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by **Ozzy3213** Sun Jun 30, 2013 7:34 pm

First topic message reminder :

Breaking News: Leicester Tigers win Aviva Premiership final after a penalty shoot out against Harlequins

Homepage - Page 5 Aviva-Premiership-Trophy-e1306508139154

2012/2013 – Leicester Tigers
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	Bath Rugby	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2	Exeter Chiefs	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
3	Gloucester	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
4	Harlequins	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
5	Leicester Tigers	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
6	London Irish	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
7	London Welsh	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
8	Newcastle Falcons	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
9	Northampton Saints	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
10	Sale Sharks	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
11	Saracens	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
12	Worcester Warriors	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

Links

Fixture List
Released/Championship/National League/Academy Bidding
Foreign Transfers
European Homepage
Game History Page

Welcome to Season 6 of the Aviva Premiership fantasy 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 its 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 match day 23'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 an academy squad of 20 players. Players who are in the academy must be born on or after 1st September 1991.

Any player, who is at any Premiership club in real life, either in their senior, academy or AASE squads, can be bid for on the domestic bidding page. Players who are at your own club in real life and are coming through the academy system must be bid for if you want them in your own academy.

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 5 players from the Championship or the National Leagues. These players must be bid for on the Domestic Transfer Bidding page, and each bid will be considered by me on its 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.

There will be a summer foreign transfer window, which will run as follows.

Structured Window

No cash will be used and each team will get effectively free transfers by way of a draft, which will run 12th, 11th, 10th …… 1st, 12th, 11th,10th… 1st place side. This will run from 10th June 2013 until all teams have had their two picks.

Open Window

Open transfer window, teams have unlimited bids provided they have the financial resources to cover them. Teams may only bid for one player at a time.

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

All released players will be deemed to have joined a Championship side and can be bid for on the Domestic Transfer Bidding page.

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 match thread will be put up every Monday. Home teams must be named by midnight on Tuesday. Away teams must be named by midnight on Wednesday. Both teams must provide tactics by midnight on Thursday. Predictions will be open from 00:01 hours on Friday and remain open until 20:00 hours on Saturday. 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.

Managers are asked to provide detail as to why they have predicted a result. To be considered a descriptive prediction this must be a full 3 lines long when entered into the text box. If you are not providing a descriptive prediction you will be restricted to predicting a 1 point win either way.

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 match day 23, and at least 4 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.

£2m 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 dammit_chris Sun Jul 07, 2013 12:53 pm

Really have to take your hat off to Gatland, made some big calls in selection and only person who wasn't Welsh and didnt criticise him was SCW. There was a Facebook site set up called Justice for BOD that had more fans on that then on the Lions site!

Got my match ratings below:

Halfpenny 10 - turned into the best 15 in world rugby, one of the best performances I've seen from a 15 yesterday - positional play in world class.

Bowe 8 - doesn't put a foot wrong, worked tirelessly for the whole game and remarkable recovery from broken hand.

Davies 8 - left boot took the pressure off us at key times, played far better at 13, great lines and solid in defence.

Roberts 8 - huge player for us, had some great front foot ball to work off but some massive carries and added so much physicality for us.

North 9 - scary to think he's 21 and will get better and better. Has everything, made some massive hits and support running was class.

Sexton 7 - been a tad disappointed with him in the series, never really stamped his mark on any of the games like he can do and kicking from hand was a tad wayward.

Phillips 7 - you know what you get from him, never going to be the fastest passer of the ball, but played a very important role in ensuring that we had another really physical/aggressive presence at the breakdown and around the fringes.

Faletua 8 - made some great carries and was very impressive at the breakdown with a great turnover in the second half. Front 5 gave him a perfect platform from base of the scrum.

SOB 9 - not far behind Warburton's performance from last week. Massive shift and best international game i've seen him play in a long time.

Lydiate 8 - stopped Genia again. What more can you ask of him. Also thought he did a good job carrying this week.

