Aviva Premiership - Round 20

Table



Fixtures

Fri 15th Apr 16
19:45 Gloucester Rugby  v   Exeter Chiefs Kingsholm BT Sport


Sat 16th Apr 16
15:00 Worcester Warriors  v   Wasps Sixways
15:15 Saracens  v   Harlequins Wembley Stadium BT Sport
17:30 Northampton Saints  v  Leicester Tigers Franklin's Gardens BT Sport


Sun 17th Apr 16
14:30 Sale Sharks  v   Bath Rugby AJ Bell Stadium
15:00 Newcastle Falcons  v   London Irish   Kingston Park BT Sport





Previews

The weekend starts with Exeter, fresh from the agonising defeat in Europe travelling to Kingsholm with their hosts in a horrendous run of form. With a misfiring lineout, a scrum that is creaking and most of the star backs injured, Gloucester look certain to extend their losing streak and heap the pressure onto DoR Humphreys as he fights to keep his job. I was going to say something fatuous like "sport always has the capacity for an upset" but you know what, with Exeter needing the win to keep ahead of Wasps, I fully expect us to see a plethora of maul drives and more tries for Waldrom. Exeter with a TBP

Speaking of Wasps, they travel to Sixfields to face a team with nothing to play for. When fired up Worcester can be highly combative and possess real threat in their largely antipodean backline. However when not fully focused they can be torn apart. I expect to see the latter and a big win for Wasps.

Sarries and Quins meet at Wembley knowing that despite winning at the weekend, both were guilty of extremely sloppy play and were a long way from their best. Quins have tended to struggle a little with Sarries style, and with McCall and Sanderson probably having fired several grenades up the Sarries players arses in training there is no reason to expect a break from the trend. Quins need the win to stay in play-off contention, but lack a controlling presence at 10 to combat the feociousness we can expect from Sarries. Win for the champions, but maybe not a TBP.

For once the Est Midlands derby is not the biggest game of the weekend, however as usual still huge amounts riding on this match. Saints simply have to win else there season is as good as over. Tigers know they can afford to lose and still have the play-offs in their own hands (unless Saints get the TBP and Tigers nothing) but will be desperate to do the double over their now second closest rivals. Saints will know that they let themselves down at the weekend, when a strangely lacklustre Sarries were ripe for picking, but their fate may rest in just how many players they can bring back in, and whether Jim Mallinder has the balls to trust his son. Scrums will be interesting as at times both sides struggled at the weekend.

With Sale losing to Montpelier at the weekend, their trip to Bath has been re-arranged a second time and will now be held on 23rd April rater than this Wednesday. Perhaps makes this particular fixture slightly less interesting, but better that there is not a 3 day turnaround. Sale can still make the top 4, but need to win both matches against Bath to stay in the running, while bath need to win both just to putthe pressure on for Top 6. On current form Sale should win this one.

And to the big one. The crunch relegation game with Irish travelling to the North East. Both teams have been seriously misfiring and I doubt anyone would be willing to stake money on how this game will go.

Come on you falcons!!!

I'd be a lot happier if Andy Goode was still with us.

If we employ the default "Mickey Young" box kick at every chance we'll lose!

If we actually try to play we'll have a good chance.

Spot on LT, nobody will be calling the Falcons v Irish game with any degree of confidence.

I just pray TC gets his team selection right and that we turn up. If we do, we've a decent chance, if we don't we'll get beaten, and if we lose we are down.

Saints vs Tigers will be interesting, the team that can't attack vs the team that can't defend. The number of returning players will definitely effect Saints chances as their starters played well against Sarries but with no back row replacements as the tired they couldn't keep the intensity up.

I really hope Tigers go with the two open sides in the back row approach, we've played well when mobile this season but suffered when we've gone with size.

I think we'll see McCaffery and O'Connor start the next two weekends, fitness depending. We look a far better side with them in. If we beat Saints then a rest for one will probably be in order against Worcs the week after the ERCC semi. Perhaps Evans will get another chance.

Props are the concern for burnout. Marcos has played a lot of rugby this season and had a tough afternoon against Stade. Cole also hasn't had a break since the 6 Nations. I can't see either rested but if one is then Ayerza is more likely.

Given the strength of Saints line-out Cockers might want Croft in the back row to challenge it with Kitchener.

