Heineken Cup Round One

 
 

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Pool 1 - Castres Olympique vs Gloucester Rugby
Location - Stade Pierre-Antoine

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Castres Olympique 

01. Yannick Forestier	09. Rory Kockott (K)
02. Brice Mach	10. Remi Tales
03. Anton Peikrishvili
04. Christophe Samson	11. Marcel Garvey
05. Richie Gray	12. Remi Lamerat
06. Jan de bruin Bornman	13. Romain Cabannes
07. Yannick Caballero	14. Romain Martial
08. Antonie Claasen	15. Brice Dulin

Replacements: 16 Mathieu Bonello, 17 Mihaita Lazar, 18 Benjamin Desroche, 19 Pedrie Wannenburg, 20 Julien Tomas, 21 Seremaia Bai, 22 Paul Bonnefond, 23 Michael Coetzee.

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Gloucester

Manager - anonmattyt

01. Guthro Steenkamp	09. Dan Robson
02. Joe Gray	10. Dan Carter
03. Nicholas Mas
04. Tom Palmer	11. Jonny May
05. George Robson	12. Matt Scott
06. Tom Croft	13. Juan De Jongh
07. Ardie Savea	14. Matt Banahan
08. Sam Dickinson	15. Andrea Masi

16. Adrian Strauss 17. Coenie Ousthuizen 18. Rupert Harden 19. Elliott Stooke 20. Jamie Heaslip 21. TJ Perenara 22. Berrick Barnes 23. Iain Balshaw.

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Pool 2 - Northampton Saints v Cardiff Blues
Location - Franklin Gardens

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Northampton Saints

01.Thomas Domingo	09.Joe Simpson
02.Tatafu Polota-Nau	10.Ian Madigan
03.Carl Hayman
04.Joe Launchbury	11.Jamie Elliott
05.Courtney Lawes	12.Weslie Fofana
06.Julian Bonnaire(c)	13.Manu Tuilagi
07.Liam Gill	14.Christian Wade
08.Billy Vunipola	15.Ben Foden

Subs: 16.Dylan Hartley 17. Mako Vunipola 18. Ben Teimafano 19. Samo Manoa 20. Calum Clark 21. Mike Phillips 22. Matt Giteau 23. Elliot Daly

Saints undefeated in Europe last season and will look to extend this against a Cardiff team that hasn't been on the best form at the start of 2013/2014 season. Play high tempo game, looking to get over the gainline  and force Cardiff into errors with physical approach and aggressive defence. Look to get our backs into space. Empty the bench and look to dominate the final 30 minutes of the game.

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Cardiff Blues

01. Gethin Jenkins	09. Lloyd Williams
02. Mathew Rees	10. Rhys Patchell
03. Taufa'ao Filise
04. Bradley Davies	11. Harry Robinson
05. Filo Paulo	12. Cory Allen
06. Josh Navidi	13. Owen Williams
07. Sam Warburton	14. Alex Cuthbert
08. Andries Pretorius	15. Leigh Halfpenny (k)

Replacements: 16 Kristian Dacey, 17 Scott Andrews, 18 Sam Hobbs, 19 Lou Reed, 20 Robin Copeland, 21 Lewis Jones, 22 Gareth Davies, 23 Dafydd Hewitt.

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Pool 3 - London Wasps v Leicester Tigers
Location - Adams Park

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London Wasps
Manager  Ozzy3213

01. Paul James	09. Sebastien Tillous-Borde
02. Christopher Tolofua	10. Owen Farrell
03. Dave Wilson
04. Sebastien Vahaamahina	11. Digby Ioane
05. George Skivington ©	12. Pat McCabe
06. Tom Johnson	13. Jaco Taute
07. Steffon Armitage	14. Marland Yarde
08. Blair Cowan	15. Gareth Anscombe

16. Rob Hawkins 17. Steven Kitshoff 18. Frans Malherbe 19. Romain Millo-Chluski 20. Luke Wallace 21. Nathan Fowles 22. Camille Lopez 23. Tim Nanai-Williams

Key Points

• Home advantage, which is a big thing in the Heino.
  
