Season 8 Homepage I

First topic message reminder :

Breaking News: London Wasps regain their crown following playoff final victory. 
 

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Welcome to Season 8 of the Aviva Premiership fantasy rugby game.  Below are the rules of the game which must be adhered to.  If there are any situations that arise in the course of the game which are not covered by the rules, a final decision will be made by the RFU (SJE) as to how the situation will be resolved.
 
 

Senior Squads wrote:
The maximum squad size is 40 senior players.  If a team has more than 40 players in their squad then they will be fined £1 million per player over the permitted amounts per day for the first seven days. If after 7 consecutive days a team still has more than the permitted number of players then the team will be fined £2 million per player per day, and fined 1 league point per player per day for the next seven days. If after this time a team still has more than the permitted number of players in their squad, the RFU (SJE) will remove players at its discretion to bring them back under the permitted numbers. There will be no right of appeal to players being removed.

Be aware that all tier one international matches which are played during the season will count in the game, and players selected in the match day 23's for those matches will not be eligible to play for their clubs on that weekend, therefore you must give due consideration to the make-up of your squad.

Academy Rules wrote:
Each team will be allowed to have an academy squad of 23 players.  Players who are in the academy must be born on or after 1st September 1993. 

Any player, who is at any Premiership club in real life, either in their senior, academy or AASE squads, can be bid for on the domestic bidding page. Players who are at your own club in real life and are coming through the academy system must be bid for if you want them in your own academy.

Transfers wrote:

• Domestic (other AP Teams)
  Each team has a budget to use in the purchase of players. Domestic transfers between AP clubs, regardless of nationality of player, should be negotiated between the respective managers, and then confirmed on the Domestic Transfer Confirmation Page.
  
• Domestic (Championship and below)
  Each team may during the season purchase no more than 5 players from the Championship or the National Leagues. Worcester Warriors & London Wasps will receive two additional bids to be used exclusively on academy age players. These players must be bid for on the National League Bidding page, and each bid will be considered by the RFU on its own merits before being accepted or rejected.  No bid will be accepted until a minimum of 24 hours has elapsed from the time the bid was made, in order to afford other managers the opportunity to make a counter bid.
  
• Foreign
  To make a foreign transfer (i.e. from any club outside of the AP, regardless of whether the player is English) a bid should be made on the Foreign Transfers Page, which will be considered by the RFU against the posted guidelines for purchase prices before being accepted or rejected. No bid will be accepted until a minimum of 24 hours has elapsed from the time the bid was made, in order to afford other managers the opportunity to make a counter bid.
  
  There will be a summer foreign transfer window, which will run as follows.
  Player Draft
  Worcester Warriors & London Wasps will participate in a player draft beginning the week of June 22nd. Both sides will be allowed to draft two players each. The draft picks will go as follows; 1. Worcester 2. Wasps 3. Wasps 4. Worcester.
  
  Round Bidding
  There will be two rounds of bidding. The first window will run the week starting June 29th and the second the week starting July 3rd. All sides will be allowed to sign one player each during the window. These bids are not protected if you do not have the funds in place to bid during the window you will lose the bid.     
  
  Open Bidding
  From July 13th the foreign market will be open to all bids similar to previous seasons. Due to the world cup the window will remain open till the end of September. 
  

Player Releases wrote:
Managers may choose to release players from their clubs, for which they will be offered compensation

Compensation will be paid as follows

£2 million – current international (must have played international rugby in the previous 12 months)
£1.5 million – former international
£1m – top flight experience
£0.5m – other

All released players will be deemed to have joined a Championship side and can be bid for on the National League Bidding page.

Retirements wrote:
There will be no compensation for retiring players.  Should a player who retires decide to come out of retirement and play again, then he will automatically go back to the club who he was playing for in the game when he retired.

