Anglo Welsh Cup Final

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London Wasps v Harequins
Location - Franklins Garden
Light Cloud, 9 Degrees, 13mph NW Winds

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London Wasps
Manager: Ozzy3213                      

01. Scott Sio	09. Aaron Smith
02. Bismarck Du Plessis	10. Aaron Cruden
03. Ben Alexander
04. Romain Millo-Chluski	11. Henry Speight
05. Sebastien Vahaamahina	12. Paul Jordaan
06. Marcell Coetzee	13. Henry Slade
07. Steffon Armitage	14. Marland Yarde
08. Jerome Kaino	15. Delon Armitage

Reps: 16. Harry Thacker, 17. Ben Moon, 18. Fraser Balmain, 19. Ruan Botha, 20. Hayden Thompson-Stringer, 21. Mitchell Drummond, 22. Shane Geraghty, 23. Tim Nanai-Williams.

Basic Game Plan
In good conditions we will be looking to play a possession based game, going through the phases and continually shifting the point of attack.  When deep in our half we won't take chances with offloading, but will make ground carrying close to the ruck and recycling quickly, or using the boots of Cruden, Slade and Armitage to take us up the field.

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.

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Harlequins
Manager – Steven_Sharks

01. Steven Kitchoff	09. Karl Dickson
02. Rob Buchanan	10. Steven Myler (k)
03. John Afoa
04. Bakkies Botha	11. Teddy Thomas
05. George Kruis	12. Juan Martin Hernandez
06. Luke Braid	13. Jan Serfontein
07. Michael Hooper (c)	14. Frank Halai
08. Mamuka Gorgodze	15. Colin Slade

:-
16. Schalk Brits 17. Gurthro Steenkamp 18. Kyle Sinckler 19. Charlie Matthews 20. Jamie Gibson 21. Eric Escande 22. Stuart Olding 23. Ollie Lindsey-Hague

Tactics

Use the strong carriers in our pack to get across the gain line. Use the front 5 off 9 and 10 and then use our back row in the midfield.

Look for effective rucking so we can attack of quick ball. Tempo is key t our attacking game. Let Dickson play the quick game he is so good at.

Look for Myler to stand flat when we are getting across the gain line. Look to vary the first receiver with Myler, JMH and Slade. Use this to switch the point of attack to keep Wasps guessing. Look to get the ball into the hands of Serfontein, Halai and Thomas and use their powerful carrying. Use Hooper as an additional carrier in the midfield.

In defence use a defensive Blitz from out to in with Serfontein controlling the line speed. Look to win the collisions and target the Wasps decision makers. Look to use Braid and Hooper to compete at every break down and slow the ball down or regain possession.

Play in the Wasps half. This is a final. Use our kicking game from 10, 12 and 15 to control the territory. Take all points. Use bench as and when.    

Look to use the set piece as a weapon to attack. Afoa to attack Sio and Kruis, Botha and Gorgodze to put huge pressure on at the line out.

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Should be a close one

Harlequins
Manager – Steven_Sharks

01. Steven Kitchoff	09. Karl Dickson
02. Rob Buchanan	10. Steven Myler (k)
03. John Afoa
04. Bakkies Botha	11. Teddy Thomas
05. George Kruis	12. Juan Martin Hernandez
06. Luke Braid	13. Jan Serfontein
07. Michael Hooper (c)	14. Frank Halai
08. Mamuka Gorgodze	15. Colin Slade

:-
16. Schalk Brits 17. Gurthro Steenkamp 18. Kyle Sinckler 19. Charlie Matthews 20. Jamie Gibson 21. Eric Escande 22. Stuart Olding 23. Ollie Lindsey-Hague

Tactics

Use the strong carriers in our pack to get across the gain line. Use the front 5 off 9 and 10 and then use our back row in the midfield.

Look for effective rucking so we can attack of quick ball. Tempo is key t our attacking game. Let Dickson play the quick game he is so good at.

Look for Myler to stand flat when we are getting across the gain line. Look to vary the first receiver with Myler, JMH and Slade. Use this to switch the point of attack to keep Wasps guessing. Look to get the ball into the hands of Serfontein, Halai and Thomas and use their powerful carrying. Use Hooper as an additional carrier in the midfield.

In defence use a defensive Blitz from out to in with Serfontein controlling the line speed. Look to win the collisions and target the Wasps decision makers. Look to use Braid and Hooper to compete at every break down and slow the ball down or regain possession.

Play in the Wasps half. This is a final. Use our kicking game from 10, 12 and 15 to control the territory. Take all points. Use bench as and when.    

Look to use the set piece as a weapon to attack. Afoa to attack Sio and Kruis, Botha and Gorgodze to put huge pressure on at the line out.

London Wasps
Manager: Ozzy3213                      

01. Scott Sio	09. Aaron Smith
02. Bismarck Du Plessis	10. Aaron Cruden
03. Ben Alexander
04. Romain Millo-Chluski	11. Henry Speight
05. Sebastien Vahaamahina	12. Paul Jordaan
06. Marcell Coetzee	13. Henry Slade
07. Steffon Armitage	14. Marland Yarde
08. Jerome Kaino	15. Delon Armitage

Reps: 16. Harry Thacker, 17. Ben Moon, 18. Fraser Balmain, 19. Ruan Botha, 20. Hayden Thompson-Stringer, 21. Mitchell Drummond, 22. Shane Geraghty, 23. Tim Nanai-Williams.

