Heineken Cup Quarter Finals

 
 

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Northampton Saints vs Ulster
Location - Franklin Gardens
Sunny Intervals, 14 Degrees, 9mph West South Westerly Winds

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Northampton Saints


1. Thomas Domingo
2. Dylan Hartley (c)
3. Carl Hayman
4. Joe Launchbury
5. Courtney Lawes
6. Manu Samoa
7. Sam Cane
8. Sergio Parisse
9. Joe Simpson
10. George Ford
11. Ben Foden
12. Wesley Fofana
13. Manu Tuilagi
14. Jordan Williams
15. Leigh Halfpenny (k)

16. Rob Webber 17. Sona Taumalolo 18. Henry Thomas 19. Jacques du Plessis 20. Billy Vunipola 21. Mike Phillips 22. Matt Giteau 23. Oliver Deveto. 


Tactics:
Home advantage key in European games, off the back of beating Tigers last week and unbeaten in Europe for over 18 months. Want to lay down a marker to the rest of the teams left in the HC. 

Play a physical, aggressive game that aims to put pressure on Ulster in both attack and defence. Aim to force mistakes, exploit turnovers and get our big ball carriers on the ball early on to work through the phases. 

Physical pack with big ball carriers to make the hard yards and get us on the front foot. Very good at the breakdown and will really focus here, look for turnovers and get the ball to our backs. Have the upper hand on Ulster in the pack and give Simpson a great platform.

Picked a team that can really dominate the lineout, Lawes, Launch, Parisse and Manoa will provide a great attacking platform, and will look to disrupt the Ulster lineout. 

Ford has been picked at no10 due to his passing game and we want to use Fofana and Tuilagi to target the Ulster midfield and hit us over the gainline and then get the ball out wide.

Three players in the backthree who can all play no15, due to our pack we expect Ulster to have to kick the ball and have Halfpenny, Foden and Williams who are secure under the highball and able to counter attack. 

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Ulster

01. Calum Black	09. Ruan Pienaar
02. Rory Best	10. Paddy Jackson
03. John Afoa
04. Johan Muller	11. Craig Gilroy
05. Dan Tuohy	12. Luke Marshall
06. Roger Wilson	13.  Darren Cave
07. Chris Henry	14. Andrew Trimble
08. Nick Williams	15. Jared Payne

16 Rob Herring 17 Tom Court 18 Ricky Lutton 19 Iain Henderson 20 Robbie Diack 21 David McIlwaine 22 Paul Marshall 23 Mike Allen

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Sale Sharks vs London Wasps
Location - AJ Bell Stadium
Light Cloud, 13 Degrees, 6mph West South Westerly Winds

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 Sale Sharks
Manager – SJE

01. Marcos Ayerza	09. Danny Care
02. David Paice	10. Johnny Sexton
03. Davit Zirakishvilli
04. Dave Attwood	11. Semesa Rokoduguni
05. Christian Day	12. Francois Steyn
06. Peter O'Mahony	13. George Pisi
07. Matt Kvesic	14. Simon Zebo
08. Louis Picamoles	15. Nick Abendanon

16. Jack McGrath 17. Tommy Taylor 18. Martin Moore 19. Iain Henderson 20. Matt Todd 21. Ben Spencer 22. James Hook 23. Will Addison

We will play a fast paced, high intensity offloading game using big carriers to get over the gainline and create space and quick ball for our halfbacks to use. Back three to get involved as much as possible.
 
- 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 Care and Sexton with space outside. 

- Get the wingers involved. Zebo and Rokoduguni to track the ball off their wings looking for the inside ball or offload to get in behind the opposition defence. 

- Break the defensive line behind TNW. TNW still struggles positionally at 13 and we will look to take advantage of this with the back three specifically running lines down his channel looking for offloads. Sexton also to look for the wrap around off Pisi. 

- 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. Care to sweep in behind to cover chips and grubbers.
 
- Up the tempo late on. Massive ball carriers, in McGrath, Moore and Henderson, to bring in to the fray and run Wasps ragged. Todd to target the turnover late on.

