Aviva Premiership Round Nineteen

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Sale Sharks vs Harlequins
Location - AJ Bell Stadium
Light Cloud, 11 Degrees, 12mph Westerly Winds

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 Sale Sharks
Manager – SJE

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

16. Ross Harrison 17. David Paice 18. Luc Ducalcon 19. Christian Day 20. Matt Kvesic 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. Four 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 & Sexton with space outside. 

- Look to mix up play. Sexton will look to dictate the game playing flat on the gainline, committing the defence before bringing the big carriers in to play. However Care provides a threat snipping around the fringes and can change the tempo of the game instantly. 

- Target the Quins blitz. Use intelligent grubbers and chips from the 10-12-13 channel (all capable!) to take advantage of no sweeper on the Quins blitz and get in behind the defence.  

- 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. 

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

- Counter the Quins kicking game with our wingers sitting deep when defending in the Quins half to prevent kicks in behind. They will look to run the ball back with interest.

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Harlequins
Manager – Steven_Sharks

01. Joe Marler	09. Ruan Pienaar (k)
02. Schalk Brits	10. Quade Cooper
03. Gjorgi Jgenti
04. George Kruis	11. Joe Tomane
05. Steve Borthwick (c)	12. Jamie Roberts
06. Mamuka Gorgodze	13. Aurelien Rougerie
07. Luke Braid	14. Yoann Huget
08. Nick Easter	15. Rob Kearney

16. Rob Buchanan 17. Euan Murray 18. Kyle Sinckler 19. Pieter Steph Du Toit 20. Jamie Gibson 21. Karl Dickson 22. Steven Myler 23. Jonathan Joseph

Tactics

Game Plan

In our own half look to kick the ball into space and test Rokoduguni's and Abendanon's positioning and ability under the high ball. Look to Use Pienaar and Cooper to put the ball into spaces and Tomane and Huget to lead the chase. If the space is there put the ball into touch so we can use Borthwick, Kruis, Gorgodze, Braid and Easter to really pressurise the Sale lineout looking to mark O'Mahony and Douglas.

In the Sale half we will look to get our forwards carrying the ball at pace and in numbers off 9 and 10. Once we get over the gain line and have tied in Sale defenders we will look to get the ball into space where our backs can take advantage. Cooper will stand flat and put Roberts and Rougerie into spaces.

Set piece

Look to get low at the scrum and work as an eight against Sale. With two very strong techinical props we will look to get the nudge on and look to target the Sale 3.

At the lineout look to shorten the line on our ball between the 22m lines so as to provide more carrying options in the midfield. On the Sale ball look to put pressure on every throw with Borthwick marking POM. Really look to put pressure on Kayser's throw. 

Defence

Employ a quick line speed with extra pressure being put on Care and Sexton. We shut them down and we control the game. Especially tight around the fringes to cut off Care's options. Look to get Braid to the breakdown early to slow down the ball legally.

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Gloucester Rugby vs Bath Rugby
Location - Kingsholm Stadium
Light Cloud, 13 Degrees, 9mph North Westerly Winds

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Gloucester

01. Guthro Steenkamp	09. Connor Murray
02. Jamie George	10. Dan Carter
03. Juan Figallo
04. Eben Etzebeth	11. Jonny May
05. George Robson	12. Ryan Mills
06. Willem Alberts	13. Tevita Kurindrani
07. Akapusi Qera	14. Israel Folau
08. Jamie Heaslip	15. Israel Dagg

16 Nick Wood, 17 Joe Grey, 18 Coenie Ousthuizen, 19 Elliott Stooke, 20 Tom Croft, 21 Dan Robson, 22 Danny Cipriani, 22 Hosea Gear

Sorry for the lack of formatting been in London for interviews most of week and on phone only

Glos tactics

We welcome bath to Kingsholm for the derby match. Weather has been great of late and the fast pitches are emerging for the run in which suits expansive rugby.


Tactics

Set piece 

Scrum: we have a big front 5 with heaps of technical ability and will be using the scrum on our ball to launch attacks. There will not be that many scrums but on our ball we will be looking to get on the front foot between our 22 and their 10 metre we will look to pick up and
Get on the front foot to launch our big ball carriers to get that front foot ball needed to play open rugby. On their ball we will try and disrupt

Lineout

We have 5 jumpers and see the lineout as a great source of attacking ball. We will be mixing drive and off the top and will challenge their ball unless in our 22 where only 2 jumper will be put up. When we are driving the lineout we will be looking to move the ball away whilst the maul is moving. This can be either to one of our big forward runners or straight to carter 

General forwards

We have picked a pack of ball carriers and see ourselves as having more options to carry than bath. We want to carry relentlessly and get over the gainline and either offload or create quick ball for Murray to move. We have backs to score lots of tries and we want to give them ball to attack,

Breakdown wise we will send numbers in if we
Can turn it
Over and look to counter ruck

Backs 

We are aiming to really play at tempo and stretch bath outwide.
We want to create one on ones and mismatches for folau, Dagg, May and co to exploit.

Murray is in fine form and will keep there backrow honest but his prime job is to hit carter so carter can take the options. We will play a
Mixed game and kick where necessary.
But when in the right area or when we spot a gap we will go for it.

We will use the cross kick for folau and will look to up the pace as the game goes on.


With a back 3
Like ours we will look to counter attack any loose kicks from bath. We will also utilise quick throw ins and quick taps as the game progresses


Bench will be used as needed but expect the likes of gear croft etc to feature as the game breaks up and becomes looser.

We will look to selectively blitz in defence. In conditions like this if you blitz all the time the grubber and chip are easy to utilise so it will be used sparingly. However we will be looking for very quick line speed. As ever Murray will sweep.

All goals in range to be attempted.
We want to build the score to allow us to really open up.

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Bath Rugby
Manager – inthefastlane

01. Cian Healy	09. Fourie Du Preez
02. Richard Hibbard	10. Paddy Jackson
03. James Slipper
04. Graham Kitchener	11. Alex Cuthbert
05. Sam Whitelock	12. Sam Hill
06. Dan Lydiate	13. Matheiu Basteraund
07. Chris Robshaw	14. Rob Miller
08. JMF Lobbe	15. Stuart Hogg

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16. Mikey Haywood 17. Carl Rimmer 18. Jake Cooper Woolley 19. Luke Romano 20. James Haskell 21. Richard Wigglesworth 22. Matt Hopper 23. Nopolini Nalaga


Overall: Look to play flowing rugby with Jackson pulling the strings. We have a mobile, dynamic pack and will be hoping for a set-piece and open play advantage. 

Scrum: Set the scrum quickly and try to exert pressure on the Gloucester scrum. If we enjoy early success here we will relentlessly attack. Lobbe to control at 8

Lineout: Whitelock to call with Lobbe and Robshaw as jumpers and Kitchener as a banker ball option. Look to get up into the air quickly and down for a quick maul. Target George's lineouts 

Breakdown: Not looking to be over committed at the breakdown but if a turnover is possible then be aggressive. Robshaw will be supported by the pack at breakdown.

Defence: Banana Blitz Defence looking to slow down the ball and put pressure on Mills. FDP to sweep in behind.

