Knockout Cup

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Knockout Cup Final
Crusaders vs Toulouse 
Location - AMI Stadium
Light Cloud, 17 degrees, 8mph South Westerly Winds

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Crusaders

01. Marcus Ayerza	09. Fourie Du Preez
02. Dylan Hartley	10. Dan Carter(k)
03. Davit Zirakashvili
04. Luke Romano	11. Zac Guildford
05. Sam Whitelock	12. Scott Williams
06. Chris Robshaw	13. Jonathan Davies
07. Richie McCaw (c)	14. Israel Folau
08. Kieran Read	15. Charles Piutau

16. Ben Funnell 17. Vincent Debaty 18. Owen Franks 19. Dominic Bird 20. Mamuka Gorgodze 21. Jonathan Pelissie 22. Beauden Barrett 23. Ryan Crotty

Set piece - Picked our strongest scrummaging props to really pile the pressure on the Toulouse scrum. Hartley to focus on Afoa's bind on Tolofua, not strike on their ball to prevent them getting quick ball. On our ball keep the ball in the scrum to win pens. In the lineout, use all our options, mark Albacete and Nyanga on their ball.

Breakdown - Flankers to work as a pair to neutralise the Toulouse flankers, Hooper can be smashed off the ball so first man there to focus on that then secure second. We had an advantage at the breakdown last week, now with the less physical Hooper in for Dusatoir, and Read starting we really want to go for turnovers in opposition territory. Front 5 to clear out strongly and give us quick ball.

Attack - Forwards to carry around the fringes, tie in the back row then try and get Gorgodze running at Ford and Lealifano's channel. JD2 to angle his runs at that channel, and Folau to come off his wing at Ford. Then go wider with Piutau challenging the youngster Fickou.

Defence- blitz defence on Picamoles, gang tackle him and smash him back. Employ a drift defence when the backs have the ball. Tie up Pienaar, hound him at the retreating scrum and don't let Ford get ball without someone in his face.

Kicking - FDP, Carter, JD2 and Piutau to get us into the right areas of the field, challenge May in the air with Folau, use grubber kicks to mix it up

Bench - international forwards off the bench, Gorgodze and Barrett to add real attacking class

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Toulouse

01. Guthro Steenkamp	09. Ruan Pienaar
02. Christopher Toloufua	10. George Ford
03. John Afoa
04. Yoann Maestri	11. Jonny May
05. Patricio Albacete (c)	12. Christian Lealifiano
06. Yannick Nyanga	13. Gael Fickou
07. Michael Hooper	14. Tommy Bowe
08. Louis Picamoles	15. Leigh Halfpenny (k)

16.Tom Youngs 17.Antonio Guillmon 18.Cencus Johnstone 19.Romain Millo Chulski 20.Thiery Dusitour 21.Jan Vermaak 22.Remi Tales 23.Maxime Medard

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Knockout Cup 3rd/4th Play-off
Natal Sharks vs ASM Clermont Auvergne
Location - Kings Park Stadium
Sunny, 30 degrees, 5mph East South Easterly Winds

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The Sharks
DoR: Ozzy3213

01. Cian Healy	09. Freddie Michalak
02. Stephen Moore	10. Quade Cooper
03. Lourens Adriaanse
04. Franco van der Merwe	11. Marland Yarde
05. Pieter-Steph du Toit	12. Jan Serfontein
06. Marcell Coetzee	13. Paul Jordaan
07. Billy Vunipola	14. JP Pietersen
08. Ryan Kankowski	15. Patric Lambie

16. Bismarck du Plessis 17. Tendai Mtawarira 18. Jannie du Plessis 19. Joe Launchbury 20. Sam Warburton 21. Charl McLeod 22. James O'Connor 23. George North

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ASMClermontAuvergne

Manager
= ChequeredJersey

01. Joe Marler	09. Morgan Parra (c)
02. Benjamin Kayser	10. Brock James (k)
03. Ben Tameifuina
04. Andries Bekker	11. Sitiveni Sivivatu
05. Ed Slater	12. Kyle Godwin
06. Schalk Burger	13. Regan King
07. Jacques Burger	14. Julien Malzieu
08. Samu Manoa	15. Jean-Marcellin Buttin

16. Wyatt Crockett 17. Corey Flynn 18. Frans Malherbe  19.  JMF Lobbe 20. Sam Cane 21.  Ludovic Radosavljevic  22. Aurelien Rougerie 23. Willie Le Roux

Tactics-

It's hot and sunny, perfect conditions to attack and wear down the opposition in a fast paced game. Our selection and approach reflect this. In the breakdown, we have a flanker pairing who excel here and will be looking to work in tandem get to the ball first and keep it as quick as possible, backed up by aggressive clearing out from our whole pack (who will also chip in on the floor). If the ball can be turned over, pile numbers in, otherwise keep numbers out for defence and attack. The flanks will also look to work hard at linkplay and popping up around the field as they will be chasing the ball in their breakdown role.

