Summer Tournament Semi Finals 2nd Leg

Cup Semi Finals


Gloucester (32) vs. Bath Rugby (31)

Gloucester 
Manager – Mat

01. Beast	09. Dan Robson
02. Adriaan Strauss	10. Dan Carter
03. Nicola Mas
04. Etzbeth	11. Johnny May
05. George Robson	12. Matt toomua
06. Tom Croft	13. Kurindrani
07. Qera	14. Gear
08. Jaimie Heaslip	15. Sam Davies

16. Nick Wood 17. Joe Grey18. Figallo19. Elliot Stooke 20.Dickinson 21.TJ Perenara 22. Danny Cipriani 23. Charlie Walker

Bath Rugby
Manager – inthefastlane

01. Cian Healy	09. Richard Wigglesworth
02. Mike Haywood	10. Christian Lealiafano
03. Charlie Faumuania
04. Luke Romano	11. Sitiveni Sivivatu
05. Sam Whitelock	12. Kurtley Beale
06. Liam Squire	13. Matt Hopper
07. Liam Gill	14. Rob Horne
08. Liam Messam	15. Alex Goode

16. Richard Hibbard 17. James Slipper 18. Jake Cooper Wollsey 19. Luke Jones 20. James Haskell 21. Fourie Du Preez 22. Damien De Allende 23. Hallan Amos


Sale Sharks (27) vs. Wasps (29)

Sale Sharks
Manager – SJE

01. Jack McGrath	09. Danny Care
02. Benjamin Kayser	10. Beauden Barrett
03. Samson Lee
04. Brodie Retalick	11. Craig Gilroy
05. Iain Henderson	12. Anthony Allen
06. Steven Luatua	13. Jared Payne
07. Sam Cane	14. Semesa Rokoduguni
08. Luke Whitelock	15. Nick Abendanon

:-
16. Ross Harrison 17. Tommy Taylor 18. Rabah Slimani 19. Will Skelton 20. Matt Garvey 21. Faf De Klerk 22. JJ Hanrahan 23. Kyle Eastmond

 Wasps
Manager  Ozzy3213

01. Scott Sio	09. Ben Youngs
02. Tom Youngs	10. Shane Geraghty
03. Ben Alexander
04. Romain Millo-Chluski	11. Anthony Watson
05. Alun-Wyn Jones	12. Paul Jordaan
06. Marcell Coetzee	13. Samu Kerevi
07. Fulgence Ouedraogo	14. Marland Yarde
08. Alessandro Zanni	15. Tim Nanai-Williams

16. Deon Fourie 17. Thomas du Toit 18. Frans Malherbe 19. Matt Symons 20. Luke Narraway 21. Mitchell Drummond 22. Gareth Anscombe 23. Tom Collins

Tactics

• Standard tactics of a possession based game and looking to go through the phases with pace and intensity.
  
• Offloading in or just before the tackle to keep the ball alive and move the opposition defence around.
  
• Blitz defence with scrum half sweeping to cover.
  

Plate Semi Finals

Saracens (22) vs. Newcastle Falcons (27)

Saracens
Manager – Pooly

01. Alex Waller	09. Morgan Parra
02. Keven Mealamu	10. Bernard Foley
03. Jannie Du Plessis
04. Flip Van Der Merwe	11. Juan Imhoff
05. Victor Matfield(c)	12. Maxime Mermoz
06. Dave Denton	13. Jonathan Davies
07. Thierry Dusatoir	14. Miles Benjamin
08. Jonnie Beattie	15. Zak Guildford

:-
16. Jamie George 17. Max Lahiff 18. Matius Diaz 19. Louis Deacon 20. Nathan Hughes 21. Henry Taylor 22. Freddie Burns 23. George Lowe

- can I get feedback on combo's pls

Falcons

15.Rob Miller
14.Cory Jane
13.Marcelo Bosch
12.Brad Barritt
11.Charles Pitatau
10.Owen Farrell
9.Greig Laidlaw

1.Matt Mullen
2.Dane Coles
3.Carl Hayman
4.Ed Slater (c)
5.Yoaan Maestri
6.Richie McCaw
7.Will Fraser
8.Kieron Read

16.rory best 17.tonga 18.franks 19.parling 20.ewers 21.lewis 22.goode 23.smith


Harlequins (27) vs. Northampton Saints (27)