Our half backs will control our rugby. FDP and Jackson can play what they see and put the rest of the back line in strong positions. We have strong runners who can get over the gainline throughout the side with a very dynamic pack and a big back line. Look to hit the defence hard and recycle quickly tying in Glos defender to attack out wide. Hill, Cuthbert and Bast are huge on-form backs and can exploit situations in which they are allowed to run at defenders especially May.

Kicking: Hodgson, Miller and Hogg all have big boots and will look to incorporate their kicking if successful. They will look deep into corners where we can put pressure on a poor Glos line out. They will also look to target May under the high ball. 

Substitutes: Our subs will look to keep a high tempo.  

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Leicester Tigers vs London Wasps
Location - AJ Bell Stadium
Light Cloud, 12 Degrees, 10mph North 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	11. Rene Ranger
05. James Horwill (c)	12. Billy Twelvetrees
06. Sean O'Brien	13. Brian O'Driscoll
07. Jacques Burger	14. Sitivenu Sivavatu
08. Ryan Jones	15. Mike Brown

16. Harry Thacker 17. Benn Robinson 18. Dan Cole 19. Kearnan Myall 20. James Scaysbrook 21. Micky Young 22. Pat Lambie 23. Ugo Monye

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.

- Target Camille all game with SOB and Burger breathing down his neck at every opportunity. Big runners through his channel - looking to win the Wilko vs Camille contest.

- Attack at all scrums with our huge pack - Ralapelle to look to really get into Fourie, with two huge props backed up by Pape and Horwill. An area we will look to target if winning.

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

- Put serious pressure on Fourie's throws with Pape at the front on all Wasps' throws.

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

- Gigantic pack made up of massive line-breakers, used in the tight to tire down the Wasps defence. The likes of SOB, Pape, Burger, Jones and Horwill to be used to target the Wasps 10/12 channel.

- In attacking play, we will look to get runners attacking the gain line looking for gaps. We do want to control the game, mixing up the point of our attack and looking for where the gaps are.

- In attacking play, we will play with the option of 2 first receivers in Wilko and Twelvetrees. We want to control the game, mixing up the point of our attack. 

- 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. Peel to sweep behind with an eye on short kicks.

- Wilkinson to kick all penalties.

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London Wasps
Manager  Ozzy3213

01. Paul James	09. Aaron Smith
02. Deon Fourie	10. Camille Lopez
03. David Wilson
04. Romain Millo-Chluski	11. Marland Yarde
05. Johann Muller (c)	12. Christian Lealiifano
06. Tom Johnson	13. Tim Nanai-Williams
07. Luke Wallace	14. Jack Nowell
08. Steffon Armitage	15. Delon Armitage

16. Rob Hawkins 17. Alex Corbisiero 18. Ben Alexander 19. Matt Symons 20. Siya Kolisi 21.Nick Phipps 22. Gareth Anscombe 23. Jaco Taute

Basic Game Plan
In dry conditions we will be looking to play a possession based game, going through the phases and continually shifting the point of attack.  We will play sensibly in our own half though, and will use the boots of Lopez, Lealiifano and Armitage if it is not on to run the ball.  When using the boot we will not be kicking for touch, but will be looking to keep the ball in play in behind the wingers, and ensuring that our kick chase is good and isolates their 11 and 14.

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 Tigers try line
  
• 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.
  

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Saracens vs Northampton Saints
Location - Allianz Park
Light Cloud, 12 Degrees, 9mph North Westerly Winds

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Saracens
Manager – Pooly
 

01. Alex Waller	09. Nick White
02. Keven Mealamu	10. Morne Steyn
03. Jannie du Plessis
04. Louis Deacon	11. Miles Benjamin
05. Flip van der Merwe	12. Ryan Crotty
06. Dave Denton	13. Jonathan Davies
07. Chris Henry	14. Adam Thompstone
08. Toby Faletau	15. Luke Fitzgerald

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16. Geoge McGuigan 17. Max Lahiff 18. Rabah Slimani 19. Dom Barrow 20. Carl Fearns 21. Henry Taylor 22. Tom Taylor 23. George Lowe
 
Tactics:

TARGET SCRUM - Work on the height difference between the 2 Saints props (5'8" & 6'4"). Look to hold the scrum and then apply the pressure. It's been proven that it's extremely tiring on the front row when there's large height differences between the props.

TARGET BEHIND WINGS & WING DEFENCE - With strong kicking options at 9/13 we'll look to use this to our advantage and kick in behind the Saints wingers, making them turn. We'll also look to get big runners down the blindside and test out their defence.

TARGET LINE OUT - Look to target lack of options in the Saints team by jumping and contesting early on. Look to get at Bonnaire and narrow Webber's options (Webber one of worst success rates in AP).

HUGE CARRYING OPTIONS - Loads of big carrying options to get us over the gain line and allow the backs to get into the game. Look to get options up at 1st and 2nd reciever at pace to draw in defence. Faletau/Denton/FvdM/Mealamu give us great options and varied carriers.

TARGET SIMPSON & DALY DEFENCE - Get big runners down 9 & 13 channels and test defence. Daly out of position could be cause issues for Saints and similar with Simpson who's having a poor season. Look to target Simpsons basics and apply pressure throughout. Saints 9/10 combo can be got at. Saints also lack a top class kicker so look to get ahead on score board.

General - We've selected a team packed with power and physicality and will look to dominate the contact and get over the gain line. We'll be playing a high tempo physical game from the off, look to smash the opposition back and get into the rucks/maul's and drive through. We'll look to tie the opposition in and then get at their backline, more so in the their half. Look to keep it tight in the forward pack and grind through work.

Scrum - Look to get a platform from the off with a strong scrummaging unit. Strong front 5 with big locks will look for the big push once the ball is in and drive the opposition back. Our LH and Hooker will look to target TH and try to get between him and Hooker to allow TH to work on LH If no weakness seen will use as restart.

Line out - Target all game. Look to mix it up on own throw and use the rolling maul to good effect. Our big pack should have a lot of joy here and will tie in the opposition defence. We'll look to contest on opp throw especially when sub get on the pitch as we feel we can really pressure him. Flip will look mastermind taking the opposition throw apart throughout the game.

Defence - High intensity and big hits, looking to drive past the ball player. Huge physical pack that can look to dominate the collision and breakdown allowing Henry/Mealamu etc a chance to slow down/steal ball. Scrum half to sweep behind the defensive line.

Attack - Keep things simple in our own half then look to unleash backs in opp territory. Scrum half to inject pace from the breakdown and have JD on his shoulder. Huge carrying backrow to get us over the gain line after front 5 set a platform.

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Northampton Saints 

01. Thomas Domingo	09. Joe Simpson
02. Rob Webber	10. Matt Giteau
03. Carl Hayman
04. Joe Launchberry	11. Noa Nakaitaci
05. Manoa Samoa	12. Wesley Fofana
06. Julien Bonnaire	13. Elliott Daly
07. Sam Cane	14. Jordan Williams
08. Billy Vunipola	15. Ben Foden

Subs: 16. Dylan Hartley 17. Sona Taumalolo 18. Henry Thomas 19. Courtney Lawes 20. CJ Stander 21. George Ford 22. Manu Tuilagi 23. Mike Phillips

Tactics: Weather conditions are perfect for attacking rugby and we will play with a real attacking emphasis with Saracens really only able to play one way with Steyn at no10. Will play our usual aggressive and physical style, but believe we have an advantage in terms of mobility and creativity in both the pack and try scorers all over the park. 

