European Champions Cup Round 5

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Toulouse v Harlequins
Location - Stade Ernest Wallon
Heavy Rain Shower, 8 Degrees, 17mph W Winds

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Toulouse

15 Clement Poitrenaud, 14 Yoann Huget, 13 Yann David, 12 Gael Fickou, 11 Maxime Medard, 10 Jean-Marc Doussain, 9 Sebastien Bezy,
1 Gurthro Steenkamp, 2 Corey Flynn, 3 Census Johnston, 4 Joe Tekori, 5 Yoann Maestri, 6 Yannick Nyanga,  7 Thierry Dusautoir, 8 Louis Picamoles

Replacements:
16 Julien Marchand 17 Vasil Kakovin 18 Kisi Pulu 19 Romain Millo-Chluski 20 Gregory Lamboley 21 Luke McAlister 22 Vincent Clerc 23 Alexis Palisson

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Harlequins
Manager – Steven_Sharks

01. Steven Kitchoff	09. Ruan Pienaar
02. Schalk Brits	10. Steven Myler (k)
03. John Afoa
04. Jim Hamilton	11. Jack Nowell
05. George Kruis	12. Stuart Olding
06. Mamuka Gorgodze	13. Robbie Henshaw
07. Tom Wood (c)	14. Alex Lewington
08. Nick Easter	15. Juan Martin Hernandez

16. Rob Buchanan 17. Gjorgi Jgenti 18. Kyle Sinckler 19. Charlie Matthews 20. Jamie Gibson 21. Karl Dickson 22. Quade Cooper 23. Aurelien Rougerie

Tactics

Territory and points. Win collisions. Control game through our half backs.

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Gloucester Rugby v Newcastle Falcons
Location - Kingsholm
Sunny, 5 Degrees, 15mph WNW Winds

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Gloucester
Manager – anonmattyt

01. Nick Wood	09. Dan Robson
02. Joe Gray	10. Handre Pollard
03. Coenie Ousthuizen
04. Elliot Stooke	11. Johnny May
05. Roman taofufina	12. Andrea Masi
06. Juan Smith	13. Juan De Jongh
07. Qera	14. Charlie Walker
08. Wycliffe Palu	15. Israel Folau

Subs:
16. Beast 17. Adriaan Strauss 18.  Figallo 19. Eben Etzbeth 20. Tom Croft 21. Will Genia 22. Cips 23. Hosea Gear

Set piece - picked a strong scrummaging front row to get after Glos, we think we can have some joy to go after Newcastle. Auterac is a fine prospect but will be against an international th who enjoyed a good AI series. Also its Auterac's first game on loan after only joining this week. They can't have their rhythm and engage right. Wood will also target dulcacon.
Breakdown - we will send in numbers with smith and Qera to the fore. Ousthuizen is like a extra backrow and breakdown and is always near top of steals list so will look to turnover ball and then we will strike from wherever

Attack - we plan to tie in their defence before spinning the ball out wide. We will look to engage read and Mccaw before looking to pick off the likes of dulcacon slater and parling who are light on form.Use may/folau as to step In at first receiver to allow us to play a fluid style.

Defence - no weak links in the back line, defend as a team and look to blitz Farrel. He struggles to get a backline going and we feel the lack of distribution in centres
Allows us to bottle neck them here. JDJ and Masi are great aggressive defenders and we think we can stifle Newcastle between 10-13. Scrum half to sweep

Bench - game
Changers to come on early to keep pace and attack

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 Newcastle Falcons
Manager – Bambam

01. Nic Auterac	09. Nick Phipps
02. Rory Best	10. Owen Farrell (k)
03. Luc Ducalcon
04. Ed Slater	11. Charlie Sharples
05. Geoff Parling	12. Jean De Villiers
06. David Ewers	13. Jonathan Davies
07. Richie McCaw	14. Charles Piutau
08. Kieran Read (c)	15. Ben Smith

:-
16.Dane Coles 17.Soana Tongahuia 18.Carl Hayman 19.Yohan Maestri 20. Will Fraser 21.Greig Laidlaw 22.Gareth Anscombe 23. Rob Miller

Set piece - picked a strong scrummaging front row to get after Glos, we think we can have some joy against Wood and Coenie, and Gray is a touch undersized so have picked Best to put the power on, with a big second row behind. Ducalcon to look to split Gray and Wood, with Slater and Ewers on his side to add power behind him. Parling to call lineout, and mark Tafofina, on our ball use Read as an option at the tail to get ball off the top.

