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by **Ozzy3213** Thu 11 Apr 2013, 9:33 pm

First topic message reminder :

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.

Homepage - Page 20 Aviva-Premiership-Trophy-e1306508139154

2011/2012 – Newcastle Falcons
2010/2011 - Newcastle Falcons
2009/2010 - Saracens
2008/2009 - London Irish

POS	Aviva Premiership	PLAYED	WON	DREW	LOST	P F	P A	P D	T F	T A	TBP	LBP	POINTS
1	Leicester Tigers	21	17	1	3	542	460	+82	60	43	1	3	74
2	Harlequins	21	15	0	6	550	499	+51	60	50	3	5	68
3	Gloucester	21	14	0	7	546	488	+58	63	50	4	5	65
4	Newcastle Falcons	21	13	1	7	530	485	+45	56	45	1	7	62
5	Sale Sharks	21	12	0	9	536	508	+28	58	52	2	9	59
6	London Irish	21	11	0	10	532	517	+15	57	52	3	9	56
7	Northampton Saints	21	11	1	9	526	511	+15	55	53	2	8	56
8	London Welsh	21	9	3	9	495	484	+11	53	48	0	9	51
9	Bath Rugby	21	9	0	12	487	519	-32	46	56	0	8	44
10	Saracens	21	5	1	15	437	528	-91	39	57	0	7	29
11	Worcester Warriors	21	3	1	17	452	516	-64	39	57	1	11	26
12	London Wasps	21	3	0	18	419	537	-118	37	60	0	13	25

Fixture List
European Homepage

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.

by Sgt_Pooly Wed 08 May 2013, 3:19 pm

Don't rate Tomkins but JJ been awful....tough call

by Fluxy Wed 08 May 2013, 4:00 pm

It will be Attwood or Wood leading the calls Pooly. Actually relatively happy with the squad. There weren't going to be too many wild calls with the lack of experience travelling.

by dammit_chris Wed 08 May 2013, 7:17 pm

Good point about Fraser being injured Fluxy. Forgot about that.

Glad Wood is captain, if he performs well I hope he keeps it long-term, such a good player - reminds me of Richard Hill in that he does so much work for the team, but isn't seen so much.

Really amazed Daly isn't going though, he's been Wasps best back this year!

by Sgt_Pooly Wed 08 May 2013, 7:24 pm

He's just a bit lightweight, his time will come as he's a real talent.

Wood is quality, no 8 though

by dammit_chris Wed 08 May 2013, 7:39 pm

Wood for me is best no6 in Europe, I know a lot will disagree but I rate him very highly - but he should never play for England at no8 again, think that ruined his Lions chances.

Wood and Morgan in the same back row is going to be very good - I would like a genuine out and out 7 to emerge, I really like Robshaw, but there is something about him that makes me think he wont ever be a world class player and we'll struggle at the breakdown until that's fixed.

I hope Vunipola comes on well at Sarries, he's gone to the right club to make him a more complete player, I'm not sure he will get as much game time there, but the Sarries coaches seem to be very, very good.

by Steven_Sharks Wed 08 May 2013, 7:40 pm

Wood not an 8, but did admirably in the 6N. Back up for Morgan and Cole has to be a priority of this tour I think.

by dammit_chris Wed 08 May 2013, 7:50 pm

Is main backup for Cole, Wilson? He's done well at Bath, but not sure he's top quality or a guy to move us forward, but who else is there?

Vunipola will be good backup for Morgan, but probably needs another season getting first team rugby to iron out a few of his flaws and work on his fitness - if Sarries can get the best out of him he's some impact sub to have.

by Sgt_Pooly Wed 08 May 2013, 7:58 pm

Steven_Sharks wrote:Wood not an 8, but did admirably in the 6N. Back up for Morgan and Cole has to be a priority of this tour I think.

He did well as he would of done at 6 but was poor at general 8 play. He lacks the carrying needed to be an 8 and it was obvious throughout the 6N he wasn't right there.

Wood is v good but not the best 6 in the NH, he'd be with the Lions if that was the case.

by Steven_Sharks Wed 08 May 2013, 8:05 pm

Gatland's opinion doesn't provide rank for northern hemisphere 6's. His opinion clearly has value but not gospel.

