Aviva Premiership Round Thirteen

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Sale Sharks v Northampton Saints
Location - AJ Bell Stadium
Light Rain Shower, 12 Degrees, 21mph WSW 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. Brodie Retalick	11. Simon Zebo
05. Dave Attwood	12. Kyle Eastmond
06. Peter O' Mahony	13. George Pisi
07. Sam Cane	14. Semesa Rokoduguni
08. Louis Picamoles	15. Jared Payne

Subs:
16. Ross Harrison 17. David Paice 18. Samson Lee 19. Matt Garvey 20. Steven Luatua 21. Kieran Marmion 22. Beauden Barrett 23. Nick Abendanon

Key Points

- Attack the breakdown. Zirka, Retalick, POM & Cane all specialists in this area and will look to target the breakdown with Saints lacking specialists.

- Target Tuilagi’s defensive channel. Sexton, Eastmond & Payne all capable playmakers and will look to pull Tuilagi out of the defensive line and test his lack of real life form.

- Impact from the bench with super sub Barrett and the likes of Lee, Garvey, Luatua & Abendanon offering something different to the starting 15.

- Unbeaten at home in the league for two years. The AJ Bell stadium has become our fortress.

We will play an expansive, high intensity offloading game looking to create space and break the defensive line. Mobility, physicality and handling is key to our approach.

- Fast ball is crucial. Mobile pack and physical midfield to clear out rucks and ensure quick ball. We will look to get over the gain line off all carries to make it easier to do so.

- Commit the defence. Sexton will play flat on the gain line to pull in defenders before releasing runners while Care will look for opportunities to snipe around the base always committing defenders.

- Change the point of attack. Numerous playmakers across the backline comfortable at coming in at first receiver allow us to change the point of attack and leave the opposition guessing.

- Back three always involved. Wingers to track the ball off their wings looking for the inside ball or offload. Payne to join the line from fullback looking for mismatches and to create overlaps.

- Attack from the scrum. Strong technical front row backed up by a powerful second row will look to build a platform for Pickles, Care & Sexton. An area we will look to target if winning.

- Mix it up at the lineout. Five genuine jumpers gives us a strong attacking platform. Look to use both the rolling maul and ball off the top to keep the defence guessing.

- Straight line blitz defence. Focused on winning the gain line collisions and driving the ball carrier back. Line speed is crucial. Care will sweep behind the line to cover chips and grubbers.

- Target the breakdown. Committed to the breakdown with POM & Cane fetching for the ball, supported by the rest of the pack when needed. We will always look to turn the ball over.

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Northampton Saints
Manager - Dammit Chris

1. Mako Vunipola
2. Rob Webber
3. Ramiro Herrera
4. Jonny Gray
5. Courtney Lawes
6. Samu Manoa
7. Schalk Burger
8. Sergio Parisse (c)
9. Joe Simpson
10. George Ford
11. Julian Savea
12. Weslie Fofana
13. Manu Tuilagi
14. Tommy Bowe
15. Ben Foden

16. Logi Mulipola 17. Elliot Dees 18. Trevor Nyakane 19. Joe Launchbury 20. Julian Bonnaire 21. Niko Matawulu 22. Nick Evans 23. Leigh Halfpenny

Tactics:
We'll look to continue our strong run and look to get a second win of the season against Sale. We've picked a strong, physical forward pack and have called into the starting lineup Lawes and Manoa who will go fly half hunting on Sexton, looking for a big hit to disrupt his game. We will play at a high intensity and adopt a very physical approach - we've selected a backline where players 9-15 are all try scoring threats and game changers.

Key Points:
* Full of confidence after putting a strong run together and have selected a strong pack and impact bench to ensure we have a strong platform away from home.
* Lot of gainline breakers in pack and backline to win the battle and put us on the front foot to test Sale's defence.  
* Target Sexton, who has been injured in real life since the AIs, with Samoa and Lawes to distrupt him controlling the game.
* Target the break down with a very mobile pack and can look to make this a very physical battle with Manoa, Gray, Lawes and Burger involved.
* Strong impact bench we've had to finish extremely strongly, we will have played expansive rugby and will look to have tired Falcons and then bring on our big ball carriers.

Pack/Setpiece:
We've picked a really strong scummaging unit that will look to create a platform for Parisse to attack from. We've been rotating our pack regularly to wait for this game. The lineout is an area we will again look to control - we have Lawes, Gray, Parisse and Manoa as options to make it difficult for Sale to defend and Lawes will be used to disrupt Kaysers throwing at every opportunity.

Attack:
We will get Ford to mix up his kicking game, but importantly we've selected a hard running midfield and three strike runners in the backthree to win the gainline battle against Sale and provide a big counter attacking option from any loose kicks. We have a lot of try scorers in our backline and Ford's passing game can put them into spaces, or rely on the power of Fofana, Tuilagi and Savea to get us front foot ball.

Breakdown:
On our own ball we expect to be going forward and getting over the gainline due to the power of our runners in the pack and backline. We want quick ball and will look for our mobile pack to clear out any of the Sale players in the contact area. We will make this area a real battle, looking for turnovers and isolating any Sale attacker and look for penalties.

Defence:
As always a really aggressive defence with fast line speed and closing down the Sale halfbacks. We want to force them into mistakes and handling errors. We will have Simpson sweep in behind the defensive line but will have Manoa and Lawes lining up a big hit on Sexton.

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Bath Rugby v Wasps
Location - Recreation Grounds
Light Rain, 12 Degrees, 22mph WSW Winds

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Bath Rugby
Manager – inthefastlane

01. James Slipper	09. Fourie Du Preez
02. Richard Hibbard	10. Charlie Hodgson
03. Ben Tameifuma
04. Graham Kitchener	11. Christian Wade
05. Sam Whitelock	12. Christian Lealifano
06. Siya Kolisi	13. Michele Campagnaro
07. Luke Wallace	14. George North
08. Liam Messam	15. Stuart Hogg

16. Tom Dunn 17. Cian Healy 18. Jake Cooper Wooley 19. James Gaskell 20. Sean O'Brien 21. Richard Wigglesworth 22. Kurtley Beale 23. Damian De Allende

Overall: We are gonna be looking to play front foot rugby. Look to overwhelm Wasps in the loose. We will play a high tempo and really look to get some big carries in. We feel we have an advantage in the set piece so look to real attack of this.

Scrum: Look for our unit to set a strong platform. Our props have been well rotated so will be fresh. We will try to set a base, controlled by Messam which he can attack off.

Lineout: We will look to switch up the lineup with Kitchener, Messam, Kolisi and Whitelock options in the lineout. Whitelock will run the lineout with Kitchener offering an easy banker ball. Look to get up into the air quickly and down for a quick maul. Look to compete on the opposition throw as we have a great number of options. Try and starve them of quality ball from the lineout.

Breakdown: The breakdown is an area we really see ourselves as able to dominate. We will look to get men to the breakdown quickly and clear out so Luke Wallace and Liam Meszam can try and disrupt opposition ball.

Defence: Blitz Defence looking to really put pressure on the Wasps decision makers. Try to stop the ball from getting to the centres. Focus on gain line collisions and driving back in the tackle. FDP to sweep in behind.

Attack: Our half backs will control our rugby. FDP and Hodgson can play what they see and put the rest of the back line in strong positions. Lealifano can act as an extra playmaker from the 12. 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 get the big carriers involved as much as possible. The likes of Tameifuma, Slipper, Kolisi, Hibbard and Messam will try and wear down defences by looking for gaps. The likes of Wade, North and Campagnaro will be looking for gaps created that they can exploit. Look to counter attack kicks if possible. Look to play with a high tempo and get the ball moving across the back line. Challenge Watson and Slade defensively. Look for chances to offload.

Kicking: Hodgson will be our chosen place kicker. Any kicks will not be aimed towards their back three. We will chuck in the occasional grabber to chase. LLF, Hogg and Hodgson all have the boots necessary to try and put us in a good position territorially if need be.

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

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 Wasps
Manager: Ozzy3213    

01. Joe Marler	09. Aaron Smith
02. Bismarck du Plessis	10. Aaron Cruden
03. Dave Wilson
04. Romain Millo-Chluski	11. Anthony Watson
05. Alun-Wyn Jones (c)	12. Ma'a Nonu
06. Marcell Coetzee	13. Henry Slade
07. Steffon Armitage	14. Marland Yarde
08. Duane Vermeulen	15. Tim Nanai-Williams

16. Deon Fourie 17. Paul James 18. Euan Murray 19. Matt Symons 20. Fulgence Ouedraogo 21. Ben Youngs 22. Paul Jordaan 23. Henry Speight


Basic Game Plan
In reasonable conditions we will be looking to play a possession based game, going through the phases and continually shifting the point of attack.  With it being slightly damp however we won't take chances with offloading in our half, but will make ground carrying close to the ruck and recycling quickly.

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.  Nothing flash. Hit our front and middle jumpers and ensure that we secure our ball.  We will also mix it up, shortening the lineout and using our back row as crash ball options off the top.  On Bath ball put pressure on through AWJ and Vermeulen, who are athletic lineout jumpers. 
  
• Scrum.  Get low and underneath their props and drive straight.  Really test their props technical abilities rather than get in to a battle of strnght.
  
• 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.  We will also utilise the pick and go, meaning their defensive line will not be able to blitz, and once on their heels anticipating the pick and go again we will then we will look to exploit the delay in their blitz that results.  We will then look to shift the direction of play and pull their defenders out of position to create gaps.  Smith to also look to snipe around the fringes and keep us going forwards all the time.  
  
• Tactical Kicking.  If we kick, we will look to kick in behind their wingers and get them on the turn going back towards their own line, with our wingers on the kick chase to really target them defensively.
  

Key Points 

• Form/Momentum  In game we have hit form post AI's and have loads of momentum coming into the game.  We also have players in form in real life right across the team.
  
• Lineout.  Whilst we don't have a Matfield or POC type leader, we have a fully international pack and in AWJ a player who calls for club and country.  We may not be able target oppo ball as well as some, we certainly have enough to secure our own ball 90%+ of the time.
  
• Combinations.  We have combinations that we know work.  Marler/Wilson (international combo) as props, but with the best hooker in the world between them.  Smith/Cruden/Nonu at 9/10/12 which we know works for the best team in the world.
  
• Decision making positions.  In the 2,8,9,10 jerseys we have world class operators, who bring with them over 200 test caps for the best two teams in world rugby, meaning they have played in all conditions and seen whatever situations the game brings.
  
• Ability to switch gameplan.  Whilst we want to play a possession game, away from home we realise we may at times have to play for territory, so have selected Slade at 13 for his kicking game and ability to step in at 1st receiver and mix things up.
  

