AP Round 17

First topic message reminder :

Apologies for delay.

Points Situation

60 Northampton
48 Saracens, Exeter, Wasps
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47 Bath, Leicester
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43 Sale
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35 Gloucester, Harlequins
28 London Irish
24 Newcastle
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1 London Welsh



Fixtures

Fri 6th Mar 15

19:45 BATH RUGBY  v   SALE SHARKS Recreation Ground BT Sport

Bath have failed to win a match since the 6Ns started, and have won just one of their five AP matches in 2015. This bad run of form has led them to drop from a safe 2nd in the table to outside the top 4. While they have perhaps the easiest run in of any of the sides pushing for the play-offs, they need to start winning soon. Would they wish to face Sale, who beat them at the Rec last season? Perhaps not. Sale are at full strength, while Bath have real issues with Ford away. Homer has to start kicking his goals and DeVoto has to give Eastmond time and space. while I look forward to the first collision between Burgess and Leota, it is the back row match up that really interests me. Bath have recalled Garvey and moved Fearns to no8 creating a massive back row. Sale however have countered by recalling Seymour for Beaumont and effectively fielding 3 guys comfortable at openside. Bath should win, Sale with Cipriani looking to impress will not lie down.


Sat 7th Mar 15

15:00 EXETER CHIEFS  v   LONDON WELSH Sandy Park
Chiefs to move back to second in the table.

15:00 HARLEQUINS  v   LONDON IRISH Twickenham Stoop
Irish will really fancy this match. Quins, like bath, have yet to win during the 6Ns. they created plenty of chances last week against Saints but failed to score the points they should and were outmuscled by the table toppers. London Irish have struggled up front at times and certainly in the games against my team lacked fluency behind the scrum. However they do, like Quins, look to play at a high temp and if the conditions are good we may have a free-flowing game with lots of breaks and lots of errors.


15:15 GLOUCESTER RUGBY  v   NORTHAMPTON SAINTS Kingsholm BT Sport Preview
Saints have not been playing well, but have been grinding out wins. Glaws coudl expect to see Hibbard and Laidlaw available and will provide a threat. With Lawes, Corbs and Wood all looking to show form and fitness I just expect Saints to power through this.



Sun 8th Mar 15

14:00 WASPS  v   SARACENS Ricoh Arena BT Sport
Shoudl be fascinating. Simplistically this can be viewed as Wasps attack against Saracens defence. Saracens have not been in great form, and have lost a lot of games away from home. To win this they need to deny Wasps any space and force them, into pushing things from behind the gainline. The tackling of the back row will be crucial as they look to stem Hughes and Johnson. Wasps could have the edge at scrum time, which will make Sarries job even harder, but Sarries need to make this a physical armwrestle. Both teams are proficient at the driving maul, so defensive tactics at line-out time could be intriguing.


15:00 NEWCASTLE FALCONS  v   LEICESTER TIGERS Kingston Park
This is the easiest of Tiger's three remaining away fixtures and one they simply have to win. Falcons are much improved from the team we saw at Welford Road and are now scoring tries against the best defences. I woudl certainly not put Tigers up as among the best defence - yet strangely no team has conceded less tries than them. Scoring tries has been a real issue in theg League, so for me it has been heartening to hear Falcons fans bemoaning their defence. Can Falcons pack provide sufficient platform for their exciting backs to prosper?

Falcons try from a well worked driving maul

FFS Tigers sloppy.

4 times now we have lost the ball in contact in Falcons 22

We are doing some good stuff.

And then try to do a force offload which just isn't working.

Barrit is down in the Saracens match.

Keystone Cops from us atm

Damn we simply have to get about 5 front rowers of real quality in the summer....

Damn it again. how many times are going to lose this ball in contact?

Sinotti is class....

Ah damn it....that should have been a try

Sinotti is class!!!!

Well finished.

We have dominated possession but keep coughing up the ball.

What a finish

If we can sign a scrum in the summer....we could be a decent side...

Ref is handle the rucks Newcastle getting the rub of the green IMO.

Just wish Leicester backs could play like Falcons.

Well Cockers needs to get the hair dryer out. Disgraceful to lose so much ball in contact.

We should just be kicking the ball to touch whenever in our own half, ATM.

Mr. T is being mean to us.

All Falcons in the 1st. Bar the scrum we've been excellent, that one pen we got was an outrage! Some lovely attacking play, disappointed to only have the 2 tries tbh

Sgt_Pooly wrote:All Falcons in the 1st. Bar the scrum we've been excellent, that one pen we got was an outrage! Some lovely attacking play, disappointed to only have the 2 tries tbh

I must be watching a very different game to you. We have dominated possession and territory but keep losing the ball in your 22. Falcons kicking most ball, then applying the pressure when in our 22. You could have got a a try from Allesana;s break, but the same attack saw Sinotti score.

Good break through the middle by Falcons at start of second half.

Ah we should have finished that

Gibson injured, Morris injured.

Not good.

Falcons should score from this lineout if they have any precision

GeordieFalcon wrote:Ah we should have finished that

Finished what - the diagonal kick?

Jeez our control at the breakdown is nonexistent

and again. Good breakdown work from Falcons, but boy we are making it easy for them

LondonTiger wrote:

GeordieFalcon wrote:Ah we should have finished that

Finished what - the diagonal kick?

He means the run down the middle.

Croft injured
Mulipola injured ATM, Back on his feet.

Bell Looks promising.

Imagine a team of

Leicester tight 5
Falcons Flanks
Pearce 8
Falcons Backs.

Catterick catches our bug, Good break, drops the ball

OMG Burns down now!!!!!!!!!!!

Despite the lack of possession we should be well ahead of the tigers by now.

Unlike the first half, Falcons controlling possession and we are merely hanging on

Almost worth a yellow card for committing the offence when advantage being played.

Guessing we're back to playing like poo

12 - 9

How is there only three points in this game!!!!

Burns won#'t get this.

this on tv?

nathan wrote:Guessing we're back to playing like poo

Playing some decent attacking stuff, but then give the ball away. Falcons more threatening but we do pose a threat.

No watching on the Bet 365 stream.

Yet again lsoe the ball at the breakdown in their 22. 9th time so far. John Wells deserves some credit i guess for the work he has done with Falcons back row.

Feel for Rogers.

Shocking call there wasn't held at all.

Go for touch.

Try IMO

YESSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh my.

Your kidding me on!!!!!!

Excellent kick

who scored it? havent got a 365 account yet

We've given this away.

Lucky lucky tigers.