Aviva Premiership Play-off Semi-Final

Team & Tactics - 0000hrs Monday
Predictions - 2000 hrs Wednesday

Semi-Final preview - Saints the perennial second placed team in the league this season, come up against another side that has been challenging for honours in all competitions as well this season. Despite the exit of home town favourite Bathite from the coaching set-up Bath have still managed to produce some big results to cement their Semi-Final berth. With these two sides going head to head it will be Saints looking to utilise the home advanatge, but there is no doubt that Bath will bring a strong following to Franklin Gardens. With both sides playing some similar style of rugby this looks to be a cracker!

Key men -
Francois Louw (Bath), The Bath captain has been in inspirational form for his side this season and will look to lead by example and influence preceding for his side.
Aaron Smith (Saints) A recent arrival this season, Smith has hit the ground running and brought his electric distribution into the Saints backline. If he can get his game going then it will be a productive afternoon for the Saints Backs!

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Northampton Saints vs. Bath Rugby
Location - Franklin Gardens
Weather - Heavy Rain Showers, 16 degrees, 18 mph Westerly
Referee: JP Doyle
Assistant referees: Paul Dix, Peter Huckle
TMO: John Burtenshaw

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Northampton Saints
Manager – SirJohnnyEnglish

01. Soane Tonga'uiha	09. Lee Dickson
02. Dylan Hartley	10. Johnny Sexton
03. Brian Mujati
04. Samu Manoa	11. Chris Ashton
05. Andries Bekker	12. Sonny Bill Williams
06. Stephen Ferris	13. George Pisi
07. Tom Wood	14. JP Pieterson
08. Kieran Read	15. Ben Foden

16. Steven Kitshoff 17. Richardt Strauss 18. Paul Doran-Jones 19. Brodie Retalick 20. Courtney Lawes 21. Aaron Smith 22. Stephen Myler 23. Gael Fickou

Tactics

We will look to control territory and apply pressure on Bath in key areas looking to force mistakes. When in possession in the right areas, we will look to play a strong carrying game, attacking in groups so as to win the collisions and get over the gain line. Offloads will be kept to an absolute minimum as we look to sustain pressure deep in Bath territory. We will kick all penalties in opposition territory at goal and take the drop goal option whenever it’s available.

• In these conditions the scrum will be an important weapon. With a powerful front 5 on show we will look to keep it up and take full advantage drawing penalties from Bath.

• With handling an issue we want to keep things simple and use Bekker, Wood and Read as banker ball at the lineout. We will look to bring the ball down into the maul and use the physicality of our pack to drive us into the right areas.

• We will look to blitz aggressively, playing on the edge of the offside line and coming up at pace, looking to isolate the ball carrier and stop any Bath momentum before it can get going.

• Dickson will act as a sweeper and cover any chips or grubbers behind the defensive line.

• The back 3 will sit deep to cover any kicks down the line and will look to counter attack of any loose ball.

• With the blitz in operation, we will look to be at the breakdown first hitting it hard and fast. If the ball looks available we will flood it with Wood 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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Bath Rugby
Manager – Flux/Pooly

01. Cian Healy	09. Micheal Classens
02. Adrian Strauss	10. James Hook (k)
03. Owen Franks
04. Dave Attwood	11. Tom Varndell
05. Johann Muller	12. Francois Steyn
06. Carl Fearns	13. Elliot Daly
07. Francois Louw(c)	14. Tommy Bowe
08. Sean O'Brien	15. Israel Dagg

16. John Golding 17. Christophe Tolufua 18. Kane Palmer-Newport 19. Rynhardt Eldsadt 20. Julian Salvi 21. Chris Cook 22. Kyle Eastmond 23. Tom Biggs

Tactics

• Basic game around the big front five, being mobile and strong in contact. The whole pack can carry the ball well, Hook and Claasens will use a simple pod system to get front foot ball.
  
  
• Muller to run lineout, Attwood and Louw as back up jumpers, great advantage and possession to be had here against Saints.
  