Breakdown - Read and McCaw to lead at the ruck, work as a pair to target Qera and win the turnovers when the opportunity strikes. Plenty of support from the likes of Best and we think we can edge the turnover battle.

Attack - we plan to attack around the fringes, and tie in their defence before spinning the ball out wide. Use Ben Smith as a second distributor, and don't be afraid to use the kick chase game. Target Folau's kicking by chasing as a team, maintaining the line and cutting off his easy pass to another kicker. Challenge Walker on high balls with Sharples on the opposite wing

Defence - no weak links in the back line, defend as a team and focus on maintaining the defensive line. We think Pollard may struggle for help distributing the ball, so get In his face and challenge him to get around our defence, JDV to lead the pressure.

Bench - big ball carrying forwards in Coles and Tiny, scrum pressure from Hayman and more help at the breakdown in Fraser. Anscombe's playmaking or Laidlaw's control to help us late on as required

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Sale Sharks v Scarlets
Location - AJ Bell Stadium
Light Rain Shower, 5 Degrees, 12mph W Winds

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 Sale Sharks
Manager – SJE

01. Jack McGrath	09. Danny Care
02. David Paice	10. Beauden Barrett
03. Davit Zirakishvilli
04. Dave Attwood	11. Craig Gilroy
05. Matt Garvey	12. Anthony Allen
06. Steven Luatua	13. Gael Fickou
07. Sam Cane	14. Semesa Rokoduguni
08. Charles Ollivon	15. Nick Abendanon

Subs:
16 Marcos Ayerza 17 Benjamin Kayser 18 Martin Moore 19 Iain Henderson 20 Peter O'Mahony 21 Kieran Marmion 22 Johnny Sexton 23 Kyle Eastmond

* High paced physical approach using big carriers (McGrath, Zirka, Attwood, Garvey, Luatua, Allen, Rocko) to put the Scarlets defence on the back foot and leave space for Care, Barrett, Fickou & Abendanon to run at.

* Empty the bench in the 2nd half looking for scrum & breakdown dominance for Sexton to target the bonus point. Barrett to move to FB.

* Blitz defence with Care on the sweep

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Scarlets

15 Liam Williams 14 Kristian Phillips 13 Regan King 12 Scott Williams 11 Michael Tagicakibau 10 Rhys Priestland 9 Rhodri Williams
1 Rob Evans 2 Emyr Phillips 3 Samson Lee 4 George Earle 5 Johan Snyman 6 Aaron Shingler 7 James Davies 8 Rob McCusker

Replacements:
16 Kirby Myhill 17 Wyn Jones 18 Rhodri Jones 19 Lewis Rawlins 20 Rory Pitman 21 Aled Davies 22 Steve Shingler 23 Hadleigh Parkes

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Ospreys v Wasps
Location - Liberty Stadium
Light Rain Shower, 6 Degrees, 19mph WNW Winds

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Ospreys

15 Dan Evans 14 Hanno Dirksen 13 Ashley Beck 12 Josh Matavesi 11 Eli Walker 10 Dan Biggar 9 Rhys Webb
1 Marc Thomas 2 Scott Baldwin 3 Dimitri Arhip 4 Rynier Bernardo 5 Alun Wyn Jones 6 James King 7 Justin Tipuric 8 Tyler Ardron

Replacements
16 Sam Parry 17 Gareth Thomas 18 Dan Suter 19 Olly Cracknell 20 Sam Lewis 21 Martin Roberts 22 Sam Davies 23 Andrew Bishop

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 Wasps
Manager: Ozzy3213    

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

16. Harry Thacker 17. Paul James 18. Fraser Balmain 19. Ruan Botha 20. Fulgence Ouedraogo 21. Sebastien Tillous-Borde 22. Paul Jordaan 23. Henry Speight

Tactics

Standard tactics for light rain. We'll play possession and go through the phases but nothing risky in our half. Offloading when in their 22. Blitz defence with Youngs sweeping.

