Aviva Premiership Round Two (Rugby Championship)

First topic message reminder :

Team & Tactics - 0000hrs Sunday
Predictions - 2000 hrs Tuesday

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Harlequins vs Northampton Saints
Location - Twickenham Stoop
Weather - Light Rain, 14 degrees, 9 mph North North Westerly

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Harlequins

Manager – Driver

01.Jerome Schucester	09.Richard Wrigglesworth(c)
02.Joe Grey	10.Rhys Priestland
03.James Johnstone
04.Iain Henderson	11.George North
05.Mouritz Botha	12.Wesley Fofana
06.Steve Mafi	13.Chris Farrell
07.Steffon Armitage	14.Jared Payne
08.Jack Clifford	15.Nick Abendonan

16.Ben Kayser 17.Mark Lambert 18.Will Collier 19.James Percival 20.Nick Easter 21.Luke Burguss 22.Gareth Steenson 23.Ollie Lindsey Hague

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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. Courtney Lawes	11. JP Pieterson
05. Andries Bekker	12. Gael Fickou
06. Stephen Ferris	13. George Pisi
07. Tom Wood	14. Chris Ashton
08. Roger Wilson	15. Ben Foden

16. S. Kitshoff 17. R. Strauss 18. J. Hagan 19. S. Manoa 20. C. Clark 21. M. Roberts  22. S. Myler 23.  J. Elliot

Tactics

We will look to control territory and apply pressure on opposition 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 opposition 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 opposition.
  

• With handling an issue we want to keep things simple and use Bekker, Wood and Lawes 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 opposition momentum before it can get going.
  

• Lee 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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Sale Sharks vs Newcastle Falcons
Location - Salford City Stadiumd
Weather - Light Cloud, 15 degrees, 7mp Northerly 

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Sale Sharks

Manager –  LondonIrishOllie

01. Andrew Sheridan	09. Connor Murray
02. Richard Hibbard	10. Johan Goosen
03. Davit Kubriashvili
04. Yohan Maestri	11. Raymond Rhule
05. Kyran Myall	12. Jonathon Davies
06. Matt Garvey	13. Jonathon Joesph
07. Thierry Dusatoir(c)	14. Hosea Gear
08. Jordan Crane	15. Rob Miller

16. Gary Botha 17. Henry Thomas 18. L Molopola 19. James Gaskell 20. Schalk Burger 21. Hayden Thomas 22. Nick Macleod 23. Charlie Aymsebury

Tactics:

- Attack the set piece
- look to use pace out wide and through centre
- Play in opp half
- look to use big pack to tie in defenders

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Newcastle Falcons

Manager –  CF

01. Grant Shiells	09. Piri Weepu (c)
02. Scott Lawson	10. Phil Godman
03. Hoani Tui
04. Paul O'Connell	11. Ugo Monye
05. Marco Wentzel	12. Luke Marshall
06. David Denton	13. Brad Barritt
07. Tinis Du Plessis	14. Matt Banahan
08. Thomas Waldrom	15. Stuart Hogg (k)

16.Swarzeski 17.Mercer 18.Stevens 19.MacLeod 20.Will Werch 21.Blair 22.Geragthy 23.Basteraud 

Yet again strength is clearly in the backs and also a lot of strength on the bench. Will look to get the ball to the backs and run the ball with a lot of speed and power in the backs. O'Connell will be strong in the line out as always. Weepu will be clever at S/H and look to box kick a lot. Godman will go for drop goals on occasions. Monye and Banahan on the wings provide good options. monye has pace and Banahan is supremely powerful and will run throughb brick walls. Hogg is the kicker and improves with each game.

Swarzeski will come off the bench on 60 minutes. Blair will come on for captain Weepu to bring fresh legs. Biggar comes on at 70 mins. Basteraud and Mermoz will come on together at 70 mins to close the game out.

