Aviva Premiership Round Seven

by **Ozzy3213** Thu 31 Oct 2013, 8:32 am

First topic message reminder :

Although many eyes will be in Twickenham this weekend to see how England fare against the Wallabies, there is still Aviva Premiership action going on, with some juicy looking fixtures. Currently 8 points separate 3rd and 11th places, and with 4 of the bottom 6 teams at home this weekend there is potential for that pack of teams to become even more condensed come Sunday night.

Worcester Warriors (12th) vs. Bath Rugby (3rd)
This is massive for Worcester. Having lost their first 6 games they in danger of being cut adrift at the bottom of the table. Whislt in previous seasons Sixways on a Friday night has been a tough place to go, Worcester have shown little this time out to suggest that they are close to picking up a win. Bath on the other hand are flying high in 3rd place, and have a very powerful pack, coupled with some exciting backs. I cannot see Worcester turning things around here, and I suspect a comfortable 4 points for Bath, with Worcester getting nothing from the game.

Sale Sharks (7th) vs. Exeter Chiefs (4th)
Exeter are running into some excellent form just now, and will go to the AJ Bell stadium full of confidence. Sale Sharks got battered last week, and I expect they will be fired up to put that right at home this time out. This will be a fascinating encounter, which I suspect will be tight, and the home side will just about nick, with the Chiefs heading back to Devon with a losing bonus point.

Gloucester Rugby (11th) vs. London Wasps (9th)
This is probably the game that I am least confident about predicting. The only consistent things about Gloucester this season are their inconsistency, and their propblems in the scrum. They will have to be better in that area, as although not one of the top units, Wasps are decent enough in that regard, and if they get a platform the in form Andy Goode will have them in the right areas to hurt Gloucester. Both teams will want to play through their backs in this oe, and it could be open. Gloucester have to come good at some point, and in a piece of complete piece of guess work I am going with this being the game, and Wasps heading home with a losing bonus point.

Leicester Tigers (5th) vs. Harlequins (6th)
Both teams will be missing players, although Quins will be happy to have Danny Care sent back to them by Stuart Lancaster. Tigers are not in anywhere neat top form, but Welford Road is always a tough place to go, and despite Quins turnaround in their own form last week, I don't think they'll have enough to storm the fortress. Close game, no try bonus point for Tigers, and Quins heading back south with a losing bonus point in the bank.

Saracens (1st) vs. Newcastle Falcons (8th)
Sarries were humped last week and Falcons picked up a very valuable win at home. There is no way that Saracens will want to lose two on the trot, and I can see them coming out seriously fired up here. Newcastle will scrap, but I can't see them getting anything, and Saracens I think might have enough, even without players on international duty to take the try bonus point at home.

London Irish (10th) vs. Northampton Saints (2nd)
Saints were superb last week, and will come to the MadStad with confidence. I have only one thing to say about London Irish this week. James O'Connor!!! I'll say that again, James O'Feckin-Connor. Can't wait to see him play. I shan't predict the outcome of this game, as the head is being completely overuled by the heart this week and we are going to run in 5 or 6 tries and completely rout them.

So there you go folks. That's this weekends games. Thoughts?

by **Ozzy3213** Sat 02 Nov 2013, 7:16 am

I'm 50/50 so far myself Doc. Worcester were truly dire last night. It is hard to see where they are going to pick up enough points to survive. I'd say they need at least 6 wins to stay up and with just 7 home games left time is already running out for them.

by doctor_grey Sat 02 Nov 2013, 7:55 am

Agree Oz, They looked poor. I think that my first time seeing them this season, and that was a disappointment.
Let's see what happens to their competition the rest of the weekend, but things look bad.

by yappysnap Sat 02 Nov 2013, 8:19 am

What was the score from last nights game people?

by doctor_grey Sat 02 Nov 2013, 8:22 am

6 - 21 Bath. In a driving rain. Bath was clearly better in all aspects.

by **Ozzy3213** Sat 02 Nov 2013, 8:27 am

Bath were much the better side despite never really getting out of 2nd gear themselves.

by Hood83 Sat 02 Nov 2013, 11:58 am

To be honest I'll be glad to see the back of Worcester. They put faith in journeymen overseas players just when most other clubs are looking at their academies. Some sympathy for losing Kvesic and Mullan of course but they're offering very little to anything right now.

by AsLongAsBut100ofUs Sat 02 Nov 2013, 3:04 pm

Happy with 4 points Chief

by 21st Century Schizoid Man Sat 02 Nov 2013, 4:30 pm

Well done Chiefs

by nathan Sat 02 Nov 2013, 5:46 pm

has williams ever been able to kick?