We will play the game at a high tempo, looking for our big ball carriers in both the packs and backs to power over the gainline, an offloading game to get us into positions where we really test the Sarries defence. BIG emphasis on unloading our bench where we feel we have some fantastic options and can get a big advantage over Saracens.  

Setpiece: With Bonnaire leading the line and Launchbury and Manoa as jumpers we have some very good options to generate quick lineout ball to launch our attack from. Will aim to disrupt Saracens ball and put pressure on White. Domingo and Hayman have been our props for 4 seasons now and a great scrummaging unit, will launch Vunipola off the back of the scrum to get us over the gainline at every opportunity. Will target Falcons here, especially the latter part of the game where we bring our bench on. 

Ball carrying/Win Collisions: Have players in the pack and backline who can get us over the gainline and punch holes in the Saracens defence. We have a very mobile pack to secure quick ball and get our backline on the front foot. With Hartley, Thomas, Taumalolo, Lawes and Stander off the bench we hare going to finish very strongly in this area. 

Attack: Mobile pack to beat Saracens to the ball and make the game very high tempo and mover the ball around the park. By opening the game up we will score more tries than Saracens. Daly has been playing at 13 for Wasps and we will look to get him attacking Davies on the outside shoulder and use his pace as a potent weapon - we will look to use Giteau and Fofana to tie up the Sarries midfield to create these opportunities for Daly. Want to give Williams one-on-ones and get him into the game and into space. 

Breakdown: Again an area we will target, Launch and Manoa are like two extra flankers on the field and Cane will be targeting key turnover ball. Whenever there is a chance of a turnover we will throw men in. Have Webber and Vunipola who will be able to clear out rucks. 

Defence: Aggressive blitz defence with fast line speed, big hitters and aim to force handling errors and mistakes. SImpson is one of the best defensive sweeping no9s (he gets enough practice with Wasps) so will look to cover any breaks. 

Territory: We have good kicking options with Simpson's box kick, Giteau and Daly's howitzer of a left boot, will look to test out Fitzgerald positionally, but are very happy to counter attack ourselves and stretch the Sarries defence. 

Key points:
Form of key players at the business end of the season and full of confidence after beating Tigers and Ulster in successive weeks. 

Will look to really hammer Saracens in the final 30 minutes with our bench, all impact players and this will have a huge bearing on the game. Want a big finish in the game. 

Saracens game more suited to wet conditions and relying on the boot of Steyn could be very costly when there are tries there for the taking, we've picked an attacking team with a backline that can score from anywhere on the field. Feel our team is capable of outscoring Sarries. 

Very strong setpiece away from home and this will get stronger as we bring on our bench. 

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Worcester Warriors vs Exeter Chiefs
Location - Sixways Stadium
Light Cloud, 13 Degrees, 9mph North Westerly Winds

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Worcester Warriors
Manager-CJ

01.  Nathan Catt	09. Dimitri Yachvilli (k)
02.  Dave Ward	10. Francois Trinh-Duc
03. BJ Botha
04. George Skivington	11. Willie Le Roux
05. Alun Wynn-Jones (c)	12. Anthony Allen
06.  Alexandre Lapandry	13. Nick Tompkins
07. Ross Rennie	14. Mark Cueto
08. Tom Guest	15. Chris Pennell

16.  Samson Lee 17. Matthew Rees 18.  Brett Sturgess 19. Mouritz Botha 20.  John Barclay 21.Tawera Kerr-Barlow  22. Kyle Godwin 23. Clement Poitrenaud

Tactics 

Breakdown- use Ward and Rennie, assisted by Lapandry, as fetchers chasing the ball to boss the breakdown. Rest of pack clearing but only commit large numbers if turnover is on.

Attack- pack is very mobile so look to get them in the backline and making series of pick and drives in varying directions to tire opponents. 

Use a running game off quick ball with FTH playing flat and using Allen as a spearhead. Use inside passes to the back 3 and pack, and offloads to the linkmen Ward and Rennie to create space for Tompkins and the rest of the back 3 in support to take advantage over. Keep ball and opponents moving. 

Yachvilli to play territory with ball in unfavourable positions on the pitch, fast back 3 chasing every ball

Back 3 are all class fullbacks, look to link up running back kicks and kick into space and pressurise their back 3


Defence- blitz led by Allen, Yachvilli sweeping, fringe led by AWJ and the fetchers cover tackling

Lineout- lots of options so vary them and look for moves and quick ball off the top. Give them the front and defend maul and pressurise any longer throws with AWJ and Skivington

Scrum- look to run Guest off attacking ball

Kicking- chase all kicks, take easy kicks at goal

Subs- good pack subs so look to use. Can change style of play with TKB, Godwin and Poitrenaud

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Exeter Chiefs 

Manager – Fluxy

01. Tendai "Beast" Mtawarira	09. Hadyn Thomas
02. Sean Cronin	10. Toby Flood (k)
03. Matt Stevens
04. Brad Thorn	11. Tom Varndell
05. Geoff Parling (c)	12. Scott Williams
06. Liam Messam	13. Marcelo Bosch
07. Will Fraser	14. Andrew Trimble
08. Johnnie Beattie	15. Matt Tait

16. Jack Yeandle 17. Richard Barrington 18. Logovii Mulipola 19. Patricio Albacete 20. Nick Williams 21. Bryn Hall 22. Freddie Burns 23. Zac Guildford

Key Points

• Target the Scrum - Catt isn't the greatest scrummager and won't want to be doing it all day. Look to get a platform from the off with a strong scrummaging unit. Get both the LH and Hooker to target Botha and try to get between him and Ward to allow Stevens to work on Catt. Use the scrummaging advantage against the Warriors second row, to get a nudge on.
  
• Target the Line out – Great lineout leader in Parling along with top operators like Messam and Thorn to mix the movement up. Look to turn the screw in the line out and put pressure on the Ward throw, and man mark skivington and AWJ in the line out.
  
• Target the defensive frailty in 10-13 channels -Look to target the lack of size and tackling ability in the Warriors 10-13 channel. Look to use blitz defence to cut down the options of Trinh Duc and momentum of Allen.
  
• Flood the Breakdown– With the physicality in our backrow, front five and centres we will look to just blow out any ruck to create quick ball. Even in defence in we can target one or two rucks where there are no men and clean through past the ball they won't cope. Similar with the first man in the ruck to drive through and clear any on coming opposition players to create clean quick ball.
  
• Carrying options - Loads of big carrying options to get us over the gain line and allow the backs to get into the game. Look to get options outside the ten mostly or outside 12 to target the defensive line outside their guards where the line is weakest.
  

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London Irish vs Newcastle Falcons
Location - Madjeski Stadium
Light Cloud, 13 Degrees, 10mph North North Westerly Winds

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London Irish

01. Ben Franks	09. Rory Kockott (k)
02. Marc Jones	10. Nick Evans
03. Adam Jones
04. Stuart Hooper (c)	11. Nick Cummins
05. Nick Kennedy	12. Luke McAlister
06. Matt Garvey	13. Conrad Smith
07. Justin Tipuric	14. JP Pieterson
08. Scott Higginbotham	15. Rob Cook

;-
16. Tom Lindsay 17. Will Collier 18. Tom Court 19. Thierry Dusatoir 20. Ben Morgan 21. Lee  Dickson 22. Shane Geraghty 23. JSD

Tactics:
Having just beaten Falcons to make it into the Amlin Semi Finals we come into this game full of confidence and looking for the win to secure our league status.

