Aviva Premiership - Round 1

First topic message reminder :

Fri 2nd Sep 16

19:45 Gloucester Rugby v  Leicester Tigers  BT Sport

The premiership season starts down at Castle Grim. Gloucester have promised more than they have delivered over the last few seasons, with the pack often failing to perform. This season DoR Humphreys has looked to the SH to address this, bringing in an entire front row from Super Rugby. Gloucester have been slow starters in recent seasons as newcomers take time to assimilate. They will need old hands like Greig Laidlaw on top form to ensure they can start the season with some good results.
Leicester will arrive expecting to play a high tempo offloading game and looking to run the legs off teams. This game plan was introduced last season by Aaron Mauger and was a hit with fans. The team will hope that increased familiarity will reduce the error count that bedevilled the club in the key knockout games last season. A lot of power has been lost in the back row with 3 number 8s leaving the club, but the front 5 looked very strong in pre-season.


20:00 Newcastle Falcons  v   Sale Sharks

It is always hard to ascertain how teams will go at the start of a new season. That is especially true for visitors Sale. They have tended to alternate between over-achieving and under-achieving seasons. Steve Diamond looks to have been pretty canny in his recruitment, but so much will depend on how McGinty goes and if Mike Phillips still has the legs for top flight rugby. The effect of increased revenue following the recent takeover will be unlikely to be seen this season.
Falcons have not finished above 11th in the AP since finishing 9th in 2009/10, and their recruitment has been largely of the "value for money" sort. There has been a massive clear out of players this summer, though despite the international status of many of them most will not be missed. Looking at the players available, and how the team have performed in the past it is hard to see beyond another season in the relegation zone.
I suspect Sale to be too strong for a plucky Falcon's team.




Sat 3rd Sep 16

14:00 Saracens   v   Worcester Warriors   BT Sport

The Twickenham double header starts with the champions (of England and Europe) hosting a Warriors side that again will have minimal EQP representation. Worcester will be physical and look to hit teams on the counter-attack, Saracens will do the same only better. Could be an exciting match but an easy win for Sarries you would expect.


15:30 Northampton Saints   v   Bath Rugby

Both these sides had quite small squads last season, which at times did affect them. Just a small number of changes to the Saints squad this season with a lot of faith (and cash) being thrown the way of Louis Picamoles. He will have to hit the ground running if Saints are to fight their way back into the top 4.
Bath have seen a lot of players leave and look desperately short of midfield backs. With the arrival of players like Charteris and Faletau, the pack shoudl be stronger than last season but it will take time for new coach Blackadder to both stamp his mark and get the players he needs in. They will be buoyed by 3 wins out of 3 in pre-season (all away from home) including last week over Leinster.
Saints to grind out the win.


16:30 Harlequins   v   Bristol Rugby  BT Sport

A new era for Quins in the coaching department, but minimal changes in the playing roster. With Evans yet another season older, they will want Jackson to find form quickly. He showed flashes of excellence last season for Wasps, more of that and Quins could be pushing for a Top 6 placing. Any better than that will require a herculean effort from their England men, and for some of the younger players to really step forward and deliver on youthful promise.
Who knows what to expect from Bristol. they have recruited heavily and will look to be taking early scalps to settle their own nerves. They may surprise Quins.



Sun 4th Sep 16

15:00 Wasps  v   Exeter Chiefs  BT Sport

These teams met at the knock out stages in both major competitions last season, with each team securing a win. Exeter have allowed largely fringe players to leave, and brought in a small number of probable starters. they will be stronger than last season. Wasps however have splashed big money, and are now the leagues money bags. Recruitment seems to have been centred on the back line however, where they could easily field two very strong line-ups. They could struggle up front though - with grizzled old heads like George Smith, Bradley Davies and the italian pairing of Cittadini and Festuccia likely to be missed. Add in the injury issues for Haskell and opposition will be looking to deny their backs any food ball by taking them on up front.
Exeter will probably be too organised for a Wasps team that may well go on to win the title.

nathan wrote:

sad_gimp wrote:Gloucester line speed and defensive organisation has been quite impressive so far.

It's not impressive! It's offside!

To be fair you do it all game until you get pinged.

That was very fortunate for Gloucester.

Need to see more line breaking and not be so predicable this half.

Delyaney having his best game for us aswell. Very impressive.

In all my excitement about the new season starting I'd completely forgotten about all the moaning about refereeing that happens on every single match thread on here

Yellow soon for glous

TheMildlyFranticLlama wrote:In all my excitement about the new season starting I'd completely forgotten about all the moaning about refereeing that happens on every single match thread on here

Then the simple answer is leave is it not?

Not a pen try?

nathan wrote:

TheMildlyFranticLlama wrote:In all my excitement about the new season starting I'd completely forgotten about all the moaning about refereeing that happens on every single match thread on here

Then the simple answer is leave is it not?

Yep, probably

Youngs was clearly angered by the poor decision for Thompstone. He's been talking with Barnes and it's starting to tell, got a couple of decisions and we got some good pressure. Yellow and try. Now we need to go again.

nathan wrote:He was offside by an inch anyway, so doesn't matter

Ironic isn't it that Barnes could spot that but miss a pass that went at least a yard forwards for Glaws first try ...

nathan wrote:Not a pen try?

No. Not clearly going to be a try but for the infringement.

