Fantasy Heineken Cup Quarter Finals

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Northampton Saints vs. Leinster
White Cloud, 5 degrees, 17 mph winds.

Saints

1. Mako Vunipola
2. TPN
3. Henry Thomas
4. Joe Launchbury
5. Courtney Lawes
6. Liam Messam
7. Sam Cane
8. Sergio Parisse (c)
9. Mike Phillips
10. Juan Martin Hernandez
11. Leigh Halfpenny (k)
12. Weslie Fofana
13. Manu Tuilagi
14. Christian Wade
15. Ben Foden

16. Motu Mata'u 17. Thomas Domingo 18. Ben T 19. Calum Clark 20. Billy Vunipola 21. Nick Phipps 22. Matt Giteau 23. Elliot Daly


Leinster

01. Cian Healy	09. Eoin Reddan
02. Richardt Strauss	10. Jonathan Sexton
03. Mike Ross
04. Leo Cullen	11. Luke Fitzgerald
05. Devin Toner	12. Gordon D’Arcy
06. Kevin McLaughlin	13. Brendan Macken
07. Sean O’Brien	14. Isa Nacewa
08. Jamie Heaslip	15. Rob Kearney

16. Sean Cronin 17. Heinke van der Merwe 18. Michael Bent 19. Rhys Ruddock 20. Shane Jennings 21. Isaac Boss 22. Ian Madigan 23. Fergus McFadden

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ASM Clermont Auvergne vs. Leicester Tigers
Light Rain, 9 degrees, 10 mph winds.

ASM Clermont Auvergne

01. Thomas Domingo	09. Morgan Parra
02. Benjamin Kayser	10. Brock James
03. Davit Zirakashvili
04. Jamie Cudmore	11. Napolioni Nalaga
05. Nathan Hines	12. Wesley Fofana
06. Julien Bonnaire	13. Aurelien Rougerie
07. Julien Bardy	14. Sitiveni Sivivatu
08. Damien Chouly	15. Lee Byrne

16. Ti’I Paulo 17. Vincent Debaty 18. Daniel Kotze 19. Loic Jacquet 20. Alexandre Lapandry 21. Ludovic Radosavljevic 22. David Skrela 23. Benson Stanley


Leicester Tigers
Manager – LukeLovesLuka

01. Gethin Jenkins	09. Dimitri Yachvili
02. Tom Youngs	10. Jonny Wilkinson (k)
03. Dan Cole
04. Pascal Pape (c)	11. Paul Sackey
05. Geoff Parling	12. Billy Twelvetrees
06. Ryan Jones	13. Rene Ranger
07. Sean O'Brien	14. Vincent Clerc
08. Ernst Joubert	15. Isa Nacewa

16. Stephen Moore 17. Lee Imiolek 18. Cencus Johnston 19. James Horwill 20. Steve Mafi 20. James Scaysbrook 22. Micky Young 23. Frederic Michalak

Tactics:

Play to our strengths and use our heavy pack and intelligent HB's to dictate posession and territory - then look to get the runners in our back line into space.

- Massive line-breakers right throughout the side that will look to tire down Clermont's defence. Use all of SOB, Youngs, Pape, Jones, Parling, Joubert, Twelvetrees and Sackey to crash through the defence. Play an offloading game.

- Maintain this for 80 mins with 6 forwards on the bench to keep intesity high throughout the game. Huge units to bring off the bench, with the likes of Moore, Cencus, Horwill and Mafi available.

- Use kicks from HB's to determine where the game is played. We will relentlessly target the opposition's lineout throws - with Joubert, Parling and Jones always looking to steal.

- Powerful scrum that will look to hold ground and set up a clean platform for Yachvili. Big shove on Clermont's scrums.

- In general attacking play, we will play off 9 with Yachvili our general pulling the strings.

- When the ball comes wide look to play attacking rugby in the backs, getting the likes of Ranger, Nacewa and Clerc on the ball when we can.

- Wilkinson to kick all penalties.

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Gloucester vs. Saracens
White Cloud, 7 degrees, 17 mph winds.