  
• Challenge Hartleys darts at lineout and his scrummaging
  
  
• Mobile back-row that can carry and be a nuisance at the breakdown, either turning ball over or slowing it down.
  
  
• Claasens and Hook to play a simple game, slow ball goes to forwards to gain momentum. Quick ball shipped into Steyns hand who will look to get the back three and Daly into spaces.
  
  
• In the conditions detrimental to running rugby, will look to keep any carrying tight, as this is where Bath have an advantage, whereas Saints are more comfortable carrying out wide.
  
  
• Hook to kick, Steyn to kick for long range penalties.
  
  
• Dagg to marshal the back-three and look to counter any poor kicks to him or his back-three.
  
  
• In the horrible conditions, look for territory and use the strong set pieces to gain possession

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Semi-Final preview - Leicester Tigers once again make the Play-offs, with the qualification being little doubt, the play-offs is another situation altogether. The current league champions, have strengthened significantly and with an all-star squad it could be hard to deny them a successive league success. However with the late stages of the season beginning to take affect anything could happen, especially in regards with the final qualifiers to the plays-offs - Harlequins. Under the stewardship of coach Driver, Quins have brought in a number of young players for the future and maybe a bit fortuitously made it into the semi-finals, despite some late season squad rotation. However no to say that would be a one sided contest when Quins have put out a full strength side, not many have been able to match them. Therefore there is the potential of this one being a classic!

Key men -
Geoff Parling (Tigers) - It is hard to pick a key player with such a strong squad of big players, butafter a strong breakout season, with England and Tigers it appears that Parling has become a key player for club and country. His influence in the side holds the team together and Tigers have struggled when he has been missing.

Chris Robshaw (Quins) - another player that has a great season for club and country, but this time as captain for both. Robshaw may have been criticised earlier in his career, but with the growth into his role as captain, his no-nonsense performances from which he leads from the front and tirelessly for his cause. There are few that can argue he adds so much to the side when he plays.

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Leicester Tigers vs. Harlequins
Location - Welford Road
Weather - Heavy Rain Showers, 12 degrees, 16 mph Westerly
Referee: Greg Garner
Assistant referees: Stuart Terheege, Gordon Goodliffe
Television match official: Geoffrey Warren
Timekeeper: David Hudson

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Leicester Tigers
Manager – Sgt_Pooly

01. Thomas Domingo	09. Ben Youngs
02. Tom Youngs	10. Toby Flood
03. Dan Cole
04. Richie Gray	11. Digby Ioane
05. Geoff Parling	12. Berrick Barnes
06. Willam Alberts	13. Manu Tuilagi
07. Sam Warburton	14. Christian Wade
08. Sergio Parisse(c)	15. James O’Connor

16. Bismark du Plessis 17. Martin Castrogiovani 18. Alex Corbisiero 19. Joe Launchbury 20. Liam Gill 21. Karl Dickson 22. George Ford 23. Rob Kearney

Tactics

We will base our game around high tempo, high intensity rugby. We’ll look to use the set piece as a foundation to work from and turn the screw on the opposition if a weakness is seen. We’ll look for big carries from our pack to give us go forward ball which our backs thrives upon.

In the great conditions we’ll look to use the offload when on and change the point of attack to keep the opposition defence guessing, with our tried and trusted Flood/Barnes combo pulling the strings.

Flood/Barnes will dictate tempo and look to get Manu running angles to either punch holes in the opposition midfield or draw the decoy and allow our back 3 into the game. Our back 3 will be brought in whenever possible to cause havoc in the opposition defence.

When the 3 is on in front of the posts we’ll take and the captain will make the call on set piece if an advantage is seen.