Fixtures wrote:
There will be 22 Aviva Premiership games per season, plus the play offs. There will also be European Rugby Champions Cup, European Rugby Challenge Cup and Anglo Welsh Cup matches.  These games will take place once a week. A match thread will be put up every Monday. Home teams must be named by midnight on Tuesday. Away teams must be named by midnight on Wednesday. Failure to meet these deadlines is punishable by the addition of three match points to the oppositions final score, unless both sides fail to do so. Both teams must provide tactics by midnight on Thursday. Predictions will be open from 00:01 hours on Friday and remain open until 20:00 hours on Sunday. Managers will pm the scores that they think will happen from these games (apart from games in which they are involved).  An average of all predictions will be taken, and then 0.5 points added to each teams score for each prediction that had them as the winner, and that will then be the final score.

Managers are asked to provide detail as to why they have predicted a result.  To be considered a descriptive prediction this must be a full 3 lines long when entered into the text box. 

Teams wrote:
When naming your team, not only should you put the starting XV and replacements, but also tactics that your team will employ. Results will be affected by the tactics described.

In addition, each team must have the following:-

For domestic competition at least 8 England qualified players in your match day 23, and at least 4 of those must be in your starting XV.

For European competition at least 8 England qualified players in your match day 23, and at least 6 of those must be in your starting XV.

At least 2 props and 1 hooker on the bench.

All players must be eligible (not injured or banned).

Failure to comply with these rules will result in a 1 league point deduction.

If you fail to submit a team for a match, then the other team will be automatically awarded a 30-0 bonus point win. If both teams fail to submit a team, then it will be scored as a 0-0 draw.

Injuries and Suspensions wrote:
Injuries in this game do NOT reflect real life, they will be generated by me.

Players banned in real life will be ineligible for selection in this game for the duration of the ban.

Inclusion of injured/banned players will result in them being replaced by players on the bench, and the bench not having eight players, which may result in punishment if it concerns the front-row.

Punishment for fielding an ineligible player will be loss of one match point.

Financial Rewards wrote:
There will be no rewards for the result of an individual match, instead the managers will receive cash for predicting.

£2m for descriptive predictions 
£0.25m for scores on the doors predictions
Bonuses will be awarded on a scaled basis i.e. 2m for 5 games, 1.6m for 4 games and so on
If you fail to predict without first advising me that you are unable to do so that week, you will be fined £1m for a first offence, £2m for a second offence, £3m for a third offence etc upto a maximum of £5m per fine.

AP finishing positions.

Champions: 8m
Runners Up: 6m
Playoff Semi Finalist Losers: 5m
5th: 4m
6th: 3.5m
7th: 3m
8th: 2.5m
9th: 2m
10th: 1.5m
11th: 1m
12th: 0.5m

Heineken Cup

Losing Quarter Finalists - £2 million each
Losing Semi Finalists - £3 million each
Runners Up - £4 million
Champions - £5 million

Amlin Challenge Cup

Losing Quarter Finalists - £1 million each
Losing Semi Finalists - £2 million each
Runners Up - £3 million
Champions - £4 million

Anglo-Welsh Cup

Losing Semi Finalist - £1 million each
Runners Up - £2 million
Champions - £3 million


If your budgets falls below minus £10 million for any reason, the administrators (SJE) will step in and players from within your squad will be released for the relevant financial compensation (foreign transfer value) in order to bring your budget back above minus £10 million.

Not off till September so havetime to self impose a transfer embargo!! Nice.one driver!

Both NZ and Argies have experimented for RC

http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,3551_62778,00.html

Could be an easy game for NZ although they will be disjointed.

Want to see isa who Chris has signed as he looks a player but maybe as flanker ??

Imagine Australia will do the same
And experiment with lineup. Higginbotham will be 8
And maybe see pocock and hooper on flanks

Aus full strength bar the halfbacks and no Pocock:

1. Slipper
2. Moore
3. Kepu
4. Skelton
5. Simmons
6. Fardy
7. Hooper
8. Higginbottom

9. Genia
10. Cooper
11. Horne
12. Giteau
13. Kuridrani
14. AAC
15. Folau

As I was asaying about Carter, he needs to up his attacking play and find anoher gear:

https://nz.sports.yahoo.com/rugby/a/28830023/all-blacks-want-more-from-carter-ahead-of-world-cup/?