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Northampton Saints v Clermount Auvergne
Location - Franklins Garden
Light Cloud, 3 Degrees, 13mph W Winds

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Northampton Saints
Dammit Chris

01. Mako Vunipola	09. Joe Simpson
02. Dylan Hartley	10. George Ford
03. Ramiro Herrera
04. Jonny Gray	11. Julian Savea
05. Courtney Lawes	12. Ollie Deveto
06. Samu Manoa	13. Manu Tuilagi
07. Schalk Burger	14. Tommy Bowe
08. Sergio Parisse	15. Leigh Halfpenny(k)

Subs:
16. Trevor Nyakane 17. Rob Webber 18. Logi Mulipola 19. Lood de Jager 20. Sam Jones 21. Mike Phillips 22. James Hook 23. Ben Foden

Tactics:

* Already beaten Clermont away from home in the group stages.
* Play at high intensity/tempo aiming to put Clermont under pressure and win the set piece.
* Win kicking battle with Ford/Deveto combination.
* Win gainline battle in pack and with Savea, Tuilagi and Bowe in backs.
* Impact bench to finish the game strong.

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Clermount Auvergne

15 Nick Abendanon 14 Noa Nakaitaci 13 Aurelien Rougerie 12 Wesley Fofana 11 Zac Guildford 10 Camille Lopez 9 Morgan Parra
1 Thomas Domingo 2 Benjamin Kayser 3 David Zirakashvili 4 Jamie Cudmore 5 Sebastien Vahaamahina 6 Damien Chouly 7 Alexandre Lapandry 8 Fritz

Replacements
16 John Ulugia 17 Raphael Chaume 18 Clement Ric 19 Julien Pierre 20 Julien Bardy 21 Ludovic Radosavljevic 22 Brock James 23 Benson Stanley

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Leicester Tigers v Munster
Location - Welford Road
Light Cloud, 4 Degrees, 13mph W Winds

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Leicester Tigers
Manager – LukeLovesLuka

01. Alex Corbisiero	09. Micky Young
02. Agustin Creevy	10. Tusi Pisi (k)
03. Owen Franks
04. Kearnan Myall	11. Ugo Monye
05. Victor Matfield (c)	12. Tamati Ellison
06. JMF Lobbe	13. Mathieu Bastareaud
07. Francois Louw	14. Drew Mitchell
08. Thomas Waldrom	15. Mike Brown

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16. Christopher Tolofua 17. Gethin Jenkins 18. Paul Doran-Jones 19. Pascal Pape 20. Jacques Burger 21. Dwayne Peel 22. Freddie Burns 23. Rene Ranger

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Munster

15 Felix Jones 14 Andrew Conway 13 Andrew Smith 12 JJ Hanrahan 11 Simon Zebo 10 Ian Keatley 9 Conor Murray
1 John Ryan 2 Duncan Casey 3 BJ Botha 4 Dave Foley 5 Paul O'Connell 6 Peter O'Mahony 7 Tommy O'Donnell 8 CJ Stander

Replacements
16 Kevin O'Byrne 17 Eusebio Guinazu 18 Stephen Archer 19 Billy Holland 20 Robin Copeland 21 Duncan Williams 22 Denis Hurley 23 Johne Murphy

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Sale Sharks
Manager – SJE

01. Jack McGrath	09. Danny Care
02. David Paice	10. Beauden Barrett
03. Davit Zirakishvilli
04. Dave Attwood	11. Craig Gilroy
05. Matt Garvey	12. Anthony Allen
06. Steven Luatua	13. Gael Fickou
07. Sam Cane	14. Semesa Rokoduguni
08. Charles Ollivon	15. Nick Abendanon

Subs:
16 Marcos Ayerza 17 Benjamin Kayser 18 Martin Moore 19 Iain Henderson 20 Peter O'Mahony 21 Kieran Marmion 22 Johnny Sexton 23 Kyle Eastmond

Northampton Saints
Dammit Chris

01. Mako Vunipola	09. Joe Simpson
02. Dylan Hartley	10. George Ford
03. Ramiro Herrera
04. Jonny Gray	11. Julian Savea
05. Courtney Lawes	12. Ollie Deveto
06. Samu Manoa	13. Manu Tuilagi
07. Schalk Burger	14. Tommy Bowe
08. Sergio Parisse	15. Leigh Halfpenny(k)

