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Breaking News: Leicester Tigers secure top spot and a home semi-final with their first bonus point win of the league season against Bath at The Rec.

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Welcome to Season 5 of the Aviva Premiership fantasty rugby game. Below are the rules of the game which must be adhered to. If there are any situations that arise in the course of the game which are not covered by the rules, a final decision will be made by the RFU (Ozzy3213) as to how the situation will be resolved.

Senior Squads wrote:
The maximum squad size is 40 senior players. If a team has more than 40 players in their squad then they will be fined £1 million per player over the permitted amounts per day for the first seven days. If after 7 consecutive days a team still has more than the permitted number of players then the team will be fined £2 million per player per day, and fined 1 league point per player per day for the next seven days. If after this time a team still has more than the permitted number of players in their squad, the RFU (me) will remove players at it’s discretion to bring them back under the permitted numbers. There will be no right of appeal to players being removed.

Be aware that all tier one international matches which are played during the season will count in the game, and players selected in the matchday 22's for those matches will not be eligible to play for their clubs on that weekend, therefore you must give due consideration to the make up of your squad.

Academy Rules wrote:
Each team will be allowed to have a listed senior academy squad of 20 players. Players who are in the senior academy must be under 22 years of age as of 1st September 2012 (therefore must have been born on or after 1st Septmber 1990). Players who are under the age of 20 (so born after 1st September 1992) AND are in the academy of the club that you are managing in real life, DO NOT need to be listed as senior academy players as part of your 20, but are available to you in this game and cannot be poached by other clubs without paying you a fee.

Should a player not listed in your 20 senior academy players, but part of the clubs academy in real life move clubs in real life, then you will have first option of promoting him to your listed senior academy. If you choose not to take this option he will become property of the club that he moves to in real life in this game.

Transfers wrote:

• Domestic (other AP Teams)
  Each team has a budget to use in the purchase of players. Domestic transfers between AP clubs, regardless of nationality of player, should be negotiated between the respective managers, and then confirmed on the Domestic Transfer Confirmation Page.
  
  
• Domestic (Championship and below)
  Each team may during the season purchase no more than 3 players from the Championship or the National Leagues. These players must be bid for on the Championship/National League bidding page, and each bid will be considered by me on it's own merits before being accepted or rejected. No bid will be accepted until a minimum of 24 hours has elapsed from the time the bid was made, in order to afford other managers the opportunity to make a counter bid.
  
  
• Foreign
  To make a foreign transfer (i.e from any club outside of the AP, regardless of whether the player is English) a bid should be made on the Foreign Transfers Page, which will be considered by me against the posted guidelines for purchase prices before being accepted or rejected. No bid will be accepted until a minimum of 24 hours has elapsed from the time the bid was made, in order to afford other managers the opportunity to make a counter bid.
  
  Foreign transfers will unlimited during the off season and 2 during the season. The exact dates of the two transfer windows during the season is to be confirmed.
  

Player Releases wrote:
Managers may choose to release players from their clubs, for which they will be offered compensation

Compensation will be paid as follows

£2 million – current international (must have played international rugby in the previous 12 months)
£1.5 million – former international
£1m – top flight experience
£0.5m – other

If a released player plays in real life for a team outside of this game he will be deemed to have returned to that team. If not then he will be deemed to have signed for a Championship side. If another manager wants to pick a released player up, they will have to bid for him in the same way as for a foreign or Championship/National League player.

Retirements wrote:
There will be no compensation for retiring players. Should a player who retires decide to come out of retirement and play again, then he will automatically go back to the club who he was playing for in the game when he retired.

Fixtures wrote:
There will be 22 Aviva Premiership games per season, plus the play offs. There will also be Heineken Cup, Amlin Challenge Cup and Anglo Welsh Cup matches. These games will take place once a week. A thread will be put up for managers to name their teams on Thursdays, then on Fridays, managers will post the scores that they think will happen from these games (apart from games in which they are involved). An average of all predictions will be taken, and then 0.5 points added to each teams score for each prediction that had them as the winner, and that will then be the final score.