Can see why Simmons is in there, as line out wise they would be a bit light, but that would mean you wouldn't have to play Fardy.

Isa does look good, seen him a few times and he makes some big tackles. Not sure he's a no8 though. Is a very young Argentinian team, they are producing some good players - I like the young winger they have, think Steve has him in his academy, reminds me a bit of Shane Williams.

Santiago Cordero!

They are trying things out. Fluxy. After this season you would expect Skelton to be first choice at 4 although he has yet to be first choice for the Aussies.
They need to find a partner for Him as he is the future and will become a tremendous player. Simmons for me is beyond poor but with Carter out and Horwill having worst season ever the cupboard is bare. Can't understand why Luke Jones isn't playing.

That said its a World Cup year and he needs to try things out. Giteau not played int rugby for years so they need to check him out and see if he can cut it.

Likewise he is seeing how Genia and Cooper will get on to give him further options.

I see he is resting Palu throughout the RC to
Have him ready for WC and managing other players.

Horne is certainly not first choice winger and expect Mitchell naiyararo and Tomane to get a run out.

This RC is being treated as a get ready for WC tournament and there are only 3 games per team so expect to see changes throughout.

I read Palu was dropped not rested

http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,3551_61577,00.html

Where did you read that pooly as you are wrong see above

Stevens to Toulon http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,3551_62880,00.html

anonmattyt wrote:http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,3551_61577,00.html

Where did you read that pooly as you are wrong see above

Most articles said him, White and Leilo were dropped.

http://www.pressdisplay.com/pressdisplay/iphone/homepage.aspx#_article984647979

Rested/dropped, depends how you want to phrase it I guess.

Good to get some rugby back on, looking forward to this one

NZ scrum very impressive so far, McCaw has been fantastic.

Nonu & SBW interchanging at 12/13, looking very fluid. Much better from Carter this week, he's giving the backs something to play off. Naholo looking good on debut. Dagg having his best game in a long time.

SBW back to his offloading best, Naholo with a beautiful break from his own 22 to Arg half. NZ looking ominous.

Great finish from Nonu

Ah, I thought this was on Saturday morning! Was looking forward to a double header, will have to try and find a repeat

NZ offloading has been sublime, SBW leading the way but everyone has contributed, scary performance so far

NZ not coping with the rolling maul, 2 quick tries from Creevy.

NZ hammering the Arg scrum in the 2nd half, didn't see that coming.

Burgess only considered as a centre for England

http://talksport.com/rugby-union/lancaster-england-see-sam-burgess-centre-not-flanker-world-cup-150717157881

Not sure Lancaster gets it really, he's desperate for a hard running centre to fill the Tuilagi void and this just seems to scream desperation and has Farrell's influence as well. Also says a lot about our current options at no12, as don't think either Eastmond, Twelvetrees or Burrell are the awesome for a number of different reasons.

He's improved incredibly in each game he has played, but Pooly you were right when you said he'd be a better backrower and you could kind of see if he was going to force his way in then it would be backrow with the added benefit you could use him as a centre.

I think it's too early for him as a backrower as SL states we can't take the hit in the line out. Absolutley crazy to push him into the centres though I agree, they just seem desperate to get him involved for some bizarre reason.

Don't agree with him on lineout either really - as you could end up with Launch, Lawes, Robshaw and Morgan as options. Issue for us is without Hartley's throwing I think we are going to need Wood's lineout skills as well.

Baffled by Lancaster - they want to play a game where they have a back who gets us over the gainline, we don't have one so they hope Burgess will do that job. They seem to be going down the route of making the most physical and fittest team they can get as if we win that battle against Wales and Australia I think we will progress as winners of the group.

6 & 5 have generally been our main line out options so I can see his point. Robshaw is handy but not as good as Wood.