Wood excellent all round flanker. Perhaps in a balanced unit that is his down fall. He is good at everything required of a flanker but not excellent at one think.

SOB - great carrier.
Tips - Great breakdown
Warbs - great Breakdown
Lydiate- Great defence.
Croft - Lineout/Workrate

Nothing you can say Wood is world class at but he is pretty good at everything.

by Sgt_Pooly Wed 08 May 2013, 8:20 pm

Yea I'd agree with that, I do rate Wood highly.

Not sure Warburton is that great at the breakdown, certainly not one of his strongest attributes imo.

I always like a 6 to be physical ball carrier....Kaino, Elsom, Burger, Juan Smith, Ferris etc, we just seem to have anyone on that mould.

A fit Ferris is best 6 in NH for me, sadly I don't think we'll see him strut his stuff again if the rumours are true.

by Steven_Sharks Thu 09 May 2013, 8:16 am

http://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-breaking-news/9349/kurtley-beale-suspended-again/

by stnick88 Thu 09 May 2013, 8:59 am

such a mug. wasting his talent.

by LukeLovesLuka Thu 09 May 2013, 10:49 am

A weeks suspension for going to a bar.
Still think he'll be in the Oz side for the first test.

by Sgt_Pooly Thu 09 May 2013, 11:10 am

Yea he's still their best option at FB, possibly FH too. Looked in good form when he came on.

by Sgt_Pooly Thu 09 May 2013, 1:00 pm

See Attwood is lined up to run the line in Arg.

4. Launchbury
5. Attwood

19. Slater

Has a real physical edge to it.

by dammit_chris Thu 09 May 2013, 3:29 pm

Lawes will start, last 2-3 weeks he's almost back to his best, Kay was singing his praises at the weekend, seems to have stopped looking for the big tackle. Looking forward to the AP semi finals - Tigers should be one finalist, espc as Quins havent been looking their best recently - but its nearly 50/50 with Sarries and Saints, can't call that one.

I think Launch could be benched as he's been looking exhausted in recent weeks, has played so many games this year - thought he was a dead cert for the Lions at the start of 2013.

Saw in the Telegraph that they are using Goode as second choice no10 - didnt work that well for Sarries - 4 games and just one no10, bit of a risk!

by Steven_Sharks Thu 09 May 2013, 3:39 pm

Love to see Slater get a go myself.

Lineout calling isn't that tough. The tough but is on opposition ball.

by dammit_chris Thu 09 May 2013, 3:47 pm

Slater has looked blooming good this year, would prefer him to start more than Attwood. Have been pretty impressed with Charlie Matthews recently for Quins and Kruis at Sarries.

Steve - who is the young Sale lock coming through, he's 22/23 and has been getting some very good reviews?

by Sgt_Pooly Thu 09 May 2013, 3:58 pm

I'm not sure Lawes will start tbh.

You've got to think Launchbury will start and can't imagine Lawes will partner him.

Lawes hasn't impressed this season, I'd have Attwood & Slater ahead on form.

by Steven_Sharks Thu 09 May 2013, 4:08 pm

Lawes a much better player than Attwood. Both Attwood and Slater playing better rugby though. Parling clear first choice and Lawes doesn't work with him for me.

by stnick88 Thu 09 May 2013, 4:16 pm

Attwood and Slater both had great 2nd half to season. Be happy to see that as a pairing in Argentina.

by dammit_chris Thu 09 May 2013, 4:27 pm

Lawes was poor up until after the 6Nations, since coming back to Saints he has been their driving force in the pack. Been very impressed with him of late - Lancaster was muppet for trying him at no6 for an international game, was never going to work unless he was up against a team like Fiji. Samoa where you need big hits.