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London Wasps
Manager  Ozzy3213

01. Paul James	09. Aaron Smith
02. Rob Hawkins	10. Christian Lealiifano
03. David Wilson
04. Romain Millo-Chluski	11. Marland Yarde
05. Johann Muller	12. Pat McCabe
06. Luke Wallace	13. Tim Nanai-Williams
07. Steffon Armitage	14. Jack Nowell
08. Duane Vermeulen ©	15. Delon Armitage

16. Deon Fourie 17. Steven Kitshoff 18. Fraser Balmain 19. Matt Symons 20. Tom Johnson 21.Nick Phipps 22. Gareth Anscombe 23. Digby Ioane

Basic Game Plan
In dry conditions we will be looking to play a possession based (Super Rugby style) game, going through the phases and continually shifting the point of attack.  We are going for an all out attacking game at high intensity.  When we do use the boot we will be kicking for touch, and contesting the lineout.

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.  Smith will sweep in behind the defensive line to counter any chips/grubbers.

Specifics 

• Lineout.  On our ball we will mix things up, utilising all of a back 5 forwards.  We will at times go with a shortened line and use Steffon Armitage either on the crash ball off first phase or as a decoy in midfield.  We will use the driving maul from the lineout when close to the Saracens try line.  On their ball we will use Muller to track wherever we think the ball is going to.
  
• Breakdown.  When we carry in, we will flood the breakdown rucking well past the ball to free it up quickly and go again.  In defence, if we have made a passive tackle and the carrier has momentum we will not overcommit, but will maintain a strong defensive line.  If we win the collision and knock the carrier back we will look to get the second man in hard over the ball to turn it over.  Key for us is being selective.
  
• Attacking Play.  We will be looking to play a Super Rugby type offloading game, with the ball shifted on to the support runner just prior to the point of the tackle with the defender already committed.  Smith to look to snipe around the fringes and keep us going forwards all the time.
  

Key Points 

• Form.  We have it in game.  We have just gone top of the table and are gunning for this game.
  
• Strike Runners.  We have them across the backline and will play that type of game, constantly looking to get them through gaps in the defensive line.
  

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Leicester Tigers vs Leinster
Location - Welford Road
Sunny Intervals, 14 Degrees, 8mph West South Westerly Winds

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Leicester Tigers
Manager – LukeLovesLuka

01. Andrew Sheridan	09. Dwayne Peel
02. Chiliboy Ralepelle	10. Jonny Wilkinson (k)
03. Cencus Johnston
04. Pascal Pape (c)	11. Ugo Monye
05. Kearnan Myall	12. Billy Twelvetrees
06. Sean O'Brien	13. Dominic Waldouck
07. Jacques Burger	14. Sitivenu Sivavatu
08. Joe van Niekerk	15. Mike Brown

16. Harry Thacker 17. Benn Robinson 18. Dan Cole 19. James Horwill 20. Ryan Jones 21. Micky Young 22. Pat Lambie 23. Rene Ranger

Tactics:

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Leinster

01. Cian Healy	09. Eoin Reddan
02. Sean Cronin	10. Jimmy Gopperth
03. Martin Moore
04. Devin Toner	11. Luke Fitzgerald
05. Mike McCarthy	12. Gordan Darcy
06. Rhys Ruddock	13. Brian O'Driscoll
07. Shane Jennings	14. Dave Kearney
08. Jamie Heaslip	15. Rob Kearney

 
16 Richardt Strauss 17 Jack McGrath 18 Mike Ross 19 Leo Cullen 20 Jordi Murphy 21 Isaac Boss 22 Ian Madigan 23 Zane Kirchner

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Harlequins vs ASM Clermont Auvergne
Location - Twickenham Stoop
Sunny Intervals, 16 Degrees, 8mph West South Westerly Winds

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Harlequins
Manager – Steven_Sharks

01. Joe Marler	09. Greig Laidlaw
02. Rob Buchanan	10. Steven Myler (k)
03. Euan Murray
04. Pieter Steph Du Toit	11. Topsy Ojo
05. Steve Borthwick (c)	12. Jan Serfontein
06. Mamuka Gorgodze	13. Jonathan Joseph
07. Luke Braid	14. Frank Halai
08. Nick Easter	15. Rob Kearney

16. Tatafu Polata-Nau 17. Gjorji Jgenti 18. Kyle Sinckler 19. George Kruis 20. Jamie Gibson 21. Ruan Pienaar 22. Quade Cooper 23. Yoann Huget

Tactics

Strong carries off the forwards get use over the gain line and quick ball. Carrying of 9 and 10. When we get quick ball spread it wider into spaces for our back three to exploit. 