Gloucester Rugby
Manager – Mat

01. Dan Murphy	09. Dan Robson
02. Rob Buchanan	10. Dan Carter
03. Nicola Mas
04. Tom Palmer	11. Matt Banahan
05. George Robson	12. Matt Scott
06. Willem Alberts	13. Richard Kahui
07.Qera	14. Charlie Sharples
08. Jamie Heaslip	15. Israel Dagg

16. Micky Heywood 17. Rupert Harden18. Guthro Steenkamp19. Richie Grey20. Steven Ferris21. Will Genia 22. Johan Goosen 23. Iain Balshaw

Tactics

In decent conditions we welcome sarries to Kingsholm. We have won the heino 2 years running and are keen to continue at fortress Kingsholm


Key points
- form team in league
- 8,9,10 control and we win this battle
- more mobile pack that does not neglect set piece
- more lineout options
- super impact bench to stretch game
- mas to target lahiff
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 murphy 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 steyn channel.

To pressure Cook at 9 he has a lack of game time Steyn needs front foot ball

As ever we look to keep the ball and force sarries 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 Sarries knowing carter can get on top of
Steyn and will win
Carter to try and isolate banahan with sarries wingers on cross kicks

Take all points and use wind when at our backs to pin.

Our 8,9,10 is key and we will use that to dictate the game

- send Kahui Alberts etc at steyn channel
- take all points on offer with carter
- look to use the bomb early on to target Back 3
- Territory early doors and pressure their lineout
- kick in behind back 3 and pressure
- put pressure on cook To make him
Shovel ball to steyn
- 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.
- carry relentlessly to keep ball and build pressure. We only use the ball when we have front foot quality ball


Saracens Football Club
Manager – DHLS07

01. Max Lahiff	09. Chris Cook
02. George Chuter	10. Morne Steyn
03. Phil Swainston
04. Flip van der Merwe	11. Mark Cueto
05. Lionel Nallet	12. Ma'a Nonu
06. Alessandro Zanni	13. Matt Hopper
07. Liam Gill	14. Adam Thompstone
08. Keegan Daniel	15. Ben Smith

16. Christopher Tolofua 17. Paul James 18. Jannie du Plessis 19. James Craig 20. Keegan Daniel 21. Lloyd Williams 22. Gareth Steenson 23. Tom Catterick

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 either stealing or slowing the ball at the breakdown.

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Ulster Rugby vs. Harlequins
White Cloud, 6 degrees, 10 mphs winds.

Ulster Rugby

01. Tom Court	09. Ruan Pienaar
02. Rory Best	10. Paddy Jackson
03. John Afoa
04. Dan Tuohy	11. Andrew Trimble
05. Johann Muller	12. Paddy Wallace
06. Iain Henderson	13. Darren Cave
07. Chris Henry	14. Tommy Bowe
08. Nick Williams	15. Jared Payne

16. Rob Herring 17. Callum Black 18. Declan Fitzpatrick 19. Lewis Stevenson 20.Roger Wilson 21. Paul Marshall 22. Luke Marshall 23. Craig Gilroy


Harlequins
Manager – Steven_Sharks

01. Joe Marler	09. Karl Dickson
02. Gary Botha	10. Freddie Burns (k)
03. Juan Figallo
04. Bakkies Botha	11. Ross Chisholm
05. George Kruis	12. Jamie Roberts
06. Tom Wood	13. Matt Smith
07. Sam Warburton (c)	14. Yoann Huget
08. Pierre Spies	15. Rob Kearney

16. Schalk Brits 17. Tony Woodcock 18. Kieran Brookes 19. Charlie Matthews 20. Nick Easter 21. Greig Laidlaw 22. Quade Cooper 23. Florian Fritz

Tactics

[list][*] Retain possession and play at a quick tempo. Aggressive in attack and defence. Strong carrying looking for offloads.
[list=1][*] Ruck effectively to get quick ball and avoid giving away pens and getting turned over. In defence we look to get the first man there and slow down or turn it over.
[list][*] Kick goals when we get the chance.
[list][*] Quick linespeed and look to double up in the tackle.
[list][*] Tie in Ulster defenders up front before spreading ball wide into open spaces.

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Mark

Being it on Clermont!

Pete, BOD serving last week of his ban, so can't play for Leinster.

cheers mate, forgot he was banned.

