Season 7 Homepage IV

by SirJohnnyEnglish Tue 04 Nov 2014, 8:39 pm

First topic message reminder :

Breaking News: Exciting weekend of rugby with two thrilling 24 all draws while Saints unbeaten run came to an end at the Allianz

Season 7 Homepage IV - Page 20 Aviva-Premiership-Trophy-e1306508139154

2013/2014 – London Wasps
2012/2013 – Leicester Tigers
2011/2012 – Newcastle Falcons
2010/2011 - Newcastle Falcons
2009/2010 – Saracens
2008/2009 - London Irish

POS	Aviva Premiership	PLAYED	WON	DREW	LOST	P F	P A	P D	T F	T A	TBP	LBP	POINTS
1	Northampton Saints	9	8	0	1	255	216	39	28	19	5	1	38
2	Sale Sharks *	9	7	0	2	253	227	26	29	21	3	2	32
3	Harlequins *	9	5	2	2	254	230	24	27	22	2	2	27
4	Bath Rugby *	9	5	1	3	242	227	15	25	23	1	3	24
5	London Wasps *	9	5	1	3	241	236	5	24	25	1	2	24
6	Leicester Tigers	9	5	0	4	215	215	0	18	19	0	4	24
7	Exeter Chiefs *	9	3	4	2	220	224	-4	19	20	0	2	21
8	Saracens	9	3	1	5	216	233	-17	20	20	0	5	19
9	Gloucester	9	3	0	6	226	233	-7	20	21	0	5	17
10	London Welsh	9	3	0	6	215	234	-19	19	24	0	4	16
11	Newcastle Falcons *	9	1	1	7	207	241	-34	17	22	0	6	11
12	London Irish	9	0	2	7	215	247	-30	19	25	0	6	10

Links

Fixture List
Released/Championship/National League/Academy Bidding
Foreign Transfers
Budgets
European Homepage
Anglo Welsh Homepage

Welcome to Season 7 of the Aviva Premiership fantasy rugby game. Below are the rules of the game which must be adhered to. If there are any situations that arise in the course of the game which are not covered by the rules, a final decision will be made by the RFU (SJE) as to how the situation will be resolved.

Senior Squads wrote:
The maximum squad size is 40 senior players. If a team has more than 40 players in their squad then they will be fined £1 million per player over the permitted amounts per day for the first seven days. If after 7 consecutive days a team still has more than the permitted number of players then the team will be fined £2 million per player per day, and fined 1 league point per player per day for the next seven days. If after this time a team still has more than the permitted number of players in their squad, the RFU (SJE) will remove players at its discretion to bring them back under the permitted numbers. There will be no right of appeal to players being removed.

Be aware that all tier one international matches which are played during the season will count in the game, and players selected in the match day 23's for those matches will not be eligible to play for their clubs on that weekend, therefore you must give due consideration to the make-up of your squad.

Academy Rules wrote:
Each team will be allowed to have an academy squad of 20 players. Players who are in the academy must be born on or after 1st September 1992.

Any player, who is at any Premiership club in real life, either in their senior, academy or AASE squads, can be bid for on the domestic bidding page. Players who are at your own club in real life and are coming through the academy system must be bid for if you want them in your own academy.

Transfers wrote:

Domestic (other AP Teams)
Each team has a budget to use in the purchase of players. Domestic transfers between AP clubs, regardless of nationality of player, should be negotiated between the respective managers, and then confirmed on the Domestic Transfer Confirmation Page.
Domestic (Championship and below)
Each team may during the season purchase no more than 5 players from the Championship or the National Leagues. These players must be bid for on the National League Bidding page, and each bid will be considered by me on its own merits before being accepted or rejected. No bid will be accepted until a minimum of 24 hours has elapsed from the time the bid was made, in order to afford other managers the opportunity to make a counter bid.
Foreign
To make a foreign transfer (i.e. from any club outside of the AP, regardless of whether the player is English) a bid should be made on the Foreign Transfers Page, which will be considered by me against the posted guidelines for purchase prices before being accepted or rejected. No bid will be accepted until a minimum of 24 hours has elapsed from the time the bid was made, in order to afford other managers the opportunity to make a counter bid.

