Aviva Premiership Round 20

First topic message reminder :

Table:

Pos	Team	__Pld__	__Won__	_Drawn_	_Lost_	__For__	_Against_	__TF__	__TA__	__TBP__	__LBP__	__Pts__
1	Saracens	19	17	0	2	535	284	56	30	8	0	76
2	Northampton Saints	19	14	1	4	475	297	55	25	5	3	66
3	Leicester Tigers	19	13	2	4	449	357	47	32	5	2	63
4	Bath Rugby	19	13	1	5	428	330	42	33	3	2	59
5	Harlequins	19	12	0	7	364	300	36	28	3	3	54
6	Sale Sharks	19	11	0	8	335	323	33	29	2	5	51
7	Exeter Chiefs	19	8	0	11	362	382	33	38	2	6	40
8	London Wasps	19	7	0	12	356	391	35	37	2	9	39
9	Gloucester Rugby	19	7	0	12	345	443	34	48	2	7	37
10	London Irish	19	6	0	13	323	402	30	37	1	6	31
11	Newcastle Falcons	19	3	0	16	212	454	15	51	1	6	19
12	Worcester Warriors	19	1	0	18	257	478	22	50	1	7	12

Fixtures:


Fri 18th Apr 14
19:45 Harlequins  v   Leicester Tigers BT Sport

Sat 19th Apr 14
15:00 Bath Rugby  v   Worcester Warriors
15:00        Exeter Chiefs  v   Sale Sharks
15:15        London Wasps  v   Gloucester Rugby BT Sport

Sun 20th Apr 14
14:00 Northampton Saints  v   London Irish BT Sport
15:00 Newcastle Falcons  v   Saracens

Jimpy wrote:

LondonTiger wrote:tom youngs rested completely (maybe carrying a knock?) while Flood in for Williams are the main talking points.

Tigers havent lost a premiership game when Youngs, Flood, Allen and Tuilagi have all started..... just saying.

Williams kept Flood out on form, his form dropped last week. Cockers starts flood to keep Williams honest?

Or it could just be that he rates Flood as less likely to be bamboozled by Evans' magic.

The return of Allen is bad news for Quins, but not unexpected. Bizarrely, though I think our front row could conceivably have the edge. For all that Sinckler's a tyro, he's a specialist TH and the unit is settled.

Jimpy, there's a first time for everything...

Jimpy wrote:

LondonTiger wrote:tom youngs rested completely (maybe carrying a knock?) while Flood in for Williams are the main talking points.

Tigers havent lost a premiership game when Youngs, Flood, Allen and Tuilagi have all started..... just saying.

Williams kept Flood out on form, his form dropped last week. Cockers starts flood to keep Williams honest?

I would just say it's Cockers giving him a bit of a rest, it's his first season at this level and he has played a lot recently including the trip to France and he isn't used to it.

Jimpy wrote:
Tigers havent lost a premiership game when Youngs, Flood, Allen and Tuilagi have all started..... just saying.

This is of course the first time they have been in the same starting line-up this season.

Or did you mean ever?

In which case I refer you to 20th April 2013

killer938 wrote:

Jimpy wrote:

LondonTiger wrote:tom youngs rested completely (maybe carrying a knock?) while Flood in for Williams are the main talking points.

Tigers havent lost a premiership game when Youngs, Flood, Allen and Tuilagi have all started..... just saying.

Williams kept Flood out on form, his form dropped last week. Cockers starts flood to keep Williams honest?

I would just say it's Cockers giving him a bit of a rest, it's his first season at this level and he has played a lot recently including the trip to France and he isn't used to it.

Williams has a tendancy to kick a lot - perhaps Cockers doesn't want Brown to see too much ball? Flood is good at bringing Manu into play, punching it up through the centre could work well for Tigers, i believe they have a clear advantage here.

LondonTiger wrote:

Jimpy wrote:
Tigers havent lost a premiership game when Youngs, Flood, Allen and Tuilagi have all started..... just saying.

This is of course the first time they have been in the same starting line-up this season.

Or did you mean ever?

In which case I refer you to 20th April 2013

It never happened. It. Never. Happened.

Presumably we had no choice but to rest Youngs as otherwise he'd have sat out of last week's game. A real blow him not being available. Briggs has been poor and I'd have any of our other hookers in his place personally.

Flood I suppose makes sense as he has experience of hostile away games and Williams probably needs a rest after some big games.

