Aviva Premiership Round 6

---

Bath v Sale
Rec
Partial sunny - 16', 6mph winds

---

Bath Rugby
Manager – CJB

01. Eddy Ben Arous	09. Richard Wigglesworth
02. Rory Best	10. Finn Russell
03. Samson Lee
04. Will Skelton	11. Liam Williams
05. Graham Kitchener	12. Sam Hill
06. Dan Lydiate	13. Jonathan Davies
07. Liam Gill	14. Juan Imhoff
08. Josh Beaumont	15. Alex Goode

|
16. Ellis Genge 17. Mike Haywood 18. Nepo Laulala 19. Charlie Ewels 20. Kolisi 21. Vorster 22. Machenaud 23. Kolbe

Attributes:
First phase attack/strike moves: Will look to break the defence, with either a bust through or a clever move to create a gap.
Breakdown - Clearing: Ensuring the possession is clean and quick with quick support to the breakdown
Blitz Defence: Your side is known for Blitz and excels at it
Breakdown - Turnover possession: Your side is recognised to pick off turnovers at the breakdown, by getting the ball and gaining the penalty. 

Overall: We are gonna be looking to play front foot rugby and put Salr under immense pressure with our energy. Look for big carries to create space and break the defense. Attack the set piece where we expect to be dominant and finish strongly off the bench. Our kicking attack will look to win the territory battle.

Scrum: Use the set piece to get quick ball to restart our play. Skelton really gives our scrum extra power. Falateu will look to attack off the quick ball he gets.

Lineout: We will look to switch up the lineup with Skelton and Kitchener options in the lineout. Kitchener will run the line out. Look to get up into the air quickly and down for a quick maul. We think we can dominate here against a poor set of jumpers. Skelton will vary the throw by offering a quick ball option at the front. 

Breakdown: Look to generate quick ball for our backs to take advantage of. Gill is brilliant at the breakdown and we will also look to get the rest of the pack looking to help and clear out. 

Defence: Run a blitz defence. Wigglesworth to drift behind expecting kicks.

Attack: Our half backs will control our rugby. Wiggles will set the tempoand play what he sees in front of him. Outside of him, Russell will play flat and use his creativity to bring in the back line and make plays. He will be given a freedom to be creative. Look to bring in the rest of the back line, especially JD2 who we would like to get running at defenders. Williams and  Imhoff are very skilful and if the ball gets to them will look to draw in defenders. The pack will also be involved when we have the ball for a prolonged period. We have strong carriers who excel in the loose. Look to get the ball in the hands of EBA, Lee and Falateu in order to break the line and make yards. Look to play with a high tempo and get the ball moving across the back line. Exploit the holes we create and look to tire out Warriors which can help nullify their offensive threats. 

Kicking: Russell will be our chosen place kicker. We will chuck in the occasional grabber to chase. Russell, Wigglesworth, Williams and Goode all have the boots necessary to try and put us in a good position territorially if need. 

Substitutes: Keep a high tempo with all our internationals off the bench.

Tactics

Sorry about the timing

---

Sale Sharks
Manager – SJE

01. Jack McGrath	09. Kieran Marmion
02. Tommy Taylor	10. Johnny Sexton
03. Rabah Slimani
04. Maro Itoje	11. Ruan Combrinck
05. Dave Attwood	12. Kyle Eastmond
06. CJ Stander	13. Seta Taminavula
07. Sam Cane	14. Nemani Nadolo
08. Duane Vermulean	15. Simon Zebo

Subs:
16. Benjamin Kayser 17. Ross Harrison 18. Davit Zirakishvilli 19. Matt Garvey 20. Peter O'Mahony 21. James Mitchell 22. Curwin Bosch 23.Nick Abendanon

Attributes:
Phase Attack: Attacks build momentum until an opportunity arises.
Breakdown - Clearing: Ensuring the possession is clean and quick with quick support to the breakdown.

Blitz Defence: Your side is known for Blitz and excels at it.
Breakdown - Slowing up ball: The defenders can get over the ball to slow it up and prevent the attack from building momentum and allowing your defence to set.  

Attack: We will be playing a high intensity phased attacking game. Look to use a rugby league shape with runners on the gain line and out the back door to force the opposition into making defensive decisions. Numerous playmakers across the back line allows us to constantly change the point of attack and restructure our attacking phases. Marmion to keep the fringe defence honest with his snipping runs.

Target Midfield Axis: Late changes to the Bath midfield and there will be some confusion at times. We will look to test them with big carriers on the gain line and the likes of Eastmond & Zebo out the back door. Sexton to work the wrap around and create overlaps.
 