There will be a summer foreign transfer window, which will run as follows.

Open Window

Open transfer window, teams have unlimited bids provided they have the financial resources to cover them. Teams may only bid for one player at a time.

The window will open from the 9th of June but only to those sides that finish 8th and below at first. They will have a week to make one signing each before the window is open to all.

Player Releases wrote:
Managers may choose to release players from their clubs, for which they will be offered compensation

Compensation will be paid as follows

£2 million – current international (must have played international rugby in the previous 12 months)
£1.5 million – former international
£1m – top flight experience
£0.5m – other

All released players will be deemed to have joined a Championship side and can be bid for on the National League Bidding page.

Retirements wrote:
There will be no compensation for retiring players. Should a player who retires decide to come out of retirement and play again, then he will automatically go back to the club who he was playing for in the game when he retired.

Fixtures wrote:
There will be 22 Aviva Premiership games per season, plus the play offs. There will also be European Rugby Champions Cup, European Rugby Challenge Cup and Anglo Welsh Cup matches. These games will take place once a week. A match thread will be put up every Monday. Home teams must be named by midnight on Tuesday. Away teams must be named by midnight on Wednesday. Failure to meet these deadlines is punishable by the addition of three match points to the oppositions final score, unless both sides fail to do so. Both teams must provide tactics by midnight on Thursday. Predictions will be open from 00:01 hours on Friday and remain open until 15:00 hours on Sunday. Managers will post the scores that they think will happen from these games (apart from games in which they are involved). An average of all predictions will be taken, and then 0.5 points added to each teams score for each prediction that had them as the winner, and that will then be the final score.

Managers are asked to provide detail as to why they have predicted a result. To be considered a descriptive prediction this must be a full 3 lines long when entered into the text box.

Teams wrote:
When naming your team, not only should you put the starting XV and replacements, but also tactics that your team will employ. Results will be affected by the tactics described.

In addition, each team must have the following:-

For domestic competition at least 8 England qualified players in your match day 23, and at least 4 of those must be in your starting XV.

For European competition at least 8 England qualified players in your match day 23, and at least 6 of those must be in your starting XV.

At least 2 props and 1 hooker on the bench.

All players must be eligible (not injured or banned).

Failure to comply with these rules will result in a 1 league point deduction.

If you fail to submit a team for a match, then the other team will be automatically awarded a 30-0 bonus point win. If both teams fail to submit a team, then it will be scored as a 0-0 draw.

Injuries and Suspensions wrote:
Injuries in this game do NOT reflect real life, they will be generated by me.

Players banned in real life will be ineligible for selection in this game for the duration of the ban.

Inclusion of injured/banned players will result in them being replaced by players on the bench, and the bench not having eight players, which may result in punishment if it concerns the front-row.

Punishment for fielding an ineligible player will be loss of one match point.

Financial Rewards wrote:
There will be no rewards for the result of an individual match, instead the managers will receive cash for predicting.

£2m for descriptive predictions
£0.25m for scores on the doors predictions
If you fail to predict without first advising me that you are unable to do so that week, you will be fined £1m for a first offence, £2m for a second offence, £3m for a third offence etc upto a maximum of £5m per fine.

AP finishing positions.

