Aviva Premiership - Round 5

Table

POS	TEAM	-PL-	-W-	-D-	-L-	-PF-	-PA-	-DIFF-	-TF-	-TA-	-TB-	-LB-	-PTS-
1	Wasps	4	4	0	0	149	79	70	19	9	2	0	18
2	Saracens	4	3	0	1	106	45	61	12	3	2	1	15
3	Bath Rugby	4	3	0	1	127	75	52	14	9	2	0	14
4	Leicester Tigers	4	3	0	1	108	92	16	11	11	1	0	13
5	Exeter Chiefs	4	2	0	2	110	101	9	13	14	2	1	11
6	Newcastle Falcons	4	2	0	2	55	102	-47	5	12	0	1	9
7	Gloucester Rugby	4	1	1	2	93	92	1	9	12	1	2	9
8	Harlequins	4	2	0	2	73	84	-11	8	10	0	0	8
9	Sale Sharks	4	1	1	2	83	89	-6	9	9	1	1	8
10	Northampton Saints	4	1	0	3	73	75	-2	8	5	1	2	7
11	Worcester Warriors	4	0	2	2	82	129	-47	11	14	1	0	5
12	Bristol Rugby	4	0	0	4	68	164	-96	10	21	0	1	1

Fixtures

Friday 30 Sep

19:45 Bristol Rugby v Saracens
Things do not get any easier for Bristol as they entertain the defending champions. Saracens will be hurting after losing their first match since the 6 Nations period earlier this year. The home team’s style of harum scarum attack could be ready made for the wolfpack. Bristol’s best chance was for Sarries to win last week and rest players this week, but as it is I cannot see them breaking their season’s duck.

19:45 Northampton Saints v Exeter Chiefs BT Sport
Having had the hardest start imaginable to the new season, last season’s runners up have finally hit their stride. The attacking game is starting to take shape and they will travel to the East Midlands with confidence. Saints will be bemused and confused as to just how they lost last week. The controlled that match but could not get the ball over the whitewash. There were far too many individual mistakes for a team that won the title just a couple of years ago. They will be encouraged by the struggles Chiefs are having at scrum time but the match could come down to which team executes their maul game best. Vital for Saints to win as otherwise they could enter the Euro break after round 6 in 11th spot in the table!


Saturday 1 Oct

14:30 Sale Sharks v Leicester Tigers
Tigers will travel to Salford buoyed by their best display of the season. However which Leicester will make the journey? Sale came back really well to sneak a draw down at Sixways and unless Tigers hit their straps could well beat the midlanders.

15:00 Gloucester Rugby v Bath Rugby BT Sport
Plougmans vs prawn sandwiches in this West Country derby. How do you even start to try and predict Gloucester as they are consistent only in their inconsistency. Is pressure mounting on Humphreys? His opposing DoR made all the right noises after the defeat at Welford Road, apparently Baths biggest AP defeat since December 2012. However he knows that they need to play much better this week to secure a win as surely Glaws will be fired up for this. We are unlikely to see the sort of scenes from two seasons ago that culminated with Knoyle’s red mist. Hopefully we will see both Ford and Burns the Younger performing well and an open game.


Sunday 2 Oct

14:30 Wasps v Harlequins
Not so long ago this would have been a major London derby, but no more. Buoyed by ending Sarries unbeaten run last week, I am sure Quins will be fired up to do the same to Wasps. How well the visitors can perform may well come down to the state of battered bodies after what was a very physical weekend. Wasps will be heartened that they won in Round 4 when really they could (or should?) have lost, knowing that even when under the cosh they can seal important victories. Dai Young may well look to rotate some players this week – though bringing in the likes of Robson, Halai, Eastmond etc certainly does not weaken the side. Wasps probably too strong, but write off Quins at your peril.


15:00 [Worcester Warriors v Newcastle Falcons BT Sport
Worcester have played two home matches, and drawn them both. What odds on 3 in a row? Falcons are currently in the top half of the table – a position that may well be giving fans vertigo. Far too early in the season to hale matches as must win games, but a win here for Worcester would really pile on the pressure to near(ish) neighbours Bristol at the bottom. If Worcester can attach some composure to the attacking flair they demonstrated last week a first win of the season is eminently achievable. However Falcons will (usually) fight for everything and make things hard for the home team. They will however need their defence to hold firm as right now they do not look like they will be going on any scoring sprees and are easily the lowest try scorers in the AP.