- Turn screw in set piece if weakness seen
- HOME RECORD – immense home form
- Youngs to attack the gaps and allow Flood time to hit the line
- Manu to be used as crash and decoy with back 3 coming into the line
- Look to clear out past the ball with big pack to allow Warbnurton hands on to force the steal. Youngs will be primed waiting for this to exploit gaps and put JOC into space
- JOC to come into the line and look for gaps between the opp halfbacks
- TEAM FOR CONDITIONS – Mobile pack full of carriers and energy
- ROTATION – Team has been rotated with a home semi sorted a few rounds back, we are fresh and ready for the fight

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Harlequins

Manager – Driver

01.Marcos Ayerza	09.Richard Wrigglesworth
02.John Smit	10.Morne Steyn (K)
03.James Johnstone
04.Eben Etzebeth	11.George North
05.Alistair Hargreaves	12.Wesley Fofana
06.Tom Croft	13.Jarad Payne
07.Chris Robshaw(c)	14.Mark Cueto
08.Dave Denton	15.Adam Ashley-Cooper

16.Joe Grey 17.Mark Lambert 18.Chris Budgen 19.Mouritz Botha 20.Iain Henderson 21.Luke Burguss 22.Tom Heathcote 23.Semisa Taulava

Tactics
Quins to play a territory game based around a solid set piece and Steyn's boot and having a clinical backline in the key areas of the pitch.

- get the maul going by throwing to Hargreaves and setting the drive, keeping a eye open for a break off maul to make short yards quick.

- Steyn to kick deep into the corners and test tigers back 3s position and keep them pinned deep in there own half.

- use fofana and North short out to crash over

Looking good Flux!

Thanks! If anyone hasn't noticed, tactics will be a day later, as I did the page a bit late.

Cool mate, we'll say 8pm Sunday

I'm not worried. The page won't be updated until Monday morning or once they shut at 12.

Leicester Tigers
Manager – Sgt_Pooly

01. Thomas Domingo	09. Ben Youngs
02. Tom Youngs	10. Toby Flood
03. Dan Cole
04. Richie Gray	11. Digby Ioane
05. Geoff Parling	12. Berrick Barnes
06. Willam Alberts	13. Manu Tuilagi
07. Sam Warburton	14. Christian Wade
08. Sergio Parisse(c)	15. James O’Connor

16. Bismark du Plessis 17. Martin Castrogiovani 18. Alex Corbisiero 19. Joe Launchbury 20. Liam Gill 21. Karl Dickson 22. George Ford 23. Rob Kearney

Tactics

We will base our game around high tempo, high intensity rugby. We’ll look to use the set piece as a foundation to work from and turn the screw on the opposition if a weakness is seen. We’ll look for big carries from our pack to give us go forward ball which our backs thrives upon.

In the great conditions we’ll look to use the offload when on and change the point of attack to keep the opposition defence guessing, with our tried and trusted Flood/Barnes combo pulling the strings.

Flood/Barnes will dictate tempo and look to get Manu running angles to either punch holes in the opposition midfield or draw the decoy and allow our back 3 into the game. Our back 3 will be brought in whenever possible to cause havoc in the opposition defence.

When the 3 is on in front of the posts we’ll take and the captain will make the call on set piece if an advantage is seen.



- Turn screw in set piece if weakness seen
- HOME RECORD – immense home form
- Youngs to attack the gaps and allow Flood time to hit the line
- Manu to be used as crash and decoy with back 3 coming into the line
- Look to clear out past the ball with big pack to allow Warbnurton hands on to force the steal. Youngs will be primed waiting for this to exploit gaps and put JOC into space
- JOC to come into the line and look for gaps between the opp halfbacks
- TEAM FOR CONDITIONS – Mobile pack full of carriers and energy
- ROTATION – Team has been rotated with a home semi sorted a few rounds back, we are fresh and ready for the fight

These are late...

Drivers will be in today

Bath Rugby
Manager – Flux/Pooly

01. Cian Healy	09. Micheal Classens
02. Adrian Strauss	10. James Hook (k)
03. Owen Franks
04. Dave Attwood	11. Tom Varndell
05. Johann Muller	12. Francois Steyn
06. Carl Fearns	13. Elliot Daly
07. Francois Louw(c)	14. Tommy Bowe
08. Sean O'Brien	15. Israel Dagg

16. John Golding 17. Christophe Tolufua 18. Kane Palmer-Newport 19. Rynhardt Eldsadt 20. Julian Salvi 21. Chris Cook 22. Kyle Eastmond 23. Tom Biggs

Tactics

• Basic game around the big front five, being mobile and strong in contact. The whole pack can carry the ball well, Hook and Claasens will use a simple pod system to get front foot ball.
  