That team is interesting Briggs starting (unless cockers is playing mind games and tomorrow before the game Hawkins will be starting and Youngs will be on the bench)

Guess we should try and get Goneva attacking at OLH.

 Will be interesting to see briggs in the 1st team back though, he has an alright lineout and with Kitchener there we have a great lineout caller.

 Love our bench though.

Officials:

Stoop
Referee: Tim Wigglesworth (83rd Premiership game).
Assistant Referees: Andy Watson & Roy Maybank. TMO: Sean Davey.



Rec:
Referee: Matthew Carley (13th Premiership game).
Assistant Referees: Peter Huckle & Paul Dix. TMO: Rowan Kitt.


Sandy Park:
Referee: Greg Garner (64th Premiership game).
Assistant Referees: Gareth Copsey & Paul Burton. TMO: Geoff Warren.


Twickenham:
Referee: Wayne Barnes (137th Premiership game).
Assistant Referees: Stuart Terheege & Roger Baileff. TMO: David Grashoff.


Franklins Gardens:
Referee: JP Doyle (76th Premiership game).
Assistant Referees: Andrew Pearce & Nigel Carrick. TMO: Geoff Warren.


Kingston Park:
Referee: Andrew Small (103rd Premiership game).
Assistant Referees: Ross Campbell & Robin Goodliffe. TMO: Graham Hughes.

Looking at those sides I rate Quins 1 and 2, no8, half backs and 15 over their opposite numbers.

At 6 and 7 i'd say the teams were equal.

Tigers have the advantage at 3, both locks, centre's and wings. Especially in those backs positions.

Biggest concern for Quins is handling and gameplan. We do have the players to beat Tigers. It's how we play and the number of mistakes we make that'll decide it.

I'm feeling considerably less confident with Briggs and Flood in. A journeyman hooker who I'd have as fourth choice based on form this season and a 60 cap international 10 that is playing like a 21 year old desperate to impress. Just glad big Ed is still captain as he is a very level headed leader and won't get carried away with kicking for the corner ala Flood.

yappysnap wrote:Looking at those sides I rate Quins 1 and 2,

I would have Ayerza ahead of any LH prop in the world.

You've gotta love the Toffs ain't yer? Three double-barrelled names and Nick Easter for a long Good Friday crucifixion.

A working class hero is something to be

LondonTiger wrote:

yappysnap wrote:Looking at those sides I rate Quins 1 and 2,

I would have Ayerza ahead of any LH prop in the world.

Maybe at scrum time, but even then it's a group thing not just one player. In every other facet of prop play Marler is better IMO

I would seriously disagree there Yappy. Ayerza is both a big carrier and a big tackler for us. A better lifter in lineouts and strong at the breakdown.

But I see him week in week out, whereas you see more of Marler. That taints our views.

Exactly. We'll see tonight      

Jimpy wrote:

LondonTiger wrote:tom youngs rested completely (maybe carrying a knock?) while Flood in for Williams are the main talking points.

Tigers havent lost a premiership game when Youngs, Flood, Allen and Tuilagi have all started..... just saying.

Williams kept Flood out on form, his form dropped last week. Cockers starts flood to keep Williams honest?

Ever, Jimps?

If so, that's almost incredible.
But wait. How many times have they all played together?

Given the injury record, there won't have been that many times they could have been named.

Sounds like a statto's dis-service to meaningful statistics.
A bit of Tigers press office spin if you like...

As a neutral, I would probably just about take Ayerza over Marler right now, but Marler is improving all the time and could go past Ayerza in the very near future.

If I was picking a composite side from those Quins and Tigers starting lineup this would be it.

15. Mike Brown
14. Sam Smith
13. Manu Tuilagi
12. Anthony Allen
11. Vereniki Goneva
10. Nick Evans
9. Danny Care

1. Marcos Ayerza
2. Dave Ward
3. Logovi'i Mulipola
4. Ed Slater
5. Graham Kitchener
6. Luke Wallace
7. Chris Robshaw
8. Nick Easter

8 Quins, 7 Tigers. Couldn't really get more even than that. I suspect it will be a close game.

yappysnap wrote:

LondonTiger wrote:

yappysnap wrote:Looking at those sides I rate Quins 1 and 2,

I would have Ayerza ahead of any LH prop in the world.