• Players in great real life form, as well as the team being in good form in this game..
  
• Basic game plan designed to frustrate Tigers by starving them off the ball. They will tire quicker defending for long periods and we have the pace and mobility to exploit any gaps that appear as a result.
  

Basic Game Plan
Basic tactical premise will be to dominate possession.  We will go through the phases were possible and look to starve Saracens of the ball for long periods.  We will look for gaps and as the tackles come in make the offload to support runners, with the aim being to continually shift the point of attack and move Tigers players around.  Huge focus for us will be winning the collisions and dominating the breakdown.

In defence, as always we will be running a blitz defence.  Our focus will be on the gainline collisions and driving back in the tackle.  Line speed and no dog-legs will be key components for us.  Phipps will sweep in behind the defensive line to counter any chips/grubbers.

Specifics

• Breakdown. In attack we will flood it rucking past the ball at pace to free it up quickly and go again.  In defence if the turnover is on we will flood it in the same manner to get quick ball, but if not on we will only commit a small number of players to slow the ball, instead maintaining a solid defensive line.
  
• Lineout. We will look to hit banker ball and keep things simple.  On Tigers ball we will use the athletic Tom Johnson to try to disrupt where we think the ball is being thrown.
  
• Scrums.On our ball, if Tigers are strong we will go for quick channel 1 ball and look to get it out and start running at the gaps in the defensive line.  If we get on top, we will keep it in and scrummage and look to march them back, putting them on the back foot defensively and gaining us a psychological advantage.  On their ball we won’t be striking for it, but will look for an 8 man shove to drive them off it.
  
• Open Play. Big runners off 9 and 10.  Tillous-Borde to snipe to tie in the Tigers back row and give time and space to Farrell.  Big carriers to carry hard and straight and tie in defenders before recycling quickly.  Ioane and Yarde to track off the wings, and look to take offloads in area where they can try to shift Billy Twelvetrees into positions where he jumps out of the line..
  

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Leicester Tigers

Manager – LukeLovesLuka

01. Andrew Sheridan	09. Kahn Fotuali'i
02. Chiliboy Ralepelle	10. Brock James
03. Dan Cole
04. Pascal Pape (c)	11. Ugo Monye
05. Kearnan Myall	12. Billy Twelvetrees (k)
06. Sean O'Brien	13. Tamati Ellison
07. James Scaysbrook	14. Drew Mitchell
08. Ernst Joubert	15. Kurtley Beale

16. Tom Youngs 17. Gethin Jenkins 18. Craig Mitchell 19. Ian Evans 20. Ryan Jones 21. Dwayne Peel 22. Dominic Waldouck 23. Paul Sackey

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Pool 4  - Newcastle Falcons vs Scarlets
Location - Kingston Park

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Newcastle Falcons

Manager – Driver

01.Ryan Grant	09.Sam Harrison
02.Dane Coles	10.George Ford
03.Scott Wilson
04.Ed Slater	11.Chris Ashton
05.Yoann Maestri	12.Luke Marshall
06.Juan Smith(c)	13.George Lowe
07.Chris Masoe	14.Rene Ranger
08.Toby Falatau	15.Alex Goode

16.Agustin Creevey 17.Alex Waller 18.Paul Doran Jones 19.Juandre Kruger 20.Liam Messem 21.Ben Youngs 22.Aaron Cruden 23.Jared Payne

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Scarlets

01. Phil John	09. Rhodri Williams
02. Ken Owens	10. Rhys Priestland
03. Samson Lee
04. Jake Ball	11. Jordan Williams
05. Josh Snyman	12. Scott Williams
06. Josh Turnball	13. Jonathon Davies
07. John Barclay	14. Nick Reynolds
08. Rob McCusker	15. Lloyd Williams

Replacements: 16 Ken Owens, 17 Rob Evans, 18 Jacobie Adriaanse, 19 George Earle, 20 Sione Timani, 21 Aled Davies, 22 Aled Thomas, 23 Gareth Maule.