Champions: 8m
Runners Up: 6m
Playoff Semi Finalist Losers: 5m
5th: 4m
6th: 3.5m
7th: 3m
8th: 2.5m
9th: 2m
10th: 1.5m
11th: 1m
12th: 0.5m

Heineken Cup

Losing Quarter Finalists - £2 million each
Losing Semi Finalists - £3 million each
Runners Up - £4 million
Champions - £5 million

Amlin Challenge Cup

Losing Quarter Finalists - £1 million each
Losing Semi Finalists - £2 million each
Runners Up - £3 million
Champions - £4 million

Anglo-Welsh Cup

Losing Semi Finalist - £1 million each
Runners Up - £2 million
Champions - £3 million

If your budgets falls below minus £10 million for any reason, the administrators (SJE) will step in and players from within your squad will be released for the relevant financial compensation (foreign transfer value) in order to bring your budget back above minus £10 million.

by **Ozzy3213** Fri 05 Dec 2014, 9:55 pm

For interesting I presume you mean illegal, dangerous and in essence shoite.

by Sgt_Pooly Fri 05 Dec 2014, 9:58 pm

Pretty much yea, he's not looking too good so far.

by **Ozzy3213** Fri 05 Dec 2014, 10:04 pm

He's not ready. They have rushed him in and he's clearly keen to impress but doesn't have the basics like positional awareness and reading the game yet, and against a good side where Bath are not completely on top, he will end up costing them a win.

by Guest Sat 06 Dec 2014, 1:06 am

Sgt_Pooly wrote:The more I see of Watson the less he looks like a FB. His kicking and work under the high ball leave a lot to be desired, good runner though.

You have to look beyond the immediate. He is super talented. High ball needs work but you get it through playing.

His step and pace are uncoachable

by prop_lyd Sat 06 Dec 2014, 9:14 am

Dan Robson to leave Glos end of season after failing to start contract talks, apparently annoyed with lack of game time. Could see him heading to Chiefs I reckon.

by dammit_chris Sat 06 Dec 2014, 9:37 am

Burgess a run of 80mins to get the experience - both games he's played have been so disjointed and stop start. The game was so stop and start last night, the ref went to the TMO so many times it was a bit of a joke.

Wouldn't ask him to change his tackling, apart from telling him not to always go looking for the big hit to make an impression - with his size in midfield he could be one scary enforcer!

by **Ozzy3213** Sat 06 Dec 2014, 9:43 am

You wouldn't ask him to consider using his arms in the tackle then Chris? It could be quite important during his career in union to be honest.

by Guest Sat 06 Dec 2014, 9:45 am

prop_lyd wrote:Dan Robson to leave Glos end of season after failing to start contract talks, apparently annoyed with lack of game time. Could see him heading to Chiefs I reckon.

Shambles prop. One of our best players and a local lad in that he has been with us since a kid

by Sgt_Pooly Sat 06 Dec 2014, 9:57 am

He needs work on his tackling Chris. High and swinging arms are not allowed in Union, he'll never be on the pitch if he carries on like that.

Another very underwhelming performance tbh, the WC has to be too soon.

by Guest Sat 06 Dec 2014, 10:11 am

With Burgess he needs time. Can't judge him yet

by dammit_chris Sat 06 Dec 2014, 10:23 am

Lancaster has said he will get some game time with the Saxons in January, so he's clearly on his radar. Think he will start next week, will take him 5-6 games to adjust.

Both been odd games to introduce him to, very stop start with all the yellow cards against Quins and the reffing yesterday - not sure what is going on with refs at the moment but the standard really seems to have dropped off and far too much reliance on TMO.

by **Ozzy3213** Sat 06 Dec 2014, 10:44 am

The ref, yellow cards, the weather. None of those have any bearing on whether a player knows where to stand in attack or routinely forgets to use their arms in the tackle. He may well come good, it is still really early days, but at the moment he doesn't look ready to me.

by Sgt_Pooly Sat 06 Dec 2014, 10:55 am

Agree with Pete.

He's playing so he's open to being judged. He's nowhere near ready to start a game yet imo.

by Guest Sat 06 Dec 2014, 11:12 am

Nowhere near ready yet agree with that

by dammit_chris Sat 06 Dec 2014, 11:51 am

Trouble is best way to learn is to play games - there are very few 'A' league games around.