7 English starters is going to kill me here I think.

01. Mako Vunipola	09. Mike Phillips
02. Tatafu Polota-Nau	10. Juan Martin Hernandez
03. Henry Thomas
04. Joe Launchbury	11. Leigh Halfpenny(k)
05. Courtney Lawes	12. Weslie Fofana
06. Liam Messam	13. Manu Tuilagi
07. Sam Cane	14. Christian Wade
08. Sergio Parisse	15. Ben Foden

16. Motu Mata'u 17. Thomas Domingo 18. Ben Tameifuna 19. Calum Clark 20. Billy Vunipola 21. Nick Phipps 22. Matt Giteau 23. Elliot Daly

Tactics Building some momentum at the business end of the season, full of confidence after beating league leaders Leicester Tigers last week and the only undefeated team in the HC and home advantage crucial in these games.

As always our game will be based on power, getting our big runners on the ball and getting over the gainline to launch attacks from. We will play with a physical/aggressive defence to force mistakes and turnovers from Leinster and give us a great platform to attack with. We have try scorers throughout our backline and will target the Leinster centres as a means to win the game.

Base the game on a solid set piece in both the scrum and the lineout, we will bring on Domingo and Ben Tameifuna early on in the second half to really place the Leinster scrum under pressure.

The breakdown is where we see we can really set our dominance with Cane, mobility of Launchbury and Lawes and will aim to really place Leinster undre pressure here, either by putting numbers in and clearing out the Leinster players or by using Cane to slow down their ball.

Key Points:* Great form in the team with the likes of Tuilagi, Wade, Halfpenny, Fofana, Phillips in the backs, Vunipola, Thomas, Launchbury, Parisse and Cane in the pack. In comparison key players for Leinster are out of form in real life or injured (Heaslip and Sexton)
* Strong ball carriers in the pack, entire front row, Messam, Parisse, Fofana and Tuilagi - break the Leinster defence and then attack.
* Halfpenny's boot to keep scoreboard ticking over in the big games.
* Real advantage at the breakdown and in the centres, with look to exploit both areas.
* Loss of the Leinster talisman BOD will be an important factor in the game, especially away from home.
* Impact bench with big ball carriers in the forwards to really hit Leinster when their legs begin to tire.

Harlequins
Manager – Steven_Sharks

01. Joe Marler	09. Karl Dickson
02. Gary Botha	10. Freddie Burns (k)
03. Juan Figallo
04. Bakkies Botha	11. Ross Chisholm
05. George Kruis	12. Jamie Roberts
06. Tom Wood	13. Matt Smith
07. Sam Warburton (c)	14. Yoann Huget
08. Pierre Spies	15. Rob Kearney

16. Schalk Brits 17. Tony Woodcock 18. Kieran Brookes 19. Charlie Matthews 20. Nick Easter 21. Greig Laidlaw 22. Quade Cooper 23. Florian Fritz

Tactics

[list][*] Retain possession and play at a quick tempo. Aggressive in attack and defence. Strong carrying looking for offloads.
[list=1][*] Ruck effectively to get quick ball and avoid giving away pens and getting turned over. In defence we look to get the first man there and slow down or turn it over.
[list][*] Kick goals when we get the chance.
[list][*] Quick linespeed and look to double up in the tackle.
[list][*] Tie in Ulster defenders up front before spreading ball wide into open spaces.

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

Tigers make 5 changes to the side that lost to Saints last week. Jonny Wilkinson finally returns from injury, whilst Tom Youngs, Pascal Pape and Ryan Jones come into the pack, and Paul Sackey comes into the back three.

Tigers have named a physical, experienced pack, and will clearly be trying to out-muscle Clermont, with their 6/2 split on the bench emphasising this. Tigers have some huge units to bring off the bench, with the likes of Stephen Moore, Cencus Johnston, James Horwill and Steve Mafi available to call upon.

With neither James Horwill or Brian O'Driscoll starting, Pascal Pape takes the armband.


Leicester Tigers
Manager – LukeLovesLuka

01. Gethin Jenkins	09. Dimitri Yachvili
02. Tom Youngs	10. Jonny Wilkinson (k)
03. Dan Cole
04. Pascal Pape (c)	11. Paul Sackey
05. Geoff Parling	12. Billy Twelvetrees
06. Ryan Jones	13. Rene Ranger
07. Sean O'Brien	14. Vincent Clerc
08. Ernst Joubert	15. Isa Nacewa

16. Stephen Moore 17. Lee Imiolek 18. Cencus Johnston 19. James Horwill 20. Steve Mafi 20. James Scaysbrook 22. Micky Young 23. Frederic Michalak

Tactics:

Play to our strengths and use our heavy pack and intelligent HB's to dictate posession and territory - then look to get the runners in our back line into space.

