Season 6 Homepage II

First topic message reminder :

Breaking News: Falcons get back amongst the playoff contenders with a win over rivals Sale while the top two begin to draw away from the rest of the pack.
 

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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 (SJE) 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.

Wood best glos player today, rest of the pack didn't seem interested, felt cox and Evans brought foot go forward.

Cox looks okay in space but lacks physical presence. Took his try well though.

No Flood or Cips in EPS are the rumours:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/international/england/10550950/.html

"Concerns over Cipriani's defence and lateral running in attack cost him his place, "

His defence has improved but still poor to be fair

Etzebeth out for 6 month

http://www.espn.co.uk/super-rugby-2012/rugby/story/207515.html

Sgt_Pooly wrote:Etzebeth out for 6 month

http://www.espn.co.uk/super-rugby-2012/rugby/story/207515.html

You are a bit out of touch this happened 2 months ago.

Sgt_Pooly wrote:No Flood or Cips in EPS are the rumours:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/international/england/10550950/.html

"Concerns over Cipriani's defence and lateral running in attack cost him his place, "

His defence has improved but still poor to be fair

I have thought Myler should be in instead of flood for a while. Seems to have more bottle than flood in clutch situations.

To not put Cips in Saxons is poor. We are hardly awash with tens.

Personally I think Lancaster is a clown and a very poor England coach

Cips has too many flaws, looked decent in AP though.

1 month old the Etzebeth story, recycled on newnow for some reason.

That etzbeth injury was during AI's did not look at your link. It happened about 6-8 weeks ago.

Cips a different player this year. Seems to have ironed out his flaws. I think he is a confidence player and at the moment all seems well. Would never of advocated him a year ago.

With burns out of form in a big way think we need to have an option of a creative 10 in the EPS.

Cips may end up as a Charlie Hodgson type who cannot cut it at int level.

With the restrictions of EPS the squad make up is crucial so think it needs a creative element

It's his defence that's the issue. He's a cracking 10 in form but can be targeted and it affects his game.

Sale certainly bringing best out of him though

I must admit I still have lingering doubts re his defence. Have not
Seen him make a mistake in defence for sale when I have watched him this
Year. However memories of how poorly he defended in super 14 still stay with me.

Think Bath will do Leicester here. Ford starting well as is Watson.

England could really do with Bath doing well with their current EQ talent.

Literally just put the Tigers bath game on and Bath look bloody brilliant.

Would say Cips has shown he can cut it at international level, his debut against Ireland was best I've seen from an England no10, but then we all seem to look at when Johnson rushed him back in and base his international standard on that. This is the first year he has seemed to want to be a rugby player again and for an England backline that lacks so much creativity and doesn't offer our back three anything, it is a stupid call if Lancaster doesnt put him in the Saxons.

Though I think Ford is now showing enough to deserve a bench spot for us - just question marks over his place kicking, he's either 1000% or 0%.

Cips and Ireland game....is he still dining out on that?

Just shows he has got it.

I'd be tempted to play him, as our backline is so dire it needs something to spark it into life. Not like our pack wont get him a lot of front foot ball. And if it is based on form it is between him and Ford for the bench spot.

Watson has been impressing on the wing today, got to be him, May or Nowell on one wing.

Did you know neither Nowell or Watson have scored yet? England's lack of a finisher might not be solved by these.

It was nearly 6 years ago!

I'd prefer Ford on the bench to Cips, neither are good enough for England though imo.

Neither Nowell or Watson are wingers, their strike rate is awful.

This is a great game, bath v.impressive.

Potential eng side for 6n

1 Marler
2 Hartley
3 Cole
4 Launchbury
5 Lawes
6 Robshaw
7 Wood
8 Vunipola
9 Care
10 Farrell
11 Benjamin
12 Barritt
13 Joseph
14 May
15 Brown

16 Vunipola
17 Youngs
18 Wilson
19 Attwood
20 Morgan
21 Youngs
22 Ford
23 Goode

Twelvetrees, eastmond, garvey, burrell, watson id all like to be in the squad

Ford's been brilliant again today though - would need a Leigh Halfpenny style kicker though to play him as that part isn't ready yet.

Every other part of his game is very good though - I just think we need to get some creativity into our midfield as it sounds like we'll be going Farrell, twelvetrees and Burrell and that isn't going to worry any international team going forwards

Would say Nowell and Watson both total rugby players so equally able at wing or fb, but until England start putting wingers into space we arent going to score much out wide. Look at how many Ashton scores for Sarries, back to being form wing again.

If Billy plays 12 he could play.

Nowell & Watson barely have a try between them though, they're not finishers.

Yarde is nailed on, past that it's open.

Really hope we don't play a FB on the wing though

Think that combination would work very nicely.

Nice to see so many AP teams now giving younger players a chance, especially when you look in top 4 of the league now.

Ashton isnt form wing for me. Has scored a few but so has strettle. We need to try someone new. Benjamin has impressed me on every occasion this season

I'd like England to go

1. Marler
2. Hartley
3. Cole
4. Launchbury
5. Lawes
6. Wood
7. Robshaw
8. Vunipola
9. Care
10. Farrell
11. Watson
12. Burrell
13. Joseph
14. Ashton
15. Brown

16. Youngs
17. Mako
18. Wilson
19. Attwood
20. Morgan
21. Dickson
22. Ford
23. Twelvetrees

Benjamin's skills and rugby brain aren't up to it for me. Don't fancy him for England

Anthony Watson is heck of a finisher when I've seen him for under 20s and scored a lovely one today.

Ashton's had some very good games for Sarries - agree that we should try someone new, but I don't think Lancaster will start two new wings. Who are the current EPS wings?