Thacker has started a lot of games in a row too - especially for a guy who hasn't started a long string of first XV games before. If he is viewed as our starter for Racing then he could be given a bench spot to rest up a bit.

IS Thacker moving between hooker and back row? Or has he been mostly at Hooker?

This is the big one....

Not looking forward to this weekend!

Our poor kicking game + terrible restarts + running everything from our 22 could make for a painful match.





Of course it could also be a thing of beauty, if the planets align correctly...

GeordieFalcon wrote:IS Thacker moving between hooker and back row? Or has he been mostly at Hooker?

Starting at hooker, with Ayerza taking the scrums very low to make it uncomfortable to the opposition and Thacker going for the quick strike. Against Glaws he switched to the back row on the hour mark.

Stupid rugby, stupid Gloucester. I'm off to start watching competitive knitting

Before I go I'll just say that Wasps, Sarries, Tigers, Sale and Falcons will win this week. And stupid Gloucester will lose by 60.

(sadly there isn't an emoji for throwing your toys out of the pram, but that is what I am well and truly doing!)

LondonTiger wrote:

Thanks LT

Much to everyone's chagrin I'm not actually going anywhere. I've already renewed my season ticket and am an avid practitioner of self-flagellation

You are a masochist (sp?) or a fool HKC!

I hope Gloucester improve for next season, quality fans like yourself deserve far better then the abject, well Poopie, that Gloucester keep shovelling at the moment.

Perhaps next season Gloucester (and Quins obv) could improve at the expense of a wannabe London/middle eastern club that struggles to get 10,000 fans...

Wembley may look rather deserted if there are less than 10k there.

I know you're just joking but seems like Saracens have sold 77,000 tickets, now I don't know how many are discounts,offers, to see the entertainment but it's not bad. According to this article anyhow.

http://www.thesouthafrican.com/five-reasons-to-join-sarries-at-wembley-this-weekend/

Perhaps most of them are Quins fans, who knows?

Gluttons for punishment...

Joke aside Quins will be up for this and with Saracens likely to have one eye on the semi final next week, Quins I think stand a better chance than usual.

Sarries show time and again they can attract big crowds to these well planned, and yes discounted, big events. They have failed so far to suggest they can convert these occasionals into regulars. Of course the capacity at Copthall does not help.

I am hoping Leicester are still basking in the afterglow of their orgasmic beat-down of Stade.  And hope they stay that way through this weekend, then they can become Tigers all over again.  

There seems to almost always be some kind of fall off in Saints performance when Hartley is not in the lineup.  Mikey is quite good, but just not the leader Hartley is.

beshocked wrote:I know you're just joking but seems like Saracens have sold 77,000 tickets, now I don't know how many are discounts,offers, to see the entertainment but it's not bad. According to this article anyhow.

http://www.thesouthafrican.com/five-reasons-to-join-sarries-at-wembley-this-weekend/

Perhaps most of them are Quins fans, who knows?

Gluttons for punishment...

Joke aside Quins will be up for this and with Saracens likely to have one eye on the semi final next week, Quins I think stand a better chance than usual.

You have to be ready for a little bit of self inflicted punishment as a Quins fan. If a game goes by and we haven't made our selves concede at least 7 points from running in our own try zone then it's not a proper game!

I hope you are focussed on the following week, we could use the points far more then you...

yappysnap wrote:You are a masochist (sp?) or a fool HKC!

I hope Gloucester improve for next season, quality fans like yourself deserve far better then the abject, well Poopie, that Gloucester keep shovelling at the moment.

Perhaps next season Gloucester (and Quins obv) could improve at the expense of a wannabe London/middle eastern club that struggles to get 10,000 fans...  

Cheers yappy

I'm going to work on the basis that Glaws will be rubbish an that way I can on be pleasantly surprised. When I was young I used to always wonder why Glaws fans were so miserable, I now know why!

Take inspiration from Patches O'Houlihan and you can beat Globogym at the weekend

Sadly I fear we may only beat our selves!

You guys don't have it that bad....come and sit at Kingston Park for a season.

Then you'll all realise you have it pretty good!

yappysnap wrote:

Sadly I fear we may only beat our selves!

Isn't that masturbation?

Hey what ever the team gets up to on the changing rooms stays in the changing rooms LT! And the physios said it wouldn't make them blind anyway

Which explains those huge glasses Ugo wears?