You need to give him 5-6 full games before judging him, let him play alongside a settled no10 as he's had Deveto, Eastmond and Ford to play alongside. Hope he learns quicl

by Sgt_Pooly Sat 06 Dec 2014, 11:58 am

I can imagine we'll be saying the same thing after 5/6 games Chris, he doesn't look like a union player.

You are right that it's early to judge but they've thrust him into the limelight and he's there to be critiqued.

by Sgt_Pooly Sat 06 Dec 2014, 1:17 pm

What a break from Hodgson

by Sgt_Pooly Sat 06 Dec 2014, 3:45 pm

Top 10 FH's in rugby at the minute?

1. Johnny Sexton
2. Bernard Foley
3. Dan Carter
4. Dan Bigger
5. Aaron Cruden
6. Beauden Barrett
7. Nicolas Sanchez
8. Camille Lopez
9. Quade Cooper
10. Hendre Pollard

by Guest Sat 06 Dec 2014, 3:56 pm

Sgt_Pooly wrote:Top 10 FH's in rugby at the minute?

1. Johnny Sexton
2. Bernard Foley
3. Dan Carter
4. Dan Bigger
5. Aaron Cruden
6. Beauden Barrett
7. Nicolas Sanchez
8. Camille Lopez
9. Quade Cooper
10. Hendre Pollard

Weird list. As much as I like foley he would not be 2. Barret would be above cruden. Sexton universally number one. Would also say carter not 3 as he has not been playing.

Is this from in the loose ? If so that would explain it

by SirJohnnyEnglish Sat 06 Dec 2014, 4:00 pm

Sgt_Pooly wrote:Top 10 FH's in rugby at the minute?

1. Johnny Sexton
2. Bernard Foley
3. Dan Carter
4. Dan Bigger
5. Aaron Cruden
6. Beauden Barrett
7. Nicolas Sanchez
8. Camille Lopez
9. Quade Cooper
10. Hendre Pollard

Surely you'd have Lambie in above Pollard after recent discussions on here???? devil

Sexton a clear no 1 but after that wide open. Barrett/Cruden/Foley/Sanchez all having good years but have their faults Carter barely played a game. Was very impressed with Lopez for France this Autumn.

by Sgt_Pooly Sat 06 Dec 2014, 4:02 pm

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/10-best-outside-halves-world-rugby-8236127?

On form it's not a million miles off, maybe take out Carter & Cooper who haven't played much.

by Sgt_Pooly Sat 06 Dec 2014, 4:05 pm

I would have Lambie above Pollard Johnny, it's not my list though lol.

Pollard would make a form top 10 though, he's had some good games (and some awful ones). Bigger would be lucky to make top 10, Cruden would be 2nd.

by ChequeredJersey Sat 06 Dec 2014, 4:20 pm

Ah, WOL. That explains why Biggar is 4th...

by Sgt_Pooly Sat 06 Dec 2014, 4:23 pm

Bigger above Cruden is cringeworthy.

by Guest Sun 07 Dec 2014, 8:47 am

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/international/england/11277417/Sam-Burgess-will-only-learn-if-he-plays-it-is-time-for-Bath-to-let-him-start.html

by Steven_Sharks Sun 07 Dec 2014, 8:59 am

Foley is some distance off being the 2nd best fly half in the world.

Sexton, Carter, Barrett my top 3 at the minute. Big Barrett fan. Carter just class.

Lopez went missing in one game for France but when he's good he's brilliant.

by Guest Sun 07 Dec 2014, 9:08 am

Steven_Sharks wrote:Foley is some distance off being the 2nd best fly half in the world.

Sexton, Carter, Barrett my top 3 at the minute. Big Barrett fan. Carter just class.

Lopez went missing in one game for France but when he's good he's brilliant.