Same with picking Wood at no8. would have been better for the team to have played Waldroum, Vunipola or recalled Easter there. Big issue when Morgan got injured!

by Fluxy Thu 09 May 2013, 4:36 pm

Lawes is bottom of the list for me. We know what he can bring and hasn't been in the best form, in there for the his versatility.

by stnick88 Thu 09 May 2013, 4:41 pm

Disagree there Chris. I'd say Tonga'uhia and Mujati coming back in to form was a bigger help for Saints pack than Lawes. Also, the form of Manoa. Lawes has improved but its been more of a team effort.

by dammit_chris Thu 09 May 2013, 4:50 pm

Last 3 games Lawes has been Saints best forward - been crap the rest of the season by his standards. Though in saying that it wouldnt be surprising that has happened as pitches have hardened up and that suits Lawes style of play far more than most other forwards - same for why Croft's form has picked up.

by stnick88 Thu 09 May 2013, 4:56 pm

yeh thats fair the harder pitches suit Lawes so his form has improved but also Tonga'uhia and Mujati who had been poor, really picked up their form. Manoa is a beast. Hartley has looked decent too.

by Sgt_Pooly Thu 09 May 2013, 5:01 pm

Lawes hasn't been great all season for me, he's had a few good games granted but I'm starting to think he's not an Int class lock.

Launchbury/Lawes just won't work I don't think.

by LukeLovesLuka Thu 09 May 2013, 10:44 pm

Tom Youngs wins player of the year.
Launchbury rookie of the year.

Youngs could have done a Bale and won both lol....

by Guest Thu 09 May 2013, 10:59 pm

Who were the nominees luke ?

Amazed salvi did not win it. He won Leicester player of the year

by Guest Thu 09 May 2013, 11:02 pm

Launchbury deserves that award. Mako shark must have ran him close.

Launch was outstanding and has tailed off as happens with young players whereas Vunipola has finished stronger.

2 long term England players for me. A few rough edges but absolute quality talent. Great to see mako on lions

by Steven_Sharks Thu 09 May 2013, 11:14 pm

For AP performances? Don't see how Youngs even nominated personally. Not in best 5 this season for me.

by Guest Thu 09 May 2013, 11:18 pm

I was surprised Steve also.

Qera was nominated yet as well as he has played kalamafoni was glos player of year.

Thought flood or Salvi for me. As much as I don't like flood he has been great at ap. he is no international but a fine ap player.

Care was top also as was Easter

by Guest Thu 09 May 2013, 11:23 pm

Wonder if saints will have a plan b this year ?

If sarries stop their power game then can see them winning easily.

If I was saints I would get rid of mallinder

He always makes his team light on ball playing forwards and relies on power with zero subtlety.
Manoa tiny lawes Hartley day mujati are all very good players but lack any subtlety.

by Guest Thu 09 May 2013, 11:27 pm

Apparently Kahui not off to Japan due to new injury which is only muscular but needs 4 months

http://japandailypress.com/all-blacks-kahuis-japan-career-in-doubt-after-latest-injury-setback-0728373

Poor chap he is such a player but terrible luck.

Most people don't come back from 2 shoulder reconstructions. Tough op. needed one for years and always put it off due to rehab and know I would never bother to play again.

by dammit_chris Thu 09 May 2013, 11:28 pm

Top quality 10 is what they need - want to see what this Dickson from NZ they've signed is like, meant to be v good.

Saints all about physicality, if you can stop that then you beat them - Tigers best example as they humped them in both games this year.

by Guest Thu 09 May 2013, 11:35 pm

Aussie backline from super pundits

9 Genia
10 Cooper
11 ioane
12 leilifano
13 AAC
14 folau/JOC
15 Beale

Campese picked weird backline in paper and talk sport

9 Genia
10 cooper
11 ioane
12 JOC
13 folau
14 AAC
15 Beale

by Fluxy Thu 09 May 2013, 11:45 pm

Mogg man for Beale in the Oz team

by Sgt_Pooly Fri 10 May 2013, 8:07 am

anonmattyt wrote:Apparently Kahui not off to Japan due to new injury which is only muscular but needs 4 months

http://japandailypress.com/all-blacks-kahuis-japan-career-in-doubt-after-latest-injury-setback-0728373

Poor chap he is such a player but terrible luck.

Most people don't come back from 2 shoulder reconstructions. Tough op. needed one for years and always put it off due to rehab and know I would never bother to play again.