We don't always have the best of times up in Salford. I think this will be another tough occasion. Sale have an unfortunate injury list which may well help us out though.

I'm sorry but Wuss v Falcons on tv

I expect wins for

Sarries
Saints
Leicester
Bath
Wasps
Newcastle

I suppose it's a pretty big game in terms of relegation. Big game really. Hopefully both teams will come out and play because They are both capable of playing attacking rugby.

15:00 [Worcester Warriors v Newcastle Falcons BT Sport
However Falcons will (usually) fight for everything and make things hard for the home team. They will however need their defence to hold firm as right now they do not look like they will be going on any scoring sprees and are easily the lowest try scorers in the AP.

Bar the absolute debacle at Bath....we have shown fight in every game. We could very easily have beaten Tigers aswell.
However I think your last statement about tries sums us up at the moment. Physical pack, big defence and some of the best wingers in the league.....but poor midfield to get them any service!

We simply MUST be trying to win this game. If we continue with the normal this season I think we can achieve that, but must not underestimate Wuss.

Big game for us coming off a fantastic win last week. The side must be full of confidence and it's got to be our chance to really kick on for the rest of the season. Although very early in the season, beating Wuss/Bristol in the next few weeks could pretty much keep us in the league.

When was the last time Falcons win two away games on the trot in the Jeff? I'd bet never.

Personally I hope you guys can do it as I think with a few wins under your belt and a bit of confidence you'll start scoring more and playing better too

It's hard to remember the last away win, never mind the last 2 in a row!

Actually played quite well against Gloucester if not slightly contained. 2 tries on the road is not too shabby for us.

Agreed, it was a good performance away. Another win would be crazy eh.

Another win and Falcons have a little cushion on Bristol, that reduced pressure should see some more freedom to play and take chances in attack.

Sarries
Chiefs
Tigers
Bath
Quins Head says Wasps
Newcastle

Sarries have too much for Bristol and will be wanting to bounce back large following last week.
Saints-Chiefs will be another bruising encounter. Pack will be fairly even but Exeter will just edge it in the back line (Waldrom to score more from 5m out)
Sale at home are no slouch but its not clicking just yet, late comeback at Worcester will give confidence of playing for 80mins but I think Tigers will just have too much in the end, but are notorious slow starters - could be a close game.
Gloucester have a bit of a rep at the moment of falling at the last hurdle and Bath wont be happy with their Welford Rd visit so I expect a bit of a response - Bath to win
Wasps have to be favourites, a win for Quins would see their confidence through the roof, but with players possible out I cant see it happening - Quins may be happy with just a LBP.
Worcester vs Falcons - Falcons with a bit more confidence of late should be enough to pick up a W.

I'm going all home wins this week, with the exception of Saracens at Bristol.

I'll go the other way and say it'll be away wins on Friday and Saturday with home wins on the Sunday.

It remains to be seen if Tigers can now play as they did against Bath consistently. I'm willing to bet they can't and that Sale will win by 5 points on Saturday.

yappysnap wrote: When was the last time Falcons win two away games on the trot in the Jeff? I'd bet never.

Personally I hope you guys can do it as I think with a few wins under your belt and a bit of confidence you'll start scoring more and playing better too

They did win the league one year you know. Probably managed it then ;-)

Away wins on Friday and home wins for the rest of the weekend I think. Sadly I think the cobbled together Bath midfield will cost us against Glaws.

Bathman_in_London wrote:Away wins on Friday and home wins for the rest of the weekend I think. Sadly I think the cobbled together Bath midfield will cost us against Glaws.

A 5 Year old with rickets could beat Glaws at the moment.

screamingaddabs wrote:

yappysnap wrote: When was the last time Falcons win two away games on the trot in the Jeff? I'd bet never.

Personally I hope you guys can do it as I think with a few wins under your belt and a bit of confidence you'll start scoring more and playing better too

They did win the league one year you know.  Probably managed it then ;-)

Rugby has moved on since then. Nowadays entrance to AP matches requires decimal currency to change hands....

The good old days! I remember when Tigers used be good also

Sgt_Pooly wrote:The good old days! I remember when Tigers used be good also

We're still good (always in the playoffs, occasional run in Europe) we just used to be exceptional.