Agree with Steven about Benjamin - would like to see May given a chance for England and a good pack. Considering he's been playing so well behind an abysmal pack (sorry Mat/Prop). The 10/12 combo is still the problem though.

Gibson has had a cracking game today.

Watson has one try in 16 games

Ford was MoM by a mile for me. Louw was class, Gibson was decent as was JJ.

Ben Youngs was anonymous. Thought Flood has a decent game at 12 though. Maybe an option for Lancaster.

I'd like to see May get a shot, he just seems to have an injury every time England play.

For me watson a massively exciting talent. When he gets the
Ball you sit up.

He is massively inexperienced and all over the place defensively and positionally yet improves game on game. He is
19/20 and has world at his feet. Massive fan.


36 has all talent in world and could make 12 spot
His
Own. However his 1 on 1
Tackling is awful and he has a weak shoulder. All teams target it. Would not surprise
Me if he has an op. Something not right.

Burrell is a world away defensively. Misses so
Many tackles. Read an interview with him where he talked of how he needs to




May is a cert he has
Now added a great kick chase and jump. He has
Robbed ball off lots of big wingers. It's
A skill needed today.


Ford needs to be back up 10 he is slick.

The way Lancaster wants to play suits wiggles at 9. He has the best kicking game around and tidy service.

Youngs is dire these days and needs to be left out to find his form. His step before pass is killing him.

I would start wiggles if Lancaster is in charge. Lancaster dreadful but needs to pick players for his game plan so in that case backline should be
9 wiggles 10 Farrell 11 Ashton 12 barrit 13 Tomkins 14 strettle 15 brown.


I would pick a much different line up but I think that's what Lancaster will go for

I'll bet £100 that will not be backline.

Hope May can cope defensively, he's really poor at AP level. Great attacking though

I agree pooly that will not be the backline but the way Lancaster wants to
Play I think it suits it best.


May is defensively great. Bt focussed on it the other day. He is small so will occasionally get bumped but positionally and tackling he is great. Having played so many positions helps. Kicks ok as well

Oshea was saying how good Charlie walker is defensively yet he got humiliated by north. As many times as north will run through him he will do someone with footwork. Oshea pointed out week before walker did Exeter wing all ends up 1 on1 for a try and how only he would have scored it.

You will always have big wings who score Through power. But those big wings will
Always struggle if stood up by nippy footwork pacy wingers.
Problem with north is he is big quick and for a big man good on turn. He is full package. North' kicking is poor so like all big men is susceptible to kick in behind.

Walker still raw, gets shown up a fair bit.

May should be improving but he's still poor defensively. Be interesting to see how he goes Internationally if he gets the chance.

Walker raw as he is 19. Generally good defensively and even when North ran through him was In position. Having played FB means he reads the game.
O Shea thinks he is a 13 when developed. All England u 20 coaches think he will be 15.

Very big tackler which worries me with his size.

Interesting to see how others view may's defence. I agree with Healy how he is faultless position wise and will only miss tackles if
Size happens. I e he will miss a few on massive guys as all small people will do

Walker is 21 not 19. He's poor defensively but he'll get better.

Not sure May ever will, he just switches off. Needs testing out though.

Always seen Walker as pretty good in defence, got made to look an absolute mug by North, but he's done that to players far better than Walker before. North has to be best wing in world rugby, an amazing player.

Walker looks a good prospect - sure he came through the youth ranks at Quins as a 13, and getting experience in back three in the step up to fully pro rugby. Is it Kilbridge or someone at Falcons that you have Pooly? He's meant to be good, but doesnt seem to get as much game time at the moment.

I'd say May is good defensively too - guess with him though he's always going to be having to make more tackles playing for Gloucester while you have that pack. Last year he looked out of sorts, but would have him start for England as definitely a player with that something special - Daly was great again today, he has to be in England EPS, got a kick from 55/60 metres again.

I just don't rate May defensively at all, he's a revolving door.

Daly's problem is he's a 15 and he's got Brown ahead of him

Walker is 21 you are right I was living in past when I saw him. Far from poor defensively I agree with this http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/club/10548007/Harlequins-Charlie-Walker-makes-up-lost-ground-on-Northamptons-George-North.html

It's like the nonsense I have seen a few on here say about kuridrani being poor defensively. Horan greenwood and Healy said he is the rock and best destructive defending 13 in world.

Greenwood said he is discovery of the year. For me pitua is discovery of year. Everyone thought kuridrani would be a world beater but most aucklanders thought pitua would never make it defensively. Pitua looks great defensively on wing and mint attack wise

Kuridrani is awful positionally. He can make bit hits but goes walk about far too much.

Defence is more than big hits.

Daly is only playing 15 as we have no one else to play but loads of centres - he's a 13, but has played 9, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 for us this season. He's been our best player this season, would want him for England as a bench option as can cover pretty much anywhere now.

I think he's a 15, he's too small for centre

Amazing how big players get these days. May is stacked these days and strettle yesterday was surprisingly wide.


We are now seeing clubs sending players away to bulk before appearing in prem. Glos about to sign Bedford 12. Apparently he is the real deal

Mark Atkinson. He was the year above me at Cheshire age groups and was spoken of very highly. 6 foot 5 but very very skilful. Be a great signing.

He's a great ball playing 12, shone against us in Champ. The Rotherham 12 is really good too, some argie

Steve he is signed. My dad Is a very small part of a group trying to buy glos. Walkinshaw had agreed to sell a year ago but now will not.

There is a lot of talent in the Championship , have to grow a lot of there own as can't keep up with money is AP.

Roth have a lot of quality. JP Socino at 12, Laurence Pearce at 8, Charlie Mulchrone at 9 and Tom Cruse at hook. All will be at prem clubs next season.

I'd like to see him given a shot, he's bagged at every level.