With Stuart Hooper retiring with immediate effect, Bath need to find some inner steel and leadership asap.

Getting more nervous by the day about this game. Made worse by the fact I am out on Sunday afternoon so won't be able to watch it live either!

doctor_grey wrote:I am hoping Leicester are still basking in the afterglow of their orgasmic beat-down of Stade.  And hope they stay that way through this weekend, then they can become Tigers all over again.  

There seems to almost always be some kind of fall off in Saints performance when Hartley is not in the lineup.  Mikey is quite good, but just not the leader Hartley is.

As England and a lot of doubters have found out, few people are.

We can make do with a couple of injured locks, but we desperately need at least half of our injured backrow players back for Saturday. laws at 6 and Nutely at 7 are just not up to facing the probable Tigers backrow.

Having faith in Prince Harry and getting Dickson back would help as well. Dickson, Myler, North, Mallinder, Burrell, Pisi/Elliott/Collins, Foden is quite a potent backline and with such big lumps at 11, 12 and 13 would give Saints something to challenge Manu with.

Ozzy3213 wrote:Getting more nervous by the day about this game.  Made worse by the fact I am out on Sunday afternoon so won't be able to watch it live either!

Sometimes that is actually better. I suspect I will watch the game against Saints this weekend on a 20 minute lag, then if I get nervous towards the end I can just check the score and immediately know whether to be happy or not - rather than suffering.

LondonTiger wrote:

Ozzy3213 wrote:Getting more nervous by the day about this game.  Made worse by the fact I am out on Sunday afternoon so won't be able to watch it live either!

Sometimes that is actually better. I suspect I will watch the game against Saints this weekend on a 20 minute lag, then if I get nervous towards the end I can just check the score and immediately know whether to be happy or not - rather than suffering.

Yeah fair point. I won't be home until about half seven, so debating whether to try to avoid the result or just take the hit in one go and then watch knowing the outcome.

Gloucester Rugby:

15. Tom Marshall; 14. Rob Cook, 13. Billy Twelvetrees, 12. Mark Atkinson, 11. Henry Trinder; 10. James Hook, 9. Greig Laidlaw (capt); 1. Yann Thomas, 2. Richard Hibbard, 3. John Afoa; 4. Tom Savage, 5. Jeremy Thrush; 6. Ross Moriarty, 7. Matt Kvesic, 8. Ben Morgan

Replacements:

16. Darren Dawidiuk, 17. Nick Wood, 18. Paul Doran-Jones, 19. Elliott Stooke, 20. Gareth Evans, 21. Willi Heinz, 22. Ollie Thorley, 23. Jacob Rowan

Chiefs:

15 Lachlan Turner 14 Jack Nowell 13 Henry Slade 12 Ian Whitten 11 Olly Woodburn 10 Gareth Steenson (capt) 9 Will Chudley 1 Ben Moon 2 Luke Cowan-Dickie 3 Harry Williams 4 Mitch Lees 5 Geoff Parling 6 Don Armand 7 Julian Salvi 8 Thomas Waldrom

16 Jack Yeandle 17 Alec Hepburn 18 Carl Rimmer 19 Damian Welch 20 Dave Ewers 21 Dave Lewis 22 Michele Campagnaro 23 James Short

WELL-PAST-IT wrote:

doctor_grey wrote:I am hoping Leicester are still basking in the afterglow of their orgasmic beat-down of Stade.  And hope they stay that way through this weekend, then they can become Tigers all over again.  

There seems to almost always be some kind of fall off in Saints performance when Hartley is not in the lineup.  Mikey is quite good, but just not the leader Hartley is.

As England and a lot of doubters have found out, few people are.

We can make do with a couple of injured locks, but we desperately need at least half of our injured backrow players back for Saturday. laws at 6 and Nutely at 7 are just not up to facing the probable Tigers backrow.

Having faith in Prince Harry and getting Dickson back would help as well. Dickson, Myler, North, Mallinder, Burrell, Pisi/Elliott/Collins, Foden is quite a potent backline and with such big lumps at 11, 12 and 13 would give Saints something to challenge Manu with.

Agree 100%.  If we can maintain a bit of an edge in the pack, then it's up to the backs.  If we have the back line you suggest, I would be pretty confident. Regardless, this will be real close. One or two great plays or breaks.......

My guess is neither Dickson nor North play. Collins definitely wont, he played last night.