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Bath vs Leicester Tigers
Location - The Rec
Weather - Light Cloud, 14 degrees, 10 mph Northerly

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Bath
Manager –  Bathite
 

01. Cian Healy	09. Michael Classens
02. Ross Batty	10. James Hook (k)
03. Oliver Tomascyuk
04. Johann Muller (c)	11. Tom Biggs
05. Dave Attwood	12. Kyle Eastmond
06. Sean O'Brien	13. Rene Ranger
07. Julian Salvi	14. Tommy Bowe
08. Johnnie Beattie	15. Alex Goode

 
16. Nathan Catt 17. Chris Tolufua 18. Kane P-Newport 19. Rynhardt Eldstadt 20. Carl Fearns 21. Chris Cook 22. Frans Steyn 23. Eliot Daly


TACTICS
- In difficult, windy conditions, we have picked a heavy ball carrying pack. We want to play all the rugby in their half, so will use the boots of Hook and Goode (Steyn and Daly off the bench) to pin Tigers back. 

- With Muller calling the lineout, we'll look to challenge every throw and Batty has been picked for his consistent throwing ability to ensure we win our throws

- Second and back rows are areas we'd like to target, with much more bulk and carrying options. Parling / Launchbury could be light in scrums and hard yards

- Look to keep their defence narrow with SOB, Fearns, Attwood, Beattie, Healy smashing it up on the fringes. Classens to look to snipe

- Eastmond and Hook to mix up first receiver with slow ball to change point of attack. Eastmond and Goode available to offer at first/second receiver with quick ball

- Ranger to crash it up off slow ball to set up the ruck. A very mobile pack will get there first to smash and clear out, leaving quick ball for 9

- Use Ranger as a decoy to draw Manu out of the line, as he favours the big hit. Use pace of Biggs and Bowe to play off the shoulder of Eastmond / Goode

- Salvi picked as out and out 7, looking to be first to every ruck and bridge the tackled player, slowing ball and/or winning penalties. We will pick our rucks and not over commit to secured ball, rather looking to target isolated runners

- In defence, look to pressurise fly half. Flood can be got at if you get in his face and limit his options, forcing him deeper. Ranger to lead the rush, looking for the intercept on the floated pass and/or taking Tuilagi head on

- Fearns to come on for SOB when he appears slightly tired, his freshness will help to slow oppo ball at the ruck and look to force turnovers against tired legs

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Leicester Tigers
Manager – Sgt_Pooly

01. Alex Corbisiero	09. Ben Youngs
02. Tom Youngs	10. Toby Flood
03. Dan Cole
04. Joe Launchbury	11. Marlon Yarde
05. Geoff Parling	12. Matt Scott
06. Dan Lydiate	13. Manu Tuilagi
07. Sam Warburton	14. Christian Wade
08. Sergio Parisse(c)	15. Rob Kearney

16. Jamie George 17. Martin Castrogiovani 18. Thomas Domingo 19. Richie Gray 20. Luke Wallace 21. Karl Dickson 22. Ian Madigan 23. Berrick Barnes

TACTICS:

- fast paced, attacking rugby with athletic pack moving opposition around park.
- target set piece, look to attack if weakness seen
- use Lydiate to target opposition runners and prevent any momentum with Warburton working in tandom looking for the turnover (with Cole, Launch backing up)
- attack the line and look to get ball through the backline using Manu as crash or decoy targeting opposition 13.
- Youngs to sweep up behind defensive line, Flood to play flat to line looking to fiz flat passes out to allow more time for backs
- Strong bench to add impact. Madigan on for Flood to up the tempo.
- Youngs to sweep in behind aggressive rush defence and give opp 10 no time on ball

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Exeter Chiefs vs London Wasps
Location - Sandy Park
Weather - Sunny Intervals, 16 degrees, 11 mph North North Westerly

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Exeter Chiefs 


Manager – BamBam

01. Brett Sturgess	09. Dwayne Peel
02. Rob Webber	10. Jonny Wilkinson (k)
03. John Afoa
04. Alan Wyn-Jones	11. Fetu Vainikolo
05. Tim Swinson	12. Billy Twelvetrees
06. Chris Robshaw	13. Josh Tatupu
07. Justin Tipuric	14. Cory Jane
08. Toby Faletau	15. Jack Nowell

16. Ben Moon 17. Chris Brooker 18. Nicolas Mas 19. Charlie Matthews 20. Tom Croft 21. Kevin Barrett 22. Tom Heathcote 23. Mark Cueto