Harlequins

1. Tony Woodcock
2. Schalk Brits
3. John Afoa
4. Bakkies Botha
5. Jim Hamilton
6. Tom Wood
7. Michael Hooper
8. Nick Easter
9. Ruan Pienaar (k)
10. Quade Cooper
11. Jack Nowell
12. Jamie Roberts
13. Jonathan Joseph
14. Yoann Huget
15. Rob Kearney

16. Tatafu Polata-Nau 17. Gjorji Jgenti 18. Kieran Brookes 19. George Kruis 20. Mamuka Gorgodze 21. Karl Dickson 22. Steven Myler 23. Aurelien Rougerie

Northampton Saints

1. Thomas Domingo
2. Dylan Hartley (c)
3. Logi Mulipola
4. Joe Launchbury
5. Courtney Lawes
6. Julian Bonnaire
7. Chris Robshaw
8. Billy Vunipola

9. Gareth Davies
10. Hendre Pollard

11. Julian Savea
12. Weslie Fofana
13. Manu Tuilagi
14. Tommy Bowe
15. Leigh Halfpenny (k)

16. Rhys Marshall 17. Trevor Nyakane 18 Adam Jones 19 Manu Samoa 20 Sergio Parisse 21. Niko Matawulu 22. George Ford 23. Elliot Daly

Tactics:

- high tempo, physical game getting big ball carriers on the ball and tiring down opposition
- focus on generating quick ball from the lineout for backline to attack
- impact bench to change the pace of the game in final 20mins


Shield Semi Finals

London Irish (27) vs. Exeter Chiefs (27)

01. Ben Franks	09. Lee Dickson
02. Ken Owens	10. Owen Williams
03. Henry Thomas
04. Tom Savage	11. Nick Cummins
05. Jacques Poigeiter	12. Alapati Leiua
06. Scott Higginbotham	13. Conrad Smith
07. Sam Warburton	14. JP Pietersen
08. Ben Morgan	15. Brice Dulin

16. Tom Lindsay 17. Tom Smallbone 18. Will Collier 19. Dean Mumm 20. Kelly Brown 21. Rory Kockott 22. Dan Biggar 23. Henry Trinder

Thoughts on combinations?
Where do I need to use my last foregin on?
What style of play should I go for?

Exeter Chiefs 
Manager – Fluxy

01. Wyatt Crockett	09. Connor Murray
02. Sean Cronin	10. Toby Flood (k)
03. Jamie Johnston
04. Patrick Tuipulotu	11. Tom Varndell
05. Paul O'Connell (c)	12. Luther Burrell
06. Calum Clark	13. Adam Ashley-Cooper
07. Yannick Nyanga	14. David Strettle
08. Toby Faletau	15. James O'Connor

16. Dimitri Szarzewski 17. Richard Barrington 18. Phil Swainston 19. Kane Douglas 20.Carl Fearns 21. Chris Cook 22. Marnitz Boshoff 23. Andrew Trimble


Leicester Tigers (30) vs. London Welsh (23)

Leicester Tigers
Manager – LukeLovesLuka

01. Gethin Jenkins	09. Kahn Fotuali'i
02. Stephen Moore (c)	10. Tusi Pisi (k)
03. Cencus Johnston
04. Nathan Hines	11. Alex Cuthbert
05. Pascal Pape	12. Billy Twelvetrees
06. Tom Johnson	13. Mathieu Bastareaud
07. Jacques Burger	14. Napolini Nalaga
08. Ernst Joubert	15. Mike Brown

16. Christopher Tolofua 17. Alex Corbisiero 18. Dan Cole 19. Kearnan Myall 20. Steve Mafi 21. Micky Young 22. Brock James 23. Drew Mitchell

London Welsh

01. Yannick Forestier	09. Tawera Kerr-Barlowe
02. Dave Ward	10. Francois Trinh-Duc
03. BJ Botha
04. George Skivington (c)	11. Sean Maitland
05. Sepoki Timani	12. Kyle Godwin
06. Julien Lapandry	13. Michelle Campagnaro
07. Luke Wallace	14. Mark Cueto
08. Victor Vito	15. Jesse Mogg

16. Matthew Rees 17. David Kilcoyne 18. Sepoke Kepu 19.  
Mouritz Botha 20. Tom Guest 21. Ben Spencer 22. Jordan Turner Hall 23. Chris Pennell

Wasps make 22 changes to their squad for the second leg of their cup semi final with Sale Sharks.  