Look to target the Clermont half backs. 

Look for Laidlaw and Myler to play the percentages in our half and get us deep into Clermont territory. 

Target the Clermont Line with 5 good options to pressure Clermont.

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Clermont Auvergne

01. Thomas Domingo	09. Ludovic Radosavljevic
02. Benjamin Kayser	10. Mike Delany
03. Clement Ric
04. Jamie Cudmore	11. Napolioni Nalaga
05. Nathan Hines	12. Wesley Fofana
06. Gerhard Vosloo	13. Aurelien Rougerie
07. Alexandre Lapandry	14. Sitiveni Sivivatu
08. Fritz Lee	15. Lee Byrne

16 Ti'i Paulo 17 Raphael Chaume 18 Vincent Debaty 19 Julien Pierre 20 Damien Chouly 21 Morgan Parra 22 Benson Stanley 23 Jean-Marcelin Buttin

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Saints versus Ulster
Manager Dammit Chris

1. Thomas Domingo
2. Dylan Hartley (c)
3. Carl Hayman
4. Joe Launchbury
5. Courtney Lawes
6. Manu Samoa
7. Sam Cane
8. Sergio Parisse
9. Joe Simpson
10. George Ford
11. Ben Foden
12. Wesley Fofana
13. Manu Tuilagi
14. Jordan Williams
15. Leigh Halfpenny (k)

16. Rob Webber 17. Sona Taumalolo 18. Henry Thomas 19. Jacques du Plessis 20. Billy Vunipola 21. Mike Phillips 22. Matt Giteau 23. Oliver Deveto.

Ulster

01. Calum Black	09. Ruan Pienaar
02. Rory Best	10. Paddy Jackson
03. John Afoa
04. Johan Muller	11. Craig Gilroy
05. Dan Tuohy	12. Luke Marshall
06. Roger Wilson	13.  Darren Cave
07. Chris Henry	14. Andrew Trimble
08. Nick Williams	15. Jared Payne

16 Rob Herring 17 Tom Court 18 Ricky Lutton 19 Iain Henderson 20 Robbie Diack 21 David McIlwaine 22 Paul Marshall 23 Mike Allen

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Leinster

01. Cian Healy	09. Eoin Reddan
02. Sean Cronin	10. Jimmy Gopperth
03. Martin Moore
04. Devin Toner	11. Luke Fitzgerald
05. Mike McCarthy	12. Gordan Darcy
06. Rhys Ruddock	13. Brian O'Driscoll
07. Shane Jennings	14. Dave Kearney
08. Jamie Heaslip	15. Rob Kearney

 
16 Richardt Strauss 17 Jack McGrath 18 Mike Ross 19 Leo Cullen 20 Jordi Murphy 21 Isaac Boss 22 Ian Madigan 23 Zane Kirchner

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Clermount Auvergne

01. Thomas Domingo	09. Ludovic Radosavljevic
02. Benjamin Kayser	10. Mike Delany
03. Clement Ric
04. Jamie Cudmore	11. Napolioni Nalaga
05. Nathan Hines	12. Wesley Fofana
06. Gerhard Vosloo	13. Aurelien Rougerie
07. Alexandre Lapandry	14. Sitiveni Sivivatu
08. Fritz Lee	15. Lee Byrne

16 Ti'i Paulo 17 Raphael Chaume 18 Vincent Debaty 19 Julien Pierre 20 Damien Chouly 21 Morgan Parra 22 Benson Stanley 23 Jean-Marcelin Buttin

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Conditions:

Franklin Gardens: Sunny Intervals, 14 Degrees, 9mph West South Westerly Winds
AJ Bell Stadium: Light Cloud, 13 Degrees, 6mph West South Westerly Winds
Welford Road: Sunny Intervals, 14 Degrees, 8mph West South Westerly Winds
Twickenham Stoop: Sunny Intervals, 16 Degrees, 8mph West South Westerly Winds

Sale Sharks
Manager – SJE

01. Marcos Ayerza	09. Danny Care
02. David Paice	10. Johnny Sexton
03. Davit Zirakishvilli
04. Dave Attwood	11. Semesa Rokoduguni
05. Christian Day	12. Francois Steyn
06. Peter O'Mahony	13. George Pisi
07. Matt Kvesic	14. Simon Zebo
08. Louis Picamoles	15. Nick Abendanon

16. Jack McGrath 17. Tommy Taylor 18. Martin Moore 19. Iain Henderson 20. Matt Todd 21. Ben Spencer 22. James Hook 23. Will Addison

We will play a fast paced, high intensity offloading game using big carriers to get over the gainline and create space and quick ball for our halfbacks to use. Back three to get involved as much as possible.
 
- 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 Care and Sexton with space outside. 

- Get the wingers involved. Zebo and Rokoduguni to track the ball off their wings looking for the inside ball or offload to get in behind the opposition defence.

- Break the defensive line behind TNW. TNW still struggles positionally at 13 and we will look to take advantage of this with the back three specifically running lines down his channel looking for offloads. Sexton also to look for the wrap around off Pisi.

- 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. Care to sweep in behind to cover chips and grubbers.
 
- Up the tempo late on. Massive ball carriers, in McGrath, Moore and Henderson, to bring in to the fray and run Wasps ragged. Todd to target the turnover late on.

SJE are injuries starting now or from next week? Only very quickly glanced - think I have one or two players who might be on the list!

From now Chris!

Can't decide whether to go for it, or to throw it and concentrate on the league!

Mark

London Wasps
Manager  Ozzy3213

01. Paul James	09. Aaron Smith
02. Rob Hawkins	10. Christian Lealiifano
03. David Wilson
04. Romain Millo-Chluski	11. Marland Yarde
05. Johann Muller	12. Pat McCabe
06. Luke Wallace	13. Tim Nanai-Williams
07. Steffon Armitage	14. Jack Nowell
08. Duane Vermeulen ©	15. Delon Armitage

16. Deon Fourie 17. Steven Kitshoff 18. Fraser Balmain 19. Matt Symons 20. Tom Johnson 21.Nick Phipps 22. Gareth Anscombe 23. Digby Ioane

Basic Game Plan
In dry conditions we will be looking to play a possession based (Super Rugby style) game, going through the phases and continually shifting the point of attack.  We are going for an all out attacking game at high intensity.  When we do use the boot we will be kicking for touch, and contesting the lineout.

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.  Smith will sweep in behind the defensive line to counter any chips/grubbers.

Specifics

• Lineout.  On our ball we will mix things up, utilising all of a back 5 forwards.  We will at times go with a shortened line and use Steffon Armitage either on the crash ball off first phase or as a decoy in midfield.  We will use the driving maul from the lineout when close to the Saracens try line.  On their ball we will use Muller to track wherever we think the ball is going to.
  
• Breakdown.  When we carry in, we will flood the breakdown rucking well past the ball to free it up quickly and go again.  In defence, if we have made a passive tackle and the carrier has momentum we will not overcommit, but will maintain a strong defensive line.  If we win the collision and knock the carrier back we will look to get the second man in hard over the ball to turn it over.  Key for us is being selective.
  
• Attacking Play.  We will be looking to play a Super Rugby type offloading game, with the ball shifted on to the support runner just prior to the point of the tackle with the defender already committed.  Smith to look to snipe around the fringes and keep us going forwards all the time.
  

Key Points

• Form.  We have it in game.  We have just gone top of the table and are gunning for this game.
  
• Strike Runners.  We have them across the backline and will play that type of game, constantly looking to get them through gaps in the defensive line.
  