- Massive line-breakers right throughout the side that will look to tire down Clermont's defence. Use all of SOB, Youngs, Pape, Jones, Parling, Joubert, Twelvetrees and Sackey to crash through the defence. Play an offloading game.

- Maintain this for 80 mins with 6 forwards on the bench to keep intesity high throughout the game. Huge units to bring off the bench, with the likes of Moore, Cencus, Horwill and Mafi available.

- Use kicks from HB's to determine where the game is played. We will relentlessly target the opposition's lineout throws - with Joubert, Parling and Jones always looking to steal.

- Powerful scrum that will look to hold ground and set up a clean platform for Yachvili. Big shove on Clermont's scrums.

- In general attacking play, we will play off 9 with Yachvili our general pulling the strings.

- When the ball comes wide look to play attacking rugby in the backs, getting the likes of Ranger, Nacewa and Clerc on the ball when we can.

- Wilkinson to kick all penalties.

Saracens Football Club
Manager – DHLS07

01. Max Lahiff	09. Chris Cook
02. George Chuter	10. Morne Steyn
03. Phil Swainston
04. Flip van der Merwe	11. Mark Cueto
05. Lionel Nallet	12. Ma'a Nonu
06. Alessandro Zanni	13. Matt Hopper
07. Liam Gill	14. Adam Thompstone
08. Keegan Daniel	15. Ben Smith

16. Christopher Tolofua 17. Paul James 18. Jannie du Plessis 19. James Craig 20. Keegan Daniel 21. Lloyd Williams 22. Gareth Steenson 23. Tom Catterick

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 either stealing or slowing the ball at the breakdown.

Gloucester Rugby
[i]Manager – Mat

01. Dan Murphy	09. Dan Robson
02. Rob Buchanan	10. Dan Carter
03. Nicola Mas
04. Tom Palmer	11. Matt Banahan
05. George Robson	12. Matt Scott
06. Willem Alberts	13. Richard Kahui
07.Qera	14. Charlie Sharples
08. Jamie Heaslip	15. Israel Dagg

16. Micky Heywood 17. Rupert Harden18. Guthro Steenkamp19. Richie Grey20. Steven Ferris21. Will Genia 22. Johan Goosen 23. Iain Balshaw

Tactics

In decent conditions we welcome sarries to Kingsholm. We have won the heino 2 years running and are keen to continue at fortress Kingsholm


Key points
- form team in league
- 8,9,10 control and we win this battle
- more mobile pack that does not neglect set piece
- more lineout options
- super impact bench to stretch game
- mas to target lahiff
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 murphy 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 steyn channel.

To pressure Cook at 9 he has a lack of game time Steyn needs front foot ball

As ever we look to keep the ball and force sarries 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 Sarries knowing carter can get on top of
Steyn and will win
Carter to try and isolate banahan with sarries wingers on cross kicks

Take all points and use wind when at our backs to pin.

Our 8,9,10 is key and we will use that to dictate the game

- send Kahui Alberts etc at steyn channel
- take all points on offer with carter
- look to use the bomb early on to target Back 3
- Territory early doors and pressure their lineout
- kick in behind back 3 and pressure
- put pressure on cook To make him
Shovel ball to steyn
- 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.
- carry relentlessly to keep ball and build pressure. We only use the ball when we have front foot quality ball

Predictions OPEN

Pete I'm just putting my team into correct format etc, had some bu gger get into the office and steal my laptop and hard drives so didnt get a chance to do it properly.

Have got it saved somewhere already though and just need to find the file!

Pete tactics and team updated in right format mate!

Saints 28-21 Leinster
SP: Front rows even but Saints will get a great nudge at the lineout.
BK: Saints a step up in form here.
HB: Phillips in good form, Leinster steady.
AT: Without BOD, Leinster look easily beatable and will be ripped apart by the Saints backline.
BE: Man for man Saints a step up.
TA: Saints targetting the right areas and pick up on the lack of the BOD-leadership in the Leinster backline for a good win.