 Wasps
Manager  Ozzy3213

01. Scott Sio	09. Ben Youngs
02. Tom Youngs	10. Shane Geraghty
03. Ben Alexander
04. Romain Millo-Chluski	11. Anthony Watson
05. Alun-Wyn Jones	12. Paul Jordaan
06. Marcell Coetzee	13. Samu Kerevi
07. Fulgence Ouedraogo	14. Marland Yarde
08. Alessandro Zanni	15. Tim Nanai-Williams

16. Deon Fourie 17. Thomas du Toit 18. Frans Malherbe 19. Matt Symons 20. Luke Narraway 21. Mitchell Drummond 22. Gareth Anscombe 23. Tom Collins

Tactics

• Standard tactics of a possession based game and looking to go through the phases with pace and intensity.
  
• Offloading in or just before the tackle to keep the ball alive and move the opposition defence around.
  
• Blitz defence with scrum half sweeping to cover.
  

Falcons team to play Saracens

15.Rob Miller
14.Cory Jane
13.Marcelo Bosch
12.Brad Barritt
11.Charles Pitatau

10.Owen Farrell
9.Greig Laidlaw


1.Matt Mullen
2.Dane Coles
3.Carl Hayman
4.Ed Slater (c)
5.Yoaan Maestri
6.Richie McCaw
7.Will Fraser
8.Kieron Read

16.rory best 17.tonga 18.franks 19.parling 20.ewers 21.lewis 22.goode 23.smith

London Welsh

01. Yannick Forestier	09. Tawera Kerr-Barlowe
02. Dave Ward	10. Francois Trinh-Duc
03. BJ Botha
04. George Skivington (c)	11. Sean Maitland
05. Sepoki Timani	12. Kyle Godwin
06. Julien Lapandry	13. Michelle Campagnaro
07. Luke Wallace	14. Mark Cueto
08. Victor Vito	15. Jesse Mogg

16. Matthew Rees 17. David Kilcoyne 18. Sepoke Kepu 19.  
Mouritz Botha 20. Tom Guest 21. Ben Spencer 22. Jordan Turner Hall 23. Chris Pennell

Harlequins

1. Tony Woodcock
2. Schalk Brits
3. John Afoa
4. Bakkies Botha
5. Jim Hamilton
6. Tom Wood
7. Michael Hooper
8. Nick Easter
9. Ruan Pienaar (k)
10. Quade Cooper
11. Jack Nowell
12. Jamie Roberts
13. Jonathan Joseph
14. Yoann Huget
15. Rob Kearney

16. Tatafu Polata-Nau 17. Gjorji Jgenti 18. Kieran Brookes 19. George Kruis 20. Mamuka Gorgodze 21. Karl Dickson 22. Steven Myler 23. Aurelien Rougerie

Leicester Tigers
Manager – LukeLovesLuka

01. Gethin Jenkins	09. Kahn Fotuali'i
02. Stephen Moore (c)	10. Tusi Pisi (k)
03. Cencus Johnston
04. Nathan Hines	11. Alex Cuthbert
05. Pascal Pape	12. Billy Twelvetrees
06. Tom Johnson	13. Mathieu Bastareaud
07. Jacques Burger	14. Napolini Nalaga
08. Ernst Joubert	15. Mike Brown

16. Christopher Tolofua 17. Alex Corbisiero 18. Dan Cole 19. Kearnan Myall 20. Steve Mafi 21. Micky Young 22. Brock James 23. Drew Mitchell

1. Thomas Domingo
2. Dylan Hartley (c)
3. Logi Mulipola
4. Joe Launchbury
5. Courtney Lawes
6. Julian Bonnaire
7. Chris Robshaw
8. Billy Vunipola

9. Gareth Davies
10. Hendre Pollard

11. Julian Savea
12. Weslie Fofana
13. Manu Tuilagi
14. Tommy Bowe
15. Leigh Halfpenny (k)

16. Rhys Marshall 17. Trevor Nyakane 18 Adam Jones 19 Manu Samoa 20 Sergio Parisse 21. Niko Matawulu 22. George Ford 23. Elliot Daly

Tactics:

- high tempo, physical game getting big ball carriers on the ball and tiring down opposition
- focus on generating quick ball from the lineout for backline to attack
- impact bench to change the pace of the game in final 20mins

SA Guy is some player.