Subs:
16. Trevor Nyakane 17. Rob Webber 18. Logi Mulipola 19. Lood de Jager 20. Sam Jones 21. Mike Phillips 22. James Hook 23. Ben Foden

Tactics:

* Already beaten Clermont away from home in the group stages.
* Play at high intensity/tempo aiming to put Clermont under pressure and win the set piece.
* Win kicking battle with Ford/Deveto combination.
* Win gainline battle in pack and with Savea, Tuilagi and Bowe in backs.
* Impact bench to finish the game strong.

01. Nick Wood	09. Dan Robson
02. Joe Gray	10. Handre Pollard
03. Coenie Ousthuizen
04. Elliot Stooke	11. Johnny May
05. Roman taofufina	12. Andrea Masi
06. Juan Smith	13. Juan De Jongh
07. Qera	14. Charlie Walker
08. Wycliffe Palu	15. Israel Folau

Subs:
16. Beast 17. Adriaan Strauss 18.  Figallo 19. Eben Etzbeth 20. Tom Croft 21. Will Genia 22. Cips 23. Hosea Gear
[/quote]



Set piece - picked a strong scrummaging front row to get after Glos, we think we can have some joy to go after Newcastle. Auterac is a fine prospect but will be against an international th who enjoyed a good AI series. Also its Auterac's first game on loan after only joining this week. They can't have their rhythm and engage right. Wood will also target dulcacon.
Breakdown - we will send in numbers with smith and Qera to the fore. Ousthuizen is like a extra backrow and breakdown and is always near top of steals list so will look to turnover ball and then we will strike from wherever

Attack - we plan to tie in their defence before spinning the ball out wide. We will look to engage read and Mccaw before looking to pick off the likes of dulcacon slater and parling who are light on form.Use may/folau as to step In at first receiver to allow us to play a fluid style.

Defence - no weak links in the back line, defend as a team and look to blitz Farrel. He struggles to get a backline going and we feel the lack of distribution in centres
Allows us to bottle neck them here. JDJ and Masi are great aggressive defenders and we think we can stifle Newcastle between 10-13. Scrum half to sweep

Bench - game
Changers to come on early to keep pace and attack

Leicester Tigers
Manager – LukeLovesLuka

01. Alex Corbisiero	09. Micky Young
02. Agustin Creevy	10. Tusi Pisi (k)
03. Owen Franks
04. Kearnan Myall	11. Ugo Monye
05. Victor Matfield (c)	12. Tamati Ellison
06. JMF Lobbe	13. Mathieu Bastareaud
07. Francois Louw	14. Drew Mitchell
08. Thomas Waldrom	15. Mike Brown

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16. Christopher Tolofua 17. Gethin Jenkins 18. Paul Doran-Jones 19. Pascal Pape 20. Jacques Burger 21. Dwayne Peel 22. Freddie Burns 23. Rene Ranger


Tactics:

TBC

Newcastle Falcons
Manager – Bambam

01. Nic Auterac	09. Nick Phipps
02. Rory Best	10. Owen Farrell (k)
03. Luc Ducalcon
04. Ed Slater	11. Charlie Sharples
05. Geoff Parling	12. Jean De Villiers
06. David Ewers	13. Jonathan Davies
07. Richie McCaw	14. Charles Piutau
08. Kieran Read (c)	15. Ben Smith

:-
16.Dane Coles 17.Soana Tongahuia 18.Carl Hayman 19.Yohan Maestri 20. Will Fraser 21.Greig Laidlaw 22.Gareth Anscombe 23. Rob Miller

Set piece - picked a strong scrummaging front row to get after Glos, we think we can have some joy against Wood and Coenie, and Gray is a touch undersized so have picked Best to put the power on, with a big second row behind. Ducalcon to look to split Gray and Wood, with Slater and Ewers on his side to add power behind him. Parling to call lineout, and mark Tafofina, on our ball use Read as an option at the tail to get ball off the top.

