Steenson 2)

Worcester Warriors 22 (T: Beattie, Maitland P: Lambie 4)
Newcastle Falcons 24 (T: Cuthbert, Faletau, Williams C: Flood 3 P: Flood)


Will do scorers later as heading out for an Easter egg hunt with the kids.

Sorry for not predicting lads, but I'm absolutely delighted on my first win in the league!

Close matches injuries play a part.
I was no way a bonus point vs Quins in terms of match up
However it will always be a high scorer definitely which = bonus point.

Good article
In times today about Baxter and gustard
As England coaches in summer.

Exeter loose and wild sarries pure pragmatism.

Think Baxter will enhance our side

Scorers added.