Might struggle to predo this week lads, I'll try my best

Exeter Chiefs 

Manager – Fluxy

01. Wyatt Crockett	09. Connor Murray
02. Sean Cronin	10. Toby Flood (k)
03. Jamie Johnston
04. Patrick Tuipulotu	11. Tom Varndell
05. Paul O'Connell (c)	12. Luther Burrell
06. Calum Clark	13. Adam Ashley-Cooper
07. Yannick Nyanga	14. David Strettle
08. Toby Faletau	15. James O'Connor

16. Dimitri Szarzewski 17. Richard Barrington 18. Phil Swainston 19. Kane Douglas 20.Carl Fearns 21. Chris Cook 22. Marnitz Boshoff 23. Andrew Trimble

:o Matt used a template!


Busy at first week of work guys, may struggle to get full predos but will do my best

They are much better now they are in grids

01. Ben Franks	09. Lee Dickson
02. Ken Owens	10. Owen Williams
03. Henry Thomas
04. Tom Savage	11. Nick Cummins
05. Jacques Poigeiter	12. Alapati Leiua
06. Scott Higginbotham	13. Conrad Smith
07. Sam Warburton	14. JP Pietersen
08. Ben Morgan	15. Brice Dulin

16. Tom Lindsay 17. Tom Smallbone 18. Will Collier 19. Dean Mumm 20. Kelly Brown 21. Rory Kockott 22. Dan Biggar 23. Henry Trinder

Thoughts on combinations?
Where do I need to use my last foregin on?
What style of play should I go for?

Could I just use last weeks team pls

Bath Rugby
Manager – inthefastlane

01. Cian Healy	09. Richard Wigglesworth
02. Mike Haywood	10. Christian Lealiafano
03. Charlie Faumuania
04. Luke Romano	11. Sitiveni Sivivatu
05. Sam Whitelock	12. Kurtley Beale
06. Liam Squire	13. Matt Hopper
07. Liam Gill	14. Rob Horne
08. Liam Messam	15. Alex Goode

16. Richard Hibbard 17. James Slipper 18. Jake Cooper Wollsey 19. Luke Jones 20. James Haskell 21. Fourie Du Preez 22. Damien De Allende 23. Hallan Amos

Just waiting on a team from SJE, but other than that predictions are open.

Sale Sharks
Manager – SJE

01. Jack McGrath	09. Danny Care
02. Benjamin Kayser	10. Beauden Barrett
03. Samson Lee
04. Brodie Retalick	11. Craig Gilroy
05. Iain Henderson	12. Anthony Allen
06. Steven Luatua	13. Jared Payne
07. Sam Cane	14. Semesa Rokoduguni
08. Luke Whitelock	15. Nick Abendanon

:-
16. Ross Harrison 17. Tommy Taylor 18. Rabah Slimani 19. Will Skelton 20. Matt Garvey 21. Faf De Klerk 22. JJ Hanrahan 23. Kyle Eastmond

Apologies for the late team sheet. Up the walls at the moment. May not get predictions in so apologies in advance.

Glos 28-26 Bath
Glos take the front row with Strauss a bit above Haywood. 2nd rows fairly even but backrow does go to Glos but I like the balance of both teams here. Think I just edge the 10 battle to Carter here. Centres and back threes looking good but I prefer Horne in the centre rather than on the wing. Sam Davies looks good but I don’t think he’s ready just yet for a big match on this game. Two good benches but feel Glos just have enough to edge this game.

Sale 25-23 Wasps
A great front row battle here, big fan of these combinations. Not much between the 2nd rows but in the back rows I’m not massively sold on Zanni at 8 sorry. Bit more for Sale at half backs. Both teams looking pretty dangerous out wide. Slight advantage to Sale on the bench but not a lot.