Scottrf wrote:My guess is neither Dickson nor North play. Collins definitely wont, he played last night.

Khan just doesn't offer quick enough delivery, by the time he has had a chat with the ref, decided the ball is a couple of inches too far into the ruck, tested the wind AND THEN, looked to see who is available, the defence is set, only when he tries a break, gets caught and someone like Waller acts as a 9 do we get quick ball

WELL-PAST-IT wrote:

Scottrf wrote:My guess is neither Dickson nor North play. Collins definitely wont, he played last night.

Khan just doesn't offer quick enough delivery, by the time he has had a chat with the ref, decided the ball is a couple of inches too far into the ruck, tested the wind AND THEN, looked to see who is available, the defence is set, only when he tries a break, gets caught and someone like Waller acts as a 9 do we get quick ball

That is funny - but true. I actually never thought of it before, but you are right on the money- when Khan is our 9, most of the better attacks come when he was sucked into a ruck and someone else is getting the ball out. To be fair, he does read the game well (he takes a God-awful amount of time to do so) and his judgement is pretty good. He kicks well, but is just.....glacial (I heard the term glacial in the OR this morning and wanted to use it somewhere before I forgot). And he still has that annoying arrogance that all good scrum halves must have to be successful.

doctor_grey wrote:

WELL-PAST-IT wrote:

Scottrf wrote:My guess is neither Dickson nor North play. Collins definitely wont, he played last night.

Khan just doesn't offer quick enough delivery, by the time he has had a chat with the ref, decided the ball is a couple of inches too far into the ruck, tested the wind AND THEN, looked to see who is available, the defence is set, only when he tries a break, gets caught and someone like Waller acts as a 9 do we get quick ball

That is funny - but true.  I actually never thought of it before, but you are right on the money- when Khan is our 9, most of the better attacks come when he was sucked into a ruck and someone else is getting the ball out.  To be fair, he does read the game well (he takes a God-awful amount of time to do so) and his judgement is pretty good.  He kicks well, but is just.....glacial (I heard the term glacial in the OR this morning and wanted to use it somewhere before I forgot).  And he still has that annoying arrogance that all good scrum halves must have to be successful.  

You mean he is an irritating little (or not so little in his case) bum orifice?

I agree, a necessary requirement of a good 9.

We will find out for sure at midday, but all the noises from the club this week indicate that Franks, Lewington and Tikoroituma are fit to return from injury on Sunday. Shane Skivs isn't quite there yet, as his experience and leadership would have been huge for us.

Tigers announce same 23 as last week, only changes from the 23 that actually featured against Stade being Slater and Harrison on the bench.

Ayerza, Thacker, Cole, Kitch, Barrow, Fitz, BOC, McCaffery, Youngs, Burns, Goneva, Manu, Betham, Veainu, Tait(c)

Bateman, Logo, Balmain, Slater, Croft, Harrison, Williams, Thompstone

NORTHAMPTON SAINTS TEAM TO PLAY LEICESTER
Aviva Premiership Round 20
Franklin’s Gardens
Saturday, April 16th, 2016
Kick off 5:30pm
15 Ahsee TUALA
14 Ken PISI
13 George PISI
12 Luther BURRELL
11 Jamie ELLIOTT
10 Stephen MYLER
9 Tom KESSELL
1 Alex WALLER
2 Mikey HAYWOOD
3 Kieran BROOKES
4 James CRAIG
5 Christian DAY
6 Courtney LAWES
7 Tom WOOD (capt)
8 Teimana HARRISON

16 Reece MARSHALL
17 Campese MA’AFU
18 Paul HILL
19 Victor MATFIELD
20 Ben NUTLEY
21 JJ HANRAHAN
22 Harry MALLINDER
23 Tom COLLINS

Well I was right about Dickson and North. What's more no Khan. So we have no bench option at scrum half?! No Foden so we don't even have semi-cover.