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Gloucester Rugby v Saracens
Location - Kingsholm
Thick Cloud, 13 Degrees, 22mph WSW Winds

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 Gloucester
Manager – anonmattyt

01. Wood	09. Perenara
02. Strauss	10. Cipriani
03. Ousthuizen
04. Etzbeth	11. May
05. Robson	12. Crotty
06. Alberts	13. Kurindrani
07. Salvi	14. Folau
08. Heaslip	15. Dagg

Subs:
16 Beast 17 LCD 18 Figallo 19 Croft 20 Palu 21 Robson 22 Pollard 23 Walker


TARGET BREAKDOWN– We have a big mobile physically strong bunch and will hit rucks with impact.
We will Send numbers in and try and effect turnovers or Disrupt ball.we believe the likes of  ousthuizen  Heaslip Etzbeth  Salvi and Strauss Have the physicality and the power to swamp their backrow.Backed by our front 5 and this is an area we will flood. We
Will look to target the Saracens Backrow throughout and exploit their lack of an out and out 7. We see our

TARGET 9 10  12 channel- Get our big runners in to the channel and look to get in behind. We also want pressure here in defence and force them to move it from this channel. SBW is still not back properly and we will look to exploit his rustiness. we feel on a whole they lack playmakers so are susceptible to the blitz. Also with parra having a difficult season and having been stripped of kicking duties and 4/5 th choice for France we feel he is there for the taking


Half backs- perenara will look to threaten around the ruck but his job is to give it to cips who will dictate. Cips Will challenge line and kick When necessary. We want to play high tempo and Off front foot vl. We will do this by using runners off ten to smash holes and look to flood.

General- We've selected a team packed with power and physicality. We want to use our carriers in the pack and will use this to dominate and get front foot ball. We believe this will give is the upper hand. We will use this to sap Sarries .We see them struggling with our power. When its on we will play an offloading game. When in behind We will Flood through with our quick Backs targeting mismatches

Tempo- we
Will be playing high tempo and to
Do that you have to have playmakers to allow
Continuity and also to attack off
Turnovers.

In ,Folau, Cips dagg and crotty we have people who can step in to first receiver and allow us to play the high tempo interchanging game we are aiming to play. We see them as lacking creativity to score tries and will be looking to really turn it on with continuity and fluid attacking.

Line out– We have options galore in Etzbeth Robson Alberts  heaslip etc and will use this to disrupt. On our ball we will mix It but as game progresses go Off The top more To Get in to there backline.
Target their lack of jumpers

Scrum- whilst their will be limited scrums in a game like this our front row will look to keep it steady on our ball and get it in and out to maintain high tempo.mon theirs we will look to disrupt.

Kicking options - with Cips , tj and dagg we have great options to dominate kicking game when needed and also have fantastic options for exiting when under pressure.

Defence- Blitz defence with high intensity and big hits, looking to drive past the ball player if the ball hits the deck. Scrum half to sweep behind the defensive line.

Attacking options.- we feel we have all the attacking threat on the front foot and at home we will be targeting the bonus point

Bench- Game changing bench with More ball carriers and attacking backs. Our intention is to use it as required

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Saracens
Manager – Pooly

01. Alex Waller	09. Morgan Parra
02. Keven Mealamu	10. Patrick Lambie
03. Dan Cole
04. Bradley Davies	11. Zak Guildford
05. Flip Van Der Merwe	12. Sonny Bill Williams
06. Ben Mowen(c)	13. Marcelo Bosch
07. Thierry Dusatoir	14. Chris Ashton
08. Nathan Hughes	15. Matt Tait

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16. Jamie George 17. Xavier Chiocci 18. Jannie du Plessis 19. Louis Deacon 20. Callum Clark 21. Francois Hougaard 22. Bernard Foley 23. Miles Benjamin

Tactics:

TARGET BREAKDOWN – Numerous options in this area (Cole, Mealamu, Davies, Dus, Mowen, Hughes). Look to isolate Salvi as Gloucesters only real threat by holding down a little after the tackle and targeting him out of the breakdown. Use our numerous options to slow/turnover ball and gain pens etc.

TARGET SET PIECE Look to target scrum, keep ball in if see weakness. Target Gloucester props who can both be got at in the scrum. Cole to look to get in between Wood and Strauss and splinter the Gloucester set piece. Huge scrummaging locks to back our front row up.

GOAL KICKING OPTIONS AND POINTS ON THE BOARD Gloucester have only Cips to kick at goal and he's a 60% kicker at best. We have numerous world class kickers in Parra/Lambie/Bosch to keep us scoring from all areas of the pitch. We have world class kicking options at 9/10/13 to move the ball around and play territory.

LACK OF KICKING OPTIONS IN GLOUCESTER BACKLINE We have world class kicking options at 9/10/13 to move the ball around and play territory. Gloucester only have Cips from 9-13 with a kicking game, look to target him and put pressure on his kicking game.

BIG RUNNERS DOWN HALFBACK CHANNEL Look to target Cips/TJ from the off. Get Hughes, SBW, Flip etc running down this channel and making yards.

MAKE FOLAU KICK Look to kick in behind Folau and pin him in the corner with strong chasing game. This will force him to kick (ball could go anywhere??) or attempt to run from deep with numerous defenders against him. We'll either take a line out around their 22 or he'll get isolated and we'll force a turnover.

General - We'll be playing a structured 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 their half. Look to keep it tight in the forward pack and grind through work. Looking to move the opposition pack around and then use big carrying options to punch holes through the opposition defence.

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 TH and Hooker will look to target LH and try to get between him and Hooker to allow LH to work on TH If no weakness seen will use as restart.

Line out – Look for quick ball off the top with the world class line out options and experience. Will allow SH good clean ball and have big carriers running off the 9 at angles.

Defence - Blitz defence with high intensity and big hits, looking to drive past the ball player if the ball hits the deck. physical pack that can look to get at the collision and breakdown allowing a chance to slow down/steal ball. Put pressure on SH's basics and force him into errors, Shields the expert here. 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 dictate play from the breakdown and runners on his shoulder. Huge carrying backrow to get us over the gain line after front 5 set a platform. Midfield to run angles off the 9/10, allowing us gain line breakers. Look to keep opposition guessing with clever lines through midfield. Wingers will look to track the midfield combo and get the end of SBW's offloads in contact. Back 3 to keep things honest and come looking for work.

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Harlequins v Leicester Tigers
Location - Twickenham Stoop
Light Rain, 13 Degrees, 18mph SW Winds

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Harlequins
Manager – Steven_Sharks

01. Tony Woodcock	09. Ruan Pienaar
02. Tatafu Polota-Nau	10. Steven Myler
03. John Afoa
04. Jim Hamilton	11. Joe Tomane
05. George Kruis	12. Juan Martin-Hernandez
06. Mamuka Gorgodze	13. Jonathan Joseph
07. Tom Wood (c)	14. Yoann Huget
08. Damien Chouly	15. Rob Kearney

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16. Rob Buchanan 17. Steven Kitchoff 18. Martin Castrogiovani 19. Charlie Matthews 20. Jamie Gibson 21. Karl Dickson 22. Quade Cooper 23. Robbie Henshaw

Tactics

We're looking to control this game from start to finish by playing the game in the right areas and playing to our strengths. We're going to look to build phases in the opposition half using the Pienaar, Myler and JMH axis to control our attacking play as well our field position. We want to carry hard off 9, 10 and 12 in order to get over the gain line and get quick ball which we can attack with on the front foot. We will look for our back row to provide extra carrying options in the midfield to help JMH and JJ. When we tie in defenders we want to get JJ, Tomane and Huget into space so they can isolate individual defenders. We will look to continually change the point of attack to get the Leicester pack moving around.

Pienaar, Myler and JMH are going to use their boots to pin Leicester back in their own territory as often as possible and get the big Leicester pack turning. Use the greasy surface to gain extra yards and pressure the Leicester back three. We feel we have the players to win the kicking battle which we see as key in the conditions.

At the set piece we will look for our experienced front rows to get on top and try to win some penalties whilst at the line out we will look to apply huge pressure. With 5 genuinely top jumping options (Chouly by far France's strongest lineout jumper in AI's) we will look to really pressure Leicester's line with Hamilton a great pilferer. On our own ball we will look to mix up our options at front, middle and back.

In defence we will look to defend outside to in and force Leicester back inside where our defence is at its strongest. JJ will lead this line speed. At the breakdown we will put on as much pressure as possible when we have a strong defensive line. Using our forwards to get over the ball or slow down Leicester ball.

Key Points

Target Young and James - Look to put relentless pressure on the Leicester half backs throughout. Disrupt their rhythm and halt Leicester's play.

Win the collisions - Especially around the ruck we want to use the carriers in our pack to get us over the gain line.

Kick behind Banahan and Ranger - Really look to kick behind these two. If we can force them to kick then we should win the kicking battle. Look to isolate one or the other. Brown can't cover for both.

Drop Goals - With JMH, we have a drop goal expert to keep the scoreboard ticking over should we stagnate in attack.

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Leicester Tigers
Manager – LukeLovesLuka

01. Alex Corbisiero	09. Micky Young
02. Agustin Creevy	10. Brock James (k)
03. Owen Franks
04. Pascal Pape (c)	11. Matt Banahan
05. Victor Matfield	12. Tamati Ellison
06. Francois Louw	13. Mathieu Bastareaud
07. Jacques Burger	14. Rene Ranger
08. JMF Lobbe	15. Mike Brown

.
16. Christopher Tolofua 17. Gethin Jenkins 18. Paul Doran-Jones 19. Kearnan Myall 20. Thomas Waldrom 21. Dwayne Peel 22. Freddie Burns 23.  Drew Mitchell



Tactics:

We will look to play high tempo, high intensity rugby. We have, throughout our XV, big line breakers to make the hard yards and tie up defenders creating space in wider channels for James to exploit.

- Big focus to attack at all lineouts. Use Pape or Lobbe at the front and Matfield off the top as our three key options. Shortened lineouts with Burger in midfield as crash or decoy option.
Matfield and Hines to look to steal and really give TPN problems.

- Use James' excellent kicking game to put Quins on the back foot and attack them. Target Quins back three and utilise our strong lineout led by Matfield.

- Play an offloading game. We see the offload as our big weapon and our carriers will all be looking to offload in contact, continuing our forward momentum.

- Attack all scrums - Front row of Franks, Creevy and Corbs to look to really get the shove on, particularly targeting the Bath TPN/Afoa channel.

- Gigantic XV made up of massive line-breakers, used in the tight to tire down the Quins defence. Using the likes of Basteraud, Creevy, Louw, Franks, Lobbe and Banahan to get us over the gainline.

- Look to win battle at the breakdown - Louw, and Lobbe and Burger, supported by the likes of Bastareaud, to really look to get into the breakdown and give Quins problems.

- Young to look to snipe around the fringes and keep us going forwards all the time.

- 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, and look to win the collisions in defence. Young to sweep behind with an eye on short kicks.

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London Irish v Exeter Chiefs 
Location - Madejski Stadium
Thick Cloud, 13 Degrees, 22mph WSW Winds

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London Irish
Manager - Prop

01. Ben Franks	09. Lee Dickson
02. Marc Jones	10. Dan Biggar
03. Henry Thomas
04. Dean Mumm	11. JP Pieterson
05. Jacques Potgeiter	12. Alapati Leuia
06. Scott Higginbotham	13. Conrad Smith
07. Sam Warburton (c)	14. Adam Thompstone
08. Ben Morgan	15. Brice Dulin

16. Tom Lindsay 17. Tom Court 18. Rhodri Jones 19. Tom Savage 20. David SisiHigginbotham 21. Neil De Kock 22. Owen Williams 23. Rob Cook

Set piece: We have picked a strong scrummaging front 5 who all bring carrying bulk to the game. From kick offs we will look to go 2 passes in before hitting our direct runners. Scrummage low and straight. Our lineouts will be simple and we will look to bring the ball down before feeding 9.