Sarries 25-24 Falcons
Feel that Sarries take the pack with a nice balance, back rows are fairly even and Sarries may be dented later in the year with Denton’s recent injury. Not overly sold on the 9-10 combination Pooly, and feel Falcons take an advantage here. Sarries centres and back 3 combination look very good. Falcons won’t give much away though. Little bit more on bench for Falcons. Think Sarries only just take this with their front 5.

Quins 28-28 Saints
2 great front 5’s on show, nothing between them, feel Quins take the carrying part of the game but Saints have the agility and lineout work. Great balance in both of the backrows on show. Bit more experience for Quinsa t half back but Saints’ half backs should hit top form this season. Prefer the Saints centres and much of a muchness in the back 3’s. Again, nothing between the benches. This I feel will be one of the top matches of the season when we go into the real league. Going to have to sit on the fence sorry!

Tigers 24-22 Welsh
Bit more overall in the pack from Tigers but the Welsh 2nd row and back row will put up a good fight and Ward isn’t a shirker. Slightly prefer the half backs from Welsh but Tigers will provide control. Back 3 to Tigers and they just edge the centres. A very close game here, feel maybe starting Kepu and Pennell will help Welsh.

How long do we think Pennell will keep form on this game? I am really hoping he goes on loan...

Gloucester 27-24 Bath
Slight scrum edge for Matt, bit more in the backrow and at 10.

Saracens 25-21 Newcastle
Bit more to the Sarries set piece but slight breakdown edge for Falcons. More creativity about Sarries in halfbacks and midfield and assuming good weather this edges

Harlequins 28-24 Northampton
More about Quins at the scrum and see a slight breakdown advantage. Greater experience of the halfbacks also telling.

London Irish 30-29 Exeter
Bit more in the set piece for Chiefs but better backrow balance for Irish. HBs tight on current form as are the backs. Sub HBs give Irish greater control late on for super tight win.

Leicester 28-25 Welsh
Scrum edge to Tigers and more heavy carrying to their pack. Breakdown tight though. More at 10 for Welsh but Tigers midfield gives them an edge.

Sale 29-26 Wasps

Two mobile front rows, neither big scrummagers. Sale will get on top in line out with no real operator for Wasps, they could struggle here this season esp with Youngs throwing. All decent backrow players on show no real one on top.

Nothing in 9's but Barrett a class up, similar in centres with Sale better at 12/13. Wasps stronger in each back 3 position but line out and 10-13 see Sale win.

harlequins 25-25 Saints

Quins with edge in scrum with Mulipola not a good TH against Woodcock. Strong 2nd rows, very contrasting, Saints certainly a good summer unit and Quins more winter. Great line outs for both. Bonnaire prob the weakest player on show in backrow but good contest, Easter for Steve could be improved.

Pienaar a class up on Davies and similar with Cooper on a Pollard but Cooper lacks a lot of form. Pollard really stifles Saints back line (which is outstanding). Saints a little stronger 12-15, good line up. Really tight game, Saints need a better scrum and halfbacks but looking good. Steve needs some form at 10 and 13.

Irish 23-27 Exeter

Irish
- Thomas can be got at
- no line out op
+ v good backrow
+ nice half backs and back 3 (don't know 12)

Exeter
+ strong front 5, compete with most
+ everything in engine room and strong halfbacks
+ really liking blend of team, mid table/top half
- flood form key to season
- bench props maybe improved??

Tigers 29-27 Welsh

+ decent front row, grizzly engine room for winter
+ centres good
+ great finishing wings, loads of tries
- line out just ok
- lack of carrying in backrow, Joubert standout
- Pisi not greatest

+ good all over, no real weakness but no real top class??
+ lovely half backs
+ centres bags of potential and running
- lack of star quality could cost
- not sure Wallace good enough at AP level (in game)

Gloucester 24 - 23 Bath

Davies for Gloucester and Hopper and Squire stand out as weaknesses for both sides. Robson likely a weakness in big games for me. Doesn't cut mustard with the best.

Sale 23 - 25 Wasps

In the pack I think that Wasps have the stronger unit across the board. Half backs a step up to Sale as are the centres. Back three edge to Wasps. Tough to call but Wasps edge it with the stronger pack.

Saracens 28 - 25 Newcastle

I don't like the McCaw/Fraser combo myself Driver. Pooly I think Benjamin stands out as a weakness in your side. Overall I think both Tightheads will get some joy against their opposing looseheads. Not enough creativity in the backs for me for Falcons and whilst solid defensively teams will still get through the gaps at times with the quality on display in this league.