Breakdown - Read and McCaw to lead at the ruck, work as a pair to target Qera and win the turnovers when the opportunity strikes. Plenty of support from the likes of Best and we think we can edge the turnover battle.

Attack - we plan to attack around the fringes, and tie in their defence before spinning the ball out wide. Use Ben Smith as a second distributor, and don't be afraid to use the kick chase game. Target Folau's kicking by chasing as a team, maintaining the line and cutting off his easy pass to another kicker. Challenge Walker on high balls with Sharples on the opposite wing

Defence - no weak links in the back line, defend as a team and focus on maintaining the defensive line. We think Pollard may struggle for help distributing the ball, so get In his face and challenge him to get around our defence, JDV to lead the pressure.

Bench - big ball carrying forwards in Coles and Tiny, scrum pressure from Hayman and more help at the breakdown in Fraser. Anscombe's playmaking or Laidlaw's control to help us late on as required

Harlequins
Manager – Steven_Sharks

01. Steven Kitchoff	09. Ruan Pienaar
02. Schalk Brits	10. Steven Myler (k)
03. John Afoa
04. Jim Hamilton	11. Jack Nowell
05. George Kruis	12. Stuart Olding
06. Mamuka Gorgodze	13. Robbie Henshaw
07. Tom Wood (c)	14. Alex Lewington
08. Nick Easter	15. Juan Martin Hernandez

16. Rob Buchanan 17. Gjorgi Jgenti 18. Kyle Sinckler 19. Charlie Matthews 20. Jamie Gibson 21. Karl Dickson 22. Quade Cooper 23. Aurelien Rougerie

Tactics

Territory and points. Win collisions. Control game through our half backs.

Bam shall we agree no tactics ? I am short of access to computer and off a phone ?

anonmattyt wrote:Bam shall we agree no tactics ? I am short of access to computer and off a phone ?

Matt, must have been writing mine as you posted that. Looking to go for the away win so would prefer to have tactics to give me the best chance tbh mate, I've condensed them slightly

No worries mate

Tactics

Standard tactics for light rain. We'll play possession and go through the phases but nothing risky in our half. Offloading when in their 22. Blitz defence with Youngs sweeping.

You all know by now how I set my team up to play.

Ozzy3213 wrote:Tactics

Standard tactics for light rain.  We'll play possession and go through the phases but nothing risky in our half.  Offloading when in their 22.  Blitz defence with Youngs sweeping.  

You all know by now how I set my team up to play.  

The proper way. Play the conditons
And play the game in their half.

Toulouse 23-22 Harlequins

Good game. Toulouse just shade the pack and slightly better in the backs. With home advantage they'll just sneak this one.

Sale 34-18 Scarlets

Scarlets backline will keep them in touch for while but Sale pack will eventually blow them away in last 3rd.

Ospreys 19-32 Wasps

Another case of pack dominance against the Welsh who'll stay competitive for the 1st half at least. Way too much for Wasps though.

Northampton 27-25 ASM

Saints right not to take this one lightly as they'd get beat. Strong Saints line up, ASM slightly better in the backs perhaps but enough to turn them over.

Leicester 29-25 Munster

Another close one with Munster a bit more bulk and control at hb. Tigers strong front row and finishing power will see them through.

Pooly, you've missed mine and Matt's game! Unless you're doing it later lol

Pooly doesn't predict on Matts games and vice versa BamBam 

Oh ok, fair enough

Toulouse 23-24 Quins

Think Quins get the battle in front 5 and a wonderful back row battle is honours even.

Quins better half backs help them get control and squeeze an impressive away win

Sale 45-15 Scarlets

Mismatch in most areas.
Scarlets will try and play whixh will leave holes and sale have far too much class

Ospreys 19-34 wasps

Agree with pooly that wasps pack will be too much. That backrow will have a field Dai and they will run away with it second half

Toulouse 23-22 Quins
Very very tough game here. Pretty even across the board up front but Quins could possibly get an advantage in the half backs. Centres more for Toulouse but exciting for Quins. Outwide can see Toulouse causing some problems. Two huge benches on show too. Think Toulouse just have enough to get across the finish line.