Maybe at scrum time, but even then it's a group thing not just one player. In every other facet of prop play Marler is better IMO

As an outsider I'd take Ayerza over Marler comfortably.
Much better scrummager and not a big difference in the loose

Ayerza is currently ahead of Marler though Marler may overtake him. But Marler only has to out scrummage Mulipola, and Sinckler has to adapt to Ayerza. I'd say we'll start behind in the scrums by a bit but catch up at least by half time

I have a funny feeling we may well see a late change to the front row.

http://www.saracens.com/saracens-name-side-to-face-newcastle-falcons/

Newcastle can beat this Sarries side I think.

It's the frontrow and halfbacks where Sarries will look to get the upper hand.

Mulipola out? Goody

If it's Youngs in, I'm not too fussed tbh

Newcastle Falcons: 15 Alex Tait, 14 Noah Cato, 13 Adam Powell, 12 Jamie Helleur, 11 Sinoti Sinoti, 10 Joel Hodgson, 9 Mike Blair, 1 Grant Shiells, 2 George McGuigan, 3 Oliver Tomaszczyk, 4 Dom Barrow, 5 Scott MacLeod, 6 Richard Mayhew, 7 Will Welch, 8 Mark Wilson

Replacements: 16 Matt Thompson, 17 Gary Strain, 18 Scott Wilson, 19 Ian Nagle, 20 Chris York, 21 Warren Fury, 22 Phil Godman, 23 Danny Barnes

Finally a side that actually pleases the Newcastle fans. Hodgson and McGuigan get their first starts...Barrow back and Shiels back.

Just looking for a good performance and really get at Saracens

CHIEFS SIDE TO FACE SALE SHARKS

15 Phil Dollman
14 Fetu’u Vainikolo
13 Ian Whitten
12 Sam Hill
11 Matt Jess
10 Gareth Steenson
9 Dave Lewis
1 Ben Moon
2 Jack Yeandle
3 Alex Brown
4 Dean Mumm (capt)
5 Damian Welch
6 Dave Ewers
7 Ben White
8 Kai Horstmann

16 Luke Cowan-Dickie
17 Carl Rimmer
18 Hoani Tui
19 James Phillips
20 James Scaysbrook
21 Haydn Thomas
22 Henry Slade
23 Luke Arscott

TJ still injured, now joined by Don Armand

Bath Rugby team to face Worcester Warriors

15. Nick Abendanon
14. Anthony Watson
13. Matt Banahan
12. Kyle Eastmond
11. Horacio Agulla
10. George Ford
9. Micky Young
1. Nathan Catt
2. Rob Webber
3. David Wilson
4. Stuart Hooper ( c )
5. Dave Attwood
6. Matt Garvey
7. Carl Fearns
8. Leroy Houston

Replacements
16. Ross Batty
17. Paul James
18. Anthony Perenise
19. Dominic Day
20. Guy Mercer
21. Peter Stringer
22. Gavin Henson
23. Jonathan Joseph

Warriors

15 Chris Pennell
14 Josh Drauniniu
13 Alex Grove
12 Andy Symons
11 David Lemi
10 Ryan Lamb
9 Jonny Arr
1 Ofa Fainga'anuku
2 Agustin Creevy
3 Euan Murray
4 James Percival
5 Mariano Galarza
6 Mike Williams
7 Sam Betty
8 Jonathan Thomas (C)

Replacements
16 Ed Shervington
17 Paul Andrew
18 Rob O'Donnell
19 Semisi Taulava
20 Richard de Carpentier
21 Paul Hodgson
22 Paul Warwick
23 Ravai Fatiaki

London Irish team to face Northampton Saints:

15. Alex Lewington; 14. Marland Yarde*; 13. Fergus Mulchrone; 12. Eamonn Sheridan; 11. Andrew Fenby ; 10. Shane Geraghty* (Captain); 9. Tomás O'Leary*; 1. Matt Parr; 2. Mike Mayhew; 3. Leo Halavatau; 4. Kieran Low; 5. Nic Rouse; 6. Blair Cowan; 7. Gerard Ellis; 8. Ofisa Treviranus*

Replacements: 16. Jimmy Stevens; 17. Johnny Harris; 18. Jamie Hagan*; 19. Bryn Evans*; 20. Jebb Sinclair*; 21. Tom Homer; 22. Ian Humphreys; 23. Darren Allinson

NORTHAMPTON SAINTS TEAM TO PLAY LONDON IRISH
Aviva Premiership Round 20
Franklin's Gardens
Sunday, April 20th, 2014
Kick off 2:00pm