Irish 30 - 31Exeter

Really tough to call this one with two strong sides. I'd wager that both scrums could struggle in AP games and I'm a touch concerned with the 10/12 axis of Williams and Leiua. Really like the Chiefs side.

Leicester 22 - 20 Welsh

I think that Leicester's backrow and halfbacks would struggle against the best in this league. Front 5 strong and a nice centre pairing. Superb back three. Welsh back line is good but the pack struggles in this one for me. Need a few quality players in their.

Gloucester Rugby 28 - 25 Bath Rugby

Good up front battle, which is just edged by the Glos lads with a little bit more in key positions. Like wiggles who will dictate good tempo for his backs. Defensive nightmare in the midfield, with Toouma being the best of bad bunch for me. Perhaps a better partnership with Beale/Horne to sure up defence. Very attacking Glos back three, but can be got at by the well rounded Bath unit. Tough one to split, once the Glos bench empties later on, they just have a big number of lads who can turn something on in an instant. 

Sale Sharks 26 - 25 London Wasps

Wasps to edge the scrum with Alexander's experience leading the way, but line-out time will see it a lot more even. This sees both sides having a fair share of possession, for their back lines. Zanni not the best 8, much prefer him at flank, but compliments the other lads well. I do like the Sharks back five and can see them getting through a ton of work. I like the Care/Barrett combo who will get the best of their back line. In comparison to a very attack minded Wasps back line, who I imagine would be trying to get the ball into the hands of their back three who are dynamite. 
After the subs have been made, Sharks will prevail with the slimmest of margins. 

Saracens 24 - 26 Newcastle Falcons

Two good strong packs that go into battle here but feel that the Sarries are let down a bit by form issues for some lads in recent times. Whereas on the other hand Falcons have a majority of their pack in form recently. Faz has been a great acquisition, but for me needs an attacking scrum-half to get the best out of him, and will have to see how Laidlaw will effect that. I like the Sarries combination who will dictate pace of the game and create opportunities for their midfield. I like the Falcons back three who will get their opportunities in attack and take them and are well rounded. Tough one to split, in the end Falcons will just edge the game here. 

Harlequins 35 - 34 Northampton Saints

Two exceptional packs, which are hard to seperate without tactics. Maybe a slight edge to Quins in the set piece. In the backs Quins edge the halfbacks, with Saints looking strong with a combination for the future. Again two set of cracking back lines, but Saints edge this battle with a unit that oozes class, but have a slightly less chance to play in comparison to Quins who use their set-piece advantage to starve as much as they can, the ball from Saints. Great impact bench, but Pienaar will kick Quins to the tightest of wins.

Leicester Tigers 29 - 27 London Welsh


Tough old fight up front, with two real grizzled units that will look to slog it out. This impedes the game a little as the backs have little chance to get to play, but when they do Welsh half backs will play the territory game well to put their forwards in the right places. However Tigers back line when they can get ball in hand are dangerous and make serious yards, especially in the back three. Tough on Welsh, who I think lack a high % kicker to kill of Tigers here. FTD has improved but not quite the reliable kicker that springs to mind instantly.

Gloucester 28 Bath 23

Gloucester

+ Side very well balanced , Robson needs a big year. 
+ May and Gear good balance to it , Davies maybe a year too soon.
-Toomua needs to nail Australia jersey for ratings to go up.

Bath 

+ Wrigglesworth and Chris good territory combo
+ Beale at 12 
+ Lock combo quality
- Hopper outside beale , Horne would be better choice there outside Beale.

Sale Sharks 25 London Wasps 23

Sale 

+ Retalick could push Etz as best 4 in world 
+ Really good back line and mobile pack. Care the catalyst for a high tempo game.
- Need a proper back row on the bench , Garvey is canny at 6 but against better teams might struggle.
- back 3 might struggle if kicked against.

