Season 7 Homepage V

First topic message reminder :

Breaking News: London Irish pull off the bottom of the table with win against inform Chiefs, Sale pick up bonus point win against league leaders while the gap between 4th and 5th widens following Quins win. 
 

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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.

W-A-N-K-E-R

Driver is just explaining his hobby, now he has let you take over the reigns of Falcons Bam! 

Haha,

It's more my opinion of Micky Young from our West Hartlepool days.

I'm reliably informed by Uni friends that Dom Waldouck was a tool in school. All I can say is that Anthony Allen and Tom Rees are both gents in person.

This has reminded me, apparently one of my friends who is now in the army has become friends with Israel Dagg, without realising until we told him that he was not just a rugby player but a New Zealand international

In fairness to Young, he's a scrum half, its pretty much part of the job description to be a twunt

Quite a claim CJ.

A mate of mine went to school with Joe Marler and said he was a complete chump, I can imagine that tbh.

Sgt_Pooly wrote:Quite a claim CJ.

A mate of mine went to school with Joe Marler and said he was a complete chump, I can imagine that tbh.

He had that reputation even a few years ago, think he has matured. O'Shea seems good at helping players mature though

He has a reputation for telling lies, but a glance at his FB page shows he is FB friends with an Israel Dagg, which may or may not be fake

Matt Banahan seems like quite a tool, but a very nice guy to talk to. As quite a few of the bath lads were when I was around there for uni.

Folks will be starting a new job Monday the 26th. Not sure what internet access will be like for the first few weeks while settling in so expect a delay on match threads and results. 

Had planned to run foreigns from the 2nd of Feb for a week but not sure what time pressures will be like now. Contemplating opening the window next week instead. Two signings will be allowed each. Has anyone any objections to that?

An entirely selfish objection would be that the extra couple of weeks of predos would have given me some more cash to play with!

But in all seriousness, next week is fine with me

Fine with me, can always lend a hand with threads if you need mate

No objections.

Fine by me.

No problem

Mate is good friends with waldouck from uni days. Bit of a 'lad' but good guy by all accounts.

SirJohnnyEnglish wrote:Folks will be starting a new job Monday the 26th. Not sure what internet access will be like for the first few weeks while settling in so expect a delay on match threads and results. 

Had planned to run foreigns from the 2nd of Feb for a week but not sure what time pressures will be like now. Contemplating opening the window next week instead. Two signings will be allowed each. Has anyone any objections to that?

Works for me SJE.

Like i have a team anyway haha!

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/international/england/11339038/England-coach-Stuart-Lancaster-must-make-make-tough-calls-and-now-is-the-time-to-make-them.html

Good article from brian Moore.

Fine by me

When does Lancaster name his squad? Hoping that Quins carry on finding their form, as when Care and Robshaw are on song it usually means England play a really nice style of rugby.

Hoping Joseph gets a go this time - easily been the most in form 13 around, even if we went Ford, Barritt, Joseph it would be a step in the right direction! Would really like to see an impact bench of Youngs, Cipriani and Foden as well.

We really need to consider our bench. It's usually so dull and not able to change a game. Also need to consider the make up of the forwards on the bench and get some dynamism in it.

I must admit I wouldn't want Cips & Foden near the squad, I don't think they're good enough.

I'd like Wade to be given a shot and happy with Farrell from the bench.

That's where ABs are so good, have incredible impact. With the pack we have it should give Lancaster the confidence to pick a backline that can attack and put points on the board - we've got some great attacking players that we could involve.

If i was to name my EPS tomorrow it would be something along the lines of

Dylan Hartley , Rob Webber , Luke Cowen Dickie , Alex Corbisero , Joe Marler , Matt Mullen , Dave Wilson , Dan Cole , Kieron Brookes , Geoff Parling , Courtney Lawes , George Kruis , Dave Attwood , Tom Wood , James Haskell , Chris Robshaw , Billy Vunipola , Dave Ewers and Steffon Armitage. (19)

Ben Youngs , Danny Care , Owen Farrell , George Ford , Kyle Eastmond , John Joseph, Sam Burgess , Manu Tuilagi , Jonny May , Marlande Yarde , Christian Wade , Anthony Watson , Mike Brown

I think we need to have a serious look at Steffon Armitage now and not regret not doing it come November after the RWC. 