15 Ben FODEN
14 Jamie ELLIOTT
13 George PISI
12 Luther BURRELL
11 George NORTH
10 Stephen MYLER
9 Kahn FOTUALI'I

1 Alex WALLER
2 Ross MCMILLAN
3 Salesi MA'AFU
4 Samu MANOA
5 Courtney LAWES
6 Phil DOWSON
7 Tom WOOD (capt)
8 Sam DICKINSON

Replacements
16 Matt WILLIAMS
17 Ethan WALLER
18 Gareth DENMAN
19 Calum CLARK
20 GJ VAN VELZE
21 Lee DICKSON
22 Will HOOLEY
23 James WILSON

London Wasps team to play Gloucester

15. Andrea Masi
14. Will Helu
13. Elliot Daly
12. Chris Bell (c)
11. Tom Varndell
10. Andy Goode
9. Joe Simpson
1. Matt Mullan
2. Carlo Festuccia
3. Jake Cooper-Woolley
4. Joe Launchbury
5. Kearnan Myall
6. Ashley Johnson
7. James Haskell
8. Nathan Hughes

16. Tom Lindsay
17. Simon McIntyre
18. Phil Swainston
19. Tom Palmer
20. Sam Jones
21. Charlie Davies
22. Joe Carlisle
23. Charlie Hayter

Gloucester Rugby:
Rob Cook; Charlie Sharples, Jonny May, Mike Tindall, Martyn Thomas; Billy Twelvetrees (capt), Jimmy Cowan; Nick Wood, Huia Edmonds, Shaun Knight; Elliott Stooke, James Hudson; Sione Kalamafoni, Matt Kvesic, Ben Morgan

Replacements:
Dan George, Dan Murphy, Yann Thomas, Lua Lokotui, Ross Moriarty, Dan Robson, Freddie Burns, Bill Meakes

Sale Sharks:
Tom Arscott, Tom Brady, Jonny Leota, Sammy Tuitupou, Charlie Ingall, Danny Cipriani, Dwayne Peel, Eifion Lewis-Roberts, Marc Jones, Vadim Cobilas, Jonathan Mills, Michael Paterson, James Gaskell, David Seymour (Captain), Viliami Fahiki

Replacements Tommy Taylor, Ross Harrison, Henry Thomas, Andrei Ostikov, Mark Easter, Will Cliff, Joe Ford, Mark Jennings

CJ, you would very much mind Youngs late inclusion he is a far superior player to Briggs and was a Lions hooker for a reason. Briggs won't be offering the powerful all action display Tom did against Wasps last week.

Mulipola would be a massive loss. Balmain on the bench is a solid but not destructive scrummager and can certainly carry in the loose as well as being a harder worker in defence. It's that Balmain is only 22 and will be backed up by Pasquali an 18 year old Italian should Mulipola be unfit.

beshocked wrote:http://www.saracens.com/saracens-name-side-to-face-newcastle-falcons/

Newcastle can beat this Sarries side I think.

It's the frontrow and halfbacks where Sarries will look to get the upper hand.

You're certainly giving us every chance Beshocked.

We'll either sneak it by 3 or lose by 20/30, there doesn't seem to be any in between at the minute.

Just heard on R5 Marler out.

broadlandboy wrote:Just heard on R5 Marler out.

great news for us.

just trying to get bt sport working from this holiday cottage, i thought the game was on at 7pm on bt sport. I've got a couple of weird blokes that think their funny?

Toby Flood starting at 10.

BigTrevsbigmac wrote:Toby Flood starting at 10.

he has been since the teams were announced wasnt he?

nathan wrote:

BigTrevsbigmac wrote:Toby Flood starting at 10.

he has been since the teams were announced wasnt he?

Yes I just noticed myself & was a bit surprised. Looking forward to the game can't call it.

LondonTiger wrote:I have a funny feeling we may well see a late change to the front row.

I guess I was kind of right?

Good luck guys. Hoping for a good game

Looks forward from Crane

Hello guys, would anyone be so kind as to message me a link where the sound doesn't sound like the microphone is being thrown rubbed against a cheese grater?

Canny start for Tigers

Mmm bit fortunate but good start from Slater

great break by slater, that last pass was 50/50 for me.

Nevermind, found one. Looks to be a cracker!

Lucky decision for Tigers