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Pool 5 - Ulster vs Harlequins
Location - Ravenhill

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Ulster

01. Tom Court	09. Paul Marshall
02. Rory Best	10. Paddy Jackson
03. Declan Fitzpatrick
04. Johann Muller	11. Michael Allen
05. Dan Tuohy	12. Luke Marshall
06. Robbie Diack	13. Jared Payne
07. Chris Henry	14. Andrew Trimble
08. Nick Williams	15. Craig Gilroy

Replacements: 16 Rob Herring, 17 Callum Black, 18 Bronson Ross, 19 Iain Henderson, 20 Roger Wilson, 21 Michael Heaney, 22 Stuart Olding, 23 Darren Cave.

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Harlequins

Manager – Steven_Sharks

01. Ben Franks	09. Lee Dickson
02. Rob Buchanan	10. Dan Bowden
03. Gjorgi Jgenti
04. Pieter Steph Du Toit	11. Tom Biggs
05. George Kruis	12. Jan Serfontein
06. Pieter Labushagne	13. Jonathan Joseph
07. Luke Braid	14. Topsy Ojo
08. Nick Easter	15. Andre Taylor

16. Gary Botha 17. Joe Marler 18. Kieran Brookes 19. Hugh Pyle 20. Jamie Gibson 21. Karl Dickson 22. Benji Marshall  23. Jason Emery

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Pool 6 - Sale Sharks vs Perpignan
Location - AJ Bell Stadium

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Sale Sharks
Manager – SJE

01. Dave Kilcoyne	09. Kieran Marmion
02. David Paice	10. Johnny Sexton
03. Luc Ducalcon
04. Tom Savage	11. Keith Earls
05. Dave Attwood	12. Jordan Turner Hall
06. Peter O'Mahony	13. George Pisi
07. Matt Kvesic	14. Tom Brady
08. Alex Tulou	15. Nick Abendanon

16. Vasil Kakovin 17. Benjamin Kayser 18. Phil Swainston 19. Donnacha Ryan 20. Victor Vito 21. Ben Spencer 22. JJ Hanrahan 23. Will Addison

We will play a fast paced, high intensity offloading game looking to create space for our halfbacks and to get our back three onto the ball as much possible.

- Conditions showing Light Cloud, 13 Degrees & 15 mph winds.

- French never travel well. QUestion marks over how seriously Perpignan are taking this competition.

- Target the scrum. Good technical front row supported by plenty of grunt will look to get on top and win penalties.

- Attack from the lineout. Five genuine jumping options allows us to mix it up and really use the lineout as an attacking platform. Look to get the ball to Sexton with space outside.

- Look to mix up play. Sexton to attack at first receiver while Marmion provides a threat snipping around the base.

- Get the back three involved. Abendanon, Earls & Brady all to run lines looking for the inside ball or offload to get in behind the opposition defence.

- Hit the breakdown hard. Look to our dynamic front five to clear the ruck and allow the likes of POM & Kvesic to really attack the breakdown.

- Straight line blitz defence focusing on a quick line speed to isolate the ball carrier before the gain line. Marmion to sweep in behind to cover chips and grubbers.

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Perpignan

01. Kisi Pulu	09. Dewaldt Duvenage
02. Guilhem Guirado	10. Camille Lopez
03. Giorge Jgenti
04. Sebastien Vahaamahina	11. Sofiane Guitoune
05. Guillaume Vilaceca	12. Sione Piukala
06. Jean Pierre Perez	13. Lifeimi Mafi
07. Alasdair Strokosch	14. Joffrey Michel
08. Justin Puril	15. James Hook

Replacements: 16 Romain Terrain, 17 Sebastien Taofifenua, 18 Daniel Leo, 19 Luke Narraway, 20 Nicolas Durand, 21 Tommaso Benvenuti, 22 Richard Haughton, 23 Paulica Ion.