Teams wrote:
When naming your team, not only should you put the starting XV and replacements, but also tactics that your team will employ. Results will be affected by the tactics described.

In addition, each team must have the following:-

At least 10 England qualified players in your matchday 23, and at least 5 of those must be in your starting XV.

At least 2 props and 1 hooker on the bench.

All players must be eligible (not injured or banned).

Failure to comply with these rules will result in forfeiting the match and a 1 league point deduction.

If you fail to submit a team for a match, then the other team will be automatically awarded a 30-0 bonus point win. If both teams fail to submit a team, then it will be scored as a 0-0 draw.

Injuries and Suspensions wrote:
Injuries in this game do NOT reflect real life, they will be generated by me.

Players banned in real life will be ineligible for selection in this game for the duration of the ban.

Inclusion of injured/banned players will result in them being replaced by players on the bench, and the bench not having eight players, which may result in punishment if it concerns the front-row.

Punishment for fielding an ineligible player will be loss of one match point for a first offence, two for a second offence and so on.

Financial Rewards wrote:
There will be no rewards for the result of an individual match, instead the managers will receive cash for predicting.

£1.5m for descriptive predictions
£0.25m for scores on the doors predictions
If you fail to predict without first advising me that you are unable to do so that week, you will be fined £1m for a first offence, £2m for a second offence, £3m for a third offence etc.

AP finishing positions.

Champions: 8m
Runners Up: 6m
Playoff Semi Finalist Losers: 5m
5th: 4m
6th: 3.5m
7th: 3m
8th: 2.5m
9th: 2m
10th: 1.5m
11th: 1m
12th: 0.5m

Heineken Cup

Losing Quarter Finalists - £2 million each
Losing Semi Finalists - £3 million each
Runners Up - £4 million
Champions - £5 million

Amlin Challenge Cup

Losing Quarter Finalists - £1 million each
Losing Semi Finalists - £2 million each
Runners Up - £3 million
Champions - £4 million

Anglo-Welsh Cup

Losing Semi Finalist - £1 million each
Runners Up - £2 million
Champions - £3 million


If your budgets falls below minus £10 million for any reason, the administrators (ozzy3213) will step in and players from within your squad will be released for the relevant financial compensation in order to bring your budget back above minus £10 million.

I think its June time mate.

What's the squad in full? Am stuck in meetings and the firm has banned all sports websites!

Thought Hartley would go as his form last 6 months has been very good, great leadership etc. didn't expect Best not to make it.

Did Robshaw?

Even sooner sorry, they go there in June, must be after the AP Final I would guess!

No Robshaw, Launch, Wood Chris

Backs: Leigh Halfpenny, Stuart Hogg, Rob Kearney, Tommy Bowe, Alex Cuthbert, Sean Maitland, George North, Jonathan Davies, Brian O'Driscoll, Jamie Roberts, Manu Tuilagi, Owen Farrell, Jonathan Sexton, Conor Murray, Mike Phillips, Ben Youngs.

Forwards: Dan Cole, Cian Healy, Gethin Jenkins, Adam Jones, Matt Stevens, Mako Vunipola, Dylan Hartley, Richard Hibbard, Tom Youngs, Ian Evans, Richie Gray, Alun-Wyn Jones, Paul O'Connell, Geoff Parling, Tom Croft, Toby Faletau, Jamie Heaslip, Dan Lydiate, Sean O'Brien, Justin Tipuric, Sam Warburton

There's a lot of noise on Twitter about Hines not being picked , been best lock in France this season.