SET PIECE
We have picked a mobile pack in good conditions and Hooper and Higginbotham will provide grunt. We have four lineout jumpers and will keep it simple today, we will jack 2 up in their half on opposition ball.

BREAKDOWN
looking to control our BREAKDOWN and give Kockott time on the ball. Tipuric and Garvey will only compete if available but we will aim to fan out. In attack we will look for quick ball and play a pod system with the forwards taking on tight ball for a couple of phases then out wide.

HALF BACKS
Controlled ball with good tactical players looking to use the conditions to their advantage, they will start with a tight game for THREE phases then spread. If it's not on we will look to pin them back with kicks to touch.

ATTACK
Evans will stand flat giving McAlister good ball to run onto and look for the offloads. Controlled with strong runners and will look for simple passes and our back three cutting back on inside shoulder at times, our pack will give options off of 10 and 12 to get over the gainline. We will look to use our strong carriers to get us over the gainline and recycle quick ball.

DEFENCE
Controlled and hard hitting. Look to snag 9 to stop quick ball and for Tips and Garvey to get into 10's face to stop quick ball, any high balls will be secured and kicked back into space or off the park, if it's on we run. Kockott will sweep.

BENCH
Strong impact with a strong front row replacements to come on Dus and Morgan looking to run ball against tired legs. The bench can up the tempo with Dickson and Geraghty playing heads up rugby in the last quarter to drag open a tired defence, Dickson will bring late control and game management.

OVERALL
Tight game initially keeping the weather in mind and look for quick ball and strong direct runners, take the points when available but back ourselves if it's on. We are getting into the run in of the end of  the season and want to get good form going with good international experience all over the park.

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Newcastle Falcons

01. Matt Mullen	09. Ben Youngs
02. Dane Coles	10. Dan Bigger
03. Paul Doran Jones
04. Ed Slater (C)	11. Charles Pitatau
05. Jonny Grey	12. Jean De Villers
06. Kelly Brown	13. Adam Ashley Cooper
07. Richie McCaw	14. Cory Jane
08. Ben Mowen	15. Ben Smith

16.Darren Dawidiuk 17.Ryan Grant 18.Scott Wilson 19.Andrew Coombs 20.Dave Ewers 21.Dave Lewis 22.Henry Slade 23.Alex Goode

Falcons tactics.

Look to bounce back with a big win this week in the cup which matters to us. 

Big pack capable of covering the ground and in defence and making yards with the carry , Coles , Slater , Grey and Brown all big energy players.

Tempo is key with Youngs looking to tap and go at free kicks and penalties and move the ball wide.

Bigger to control things in the backs putting the ball into space behind the Irish wing to test they kicking game with Ben Smith the last man you want to kick too in world rugby.

Use the maul at the line to sap the life out of Franks , Jones and the locks.

Pressure the 9/10 channell with Youngs and McCaw looking to be a pain.

Back 3 to come into the line off ball carriers shoulder to get away from defenders. De Villers and AAC to straighten line to prevent Irish Drift.

Get over the ball in the contact and win penalties.

Bigger to kick Irish to death off the tee.

Youngs to sweep behind.

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01. Matt Mullen	09. Ben Youngs
02. Dane Coles	10. Dan Bigger
03. Paul Doran Jones
04. Ed Slater (C)	11. Charles Pitatau
05. Jonny Grey	12. Jean De Villers
06. Kelly Brown	13. Adam Ashley Cooper
07. Richie McCaw	14. Cory Jane
08. Ben Mowen	15. Ben Smith

16.Darren Dawidiuk 17.Ryan Grant 18.Scott Wilson 19.Andrew Coombs 20.Dave Ewers 21.Dave Lewis 22.Henry Slade 23.Alex Goode

Falcons tactics.

Look to bounce back with a big win this week in the cup which matters to us.

Big pack capable of covering the ground and in defence and making yards with the carry , Coles , Slater , Grey and Brown all big energy players.

Tempo is key with Youngs looking to tap and go at free kicks and penalties and move the ball wide.

Bigger to control things in the backs putting the ball into space behind the Irish wing to test they kicking game with Ben Smith the last man you want to kick too in world rugby.

Use the maul at the line to sap the life out of Franks , Jones and the locks.

Pressure the 9/10 channell with Youngs and McCaw looking to be a pain.

Back 3 to come into the line off ball carriers shoulder to get away from defenders. De Villers and AAC to straighten line to prevent Irish Drift.

Get over the ball in the contact and win penalties.

Bigger to kick Irish to death off the tee.

Youngs to sweep behind.

Mark

01. Ben Franks	09. Rory Kockott (k)
02. Marc Jones	10. Nick Evans
03. Adam Jones
04. Stuart Hooper (c)	11. Nick Cummins
05. Nick Kennedy	12. Luke McAlister
06. Matt Garvey	13. Conrad Smith
07. Justin Tipuric	14. JP Pieterson
08. Scott Higginbotham	15. Rob Cook

;-
16. Tom Lindsay 17. Will Collier 18. Tom Court 19. Thierry Dusatoir 20. Ben Morgan 21. Lee  Dickson 22. Shane Geraghty 23. JSD

Tactics:
Having just beaten Falcons to make it into the Amlin Semi Finals we come into this game full of confidence and looking for the win to secure our league status.

SET PIECE
We have picked a mobile pack in good conditions and Hooper and Higginbotham will provide grunt. We have four lineout jumpers and will keep it simple today, we will jack 2 up in their half on opposition ball.

BREAKDOWN
looking to control our BREAKDOWN and give Kockott time on the ball. Tipuric and Garvey will only compete if available but we will aim to fan out. In attack we will look for quick ball and play a pod system with the forwards taking on tight ball for a couple of phases then out wide.

HALF BACKS
Controlled ball with good tactical players looking to use the conditions to their advantage, they will start with a tight game for THREE phases then spread. If it's not on we will look to pin them back with kicks to touch.

ATTACK
Evans will stand flat giving McAlister good ball to run onto and look for the offloads. Controlled with strong runners and will look for simple passes and our back three cutting back on inside shoulder at times, our pack will give options off of 10 and 12 to get over the gainline. We will look to use our strong carriers to get us over the gainline and recycle quick ball.

DEFENCE
Controlled and hard hitting. Look to snag 9 to stop quick ball and for Tips and Garvey to get into 10's face to stop quick ball, any high balls will be secured and kicked back into space or off the park, if it's on we run. Kockott will sweep.

BENCH
Strong impact with a strong front row replacements to come on Dus and Morgan looking to run ball against tired legs. The bench can up the tempo with Dickson and Geraghty playing heads up rugby in the last quarter to drag open a tired defence, Dickson will bring late control and game management.

OVERALL
Tight game initially keeping the weather in mind and look for quick ball and strong direct runners, take the points when available but back ourselves if it's on. We are getting into the run in of the end of the season and want to get good form going with good international experience all over the park.