Basic Game Plan
In good conditions we will be looking to play a possession based game, going through the phases and continually shifting the point of attack.  When deep in our half we won't take chances with offloading, but will make ground carrying close to the ruck and recycling quickly, or using the boots of Cruden, Slade and Armitage to take us up the field.

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.

Given that both teams are in, once Steve has done any tactics that he wants to do, can we get predos open and give everyone plenty of time to get them in?

Works for me Pete

London Wasps 29-26 Harlequins
Not an awful lot between the sides set piece wise. Wasps just edge the back rows quality wise but the dual 7s work at the breakdown sees some good ball for Quins. 11-15 is fairly even overall but the halfbacks are a big step up for Wasps with world class operators. Quins just have the better of the benches.

Both sides looking for a strong carrying game. Quins more willing to put boot to ball but Wasps not averse to it. See a tight game but quality at halfback is the deciding factor with the Wasps combo taking the better options at times.

Wasps 31-33 Harlequins

I think Quins will have an advantage at both scrum and line out, with some very good operators. The back row battle will be close, I like the dual 7 approach for Quins, and think they will win plenty of turnover ball. Around the park, I think Quins have a bit more in terms of carrying too

Halfbacks is a big step up for Wasps, not a huge amount in the outside backs either way, although I think Hernandez and Slade will help Quins game management. Quins have some real impact off the bench too, while Wasps have a few youngsters.

Tough one to call, tactically both good. I'll go with the advantage in turnover ball and carrying power, as well as bench impact and give this to Quins

Wasps 28-27 Quins
A slight edge for Quins in the set piece but not a major dent. Two good back rows on show,think Wasps will have the impact but Quins will get good breakdown ball from Braid and Hooper. Big advantage for Wasps at half back. Good battle between the 2 13's on show. Not much in the back 3 to get an advantage. Slight edge for Quins on bench.

Quins want quick ball for their tactics and Wasps have set up to play with slow ball if needed. Think this option is good for Wasps as Quins will slow their ball. Tough to call this but I think I'll go with Wasps with the step up in half backs during a tight game.

Wasps 23-22 Harlequins

Good scrum advantage to Quins and they'll milk a few points from this. Not much in the line out with no standout operator and little between the 2 parings. Very like for like in the backrow with 4 openside type players which Wasps just shade.

Good step up in the halfbacks for Wasps with Cruden playing well although kicking shockingly. Centres just shade to Quins and very little in the back 3. Such a tight game with very little difference in the impact from the bench but the main difference in the sides is the quality at halfback and that just gives it to Wasps.

Wasps 25 - 24 Harlequins
Very even teams throughout, if it wasn't a cup final then I would have predicted a draw as so tough to separate the sides. The Quins pack can get at Wasps and worse conditions I'd have gone for a win for Steve's team. Breakdown battles very even, prefer Hooper to Armitage and both sides have bruising no8s to get them over the gainllne.

The area where I see Wasps just nicking the game is in two key shirts, du Plessis at hooker, while I don't think he's playing all that well at the moment his experience will be all the more vital than Buchanan's - also Smith up against Quins second team scrumhalf will make a difference.

Prefer the Quins subs bench and the game will be extremely close!

Wasps 27-25 Quins

Are you allowed to predo a draw in a cup
Final ??

wasps 21-21 quins

Can't seperate at all. Every time I come up with an argument for one the other one trumps it.

Think the wasps props can be got
At and quins props in good form.
However BDP is a beast scrummaging and will give Buchanan a few issues.

Quins take the second rows with better balance but wasps are huge and physical.

Wasps shade the back row with one of the hardest working backrows I have seen. Kaino much better at 6 but a decent 8. Quins backrow great and it will be a ding dong battle.

Wasps much better at half backs and this is where you could see them winning it. However quins centres are a real step up on wasps. Hernandez will take a lot
Of the pressure off myler and serfontein could give slade some issues.

Back 3 even with Thomas and Delon standout.

Can't seperate. IF a result is required I will toss a coin

Wasps 27 - 25 Harlequins

Two very even sides, with both very close up front in every facet. Wasps just edge the scrums, but for me Quins edge the breakdown and the line outs. This allows Quins to play their territory game, as well as use their speed at the breakdown to get some momentum for their back line. 

Wasps will get decent go forward from the Aaron's at halfback and are the heartbeat to the side and keeping them in the game. I prefer the Quins bench as they provide a much bigger impact. In the end the A² combination helps Wasps secure the first silverware of the season!

RESULT:

London Wasps 29 (T:3 C:1 P:3 DG:1)
Harlequins 26 (T:3 C:1 P:3)

BONUS:

Full: Everyone else
Score: CJB
Fined: Luke & CJ

Congratulations Pete on the first trophy of the season

Well done mate

Thanks lads. First Anglo-Welsh Cup win for me in 7 seasons.