If ball is slow, earn fast ball through drives in units of forwards, moving the focus of attack from side to side and happy to maul on occasion. As soon as gaps appear around the fringes, send the back 3 or carriers down them and Parra can snipe if it's on, but when there is quick ball and no gap, spin it wide, attacking the line at 10 and 12 and moving the ball through the hands until a gap appears, then targetting it. Offloads and recycling the ball quickly and move the focus of attack with passes inside. The back 3 to run dummy/support lines and look for work off their wings.

Also with a great kicking axis, if the line defence is set but their is space behind the winger or the line, use a variety of kicks and look to regain possession from them behind the line. This also gives us great options for exits from our own half and 22, as Buttin and James have huge accurate boots, Godwin an excellent kicking game and Parra is Parra

Defence

Blitz led by King, The Burgers looking to pressurise the half-backs, Kayser sweeping, Parra covering breaks and Manoa and Slater leading the fringe defence. Play kicks by ear

Scrum

Actively seek to tire their pack and then take advantage of this at the scrum. Happy to use subs, and use backrow moves off the base. Target Adriansee with Marler

Lineout

Pressurise their middle throws and longer but give them the front, then prepare to defend the maul and rush the 9. Vary our targets and look to mostly use ball off the top for set pieces

Subs
Go 100% with the pack knowing we can make high quality subs. Le Roux adds impact, Manoa covers lock and bring Parra off early for a bit of a rest

Other 
Take easy points, but otherwise take quick taps and kick for the corners. Keep pace high and shorten breaks. Test back 3 with high balls if nothing is on. Target Cooper's defence with big runners and keep pressure on Michalak all match

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Marker will get team in tonight.

Will change depending on trades

ASMClermontAuvergne

Manager
= ChequeredJersey

01.  Joe Marler	09.  Morgan Parra (c)
02. Benjamin Kayser	10.    Brock James (k)
03. Ben Tameifuina
04.  Andries Bekker	11. Sitiveni Sivivatu
05.  Ed Slater	12. Kyle Godwin
06. Schalk Burger	13.   Regan King
07. Jacques Burger	14.  Julien Malzieu
08. Samu Manoa	15. Jean-Marcellin Buttin

16. Wyatt Crockett 17. Corey Flynn 18. Frans Malherbe  19.  JMF Lobbe 20. Sam Cane 21.  Ludovic Radosavljevic  22. Aurelien Rougerie 23. Willie Le Roux

Tactics-

It's hot and sunny, perfect conditions to attack and wear down the opposition in a fast paced game. Our selection and approach reflect this. In the breakdown, we have a flanker pairing who excel here and will be looking to work in tandem get to the ball first and keep it as quick as possible, backed up by aggressive clearing out from our whole pack (who will also chip in on the floor). If the ball can be turned over, pile numbers in, otherwise keep numbers out for defence and attack. The flanks will also look to work hard at linkplay and popping up around the field as they will be chasing the ball in their breakdown role.

If ball is slow, earn fast ball through drives in units of forwards, moving the focus of attack from side to side and happy to maul on occasion. As soon as gaps appear around the fringes, send the back 3 or carriers down them and Parra can snipe if it's on, but when there is quick ball and no gap, spin it wide, attacking the line at 10 and 12 and moving the ball through the hands until a gap appears, then targetting it. Offloads and recycling the ball quickly and move the focus of attack with passes inside. The back 3 to run dummy/support lines and look for work off their wings.