Harlequins
Manager – Steven_Sharks

01. Joe Marler	09. Greig Laidlaw
02. Rob Buchanan	10. Steven Myler (k)
03. Euan Murray
04. Pieter Steph Du Toit	11. Topsy Ojo
05. Steve Borthwick (c)	12. Jan Serfontein
06. Mamuka Gorgodze	13. Jonathan Joseph
07. Luke Braid	14. Frank Halai
08. Nick Easter	15. Rob Kearney

16. Tatafu Polata-Nau 17. Gjorji Jgenti 18. Kyle Sinckler 19. George Kruis 20. Jamie Gibson 21. Ruan Pienaar 22. Quade Cooper 23. Yoann Huget

Tactics

Strong carries off the forwards get use over the gain line and quick ball. Carrying of 9 and 10. When we get quick ball spread it wider into spaces for our back three to exploit.

Look to target the Clermont half backs.

Look for Laidlaw and Myler to play the percentages in our half and get us deep into Clermont territory.

Target the Clermont Line with 5 good options to pressure Clermont.

Leicester Tigers
Manager – LukeLovesLuka

01. Andrew Sheridan	09. Dwayne Peel
02. Chiliboy Ralepelle	10. Jonny Wilkinson (k)
03. Cencus Johnston
04. Pascal Pape (c)	11. Ugo Monye
05. Kearnan Myall	12. Billy Twelvetrees
06. Sean O'Brien	13. Dominic Waldouck
07. Jacques Burger	14. Sitivenu Sivavatu
08. Joe van Niekerk	15. Mike Brown

16. Harry Thacker 17. Benn Robinson 18. Dan Cole 19. James Horwill 20. Ryan Jones 21. Micky Young 22. Pat Lambie 23. Rene Ranger

Tactics:

TBC

Sorry for late tactics, thought I posted them last night but didn't press send!

Tactics:
Home advantage key in European games, off the back of beating Tigers last week and unbeaten in Europe for over 18 months. Want to lay down a marker to the rest of the teams left in the HC.

Play a physical, aggressive game that aims to put pressure on Ulster in both attack and defence. Aim to force mistakes, exploit turnovers and get our big ball carriers on the ball early on to work through the phases.

Physical pack with big ball carriers to make the hard yards and get us on the front foot. Very good at the breakdown and will really focus here, look for turnovers and get the ball to our backs. Have the upper hand on Ulster in the pack and give Simpson a great platform.

Picked a team that can really dominate the lineout, Lawes, Launch, Parisse and Manoa will provide a great attacking platform, and will look to disrupt the Ulster lineout.

Ford has been picked at no10 due to his passing game and we want to use Fofana and Tuilagi to target the Ulster midfield and hit us over the gainline and then get the ball out wide.

Three players in the backthree who can all play no15, due to our pack we expect Ulster to have to kick the ball and have Halfpenny, Foden and Williams who are secure under the highball and able to counter attack.

Saints 26-23 Ulster

Ulster will push Saints all the way here. Unconvinced with the Saints half back pairing and it could be an issue against the big sides. At home Saints are strong and they just sneak.

Sale 24-20 Wasps

Good pack battle with Sale getting an edge. Sale have a bit more quality scattered through backrow/halfback/centre and will grind a solid win with home advantage key in the HC.

Leicester 27-22 Leinster

Luckily for Luke he's at home as this would be a real tough encounter and I think Leinster would have snuck it. 8 & 13 standout as possible weaknesses but with Wilko on his swan song will sneak through by a score.

Harlequins 19-21 Clermont

Steve has drawn the short straw this week and faces a cracking Clermont side. Clermont will get on top in the pack and have a slight edge in the backs. It'll be a close one but just not enough from Quins, sorry Steve.

Saints 28-25 Ulster
Saints pack and back 3 win this game against a good Ulster side.

Sale 24-22 Wasps
Its a tough and close game but I feel that, at present, the Sale back 3 will give them the win.

Leicester 25-23 Leinster
Very tough game to call, the welford road crowd will influence this game and I feel that Tigers just nick it at half back for the win.