Worcester Warriors
Manager-CJ

01.  Nathan Catt	09. Dimitri Yachvilli (k)
02.  Dave Ward	10. Francois Trinh-Duc
03. BJ Botha
04. George Skivington	11. Willie Le Roux
05. Alun Wynn-Jones (c)	12. Anthony Allen
06.  Alexandre Lapandry	13. Nick Tompkins
07. Ross Rennie	14. Mark Cueto
08. Tom Guest	15. Chris Pennell

16.  Samson Lee 17. Matthew Rees 18.  Brett Sturgess 19. Mouritz Botha 20.  John Barclay 21.Tawera Kerr-Barlow  22. Kyle Godwin 23. Clement Poitrenaud

Tactics

Breakdown- use Ward and Rennie, assisted by Lapandry, as fetchers chasing the ball to boss the breakdown. Rest of pack clearing but only commit large numbers if turnover is on.

Attack- pack is very mobile so look to get them in the backline and making series of pick and drives in varying directions to tire opponents.

Use a running game off quick ball with FTH playing flat and using Allen as a spearhead. Use inside passes to the back 3 and pack, and offloads to the linkmen Ward and Rennie to create space for Tompkins and the rest of the back 3 in support to take advantage over. Keep ball and opponents moving.

Yachvilli to play territory with ball in unfavourable positions on the pitch, fast back 3 chasing every ball

Back 3 are all class fullbacks, look to link up running back kicks and kick into space and pressurise their back 3


Defence- blitz led by Allen, Yachvilli sweeping, fringe led by AWJ and the fetchers cover tackling

Lineout- lots of options so vary them and look for moves and quick ball off the top. Give them the front and defend maul and pressurise any longer throws with AWJ and Skivington

Scrum- look to run Guest off attacking ball

Kicking- chase all kicks, take easy kicks at goal

Subs- good pack subs so look to use. Can change style of play with TKB, Godwin and Poitrenaud

Saracens
Manager – Pooly
 

01. Alex Waller	09. Nick White
02. Keven Mealamu	10. Morne Steyn
03. Jannie du Plessis
04. Louis Deacon	11. Miles Benjamin
05. Flip van der Merwe	12. Ryan Crotty
06. Dave Denton	13. Jonathan Davies
07. Chris Henry	14. Adam Thompstone
08. Toby Faletau	15. Luke Fitzgerald

:-
16. Geoge McGuigan 17. Max Lahiff 18. Rabah Slimani 19. Dom Barrow 20. Carl Fearns 21. Henry Taylor 22. Tom Taylor 23. George Lowe
 
Tactics:

TARGET SCRUM - Work on the height difference between the 2 Saints props (5'8" & 6'4"). Look to hold the scrum and then apply the pressure. It's been proven that it's extremely tiring on the front row when there's large height differences between the props.

TARGET BEHIND WINGS & WING DEFENCE - With strong kicking options at 9/13 we'll look to use this to our advantage and kick in behind the Saints wingers, making them turn. We'll also look to get big runners down the blindside and test out their defence.

TARGET LINE OUT - Look to target lack of options in the Saints team by jumping and contesting early on. Look to get at Bonnaire and narrow Webber's options (Webber one of worst success rates in AP).

HUGE CARRYING OPTIONS - Loads of big carrying options to get us over the gain line and allow the backs to get into the game. Look to get options up at 1st and 2nd reciever at pace to draw in defence. Faletau/Denton/FvdM/Mealamu give us great options and varied carriers.

TARGET SIMPSON & DALY DEFENCE - Get big runners down 9 & 13 channels and test defence. Daly out of position could be cause issues for Saints and similar with Simpson who's having a poor season. Look to target Simpsons basics and apply pressure throughout. Saints 9/10 combo can be got at. Saints also lack a top class kicker so look to get ahead on score board.

[b]General - We've selected a team packed with power and physicality and will look to dominate the contact and get over the gain line. We'll be playing a high tempo physical game from the off, look to smash the opposition back and get into the rucks/maul's and drive through. We'll look to tie the opposition in and then get at their backline, more so in the their half. Look to keep it tight in the forward pack and grind through work.

Scrum - Look to get a platform from the off with a strong scrummaging unit. Strong front 5 with big locks will look for the big push once the ball is in and drive the opposition back. Our LH and Hooker will look to target TH and try to get between him and Hooker to allow TH to work on LH If no weakness seen will use as restart.

Line out - Target all game. Look to mix it up on own throw and use the rolling maul to good effect. Our big pack should have a lot of joy here and will tie in the opposition defence. We'll look to contest on opp throw especially when sub get on the pitch as we feel we can really pressure him. Flip will look mastermind taking the opposition throw apart throughout the game.

Defence - High intensity and big hits, looking to drive past the ball player. Huge physical pack that can look to dominate the collision and breakdown allowing Henry/Mealamu etc a chance to slow down/steal ball. Scrum half to sweep behind the defensive line.

Attack - Keep things simple in our own half then look to unleash backs in opp territory. Scrum half to inject pace from the breakdown and have JD on his shoulder. Huge carrying backrow to get us over the gain line after front 5 set a platform.

On phone all week, pretty sure there's no injured players in line up but not the easiest thing to do

1. Steenkamp
2.George
3 Figallo
4 Etzbeth
5 Robson
6 Alberts
7 Qera
8 Heaslip
9 Murray
10 Carter
11 May
12 Mills
13 Kurindrani
14 Folau
15 Dagg
16 Wood
17 grey
18 Ousthuizen
19 Stooke
20 Croft
21 Robson
22 Cips
22 Gear

Sorry for the lack of formatting been in London for interviews most of week and on phone only

Glos tactics

We welcome bath to Kingsholm for the derby match. Weather has been great of late and the fast pitches are emerging for the run in which suits expansive rugby.


Tactics

Set piece

Scrum: we have a big front 5 with heaps of technical ability and will be using the scrum on our ball to launch attacks. There will not be that many scrums but on our ball we will be looking to get on the front foot between our 22 and their 10 metre we will look to pick up and
Get on the front foot to launch our big ball carriers to get that front foot ball needed to play open rugby. On their ball we will try and disrupt

Lineout

We have 5 jumpers and see the lineout as a great source of attacking ball. We will be mixing drive and off the top and will challenge their ball unless in our 22 where only 2 jumper will be put up. When we are driving the lineout we will be looking to move the ball away whilst the maul is moving. This can be either to one of our big forward runners or straight to carter

General forwards

We have picked a pack of ball carriers and see ourselves as having more options to carry than bath. We want to carry relentlessly and get over the gainline and either offload or create quick ball for Murray to move. We have backs to score lots of tries and we want to give them ball to attack,

Breakdown wise we will send numbers in if we
Can turn it
Over and look to counter ruck

Backs

We are aiming to really play at tempo and stretch bath outwide.
We want to create one on ones and mismatches for folau, Dagg, May and co to exploit.

Murray is in fine form and will keep there backrow honest but his prime job is to hit carter so carter can take the options. We will play a
Mixed game and kick where necessary.
But when in the right area or when we spot a gap we will go for it.

We will use the cross kick for folau and will look to up the pace as the game goes on.