Backrow: Balanced back row with a tackler, a carrier and a jackler and all 3 will be used for their main attributes. We have confidence in them all to do their jobs with Higginbotham looking to get in their 10’s face.

Breakdown: Controlled here and not over committing initially to the breakdown. Warburton will play the McCaw role and sweep behind the breakdowns picking and choosing when he will attack for a penalty or a turnover. “Fire ball” will be when Chiefs under commit to their ruck and we will blitz past the ball for the turnover. We will adopt the hold and roll technique taking them off their feet and ‘tactically’ hold them down to slow them getting to the next ruck.

Half Backs: Biggar will stand flat initially to give Leuia (who has been playing 12 for us prior to Roberts’ signing) and our runners the chance to get over the gainline. Dickson will control the tempo and slow the ball down if needed.

Outside Backs: Biggar and Smith will pull the strings and find gaps for our runners, if it is not on then we will look for deep kicks to go off the field and pressure their lineouts.. If on we will ship it wide. There will be a lot of movement off the ball to prevent us being easily read. Runners off of 12 and 13 when available and the ball will be shipped to the wings quickly to allow them to get the advantage in the race to the line. Our back 3 will run various angles to get the advantage.

Bench: Impact in all areas with Court, Savage and Sisi strong carriers, De Kock experienced and Williams in good form.

Defence: Strong defenders across the park will look at making the intiial big impact hit. We also know how good the Sarries centres are so will look to prevent tem offloading the ball by double tackling them. We will look to blitz with Higginbotham in their 10’s face letting Biggar drop back and cover with Dulin. Inside-out defence.

Overall: This will be a controlled performance. We will look to hit the ball up twice and suck in defenders by going the same way till we run out of space, we will then flash across and look for quick hands against their pack who will be stuck defending the centre channels. Carriers will come round the corner in 3’s to prevent the opposition knowing where the ball is going.

Specific: We know Chiefs come into this game in good form and we will look to slow down as much of their ball as possible and target their key runners. Leuia and Higginbotham have been brought in for their strong defence and the breaks Leuia can make as he has shown IRL. Chiefs say we have been on a poor run of form however, in all competitions we have won 3 of our last 5 losing to an improving Sarries team and a top 4 Wasps team at that point.

I've changed my tactics so could I have feedback on the layout, etc please.

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Exeter Chiefs 

Manager – Fluxy

01. Wyatt Crockett	09. Connor Murray
02. Sean Cronin	10. Toby Flood
03. Jamie Johnston
04. Patrick Tuipulotu	11. Maxime Medard
05. Paul O'Connell (c)	12. Luther Burrell
06. Carl Fearns	13. Adam Ashley-Cooper
07. Justin Tipuric	14. David Strettle
08. Toby Faletau	15. James O'Connor

_
16. Jack Yeandle 17. Richard Barrington 18. Davit Kubriashvili 19. Michael Paterson 20. Yannick Nyanga 21. Chris Cook 22. Ian Madigan 23. Andrew Trimble

General Game plan

A high intensity game based around high intensity in defence, offloading, and dynamic carrying and rucking. 
When we gain possession our plan is to control attack with quick clean ball be it from set piece or turnover. After that look to control the pace of the game and go through the phases. Flood will look to play flat and look to get our back line into the game whenever possible and keep the high tempo going throughout.

Set piece - Control the set piece and use it to restart our game plan and create point of attacks. POC to lead the line-out and get quick ball from our dynamic jumpers. Big emphasis on controlling set piece possession. If a weakness is seen by POC we will look to exploit it. 

Pack & Breakdown - We’ll look to win the collision with big our physical pack and dominate the opposition pack in the contact with strong carries from our pack, tying in the opposition defence to create overlaps for our backs. The back five to be a nuisance in in the breakdown and either get over the ball or get past the ball and make the opposition cleaners job a nightmare. Similar stance on our ball, the pack will blow through the ruck and past the ball, with a long presentation - to generate clean ball and keep it away from opposition defenders.  

Defence - Look to neutralise the opposition early on and allow our back-row to dominate affairs. Using the defensive banana drift defence to push the attackers towards our inside defence, with Murray sweeping in behind to guide defenders to plug holes and covers any kicks in behind. If an oppo player gets held or brought down this allows the second man to get over the ball quickly to at least compete and slow opposition possession. Tipuric will look to target the opposition fly half early on and pressure his kicking. Murray will look to sweep up any turnover ball getting us on the front foot.

Backs - Look to get the ball in hands of the backs and the back three especially. Utilise the pace and size of Burrell\AAC to crash through the line, using our 'league/slider move' developed from last season to break the line. Or to generate a two on one with JOC joining the back line and providing the extra man to either put a winger away or go himself. Look to exploit the defensive deficiencies in the Irish back three, with the wings not great positionally and Dulin not exactly the quickest.

Key Points

• Poor Irish Form - Irish have unfortunately been in a bad run of form and we will look to continue this. We have been in great form and morale will be high, winning creates a winning habit and we will have a mental edge over the Irish lads. 
  
• Front Five Edge – Target the Irish front five throughout the game. Pressure Thomas and Jones at the scrum and look to take on the Irish front five with heavy carrying. This will negate the dangerous back row and prevent their influence. 
  
• Physicality & Dynamism – Win the collision and target rucks to drive through opposition. We have a big physical, but also mobile pack. Supported by some high energy forwards off the bench.
  
• Targets in Defence - Leuia has been dropped into the 12 role and won't be up to scratch in defence. Burrell and AAC will exploit this looking to bust Leuia's weak inside shoulder, or isolate him with a ball on the outside with the blindside winger running a late line. 
  
• Keep the Scoreboard ticking over - Flood and JOC to share kicking at goal responsibilities with JOC taking the longer ones. Any penalty within their ten metre to be kicked at goal to keep scoreboard ticking. Unless ten metres from the line then we kick for the line-out.
  

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Newcastle Falcons v London Welsh
Location - Kingston Park
Light Cloud, 12 Degrees, 22mph WSW Winds

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 Newcastle Falcons
Manager – Bambam

01. Soana Tongahuia	09. Nick Phipps
02. Dane Coles	10. Owen Farrell (k)
03. Luc Ducalcon
04. Ed Slater	11. Charlie Sharples
05. Yohan Maestri	12. Jean De Villiers
06. David Ewers	13. Jonathan Davies
07. Richie McCaw	14. Charles Piutau
08. Kieran Read (c)	15. Ben Smith

:-
16.Rory Best 17.Nic Auterac 18.Matt Stevens 19.Geoff Parling 20. Will Fraser 21.Greig Laidlaw 22.Gareth Anscombe 23. Rob Miller

Set piece - Really look to go after the scrum, Ducalcon to try and split Kilcoyne and Ward, look to use the power from Coles to help by pressurising Ward on their ball and not looking to strike. On our ball, look for a quick strike, if not then push them off it with the power coming through from the second row. Ewers to pack down on the tighthead and stay in to add extra bulk behind Ducalcon. In the lineout, Maestri and Read to be the primary jumpers, with Slater as the safe option up at the front. Plenty of ball off the top to launch our attacking game. On their ball, Maestri to mark Timani, challenge them to make longer throws or just go safe at the front, if they start going safe look to set up our maul defence.

Breakdown - McCaw and Read to work as a pair at the breakdown, forwards to ruck past the ball to give us clean quick ball. McCaw to primarily follow the ball and keep Haskell and Ward off it, Read to go in search of turnovers in wider channels when their guys are late to the ball. Big dynamic pack to help with clearing out, and our centres are also big units and strong in this area.

Attack - Ben Smith will be used a lot as a second distributor, we want to split the field as often as we can and give their defence the issue of Farrell/Smith each side, and the threat of Phipps on the snipe. Big runners all over the place look to tie down their back row, target Godwin's defence with JDV and Ewers going down the 10-12 channel all day long. Use the kicking game to target Nadolo, he's a big unit but look to cut off the easy pass to Pennell and make him kick, we think we have the chasers to do this.

Defence - No defensive weak links in the backs, we will look to employ a drift defence and force one of their guys to beat us one on one, when the ball gets to Nadolo we will double up to make sure he can't target our defence out wide.

Bench - Plenty of forward power, Auterac has only just joined on loan but his form shows his strength in the scrum and we think he could have some success in the last 20. Fraser on as a second 7 to really hammer home their lack of a true 7, and the likes of Anscombe and Laidlaw to help us close the game out.

Key points

- Team is fresh, we've made 11 changes from last time out as we look to target wins against the teams around us
- Look to target Ward/Kilcoyne in the scrum, with Ducalcon being in strong form
- Big pack which plays big at the breakdown, with two excellent ruck operators in the back row, and a 3rd to bring off the bench
- Use Smith to prevent the defence lining up on Farrell, plenty of kicks in behind Nadolo to give him a problem
- Target Godwin with JDV, he gives up 15kg or so to the SA man

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 London Welsh
Manager – CJ

01. David Kilcoyne	09. Tawera Kerr-Barlow
02. Dave Ward	10. Francois Trinh-Duc(k)
03. BJ Botha
04. Jamie Cudmore	11. Napoliono Nadolo
05. Sitaleki Timani	12. Kyle Godwin
06.   Ashley Johnson.	13. Casey Laulala
07. James Haskell (c)	14. Mark Cueto
08. Victor Vito	15. Chris Pennell

:-
16. Matt Rees 17. Nathan Catt 18. Oliver Tomaszczyk    19.   Mouritz Botha    20. Alexandre Lapansry  21. Ben Spencer  22. Jesse Mogg 23. Remi Tales

Tactics:

Attack:

Keep slow ball in the hands of the pack, taking it on in drives with groups of 3 forwards. If opportunities appear, 9 and back row to attack the fringes

Quicker ball to be popped onto carriers off 9 or to FTH attacking the line and passing the ball onto hard runners inside or out, utilising on this first attack our power runners like Haskell, AJ, Laulala, Timani, Vito and Nadolo off his wing to beat the gain line and commit defenders. These runs to be well supported, and keep the ball fast, recycling the ball into our ball players like Pennell, Godwin and FTD who will keep changing the direction of attack until  gap appears, the flood it.

Chip over the line and look for te kick outside when the blitz rushes up and leaves a gap behind, using our kicking options at 9, 10, 12 and 15

Defence:

Blitz led by Horne, TKB sweeping. Fringe defence led by Cudmore. Be alert for the chip and kick from Farrell- with our targeting and blitz he will likely have to use it so be ready to run it back agaisnt a broken defence and punish this

Breakdown:

Work as a unit, led by Haskell and Ward. Clearing led by Cudmore, Vito and AJ. Keep men out of the ruck to commit in defence and attack. One of Ward and Haskell looking to chase the ball around the park so someone is first at every ruck and available for offloads too

Scrum:

Keep it solid in the scrum on our ball and run off 8. We should be able to challenge them on their ball and get on top of them later when our tactics tire their pack

Subs:

Great pack subs so go 100% with starting forwards knowing they can come off. Mogg adds pace and attacking verve if needed and another kicker on the wing

Lineout:

Mix up our options with Timani calling and liking for quick ball off the top to attack with. Challenge every opposition throw

Kicking:

use all our options at 9, 10, 12 and 15 in attacking and defensive kicking. Kick for territory and aim for the lines and space rather than the players. Run back kicks and don't kick to back 3, and get the likes of Laulala and AJ running kicks back as well

Press hard for turnovers and penalties in their 22 but give nothing away in our half, being more careful.