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London Wasps make 3 changes in the pack, with starts for Sebastien Vahaamahina, George Skivington and Blair Cowan, along with Sebastien Tillous-Borde and Digby Ioane wo come into the back line.

London Wasps
Manager Ozzy3213

01. Paul James	09. Sebastien Tillous-Borde
02. Christopher Tolofua	10. Owen Farrell
03. Dave Wilson
04. Sebastien Vahaamahina	11. Tim Digby Ioane
05. George Skivington ©	12. Pat McCabe
06. Tom Johnson	13. Jaco Taute
07. Steffon Armitage	14. Marland Yarde
08. Blair Cowan	15. Gareth Anscombe

16. Rob Hawkins 17. Steven Kitshoff 18. Frans Malherbe 19. Romain Millo-Chluski 20. Luke Wallace 21. Nathan Fowles 22. Camille Lopez 23. Tim Nanai-Williams

Key Points

• Home advantage, which is a big thing in the Heino.
  
• Players in great real life form, as well as the team being in good form in this game..
  
• Basic game plan designed to frustrate Tigers by starving them off the ball. They will tire quicker defending for long periods and we have the pace and mobility to exploit any gaps that appear as a result.

Basic Game Plan
Basic tactical premise will be to dominate possession. We will go through the phases were possible and look to starve Saracens of the ball for long periods. We will look for gaps and as the tackles come in make the offload to support runners, with the aim being to continually shift the point of attack and move Tigers players around. Huge focus for us will be winning the collisions and dominating the breakdown.

In defence, as always we will be running a blitz defence. Our focus will be on the gainline collisions and driving back in the tackle. Line speed and no dog-legs will be key components for us. Phipps will sweep in behind the defensive line to counter any chips/grubbers.

Specifics

• Breakdown. In attack we will flood it rucking past the ball at pace to free it up quickly and go again. In defence if the turnover is on we will flood it in the same manner to get quick ball, but if not on we will only commit a small number of players to slow the ball, instead maintaining a solid defensive line.
  
• Lineout. We will look to hit banker ball and keep things simple. On Tigers ball we will use the athletic Tom Johnson to try to disrupt where we think the ball is being thrown.
  
• Scrums.On our ball, if Tigers are strong we will go for quick channel 1 ball and look to get it out and start running at the gaps in the defensive line. If we get on top, we will keep it in and scrummage and look to march them back, putting them on the back foot defensively and gaining us a psychological advantage. On their ball we won’t be striking for it, but will look for an 8 man shove to drive them off it.
  
• Open Play. Big runners off 9 and 10. Tillous-Borde to snipe to tie in the Tigers back row and give time and space to Farrell. Big carriers to carry hard and straight and tie in defenders before recycling quickly. Ioane and Yarde to track off the wings, and look to take offloads in area where they can try to shift Billy Twelvetrees into positions where he jumps out of the line..
  

Is it last weeks side that I put in for the Euro sides, or their best side possible?

Its the side they used in the last round so be lazy and steal the sides CJ has up on the other league. Then next week use the sides named this week. Cheers for doing this Flux 

1. Guthro Steenkamp
2 joe Gray
3 Nicola Mas
4 Tom Palmer
5 George Robson
6 Tom Croft
7 Ardie Savea
8 Dickinson
9 Dan Robson
10 Dan Carter
11 May
12 Matt Scott
13 Juan de Jongh
14 Banahan
15 Masi
16 Coenie Ousthuizen
17 Strauss
18 Harden
19 stooke
20 Heaslip
21 T J Perenara
22 Berrick Barnes
23 Iain Balshaw