Also with a great kicking axis, if the line defence is set but their is space behind the winger or the line, use a variety of kicks and look to regain possession from them behind the line. This also gives us great options for exits from our own half and 22, as Buttin and James have huge accurate boots, Godwin an excellent kicking game and Parra is Parra

Defence

Blitz led by King, The Burgers looking to pressurise the half-backs, Kayser sweeping, Parra covering breaks and Manoa and Slater leading the fringe defence. Play kicks by ear

Scrum

Actively seek to tire their pack and then take advantage of this at the scrum. Happy to use subs, and use backrow moves off the base. Target Adriansee with Marler

Lineout

Pressurise their middle throws and longer but give them the front, then prepare to defend the maul and rush the 9. Vary our targets and look to mostly use ball off the top for set pieces

Subs
Go 100% with the pack knowing we can make high quality subs. Le Roux adds impact, Manoa covers lock and bring Parra off early for a bit of a rest

Other
Take easy points, but otherwise take quick taps and kick for the corners. Keep pace high and shorten breaks. Test back 3 with high balls if nothing is on. Target Cooper's defence with big runners and keep pressure on Michalak all match

Toulouse side for Knockout cup semi final.

1.Guthro Steenkamp
2.Christopher Toloufua
3.John Afoa
4.Yoaan Maestri
5.Patrico Albacete (c)
6.Yannick Nyanga
7.Michael Hooper
8.Louis Pickermoles

9.Ruan Pienaar (k)
10.George Ford
11.Jonny May
12.Christian Lealiifano
13.Gael Fickou
14.Tommy Bowe
15.Leigh Halfpenny (K)

16.Tom Youngs 17.Antonio Guillmon 18.Cencus Johnstone 19.Romain Millo Chulski 20.Thiery Dusitour 21.Jan Vermaak 22.Remi Tales 23.Maxime Medard

Its the final chap

What does the cup winner get? Just prestige or is there a financial reward too?

The Sharks make 12 changes to the starting line up for this weeks cup fixture against ASM Clermont Auvergne. Only Quade Cooper, Jan Serfontein and JP Pietersen remain from the side that dispatched the Stormers at the Shark Tank last week.

The Sharks
DoR: Ozzy3213

01. Cian Healy	09. Freddie Michalak
02. Stephen Moore	10. Quade Cooper
03. Lourens Adriaanse
04. Franco van der Merwe	11. Marland Yarde
05. Pieter-Steph du Toit	12. Jan Serfontein
06. Marcell Coetzee	13. Paul Jordaan
07. Billy Vunipola	14. JP Pietersen
08. Ryan Kankowski	15. Patric Lambie

16. Bismarck du Plessis 17. Tendai Mtawarira 18. Jannie du Plessis 19. Joe Launchbury 20. Sam Warburton 21. Charl McLeod 22. James O'Connor 23. George North

01. Marcus Ayerza	09. Fourie Du Preez
02. Dylan Hartley	10. Dan Carter(k)
03. Davit Zirakashvili
04. Luke Romano	11. Zac Guildford
05. Sam Whitelock	12. Scott Williams
06. Chris Robshaw	13. Jonathan Davies
07. Richie McCaw (c)	14. Israel Folau
08. Kieran Read	15. Charles Piutau

16. Ben Funnell 17. Vincent Debaty 18. Owen Franks 19. Dominic Bird 20. Mamuka Gorgodze 21. Jonathan Pelissie 22. Beauden Barrett 23. Ryan Crotty

Set piece - Picked our strongest scrummaging props to really pile the pressure on the Toulouse scrum. Hartley to focus on Afoa's bind on Tolofua, not strike on their ball to prevent them getting quick ball. On our ball keep the ball in the scrum to win pens. In the lineout, use all our options, mark Albacete and Nyanga on their ball.

Breakdown - Flankers to work as a pair to neutralise the Toulouse flankers, Hooper can be smashed off the ball so first man there to focus on that then secure second. We had an advantage at the breakdown last week, now with the less physical Hooper in for Dusatoir, and Read starting we really want to go for turnovers in opposition territory. Front 5 to clear out strongly and give us quick ball.

Attack - Forwards to carry around the fringes, tie in the back row then try and get Gorgodze running at Ford and Lealifano's channel. JD2 to angle his runs at that channel, and Folau to come off his wing at Ford. Then go wider with Piutau challenging the youngster Fickou.

Defence- blitz defence on Picamoles, gang tackle him and smash him back. Employ a drift defence when the backs have the ball. Tie up Pienaar, hound him at the retreating scrum and don't let Ford get ball without someone in his face.