The reason i have Sam Burgess in is because you devolop more surrounded by better players and i think he has a lot of raw talent and could be a Manu Tuilagi with a better skill set.

For the opener on Friday against Wales i'd go for

1.Alex Corbisero
2.Dylan Hartley
3.Dave Wilson
4.Courtney Lawes
5.Geoff Parling
6.Tom Wood
7.Chris Robshaw
8.Billy Vunipola

9.Ben Youngs
10.George Ford
11.Marlande Yarde
12.Kyle Eastmond
13.Johnathan Joseph
14.Jonny May
15.Mike Brown

I'd change a few things as players return to fitness ie

In round 3 i'd be hoping to roll out with 12.Manu 13.Joseph and have a look at 6.Wood 7.Robshaw 8.Armitage.

Against Italy I'd go with

Marler (C) , Webber , Wilson , Lawes , Attwood , Wood , Haskell , Armitage , Youngs , Ford , May , Tuilagi , Burgess , Wade and Brown

Someones bored

Driver - pack looks right, there or thereabouts. Youngs form means he is the 3rd hooker over LCD for me

In the backs, there's no way that will be the centres! Burrell and Barritt both deserve to be in on merit, and I still reckon there's a good chance Twelvetrees will be in the squad, despite his form.

Burgess will be in the Saxons, and that's probably where Joseph/Eastmond will be too

Agree Bam.

LCD should be nowhere near, he's about 10th choice hooker at the minute. I'd be very surprised if Eastmond was involved too.

I'd stick with Marler at LH and Attwood at lock.

LCD looked a long way off test rugby when he came on at the weekend.

Brian Smith leaves London Irish with immediate effect

Ozzy3213 wrote:LCD looked a long way off test rugby when he came on at the weekend.

He's a mile off. Of all Matt's big ups he's the one I don't understand at all. He's 2nd choice at Exeter and has a very lazy/loopy throw that would be picked up at Int level. Lad has potential but s nowhere near ready for Int duty.

Jeremy Thrush signs for Gloucester - big signing for them, he will add a lot to their pack. Can see the AP being flooded with SH stars after the WC.

Wasps apparently have JP Pieterson and Willem Alberts agreed, plus some more big names - think we're now the richest club in Europe!

Haha...it'll make a change Chris.

Great signing, Gloucesters locks are really poor, he'll really help their pack out.

Good signing for glos we have 2 excellent 4s in stooke and savage but lack a 5. Stooke was great at 5 against sarries but played like a 4. Savage is some player at prem level.

Hudson and Palmer is a poor choice of 5s

People forget we have the Argentinian Galarza their first choice lock who has missed out due to injury.

Palmer & especially Hudson are relegation fodder really.

Savage with Thrush and Stooke in reserve is a good trio.

Galarza was great in tri nations

At Worcester last season wasn't he?

So was Agustin Creevey to be fair.

Creevy still is.

Kieron Brookes joins Saints

Leaves a bit of a sour taste tbh, Falcons made a last ditch bid to keep him apparently.

I can see him going the same way as PDJ tbh, I'm not sure he's good enough but time will tell.

Got to be a tough one for Newcastle after they fixed him up again

Purely from an England point of view it could be a good move if he can pack down regularly with Corbs/Waller and Hartley.

If he can become starting quality, having a club front row starting internationally (if Corbs is ever fit long enough!) is pretty good, as SA found out with the Sharks front row

Watching him week in week out he's a long way off Cole & Wilson. Going to Saints will either make or break him, I'm disappointed but not overly concerned.

I'm the same Pooly , I think Scotty will end up the better player and by some distance.

We saved his career taking him back from Tigers and sorting his fitness out.

Fair enough, he's still relatively young for a tighthead though, not too much history of injury either if I'm right?

He has the potential to be starting tighthead, although neither Cole or Wilson are exactly over the hill at 27 and 29

He's had a few big ones since he was 16/17. 

Gets unfit easier than any other pro player

He tends to play a couple and miss a couple Bam, he never really looks fully fit when starting. He's only 24, he could improve out of site?? Saints have one of the best scrum in the AP so we'll soon find out.

Who would people start at 10 right now:

Freddie Burns
Brock James
Tusi Pisi
Paddy Jackson

I'd buy a new 10

Haha. Cheers

Difficult call for you mate, none have any form right now.