Paling 8 - towering display in set piece, answered a lot of his critics in the loose too.

Wyn Jones 9 - got to be close to forward of the series and saved best performance to the last game.

Jones 9 - smashed the Aussies up front.

Hibbard 9 - best international game, added so much to the scrum.

Corbs 10 - unbelievable performance, never thought I'd enjoy watching a prop play rugby but you won't get many games where someone plays that well again. If he can avoid injuries England have the best loosehead in the world.

by Sgt_Pooly Sun Jul 07, 2013 1:20 pm

Phillips at 7 is pretty funny Chris, even funnier you've gave Sexton the same score

by dammit_chris Sun Jul 07, 2013 1:30 pm

Not really Pooly - did Phillips quick free kick lead to Corbs try? He kept the pack going forwards and was great around the fringes. Not rating him for his speed of pass to Sexton, but what else he brought to the game.

Sexton had a good purple patch in the test of about 10minutes, but personally believed he wasn't at his best in the series and some of his tactical kicking was astray - but that's judging him as the wc flyhalf he is.

Does get a bit boring when you pick up on every comment that either Mat or myself make though.

by Guest Sun Jul 07, 2013 1:36 pm

Phillips was good yesterday don't understand how some people so negative about lydiate and Phillips.

Lydiate missed no tackles yesterday O'Brien missed about 3. Different players different different positions. Both carried well and hard.
Did not get that far but laid foundation.

Croft was statistically are best forward in first test yet the same people who wanted him out then quote stats to highlight their case re lydiate.

I am not a stats man in rugby as they tell very little but I imagine there would be very little difference between lydiate and sob. I would defo say sob missed more tackles and gave more pens away but he was very good yesterday. I really think these people who do
Not appreciate lydiate know very little about Backrow play. He allows others to play better whilst also getting through a ton of
Work

by Sgt_Pooly Sun Jul 07, 2013 1:41 pm

Chris, it's an opinions forum. People comment on my opinions and I comment on others, no need to keep playing the victim, I'm not personally attacking you I'm just disagreeing with your comment.

Apart from the quick tap I thought Phillips was dreadful. His box kicking is truly awful and he took an age to get the ball away, his basics for an apparent top scrum half are severely lacking.

It's no surprise the whole backline picked up once he went off.

To disagree with another point:

"Lydiate 8 - stopped Genia again. What more can you ask of him. Also thought he did a good job carrying this week."

Lydiate made 4 metres.

by Sgt_Pooly Sun Jul 07, 2013 1:44 pm

"Croft was statistically are best forward in first test yet the same people who wanted him out then quote stats to highlight their case re lydiate."

Croft was statistically the best attacking forward in the first test, not the best forward. He didn't top the tackle count etc

by dammit_chris Sun Jul 07, 2013 1:46 pm

Phillips did his job and sticks to the tactics that Gatland wants him to play. He's never been a no9 with lightning fast service and never will, but a lot of people seem to judge him on that and ignore the parts of his game where he is very good - around the fringes, making hard yards and getting his pack going forwards. He didn't do anything outstanding yesterday, but played well.

Agree with Lydiate Mat, always liked him and for me the best way to sum up his performance in the tests is that when he played Genia couldnt influence a game for Australia and was pretty much marked out of the game by Lydiate.

Last two tests our entire backrow has been incredible - Warburton's performance last week was the stand out, but no one else below an 8 ratings wise.

Croft unlucky in the style that Gatland likes to play and people seem to rate Croft on his ability to make breaks and if he doesnt make a break, or score a try then the lineout work, tackling etc is ignored.

by Guest Sun Jul 07, 2013 1:49 pm

Sob metres
Made 5 tackles made 13 missed 2 penalties against 2

Lydiate 4 tackles 9 missed 0 penalties against 0

Means very little they both carried well and it was hard yards and platform building

They also tackled well. Stats
Mean nowt in rugby but if people are going to use them then lydiate had a better game.

by dammit_chris Sun Jul 07, 2013 1:59 pm

Pooly there are different sorts of carrying though, Lydiate tidies up ball, recycles it and does the hard yards work as he's never out in the wide channels. If you took the stats then you'd say Lydiate didnt carry well, but if you watched the game and saw number of times he carries it around the fringes and kept the ball for the Lions you'd say he carried well.