Clermont 22-20 Tigers
SP: Nothing to separate here.
BK: More round park from Tigers but more hard running from Clermont.
HB: All 4 here are influential.
AT: Feel Clermont's centres will make the breaks, Tigers have finishers out wide but they may struggle to get the ball as quick.
BE: Good impact from Tigers.
TA: Must take in home advantage here as Clermont is a horrible place to go to. Don't think Tigers will get as much gain at scrum as they think they will. Feel Clermont at home will edge this.

Glos 30-21 Sarries
SP: See Sarries struggling here with Glos stronger and Murphy in good form at present.
BK: 2 different backrows with Glos bringing power and Sarries bring breakdown work.
HB: Glos better here with Cook not getting great ball and Steyn slowing getting back to form.
AT: Feel Glos have more powerful runners and will choke Nonu.
BE: 2 good benches but no weakness of Glos' one.
TA: Kick chase won't work for Sarries today. Glos play well in targetting the half back pairings. Sarries unlucky to come up against a strong Glos and at full tilt.

Ulster 25-28 Quins
SP: 2 good sets here, Afoa may give Marler a schooling. Muller v Botha will be a great lineout battle.
BK: More from Quins here.
HB: 2 very good pairings here, can't split them but Quins will get better ball.
AT: Can see Chisholm and Smith struggling but Qwuins have enough quality with them to help, Ulster look dangerous.
BE: This is where Quins will win the game late on with great impact.
TA: Simple but effective from Quins.

Northampton Saints 20-16 Leinster

Decent game with the packs fairly well matched. Little more form in the Saints halfbacks but the Irish combo better suited to each other. Game is won in midfield where Saints are a class above.


ASM Clermont Auvergne 16-17 Leicester Tigers

Nothing between the set pieces but Tigers backrow offers more around the field overall. Can’t see much between the backs. On the starting lineups not sure Tigers have enough to win away at the toughest ground in Europe but the extra forward on the bench really helps them out in the last quarter as Clermount have some older lads likely to tire faster.


Gloucester 30-22 Saracens

See Sarries struggling a little at both set pieces against a strong Glaws line up. Glaws wings not the best against the Sarries kicking game but on the back foot Sarries will struggle to exert pressure with the boot and haven’t the magic of Carter to open up the defence.


Ulster Rugby 25-22 Harlequins

Cracking battle at the set piece. Quins shade the breakdown slightly but Ulster still capable of getting good ball. Ulster slightly shading the halfbacks with Pieneer a class above while the back lines are fairly even. Both sides can change the pace of their game from the bench. Fairly even game overall and home advantage shades it.

Saints 34 - 25 Leinster

Backs win it for Saints. The packs are pretty even but Saints have so much more in the 3/4's and will be comfortable at home.

Clermont 25 - 23 Leicester

Not much between the packs for me. As a unit Clermont are strong and I consider them to have a better balance than the Leicester 8. Nothing in the half backs with PArra and Wilko the stand outs. Outside backs go the Clermont due to the extra power and physicality they offer. At home Clermont edge it.

Gloucester 28 - 21 Saracens

Gloucester have a little bit more across the park. Saracens are hurt by thr 7 English and away from home it is a massive ask to win. Saracens will make it tough for Gloucester but in the end it will be a good Gloucester win.

Saints v Leinster
- Very close in the pack. Both looseheads could cause trouble for their opposing TH. Big step up in the backlines for me in Saints favour. Stronger bench also gets them the win.
27-22

Clermont v Leicester
- Such a tough place to go away. Scrum goes to Clermont. Rest of the pack is quite even. Half backs are close but give the backline to Clermont. Stronger Tigers bench to pull them back but think Clermont are too strong at home.
28-23

Gloucester v Saracens
- Glos on good form and have momentum. Saracens good side not enough to get parity in the pack or cause enough trouble in the backs.
30-24

Ulster v Quins
- Close in the packs, but think Quins backrow gives them a good edge. 1 a piece in the HBs. Rest of the backlines close. Stronger Quins bench.
21-21

Northampton Saints 26 - 22 Leinster

Packs are close, with both securing their own possession from set plays. There is a bit more quality from the home team however, not just in the backs but also the bench.

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Clermont Auvergne 32 - 30 Leicester Tigers

Packs are pretty damn close. Clermont work as a pack and are abrasive, but Tigers have a bit more star quality through theirs. Halfbacks are just in Tigers favour as both suit their game-plan to a tee! Clermont just take the backs with a bit more size in their back three, which I feel they will use well. Benches again are close, I can't help but think that Luke needed another back in there just to mix it up late on. Clermont to go through thanks to the boot of Parra.