Targets:

Pressurise Phipps to put the young, attackingly talented 9 under pressure and force Farrell to playmake which he isn't comfortable with. Their front row can be gotten at and if we hit their backline as a solid blitzing wall, 10, 12 and 13 don't have a great passing game and we can stifle their attack which relies on carrying when the ball is in the midfield.

Overall-

Press and hold off the discipline in the right areas

Multiphase attack with flooding te gap

Ball chasing from the fetchers and focus on te breakdown

Build slow ball

Pressurise Phipps and target Farrell, JD and jDV's passing

The dreaded injuries: https://www.606v2.com/t55473-injuries
Enjoy 

Harlequins
Manager – Steven_Sharks

01. Tony Woodcock	09. Ruan Pienaar
02. Tatafu Polota-Nau	10. Steven Myler
03. John Afoa
04. Jim Hamilton	11. Joe Tomane
05. George Kruis	12. Juan Martin-Hernandez
06. Mamuka Gorgodze	13. Jonathan Joseph
07. Tom Wood (c)	14. Yoann Huget
08. Damien Chouly	15. Rob Kearney

:-
16. Rob Buchanan 17. Steven Kitchoff 18. Martin Castrogiovani 19. Charlie Matthews 20. Jamie Gibson 21. Karl Dickson 22. Quade Cooper 23. Robbie Henshaw

Tactics

We're looking to control this game from start to finish by playing the game in the right areas and playing to our strengths. We're going to look to build phases in the opposition half using the Pienaar, Myler and JMH axis to control our attacking play as well our field position. We want to carry hard off 9, 10 and 12 in order to get over the gain line and get quick ball which we can attack with on the front foot. We will look for our back row to provide extra carrying options in the midfield to help JMH and JJ. When we tie in defenders we want to get JJ, Tomane and Huget into space so they can isolate individual defenders. We will look to continually change the point of attack to get the Leicester pack moving around.

Pienaar, Myler and JMH are going to use their boots to pin Leicester back in their own territory as often as possible and get the big Leicester pack turning. Use the greasy surface to gain extra yards and pressure the Leicester back three. We feel we have the players to win the kicking battle which we see as key in the conditions.

At the set piece we will look for our experienced front rows to get on top and try to win some penalties whilst at the line out we will look to apply huge pressure. With 5 genuinely top jumping options (Chouly by far France's strongest lineout jumper in AI's) we will look to really pressure Leicester's line with Hamilton a great pilferer. On our own ball we will look to mix up our options at front, middle and back.

In defence we will look to defend outside to in and force Leicester back inside where our defence is at its strongest. JJ will lead this line speed. At the breakdown we will put on as much pressure as possible when we have a strong defensive line. Using our forwards to get over the ball or slow down Leicester ball.

Key Points

Target Young and James - Look to put relentless pressure on the Leicester half backs throughout. Disrupt their rhythm and halt Leicester's play.

Win the collisions - Especially around the ruck we want to use the carriers in our pack to get us over the gain line.

Kick behind Banahan and Ranger - Really look to kick behind these two. If we can force them to kick then we should win the kicking battle. Look to isolate one or the other. Brown can't cover for both.

Drop Goals - With JMH, we have a drop goal expert to keep the scoreboard ticking over should we stagnate in attack.

Sale Sharks
Manager – SJE

01. Marcos Ayerza	09. Danny Care
02. Benjamin Kayser	10. Johnny Sexton
03. Davit Zirakishvilli
04. Brodie Retalick	11. Simon Zebo
05. Dave Attwood	12. Kyle Eastmond
06. Peter O' Mahony	13. George Pisi
07. Sam Cane	14. Semesa Rokoduguni
08. Louis Picamoles	15. Jared Payne

16. Ross Harrison 17. David Paice 18. Samson Lee 19. Matt Garvey 20. Steven Luatua 21. Kieran Marmion 22. Beauden Barrett 23. Nick Abendanon

Key Points

- Attack the breakdown. Zirka, Retalick, POM & Cane all specialists in this area and will look to target the breakdown with Saints lacking specialists.

- Target Tuilagi’s defensive channel. Sexton, Eastmond & Payne all capable playmakers and will look to pull Tuilagi out of the defensive line and test his lack of real life form.

- Impact from the bench with super sub Barrett and the likes of Lee, Garvey, Luatua & Abendanon offering something different to the starting 15.

- Unbeaten at home in the league for two years. The AJ Bell stadium has become our fortress.

We will play an expansive, high intensity offloading game looking to create space and break the defensive line. Mobility, physicality and handling is key to our approach.

- Fast ball is crucial. Mobile pack and physical midfield to clear out rucks and ensure quick ball. We will look to get over the gain line off all carries to make it easier to do so.

- Commit the defence. Sexton will play flat on the gain line to pull in defenders before releasing runners while Care will look for opportunities to snipe around the base always committing defenders.

- Change the point of attack. Numerous playmakers across the backline comfortable at coming in at first receiver allow us to change the point of attack and leave the opposition guessing.

- Back three always involved. Wingers to track the ball off their wings looking for the inside ball or offload. Payne to join the line from fullback looking for mismatches and to create overlaps.

- Attack from the scrum. Strong technical front row backed up by a powerful second row will look to build a platform for Pickles, Care & Sexton. An area we will look to target if winning.

- Mix it up at the lineout. Five genuine jumpers gives us a strong attacking platform. Look to use both the rolling maul and ball off the top to keep the defence guessing.

- Straight line blitz defence. Focused on winning the gain line collisions and driving the ball carrier back. Line speed is crucial. Care will sweep behind the line to cover chips and grubbers.

- Target the breakdown. Committed to the breakdown with POM & Cane fetching for the ball, supported by the rest of the pack when needed. We will always look to turn the ball over.

Newcastle Falcons
Manager – Bambam

01. Soana Tongahuia	09. Nick Phipps
02. Dane Coles	10. Owen Farrell (k)
03. Luc Ducalcon
04. Ed Slater	11. Charlie Sharples
05. Yohan Maestri	12. Jean De Villiers
06. David Ewers	13. Jonathan Davies
07. Richie McCaw	14. Charles Piutau
08. Kieran Read (c)	15. Ben Smith

:-
16.Rory Best 17.Nic Auterac 18.Matt Stevens 19.Geoff Parling 20. Will Fraser 21.Greig Laidlaw 22.Gareth Anscombe 23. Rob Miller

Set piece - Really look to go after the scrum, Ducalcon to try and split Kilcoyne and Ward, look to use the power from Coles to help by pressurising Ward on their ball and not looking to strike. On our ball, look for a quick strike, if not then push them off it with the power coming through from the second row. Ewers to pack down on the tighthead and stay in to add extra bulk behind Ducalcon. In the lineout, Maestri and Read to be the primary jumpers, with Slater as the safe option up at the front. Plenty of ball off the top to launch our attacking game. On their ball, Maestri to mark Timani, challenge them to make longer throws or just go safe at the front, if they start going safe look to set up our maul defence.

Breakdown - McCaw and Read to work as a pair at the breakdown, forwards to ruck past the ball to give us clean quick ball. McCaw to primarily follow the ball and keep Haskell and Ward off it, Read to go in search of turnovers in wider channels when their guys are late to the ball. Big dynamic pack to help with clearing out, and our centres are also big units and strong in this area.

Attack - Ben Smith will be used a lot as a second distributor, we want to split the field as often as we can and give their defence the issue of Farrell/Smith each side, and the threat of Phipps on the snipe. Big runners all over the place look to tie down their back row, target Godwin's defence with JDV and Ewers going down the 10-12 channel all day long. Use the kicking game to target Nadolo, he's a big unit but look to cut off the easy pass to Pennell and make him kick, we think we have the chasers to do this.

Defence - No defensive weak links in the backs, we will look to employ a drift defence and force one of their guys to beat us one on one, when the ball gets to Nadolo we will double up to make sure he can't target our defence out wide.

Bench - Plenty of forward power, Auterac has only just joined on loan but his form shows his strength in the scrum and we think he could have some success in the last 20. Fraser on as a second 7 to really hammer home their lack of a true 7, and the likes of Anscombe and Laidlaw to help us close the game out.

Key points

- Team is fresh, we've made 11 changes from last time out as we look to target wins against the teams around us
- Look to target Ward/Kilcoyne in the scrum, with Ducalcon being in strong form
- Big pack which plays big at the breakdown, with two excellent ruck operators in the back row, and a 3rd to bring off the bench
- Use Smith to prevent the defence lining up on Farrell, plenty of kicks in behind Nadolo to give him a problem
- Target Godwin with JDV, he gives up 15kg or so to the SA man

Mark

Northampton Saints
Manager - Dammit Chris

1. Mako Vunipola
2. Rob Webber
3. Ramiro Herrera
4. Jonny Gray
5. Courtney Lawes
6. Samu Manoa
7. Schalk Burger
8. Sergio Parisse (c)
9. Joe Simpson
10. George Ford
11. Julian Savea
12. Weslie Fofana
13. Manu Tuilagi
14. Tommy Bowe
15. Ben Foden

16. Logi Mulipola 17. Elliot Dees 18. Trevor Nyakane 19. Joe Launchbury 20. Julian Bonnaire 21. Niko Matawulu 22. Nick Evans 23. Leigh Halfpenny

Tactics:
We'll look to continue our strong run and look to get a second win of the season against Sale. We've picked a strong, physical forward pack and have called into the starting lineup Lawes and Manoa who will go fly half hunting on Sexton, looking for a big hit to disrupt his game. We will play at a high intensity and adopt a very physical approach - we've selected a backline where players 9-15 are all try scoring threats and game changers.

Key Points:
* Full of confidence after putting a strong run together and have selected a strong pack and impact bench to ensure we have a strong platform away from home.
* Lot of gainline breakers in pack and backline to win the battle and put us on the front foot to test Sale's defence.
* Target Sexton, who has been injured in real life since the AIs, with Samoa and Lawes to distrupt him controlling the game.
* Target the break down with a very mobile pack and can look to make this a very physical battle with Manoa, Gray, Lawes and Burger involved.
* Strong impact bench we've had to finish extremely strongly, we will have played expansive rugby and will look to have tired Falcons and then bring on our big ball carriers.

Pack/Setpiece:
We've picked a really strong scummaging unit that will look to create a platform for Parisse to attack from. We've been rotating our pack regularly to wait for this game. The lineout is an area we will again look to control - we have Lawes, Gray, Parisse and Manoa as options to make it difficult for Sale to defend and Lawes will be used to disrupt Kaysers throwing at every opportunity.

Attack:
We will get Ford to mix up his kicking game, but importantly we've selected a hard running midfield and three strike runners in the backthree to win the gainline battle against Sale and provide a big counter attacking option from any loose kicks. We have a lot of try scorers in our backline and Ford's passing game can put them into spaces, or rely on the power of Fofana, Tuilagi and Savea to get us front foot ball.