Rugby such a hard game to use stats for, as they don't give you the full picture.

by Sgt_Pooly Sun Jul 07, 2013 2:07 pm

SOB didn't last full game so imagine his statd don't rack up.

I seen posted that when SOB went off he had made 15 tackles and Lydiate 5.

If that's Phillips playing well Chris I'd hate to be around when he has a poor game.

by Sgt_Pooly Sun Jul 07, 2013 2:14 pm

There are two types of carriers, those that do and those that can't.

Lydiate defiantly falls into the latter, he makes hardly any ground although not for the want of trying. He's very Borthwick like, Im actually surprised he made 4 metres, I was expecting negative.

by Guest Sun Jul 07, 2013 2:17 pm

What about sob 5 metres ? Does he carry well ?

" if you interrogate data enough it
Will show you what you want to see"

Famous quote and so so true

by Sgt_Pooly Sun Jul 07, 2013 2:23 pm

Totally agree on stats, they can be twisted for whatever reason.

I doubt many would suggest Lydiate carries well, 4m kind of backs that up.

by dammit_chris Sun Jul 07, 2013 2:42 pm

Telegraph match rating:

Dan Lydiate A big tackle on Joe Tomane culminated in Halfpenny's first penalty and he was particularly effective at preventing Genia from weaving his magic as he did in the previous two Tests. Carried hard too. 8

Different sorts of carriers Pooly, guys who make the hard carries around the fringes just as important as those who carry out wider.

by Sgt_Pooly Sun Jul 07, 2013 2:45 pm

Here we go with the reports.....

Lydiate is a ineffective carrier for me, wether that's in close or out wide. I really can't agree with anything saying the opposite as I've never seen him carry well in any game ever.

If you think he carries well fair enough, I just don't agree.

by Guest Sun Jul 07, 2013 3:04 pm

dammit_chris wrote:Telegraph match rating:

Dan Lydiate A big tackle on Joe Tomane culminated in Halfpenny's first penalty and he was particularly effective at preventing Genia from weaving his magic as he did in the previous two Tests. Carried hard too. 8

Different sorts of carriers Pooly, guys who make the hard carries around the fringes just as important as those who carry out wider.

Would 100% agree with that rating. Think every lions player did their job yesterday

by prop_lyd Sun Jul 07, 2013 6:50 pm

Finally getting to watch the game now!! Hibbard must have a head of steel!!

by Guest Sun Jul 07, 2013 6:56 pm

Apparently he passed out due to effort in that scrum where he just all of sudden hits the deck

by prop_lyd Sun Jul 07, 2013 8:02 pm

Ok here's my views on the game after finally getting round to watch it.

1-23 everyone did the job they were on there to do and I am so happy that with all the petty whining and moaning on the main boards that all of the calls came off and worked.

As to who I thought had a good game......to be honest with you I couldn't care less who played well, who played badly....the Lions just won a blydi series and it's something I'll always remember and I think we need to realise that and probably not get bogged down with stats and petty arguements about who made how many tackles and who's hair swirled the most at the rucks and all that bollix.

4 nations came together and won now bring on 2017!!

by Sgt_Pooly Sun Jul 07, 2013 10:12 pm

Surprise of the tour......JD's voice, sounds like he's on 40 a day

by Sgt_Pooly Mon Jul 08, 2013 8:34 am

I know how you like ratings, telegraph have done a tour one.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/international/britishandirishlionsrugby/10165436/.html

by stnick88 Mon Jul 08, 2013 8:59 am

Agree with most.