01.Thomas Domingo	09.Joe Simpson
02.Tatafu Polota-Nau	10.Ian Madigan
03.Carl Hayman
04.Joe Launchbury	11.Jamie Elliott
05.Courtney Lawes	12.Weslie Fofana
06.Julian Bonnaire(c)	13.Manu Tuilagi
07.Liam Gill	14.Christian Wade
08.Billy Vunipola	15.Ben Foden

Subs: 16.Dylan Hartley 17. Mako Vunipola 18. Ben Teimafano 19. Samo Manoa 20. Calum Clark 21. Mike Phillips 22. Matt Giteau 23. Elliot Daly

Saints undefeated in Europe last season and will look to extend this against a Cardiff team that hasn't been on the best form at the start of 2013/2014 season. Play high tempo game, looking to get over the gainline and force Cardiff into errors with physical approach and aggressive defence. Look to get our backs into space. Empty the bench and look to dominate the final 30 minutes of the game.

Juan Smith makes first team comeback

Juan Smith has completed his comeback from rehab and after several appearances for the Falcons 'A' makes his first start for Falcons. Youngsters Scotty Wilson , Sam Harrison and George Lowe all get a chance to impress in the 3 , 9 and 13 shirts. George Ford plays his final game for the club following his impressive loan spell.
Newcastle Falcons

Manager – Driver

01.Ryan Grant	09.Sam Harrison
02.Dane Coles	10.George Ford
03.Scott Wilson
04.Ed Slater	11.Chris Ashton
05.Yoann Maestri	12.Luke Marshall
06.Juan Smith(c)	13.George Lowe
07.Chris Masoe	14.Rene Ranger
08.Toby Falatau	15.Alex Goode

16.Agustin Creevey 17.Alex Waller 18.Paul Doran Jones 19.Juandre Kruger 20.Liam Messem 21.Ben Youngs 22.Aaron Cruden 23.Jared Payne

Driver

I know but he's in my academy on loan

How does qualification work again? Is it top 2 from each group?

There are 6 groups, winners from each goes through then I think it is best 2 runners up in terms of points in the league tables (I think!).

Ta.

How many EQ sorry? Can't find it on the rules

7 starters 10 all together.

Leicester Tigers have named their side to play Wasps this week.

Tigers have made 7 changes from the side that played Northampton Saints last week. Chiliboy Ralepelle and Kearnan Myall come into the front five, with James Scaysbrook getting his first start of the season in the other change to the pack.

Jonny Wilkinson, Mike Brown, Vincent Clerc and Henry Speight sit this one out with Brock James, Kurtley Beale and Drew Mitchell coming into the side. Plus Ugo Monye makes his return from injury.


Leicester Tigers
Manager – LukeLovesLuka

01. Andrew Sheridan	09. Kahn Fotuali'i
02. Chiliboy Ralepelle	10. Brock James
03. Dan Cole
04. Pascal Pape (c)	11. Ugo Monye
05. Kearnan Myall	12. Billy Twelvetrees (k)
06. Sean O'Brien	13. Tamati Ellison
07. James Scaysbrook	14. Drew Mitchell
08. Ernst Joubert	15. Kurtley Beale

16. Tom Youngs 17. Gethin Jenkins 18. Craig Mitchell 19. Ian Evans 20. Ryan Jones 21. Dwayne Peel 22. Dominic Waldouck 23. Paul Sackey


Tactics:

We will play to our strengths and play a game built around our intelligent HB's controlling the game and the power and strength of our side.

- Attack at all scrums with our huge pack - Cole and Sheridan to look to really get into the opposition.

- Attack at all lineouts. Use Joubert or Pape at the front and Myall off the top as our three key options.
Shortened lineouts with Scaysbrook in midfield as crash or decoy option.

- Put serious pressure on Tolofua's throws with Joubert at the front on all Wasps throws.

- Gigantic pack made up of massive line-breakers, used in the tight to tire down the Saints defence. The likes of SOB, Scaysbrook, Ralapelle, Pape and Myall to be used to target Wasps.