We want to put the ball through the hands a bit more this week, with Wilko and 36 looking to put the ball into the hands of the likes of Vainikolo and Jane. Tipuric is effectively our 3rd centre, as well as making a nuisance of himself at the breakdown

Line out will have AWJ and Swinson as our main jumpers, with Robshaw being used as the 3rd option

Robshaw and Tipuric give us a true 7 and a 6.5, we want to exploit this round the park by winning turnovers in opposing territory. AWJ and Swinson are both good around the field, they and Webber will be charged with hitting rucks and punching holes in the defensive line.

Afoa is starting over Mas this week, to give us another good carrier and strong defender around the rucks to counter Picamoles hard running. Afoa is expected to hold up his end of the crum, giving Sturgess the opportunity to pressure Wilson on the other side. I want Peel to use his experience and veteran knowledge to put Wasps young scrum half under pressure, particularly around the scrum. Robshaw is also tasked with making Chudley's life difficult around the breakdown.

Of course, with Wilko we will take advantage of any penalties inside the opposition half and kick for goal. In attack, Twelvetrees will act as first receiver at times, giving us a double pivot. Vainikolo is free to come off his wing and run hard, likewise we are expecting Tatupu to make some dents in the defence. Afoa, Webber, Swinson and Faletau are our heavy carriers, with Tipuric offering a speedier option to go along with the backline. Nowell is free to attack at will and join the line. 

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London Wasps


Manager – Fluxy

01. Paul James	09. Will Chudley
02. David Paice	10. Owen Farrell(K)
03. Davey Wilson
04. Pascal Pape	11. Charlie Sharples
05. Steve Borthwick	12. Francis Saili
06. Scott Higginbotham	13. George Lowe
07. Hienrich Brussow	14. Maxime Medard
08. Louis Picamoles	15. Mike Brown

16. Tom Lindsay 17. Franck Montella 18. Scotty Wilson 19. Louis Deacon 20. Sam Jones 21. Ben Spencer 22. Nick Evans 23. Topsy Ojo

We look to impose ourselves from the off and let the opposition know how we are going to play the game and how we want to dictate the pace of the game. Our brand of rugby is physical and fast, however we won't just run the ball at every opportunity. We will only play in the right areas of the paddock, using the nous of Pienaar and Farrell to play in the right areas of the pitch, off the back of our strong setpieces. We will look to go through simple phases to reproduce quick ball to cut the defence open. The side contains  brilliant leaders all over the pitch in Picamoles, Borthwick, Pienaar, Wilson and Medard, and they know what will be required to get we want from the game - a win. With the decent conditions, we will look to play a simple expansive game in attack and in defence will look to force Chiefs to play from in their 22 and use our strong lineout and kicking game to pressure them.

• James and Wilson are solid technicians and will secure our own feed. A big target for us here is to get under the front-row and make them go backwards with constant pressure, from the whole front five as a unit. 
  
  
• With a strong lineout, Borthwick will lead the lineout and use himself as banker ball at the front of the line with Pape jumping in the middle. If winning own ball Borthwick will look to call short numbers lineouts to allow, Higgy/Pickles a run at the defence in midfield.
  
  
• Our whole pack is mobile and capable of snaffling ball at the breakdown. We will look to offload in the tackle to keep moving the point of attack and tire out the Chiefs pack, this will keep the likes of Afoa, Webber, AWJ and Faletau on the move. 
  
  
• The backrow will target the halfbacks,  which will lead to them rushing and making handling errors and mistakes. Big empahsis on running forwards down the ten channel when there is slow ball. 
  
  
  
• We will look to keep the ball alive, preventing them from setting any defensive lines. As the Lions proved, Farrell can play flat and bring in great attacking play, and Saili will help the creative play.
  
  
  
• We will use a blitz drift line in defence to cut down Wilkos options and push him inside towards our backrow.
  
  
  
• Look for Pickles to run down Wilkos channel off scrums, and big carries down this channel in open play.
  
  
  
• Look to use our strong bench for impact later in the game. To get an advantage in the scrum, and collisions with big impact players.
  