9/10 for JD2 is generous. Was pretty poor for two tests and very good in the 3rd. good in warm up games though. think a 8.

6/10 for Hibbard is harsh. was excellent in the 3rd test. I'd give him a 7.

5/10 for Tom Croft is harsh too. 6 or 7.

by Sgt_Pooly Mon Jul 08, 2013 9:24 am

Yea they've accounted for warm up games as well as test.

Heaslip at 6 and Faletau 8 is a tough one even though Faletau performed much better than Heaslip in his one test.

Croft more of a 6 than a 5 I'd have thought and Phillips more a 5 than a 6.

by stnick88 Mon Jul 08, 2013 9:35 am

yeh I'd agree with that.

I'd give Heaslip a 7 he was decent in warm up games and first test, quiet in second test.

by Guest Mon Jul 08, 2013 8:09 pm

http://www.planetrugby.co.uk/story/0,25883,16024_8813484,00.html

Van de merwe is developing into a proper player. Good lineout option if you need one chris.

by dammit_chris Mon Jul 08, 2013 9:19 pm

Can't you just loan me that South African lock you have? Would make my life so much simpler!!

by dammit_chris Mon Jul 08, 2013 9:24 pm

Out of interest this will probably be my starting team and bench for next season, are there any areas I need to improve upon?

1. Domingo
2. Hartley
3. Hayman
4. Launchbury
5. Manoa/Lawes
6. Manoa/Bonnaire/Lydiate
7. Cane/Gill
8. Parisse
9. Phillips
10. Priestland/Madigan
11. Savea
12. Fofana
13. Tuilagi
14. Bowe
15. Halfpenny

16. TPN 17. Mako 18. Thomas 19. Lawes 20. Clark 21. Simpson 22. Giteau 23. Foden

by Sgt_Pooly Mon Jul 08, 2013 9:30 pm

No lineout and Fofana & Tuilagi are very similar.

Your team has improved since I was playing.

by Steven_Sharks Mon Jul 08, 2013 9:32 pm

Tighthead and Lineout when Bonnaire missing for me.

by dammit_chris Mon Jul 08, 2013 9:36 pm

I've tried to get a playmaking no10 in to get best out of Fofana and Tuilagi and just get over the gainline, so hoping that works.

Any tips on who is out there who can run a lineout as at the moment I am relying on Hartley's throwing and just the athleticism of Lawes, Launchbury and Manoa to disrupt opposition ball.

Also any decent tightheads out there?

by Sgt_Pooly Mon Jul 08, 2013 10:04 pm

Not that I'm involved but Hayman last season was very good, There's few top TH's around past Mas, Jones and Franks (possibly Cole too) so not sure how'd you'd improve.

Your own lineout needs addressing, not so much defensive.

2 outstanding centres but unsure if they'd work.

Again only opinions I'm not involved, very strong side if not a bit NH heavy.

by dammit_chris Mon Jul 08, 2013 10:07 pm

Cheers for the comments - I've struggled to find a tighthead, seen a couple in the French league, but unsure. I am hoping Henry Thomas comes through at Sale this year.

yeah definitely need to sort out my lineout! Blo ody Wentzel sodding off really screwed me over there.

by Sgt_Pooly Mon Jul 08, 2013 10:13 pm

Even a decent line out op would sort you out, no need for WC.

Without doubt a top 4 side on paper but Im thinking your 6N side would be half that strength?

by dammit_chris Mon Jul 08, 2013 10:21 pm

Not sure I put out a side during the 6Nations - though have purposefully done that as if my team are seen doing well during 6Nations it helps with end of season form. I think I've lost 2 games in 2 seasons post 6Nations - just need to be a bit closer to top4 to push at the end!