Breakdown:
On our own ball we expect to be going forward and getting over the gainline due to the power of our runners in the pack and backline. We want quick ball and will look for our mobile pack to clear out any of the Sale players in the contact area. We will make this area a real battle, looking for turnovers and isolating any Sale attacker and look for penalties.

Defence:
As always a really aggressive defence with fast line speed and closing down the Sale halfbacks. We want to force them into mistakes and handling errors. We will have Simpson sweep in behind the defensive line but will have Manoa and Lawes lining up a big hit on Sexton.

01. Ben Franks	09. Lee Dickson
02. Marc Jones	10. Dan Biggar
03. Henry Thomas
04. Dean Mumm	11. JP Pieterson
05. Jacques Potgeiter	12. Alapati Leuia
06. Scott Higginbotham	13. Conrad Smith
07. Sam Warburton (c)	14. Adam Thompstone
08. Ben Morgan	15. Brice Dulin

16. Tom Lindsay 17. Tom Court 18. Rhodri Jones 19. Tom Savage 20. David SisiHigginbotham 21. Neil De Kock 22. Owen Williams 23. Rob Cook

Set piece: We have picked a strong scrummaging front 5 who all bring carrying bulk to the game. From kick offs we will look to go 2 passes in before hitting our direct runners. Scrummage low and straight. Our lineouts will be simple and we will look to bring the ball down before feeding 9.

Backrow: Balanced back row with a tackler, a carrier and a jackler and all 3 will be used for their main attributes. We have confidence in them all to do their jobs with Higginbotham looking to get in their 10’s face.

Breakdown: Controlled here and not over committing initially to the breakdown. Warburton will play the McCaw role and sweep behind the breakdowns picking and choosing when he will attack for a penalty or a turnover. “Fire ball” will be when Chiefs under commit to their ruck and we will blitz past the ball for the turnover. We will adopt the hold and roll technique taking them off their feet and ‘tactically’ hold them down to slow them getting to the next ruck.

Half Backs: Biggar will stand flat initially to give Leuia (who has been playing 12 for us prior to Roberts’ signing) and our runners the chance to get over the gainline. Dickson will control the tempo and slow the ball down if needed.

Outside Backs: Biggar and Smith will pull the strings and find gaps for our runners, if it is not on then we will look for deep kicks to go off the field and pressure their lineouts.. If on we will ship it wide. There will be a lot of movement off the ball to prevent us being easily read. Runners off of 12 and 13 when available and the ball will be shipped to the wings quickly to allow them to get the advantage in the race to the line. Our back 3 will run various angles to get the advantage.

Bench: Impact in all areas with Court, Savage and Sisi strong carriers, De Kock experienced and Williams in good form.

Defence: Strong defenders across the park will look at making the intiial big impact hit. We also know how good the Sarries centres are so will look to prevent tem offloading the ball by double tackling them. We will look to blitz with Higginbotham in their 10’s face letting Biggar drop back and cover with Dulin. Inside-out defence.

Overall: This will be a controlled performance. We will look to hit the ball up twice and suck in defenders by going the same way till we run out of space, we will then flash across and look for quick hands against their pack who will be stuck defending the centre channels. Carriers will come round the corner in 3’s to prevent the opposition knowing where the ball is going.

Specific: We know Chiefs come into this game in good form and we will look to slow down as much of their ball as possible and target their key runners. Leuia and Higginbotham have been brought in for their strong defence and the breaks Leuia can make as he has shown IRL. Chiefs say we have been on a poor run of form however, in all competitions we have won 3 of our last 5 losing to an improving Sarries team and a top 4 Wasps team at that point.

I've changed my tactics so could I have feedback on the layout, etc please.

Bath Rugby
Manager – inthefastlane

01. James Slipper	09. Fourie Du Preez
02. Richard Hibbard	10. Charlie Hodgson
03. Ben Tameifuma
04. Graham Kitchener	11. Christian Wade
05. Sam Whitelock	12. Christian Lealifano
06. Siya Kolisi	13. Michele Campagnaro
07. Luke Wallace	14. George North
08. Liam Messam	15. Stuart Hogg

16. Tom Dunn 17. Cian Healy 18. Jake Cooper Wooley 19. James Gaskell 20. Sean O'Brien 21. Richard Wigglesworth 22. Kurtley Beale 23. Damian De Allende

Overall: We are gonna be looking to play front foot rugby. Look to overwhelm Wasps in the loose. We will play a high tempo and really look to get some big carries in. We feel we have an advantage in the set piece so look to real attack of this.

Scrum: Look for our unit to set a strong platform. Our props have been well rotated so will be fresh. We will try to set a base, controlled by Messam which he can attack off.

Lineout: We will look to switch up the lineup with Kitchener, Messam, Kolisi and Whitelock options in the lineout. Whitelock will run the lineout with Kitchener offering an easy banker ball. Look to get up into the air quickly and down for a quick maul. Look to compete on the opposition throw as we have a great number of options. Try and starve them of quality ball from the lineout.

Breakdown: The breakdown is an area we really see ourselves as able to dominate. We will look to get men to the breakdown quickly and clear out so Luke Wallace and Liam Meszam can try and disrupt opposition ball.

Defence: Blitz Defence looking to really put pressure on the Wasps decision makers. Try to stop the ball from getting to the centres. Focus on gain line collisions and driving back in the tackle. FDP to sweep in behind.

Attack: Our half backs will control our rugby. FDP and Hodgson can play what they see and put the rest of the back line in strong positions. Lealifano can act as an extra playmaker from the 12. 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 get the big carriers involved as much as possible. The likes of Tameifuma, Slipper, Kolisi, Hibbard and Messam will try and wear down defences by looking for gaps. The likes of Wade, North and Campagnaro will be looking for gaps created that they can exploit. Look to counter attack kicks if possible. Look to play with a high tempo and get the ball moving across the back line. Challenge Watson and Slade defensively. Look for chances to offload.

Kicking: Hodgson will be our chosen place kicker. Any kicks will not be aimed towards their back three. We will chuck in the occasional grabber to chase. LLF, Hogg and Hodgson all have the boots necessary to try and put us in a good position territorially if need be.

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

Gloucester
Manager – anonmattyt

01. Wood	09. Perenara
02. Strauss	10. Cipriani
03. Ousthuizen
04. Etzbeth	11. May
05. Robson	12. Crotty
06. Alberts	13. Kurindrani
07. Salvi	14. Folau
08. Heaslip	15. Dagg

Subs:
16 Beast 17 LCD 18 Figallo 19 Croft 20 Palu 21 Robson 22 Pollard 23 Walker


TARGET BREAKDOWN– We have a big mobile physically strong bunch and will hit rucks with impact.
We will Send numbers in and try and effect turnovers or Disrupt ball.we believe the likes of  ousthuizen  Heaslip Etzbeth  Salvi and Strauss Have the physicality and the power to swamp their backrow.Backed by our front 5 and this is an area we will flood. We
Will look to target the Saracens Backrow throughout and exploit their lack of an out and out 7. We see our

TARGET 9 10 12 channel- Get our big runners in to the channel and look to get in behind. We also want pressure here in defence and force them to move it from this channel. SBW is still not back properly and we will look to exploit his rustiness. we feel on a whole they lack playmakers so are susceptible to the blitz. Also with parra having a difficult season and having been stripped of kicking duties and 4/5 th choice for France we feel he is there for the taking


Half backs- perenara will look to threaten around the ruck but his job is to give it to cips who will dictate. Cips Will challenge line and kick When necessary. We want to play high tempo and Off front foot vl. We will do this by using runners off ten to smash holes and look to flood.

General- We've selected a team packed with power and physicality. We want to use our carriers in the pack and will use this to dominate and get front foot ball. We believe this will give is the upper hand. We will use this to sap Sarries .We see them struggling with our power. When its on we will play an offloading game. When in behind We will Flood through with our quick Backs targeting mismatches

Tempo- we
Will be playing high tempo and to
Do that you have to have playmakers to allow
Continuity and also to attack off
Turnovers.

In ,Folau, Cips dagg and crotty we have people who can step in to first receiver and allow us to play the high tempo interchanging game we are aiming to play. We see them as lacking creativity to score tries and will be looking to really turn it on with continuity and fluid attacking.

Line out– We have options galore in Etzbeth Robson Alberts  heaslip etc and will use this to disrupt. On our ball we will mix It but as game progresses go Off The top more To Get in to there backline.
Target their lack of jumpers

Scrum- whilst their will be limited scrums in a game like this our front row will look to keep it steady on our ball and get it in and out to maintain high tempo.mon theirs we will look to disrupt.

Kicking options - with Cips , tj and dagg we have great options to dominate kicking game when needed and also have fantastic options for exiting when under pressure.

Defence- Blitz defence with high intensity and big hits, looking to drive past the ball player if the ball hits the deck. Scrum half to sweep behind the defensive line.

Attacking options.- we feel we have all the attacking threat on the front foot and at home we will be targeting the bonus point

Bench- Game changing bench with More ball carriers and attacking backs. Our intention is to use it as required

Exeter Chiefs 

Manager – Fluxy

01. Wyatt Crockett	09. Connor Murray
02. Sean Cronin	10. Toby Flood
03. Jamie Johnston
04. Patrick Tuipulotu	11. Maxime Medard
05. Paul O'Connell (c)	12. Luther Burrell
06. Carl Fearns	13. Adam Ashley-Cooper
07. Justin Tipuric	14. David Strettle
08. Toby Faletau	15. James O'Connor

_
16. Jack Yeandle 17. Richard Barrington 18. Davit Kubriashvili 19. Michael Paterson 20. Yannick Nyanga 21. Chris Cook 22. Ian Madigan 23. Andrew Trimble

General Game plan

A high intensity game based around high intensity in defence, offloading, and dynamic carrying and rucking. 
When we gain possession our plan is to control attack with quick clean ball be it from set piece or turnover. After that look to control the pace of the game and go through the phases. Flood will look to play flat and look to get our back line into the game whenever possible and keep the high tempo going throughout.

Set piece - Control the set piece and use it to restart our game plan and create point of attacks. POC to lead the line-out and get quick ball from our dynamic jumpers. Big emphasis on controlling set piece possession. If a weakness is seen by POC we will look to exploit it. 

Pack & Breakdown - We’ll look to win the collision with big our physical pack and dominate the opposition pack in the contact with strong carries from our pack, tying in the opposition defence to create overlaps for our backs. The back five to be a nuisance in in the breakdown and either get over the ball or get past the ball and make the opposition cleaners job a nightmare. Similar stance on our ball, the pack will blow through the ruck and past the ball, with a long presentation - to generate clean ball and keep it away from opposition defenders.  

Defence - Look to neutralise the opposition early on and allow our back-row to dominate affairs. Using the defensive banana drift defence to push the attackers towards our inside defence, with Murray sweeping in behind to guide defenders to plug holes and covers any kicks in behind. If an oppo player gets held or brought down this allows the second man to get over the ball quickly to at least compete and slow opposition possession. Tipuric will look to target the opposition fly half early on and pressure his kicking. Murray will look to sweep up any turnover ball getting us on the front foot.