- Target the breakdown - huge emphasis on our work at the breakdown today and we will always look to turnover possession. With Scaysbrook and SOB, and the likes of Cole too, we feel our breakdown play could be crucial today.

- In attacking play, we will play with the option of 2 first receivers in B. James and Twelvetrees. We want to control the game, mixing up the point of our attack and looking for where the gaps are.

- Target Farrell all game with Scaysbrook and SOB breathing down his neck at every opportunity. Looking to win the B.James v Farrell contest.

- We will look to employ a blitz defence, focusing on a quick line speed to hit the ball carrier before he gets to the gainline. We have aggressive forwards to carry out this instruction. Fotuali'i to sweep behind with an eye on short kicks.

- Twelvetrees to kick all penalties.

Harlequins
Manager – Steven_Sharks

01. Ben Franks	09. Lee Dickson
02. Rob Buchanan	10. Dan Bowden
03. Gjorgi Jgenti
04. Pieter Steph Du Toit	11. Tom Biggs
05. George Kruis	12. Jan Serfontein
06. Pieter Labushagne	13. Jonathan Joseph
07. Luke Braid	14. Topsy Ojo
08. Nick Easter	15. Andre Taylor

16. Gary Botha 17. Joe Marler 18. Kieran Brookes 19. Hugh Pyle 20. Jamie Gibson 21. Karl Dickson 22. Benji Marshall 23. Jason Emery

Tactics

Mark

Sale Sharks
Manager – SJE

01. Dave Kilcoyne	09. Kieran Marmion
02. David Paice	10. Johnny Sexton
03. Luc Ducalcon
04. Tom Savage	11. Keith Earls
05. Dave Attwood	12. Jordan Turner Hall
06. Peter O'Mahony	13. George Pisi
07. Matt Kvesic	14. Tom Brady
08. Alex Tulou	15. Nick Abendanon

16. Vasil Kakovin 17. Benjamin Kayser 18. Phil Swainston 19. Donnacha Ryan 20. Victor Vito 21. Ben Spencer 22. JJ Hanrahan 23. Will Addison

We will play a fast paced, high intensity offloading game looking to create space for our halfbacks and to get our back three onto the ball as much possible.

- Conditions showing Light Cloud, 13 Degrees & 15 mph winds.

- French never travel well. QUestion marks over how seriously Perpignan are taking this competition.

- Target the scrum. Good technical front row supported by plenty of grunt will look to get on top and win penalties.

- Attack from the lineout. Five genuine jumping options allows us to mix it up and really use the lineout as an attacking platform. Look to get the ball to Sexton with space outside.

- Look to mix up play. Sexton to attack at first receiver while Marmion provides a threat snipping around the base.

- Get the back three involved. Abendanon, Earls & Brady all to run lines looking for the inside ball or offload to get in behind the opposition defence.

- Hit the breakdown hard. Look to our dynamic front five to clear the ruck and allow the likes of POM & Kvesic to really attack the breakdown.

- Straight line blitz defence focusing on a quick line speed to isolate the ball carrier before the gain line. Marmion to sweep in behind to cover chips and grubbers.

Didn't think we did tactics in the euro games mate?

Managers prerogative Flux. Be useful in tight games for my predictions anyway

Page updated. Just wan some clarification with the Wasps side, as I can only see six starting EQ's. Now I;m not sure if Cowan is being counted as the 7th, but I don't think he has been in the country for five years.

Cowan is EQ. Residency is 3 years not 5.

I wasn't sure mate. Everywhere I've looked it says he is still a Kiwi. And if it is three years, it is very tight if he has or not. Not trying to make a fuss, sorry buddy.

No need for apologies mate, you are perfectly entitled to ask the question. He came over at the start of the 2009/10 season to play for Cornish Pirates and has been here ever since. I'll try to find an article with confirmation for you mate, as I know it was written about him being EQ when Irish signed him.