With a back 3
Like ours we will look to counter attack any loose kicks from bath. We will also utilise quick throw ins and quick taps as the game progresses


Bench will be used as needed but expect the likes of gear croft etc to feature as the game breaks up and becomes looser.

We will look to selectively blitz in defence. In conditions like this if you blitz all the time the grubber and chip are easy to utilise so it will be used sparingly. However we will be looking for very quick line speed. As ever Murray will sweep.

All goals in range to be attempted.
We want to build the score to allow us to really open up.

Leicester Tigers
Manager – LukeLovesLuka

01. Andrew Sheridan	09. Dwayne Peel
02. Chiliboy Ralepelle	10. Jonny Wilkinson (k)
03. Cencus Johnston
04. Pascal Pape	11. Rene Ranger
05. James Horwill (c)	12. Billy Twelvetrees
06. Sean O'Brien	13. Brian O'Driscoll
07. Jacques Burger	14. Sitivenu Sivavatu
08. Ryan Jones	15. Mike Brown

16. Harry Thacker 17. Benn Robinson 18. Dan Cole 19. Kearnan Myall 20. James Scaysbrook 21. Micky Young 22. Pat Lambie 23. Ugo Monye

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.

- Target Camille all game with SOB and Burger breathing down his neck at every opportunity. Big runners through his channel - looking to win the Wilko vs Camille contest.

- Attack at all scrums with our huge pack - Ralapelle to look to really get into Fourie, with two huge props backed up by Pape and Horwill. An area we will look to target if winning.

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

- Put serious pressure on Fourie's throws with Pape at the front on all Wasps' throws.

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

- Gigantic pack made up of massive line-breakers, used in the tight to tire down the Wasps defence. The likes of SOB, Pape, Burger, Jones and Horwill to be used to target the Wasps 10/12 channel.

- In attacking play, we will look to get runners attacking the gain line looking for gaps. We do want to control the game, mixing up the point of our attack and looking for where the gaps are.

- In attacking play, we will play with the option of 2 first receivers in Wilko and Twelvetrees. We want to control the game, mixing up the point of our attack.

- 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. Peel to sweep behind with an eye on short kicks.

- Wilkinson to kick all penalties.

TBC

Saints Team
Will do proper format tomorrow (possibly)

1. Thomas Domingo
2. Rob Webber
3. Carl Hayman
4. Joe Launchbury
5. Manu Samoa
6. Julian Bonnaire
7. Sam Cane
8. Billy Vunipola
9. Joe Simpson
10. Matt Giteau
11. Noa Nakaitaci
12. Weslie Fofana
13. Elliot Daly
14. Jordan Williams
15. Ben Foden

Subs: 16. Dylan Hartley 17. Sona Taumalolo 18. Henry Thomas 19. Courtney Lawes 20. CJ Stander 21. George Ford 22. Manu Tuilagi 23. Mike Phillips

Tactics: Weather conditions are perfect for attacking rugby and we will play with a real attacking emphasis with Saracens really only able to play one way with Steyn at no10. Will play our usual aggressive and physical style, but believe we have an advantage in terms of mobility and creativity in both the pack and try scorers all over the park.

We will play the game at a high tempo, looking for our big ball carriers in both the packs and backs to power over the gainline, an offloading game to get us into positions where we really test the Sarries defence. BIG emphasis on unloading our bench where we feel we have some fantastic options and can get a big advantage over Saracens.

Setpiece: With Bonnaire leading the line and Launchbury and Manoa as jumpers we have some very good options to generate quick lineout ball to launch our attack from. Will aim to disrupt Saracens ball and put pressure on White. Domingo and Hayman have been our props for 4 seasons now and a great scrummaging unit, will launch Vunipola off the back of the scrum to get us over the gainline at every opportunity. Will target Falcons here, especially the latter part of the game where we bring our bench on.

Ball carrying/Win Collisions: Have players in the pack and backline who can get us over the gainline and punch holes in the Saracens defence. We have a very mobile pack to secure quick ball and get our backline on the front foot. With Hartley, Thomas, Taumalolo, Lawes and Stander off the bench we hare going to finish very strongly in this area.

Attack: Mobile pack to beat Saracens to the ball and make the game very high tempo and mover the ball around the park. By opening the game up we will score more tries than Saracens. Daly has been playing at 13 for Wasps and we will look to get him attacking Davies on the outside shoulder and use his pace as a potent weapon - we will look to use Giteau and Fofana to tie up the Sarries midfield to create these opportunities for Daly. Want to give Williams one-on-ones and get him into the game and into space.

Breakdown: Again an area we will target, Launch and Manoa are like two extra flankers on the field and Cane will be targeting key turnover ball. Whenever there is a chance of a turnover we will throw men in. Have Webber and Vunipola who will be able to clear out rucks.

Defence: Aggressive blitz defence with fast line speed, big hitters and aim to force handling errors and mistakes. SImpson is one of the best defensive sweeping no9s (he gets enough practice with Wasps) so will look to cover any breaks.

Territory: We have good kicking options with Simpson's box kick, Giteau and Daly's howitzer of a left boot, will look to test out Fitzgerald positionally, but are very happy to counter attack ourselves and stretch the Sarries defence.

Key points:
Form of key players at the business end of the season and full of confidence after beating Tigers and Ulster in successive weeks.

Will look to really hammer Saracens in the final 30 minutes with our bench, all impact players and this will have a huge bearing on the game. Want a big finish in the game.

Saracens game more suited to wet conditions and relying on the boot of Steyn could be very costly when there are tries there for the taking, we've picked an attacking team with a backline that can score from anywhere on the field. Feel our team is capable of outscoring Sarries.

Very strong setpiece away from home and this will get stronger as we bring on our bench.

Will get team in first thing in th morning. Just in from 16 hour shift and knackered.

No worries mate. I'm going to be on my way to Sinagpore on Friday so will try and predict but will depend on wifi there/ in Dubai on route

London Wasps
Manager  Ozzy3213

01. Paul James	09. Aaron Smith
02. Deon Fourie	10. Camille Lopez
03. David Wilson
04. Romain Millo-Chluski	11. Marland Yarde
05. Johann Muller (c)	12. Christian Lealiifano
06. Tom Johnson	13. Tim Nanai-Williams
07. Luke Wallace	14. Jack Nowell
08. Steffon Armitage	15. Delon Armitage

16. Rob Hawkins 17. Alex Corbisiero 18. Ben Alexander 19. Matt Symons 20. Siya Kolisi 21.Nick Phipps 22. Gareth Anscombe 23. Jaco Taute

Basic Game Plan
In dry conditions we will be looking to play a possession based game, going through the phases and continually shifting the point of attack. We will play sensibly in our own half though, and will use the boots of Lopez, Lealiifano and Armitage if it is not on to run the ball. When using the boot we will not be kicking for touch, but will be looking to keep the ball in play in behind the wingers, and ensuring that our kick chase is good and isolates their 11 and 14.

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 Tigers try line
• 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.
  