Tigers look like that dont want to tackle anything

by yappysnap Sat 02 Nov 2013, 6:13 pm

6-3 to Tigers at the moment, Salvi yellowed so hopefully Quins can get some points on the board.

by nathan Sat 02 Nov 2013, 6:20 pm

yappysnap wrote:6-3 to Tigers at the moment, Salvi yellowed so hopefully Quins can get some points on the board.

Not 100% in agreement with the yellow as Salvi was the tackler and so is allowed to be there. But quins deserve the lead, tigers missing lots of tackles.

by yappysnap Sat 02 Nov 2013, 6:21 pm

The man Nick Easter scores in extra time to finish the half 6-10 to Quins!

by formerly known as Sam Sat 02 Nov 2013, 6:26 pm

Quins dominates that first forty mins but Tigers have the upper hand in the set pieces which is keeping us in the game.

The Salvi yellow was a woeful decision. There's no ruck formed, he's the tackler, there's a clear release and he's on his feet. Never a penalty let alone a yellow and this is after Quins have had THREE warnings. At the breakdown, scrum and Easter for "a football response" so mouthing at the ref. To be fair it was probably the only major error from the ref in this half but it was a blow to Tigers and gave Quins the impetus for their try.

by nathan Sat 02 Nov 2013, 6:38 pm

rubbish tackling again by the tigers.

by nathan Sat 02 Nov 2013, 6:40 pm

are warnings reset at half time?

by nathan Sat 02 Nov 2013, 6:45 pm

who's this commentator, he's crap...

by nathan Sat 02 Nov 2013, 6:46 pm

not held.. lol

by nathan Sat 02 Nov 2013, 6:49 pm

this ref is giving us nothing, it's almost as bad as the england game.

by nathan Sat 02 Nov 2013, 6:51 pm

how is that not a yellow card!!! he kicked the ball whislt laying on the floor!

by nathan Sat 02 Nov 2013, 6:52 pm

its not straight ball so there doing it again?

by nathan Sat 02 Nov 2013, 6:56 pm

quins pushing before the ball is put in...

by yappysnap Sat 02 Nov 2013, 6:56 pm

I havent got BT. Can I assume Quins are playing the ref well then?

by formerly known as Sam Sat 02 Nov 2013, 6:57 pm

It's Nick Kennedy and he's and embarrassment. I think a complaint is in order, talking rubbish and unbelievably bias.

We are awful, we're getting sweet f all from the ref but we aren't playing smart rugby and making it easy for him to give us decisions. Quins are playing the ref far better.

That Robson kick at the ruck should have been a card buy obviously missed by the ref.

by nathan Sat 02 Nov 2013, 6:58 pm

yappysnap wrote:I havent got BT. Can I assume Quins are playing the ref well then?

not really, there just getting away with a fair bit. Salvi got carded too although he was legal.

Im a tigers supporter though.

by yappysnap Sat 02 Nov 2013, 6:58 pm

For any one not watching Tigers have conceded 6 pens to Quins 10. So it isn't quite all one way... Wink

by nathan Sat 02 Nov 2013, 6:59 pm

side? lol

by nathan Sat 02 Nov 2013, 7:00 pm

yappysnap wrote:For any one not watching Tigers have conceded 6 pens to Quins 10. So it isn't quite all one way...

and quins got the warning 3 penalties ago, all being in there own 22!

by yappysnap Sat 02 Nov 2013, 7:01 pm

Oh and the score is 9-20 to Quins. What was the Hopper try like??

by nathan Sat 02 Nov 2013, 7:02 pm

yappysnap wrote:Oh and the score is 9-20 to Quins. What was the Hopper try like??

nice, was down the touch line. Tigers rushed to cover an over committed. Hopper then cut in.

by yappysnap Sat 02 Nov 2013, 7:03 pm

nathan wrote:
yappysnap wrote:For any one not watching Tigers have conceded 6 pens to Quins 10. So it isn't quite all one way...
and quins got the warning 3 penalties ago, all being in there own 22!