  
• Muller to run lineout, Attwood and Louw as back up jumpers, great advantage and possession to be had here against Saints.
  
  
• Challenge Hartleys darts at lineout and his scrummaging
  
  
• Mobile back-row that can carry and be a nuisance at the breakdown, either turning ball over or slowing it down.
  
  
• Claasens and Hook to play a simple game, slow ball goes to forwards to gain momentum. Quick ball shipped into Steyns hand who will look to get the back three and Daly into spaces.
  
  
• In the conditions detrimental to running rugby, will look to keep any carrying tight, as this is where Bath have an advantage, whereas Saints are more comfortable carrying out wide.
  
  
• Hook to kick, Steyn to kick for long range penalties.
  
  
• Dagg to marshal the back-three and look to counter any poor kicks to him or his back-three.
  
  
• In the horrible conditions, look for territory and use the strong set pieces to gain possession

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1.Marcos Ayerza
2.John Smit
3.James Johnstone
4.Eben Etzebeth
5.Alistair Hargreaves
6.Tom Croft
7.Chris Robshaw (c)
8.Dave Denton

9.Richard Wrigglesworth
10.Morne Steyn (k)
11.George North
12.Wesley Fofana
13.Jared Payne
14.Mark Cueto
15.Adam Ashley Cooper

16.Joe Grey 17.Mark Lambert 18.Chris Budgen 19.Mo Botha 20.Iain Henderson 21.Luke Burguss 22.Tom Heathcote 23.Semisa Taulava

Quins to play a territory game based around a solid set piece and Steyn's boot and having a clinical backline in the key areas of the pitch.

- get the maul going by throwing to Hargreaves and setting the drive, keeping a eye open for a break off maul to make short yards quick.

- Steyn to kick deep into the corners and test tigers back 3s position and keep them pinned deep in there own half.

- use fofana and North short out to crash over

Cheers mate, any news on SJE?

I'll get it in on lunch in half hour

No probs mate

Northampton Saints
Manager – SirJohnnyEnglish

01. Soane Tonga'uiha	09. Lee Dickson
02. Dylan Hartley	10. Johnny Sexton
03. Brian Mujati
04. Samu Manoa	11. Chris Ashton
05. Andries Bekker	12. Sonny Bill Williams
06. Stephen Ferris	13. George Pisi
07. Tom Wood	14. JP Pieterson
08. Kieran Read	15. Ben Foden

16. Steven Kitshoff 17. Richardt Strauss 18. Paul Doran-Jones 19. Brodie Retalick 20. Courtney Lawes 21. Aaron Smith 22. Stephen Myler 23. Gael Fickou

Tactics

We will look to control territory and apply pressure on Bath in key areas looking to force mistakes. When in possession in the right areas, we will look to play a strong carrying game, attacking in groups so as to win the collisions and get over the gain line. Offloads will be kept to an absolute minimum as we look to sustain pressure deep in Bath territory. We will kick all penalties in opposition territory at goal and take the drop goal option whenever it’s available.

• In these conditions the scrum will be an important weapon. With a powerful front 5 on show we will look to keep it up and take full advantage drawing penalties from Bath.

• With handling an issue we want to keep things simple and use Bekker, Wood and Read as banker ball at the lineout. We will look to bring the ball down into the maul and use the physicality of our pack to drive us into the right areas.

• We will look to blitz aggressively, playing on the edge of the offside line and coming up at pace, looking to isolate the ball carrier and stop any Bath momentum before it can get going.

• Dickson will act as a sweeper and cover any chips or grubbers behind the defensive line.

• The back 3 will sit deep to cover any kicks down the line and will look to counter attack of any loose ball.

• With the blitz in operation, we will look to be at the breakdown first hitting it hard and fast. If the ball looks available we will flood it with Wood 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.