Bath Rugby
Manager – inthefastlane

01. Cian Healy	09. Fourie Du Preez
02. Richard Hibbard	10. Paddy Jackson
03. James Slipper
04. Graham Kitchener	11. Alex Cuthbert
05. Sam Whitelock	12. Sam Hill
06. Dan Lydiate	13. Matheiu Basteraund
07. Chris Robshaw	14. Rob Miller
08. JMF Lobbe	15. Stuart Hogg

|
16. Mikey Haywood 17. Carl Rimmer 18. Jake Cooper Woolley 19. Luke Romano 20. James Haskell 21. Richard Wigglesworth 22. Matt Hopper 23. Nopolini Nalaga


Overall: Look to play flowing rugby with Jackson pulling the strings. We have a mobile, dynamic pack and will be hoping for a set-piece and open play advantage.

Scrum: Set the scrum quickly and try to exert pressure on the Gloucester scrum. If we enjoy early success here we will relentlessly attack. Lobbe to control at 8

Lineout: Whitelock to call with Lobbe and Robshaw as jumpers and Kitchener as a banker ball option. Look to get up into the air quickly and down for a quick maul. Target George's lineouts

Breakdown: Not looking to be over committed at the breakdown but if a turnover is possible then be aggressive. Robshaw will be supported by the pack at breakdown.

Defence: Banana Blitz Defence looking to slow down the ball and put pressure on Mills. FDP to sweep in behind.

Our half backs will control our rugby. FDP and Jackson can play what they see and put the rest of the back line in strong positions. We have strong runners who can get over the gainline throughout the side with a very dynamic pack and a big back line. Look to hit the defence hard and recycle quickly tying in Glos defender to attack out wide. Hill, Cuthbert and Bast are huge on-form backs and can exploit situations in which they are allowed to run at defenders especially May.

Kicking: Hodgson, Miller and Hogg all have big boots and will look to incorporate their kicking if successful. They will look deep into corners where we can put pressure on a poor Glos line out. They will also look to target May under the high ball.

Substitutes: Our subs will look to keep a high tempo.

Sale Sharks
Manager – SJE

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

16. Ross Harrison 17. David Paice 18. Luc Ducalcon 19. Christian Day 20. Matt Kvesic 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. Four 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 & Sexton with space outside. 

- Look to mix up play. Sexton will look to dictate the game playing flat on the gainline, committing the defence before bringing the big carriers in to play. However Care provides a threat snipping around the fringes and can change the tempo of the game instantly.

- Target the Quins blitz. Use intelligent grubbers and chips from the 10-12-13 channel (all capable!) to take advantage of no sweeper on the Quins blitz and get in behind the defence.  

- 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.

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

- Counter the Quins kicking game with our wingers sitting deep when defending in the Quins half to prevent kicks in behind. They will look to run the ball back with interest.

Harlequins
Manager – Steven_Sharks

01. Joe Marler	09. Ruan Pienaar (k)
02. Schalk Brits	10. Quade Cooper
03. Gjorgi Jgenti
04. George Kruis	11. Joe Tomane
05. Steve Borthwick (c)	12. Jamie Roberts
06. Mamuka Gorgodze	13. Aurelien Rougerie
07. Luke Braid	14. Yoann Huget
08. Nick Easter	15. Rob Kearney

16. Rob Buchanan 17. Euan Murray 18. Kyle Sinckler 19. Pieter Steph Du Toit 20. Jamie Gibson 21. Karl Dickson 22. Steven Myler 23. Jonathan Joseph

Tactics

Game Plan

In our own half look to kick the ball into space and test Rokoduguni's and Abendanon's positioning and ability under the high ball. Look to Use Pienaar and Cooper to put the ball into spaces and Tomane and Huget to lead the chase. If the space is there put the ball into touch so we can use Borthwick, Kruis, Gorgodze, Braid and Easter to really pressurise the Sale lineout looking to mark O'Mahony and Douglas.

In the Sale half we will look to get our forwards carrying the ball at pace and in numbers off 9 and 10. Once we get over the gain line and have tied in Sale defenders we will look to get the ball into space where our backs can take advantage. Cooper will stand flat and put Roberts and Rougerie into spaces.

Set piece

Look to get low at the scrum and work as an eight against Sale. With two very strong techinical props we will look to get the nudge on and look to target the Sale 3.

At the lineout look to shorten the line on our ball between the 22m lines so as to provide more carrying options in the midfield. On the Sale ball look to put pressure on every throw with Borthwick marking POM. Really look to put pressure on Kayser's throw.

Defence

Employ a quick line speed with extra pressure being put on Care and Sexton. We shut them down and we control the game. Especially tight around the fringes to cut off Care's options. Look to get Braid to the breakdown early to slow down the ball legally.

Matawula is injured for Saints & Woodcock for Quins. Can you change them please guys 
when putting tactics in.

Cheers SJE. I just checked before I did my team aswell!

Hey guys, any chance I can delay tactics until tomorrow? On a train to London before flying to Singapore tomorrow and only just discovered it had a plug socket to chart by iPhone and I would like to spend my last night for 3 months in the UK predominantly with my girlfriend, really sorry.

Also, just passed medical finals and thus unofficially a doctor, beware next year if PRUH is your local hospital!

No worries mate! Congratulations on the exams   

Congrats CJ

Good work CJ   

I expect a username change....

Dr_ChequeredJersey

well spotted SJE!

Will get Phillips on the bench and put Williams on the wing!

---

Exeter Chiefs 

Manager – Fluxy

01. Tendai "Beast" Mtawarira	09. Hadyn Thomas
02. Sean Cronin	10. Toby Flood (k)
03. Matt Stevens
04. Brad Thorn	11. Tom Varndell
05. Geoff Parling (c)	12. Scott Williams
06. Liam Messam	13. Marcelo Bosch
07. Will Fraser	14. Andrew Trimble
08. Johnnie Beattie	15. Matt Tait

16. Jack Yeandle 17. Richard Barrington 18. Logovii Mulipola 19. Patricio Albacete 20. Nick Williams 21. Bryn Hall 22. Freddie Burns 23. Zac Guildford

Key Points

• Target the Scrum - Catt isn't the greatest scrummager and won't want to be doing it all day. Look to get a platform from the off with a strong scrummaging unit. Get both the LH and Hooker to target Botha and try to get between him and Ward to allow Stevens to work on Catt. Use the scrummaging advantage against the Warriors second row, to get a nudge on.
  
• Target the Line out – Great lineout leader in Parling along with top operators like Messam and Thorn to mix the movement up. Look to turn the screw in the line out and put pressure on the Ward throw, and man mark skivington and AWJ in the line out.
  
• Target the defensive frailty in 10-13 channels -Look to target the lack of size and tackling ability in the Warriors 10-13 channel. Look to use blitz defence to cut down the options of Trinh Duc and momentum of Allen.
  
• Flood the Breakdown– With the physicality in our backrow, front five and centres we will look to just blow out any ruck to create quick ball. Even in defence in we can target one or two rucks where there are no men and clean through past the ball they won't cope. Similar with the first man in the ruck to drive through and clear any on coming opposition players to create clean quick ball.
  
• Carrying options - Loads of big carrying options to get us over the gain line and allow the backs to get into the game. Look to get options outside the ten mostly or outside 12 to target the defensive line outside their guards where the line is weakest.
  

Sorry tactics done, rushed but done. Off to Dubai then Singapore, back in 8 hours or so

Can predos stay open till tonight?

Yeah sure leave them open till 9 to give everyone a chance to get them in.