Play the ref mate, go watch NZ and see what they get up to. They'll push the limits right up until breaking point.

by nathan Sat 02 Nov 2013, 7:04 pm

yappysnap wrote:
nathan wrote:
yappysnap wrote:For any one not watching Tigers have conceded 6 pens to Quins 10. So it isn't quite all one way...
and quins got the warning 3 penalties ago, all being in there own 22!
Play the ref mate, go watch NZ and see what they get up to. They'll push the limits right up until breaking point.

oh i know and i dont blame quins for it but if the ref warns them and they continue they should get a yellow

by nathan Sat 02 Nov 2013, 7:07 pm

the reffing team havent a Frak clue, one says he's offside, the other doesnt.

by nathan Sat 02 Nov 2013, 7:11 pm

ref cant even count how many are in a lineout now..

by nathan Sat 02 Nov 2013, 7:13 pm

yet another pen and no yellow.

by nathan Sat 02 Nov 2013, 7:18 pm

penalty try and yet still no yellow...

by nathan Sat 02 Nov 2013, 7:20 pm

well done quins, deserved winners. Tigers were poor, not as poor as the reffing though.

by formerly known as Sam Sat 02 Nov 2013, 7:21 pm

Quins defence has been excellent, Molenaar key in both attack and defence fully deserving of his man of the match award.

Penalty try as Tigers demolish three successive scrums.

Ref calls the game 30 seconds early after seeing Williams take a quick drop kick conversion to add more ill feeling towards the officials from the Welford Rd crowd.

by nathan Sat 02 Nov 2013, 7:22 pm

formerly known as Sam wrote:Quins defence has been excellent, Molenaar key in both attack and defence fully deserving of his man of the match award.

Penalty try as Tigers demolish three successive scrums.

Ref calls the game 30 seconds early after seeing Williams take a quick drop kick conversion to add more ill feeling towards the officials from the Welford Rd crowd.

it really was a poor performance from the ref, you wouldnt of guessed i had that opinion.

by yappysnap Sat 02 Nov 2013, 7:26 pm

Unlucky Tigers fans. I can sympathise with god awful reffing displays. But honestly we needed this and I'm well happy with it! Good luck for the rest of the season!

boxing

by nathan Sat 02 Nov 2013, 7:27 pm

yappysnap wrote:Unlucky Tigers fans. I can sympathise with god awful reffing displays. But honestly we needed this and I'm well happy with it! Good luck for the rest of the season!

you too mate

by nathan Sat 02 Nov 2013, 7:32 pm

lol, cos thinks his team had too many penalties against them! lol

by formerly known as Sam Sat 02 Nov 2013, 7:33 pm

To be fair I thought he was pretty good other than the yellow in the first half. Second half all three officials called up some horrible decisions.

At the end of the day we were our own worst enemies with stupid offloads that weren't on and silly knock ons. Our error count was too high and we struggled to breach that Quins defence. I mean look at the Matt Smith attempt when he gets stopped short, he never dips his shoulder low enough to get underneath the defender's and use his momentum and he's carrying the ball on the wrong side so he can't use his hand off. Not good enough and there was too much of that.

by nathan Sat 02 Nov 2013, 7:35 pm

formerly known as Sam wrote:To be fair I thought he was pretty good other than the yellow in the first half. Second half all three officials called up some horrible decisions.