I would pretty much agree with that as my personal preference. All 3 of those have a kicking game out of hand far superior to the others.

An intereresting fact of the autumn internationals is that nick phipps did not kick the ball once. Read an article about how it was a big failing on a coaching site. Was showing how poor aussie exit strategy was and how they do not build pressure

by **Ozzy3213** Sun 07 Dec 2014, 9:09 am

I agree that he needs to play, it's the only way for him to learn, but if I were Bath I would dual register him with a Championship side and let him have 3 or 4 games there first.

by **Ozzy3213** Sun 07 Dec 2014, 9:11 am

I love that term 'exit strategy'. Sounds like one of those phrases made up by someone who had to justify their own existence in a job role.

"It's pretty simple boss, if we're in our own 22 and want to get out we can either run it, or kick it."

"Ah right, I know, we'll call that an exit strategy."

"Can't we just call it running it or kicking it?"

"Nah mate, I have a job to do here and you've just done it for me."

by Guest Sun 07 Dec 2014, 9:18 am

Exit strategy essentially is set
Plays and patterns to get out of the 22.

Most teams will have about 6 or
7
Patterns they use dependent on where they are in the 22.
Ie middle far
Left Etc.they try and rotate who kicks it
And where people stand to act as shields etc.

Amazing how
Much time teams practice it. There is a real science to it
And it is not as
Simple
As kick or
Run.

Personally think it does not encourage heads up rugby and is a bit robotic but most coaches are trying to eliminate risk

by Sgt_Pooly Sun 07 Dec 2014, 9:19 am

Steven_Sharks wrote:Foley is some distance off being the 2nd best fly half in the world.

Sexton, Carter, Barrett my top 3 at the minute. Big Barrett fan. Carter just class.

Lopez went missing in one game for France but when he's good he's brilliant.

I don't think Barrett is good FH, his best games for NZ have been when he's switched to FB. He's a hell of an attacking threat but he can't control a game, he's not had a good game yet for NZ when he's just played fly half, even the NZ fans on the main board don't rate him.

by Guest Sun 07 Dec 2014, 9:21 am

Go on the nz forums and they all want barret above cruden. Neither are great defenders but barret has class
That I never see in Cruden.

Cruden never looks up
To it at int level for me. Good s15 player and the best player I have ever seen at restarts but just not an international for
Me.

by Sgt_Pooly Sun 07 Dec 2014, 9:29 am

Cruden is in a different league imo, Barrett is a fantastic off the cuff player but he's looked very fragile at Int level. Cruden is NZ's long term 10 with Carter possibly not coming back to form. Barrett has never performed when he's started, he's a great impact sub though as he's got some gas.

by Guest Sun 07 Dec 2014, 9:42 am

For me cruden has been poor at int level and had lots of chances. I have seen Barrret alter the course of a game on many occasions at int level. I don't think he is the finished article yet but has shown to me his int pedigree.

Cruden really struggles to have any impact internationally. I still stand by my opinion that come World Cup Cruden will be 3rd
Choice or not even in the NZ Squad

by Sgt_Pooly Sun 07 Dec 2014, 9:47 am

I don't understand how you can suggest Cruden has been poor at Int level and then say Barrett is better??? Barrett has done nothing at Int level when starting FH, his best play has come from when he's played FB or had a brief cameo at 10.

Carter could well be finished, he seems to be getting injured very easily, perhaps he's pushing himself too far? He's certainly not delivering at FH and hasn't for a number of years. When was the last time he had a good game at 10? 2012??

by Guest Sun 07 Dec 2014, 9:50 am

You do wonder at the toll all these games has http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/international/ireland/11276208/Ireland-right-to-put-their-feet-up-after-heavy-schedule.html

by Guest Sun 07 Dec 2014, 9:57 am

Sgt_Pooly wrote:I don't understand how you can suggest Cruden has been poor at Int level and then say Barrett is better??? Barrett has done nothing at Int level when starting FH, his best play has come from when he's played FB or had a brief cameo at 10.