Llama, tensions run high sometimes and sometimes refs make an effect on a game. None of us a perfect in that regard.

I'd have liked us to kick to touch then and try and make the most of the sin bin period.

Burns kicking well

Gloucester looks to be trying to score 10 point tries, Instead they now look nervous and are making careless errors.

formerly known as Sam wrote:Llama, tensions run high sometimes and sometimes refs make an effect on a game. None of us a perfect in that regard.

True mate, and I'm probably guilty of forgetting that I'm watching as a neutral!

Another Feck up by 36

TheMildlyFranticLlama wrote:

formerly known as Sam wrote:Llama, tensions run high sometimes and sometimes refs make an effect on a game. None of us a perfect in that regard.

True mate, and I'm probably guilty of forgetting that I'm watching as a neutral!

Me too but that didn't stop me moaning about Barnes 

Lol, what was that for at the lineout

Big delay as Taione Vea stretchered off with a neck injury.... Not good!

13-10 to us

That's our ball. He didn't touch it down did he?

nathan wrote:Lol, what was that for at the line out

Barnes just doesn't like Tigers today ...

Lol

19-10 falcons

How the hell are we going for the win in this game, we've been awful

Keep it up Falcons - at least I'll be 1 from 2 on my predictions then ..

oh hold on - just seen the Tigers score - running behind a bit here

We don't deserve too win this, we've been crap

I don't care if it gets me Superbru points

Great match to watch, hopefully the first of many this season! Congrats Leicester, what a comeback that was

TheMildlyFranticLlama wrote:Great match to watch, hopefully the first of many this season! Congrats Leicester, what a comeback that was

Apologies for my grumpiness, I get a bit like that when watching

Same old glous this year then?

Ooh that smarts if you're a Glaws supporter

Huge hit from Smith on Scott and then drove three Glaws players back over the ball to win the penalty. Great impact and that was the intensity I wanted on earlier.

Cole, Genge and Kitchener were absolutely massive from the bench. They made a huge difference.

Glaws didn't really turn up in the second half, they were magnificent in the first but once Burns Jnr went off they seemed to lose a little bite ball in hand. Marshall at fullback was a real standout for them and Galarza up front did well.

Still at least they can thank cross-eyed Barnes for the TBP

Jesus Gloucester... How to give yourself psychological damage in 80 insane minutes...

Glous don't seem to be able to play the percentage game, they seem to get nervous

Now come on Falcons - don't blow it

So last season when Tigers made the comeback against Gloucester I wasn't really too happy. Two (admittedly brilliant) moments of magic masked what was an awful performance and moved the conversation away from the things Tigers were doing wrong.

This, however, was much better. This win was built on the stuff that gives me much more optimism than last season's. Mauls, hard straight up running and a conscious effort to limit frivolous offloads.

Agree that Gloucester were pushing the offside line throughout, as well as a few other things Wayne missed. On the whole though I think the boys in snot green got as much out of him as the cherries did.

Edit: Just to add that I also felt that Gloucester made the mistake of coming out and holding the lead rather than continuing to play. Pleased that Smith got a mention earlier from Sam, absolutely fantastic (and game winning) tackle at the end. Still a fan favourite.

nathan wrote:

TheMildlyFranticLlama wrote:Great match to watch, hopefully the first of many this season! Congrats Leicester, what a comeback that was

Apologies for my grumpiness, I get a bit like that when watching

Don't apologise, believe me as a Scotland fan I understand only too well!

Could be a thousand things wrong with Falcons' 'winning' try.  Move over Gloucester, we're old hat at this 'blowing it' lark.

And we've blown it, for Frak sake.

Shut me mouth! He's pushed it wide! Won on opening night for the first time in nine years!

Congrats Cumbrian - tight there at the end!

Congrats Newcastle

Fuzzy Dunlop wrote:So last season when Tigers made the comeback against Gloucester I wasn't really too happy. Two (admittedly brilliant) moments of magic masked what was an awful performance and moved the conversation away from the things Tigers were doing wrong.

This, however, was much better. This win was built on the stuff that give me much more optimism than last season's. Mauls, hard straight up running and a conscious effort to limit frivolous offloads.

Agree that Gloucester were pushing the offside line throughout, as well as a few other things Wayne missed. On the whole though I think the boys in snot green got as much out of him as the cherries did.

Edit: Just to add that I also felt that Gloucester made the mistake of coming out and holding the lead rather than continuing to play. Pleased that Smith got a mention earlier from Sam, absolutely fantastic (and game winning) tackle at the end. Still a fan favourite.

Yeh the perfomance in the second half was great esp from the forwards.

McGuigan (Excellent in the lineout) and Genge brought some added power when they came on.

Well done Falcons ..

Cheers pal, always tight being a Falcons fan! I think we need it with the way this season is predicted to go.

On a side note, Gloucester fans may be devastated tonight but they should take stock of their situation and realise they have never been in the position I am week in week out during the season.

Cumbrian wrote:Cheers pal, always tight being a Falcons fan! I think we need it with the way this season is predicted to go.

On a side note,  Gloucester fans may be devastated tonight but they should take stock of their situation and realise they have never been in the position I am week in week out during the season.  

Well as a Warriors fan I understand your stress all too well!

Being an Irish fan I know how you feel ... I'm hoping for a good win tomorrow.