At the end of the day we were our own worst enemies with stupid offloads that weren't on and silly knock ons. Our error count was too high and we struggled to breach that Quins defence. I mean look at the Matt Smith attempt when he gets stopped short, he never dips his shoulder low enough to get underneath the defender's and use his momentum and he's carrying the ball on the wrong side so he can't use his hand off. Not good enough and there was too much of that.

oh a take nothing away from quins and we were horrid. the refs display was awful though!

by doctor_grey Sat 02 Nov 2013, 7:44 pm

doctor_grey wrote:Worcester Warriors (12th) vs. Bath Rugby (3rd) - The big Kahuna for Worcester. If they lose, doom on Worcester. I don't think Bath are really a third place team. So I pick Worcester for the upset at home by a hair's margin.

Sale Sharks (7th) vs. Exeter Chiefs (4th) - Trap game for Exeter. Exe should feel good about themselves. No one knows how Sale feel. But Friday nights up in the frozen norf should be enough. Another close one, but I pick the home underdog y about 3 points.

Gloucester Rugby (11th) vs. London Wasps (9th) - What's up with Gloucester? NO one knows. Not even Gloucester. On paper they should be better. I think they hold off Wasps at home. Probably not too close at the end.

Leicester Tigers (5th) vs. Harlequins (6th) - I think this is a weird match to predict. Normally I think we wold all want to see this wil all the Internationals playing for their club. But Leicester have this unbelievable run of injuries and Quins look a bit off form. I would guess this is one of the best chances of pulling off a win at Welford Road. But this should be tight. Still pick Leicester is a low scoring affair.

Saracens (1st) vs. Newcastle Falcons (8th) - As Mr. T said, the prediction for this fight is pain. Saracens by 20.

London Irish (10th) vs. Northampton Saints (2nd) - Huge trap game for Saints. The James O'Connor factor might make a huge difference for LI. Not so much for his play since he is just learning the names of his new teammates, but for the energy. Probably a few extra people come out to watch as well, will jack up the crowd. I think LI are in it to the end, but Saints clip it at the end, barely (hopefully).

Jeez, now four matches are in the book this weekend, and I am 0 for 4. My Rugby genius is a-feckin-mazing.

As long as Saints win on Sunday, I can call it a successful weekend, with England winning, too.

by ChequeredJersey Sat 02 Nov 2013, 8:24 pm

Engalf win, Quins win, at Final Year Med school dinner, live is good, gonna get so deunk

by yappysnap Sat 02 Nov 2013, 9:38 pm

ChequeredJersey wrote:Engalf win, Quins win, at Final Year Med school dinner, live is good, gonna get so deunk

That is literally the best post on this board today!

by nathan Sat 02 Nov 2013, 9:39 pm

ChequeredJersey wrote:Engalf win, Quins win, at Final Year Med school dinner, live is good, gonna get so deunk

Wish i could say the same. England win, then it goes downhill from there.... Tigers lose, Some of my selfish family won't come to my wedding becuase they dont like another guest.

On the plus side, i'm enjoying a bottle of brothers toffee apple cider. Never had it before but it's yummy!

by nth Sun 03 Nov 2013, 1:25 am

formerly known as Sam wrote:It's Nick Kennedy and he's and embarrassment. I think a complaint is in order, talking rubbish and unbelievably bias.

He's no less bias than Healey is towards Tigers

by formerly known as Sam Sun 03 Nov 2013, 7:24 am

Seeing as Healey loves to point out where Tigers aren't as good as they used to be and where Cockers is going wrong (he and Cockers aren't pals) you are wrong. Kennedy was the most cringingly bad commentator I have ever heard. Not even the bias just some of the ramblings were dull and meaningless. The fact he spent a couple of minutes discussing how the WR crowd were wrong calling for the Quins defence to be pinged for being offside and how it was just line speed which they work on with blah blah blah only for them to concede a penalty summed him up entirely.

by BigTrevsbigmac Sun 03 Nov 2013, 8:13 am

Great win for Wasps. I couldn't make it so haven't seen the game only reports.
2 more tries for Wade & the second was pretty good apparently rounding SD to touch down & effectively win the game or us.
Talking of 'ex England' players;) Haskell put in a very good performance by all accounts.

Anybody go to the game?

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