Lions Squad;

Leigh Halfpenny
Stuart Hogg
Rob Kearney

Tommy Bowe
Alex Cuthbert
Sean Maitland
George North

John Davies
Brian O'Driscoll
Jamie ROberts
Manu Tuilagi

Owen Farrell
Johnny Sexton

Connor Murrey
Mike Phillips
Ben Youngs

Dan Cole
Cian Healy
Gethin Jenkins
Adam Jones
Matt Stevens
Mako Vunipola

Dylan Hartley
Richard Hibbard
Tom Youngs

Ian Evans
Richie Grey
Alun Wyn Jones
Paul O'connell
Geoff Parling

Tom Croft
Toby Falatau
Jamie Heaslip
Dan Lydiate
Sean O'Brian
Justin Tipuric
Sam Warburton

Lucky:

Bowe, Maitland, Murray (Just about), Stevens, Hartley, Youngs, Lydiate, Croft.

Unlucky:

Visser, Laidlaw, Ross, Best, Beattie, Hines, Hamilton, Wood, Robshaw, O'Mahony.

Only 3 Lions from Quins then. Who on here the the most? Luke or Chris?

I'v got 5.

I'm shocked by the Lydiate call too unless it's just the ground he's being picked to play on? Thought wood would have stood a chance.

Personally I didn't see Hartley and Youngs going-feel sorrt for Best.

In the backs I'd say it's pretty much as expected bar Murray in instead of Laidlaw.

0

I have 3

Chris and driver have 5, Luke has 6.

Think Luke has it. Good even split I suspect.

Put well here with a comment off main board about the balance of selection:

Ie in the back row.
Lydiate - the tackler, the rucker...
O'Brien - The bruising ball carrier
Croft - The fast lineout option.

Hooker
Hartley - Despite his critics (and im one)...good technically - lineout, very good rucker.
Hibbard - A sheer beast of a guy
Youngs - Dynamic, good ball carrier

6 too - halfpenny, Phillips, mako, Hartley, lydiate and manu

yeh 6 for me.

So gatland asked Wilko and he said no?

Now we know the Lions, assuming no other England players get called up on standby...team for Argentina.....

1 Corbisiero
2 Paice
3 Wilson
4 Launchbury
5 Robson
6 Wood
7 Robshaw
8 Morgan
9 Care
10 Burns
11 Wade
12 Twelvetrees
13 Joseph
14 May
15 Brown

16 Marler
17 Gray
18 Doran-Jones
19 Slater
20 Fraser
21 Robson
22 Flood
23 Sharples

I'd like to see Slater and Fraser starting though really. And Billy Vunipola.

A chance to give the likes of Robshaw and Launch a rest really. They should tour, but let some other guys have a crack. Can't see Joseph going we have better options there I think, otherwise would agree on the most part!

Who better at 13?

Please no-one say Tomkins.

Barritt...

Tomkins has had an infinitely better season than JJ at 13 nick.

Trinder or Daly

Overall great squad. Always going to be some we question. Great call on no best he has gone to pieces of late. Tough on wood but as pooly pointed our a few weeks ago croft is a quality operator in tremendous form and will suit hard grounds.

Jw has been offered stand by.

Stevens in great form but bold call

Not denying that Pete, JJ has had a terrible season. But going forward JJ has more potential and if he can get back to his 2011/2012 form is a better option.

Props

Marler, Corbs, Thomas, Wilson

Hookers

Buchanan, Gray, George

Locks

Lawes, Launch, Kruis, Slater, Garvey, Gaskell. (Later two play cover backrow but should be at lock for international chances sake)

Back row

Robshaw, Wood, Fraser, Morgan, Vunipola,

Half backs

Care, L. Dickson, Robson
Burns, Flood, Ford.

Centre

Twelvetrees, Allen, Joseph, Tomkins.

Back three

Wade, May, Foden, Brown, Sharples, Daly.

No interest in seeing Paice, PDJ, Barritt, Goode anywhere near the squad. Lets try players who have a chance of becoming top internationals.

Please no Tomkins, utter dross.