  
  
• farrell will kick all points, he can kick from within their half, so this indicates that Chiefs should be wary of giving away penalties.
  

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Worcester Warriors vs London Irish
Location - Sixways Stadium
Weather - Light Rain, 14 degrees, 8 mph Northerly

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Worcester Warriors


Manager – InTheFastLane

01. Joe Marler	09. Kahn Fotuali'i
02. Ollie Hayes	10. Paddy Jackson
03. Samson Lee
04. Graham Kitchener	11. Tom Homer
05. Juandre Kruger	12. Steven Shingler
06. James Haskell	13. Robbie Freaun
07.  Matt Kvesic	14. Alex Cuthbert
08. Ben Morgan	15. Kurtley Beale

16. George Porter 17. Will Radburn 18. James Currie 19. George Robson 20. Sam Betty 21. Jonny Arr 22. Andy Goode 23. Matt Hopper


Overall: Look for strong running rugby led by our half back combination who will look to control our tempo and keep us playing in the right areas. In the conditions we will look to establish set piece dominance and lots of forward carries with nothing too fancy

We are expecting to dominate the scrum with a good squeeze and will look to win penalties. If we experience looks of success here look to relentlessly target it

At the lineout we feel we can hold our own and if we can develop an advantage early we shall look to switch the game plan and look for corners with the boot. Kruger, Kitchener, Morgan and Haskell are all quality jumpers and we will look to switch up the lineout. 

As well as performing in the set piece we will be looking to get our forwards making some big carries in open play. This will be key in the conditions and with our big runners we feel we can dominate. We will be looking to burst into space and makes gains with the likes of Morgan, Lee, Marler and Haskell on the ball.

Look to attack the breakdown hard and fast with lots of bodies looking to slow down or turn over Irishi ball. We have picked a back row that we feel can really target the breakdown with Kvesic our main man, backed up by Haskell.

Strong half back combination will be looking to control the tempo of our game. Kahn Fotuaili will play his natural game mixing it up with his passing and his sniping runs. Paddy Jackson will look to get his running and passing game involved while his kicking offers another option.  

The back five will be looking to make inroads with their attacking running. Freaun will be look to make strong runs, crashing through defences. He will look to draw in defences to offer more space for our other runners.  Homer, Cuthbert and Beale will be looking to make use of the spaces with their running

Use a blitz defence with Beale trailing 

With Fotuaili, Beale, Jackson, Shingler and Homer we have some quality boots and we will look to take advantage. If we experience dominance at the lineout look to put the ball into corners. Fotuali'i will also use his box kick abilities to give our players something to chase.

We will look to make full use of our bench. Porter, Radian + Currie are quality options who will look to get involved around the park and at scrumtime. Robson will look to come on add Grit. Betty can add his carrying for our pack. Hopper will look to challenge the Irish defence with his running

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London Irish


Manager – Fluxy

01. Gethin Jenkins	09. Greg Laidlaw (K)
02. Rhys Marshall	10. Brock James
03. Euan Murray
04. Ian Evans	11. David Strettle
05. Nick Kennedy	12. Dan Bowden
06. Peter O'Mahony	13. Aurelien Rougerie
07. David Pocock	14. Delon Armitage
08. Imanol Harinodoquy	15. Matt Tait

16. Rob Herring 17. Max Lahiff 18. Paulică Ion 19. Kieran Low 20. Ally Hogg 21. Joe Simpson 22. Guy Armitage  23. Anthony Watson

- Use the strong set piece to ground down Warriors
- Kick for Territory in conditions
- Laidlaw to take all points on offer
- Look to dominate collisions

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Saracens vs Gloucester 
Location - Allianz Park
Weather - Light Cloud, 13 degrees, 11 mph Northerly

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Saracens

Manager – ChequeredJersey

01. Mako Vunipola	09. Morgan Parra
02. Rob Buchanon	10. Charlie Hodgson
03. Ben Tameifuna
04. Bakkies Botha	11. Tom Varndell
05. Donnacha Ryan	12.  Anthony Allen
06. Kelly Brown	13.   Joel Tomkins
07. Richie McCaw (c)	14.  Simon Zebo
08. Billy Vunipola	15. Leigh Halfpenny (k)

16. Matt Mullan 17. Rob Hawkins 18. Davit Zirakashvili  19. Will Fraser  20. Mamuka Gorgodze 21. Danny Care 22. Sam Stanley 23. Vereniki Goneva

Tactics:

Breakdown
Approach as a unit, Bilky and Kelly clearing out hard and Richie stealing/securing quick ball. If the ball is lost, don't commit and defend instead. Fraser to come on later in the game with Richie at 6 to target them here.