I'd have bet money i did thee earlier.

Gloucester 31 - 30 Bath
Saracens 20 - 19 Saints
Leicester 25 - 24 Wasps
Worcester 26 - 25 Chiefs
Irish 24 - 23 Falcons

Sale 28- 27 Quins
Gloucester. 29 - 28 Bath
Tigers 25 - 24 Wasps
Saracens 23 -23 Saints
Irish 26 - 25 Falcons

Sale 27-24 Quins
Sale will be too strong at home, nice balance in attack and players to get them over the gainline. Quins will match up front, but home advantage will make a difference. Sale looking like a definite play off team.

Gloucester 33-31 Bath
Big scoring game here - thing that keeps it closer for me is Hibbard and George difference in quality - George been playing v well, but Hibbard's experience is key. Both have inexp 12's where I can see other players being able to take advantage of and open up some gaps.

Leicester 22 - 21 Wasps
Tough game to call, see the forward battle incredibly even but Wasps have a bit more form with their key players. But the loss of Farrell is massive and just see it making it that much harder to get something out of the game.

Worcester 31 - 32 Chiefs
Just see Chiefs having more experience in the pack and that has a big sway. More quality ball from the set piece - but Worcester do have some great form players so that game will be very close.

Irish 30 - 30 Falcons
Sorry some fence sitting here, just can't call it. Can't see eitehr team getting an advantage in the set piece, really like both backlines and there are a lot of tries in the teams.

Sale Sharks 27 - 23 Harlequins


Sale at home is a real daunting task and for me will take this one. Quins are strong but just lack some of the form of some of the Sharks lads, and they seem to be building momentum at the right time of the season.  


Gloucester Rugby 30 - 25 Bath Rugby

Good little battle here in the West Country. Glaws and Bath have both got some great carriers and will create some good go forward for their backs. Bath are a bit more adept in the breakdown and will steal a few of the Gloucester rucks. Murray and Carter will control the game expertly, although Carter being on sabbatical hurts the form here. Bath's back line can be got at a bit in certain aspects, I just feel that Gloucester have a little more quality in their side and on the bench to take the game at home. 

Leicester Tigers 27 - 25 London Wasps

Tigers have coped a bit better with a spate of injuries at Wasps taking their best players out of action. Intriguing line out battle with Muller going head to head with Horwill. Both sides are about even in the set-piece. But around the park, Tiger with have a bit more grunt in the carrying, especially from their back five. 
Peel in some great form at the moment and with Wilko they control the pace of their game well. Likewise Smith is playing nicely and will add spark to get side going forward in the wide spaces. There is a bit more elusiveness in the Wasps backs but the mix of power and skill in the Tigers back line and their form is telling with Brown shining here. Tigers pinch it here at the death with a wilkinson penalty. 

Saracens 24 - 22 Northampton Saints


Sarries really take the game to saints up front and will make them work the game. The amount of physicality means that is no pretty affair, and potentially leads to a good number of scrums. This is a real difference in the style of the half backs and can see Sarries actually gaining an upper hand with a better control of the game. Both back lines will thrive with the amount of front foot ball. This will widen the game up and play into the favour of the Saints. The Saints bench is massive, although I just think Steyn's boot will win a tight affair at Allianz.

London Irish 25 - 25 Newcastle Falcons

Falcons have one of the best sides in the league, but Irish have some class players and this is a real close game. Can't really seperate either in this one as I can't see who will get on top of the other. The Falcons back line is class, but Irish enough to pick the points for a draw.

My charge for the title is over!

Kids and testing out for next season!

Sale 24 Harlequins 23
Gloucester 26 Bath 25
Leicester 28 London Wasps 27
Saracens 9 Northampton 8
Worcester 18 Exeter Chiefs 19

Sale 28-23 Quins
Tigers 26-23 Wasps
Sarries 21-22 Saints
Worcester 20-20 Exeter
Irish 25-24 Newcastle

Sale 27-25 Harelquins

Advantage to Sale in the front 5, edge in scrum also but nothing in line out. Both backrows strong, a tiny edge to Sale. Some quality in the half backs but prefer Sale combo. Quins midfield a little too one dimensional, could do with a tweak. Sale better balance but similar quality. Quins back 3 stronger but Sale just too much throughout.


Leicester 26-20 Wasps

Front rows and scrum even but Tiger big step up in the engine room. Can see Wasps line out struggling with Fourie. Can't see Armitage working at 8 with other flanks, no balance for Wasps. Tigers need form for SOB but better set out. One a piece in the half backs but Tigers class above in centres and back 3. Tigers in control throughout bag a good win.

Worcester 19-20 Exeter

Not much in front 5's or set piece but Exeter have more in the backrow. Worcester edge the half backs, but Exeter much stronger in the centres. Not sure Tompkins is quite at this level. Decent back 3 battle. Exeter with edge and just see it through despite issues at 10.

London Irish 23-20 Falcons  

Good scrum advantage to Irish with PDJ really bad of late. Irish lack quality in engine room but can't see Falcons fully taking advantage. Falcons not set out too well in the backrow while Irish have a nice balance. Backs on show are quality, pretty even with Falcons stepping up in back 3. Good game with Falcons a bit off lob sided in the pack allowing Irish to sneak the win.

Sale 31-30 Quins great game with 2 top teams. Both have good carriers and will see a fair share of the ball.

Sale can be got at in the back 3 defensively but have a real threat out wide. Basically home advantage takes this

Leicester 25-23 wasps
Think it's the first time I have given wasps a loss. Injuries have hit wasps and Leicester but tigers cope better. Pack even and maybe shaded to wasps



See home advantage and wasps having a mismatched 10,12,13 axis costing them.

Wuss 26/26 chiefs

Chiefs and wuss have a great battle up front and think overall chiefs have a better side but away from home think they don't have enough to steal it so draw

Irish 21-20 falcons


Newcastle have a great side but think they have picked too few ball carriers to get the ball they need to win. They have cracking backs but think they will not win enough ball

Sale 29 - 28 Quins
Gloucester 26 - 25 Bath
Saracens 20 - 19 Saints
Worcester 23 - 22 Chiefs
Irish 24 - 23 Falcons

RESULTS:

Sale Sharks 32 (T:4 C:3 P:2)
Harlequins 26 (T:2 C:2 P:4)

Gloucester 33 (T:4 C:2 P:3)
Bath 26 (T:2 C:2 P:4)

Leicester Tigers 31 (T:4 C:1 P:3)
London Wasps 24 (T:2 C:1 P:4)

Saracens 22 (T:1 C:1 P:5)
Northampton Saints 20 (T:2 C:2 P:2)

Worcester Warriors 25 (T:1 C:1 P:6)
Exeter Chiefs 26 (T:2 C:2 P:4)

London Irish 28 (T:3 C:2 P:3)
Newcastle Falcons 23 (T:2 C:2 P:3)

BONUS:

Full: Fluxy, Matt, Chris, SJE & Pooly
Scores: CJB, Steve, Luke, Driver & CJ
Excused: Prop
Fined: Pete

Some significant results there

Gutted

Thought I lost that one CJ, unlucky mate!

Happy with that win! On a roll now. Sorry I didn't get my predos in, didn't really get chance to log on till this morning.

Happy with that win!