London Wasps

+ Sio , Youngs and Coatzee really dynamic forwards and offer a lot.
+ Fourie , TDP , Marbella and Anscombe good impact 
+ Youngs and Geregty suit pacey game plan.
- Not a big AWJ fan , come on but still not a top lock for me. 
- Zanni i'd like to see do well for Italy at 8 again but he's got Parisse in front of him

Saracens

+  Good angry pack , will win plenty of collision area ball.
+ Parra and Foley go well , centres quality. 
+ Guildford ment to be at 15 for Clermout so could turn out well.
- lots of raw players on the bench.

Gloucester 28 - 26 Bath

Bath ahead on set piece but Glous in the pack in the loose. Mostly edge to Glaws backs, not sure of Davies at 15.

Glaws: positives: 10-14 excellent and well balanced. Good backrow and locks that will work together and still excel at the lineout. I think Robson will have a good season if he can start. Good bench that shores up pack and has attacking power in backs.
Negatives: not a front row I particularly rate inform, I just don't rate Beast that much in the scrum and Mas is class but has been hit and miss. Davies at 15 unsure for me. Carter needs to stay fit! As does Croft.

Bath: positives: solid front row and class locks. Good use of name Liam. Exceptionally good kicking side for wet weather, Beale at 12 in great nick and can see that backline as good in all conditions.
Negatives: Hopper doesn't convince me and I'm a Quins fan. Weak defence in backs. LLF better at 12 for me (though he's a decent 10). Backrow lacks a little pace and linkmanship. A defence leader at 13 would make a huge difference, as would someone with skills and carrying at 6 or 8 (Messam to 6).

Sale 30 - 29 Wasps

Very close in packs, just a bit more class in the backs nabs it for Sharks

Sale: positives- young pack that will keep improving . I like the balance of 4-8, Henderson adding left, Luatua power and lots of playing ability in back row. Incredible attacking HBs, balanced centres and attack in all varieties in back 3. Will score tries.
Negative- more experience in pack. Game control in wet at 9-10 not as good. Front row looks a tad vulnerable due to inexperience.

Wasps: + huge workrate for pack, good locks and flankers for breakdown especially. Links with backs well. Great balance to back 3, Youngs in form and dangerous centres
- risky using Aussie props. Zanni at 8 hard to assess, bit lightweight in backrow. Not sure Geraghty is a starting 10, and lacks kicking and goal kicking in the backs.

Sarries 25 - 23 Falcons

Falcons pressurise Sarries pack in the loose and breakdown but enough difference outside that to win for Sarroes

Sarries:+ both set pieces very strong. Fantastic and complimentary HBs. Good centres if you have them switching a bit. Pace out wide
- back row looks a tad 1D, lacking some loose game in tight forwards. Not sure of back 3 balance, need to see Guildford at 15.

Falcons+ powerful scrum with locks helping, I think the backrow works and will be great in the breakdown. Good pack in the loose. Sarries combo at centre proven. FB wingers good to have and also both good enough as pure wings
- lineout looks weak. 9-10 too kicky, not v passy and looked tired. Miller great kicker but not as good as other FBs in overall skills

Quins 29 - 28 Saints

V close, tight 5 just to Quins, evens and excellent backrows, HBs to Quins, outside backs to Saints. Bench maybe just to Quins, edges match

Quins+ power in second row, great backrow, running in the pack, and HBs can be best when both firing, solid back 3 good in all conditions, great bench.
- Woodcock ageing, centres lacking flair

Saints+ England lock pairing, great backrow, excellent 11-15
- bench good but not quite as good as Quins, form of props, HBs v inexperienced

Will finish the last one soon

Irish 25 - 24 Exeter

I'm seesawing on the pack and with very close backs it's very tight indeed. Irish nick it

Irish+ good locks that will only improve. Great backrow, maybe a tad lightweight but dynamic. Solid front row, Thomas needs to impress me though. V good lineout. Like the halfbacks, Williams has a big future and Dickson was good last season. Decent 12 and excellent 13. Good back 3 with attacking class.

- Thomas scrummaging, lightweight backrow, otherwise no obvious weaknesses

I'd play fast and loose, move around bigger packs and and use your lineout as a platform for running backs moves, use those back 3 players coming onto the line and attack the middle channels moving the focus of attack around. Last foreign- top class prop maybe? Or a monster back row forward.