He may have to retire.....

http://i.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/8633363/Richard-Kahui-shoulder-injury-may-end-career

by Guest Fri 10 May 2013, 8:36 am

There seems to be mixed bag of articles most saying its just muscular and the odd one saying career in balance.

by stnick88 Fri 10 May 2013, 8:45 am

Can't believe Tom Youngs got voted player of season. is it voted by fans though? or pundits?

Team of the season was poor also, something like 7 leciester players in there.

by Guest Fri 10 May 2013, 8:48 am

General consensus seems to be he should not even have been nominated.

Leicester had players who have had a better season.

Probably voted by people with little knowledge. If its by pros I would be surprised

by Sgt_Pooly Fri 10 May 2013, 8:53 am

Did you vote Matt? Wink

by Guest Fri 10 May 2013, 8:59 am

To be fair it looks like it was voted for by people in the military who have never played the game.

Was it part of your ongoing plan to discredit Hartley that you have been running for about 2 years ?

by Sgt_Pooly Fri 10 May 2013, 9:00 am

Great defence Cruden.

Not a better fly half in rugby at the minute with Carter just coming back.

by Sgt_Pooly Fri 10 May 2013, 9:02 am

anonmattyt wrote:To be fair it looks like it was voted for by people in the military who have never played the game.

Was it part of your ongoing plan to discredit Hartley that you have been running for about 2 years ?

I always said Hartley would get displaced when somebody better came along, didn't take long.

Well I'm in the military but have sadly played rugby so missed the vote.

If you've never played pro you're not entitled to an opinion though eh

by Guest Fri 10 May 2013, 9:02 am

Player of the year voting panel. I was correct it was not players who voted

Miles Harrison (Sky Sports), Alastair Eykyn (BBC 5 Live), Jill Douglas (Freelance), Stephen Jones (Sunday Times), Nick Mullins (ESPN), Adam Hathaway (Chairman of the Rugby Writers' Club and Sunday People), Hugh Godwin (The Independent and Independent on Sunday), David Rogers (Getty Images), and Alan Pearey (Rugby World). They were joined by Phil Winstanley (Rugby Director at Premiership Rugby) and Paul Morgan (Premiership Rugby's Communication Director) who chaired the panel.

by dammit_chris Fri 10 May 2013, 10:30 am

Jill Douglas...isn't she the one who asked Toby Flood in an interview how he was looking forward to playing in the World Cup in the Summer. Unfortunately that was in 2010 and she was referring to the football World Cup...

What was the AP team of the season?

Think mine would have been along the lines of:

1. Mako Vunipola
2. Tom Youngs
3. Matt Stevens
4. Joe Launchbury
5. Steve Borthwick
6. Samo Mano/Ashley Johnson (can't spilt that one)
7. Julian Salvi (Qera close second)
8. Richard Baxter
9. Danny Care
10. Toby Flood
11. Christian Wade
12. Anthony Allen
13. Joel Tomkins (though no real standouts)
14. Tom Varndell
15. Mike Brown

by Guest Fri 10 May 2013, 10:43 am

Public voted for this team. Leicester have most fans so voted players in

:: TalkSPORT Dream Team: L Arscott (Exeter); T Varndell (Wasps), M Tuilagi (Leicester), B Twelvetrees (Gloucester), C Wade (Wasps); T Flood (Leicester), B Youngs (Leicester); M Vunipola (Saracens), T Youngs (Leicester), D Cole (Leicester), E Slater (Leicester), G Parling (Leicester), T Wood (Northampton), J Salvi (Leicester), R Baxter (Exeter)

Any glos fan will tell you twelve trees has done zero since about December. Weird team.

by Sgt_Pooly Fri 10 May 2013, 10:45 am

There's a couple of standouts like Mako etc, he's been one of my favs.

1. Mako
2. Youngs
3. Wilson
4. Slater
5. Attwood
6. Louw
7. Fraser
8. ????

9. Wigglesworth
10. Flood
11. Yarde
12. Twelvetrees
13. ????
14. Wade
15. Brown

Hard to think of a standout at 8 and 13.

by Sgt_Pooly Fri 10 May 2013, 10:46 am

"Any glos fan will tell you twelve trees has done zero since about December. Weird team."

Always looks v good when I see Gloucester, they've been on TV a fair bit too.

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