It's not just the option though, it's the lifting etc.

Just watched AB game as I
Thought it was tomorrow also. Found
It on my planner.

Argies without a few first choice particularly in pack which affected them.

Read perenara carter dagg sbw all Played well.
Dagg everywhere.

NZ scrum went well although would
Say lack of Argie locks may be a reason.

This game meant a lot for
McCaw and carter and NZ up
For it.
Line out defence a worry for kiwis. Creevy a brute strength wise and Ab defence so aggressive

Did you see Hansen whinging about "boring line out drive"?

TJ looked sharp, basics were very good. Feel bad for calling him the NZ Simpson

Sgt_Pooly wrote:Did you see Hansen whinging about "boring line out drive"?

Not seen that but it annoys me

Throughout the 80s NZ had the best pack
And were relentlessly set piece dominated with grant fox kicking penalties. It was route one rugby and they lapped it up


In late 90s and 2000s when we had the best packs it was all " Orcs on steroids etc"

As dallaglio says" ab's are great winners but Pr icks when they lose" having not lost much they are bad at it.

Line out drive is a way of scoring.
Rugby is a game of styles and it's about winning for me

Sgt_Pooly wrote:TJ looked sharp, basics were very good. Feel bad for calling him the NZ Simpson

His basics are tremendous.
Hurricanes best team in s15 and he launches attacks with huge passes, short ones and by running it. When he kicks long it's ok and could do with work. Box kick decent.

I think his support runs are so good that people think he can't play properly.

He is so quick to the ruck and offers great tempo.

Not as good as
Aaron smith but would rival any other 9 about for me.

Needs to get more internationals under his belt though as int
Rugby is key to showing how good you are.

Great point from pienaar

http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,3551_62900,00.html

Both Mitchell and Gits were not ripping up trees at int level when they left.
French rugby is very slow so need to show they can do it. Gits always class but last year was not as good as before and injured a lot so jury out. Int rugby a huge step up from French league and Juan Smith struggled when back. French rugby fitness often slated and national team been poor.

Gits and Mitchell quality so imagine 3 or 4 games and a training camp and they will be proper.

Personally want to see Naiaroyo (sp) the Aussie winger I signed. He is immense ball in hand and chasing kicks but like all big men not great if kicked in behind.

He's sticking with his Glasgow contract apparently.

Looking forward to seeing Foley/Giteau when it's launched, could be tasty

As pointed out by a lot of papers can't play foley and Gits or cooper and gits at int as too small and poor defensively as a unit


Apparently foley dropped which would not surprise as his kicking has been really off and he has not looked the same player. See below

"For Australia: Back in the pivot role, the spotlight will be on Quade Cooper as he and Will Genia form the Wallaby half-back axis in their home stadium. The Reds duo will enjoy some time behind a more abrasive pack than the during the Super Rugby season and will be hoping to rekindle the same kind of magic that saw them lead the Wallabies to the Tri-Nations title in 2011 - which just happens to be the last time the Wallabies won their opening match of the southern hemisphere championship. Overlooking incumbent fly-half Bernard Foley would not have been an easy decision for Cheika, who knows what he has to fall back on if Cooper doesn't fire. Cooper must prove he is not a liability on defence.  "

For South Africa: With two young, in-form props pushing for a place in the starting XV, it's time for Jannie du Plessis to buck up. There is a lot of value in having experienced players on the park in big games, but there must be a limit to the cost of missed tackles and unnecessary penalties. The Sharks veteran has hardly shone at scrum time this year either, in stark contrast to the two Stormers tightheads waiting in the wings. South Africa's victory on their last visit to Brisbane had a lot to do with their domination at scrum time and if the Boks aren't on top in the set-piece, fans will be crying out for Frans Malherbe to be thrown into the mix early.

I think Aussies have great depth now with gits Mitchell etc back. Even if they are bench it adds so much more.

Likewise bringing Holmes back adds experience

Gits world class and unlike england Aussies seem to be embracing experience

On the Ab game today the attacking defence from them stood out. They pressured the right people and really affected the Argie ball.