Hooker is an interesting one with Gray not playing too well of late and George not much game time.

I wouldn't have Robson near a tour party either, been very poor. Not sure who'll lead the line??

Fair shout Steve.

I'd take Yarde over Sharples, has more to offer.

Does the squad selection change anyone's perception of the first test side (assuming no injuries, which won't happen)?

Something like:

Healy
Hibbard
Jones
Grey
POC
SOB
Warburton
Faletau

Youngs
Sexton
North
Roberts
BOD
Bowe
Halfpenny


Jenkins
Youngs
Cole
AW Jones
Tipuric
Phillips
Farrell
Tuilagi


???

Phillips ahead of Youngs and Cuthbert ahead of Bowe for me. Not much wrong with the rest.

Can see Gatland going with that too TBH. with the Welsh connection. That would 9 Welsh starting?

most likely the best pack/backrow bar the exception of maybe Ferris or Wood at 6 we could have I think.

I think Cole suits the ground their better. He is a good enough scrummager to give real problems to the relatively weak Aussie scrum and his work in the loose is a lot better than Adam Jones. So I reckon he has a decent chance of starting.

Phillips will probably get the nod.

Tuilagi and Croft have decent chances too. Think Gatland is a big Croft fan.

Cuthbert poor for me would rather anyone

Cuthbert is a raw finisher, will suit the hard pitches.

I'd personally start North & Bowe, best 2 wingers in the NH

Excited about seeing the mako shark go on your think he could be top impact prop with his carrying.

Would not be surprised to see a Sob heaslip warbs Backrow has everything and croft could be brought on after 50.

Benches will play a massive role .

Really happy with the squad and standby players.

Brave call on best but one I fully believe in.


Two touch technical hookers in Hartley and Hibbard and impact in youngs.

Think I will be saying well done l gatland on Friday although I imagine he had very little interest in me or my opinion.

Jason Leonard described it as the best selected lions side of last 20 years and one picked almost entirely on form. He said to not be on form and picked you needed to be a world class option and you can excuse lydiate on that basis.

Sgt_Pooly wrote:Cuthbert is a raw finisher, will suit the hard pitches.

I'd personally start North & Bowe, best 2 wingers in the NH

200% agree with that. Hogg or halfpenny may challenge also

Hogg meant to be covering 10

I do hope not driver!!

There are always injuries and lots of ex lions on the radio have said wilko will be out there ASAP.

Allows him to see out French season and works well.

Sexton has played little of late and whilst I am a big Farrell fan I would want back up. Having wilko off the bench would be such a reassuring thing to have

Sexton has been injured not really his fault! Plus was excellent on Saturday!

Fluxy wrote:Sexton has been injured not really his fault! Plus was excellent on Saturday!

Absolutely massive sexton fan. Think he is nailed on starter. Just think we will need a back up. 10

If any of them pick up a slight niggle you could have sexton or Farrell having to play 3 times in a week so can't see gatland sticking to just two 10s

Interesting departure

http://www.planetrugby.co.uk/story/0,25883,3823_8679995,00.html

Know anything Chris ?

Not heard anything about him coming to us at glos and i generally hear things like that.
Hoping he is though as he has performed wonders on that wasps scrum

Amazed that we've got 5 English front rowers out there, was expecting Hartley and Mako to go as both been in good form, but Stevens! He's been playing well but I dont think anyone called that one!

Gutted for Wood, surely should have been picked ahead of Lydiate - 1 1/2 games in a season! Think he's the best no6 in Europe.

Wonder how different England's 6Nations would have been if Ben Morgan stayed fit? He'd definitely have been on the plane.

Is that about Woodman leaving Wasps Mat? He had an agreement with Young that he would stay for 2 years and then Young would take over training the pack more.

Not sure it is a great idea by Wasps to let him go, haven't been impressed with the coaches he's brought to the club.