Glos 25-25 Falcons
Good tactics from both teams, pretty clear with what they want to do and the targets they are making, can’t see these being the main difference. Upfront I think the set piece will be fairly even with strong showings and I feel Auterac should do ok but Gray evens things out. 2 great back rows on show and at half back I’d give it one a piece. Surprised Cips is on bench for this match. Centres and outwide even here as well. Looking at the benches I think both teams can put on a good show in the last quarter. No joy in splitting these two today sorry.

Sale 34-18 Scarlets
Sale stronger against a weak-ish Scarlets pack think the Sale 2nd row pairing will get the better of Earle and Synman. Outwide it’ll be hard for Scott Williams to get much going and Sale will trouble Priestland and give their strong runners a good win with the bench helping to pull away.

Ospreys 14-35 Wasps
Wasps will cause Ospreys all sorts of problems up front with Tips struggling to make an impact in this match due to the overall power of the Wasps pack. Outwide Wasps are more dangerous in the centres and the back 3 and will pull away here. Weak bench from Ospreys gives Wasps the chance to pull away.

Saints 25-23 Clermont
Strong pack battle where I think Saints could edge the 2nd row and backrow competition. Slight edge at half back to Saints but much closer in the centres where Clermont could cause all sorts of problems. Bit more danger out wide for Saints and looking at the bench there’s impact from both teams. Close game to call and I think that

Tigers 24-19 Munster
Front row to Tigers but a lot closer in the 2nd row, Tigers will edge the back row battle but it will be close. Munster could edge the half backs but I think Bastareaud will make big inroads against the Munster centres. Out wide both teams are pretty dangerous. It comes down to the bench where Tigers hare much stronger with some good impact on show.

Toulouse 21-20 Quins
Very even pack battle and don't see either side getting an edge. More experience in the Quins halfbacks helps but Toulouse in good form as well and won't allow Quins dictate the tempo. Outside backs fairly even. Both benches have impact. Tight game and home advantage decides it.

Gloucester 20-24 Newcastle
Not a lot of difference between the set pieces. Bit more carrying to the Glaws pack but Falcons can get at the breakdown. Halfbacks one a piece. Glaws shade back three but both are dangerous. Falcons midfield a step up in quality though. Some form issues on both benches. Glaws young half backs struggle off slower ball in this one for me.

Ospreys 18-30 Wasps
Wasps scrum can dominate and 8-10-12 gives them a big edge. Ospreys going well domestically this year but our sides are a different level.

Saints 18-17 Clermount
Clermount can get at the scrum but Saints have the stronger carrying game in the forwards. Clermount shade the halfbacks. Both combos in decent form but the french combo proven at a higher level. Midfield is a step up to Clermount but vice versa in the back three. Cracking game here and Saints in game momentum and home form just shades it.

Leicester 23-19 Munster
Tigers can get at the set piece here but the breakdown battle would be fantastic to watch. Munster half backs give them an edge particularly Murray. Bast will have some joy running in midfield. Tigers forward subs offer a better work rate around the park late on. Tigers set piece dominance sees them win out but the Munster halfbacks keep them in this till late on.

Toulouse 24 - 24 Quins

Outside backs to Toulouse with more experience vs young vibrant Quins players, but HBs have more control for Quins and I don't like Doussain as a 10. Quins just edge the pack and negate home advantage

Gloucester 25 - 26 Falcons

Gloucester have lightning backs but Falcons maybe have more balance with power in centres and not sure about Masi at 12. Both sides picking on key weaknesses with good tactics but pressurising Farrell will work very well I think. However, Phipps can get over Robson and Falcons take the backrow with form and nick the match

Sale 40 - 17 Scarlets

Sale have a much more powerful pack and dominate Scarlets up front, allowing their very attacking backs to cut free. Easy win for home side, good selection of backs to make most of dominant territory and possessions but might lack toughness vs a better pack


Ospreys 19 - 34 Wasps

Similar to above, Wasps murder Ospreys at the set piece and breakdown, and though backs are both Strong, Wasps have much more and better ball to use with a backline that can move the ball around beautifully

Saints 28 - 28 ASM

Hard to call, with 2 immense packs possibly just edged in breakdown by Saints but hard to beat ASM physically. Great backlines and a hard game to defend in, with Lopez really letting ASM play. Ford and Simpson could be got at defensively and in kicking/territory terms but will threaten in attack, and home advantage just enough for Saints