Predictions Open

Good luck lads.

Northampton - Bath

FR -
SR -
BR -
HB -
CE -
B3 -

Saints 20-21 Bath
SP: Saints have a combination that knows each other well. Bath have a combination who are in form in the front row. Feel Saints bring a bit more to 2nd row.
BK: Tough to rate Ferris at the moment, Fearns doing ok. 2 good 7’s on show (prefer Wood playing at 7 and not 6 personally), SOB a strong carrier but feel Read could get the edge.
HB: All performing well, Sexton in favour at the moment but Hook doing a job in France.
AT: Centres will really affect Saints here with SBW not playing anymore. Outwide all players bringing good form.
BE: Saints a lot stronger here.
TA: Using front 5 will help Saints here. Bath challenge well and their tactical kicking will help. I honestly feel that playing SBW has lost Saints the game, if you’d played anyone else it would have been yours!

Tigers 28-25 Quins
SP: Tigers strong here, Smit may teach Youngs a few things but he has strong props supporting him. In the 2nd rows Tigers look good for the lineout but Quins have stronger carriers.
BK: This is where Tigers come into their own, Quins are a very strong back row and good balance but Tigers have that extra edge to them. Croft’s form helps Quins.
HB: The Youngs-Flood combo is tried and tested IRL. Steyn will give Quins position but Wrigglesworth looks out of sorts at the moment.
AT: AAC named twice for Quins on actual page but in Driver’s team he’s named Payne there?? Both set ups do look strong here.
BE: Tigers stronger here.
TA: Home form and mobile pack helps Tigers. Need a bit more from Quins to know where they are going to target.

My mistake Prop, has been corrected.

Ok cool

SAINTS VS BATH: 20-24

TIGERS VS QUINS: 21-10

Northampton 19-20 Bath

FR - Bath a little more in each position, they'll get a push in the scrum
SR - Close battle, both in form. Saints have a little more.
BR - Struggle to rate Ferris but Saints stronger 7/8
HB - Saints good combo
CE - has to be Bath with SBW no form
B3 - bath again here just with the Saints back 3 just not firing, Dagg loses a bit but class act.

Overall - massive contest, with Bath edging scrum and some players struggling for form for Saints see Bath just sneaking it.

Saints 18 - 16 Bath
Scrum- advantage Bath who are strong here where Saints are waning a little, though Tiny's form has improved and Saints did a number on Sarries last week. Lots of scrums today too with kicking for territory in the wet.
Lineout- Wood grabs this for Saints but it is a narrow advantage
Breakdown- Bath look a lot tastier at ruck time than Saints, Louw, SOB and Fearns can all handle themselves and I can't quite get over the thrashing Wood took in this area against Quins
Game Management- Louw is a strong captain for Bath but Hook is an indifferent leader at best whilst Sexton is great in his game management. His more consistent style, aided by dull but reliable Dickson, will be vital in the rain. The Saints back 3 is less secure than Bath's though. Both sides will get their points well enough
Attack-very little chance for flair, Saints have more punching power in the Centre, where the classy but green Daly will struggle with Pisi. Bath's pack can carry a little more though both are pretty strong and the tactics are sensible. Saints might give up the ball a bit less by using groups to ensure there is immediate support.
Defence- Bath can be vulnerable here, but in the fringes of the ruck they will be ferocious. Reckon Saints are a tad better though, except on the wings and the wings won't get much ball.
Bench- Saints have the extra power on the bench in the front 5
Overall- Saints will have slower ball than Bath and lose out at scrum time putting them under pressure, but they can make the ground up and wil do more damage with the ball they have and their bench and the crowd will just take this

Tries- Pisi x2 --- Louw
DGs- Myler ----
Penalties- Sexton ------ Hook x 2, Steyn
Conversions- Sexton --- Steyn