Backs - Look to get the ball in hands of the backs and the back three especially. Utilise the pace and size of Burrell\AAC to crash through the line, using our 'league/slider move' developed from last season to break the line. Or to generate a two on one with JOC joining the back line and providing the extra man to either put a winger away or go himself. Look to exploit the defensive deficiencies in the Irish back three, with the wings not great positionally and Dulin not exactly the quickest.

Key Points

• Poor Irish Form - Irish have unfortunately been in a bad run of form and we will look to continue this. We have been in great form and morale will be high, winning creates a winning habit and we will have a mental edge over the Irish lads. 
  
• Front Five Edge – Target the Irish front five throughout the game. Pressure Thomas and Jones at the scrum and look to take on the Irish front five with heavy carrying. This will negate the dangerous back row and prevent their influence. 
  
• Physicality & Dynamism – Win the collision and target rucks to drive through opposition. We have a big physical, but also mobile pack. Supported by some high energy forwards off the bench.
  
• Targets in Defence - Leuia has been dropped into the 12 role and won't be up to scratch in defence. Burrell and AAC will exploit this looking to bust Leuia's weak inside shoulder, or isolate him with a ball on the outside with the blindside winger running a late line. 
  
• Keep the Scoreboard ticking over - Flood and JOC to share kicking at goal responsibilities with JOC taking the longer ones. Any penalty within their ten metre to be kicked at goal to keep scoreboard ticking. Unless ten metres from the line then we kick for the line-out.
  

 London Welsh
Manager – CJ

01. David Kilcoyne	09. Tawera Kerr-Barlow
02. Dave Ward	10. Francois Trinh-Duc(k)
03. BJ Botha
04. Jamie Cudmore	11. Napoliono Nadolo
05. Sitaleki Timani	12. Kyle Godwin
06.   Ashley Johnson.	13. Casey Laulala
07. James Haskell (c)	14. Mark Cueto
08. Victor Vito	15. Chris Pennell

:-
16. Matt Rees 17. Nathan Catt 18. Oliver Tomaszczyk   19.   Mouritz Botha    20. Alexandre Lapansry  21. Ben Spencer  22. Jesse Mogg 23. Remi Tales

Wasps make 6 changes to the starting XV that beat Sale Sharks last week, for this weeks visit to The Rec to take on Bath.  Injuries to Sebastien Vahaamahina, Jerome Kaino and Bryan Habana see them replaced by Romain Millo-Chluski, Duane Vermeulen and Anthony Watson, whilst Joe Marler and Aaron Smith return from a weeks rest to replace Paul James and Ben Youngs who drop to the bench.  Henry Slade steps up from the bench to partner Ma'a Nonu in the centres, with Robbie Freuan rested from the matchday 23 this week.

Wasps
Manager: Ozzy3213    

01. Joe Marler	09. Aaron Smith
02. Bismarck du Plessis	10. Aaron Cruden
03. Dave Wilson
04. Romain Millo-Chluski	11. Anthony Watson
05. Alun-Wyn Jones (c)	12. Ma'a Nonu
06. Marcell Coetzee	13. Henry Slade
07. Steffon Armitage	14. Marland Yarde
08. Duane Vermeulen	15. Tim Nanai-Williams

16. Deon Fourie 17. Paul James 18. Euan Murray 19. Matt Symons 20. Fulgence Ouedraogo 21. Ben Youngs 22. Paul Jordaan 23. Henry Speight


Basic Game Plan
In reasonable conditions we will be looking to play a possession based game, going through the phases and continually shifting the point of attack.  With it being slightly damp however we won't take chances with offloading in our half, but will make ground carrying close to the ruck and recycling quickly.

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.  Nothing flash. Hit our front and middle jumpers and ensure that we secure our ball.  We will also mix it up, shortening the lineout and using our back row as crash ball options off the top.  On Bath ball put pressure on through AWJ and Vermeulen, who are athletic lineout jumpers.
  
• Scrum.  Get low and underneath their props and drive straight. Really test their props technical abilities rather than get in to a battle of strnght.
  
• 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.  We will also utilise the pick and go, meaning their defensive line will not be able to blitz, and once on their heels anticipating the pick and go again we will then we will look to exploit the delay in their blitz that results. We will then look to shift the direction of play and pull their defenders out of position to create gaps.  Smith to also look to snipe around the fringes and keep us going forwards all the time.  
  
• Tactical Kicking.  If we kick, we will look to kick in behind their wingers and get them on the turn going back towards their own line, with our wingers on the kick chase to really target them defensively.
  

Key Points 

• Form/Momentum  In game we have hit form post AI's and have loads of momentum coming into the game.  We also have players in form in real life right across the team.
  
• Lineout.  Whilst we don't have a Matfield or POC type leader, we have a fully international pack and in AWJ a player who calls for club and country.  We may not be able target oppo ball as well as some, we certainly have enough to secure our own ball 90%+ of the time.
  
• Combinations.  We have combinations that we know work.  Marler/Wilson (international combo) as props, but with the best hooker in the world between them.  Smith/Cruden/Nonu at 9/10/12 which we know works for the best team in the world.
  
• Decision making positions.  In the 2,8,9,10 jerseys we have world class operators, who bring with them over 200 test caps for the best two teams in world rugby, meaning they have played in all conditions and seen whatever situations the game brings.
  
• Ability to switch gameplan. Whilst we want to play a possession game, away from home we realise we may at times have to play for territory, so have selected Slade at 13 for his kicking game and ability to step in at 1st receiver and mix things up.
  

Saracens look to rotate and bring in 11 fresh players for a tough away trip to Gloucester.

Saracens
Manager – Pooly

01. Alex Waller	09. Morgan Parra
02. Keven Mealamu	10. Patrick Lambie
03. Dan Cole
04. Bradley Davies	11. Zak Guildford
05. Flip Van Der Merwe	12. Sonny Bill Williams
06. Ben Mowen(c)	13. Marcelo Bosch
07. Thierry Dusatoir	14. Chris Ashton
08. Nathan Hughes	15. Matt Tait

:-
16. Jamie George 17. Xavier Chiocci 18. Jannie du Plessis 19. Louis Deacon 20. Callum Clark 21. Francois Hougaard 22. Bernard Foley 23. Miles Benjamin

Tactics:

TARGET BREAKDOWN – Numerous options in this area (Cole, Mealamu, Davies, Dus, Mowen, Hughes). Look to isolate Salvi as Gloucesters only real threat by holding down a little after the tackle and targeting him out of the breakdown. Use our numerous options to slow/turnover ball and gain pens etc.

TARGET SET PIECE Look to target scrum, keep ball in if see weakness. Target Gloucester props who can both be got at in the scrum. Cole to look to get in between Wood and Strauss and splinter the Gloucester set piece. Huge scrummaging locks to back our front row up.

GOAL KICKING OPTIONS AND POINTS ON THE BOARD Gloucester have only Cips to kick at goal and he's a 60% kicker at best. We have numerous world class kickers in Parra/Lambie/Bosch to keep us scoring from all areas of the pitch. We have world class kicking options at 9/10/13 to move the ball around and play territory.

LACK OF KICKING OPTIONS IN GLOUCESTER BACKLINE We have world class kicking options at 9/10/13 to move the ball around and play territory. Gloucester only have Cips from 9-13 with a kicking game, look to target him and put pressure on his kicking game.

BIG RUNNERS DOWN HALFBACK CHANNEL Look to target Cips/TJ from the off. Get Hughes, SBW, Flip etc running down this channel and making yards.

MAKE FOLAU KICK Look to kick in behind Folau and pin him in the corner with strong chasing game. This will force him to kick (ball could go anywhere??) or attempt to run from deep with numerous defenders against him. We'll either take a line out around their 22 or he'll get isolated and we'll force a turnover.

General - We'll be playing a structured 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 their half. Look to keep it tight in the forward pack and grind through work. Looking to move the opposition pack around and then use big carrying options to punch holes through the opposition defence.

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 TH and Hooker will look to target LH and try to get between him and Hooker to allow LH to work on TH If no weakness seen will use as restart.

Line out – Look for quick ball off the top with the world class line out options and experience. Will allow SH good clean ball and have big carriers running off the 9 at angles.

Defence - Blitz defence with high intensity and big hits, looking to drive past the ball player if the ball hits the deck. physical pack that can look to get at the collision and breakdown allowing a chance to slow down/steal ball. Put pressure on SH's basics and force him into errors, Shields the expert here. 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 dictate play from the breakdown and runners on his shoulder. Huge carrying backrow to get us over the gain line after front 5 set a platform. Midfield to run angles off the 9/10, allowing us gain line breakers. Look to keep opposition guessing with clever lines through midfield. Wingers will look to track the midfield combo and get the end of SBW's offloads in contact. Back 3 to keep things honest and come looking for work.[/b]

Leicester Tigers
Manager – LukeLovesLuka

01. Alex Corbisiero	09. Micky Young
02. Agustin Creevy	10. Brock James (k)
03. Owen Franks
04. Pascal Pape (c)	11. Matt Banahan
05. Victor Matfield	12. Tamati Ellison
06. Francois Louw	13. Mathieu Bastareaud
07. Jacques Burger	14. Rene Ranger
08. JMF Lobbe	15. Mike Brown

.
16. Christopher Tolofua 17. Gethin Jenkins 18. Paul Doran-Jones 19. Kearnan Myall 20. Thomas Waldrom 21. Dwayne Peel 22. Freddie Burns 23.  Drew Mitchell



Tactics:

We will look to play high tempo, high intensity rugby. We have, throughout our XV, big line breakers to make the hard yards and tie up defenders creating space in wider channels for James to exploit.

- Big focus to attack at all lineouts. Use Pape or Lobbe at the front and Matfield off the top as our three key options. Shortened lineouts with Burger in midfield as crash or decoy option.
Matfield and Hines to look to steal and really give TPN problems.

- Use James' excellent kicking game to put Quins on the back foot and attack them. Target Quins back three and utilise our strong lineout led by Matfield.

- Play an offloading game. We see the offload as our big weapon and our carriers will all be looking to offload in contact, continuing our forward momentum.

- Attack all scrums - Front row of Franks, Creevy and Corbs to look to really get the shove on, particularly targeting the Bath TPN/Afoa channel.

- Gigantic XV made up of massive line-breakers, used in the tight to tire down the Quins defence. Using the likes of Basteraud, Creevy, Louw, Franks, Lobbe and Banahan to get us over the gainline.

- Look to win battle at the breakdown - Louw, and Lobbe and Burger, supported by the likes of Bastareaud, to really look to get into the breakdown and give Quins problems.

- Young to look to snipe around the fringes and keep us going forwards all the time.

- 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, and look to win the collisions in defence. Young to sweep behind with an eye on short kicks.

Tactics:

Attack:

Keep slow ball in the hands of the pack, taking it on in drives with groups of 3 forwards. If opportunities appear, 9 and back row to attack the fringes

Quicker ball to be popped onto carriers off 9 or to FTH attacking the line and passing the ball onto hard runners inside or out, utilising on this first attack our power runners like Haskell, AJ, Laulala, Timani, Vito and Nadolo off his wing to beat the gain line and commit defenders. These runs to be well supported, and keep the ball fast, recycling the ball into our ball players like Pennell, Godwin and FTD who will keep changing the direction of attack until gap appears, the flood it.