Leicester 26 - 23 Munster

Munster always tough but Leicester have a pack that excels at te set piece and a well balanced back row to at least draw in the forward battle. After that, their backline is defensively excellent, capable of making constant yards past the gainline and has enough to subdue Munster for a vital win

Toulouse 23-22 Harlequins

Tough game, especially away from home for Steve. However he has set his side out well as they look to control the big Toulouse pack. Quins look strong throughout, keeping Toulouse quiet despite the quality in their back line to create something out of nothing. Myler is the difference, with Toulouse lacking a steady kicking option to edge ahead. 

Gloucester 26 - 28 Newcastle Falcons

Another tough close game. Both set out very well and strong in line-ups. See the forwards just edged to falcons and Glos making a mess of the breakdown which will only allow Read and McCaw to kill the Gloucester moment when they seem in the ascendency. Like Prop surprised Cips isn't starting, but Glaws look dangerous. Falcons with Phipps leading the creativity in tandem with his back three make them a dangerous unit. Glaws bench is strong and can change the momentum, but Falcons have enough to build up a score and also keep themselves ahead to edge a big away win!

Sale Sharks 32 - 15 Scarlets

Sale have too much up front from an improving Scarlets pack which has a few stars that can hold up a little to the Sharks forwards. Scarlets look dangerous with ball in hand, but there are rare opportunities to attack. 
There is enough talent and intent for Sale to pull off what they wanted and that is the bonus point. 

Ospreys 20 - 33 Wasps

Wasps front row and help from the locks dominate the O's front five and put their decent back row on the backfoot. This allows the wasps to control especially with their strong spine and put the O's to the sword relatively easily. 

Northampton Saints 28 - 27 ASM Clermont Auvergne

Saints have picked a strong side to match the strong Clermont pack and they do a good job of nullifying their forwards. This allows their halfbacks a little more time on the ball to bring in their array of talent out wide and on to the ball. Clermont are no pushovers and their attacking talent makes them no pushovers and one of the games of the round. Under this serious pressure the 9-10-12 of Saints can crumble and do a bit when under the cosh. But the reliable kicking of Bowe and halfpenny means that saints just edge this for me, but only just. If clermont were 'a managed side' this could've swung the other way.  

Leicester Tigers 25 - 24 Munster

Tigers front five match the Munster front five and allow their back row to get into the game and slow possession down for themselves, which in turns allow them to slow up the Munster attack. Murray will be dangerous and edge the Tigers halfbacks. But the Basteraud effect will helps keep momentum in the Tigers favour and slow up the Muster back three to focus on defence. Pisi is a decent kicker with the odd hiccup likewise as is keatley, but at home Tigers just have an edge to scrap home.

Saints 29-24 clermont

Saints at home and better front 5 with their second rows much better.

Good backrow battle with both units having incredible form. Chouly and parisse both serious players.

Prefer Simpson to parra by a distance on form and way saints want to play.

Both 10s in great form and hard to call. After that saints take over but clemonth have good form on wings. Battle royale but saints better and at home.

One question ? Has devoto not been loaned out ? If so take 3 points off result

Devoto loan is after this round of games

Gloucester 23 - 24 Newcastle
Sale 27 - 20 Scarlets
Ospreys 23 - 29 Wasps
Saints 26 - 25 Clermont
Leicester 26 - 26 Munster

Toulouse 19-22 Quins
Toulouse have been far from their best this season - would give Quins the front five and much prefer the Quins backrow. Only area Toulouse are better is on the wings. Set piece win for Quins and Myler's and Hernandez's kicking games can see them get a great away win.

Gloucester 28-27 Newcastle
Hardest game to predict by some distance. Newcastle would have won it but for me have a few form issues across the midfield with Farrell, JDV (injury) and Davies who hasn't done much for Clermont in recent months and Slater in the pack. When they click that Falcons team is excellent and would give them the edge over the starting XV of Gloucester. The difference comes off the bench where I see Mat's team have more impact players they can call on and you see the Gloucester team getting stronger as the game goes on. Great backthrees on display from both.