Tigers 25 - 22 Quins

Scrum- very good front rows, could go either way and neither side will get any dominance. On current form I expect both LHs to get over their opposite THs and cancel each other out.
Lineout- Tigers have the best leader here and better second rows but Quins are good too and their backrow are excellent too, Croft being the standout jumper. Evens
Breakdown- Just goes to Tigers, as Cole makes the difference (otherwise the back rows cancel each other out)
Game Management-Good captains, Tigers have a good 9-10 combo, better in the dry than Quins', and kickers at 10,12 and 15 but Quins edge this today with kicky halfbacks and the weather is dire.
Attack- North will be a dangerous weapon and Fofana could make breaks even in the rain but I think Leicester's backrow carrying power and Manu get the edge here. No subtlety but effective is the way forward
Defence- Edge to Quins with Leicester's back 3 dubious under the high ball, though Manu could get some joy running at Fofana
Bench-edge to Tigers and combined with their rotation this will have them fresher and victorious at the end
Overall- Tigers win through battering power down the 10-12 channel, though Quins keep it close with a great kick for touch --> lineout game. The kind they never play in real life, even when it's a really good idea and you are in a Semi-Final.

Tries- Wade, B Youngs, Parisse ---- Croft
DGs - --- Steyn
Penalties- Flood x2 --- Steyn x 4
Conversions- Flood x2 --- Steyn

Northampton Saints 20 - 19 Bath

Upfront this is a big game, and both sides will just about even out in the set pieces. This will allow the halfbacks a chance to attack and the back-rows to influence the game. Ferris out of form hurts Saints, but it equals out with Woods current form and Read's class. Bath unit is great and will challenge Saints at the breakdown more.
Saints have more game management, and attacking threat at halfback. Bath have a great set of attacking backs and Saints are let down by SBW's lack in form. Saints back three are good, but lack in form, as unit would do well though. But Bath's backthree are in better form (bar Dagg) and compliment each other better. Saints have a bit more on the bench to change the game. After a close fought game, I think just and just Saints will edge Bath and be in their second AP final for two years straight.

Saints 27-23 Bath
Front row goes to Bath with some strong props up against players on the decline. Love the Saints second row and they have an advantage in the back row although Ferris needs some form. More quality in the half backs from Saints as well. Prefer Saints in centres although SBW rating on decline but sure Pisi will run over Daly all day long. Not much in back threes. The Saints also have a much stronger bench and with home advantage can take the win

Leicester Tigers 18 - 21 Harlequins

Front fives in this one are very close. With maybe a slight line out edge to Tigers, but more power from Quins. Backrows are good, but I think quins are let down by Denton who has been out of form, and favoured more at six recently. But form of Croft and Robshaw helps out in a good balanced back row, but Tigers pure class and balance helps them win this contest.
Tigers halfbacks have been in great form and a great combo, but wiggles and Steyn aren't as much as an attacking threat ball in hand, but suite the conditions and gameplan of Quins. Tigers will be great attacking with ball in hand, but for me are all defensive frailties in way or another. Quins have missed a trick and need AAC and Payne to swap, and I could've edged them in the backs, but its a draw in this department for me. In consideration of the conditions and the form, I'm just going to give it to Quins, despite Tigers ability, I think Quins have the right players and tactics to disrupt here.

We'll close these down at 8pm

Quickly done these so think they're correct:

NORTHAMPTON 22-22 BATH

LEICESTER 25-20 HARLEQUINS


Saints - Bath goes into extra time, predo's in by 8pm Friday evening.

STARTING POINT IS 22-22

Northampton Saints 30 - 33 Bath]

After a gruelling amount of extra time, I just feel that Bath have a bit more ability to just keep the score board ticking over, with Steyn and Hook.

Saints 25-28 Bath

Saints 34 - 32 Bath

Bath good but Saints have more in the pack off the bench and just hold out

Saints 29-25 Bath

More from Saints bench and potential game winners

What happens if it's a draw again? DG shootout?

Saints 32-28 Bath
Saints have the stronger bench and more leaders/match winners

AET:

NORTHAMPTON SAINTS 32-30 BATH RUGBY

Congratulations to SJE for reaching his 1st AP Final

Full: Prop, Pooly, CJ, FLux, CJB

Half: CF

Page: Flux

MARK