Who are Argentina playing at home? If they pick first choice backrow half backs and second rows they could win a game and be in mix for not coming last for first time.

Argentina becoming an exciting nation for talent now organised and with structure. Great to see

No way was Foley dropped, he's been superb all season.

Sgt_Pooly wrote:No way was Foley dropped, he's been superb all season.

Rested/dropped depends how you want to phrase it ?

Personally I agree as cooper been injured and foley been great apart from his kicking which has been really poor. Aussies Achilles heel is kicking out of hand and at goal.

Folau as good as he is does not help with the kicking either. Think that's why toomua will start big games.


Read he was dropped In some parts and rested in others and that Cheika wanted to try tested units like genia cooper, back 3 etc so that the players more on trial had a more settled team to play in.

A completely new 8,9,10,12 is a core unit so makes sense to have familiarity elsewhere

Think I may have posted before but in my opinion there is no dropped or selected at this stage.

All about WC whoever starts big games in WC is first choice. Rc is a warm up as will the england v France games.


Thousands of tickets have been returned for the england France warm up. Assume due to price. Had an email earlier trying to sell them before they go back on general release

Share the love and all that


Anyone need WC warm up tickets ? We will not use them.

We have unlimited access first come first served. Goes out to public Monday week so details below


QBE Internationals Twickenham England v France 15th August 2015

Hi Mat
Just to let you know as ever we are section 1(1st in line with 70 other clubs)on Rfu return ticket waiting list for any tickets returned to HQ unsold..They have just emailed me to say they have got a batch in the thousands returned so if anyone wants any tickets please let me know PDQ as I’m on holiday from tomorrow for a week . Tickets are £85.00 Adults and £42.50 juniors please email me by return if anyone wants any.

With kind regards

If anyone wants them let me know and I will sort. At cricket Saturday/Sunday but pm me and will send you my email and bank details

Was about to say I'll take two then saw £85! Taking the pi55!

Think that's why they have not sold them Luke. My final tickets are either 500 or 320 and my tickets vs Fiji for opening ceremony are about 160 each. Good thing Is kids tickets cheap for WC . Taking nephew to opener against Fiji and his was approx 20quid.

6n tickets generally 85-110 and I agree it's pricing out general fans.

Twickenham can sell out 10 times over so they get away with it. 6.50 quid a Guinness with the quid deposit for plastic glass

Paid 175 each for France Ireland at millennium and 270 for both Semi finals. If England don't qualify I know enough Welsh kiwi Aussies etc who will have them.

Think the pricing is a scandal but not dissimilar to other WC's. Paid 600 for final in France

That's crazy money for the warm ups. Wales are charging alot for top seats but you can go to the warm ups in the top teir for £30!!

Naholo out of world cup

What dates the Franxe game Mat?

Yeah saw that prop, poor bloke - http://i.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/70343786/waisake-naholo-out-of-rugby-world-cup-contention-with-leg-injury

Anyone watching the Maoris vs. NZ Barbarians?

Hoping to catch some of them on youtube later! Game worth watching?

It's pretty much a Super Rugby match. Not a lot of kicking, both teams running everything.

Mitchell Drummond at 9 for the Barbarians, Kerr-Barlow for the Maoris, and Drummond is schooling him. has scored one try himself and set up one for Gibson. Post World Cup I reckon this kid could be 3rd choice behind Smith and Perenara for the AB's.

What a pointless match, not great quality

dammit_chris wrote:What dates the Franxe game Mat?

Yeah saw that prop, poor bloke - http://i.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/70343786/waisake-naholo-out-of-rugby-world-cup-contention-with-leg-injury

15th August Chris. Shame about naholo. Think he would have been a squad player as he is not the best defensively but he is some player ball
In hand. Kind of player you would pay money to watch. Been superb this year and a real threat. NZ have so many good back 3 players

Just tuned in Pete. Very super rugby like. Great power try for Taiminavalu