Found it... http://www1.skysports.com/rugby-union/news/12550/8565298/Worcester-forward-Blair-Cowan-agrees-three-year-contract-with-London-Irish

No worries, Good enough for me mate  

Tactics added.

Castres v Glos
- Even packs with Castres having home advantage. One a piece at HB. Bit more in Glos backline. Glos bench sees them take it late on.
23-26

Saints v Blues
- Edges to Saints throughout. better pack and backs sees them take it comfortably. 7 starters EQ isnt a problem for chris so he has a real chance in Heineken with all his EQ.
28-22

Wasps V Tigers
- Front rows close, think Cole edges James. rest of packs are close. One a piece at HB. Prefer Wasps wings and centes one a piece. Wasps have a strong bench and at home have enough to sneak it. 24-22

Falcons v Scarlets
- Not Falcons strongest side especially at HB but strong enough pack at home and enough in backline to see them home. 25-20

Ulster v Quins
- Ravenhill such a tough place to win and a very strong Ulster side for me has the edge in the pack here. Backlines are close but Ulster have too much here.
25-21

Sale v Perpignan
- Perpignan dont travel well but Sale have the better side either way. Strong side and routine home win in the end.
24-19

Castres 28-22 Glos
Glaws with a slight advantage at the set piece but not a lot of grafters in the back 5 of the pack. More quality at 10 and in midfield but they haven't the pack to win away for me against a good side.

Saints 32-18 Blues
Saints are a step up everywhere and at home should see a bonus point. Real contenders to win the HC.

Wasps 22-21 Tigers
Slight edge to Tigers at scrum time but else where in the pack battle its hard to pick a winner. Halfbacks one a piece while the midfield is tight. Big names in Tigers back three but better form for Wasps. Tough game to call but home advantage swings it.

Falcons 35-27 Scarlets
Bit more about Falcons and massive step up on the bench sees them pull the bonus point out of the bag.

Ulster 25-16 Quins
Pack battle fairly close but Ulster have a bit more about them in the backs and a stronger bench which stops Quins getting the lbp.

Castres 29-22 Gloucester

I don't think they'll be a massive sway in the set pieces but can see Castres controlling the pack. To beat the French away you need parity at least and I just can't see a Gloucester pack which lack a bit of form
and beef getting into this one.

Castres halfbacks are in cracking form and can see them setting the tone. Gloucester centres don't work for me and back 3 bar May is poor. Not enough on Gloucester bench to get them back in it.

Northampton 34-15 Cardiff

Bit of a landslide this one. Saints dominate the pack and give their flair backs a playform to attack. Not much else to say.

Wasps 12-24 Leicester

Good pack advantage with Tigers a class ahead except at 7. Set piece advantage and physicality see Tigers get strong foothold in the game, see Tolofua's throwing as a major issue for Wasps.

With Tigers controlling the pack see Wasps struggling to create and score with such a rigid 9-13. Tigers have a good mix (36's form
A worry) and can see them doing well. Just can't see how Wasps get into this one or how they'll get their good wingers involved.

Newcastle 21-20 Scarlets

I think Falcons really cut this one fine and just have enough. Set pieces will be close, not sure Wilson is quite ready for a start but Scarlets not dominant.

Falcons halfbacks will struggle without pack dominance but enough throughout side and fantastic bench will see them through.

Ulster 27-17 Harlequins

Another tough away trip and again Quins struggle to get a foot hold in the front 5 with Ulster edging both set pieces. Backrow is a better contest but Ulster step it up again the backline with halfbacks and centres a class above. Ulster's back 3 stop them running away with it.

Sale 19-17 Perp

Another tight one. Sale pack not the strongest and can see them having a real fight on their hands with a few like Kvesic and Savage struggling for form.

Sexton steadies the ship some what and a steady backline sees them scrape through.

Castres 19-17 Glos
Think Glos will struggle a little up front in this game but they have the bench to bring them back into it.