Ospreys 24-33 Wasps
Only area Ospreys have an advantage in is their second row - everywhere else it is Wasps. Good form and home advantage gets Ospreys competitive until the Wasps bench comes on. Could be very difficult to stop Wasps in Europe this year!

Sale 25 - 14 Scarlets
One issue for Sale is that Mcgrath is suspended for 3 weeks - http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/30824025 - so they are one man down, but the replacements SJE has doesn't make a difference and they will overpower Scarlets. Would have been a bigger scoreline.

Leicester 20 - 12 Munster
Tigers will have the forward dominance in this, front five and backrow are excellent and will control the game. Munster have a few better backs in form, but the ball they'll get will really limit them. If Tigers get a few more backs in form they are challengers for this cup.

Toulouse 23-21 Quins
Glos 26-28 Newcastle
Sale 33-15 Scarlets
Ospreys 16-34 Wasps
Northampton 36-31 Clermont
Leicester 29-21 Munster

Toulouse 23 Harlequins 24
Gloucester 26 Newcastle Falcons 25
Sale Sharks 34 Scarlets 33
Northampton Saints 27 ASM Clermont Auvergne 26
Leicester Tigers 24 Munster 23

Is it 1 point predos for just scores only that passed with the vote ?

Toulouse 23-24 Quins
Glos 27-28 Newcastle
Sale 28-27 Scarlets
Ospreys 29-30 Wasps
Northampton 36-35 Clermont

anonmattyt wrote:Is it 1 point predos for just scores only that passed with the vote ?

For all English games yes. Foreign opposition doesn't apply.

Toulouse 24-26 Quins

Quins can really take control of the pack battle, Toulouse have a big pack but Quins are more streetwise and will do enough to get on top. After that, the step up in class with Quins halfbacks is too much for Toulouse, only their excellent back line keeps this closer against Quins young guns

Sale 37-17 Scarlets

Sale pack will dominate this one and just steamroller the welsh side upfront. Such dominance will lead to the bonus point, the quality of the Scarlets back line will get a couple of tries to make the scoreline more respectable. McGrath suspension knocks a couple of points off the final scoreline

Ospreys 20-34 Wasps

Pack dominance is a theme throughout this weeks games, and this one is no different. Second row is possibly the only area where Ospreys can match Wasps, but the front and back rows will far outweigh this. Plenty of tries for the young backs

Saints 27-26 Clermont

Massive packs from both sides, and the saints lineout strength is probably the only area which is clearly an advantage to one side. Simpson's form and Parra's lack of evens out the halfbacks, and both back lines have plenty of tries in them. The bench is what makes the difference, and gives Saints the win

Leicester 24-17 Munster

Leicester take the set piece quite easily, back rows will have a real battle and will probably even out. Half backs to Munster, but definitely think Tigers backs will do plenty with the set piece ball, and this will probably be an easier win than the scoreline suggests

RESULTS:

Toulouse 25 (T:3 C:2 P:2)
Harlequins 25 (T:3 C:2 P:2)

Gloucester 26 (T:2 C:2 P:4)
Newcastle Falcons 29 (T:3 C:1 P:4)

Sale Sharks 39 (T:5 C:4 P:3)
Scarlets 19 (T:1 C:1 P:4)

Ospreys 20 (T:2 C:2 P:2)
Wasps 38 (T:5 C:5 P:1)

Northampton Saints 33 (T:4 C:2 P:3)
Clermount Auvergne 26 (T:2 C:2 P:4)

Leicester Tigers 30 (T:4 C:2 P:2)
Munster 21 (T:2 C:1 P:3)

SEEDINGS

1 London Wasps 25pts
2 Northampton Saints 22pts
3 Harlequins 21pts
4 Sale Sharks 19pts
5. Newcastle Falcons 19pts
6. Toulon 18pts
7. Racing Metro 15pts
8. Gloucester 14pts
-----------------------------
9. Toulouse 14pts
10. Leicester Tigers 11pts

How do the quarter finals work, is it 1st seed v 8th, 2nd vs 7th etc? Because I definitely don't fancy a trip to Sale

It is indeed Bam. I'm just happy to get a home quarter final!

Vital to snatch that draw. Should get me a home QF

SJE do you lose a point for mgrath being ineligible ? Trying to work out where I may end up