Chip over the line and look for te kick outside when the blitz rushes up and leaves a gap behind, using our kicking options at 9, 10, 12 and 15

Defence:

Blitz led by Horne, TKB sweeping. Fringe defence led by Cudmore. Be alert for the chip and kick from Farrell- with our targeting and blitz he will likely have to use it so be ready to run it back agaisnt a broken defence and punish this

Breakdown:

Work as a unit, led by Haskell and Ward. Clearing led by Cudmore, Vito and AJ. Keep men out of the ruck to commit in defence and attack. One of Ward and Haskell looking to chase the ball around the park so someone is first at every ruck and available for offloads too

Scrum:

Keep it solid in the scrum on our ball and run off 8. We should be able to challenge them on their ball and get on top of them later when our tactics tire their pack

Subs:

Great pack subs so go 100% with starting forwards knowing they can come off. Mogg adds pace and attacking verve if needed and another kicker on the wing

Lineout:

Mix up our options with Timani calling and liking for quick ball off the top to attack with. Challenge every opposition throw

Kicking:

use all our options at 9, 10, 12 and 15 in attacking and defensive kicking. Kick for territory and aim for the lines and space rather than the players. Run back kicks and don't kick to back 3, and get the likes of Laulala and AJ running kicks back as well

Press hard for turnovers and penalties in their 22 but give nothing away in our half, being more careful.

Targets:

Pressurise Phipps to put the young, attackingly talented 9 under pressure and force Farrell to playmake which he isn't comfortable with. Their front row can be gotten at and if we hit their backline as a solid blitzing wall, 10, 12 and 13 don't have a great passing game and we can stifle their attack which relies on carrying when the ball is in the midfield.

Overall-

Press and hold off the discipline in the right areas

Multiphase attack with flooding te gap

Ball chasing from the fetchers and focus on te breakdown

Build slow ball

Pressurise Phipps and target Farrell, JD and jDV's passing

Haven't had a chance to do tactics, apologies, can get them in first thing if that's ok?

Get them in Bam.

Bath 20-23 Wasps
 
Scrum: Can see Wasps getting an edge and drawing the odd penalty.
Lineout: Both sides should hold their own ball but feel Bath are more dangerous playing off the lineout.
Breakdown: More quality about the Wasps back row. Bath competing here but Wasps can slow them down.
HB's: Wasps stronger individually and as a unit.
Attack: More quality in the wider channels for Bath but more in the carrying stakes for Wasps. Kicking options in both midfields.
Defence: Both back threes susceptible to a strong kicking game. 
Bench: Neither side really dominates but Bath may have a few wobbles at the lineout. 
Tactics: Not sure Bath will be able to impose themselves on Wasps as much as they want to. Both sides looking to play with the ball in hand preferably and Wasps with better momentum from their carrying and breakdown game win out.


Gloucester 19-19 Saracens
 
Scrum: Scrum edge to Sarries with better technicians in the props and both locks good scrummagers. 
Lineout: Both sides dangerous off their own ball. 
Breakdown: Glaws back row gets through more work at the ruck area but the Sarries front 5 and midfield help to level it up.
HB's: Sarries stronger individually and edge this battle slightly but both combos well suited and Cips in good form. 
Attack: Glaws back three a different class but Sarries edge midfield slightly. Similar level of carrying & kicking through both sides.
Defence: No real weaknesses in the line ups and both using the same system.
Bench: Figallo, Croft & Deacon all have form issues. Can see a slight breakdown edge for Sarries.
Tactics: Much more cordial attempt at tactics this time round from these two. Both sides looking for a power game and will be reliant on winning the gain line collisions where I feel both are fairly even. Glaws with a bit more magic in the back three but Sarries with a slightly better base from the scrum and halfbacks. Can't split these two currently with Kingsholm not its usual fortress this season.


Harlequins 18-14 Leicester Tigers
 
Scrum: Edge to Quins with Corbs struggling for top level rating. 
Lineout: Tigers more dangerous off their own ball but Quins should have enough to retain their own ball.
Breakdown: Tigers with two sevens and Creevey, Franks & Bast to help out can disrupt Quins balls at times. 
HB's: More to Quins individually particularly at 9 and can see their halfbacks dictating the tempo at times. 
Attack: Plenty of power to both sides. Not an awful lot between the two sides although JMH gives Quins extra kicking options.
Defence: Both Tigers wings can be caught on the turn as can Tomane from time to time.
Bench: Cooper & Henshaw offer Quins some good options late on. 
Tactics: Tigers looking for their usual power game and to disrupt the breakdown and can see them slowing up Quins ball. Quins however set up perfectly for the side selected and see their kicking game controlling this game.


London Irish 22-23 Exeter Chiefs
 
Scrum: Chiefs with a slight edge but don't see them really dominating. 
Lineout: Bit more for Chiefs off their own ball but Irish hold their own with solid options. 
Breakdown: The Irish back row give them an edge here. 
HB's: One a piece and not an awful lot between the combos overall. 
Attack: Hurricanes link up in midfield works well for Irish. Not an awful lot between the sides overall. 
Defence: Burrell could get some joy down Leuia's channel from time to time. 
Bench: Chiefs a little more solid at scrum time and Madigan gives them a good game changing option. 
Tactics: Usual game plans from both sides with both keen to hold onto the ball and work through the phases. Not an awful lot between the starting sides but good impact for Chiefs late on and with a strong winning mentality built up they should sneak a close one.


Newcastle Falcons 27-20 London Welsh
 
Scrum: Not much of a difference between the two sides. 
Lineout: Same as above. Both sides should hold their own ball. 
Breakdown: Welsh usually pride themselves on their breakdown work but can see Falcons causing some issues and slow them down. 
HB's: One a piece but feel the Welsh combo would be better suited to one another. 
Attack: More play making ability from the Welsh backs. Falcons extremly reliant on Phipps and Smith for attacking direction. 
Defence: Nothing getting through that Falcons midfield. Nadolo very susceptible to a decent kicking game. 
Bench: More control from the Falcons backs to come in.
Tactics: Welsh looking for a smart kicking game to take advantage of a blitz defence but Falcons sitting deeper with a drift defence. Falcons work at the breakdown sees them with the better ball in this one. Falcons left/right split can work well but better form needed from Farrell when possession/quality of possession is tighter. 

Sharks 24-24 Saints
Slight edge to Saints  in the front 5 but Sharks should do alright come the lineout. Back rows pretty even and Burger vs  Cane would be a good one to watch. Not a lot between the half backs, possibly Simpson taking in a bit better form than Care but not enough to make a big dent. Outwide I think I do need to look at who is playing at the moment so Sale take the centres, evens in the back 3. 2 good benches on show today. Sale have confidence at home and can make a few inroads running their big players towards the Saints backline. Saints coming with similar tactics and I've changed my mind about the result 3 times already so am going to sit on the fence sorry.

Bath 22-25 Wasps
More about Bath in the pack I feel in tough conditions which require strong carriers. Half backs fairly even with Hodgson having the experience of the conditions but Smith and Cruden a great real life pairing. Outside of that there's not a lot in it with both teams having strong runners and a balance of flair. Two good impact benches but hard to rate Healy. I think Wasps will stop Bath getting the clean ball their tactics want and will win the arm wrestle today.

Glos 22-22 Sarries
Bit more for  Sarries in the pack but strong carriers from both teams on show today. Feel Glos could cause some issues for Sarries in the backrow but don't think it will make a massive difference. Close  in the half backs and Cips edges slightly with his current form. Outside of that can see Glos getting a bit more from their back 3 on current form. Bench to Sarries with some issues for Glos. Glos rightly targeting the breakdown and looking for strong carriers today, Sarries  going for tactical kicking and targeting the scrum with good tactics. I think that each team will nullify the other's chances so am again sitting on the fence for this one sorry. Can see both teams making a big push for the playoffs in the next few weeks.

Quins 28-25 Tigers
Massive game here today. Think Quins get  the edge at the set piece with a great pack but Tigers can get at  them at the breakdown although I don't think it will be enough disruption to slow down all of the ball. More to Quins at half back and outside  that I can't see a lot of difference in this game. Waldrom and Cooper the two big standouts on the bench for each team. Quins setting their targets well and looking to use their set piece advantage well,  Tigers tactics will work well for  them but I think Quins will have too much today.

Falcons 28-23 Welsh
Not a lot of  difference at the set piece here today. Great  form in the Welsh back row but they are up against top quality opposition in McCaw and Read, will be a tough breakdown battle but think Welsh may edge the carrying game whereas Falcons will slow and disrupt Welsh ball. Not much between the half backs but out wide I can see Falcons getting an edge, JDV will begin to lose ratings soon when the Super 15 starts up again due to his injury. Think Falcons have the players on the bench who can close  out a game. Welsh looking to pressure 9 and have the players who will be able to do that, Falcons coming in with solid breakdown tactics and using Smith as another playmaker will work well switch between him and Farrell.

Sale 24 - 23 Northampton

Not much between the packs though I think Sale could get a little scrum edge. Lineout pretty even. Half backs go to Sale with a great combo and this has a significant impact with neither side getting any considerable gains up front. Saints are lethal out wide but Sale have their own threats. It's a massive game and at home, with stronger half backs, Sale get a crucial win to reign Saints in a bit.

Bath 26 - 26 Wasps

Think Wasps will get an advantage at the scrum. Think Bath are stronger in the row but Wasps have the edge in the back row so Wasps should see a slight advantage up front. Don't see much at all in the half backs and I prefer the Bath outside backs with the wings just frightening in attack. Very little in the benches and both sides set out well with tactics. I just don't quite think Wasps have enough for the away win but take a good draw.

Gloucester 25 - 23 Saracens

See a scrum advantage for Saracens but a bit more for Gloucester at the line out and the breakdown. Carriers up front are pretty even. Gloucester edge the half backs on form but more control in the Saracens pairing. Form again see's Gloucester up in the centres and prefer their back three. Gloucester take a good win at home.

London Irish 21 - 20 Exeter Chiefs

Very little up front in this one. I think Irish edge the back row battle but their is very little in anything else in the packs. One a piece at half back with midfield even with Exeter slightly stronger in the back three. Real tough to call, see Irish scraping it at home in a real slug fest

Newcastle 26 - 24 London Welsh

I think Welsh might edge the scrum here. Newcastle have more quality in the back row giving them the slight edge up front. Prefer the Newcastle half backs with another slight edge in the outside backs. The smallest of edges in most areas see's Newcastle home on their own patch.

Bath 26 - 28 Wasps
Really close game, but just see Wasps edging the pack battle and they have an advantage in their no8 - if Bath get a top quality no8 in then their whole team transforms into a top4 team. Both teams have electric backlines and give the edge to Bath's backthree but Wasps will just get the away win.

Gloucester 27 - 25 Saracens
Pooly's team has improved a lot with a very solid setpiece and the pack battle is extremely close as a result. Can see Gloucester winning this one due to the form of their backline and being able to get at the Sarries backthree, which isn't the best defensively but great in attack. Quite a few changes from Sarries last week!

Quins 23 - 22 Leicester Tigers
Really close game that again will see a really bruising battle between the packs, which I can't split as both so strong and the backrows both work very well. Tigers might get an edge come lineout time due to hookers. Quins have more quality and try scoring threat in the backline that just sees them home.