Saints 38-15 Blues
Simple win, too much overall for Saints which takes over the few top players the Blues have.

Wasps 25-23 Tigers
Packs are quite tight here and hard to split the half backs. Feel Tigers bring the better bench but Wasps not far behind, Wasps at home and having tactics for this game sees them edge it.

Falcons 22-20 Scarlets
Think Falcons just have enough up front and on the bench here to defeat a Scarlets side in poor form.

Ulster 25-20 Quins
Feel that Ulster will be fired up for this and bring a better front 5 than Quins. Can see Ulster getting more joy out wide.

Sale 23-20 Perpignan
Feel Sale have a little more in the backs here and can get a slight edge in the front 5.

Tactics are there for tigers.

Castres 16-15 Glos
Going away to Castres is a really tough prospect, same teams at the Shed and Gloucester could win by 15+. An experienced no9 could have seen Gloucester edge it, but Kockett has been a great player - just see Gloucester losing the 2, 8 and 9 battle.

Wasps 18-16 Tigers
Another close game, can see this being incredibly tense and nervy and in those sorts of games you want Farrell controlling a game for you. Great impact to come from TIgers, but Wasps really are set up with a big defensive team and can see them stopping Tigers getting anything more than one try.

Falcons 29 - 19 Scarlets
Scarlets aren't in good form at the moment as their pack doesnt give them enough of a platform. Don't think this will be as close as others say as Falcons will get lions share of the ball and Ford is one of the most exciting 10s in the AP in terms of creating - one thing that stops it being a big score is Harrison at no9.

Ulster 20-16 Quins
Really not a good place to go and win at Ravenhill, a few rotations in Steve's team and I think Ulster will get the benefit of that and come out with a home victory.

Sale 26-22 Perpignan
Perpignan don't travel at all and SJE's team will get the home win here - again quite a few changes in the backline, which can stop this being as free flowing as it might have been and no9 could be got at, but will just about have enough to get the win.

Castres Olympique 19 Gloucester 16
Castres not in great form in Top 14 but a tough place to go in the Heino. Just not enough in the Gloucester pack for them to grab an away win.

Northampton Saints 26 Cardiff Blues 22

Newcastle Falcons 32 Scarlets 31

Ulster Rugby 20 Harlequins 19
Ravenhill always a tough place to go and it's a strong Ulster side. Quins let down slightly by a lack of experience in the engine room, and Bowden at 10. Under pressure from the opposition back row, away from home, I don't see him being able to win the game.

Sale Sharks 24 Perpignan 21

Castres 24-21 Gloucester
Saints 29-22 Blues
Wasps 21-19 Tigers
Newcastle 28-18 Scarlets
Ulster 26-19 Quins
Sale 32-26 Perpignan

Castres 19 - 18 Gloucester

Saints 26 - 24 Blues

Falcons 27 - 26 Scarlets

Ulster 23 - 23 Harlequins

Sale Sharks 26 - 22 Perpignan

Castres 23 - 22 Gloucester
Saints 25 - 22 Cardiff
Wasps 18 - 17 Leicester
Falcons 23 - 22 Scarlets
Sale 25 - 20 Perpignan

RESULTS:

Castres Olympique 26 (T:2 C:2 P: 4)
Gloucester Rugby 20 (T:2 C:2 P:2)

Northampton Saints 34 (T4 C:4 P:2)
Cardiff Blues 20 (T:2 C:2 P:2)

London Wasps 23 (T:2 C:2 P:3)
Leicester Tigers 21 (T2 C:1 P:3)

Newcastle Falcons 31 (T:4 C:4 P:1)
Scarlets 23 (T:2 C:2 P:3)

Ulster 27 (T2: C:1 P:5)
Harlequins 19 (T1 C:1 P:4)

Sale Sharks 29 (T:3 C:1 P:4)
Perpignan 21 (T2 C:1 P:3)

Happy with that. I suspect that pool 3 is going to be tight between us, Tigers and Toulouse!