England squad I think they will take, given the guys that Lancaster called into the 6Nations training squads:

Hookers:
Webber, Paice, Gray

Props:
Marler, Corbs, Thomas, Wilson

Locks:
Lawes, Launch, Robson, Slater

Back Row:
Robshaw, Wood, Fraser (injured?), Kvesvic, Morgan, Vunipola,

Scrum Halves:
Care, L. Dickson, Simpson

Fly Halves:
Burns, Flood, Ford.

Centres:
Twelvetrees, Barritt, Joseph, Tomkins.

Back three:
Wade, May, Foden, Brown, Ashton, Daly.

Great squad Chris.

Still domestic semifinal
And final to come
And heino etc and injuries happen. Wood will end up on lions I reckon.

We need to win in nz and as well as Dickson is playing he will not be England future so maybe experiment there.

Great call on webber. Been great. Him and gray and maybe again a younger player than Paice would be good.

What would we learn from flood going ? I know he will tour but what do we gain. We know where he is and that he is a good standby but ultimately not good enough. Time to look elsewhere on this tour.

"What would we learn from flood going ? I know he will tour but what do we gain. We know where he is and that he is a good standby but ultimately not good enough. Time to look elsewhere on this tour."

Experience & leadership perhaps?

Or we could just take 2 rookie FH's to play against of the most physical sides about.

Even for you that's an odd one Matt, Flood has been in v good form and offers a decent defence which Burns doesn't.

Ford shouldn't tour, worst 10 display I've ever seen for Saxons. He needs AP game time.

Goode will tour, you don't go from starting FB to dropped.

Although Ford played badly it was one game.

We be good to take him along for the experience, and maybe some bench experience.

I think this tour is the chance for England to get a lot things right for 2015, and that includes blooding players, bringing some back into the squad and actually trying to form partnerships with players in the right positions.

I think the consensus is that Goode has been found out from most pundits and surely coaches.

Saw a quote in one piece of press which I am paraphrasing slightly as cant find it but it was from someone like josh lewsey or Matt perry

" mike brown must be very annoyed that lancasters persistence with Goode has not worked. He has been found out for his lack of pace and defence and forced brown to play wing which is not his role. Brown has been best English fb for 2 years and would be a lion"
I agree with that.

Flood has been excellent this year and I had him as being in top 5 players in ap this year.

However I think we need to be targetting the wc and not trying to win every game with the mindset of squeaking through.

Burns offers an attacking threat flood never will and kicks goals. His defence is not great but if cooper and cruden can play international rugby...

My point is we know what flood can do so why not try something different.

If we play likes of flood,Goode Etc we will go out in quarter finals with a whimper. We need to find a good
Core which we have and experiment with other positions to find it.

Mako/ Corbs
Hartley/ youngs
Cole
Launch
Wood
Morgan etc is a foundation. Lets experiment with centres/ wings and 10 Etc and try and find an answer

If i was picking the England squad it would be along the lines of?

Props; Joe Marler , Alex Corbisero , Henry Thomas , Kieron Brookes , Paul Doran Jones

Hookers: Joe Grey , Rob Webber and Rob Buchanan

Locks: Ed Slater , Courtney Lawes , George Kruis and Joe Launchbury

Back Row : Tom Wood (c) , Will Fraser , Matt Kvesic , Ben Morgan and Billy Vunipola

Half backs : Danny Care , Joe Simpson , Toby Flood (VC) and Freddie Burns

Centres: Billy Twelvetrees , Brad Baritt , Elliot Daley , Jonny May

Wings: Chris Ashton , Kyle Eastmond , Christian Wade , Ben Foden

Full backs: Alex Goode , Mike Brown.

The two obvious ommisions are Dave Wilson and Chris Robshaw.

I'd give Robshaw the tour off , let him have a break from it. Maybe go with the team as a moral support .

Dave Wilson isn't up to it , PDJ has too step up here and Brookes has bags of potential.

Imagine May defending at 13...