Exeter+ decent set piece, like the breakdown ability and general back row, 9+10 work well, great back 3 in attack
- heavy carrying in pack, speed in centres, defence in back 3

Luke, biggest weakness for me is 9-10 but it's relative. And maybe TJ at 6. Very strong all round side

Cheers for the feedback cj

Gloucester 31 - 29 Bath
Really good battle up front, Messam a better no6 than no8 and Haywood is good AP player but could see him struggling against Strauss and other top class no2s. Better platform for Gloucester, Robson behindGloucester pack in real life could have a very good season ahead of him but need to see more of Davies at fb to judge him. Not quite sure the Bath midfield has the right balance and could be got at defensively, but will score and create chances. If a more exp no9 then could have been a bigger win for Gloucester.

Sale 27 - 24 Wasps
Close up front, can't really see a team that has the advantage here - maybe a bit more in the Wasps backrow but otherwise very even. Sale take it for me in the midfield and halfback combination - sorry Pete I haven't really seen your 12-13 play all that much but really rate SJE's team from 10-13 and that makes the difference for me in this one.

Saracens 22 - 21 Newcastle
Agree with Steve's comments on this game - Falcons just need one creative player in the 10-13 channel and that backline tranforms into one that can score a lot of tries. Not sure about McCaw as a no6, he'd do a job but prefer backrow combo from week before. Sarries have got a great setpiece, only real obvious weakness is Benjamin, but he just needs a run of games.

Irish 25 - 25 Exeter
Can't split this one at all - like the creativity in the Irish backline, while the 12-13 defence of Exeter will be really hard for any team in this league to break down. Packs very even and Thomas is a great signing as he'll really improve at Bath. Overall both improved teams from alst year, just need to strenghten the benches and they can compete for top6 places.

Leicester 26 - 23 Welsh
Tigers are going to be very tough this year to beat, their pack is so strong and I can't see Welsh being able to get enough parity upfront to get enough ball to their backline to win the game. Need their Samoan halfbacks to start the season on form as could see them get marked down, espc if not many see Pisi play. Welsh just need a top class player in their pack and that would change the side, they have a great backline, halfbacks and just need to be able to compete with a pack as powerful as Lukes.

Guys,

Quick question for Chris and Steve , what arn't you sure about with McCaw at 6? He's just played the super rugby final there so i assumed that he'd be rated playing there.

I'm not having a pop , just curious as too why he isn't rated there.

 

Harlequins 24 Northampton 27

Quins

+ Good front 5 inc bench
+ Cooper and Roberts good 10/12 axis.
+ Pienaar also good foil for cooper.
- Easter would be passanger in pack , I'd start Brookes and play Gorgodze at 8.
- Cooper , Joseph and Kearney can be got at in defence.

Northampton

+ Mobile pack and proven combo at lock.
+ Back row similer to Englands might struggle on turnovers.
+ From 11-15 best backline in league.
- Pollard a year too early. 
- Not sure on 16 and 17 as i'v not seen much of them.

I don't mind him at 6, I don't think him and Fraser would be effective as a combo. Whilst there is a tremendous gulf in class between the two I see them as quite similar players. Great together in defence but in attack the back row offers nothing in hard yards with Read spending a large percentage of time out wide (where he is very effective I might add).

Essentially no problem with McCaw at 6 but Fraser, McCaw and Read. All blacks play Kaino, Messam with them, Crusaders use the outstanding Taufua. They need a dog along side them to do their best work and Fraser isn't that man.

I just preferred your combination from last week Driver and would say the same as Steve there.

Though seen that Fraser has made SL's 50 man squad and if he gets a run of games at Sarries without injuries he could really kick on again.

Will post scores by 8. Been away all weekend

Sale 26-23 Wasps
Sarries 28-27 Newcastle
Quins 26-21 Saints
Irish 23-27 Exeter
Leicester 29-25 Worcester

Sale 26-25Wasps
Quins 33-32Saints
Irish 26/27 Exeter
Leicester 29-28Worcester

RESULTS:

Gloucester 31-25 Bath
Sale Sharks 30-25 London Wasps
Saracens 28-24 Newcastle Falcons
Harlequins 31-28 Northampton Saints
London Irish 24-26 Exeter Chiefs
Leicester Tigers 28-22 London Welsh

BONUS:

Full: Fluxy, Steve, Prop, Chris, SJE, Pooly, CJ
Score/Incomplete: CJB, Matt, Driver