Kicking - FDP, Carter, JD2 and Piutau to get us into the right areas of the field, challenge May in the air with Folau, use grubber kicks to mix it up

Bench - international forwards off the bench, Gorgodze and Barrett to add real attacking class

I assume predos are open, even though thread isn't fully updated?

Anyone predicting?

Yeah, I will, but the plate sides don't seem to be up...

My team has been up for ages, was wondering if the game is even going to happen to be honest

Prop said he was off on holiday, he left his team in the week 12 predos .. not sure about Fluxy and CF.

Will probably just predict on the other cup game for now, and see what happens with the plate

Anyone checked that Fluxy is ok?

Was online earlier so I assume he's fine!

Crusaders 27 vs 22 Toulouse

Scrum- advantage to great Crusaders unit
Lineout- pretty close as Hartley wasn't his best thsi weekend
breakdown- actually very good units here, but Read is the difference
carrying- good mix of loose and tight edges for Toulouse
HBs- more experience for Crusaders but Toulouse cope and compete here helped by LLF
Attack- Crusaders tactics take it
Defence- good tactics from Crusaders here too
Subs- evens
Overall- it's at home and with tactics, crusaders

Crusaders 28-24 Toulouse

Sharks 20-21 Clermont

Sharks 20 - 24 Clermont

Set piece - I think the only real advantage at the scrum is Marler vs Adriaanse, edge to ASM
Breakdown - I don't rate Coetzee very highly, and although Billy has played blindside for Sarries I think Sharks will struggle against the Burgers here, who are backed up by an excellent front 5
Carrying - About evens imo
Attack - HBs even, with one apiece, both backlines have some real danger, but tactics give this to ASM
Bench - Sharks

Even on the road, with tactics and some stronger play up front I give this to ASM

Crusaders 17  Toulouse 13
Crusaders will have real joy up front, with Hartley in particular a massive step up. A bit more from their lock pairing as well. Two incredible back row units, but form of Read and Robshaw wins it.

In the backs, FDP and Carter have all the nous and experience you would want in a big cup final. I'm not convinced that Pienaar/Ford is a combo that works well for both, as Ford likes quick ball, whilst Pienaar is more of a tactical master. Two cracking centre pairing, with the edge to Toulouse for the first time. Back three to Crusaders.

Like the targeted tactics from Crusaders and they win the key battles across the pitch

Sharks 19 Clermont 23
Healy the stand out in the front rows, but I don't know much about Adriaanse, so Marler gets a nudge on here. Awesome bench from Sharks, so maybe they will win pens in the second half (but who will kick them?) Can't seperate the lock pairings and not much in the throwing of either hooker. Some clear tactics on what to target for Clermont though.

Michalak Cooper has the ability to be amazing or catastrophic, so I would worry that Sharks are lacking reliability and pragmatic options, especially with a young centre pairing. Not much in the outside backs, but Sivi is a stand out for me, with Le Roux and North big bench options.

Clermont have put out a stronger team and have clear tactics on what they want to acheive, so despite a late onslaught from the Kiwis bench, the French side hold on.

Predos closed - results anyone?

RESULTS: Crusaders 26 - 20 Toulouse

Tries: Folau, Robshaw, Barrett // Fickou x2
C: Carter // Halfpenny x 2
P: Carter x 2, Barrett // Halfpenny x 2

Sorry, had an exam, doing this as procrastination before tomorrow's

Sharks 20 - 24 ASM
Tries: Jordaan, North // Manoa, Tameifuina, Buttin
C: Cooper x2 // Parra x 3
P: Lambie, O'Connor // James

 

What do I get for winning??

Not a great effort on predos this week chaps, considering its been 2 weeks

Full bonus - Bambam, CJ, Bathite
Scores - Prop

BamBam wrote:Not a great effort on predos this week chaps, considering its been 2 weeks

Full bonus - Bambam, CJ, Bathite
Scores - Prop

To be fair, I never know when predos are open or closed or when teams need to be in which makes it a bit difficult to commit to getting teams in and predicting. The game has just been allowed to drift which is a shame as it was really enjoyable when it was on track.

Fair, although it generally seems to be predos open sometime on Saturday/Sunday, closing 9am Wednesday

Lets try to keep it going, only a few games left this season. Need everyone to try and get teams and at the very least scores in.

Some haven't predicted for weeks and weeks