Harlequins 18-21 Clermont
Can see the Quins front row being put under all sorts of pressure e by Clermont here giving the away side good ball. Quins bring the game in the backs but again feel Clermont have more in the centre to take the win.

Northampton Saints 32 - 22 Ulster

Saints pack absolutely dominates play, and allows their back line and ford to dictate the pace of the game. At home as well this is a big win against a strong Ulster team.

Sale Sharks 30 - 27 London Wasps

Real close game, as it is hammer and tongs up front. For me the edge comes from the recent form of the halfbacks of the Sharks and allows them to edge the game in their favour. Wasps back three keep it close with their ability with ball in hand, but Sexton and Hook boot Sale through at home. 

Leicester Tigers 24 - 22 Leinster

Good battle up front as both sides get in their strides. Can see perhaps Tigers getting an upper hand in the line out, but about evens elsewhere. Again form in their halfbacks, and back line guides Tigers home against this strong outfit. 

Harlequins 25 - 26 Clermont Auvergne

Quins pressured in the scrum but get their own back a bit in the line out. About evens in the pack with the Quins pair at 9-10 controlling a little better. However the ASM back line is sharp and can hurt the Quins defence. Close game but there is just a bit more from Les Jaunuards to see out the game at the death.

Saints 34-23 Ulster

Saints better in every single position in the pack from 1-8.
Backrow battle so easy for saints that they will dominate all collisions and breakdown with Cane and Parisse a massive step up from Henry and Williams.


Saints halfbacks not great but the sheer armchair ride means they win easily.

Sale 29-28 wasps can't seperate up front will be a great battle. Sale win it due to form of halfbacks.
Not sure on lei leifano at 10

Leicester 26-24 Leinster halfbacks and home advantage sneaks the win against a strong opposition

Saints 28-22 Ulster
Ulster edge the backs but not playing to well. Saints pack with more quality and see them squeezing ulster out of the game.

Leicester 30-28 Leinster
Halfbacks of Tigers have more about them to pick up a narrow win at home.

Quins 20-23 Clermount
See the French pack winning out here and with a bit more in the backs they win away from home.

Saints 34 - 24 Ulster

Saints ahead in the tight with an awesome pack, then Ulster take HBs but Saints have an exciting if unorthodox attacking line and tactics and tehy have enough to win at home

Sale 28 - 25 Wasps

Sale have picked pretty much their best (I imagine, otherwise I'm scared) pack and will edge those battles, though the backrow is close and Wasps' forwards won't fold, just a bit more at the set piece for me. Care- Sexton lethal and can trouble LLF with a very in-form backline outside and enough to win at home

Tigers 27 - 25 Leinster

Tigers can just about hold off Leinster pack, and though Leinster edge some of the backs, players like Sivivatu and Brown in form see them through

Quins 26 - 28 Clermont

Quins take the backrow and Marler can put pressure on Ric but otherwise ASM win at the set piece comfortably. Fairly evens with neother side putting out their best HBs but despite a good backline from Quins, ASM have just too much outwide and edge it

Sale 19-17 Wasps
Will be a very close game, great forward battle but home advantage and SJE's 8, 9, 10 and 12 link up will give them the edge.

Leicester 24 - 21 Leinster
Home advantage the key again here and Wilko will see them through. Really abrasive pack that will get a good platform. Welford Road is the key factor for me.

Harlequins 28-29 Clermont
Really tough draw for Steve, Clermont have a very strong side and can see them getting more joy from the set piece. They have so much power in the backline. But then Quins bench really swings the game back and they will finish stronger. Just see Buchanan coming a little unstuck.

Sorry lads

RESULTS:

Northampton Saints 33 (T:4 C:2 P:3)
Ulster 23 (T:2 C:2 P:3)

Sale Sharks 29 (T:2 C:2 P:5)
London Wasps 23 (T:2 C:2 P:3)

Leicester Tigers 30 (T:4 C:2 P:2)
Leinster 24 (T:2 C:1 P:4)

Harlequins 23 (T:2 C:2 P:3)
Clermont Auvergne 28 (T:3 C:2 P:3)