London Irish 24 - 23 Exeter Chiefs
Again really close game - agree with Steve's reasoning for the home win, if Irish can get a top hooker it will really make their team kick on.

Newcastle 30 - 27 London Welsh
Quite a few Newcastle players are hitting some nice form right now and that backline looks like it could really cause some damage and home advantage will get them a win that just gets the BP. The Welsh bench will keep them in it as do the away teams tactics.

Sale 26-24 Saints

Sale with the scrum advantage with Mako having a few issues in this area. Quality engine rooms with Retallick the best player on show, line out perhaps shades to Saints. Not much in the 7/8's but Sale a touch better at 6, great pack battle just to Sale by a whisker.

Big step up in the halfbacks for Sale, especially at 9. Saints centre pairing more quality but less form, just edge it. Saints wings better but Sale better at FB. Fantastic game from possibly the best 2 sides in the league (with Quins/Wasps). The main difference is the half backs and home advantage, Saints need a better 9 for the close games.

Sorry lads, really struggling for time as this is my working weekend, so have been unable to really read tacticsthis week and have had to predict solely on line ups, which make it very tough to separate teams and sees me sat on the fence in most games.

Sale Sharks 24 Northampton Saints 23
Gloucester 22 Saracens 22
Harlequins 23 Leicester Tigers 22
London Irish 20 Exeter Chiefs 20
Newcastle Falcons 24 London Welsh 24

Bath 28-28 Wasps

Good front 5 battle with Wasps edging the scrum and Bath the line out, Wasps a bit more physicality. Wasps a bit stronger in the backrow, Bath could do with an 8 and shifting Messem to 6.

9-12 to Bath but not quite sure Slade is at this level and he'll be a weakness. Bath wings full of tries and they'll really run this one. Wasps win this by 3/4 at home but Bath bench and home advantage have to give a draw, sorry boys.

Will predict tomorrow

Sale 24-26 Saints

2-1 Saints front row. Not a kayser fan but mako can be got at. Herrera vs Ayerza worth the entrance fee.

1-1 second row with Lawes and retallick. Slight edge to sale as rate Attwood above Gray just.

Backrow saints much cleverer at breakdown with Parisse and manoa in great form. Pom also in ridiculous form. As a unit saints work rate and physicality much better.

Halfbacks sale. Simpson and care equal as Simpson in rare form and care not.

Sexton worlds best 10 but ford On form.

After that its all saints.

They have the best backline about. All in form bar tuilagi.

Sale unlucky Roka, eastmond etd all struggling. Sale backs have lost the form they had and see them struggling. A few months ago Payne Roka eastmond etc on fire. Now they struggle.

Bench equal with Both having decent options and ones with form issues.

Saints best team in league at moment

Just to say Matt, from today's game, Care's form is on the way back

ChequeredJersey wrote:Just to say Matt, from today's game, Care's form is on the way back

Read that but not seen it yet.

Care best SH in England for me but was struggling. One game does not make form. I hope
He is Back

Bath wasps

That's why I said on te way back not back

Quins21-19 Leicester

Leicester take front row with a cracking unit. A great second row battle and a epic back row battle.

Leicester have half backs who are not great and quins take the 9,10,12 battle and will use their possesion better.

Add in home advantage and quins win despite a ding dong pack battle

Harlequins 23-23 Leicester

Stronger front row for Tigers with Woodcock and TPN not in good form for Quins, little more in the engine room too for Tigers with them sneaking the set piece. Bit more in carrying for Quins but see Tigers getting on top at the breakdown. Overall a decent pack advantage for Tigers.

More for Quins at 9/10 but I prefer the physicality of the Tigers midfield. Good back 3's with Banahan and Tomane the weaknesses. ANother tight one with Tigers controlling the pack but just not enough to get the win in the backs.

Irish 21-20 Exeter

Not much in the front rows with Thomas improving for Irish. Exeter a step up in the engine room, Irish miss a quality operator here to partner Polt but they get on top in the backrow with a little more quality.

One a piece in the halfbacks and both centre combo's strong with Exeter stronger in the back 3. Another really tight one and I'd fancy Exeter by at least 3 at home. Just enough for Irish to sneak a very important win against a rampant Exeter side.

Newcastle 25-21 Welsh

Tonga not in the best of form evens the front row up and engine rooms close with Slater lacking a bit of form for Bam. Falcons take a bit of control in the back row and halfbacks and good step up in the centres/back 3. Tough on CJ as Welsh are competitive but just lose out in quality in the backline.

Sale 31-29 Saints
Gloucester 28-24 Sarries
Quins 24-21 Tigers
Irish 22-23 Exeter
Newcastle 28-23 Welsh

Sale 26- 25 saints
Bath 27 - 26 Wasps
Gloucester 21 - 20 Saracens

Quins 28 - 27 Tigers

Irish 22 - 22 Exeter

Sale Sharks 25 - 23 Northampton Saints

Slight edge around the park by the Saints front five, but Sale do come good at the set piece. There's an intense breakdown battle and with POM, Cane and Retalik have a good presence and out match Saints, until the likes of Launchbury and Bonnaire come on. On the face of it Sharks just edge the halfbacks, but Saints have a good attacking combination. Saints have an array of riches in the backline, but do lack a reliable kicking option to help take the pressure off Ford. Sharks for me have their strongest midfield out and allows to spark some clever back play. Once the benches have been unloaded into the game, Sale will have just done enough to put an end to the Saints run and secure a strong home win. 

Bath Rugby 18 - 24 Wasps

Bath match up well against the strong Wasps pack with Wasps getting a slight nudge at scrum time being the only real advantage over the Bath side. FdP and Hodgson are a great pair to play to the conditions but do lack a little form. Wasps have a great partnership and spine to their back line to also take control in the conditions. Wasps can pin back Bath, as Bath will look to play more than gain territory, with North and Wade not exactly defensive minded wingers! Wasps just kill the game for Bath and make it hard for them to get out of their half, and nick the away win. 

Gloucester Rugby 20 - 20 Saracens

About even in packs, but Sarries for me will get some joy in the scrum. Both sides will have decent possession and allow their back lines to play out the game. Cipriani's current form allows Gloucester to make some attacking headway and bring their exciting back three into the game. Both have good tactics, with Sarries going for territory making it hard for Gloucester's back three to attack in the right areas. Glos hounding the breakdown slows down any Saracens momentum. In the end this will negate each other, with neither having a real standout performer or tactic to break the deadlock. 

Harlequins 28 - 26 Leicester Tigers

Big battle at the Stoop. Quins getting a good advantage at the set-piece, but the contribution of the whole Tigers pack at the breakdown slows down the Quins momentum. Quins have more about them in the back line, with their midfield creating and breaking the line, JJ being the standout here. Quins have just enough to squeeze the life out Tigers and progress to a big home win. 

Newcastle Falcons 29 - 22 London Welsh

Welsh have a real gritty side out that will make the game hard for the Falcons front five. The Welsh unit are a great combination, but are up against world class operators in McCaw and Read, especially at the breakdown. Welsh looking to cut off the Falcons halfbacks is a good tactic and will help disrupt the Falcons flow, however the Falcons have world class operators and outside that and when they get hold of the ball will make something happen. Falcons just have too much quality in the end and see off the growing Welsh threat.

Bath 20 -20 Wasps

Hardest game to predict.

Wasps clearly take front row but Bath take the second row easily with Kitchener in great form and whitelock the worlds best.

Backrow to wasps and half backs.

After that its all bath with a much better blend and form in centres and back 3.

Not sure on TNW at FB and those wings of wasps are not great defensively and a bit green.

Can see wasps winning the forward battle and having greater
control from the half backs but also shipping points. Not sure slade as good a prospect as
He is could live with the bath backline. Especially with the wingers he has outside him. Bath experience crucial in them snatching a draw

Irish 21-20 exeter

Another close one.

About even in front row with Johnston struggling at Sarries and not first choice but mark jones not the stand out weakness in Irish.

Exeter take the back 3.

At home Exeter win
This but home advantage and a dominant backrow see
Irish get a much needed win

Exeter walk the second rows but Irish dominate the backrow with each player better.

Half backs one a piece with Murray and biggar standouts with Irish shading it on form.

Great battle in the centres. Find fluxys tactics of targetting leuia at 12 as he is out of positiin odd. He has played there loads and knows how to defend. Centres even and both top pairings.

Sale 26 - 25 saints
Bath 25 - 24 Wasps
Gloucester 23 - 22 Saracens
Irish 22 - 22 Exeter
Newcastle 24-23 Welsh

Sale 25-24 Saints

Ayerza and Herrera will match each other, just fancy Zirakashvili to edge Mako. About evens in the lineout with Lawes the standout jumper. Can't split the back rows, maybe slight edge to Sale with the breakdown as a whole, and on form the halfbacks even too. saints slightly stronger in the outside backs. At home has to be Sale, with the extra impact in the last 20.

Bath 23-25 Wasps

Wasps very strong at the scrum, Bath likewise in the second row. Wasps back row unit excellent as always, think bath might really struggle against that trio. Halfbacks to Wasps, outside backs as a whole I prefer Bath, but have no problem with Slade at this level unlike others. Both benches strong, but think Wasps will stand up to the physical onslaught and come out on top

Gloucester 25-25 Saracens

Sarries stronger at the scrum, and probably at lineout too with Mowen adding a lot here. Both sides really going after the breakdown, and I reckon it will turn into a big mess with no real advantage. Sarries playing it well tactically, and have the halfbacks to do it, but Cips form makes that even. Prefer the Glos outside backs, and think they have more impact off the bench too. Sitting on the fence, can't pick it

Harlequins 26-23 Leicester

Leicester pack is huge, and think they will do very well at the set piece. Breakdown is going to be a big battle, with Tigers having the stronger back row but Quins getting more help from the front 5. Quins halfbacks far stronger, outside backs about the same. With home advantage, bench impact and the gap at halfback this goes to Quins.

London Irish 21-20 Exeter

Front 5s look pretty even, but advantage to Irish in the back row. One each at halfback, but prefer Chiefs outside backs. Not sure about targeting Leuia, but good gameplans from both. With home advantage, a narrow win for Irish.

Prop - tactics look fine, cover everything IMO

Well done SJE, thought you'd beat me this week - really good squad you've put together, if you ever want to sell Danny Care...

RESULTS:

Sale Sharks 30 (T:4 C:2 P:2)
Northampton Saints 25 (T:2 P:5)

Bath Rugby 25 (T:2 P:5)
Wasps 27 (T:2 C:1 P:5)

Gloucester 26 (T:2 C:2 P:4)
Saracens 23 (T:2 C:2 P:3)

Harlequins 29 (T:3 C:1 P:4)
Leicester Tigers 22 (T:2 P:4)

London Irish 24 (T:2 C:1 P:4)
Exeter Chiefs 22 (T:2 P:4)

Newcastle Falcons 31 (T:4 C:4 P:1)
London Welsh 23 (T:2 C:2 P:3)

BONUS:

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

Well done Prop, real close one!

I'll comment now as I didn't want to during predos being open. I was attempting to target Leuia, for not being involved recently at 12, rather than not being a centre - oh well.

Congrats again Prop, should see you on a good run now I imagine! 

Cheers bud, really didn't expect more than a draw/losing bonus to be honest with your current run!!

I thought it could be close being away from home!