Going to have a look at the guy Mat suggested (pretend I understand what he does too).

by Guest Mon Jul 08, 2013 10:26 pm

anonmattyt wrote:http://www.planetrugby.co.uk/story/0,25883,16024_8813484,00.html

Van de merwe is developing into a proper player. Good lineout option if you need one chris.

He is 30 but properly runs a lineout. Thought he was about 24

by Guest Mon Jul 08, 2013 10:27 pm

http://www.mrpricesport.com/HeroesNews/News/Van-der-Merwe-s-move-to-the-Sharks-going-swimmingl.aspx

by dammit_chris Mon Jul 08, 2013 10:28 pm

I was tempted with the New Zealander that Connacht had signed, was captain of the Chiefs - but wasnt sure how he'd be rated as he'd play for Connacht who seem to like losing a fair bit.

by Sgt_Pooly Mon Jul 08, 2013 10:34 pm

Clarke is a very good lock but not sure if he runs the line tbh.

Id just pick somebody up in the game personally.

POC alongside Launchbury would be unreal (although a bit more WC than run of the mill)

by Sgt_Pooly Mon Jul 08, 2013 11:14 pm

What's your 6N side out of interest?

by Steven_Sharks Tue Jul 09, 2013 7:18 am

Euan McKenzie the new Wallabies coach. Oz are now likely to become one of my favourite sides through there style of play.

by Sgt_Pooly Tue Jul 09, 2013 7:35 am

Be funny if Cooper still doesn't get in

by Sgt_Pooly Tue Jul 09, 2013 7:52 am

Steven_Sharks wrote:Euan McKenzie the new Wallabies coach. Oz are now likely to become one of my favourite sides through there style of play.

Interesting which way McKenzie takes them Steve. He's renound as a pragmatic type coach and rumoured he'd never get the job because of his style of play not suiting the "Aussie way". It's only over the last few years his teams have started to open up a bit.

by Steven_Sharks Tue Jul 09, 2013 7:57 am

Queensland Reds the most exciting team to watch in the world over last few years. Not only this but they have been successful whilst playing this rugby.

by Sgt_Pooly Tue Jul 09, 2013 8:09 am

As I said he's opened up over the years but very much likes to set a forwards platform, I'm not sure he'll have the players to do that on the Int stage.

Be interesting how he brings them on.

by dammit_chris Tue Jul 09, 2013 1:32 pm

Pooly - imagine my 6Ns team would be

1. Taumalolo
2. TPN
3. Hayman
4. Gaskell/Lautua
5. Samoa
6. Clark/Bonnaire
7. Gill/Cane
8. Vunipola
9. Simpson
10. Toomua
11. Savea
12. Giteau
13. Nakaitaci
14. Wade
15. Daly

16. Hayward 17. New Signing 18. Thomas 19. Neville 20. Bonnaire/Clark 21. Matawulu 22. Ford 23. Siviatu

Big difference, but a pretty quick team! A lot will depend on whether guys like Hartley, Foden make Lancaster's match day squads.

by Sgt_Pooly Tue Jul 09, 2013 3:13 pm

Didn't realise Thorn was playing on for another season:

http://www.sarugby.com/news.cfm?newsid=23667

by stnick88 Tue Jul 09, 2013 5:00 pm

be interesting to see where Kennedy ends up.

Love him back at Irish but I can see him replacing Wentzel at Wasps, would be a great signing for them. However he is Irish through and through and has said he would only play for LI in the prem so who knows.

by Fluxy Wed Jul 10, 2013 1:09 pm

Kennedy as apparently signed for Quins, which would make some sense with recent retirements.

by stnick88 Wed Jul 10, 2013 2:08 pm

Not sure Robson/Kennedy is a great partnership. Both good individuals but Kennedy always needs a lump alongside him to do the grunt.

Either way, good signing for them.

by Sgt_Pooly Wed Jul 10, 2013 3:00 pm

Yea be a good signing, might perk Robson up as he dropped of a lot last season.

Can't see that combo working though

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