Better then average, maybe not good...

Jimpy wrote:

Bathman_in_London wrote:Away wins on Friday and home wins for the rest of the weekend I think. Sadly I think the cobbled together Bath midfield will cost us against Glaws.

A 5 Year old with rickets could beat Glaws at the moment.

Couldn't agree more. The proposed midfield combo of Bananaman and Brew fills me with utter terror. We've not beaten Bath at home since 2012 and I'm fully confident our losing streak will continue.

If HERSH was still here I'd be admitting defeat already on the betting stakes.

Saints team news for the Chiefs (am I allowed to call them that still in this age of PC), and it is interesting!

15 Ben Foden (capt)
14 Ken Pisi
13 George Pisi
12 Harry Mallinder
11 George North
10 Stephen Myler
9 Nic Groom
1 Alex Waller
2 Mikey Haywood
3 Kieran Brookes
4 Courtney Lawes
5 Michael Paterson
6 Jamie Gibson
7 Calum Clark
8 Louis Picamoles

16 Charlie Clare
17 Campese Ma’afu
18 Paul Hill
19 Sam Dickinson
20 Teimana Harrison
21 Tom Kessell
22 Rory Hutchinson
23 Ahsee Tuala


Clark back for the first time since the end of the 2015 season
Groom starts at 9, Dickson not in the 23
Wood dropped in favour of Gibson and again not in the 23
Mallinder starts at 12 probably due to Burrell's concussion protocols
Pisi (G) still at 13 despite being slow and off form.

None of the new signings out wide yet trusted to even get a bench position Estelles or
Tuitavake

yappysnap wrote:Better then average, maybe not good...

Look, Tigers will never be as good as Newcastle Falcons with one 'Allied Dunbar' Premiership title to their name....

You can't deny they've produced a lot of great players for other teams who aren't as good though

CHIEFS SIDE TO FACE NORTHAMPTON SAINTS
15 Lachie Turner
14 Olly Woodburn
13 Ollie Devoto
12 Henry Slade
11 Ian Whitten
10 Gareth Steenson (capt)
9 Will Chudley
1 Ben Moon
2 Jack Yeandle
3 Greg Holmes
4 Mitch Lees
5 Geoff Parling
6 Dave Dennis
7 Kai Horstmann
8 Thomas Waldrom
16 Luke Cowan-Dickie
17 Alec Hepburn
18 Harry Williams
19 Damian Welch
20 Ben White
21 Dave Lewis
22 Sam Hill
23 Jack Nowell

Armand injured and Ewers still out look under powered in the back row +Parling not confident

Good to see Nowell back in the squad - will probably need some time though to get back to fitness and form.
There are some big impact guys to come off the Chiefs bench there.

Same for Saints - Clarke, Gibson and Picamoles will be wanting to tear up some trees.

Good game to put on TV - predict another very physical encounter.

Optimistically Nowell can get a few games in before the AIs .. would be good to have another option at wing, opens up the possibility of putting Watson at FB

Including Jack,
Nowell, Watson, Roko, Yarde - that's 4 solid options there

May, depends on what state he is in when he comes back - Pre-WC form was pretty good 'when he ran in a straight line'

And there are plenty of youngsters with a lot of promise who could be considered in the future -
Wade, Charlie Walker, Odogwu, Marcus Watson, Nathan Earl (when he comes back).

Even younger -
Sam Aspland-Robinson

Jimpy wrote:

yappysnap wrote:Better then average, maybe not good...

Look, Tigers will never be as good as Newcastle Falcons with one 'Allied Dunbar' Premiership title to their name....

You can't deny they've produced a lot of great players for other teams who aren't as good though

No doubt, but Tigers are pretty average these days. I agree, they used to be fantastic though, must be hard to stomach.

As a Saracens fan, I obviously wouldn't understand mediocrity.

Sgt_Pooly wrote:

Jimpy wrote:

yappysnap wrote:Better then average, maybe not good...

Look, Tigers will never be as good as Newcastle Falcons with one 'Allied Dunbar' Premiership title to their name....

You can't deny they've produced a lot of great players for other teams who aren't as good though

No doubt, but Tigers are pretty average these days. I agree, they used to be fantastic though, must be hard to stomach.