Carter could well be finished, he seems to be getting injured very easily, perhaps he's pushing himself too far? He's certainly not delivering at FH and hasn't for a number of years. When was the last time he had a good game at 10? 2012??

You love a so and so player is finished sound bite.

Lol I remember you saying etzbeth was finished.

The way NZ are managing Carter and let him and Mccaw take sabbaticals shows how both of them are crucial to NZ world cup plans.

Carter had a good season for Canterbury until injury. He has had a few injuries but they are not career limiting ones like the unfortunate de villiers

by Sgt_Pooly Sun 07 Dec 2014, 10:01 am

I didn't say Etzebeth was finished, I said he was injury prone which I stand by.

Carter has no form at 10, he's looked slower and rustier than ever. It's hardly crazy to suggest he may be on the way out, he is nearly 33 and has had some awful injuries. He has been the best 10 to ever play the game though, few would argue with that.

by Guest Sun 07 Dec 2014, 10:20 am

Good article on scrummaging and the differences in
The tight head role.

Not sure whether the laws will benefit Cole or not. He was never the biggest scrummager so you would think the fact that the front rows are closer and there is no hit would be a disadvantage. However some players have thrived under the new laws.

We could certainly do with him for the World Cup. Cole wilson and Brookes is really good pool of
Tight heads and with henry Thomas behind its a real area of strength

by Guest Sun 07 Dec 2014, 10:20 am

Helped if I posted link http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2014/dec/05/dan-cole-leicester-england-world-cup-neck-injury

by dammit_chris Sun 07 Dec 2014, 12:43 pm

Saints players up for sale...

PR Adam Jones (Wales) (3)
LK Sam Twomey (England)
LK/BS Mitch Lees (Australia)
OS/BS/N8 Julien Bonnaire (France)
BS/OS Magnus Lund (England)
N8/BS/OS Sam Jones (England)
N8 CJ Stander (South Africa)
SH Mike Phillips (Wales)
FH Rhys Priestland (Wales)
FH James Hook (Wales)
CE Regan King (New Zealand)
FB Liam Williams (Wales)
HK Scott Spurling (England) - 01/06/1993.
HK Rhys Marshall (New Zealand) - 12/10/1992.

by Sgt_Pooly Sun 07 Dec 2014, 12:46 pm

I'm about for some dealing, it's all gone quiet......

by Fluxy Sun 07 Dec 2014, 1:09 pm

I will be, and my results hopefully.

Just got back from A&E but I've broken my collarbone...

by Sgt_Pooly Sun 07 Dec 2014, 1:18 pm

Nasty, getting beat up again?

Some finish from Hughes, bounced 3 tackles!

by Fluxy Sun 07 Dec 2014, 3:54 pm

Rugby again Pooly.

It was a good finish from Hughes. Wasps did well to finish so strongly.

by Sgt_Pooly Sun 07 Dec 2014, 3:57 pm

Edwards called it saying their fitness was at a higher standard and it would tell in the latter stages.

by SirJohnnyEnglish Sun 07 Dec 2014, 5:19 pm

Picamoles looking pretty sharp against Glasgow posting some strong carrying stats. Bang in form the last few weeks since coming back from the lung infection.

by ChequeredJersey Sun 07 Dec 2014, 5:25 pm

Happy with that

by Sgt_Pooly Sun 07 Dec 2014, 7:17 pm

Ben Youngs has had a great game, this is going to the wire. Fantastic to see Cole in such solid form, 77mins in and still going strong, his scrummaging has been top notch.

by Guest Sun 07 Dec 2014, 8:06 pm

To be fair my mum could scrum against Chocci. He is really poor in the set piece. Regularly gets smashed. Brilliant in the loose though.

Good came. Cole looks really fit though. Certainly worked hard during his absence. Good for England's depth.

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