Scrum- Richie to talk to referee early on about Jones' binding. Look to set a stable platform for Billy to run off.

Line out- Ryan calling, lots of options, mix up the maul to tire the opposition and off the top. 

Challenge at the middle but not front to give them easily manageable front ball and focus on defence, except in their 22 where we will challenge everything

Defence- blitz led by Allen, Richie to harry their HBs, Parra sweeping and covering the fringe break with Brown.

Attack- spin fast ball to Allen as the point of attack (off Hodgson flat), with the rest in support looking to offload to change the focus and mix it up with Halfpenny and Vunipola coming for the pop inside Allen and Hodgson. 

Slow ball- drive it in packs of 3 forwards, maul it or have Parra kick into space or the corners. Parra to decide when to play and when to grind. All kicks to be chased and if they are in space, make them high  to do so.

In their 22- mix up tight and loose play and look to crossfield kick. Take all kick able points

Subs- use when needed with all pack going 100% knowing we can replace them. Care can add tempo if needed 

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Gloucester 
Manager - Prop

01. Nick Wood	09. Dimitri Yachvilli
02. Rory Best	10. Freddie Burns (k)
03. Adam Jones
04. Tom Savage (c)	11. Shane Monahan
05. Jim Hamilton	12. Jamie Roberts
06. Alisdair Strokosch	13. JDJ
07. Akapusi Qeratd]	14. Adam Thompstone
08. JVN	15. Johnny May

16. Korree Britton 17. Antoine Guillamon 18. Dan Murphy 19. Will James 20. Luke Narraway 21. Dan Robson 22. Jimmy Gopperth 23. JSD

Tactics:
Mobile team in good running conditions,
Run the ball alot using Burns to be the main link man and playmaker with Yachvilli giving quick ball,
Powerful jumpers to challenge in the lineout,
Backrow of heavy hitters to keep them wary of coming down their channel,
Defence led by Trinder calling them up,
Enthusiasm in back 3 with all eq players looking to prove a point and put down a marker.

Aha you can do it if you'd like mate. I'm up all night so doesn't bother me.

Sale 28: 19 Newcastle
Tries: 3/2
Cons: 2/0
Pens: 3/3

Exeter 23: 24 Wasps
Tries: 3/3
Cons: 1/ 3
Pens: 2/ 1

Worcester 23: 27 Irish
Tries : 3 / 3
Cons: 1 / 3
Pens: 2/ 2

Sarries 26: 23 Gloucester
Tries 3 / 3
Cons: 1/1
Pens: 3/ 2

Pick the scorers to fit those templates

Bath 25 - Tigers 26
Tries : Bowe, Daly, Ranger / B Youngs, Wade, Parisse
Cons: Hook x2/ Flood x1
Pen: Hook x2 /Flood x3

Sale 28: 19 Newcastle
Tries: Garvey, Rhule, J Davies / Marshall, Hogg
Cons: Goosen x2 /0
Pens: Goosen x3/Hogg x3

Exeter 23: 24 Wasps
Tries: Afoa, Nowell, Tipuric /Picamoles, Brown x2
Cons: Wilkinson x1/Farrell x3
Pens: Wilkinson x2/Farrell x1

Worcester 23: 27 Irish
Tries : Beale, Morgan, Cuthbert / Jenkins, Harinodoquy, Armitage
Cons: Jackson x1 / Laidlaw x3
Pens: Jackson x2/ Laidlaw x2

Oooh, so close!

Think it was really really close, just on the wrong side of the .5

Tight that one Bathite!