As a Saracens fan, I obviously wouldn't understand mediocrity.

Obviously we're dire at the moment but that tends to happen at the start if most seasons. Hard to argue with the above average comment. Not hard to stomach but occasionally hard to watch.

Bristol: Williams; Edwards, Tovey, Hurrell, Amesbury; Pisi, Cliff; Traynor, McMillan, Perenise, Phillips, Sorenson, Fisher, Lam (capt), Crane.

Replacements: Crumpton, Bevington, Cortes, Joyce, Eadie, Williams, Jarvis, Wallace.

Saracens: Wyles; Ellery, Tompkins, Barritt (capt), Gallagher; Lozowski, Spencer; M. Vunipola, George, De Plessis, Itoje, Kruis, Wray, Burger, B. Vunipola.

Replacements: Spurling, Barrington, Figallo, Hamilton, Rhodes, Wigglesworth, Bosch, Perkins.


Pleased with that team. Very nice pack, good to see Kruis back, George and Burger starting.

Spencer and Tompkins have an opportunity to lay down markers. Hopefully they can. Both are English youngsters who I really want to see step up this season.

formerly known as Sam wrote:

Sgt_Pooly wrote:

Jimpy wrote:

yappysnap wrote:Better then average, maybe not good...

Look, Tigers will never be as good as Newcastle Falcons with one 'Allied Dunbar' Premiership title to their name....

You can't deny they've produced a lot of great players for other teams who aren't as good though

No doubt, but Tigers are pretty average these days. I agree, they used to be fantastic though, must be hard to stomach.

As a Saracens fan, I obviously wouldn't understand mediocrity.

Obviously we're dire at the moment but that tends to happen at the start if most seasons. Hard to argue with the above average comment. Not hard to stomach but occasionally hard to watch.

Obviously 3 wins from 4 and a solid 4th place in the league is pretty average by some people's definition... I'm not finding it hard to digest to be honest.

If mediocrity is the only thing you don't understand as a Saracens fan, you're lucky. Most of them don't understand basic human interaction, what not spending more money than you're supposed to is, and the definition of irony.

Jimpy wrote:

yappysnap wrote:Better then average, maybe not good...

Look, Tigers will never be as good as Newcastle Falcons with one 'Allied Dunbar' Premiership title to their name....

You can't deny they've produced a lot of great players for other teams who aren't as good though

Well for a side with a very low budget in an area that's simply dominated by football, to continually produce players that every other top side in the league simply poaches we do not bad at all!

Very similar to Leeds!

The difference is now, we are not losing players on mass...they are staying. In a few years we'll see the benefits!

Jimpy wrote:

formerly known as Sam wrote:

Sgt_Pooly wrote:

Jimpy wrote:

yappysnap wrote:Better then average, maybe not good...

Look, Tigers will never be as good as Newcastle Falcons with one 'Allied Dunbar' Premiership title to their name....

You can't deny they've produced a lot of great players for other teams who aren't as good though

No doubt, but Tigers are pretty average these days. I agree, they used to be fantastic though, must be hard to stomach.

As a Saracens fan, I obviously wouldn't understand mediocrity.

Obviously we're dire at the moment but that tends to happen at the start if most seasons. Hard to argue with the above average comment. Not hard to stomach but occasionally hard to watch.

Obviously 3 wins from 4 and a solid 4th place in the league is pretty average by some people's definition... I'm not finding it hard to digest to be honest.

If mediocrity is the only thing you don't understand as a Saracens fan, you're lucky. Most of them don't understand basic human interaction, what not spending more money than you're supposed to is, and the definition of irony.

Ha! This is coming from the living proof (you) that chimps can learn to use a computer.

If all Leicester Tigers fans were like you then it would be a very sad reflection on the club - trolling the opposition is a past time of yours.

Luckily all other Tigers fans on here aren't as brainless as yourself. Most are knowledgeable actually.

Shame really you can't get out of the habit of trolling.

Fiiiiight

What have I started!

Tigers fans are a good bunch, Jimpy is just a tad defensive

Sgt_Pooly wrote:

Jimpy wrote:

yappysnap wrote:Better then average, maybe not good...

Look, Tigers will never be as good as Newcastle Falcons with one 'Allied Dunbar' Premiership title to their name....