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Gloucester 30 - 25 Saracens

Saracens are set up well, but Glos just have that much more in them. Saracens will make a game out of this though and will push Gloucester, but once their bench comes on their quality will shine through

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Ulster 22 - 25 Harlequins

One of the best games of the round. Packs are close, but there is a little more in the Quins back-row. Ulster just edge the half-backs, but the backs are even. However Quins have a game changing bench and I think they have a bit more to swing the game for them late on.

Saints 26 - 22 Leinster

Leinster to get the nudge on for me, and think they can steal some lineout as well. Set piece advantage to the away side. Good back row battle that Saints may get on top of, but strong carrying from Leinster. Decent HBbattle that is tight, but Saints steal the show in the centres and dominate. Two good back threes. Saints have muchmore to brong on with replacements. Close game, but Saints win it with their bench.



Gloucester 25 - 22 Saracens

Edge to Gloucs in front rows for me with Mas the standout. Give the edge to Sarries in the 2nd rows, with Zanni making lineout fairly even. Sarries have great form in the back row - Gloucs the star quality. Qera playing well and big Gloucs player right now. Funny HB battle, which have to edge to Gloucs, but Sarries tactics perfect for Steyn. One apiece in the centres, and Gloucs take the back threes. Gloucs have a bit too much, but decent showing for Sarries.



Ulster 22 - 21 Harlequins

Think Ulster can get a nudge on in the scrum, but the lineout is fairly even. See Quins really dominating the back row though, enjoying their back row. HB's really tight, Pienaar the star though. Fairly even centres, this time Roberts is above the others. Think Ulster have a stronger back three. Much more impact for Quins off the bench. This is a really close game, which i've found tough to call. Home advanatge wins it.

Saints 28-23 Leinster

Saints backs a cut above and they score
Points and get bp

Ulster 22-23 Quins

So many even match ups. Both th get on top. Figallo would kill court.

Pienaar stand out but Quins Backrow and bench win game

Clermont 27-26 Leicester

Packs close Domingo will get on top.
Second row Leicester as a pairing but brutes clermont. Backrow even.

Think clermont outside backs physicality and home advantage win this.
At home Leicester but think clermont lumps win this

Northampton Saints 28 Leinster 25
ASM Clermont Auvergne 25 Leicester Tigers 24
Gloucester 30 Saracens 23
Ulster Rugby 26 Harlequins 25

Clermont 23 - 22 Tigers
Tough place for any team to go, form of Clermont is very impressive and I think they are undefeated at home for a ridiculous amount of time in Europe. Form players too, Fofana 12 tries in 18 games for them now and a real menace. The Tigers front 5 will keep this close, but the power of Clermont will come through.

Gloucester 30 - 22 Sarries
Gloucester very strong in 8 and 10 shirts, and have been very impressed with Robson at no9 for them too. Mat has got a lot of inform players peaking at the right time in the season, and at home will be very hard for Sarries. Can see a good win for Gloucester to please the Shed, especially as the conditions really suit their team.

Ulster 21-22 Quins
If this game had taken place prior to February or so then I'd have given Ulster a win by 3+ points, but I haven't really been impressed with them since then and they seem to not be playing as well. Quins have the creativity to win this game, the packs are very even and just think QUins have that extra bit of spark with Burns at no10.

Northampton Saints 28 Leinster 21
Clermont Auvergne 23 Leicester Tigers 21
Gloucester 35 Saracens 25
Ulster 23 Harlequins 18

Northampton Saints 22-18 Leinster
Clermont 20-19 Leicester Tigers
Ulster 21-20 Harlequins

Am basing my ET predo on who has the stronger bench and more composure to see the game out.

Ulster Rugby 31 Harlequins 33

Ulster 31 - 35 Quins
Stronger bench and I don't think Ulster are as good as they were last season.

Ulster. 31-34 Quins

Stronger bench. Cooper and laidlaw to create the winning scores. Cooper looking back to his best

30-35. Bench takes it.

Ulster 28-30 Quins

Halfback combo off the bench allows Quins to direct the play that bit more in extra time.

Ulster 31 - 33 Quins