London Irish:

15 Sean Maitland, 14 Alex Lewington, 13 Ciaran Hearn, 12 Johnny Williams, 11 Andrew Fenby, 10 Greig Tonks, 9 Scott Steele, 1 Tom Court, 2 David Paice, 3 Halani Aulika, 4 Will Lloyd, 5 Matt Symons, 6 Jebb Sinclair, 7 Blair Cowan, 8 Luke Narraway (c)

Replacements: 16 Tom Cruse, 17 Tom Smallbone, 18 Leo Halavatau, 19 Jerry Sexton, 20 Ofisa Treviranus, 21 Brendan McKibbin, 22 Shane Geraghty, 23 Aseli Tikoirotuma

Newcastle Falcons team to play London Irish (Sunday, 3pm, Kingston Park)

15 Simon Hammersley

14 Alex Tait

13 Gonzalo Tiesi

12 Juan Pablo Socino

11 Marcus Watson

10 Mike Delany

9 Michael Young

1 Rob Vickers

2 George McGuigan

3 Taione Vea

4 Calum Green

5 Sean Robinson

6 Mark Wilson

7 Will Welch (captain)

8 Nili Latu

Replacements

16 Scott Lawson

17 Alex Rogers

18 Mike Cusack

19 Mouritz Botha

20 Ally Hogg

21 Sonatane Takulua

22 Craig Willis

23 Chris Harris

Who will play SH for Saints if Kessell has to leave the pitch?

LondonTiger wrote:Who will play SH for Saints if Kessell has to leave the pitch?

Hanrahan? Mallinder? Who knows.

Saracens team to face Harlequins

15 Alex Goode (202*)

14 Chris Ashton (92)

13 Marcelo Bosch (61)

12 Duncan Taylor (87)

11 Chris Wyles (201)

10 Charlie Hodgson (125)

9 Neil De Kock (252)

1 Mako Vunipola (c) (94)

2 Schalk Brits (165)

3 Petrus Du Plessis (125)

4 Jim Hamilton (42)

5 George Kruis (118)

6 Michael Rhodes (21)

7 Jackson Wray (136)

8 Billy Vunipola (55)



Replacements



16 Jared Saunders (33)

17 Richard Barrington (76)

18 Titi Lamositele (18)

19 Hayden Smith (62)

20 Samu Vunisa (5)

21 Richard Wigglesworth (148)

22 Owen Farrell (130)

23 Nick Tompkins (32)

- See more at: http://www.saracens.com/news-article/team-news-saracens-vs-harlequins#sthash.cyKlVvEs.dpuf


Personally I would have rested Billy but I guess they've earmarked the Newcastle game he comes through this game and the next one unscathed.

Itoje getting a well earned rest.

Think Quins will be disappointed that Saracens haven't rested more.

Why are Saints persisting with Mallinder Jnr on the bench? He would be so much better starting the game, looked like just the facilitator they needed when he was there in midfield.

Alright looking Sarries team, nothing special though...

yappysnap wrote:Why are Saints persisting with Mallinder Jnr on the bench? He would be so much better starting the game, looked like just the facilitator they needed when he was there in midfield.

I can only presume because he's a versatile cover option. We have tonnes of injuries.

Mako as skipper?

HARLEQUINS HAS ANNOUNCED THE TEAM TO PLAY SARACENS ON SATURDAY AT WEMBLEY IN ROUND 20 OF THE AVIVA PREMIERSHIP.


There are four changes to the starting team that beat London Irish in the European Rugby Challenge Cup quarter-final last week.

Joe Marchant returns to the starting line-up amongst an otherwise unchanged back line.

Among the forwards Will Collier starts in the front row, with Charlie Matthews named in the second row alongside Sam Twomey. Nick Easter returns to the back row and partners Chris Robshaw and Jack Clifford.

Among the replacements, Mat Luamanu provides cover for the back row, with Matt Hopper returning to the bench.

Luke Wallace (concussion), George Lowe (hip), James Horwill (leg), Nick Evans (leg), Joe Marler (suspension) and Winston Stanley (leg) amongst others, will all be available for selection for next weekend’s European Rugby Challenge Cup semi-final against Grenoble.

Harlequins team
15 Mike Brown
14 Marland Yarde
13 Joe Marchant
12 Jamie Roberts
11 Tim Visser
10 Ben Botica
9 Danny Care ©

1 Mark Lambert
2 Joe Gray
3 Will Collier
4 Charlie Matthews
5 Sam Twomey
6 Chris Robshaw
7 Jack Clifford
8 Nick Easter

16 Dave Ward
17 Owen Evans
18 Kyle Sinckler
19 George Merrick
20 Mat Luamanu
21 Karl Dickson
22 Matt Hopper
23 Ross Chisholm


Losing Lowe and Horwill are big blows, as is Wallace out, he's been standing this season.