You can't deny they've produced a lot of great players for other teams who aren't as good though

No doubt, but Tigers are pretty average these days. I agree, they used to be fantastic though, must be hard to stomach.

As a Saracens fan, I obviously wouldn't understand mediocrity.

Since when have you been a Saracens fan Pooly? !?!?

Sgt_Pooly wrote:What have I started!

Tigers fans are a good bunch, Jimpy is just a tad defensive

Defensive of what? No one is insulting Tigers.

Well a Newcastle fan pretending to be a Saracens fan is a bit odd but each to their own I guess.

You just gave the Tigers troll an excuse.

Since about 10 mins after Jimpy started slating Falcons Ozz

Jimpy isn't a troll, he just likes a wind up, and gets a little tongue in cheek defensive about his club.

At least I hope it was tongue in cheek...

I too was surprised by Pooly's change of allegiance to Saracens, but put it down to Man United syndrome.

beshocked wrote:

Jimpy wrote:

formerly known as Sam wrote:

Sgt_Pooly wrote:

Jimpy wrote:

yappysnap wrote:Better then average, maybe not good...

Look, Tigers will never be as good as Newcastle Falcons with one 'Allied Dunbar' Premiership title to their name....

You can't deny they've produced a lot of great players for other teams who aren't as good though

No doubt, but Tigers are pretty average these days. I agree, they used to be fantastic though, must be hard to stomach.

As a Saracens fan, I obviously wouldn't understand mediocrity.

Obviously we're dire at the moment but that tends to happen at the start if most seasons. Hard to argue with the above average comment. Not hard to stomach but occasionally hard to watch.

Obviously 3 wins from 4 and a solid 4th place in the league is pretty average by some people's definition... I'm not finding it hard to digest to be honest.

If mediocrity is the only thing you don't understand as a Saracens fan, you're lucky. Most of them don't understand basic human interaction, what not spending more money than you're supposed to is, and the definition of irony.

Ha! This is coming from the living proof (you) that chimps can learn to use a computer.

If all Leicester Tigers fans were like you then it would be a very sad reflection on the club - trolling the opposition is a past time of yours.

Luckily all other Tigers fans on here aren't as brainless as yourself. Most are knowledgeable actually.

Shame really you can't get out of the habit of trolling.

Like I said, Saracens fans definitely don't understand the meaning of irony.

Or trolling it would seem.

Ozzy3213 wrote:

Sgt_Pooly wrote:

Jimpy wrote:

yappysnap wrote:Better then average, maybe not good...

Look, Tigers will never be as good as Newcastle Falcons with one 'Allied Dunbar' Premiership title to their name....

You can't deny they've produced a lot of great players for other teams who aren't as good though

No doubt, but Tigers are pretty average these days. I agree, they used to be fantastic though, must be hard to stomach.

As a Saracens fan, I obviously wouldn't understand mediocrity.

Since when have you been a Saracens fan Pooly? !?!?

He isn't - and I knew it. We've had several lively discussions regarding Falcons' and their 'special' fans in the past - funnily enough, most of them on the Newcastle Falcons thread.

Poor old Pooly.

I did however, have a stopwatch running to see how long it would be before the 'other' Saracens fan on here leapt to their defence. I wasn't disappointed

Look on the bright side 'Chimpy' would make a great alternate ID....

lostinwales wrote:Look on the bright side 'Chimpy' would make a great alternate ID....

So would 'Defrocked'...

We've all been there before and it was a waste of time then, because apparently, it's a 'spelling issue'.

Didn't your hatred of Falcons stem from a Geordie girlfriend cheating on you Jimp? It's ok mate, she can't hurt you now

Sgt_Pooly wrote:Didn't your hatred of Falcons stem from a Geordie girlfriend cheating on you Jimp? It's ok mate, she can't hurt you now

I know she can't. She mysteriously disappeared not long afterwards and hasn't been seen since....

He isn't - and I knew it

I can't get anything past you Jimp. Pointless debating with such intellect.

Sgt_Pooly wrote:

He isn't - and I knew it

I can't get anything past you Jimp. Pointless debating with such intellect.

Thank Gooodness for that. To be fair, it really isn't that difficult to outwit a Falcons supporter, so you're doing yourself a favour.

I've missed this

Just play along yappy, he eventually gives in.