Breakdown: Quick ball is the aim on attack. Mobile pack and physical back line to clear out rucks and ensure we get it. We will look to get over the gain line off all carries to give a target to hit. Defensively when the initial contact is won we will look to commit numbers and get over the ball turning it over or at least slowing opposition ball up. Otherwise we will strengthen the line. Double team of POM & Cane will look to target the ball.

Defence: Straight line blitz defence focused on winning the gain line collisions and driving the ball carrier back. Line speed is crucial. Marmion will sweep behind the line to cover chips and grubbers. Combrinck & Zebo to cover the background dropping deep to cut off the green grass available to kick into.


Scrum: Strong scrummaging unit in the front row with the support of a powerful 4-8 will look to get the better of the opposition and build a strong attacking platform. We will look to put a slight wheel on where possible to take the opposition backrow out of play and then attack the space available and look for one on ones in the backline.

Lineout: Five mobile, athletic jumpers allows us to genuinely mix it up on attacking ball. Primarily looking to get the backs on the ball in space. Defensively Itoje to get up in the air at the front and challenge on opposition ball looking to make it as messy as possible.

---

Exeter Chiefs v Gloucester
Sandy Park
Partial sunny - 17', 7mph winds

---

Exeter Chiefs 
         
Manager – StNick

01. Jefferson Poirot	09. Greg Laidlaw
02. Tom Youngs	10. Alex Lozowski (k)
03. Ben Tameifuna
04. Courtney Lawes	11. Noa Nakaitaci
05. James Horwill	12. Ma'a Nonu
06. Dave Ewers	13. Maxime Mermoz
07. Marcell Coetzee	14. JP Pietersen
08. Fritz Lee	15. James Lowe

|
Subs: 16 Jack Yeandle, 17 Nathan Catt, 18 Kyle Sinckler, 19 Jake Ball, 20 Brad Shields, 21 Nic White, 22 Colin Slade, 23 Olly Woodburn

Territorial Kicking: Looking to pin back sides and kick for open spaces or touch.
First phase attack/strike moves: Will look to break the defence, with either a bust through or a clever move to create a gap.

Breakdown - Slowing up ball: The defenders can get over the ball to slow it up and prevent the attack from building momentum and allowing your defence to set.
Chop Tackle: Tacklers look to get low and chop down attackers before gaining momentum or metres over the gain line.

We will play a territory game and use Laidlaw and Losowski to get us in the right areas. from there we will look to get our big runners on the ball. Nakaitaci can come in off his wing to look for work and Nonu to be used as a crash ball option.

Laidlaw to kick all pens in range to keep score ticking over.

We will use Youngs, Lawes, Ewers, Tameifuna, Fritz Lee and Nonu as our main carriers to tire out Glos defenders. Coetzee will be a nuisance at the breakdown so slow their ball down.

---

Gloucester 
Manager – Matt

01. Rob Evans	09. Dan Robson
02. Joe Grey	10. Dan Carter (k)
03. Uini Atonio
04. Richie Gray	11. Jonny May
05. Tomás Lavanini	12. Matt Toomua
06. Ross Moriarty	13. Matt Scott
07. Julian Salvi	14. Will Addison
08. Jamie Heaslip	15. Johan Goosen

|
Subs: 16. Coenie Oosthuizen, 17. Jack Singleton, 18. Juan Figallo, 19. Sam Dickinson, 20. Tom Croft, 21. Justin Phillips, 22. Danny Cipriani, 23. Hallam Amos

build momentum until an opportunity arises.

Counter Attack - Receiving the ball down field, your players will look to attack with ball in hand, thriving in the broken field and open spaces.
Breakdown (Turnover Possession) -  Your side is recognised to pick off turnovers at the breakdown, by getting the ball and gaining the penalty

Choke tackle : Tacklers look where possible to hold the opposition up and force the turnover
Great to be at home with conditions for running rugby. Our game plan will be based around winning quick ball and moving the ball.

We aim to take advantage of the weather and play at pace.

We will look to build phases and use the likes of moriarty, Heaslip, Gray, lavanini etc to get us across the gain line so we can play with quick ball.

we will look for Robson,  Carter and Toomua to control the tempo of the game. Off static ball we will look to truck it up or kick for space but our aim is to play at pace. Matt Scott has been on fire at 13 for Glos scoring every game we will look to give him space as well as our back 3.

We will also be keen to test their ten channel with Lozoski Very much a work in progress against Carter. We will Target him and look to flood numbers for the offload.

When we generate quick ball we will look to utilise our extreme gas out wide and create one on ones. Our wings are quick and elusive

Having ball players in 9, 10, 12 means we are able to slot in on any turnover and counter attack at pace.

We are looking to create space for our outside backs with Scott and our back three looking to exploit the space outwide. We will use toomua or Goosen as a first receiver when we need to change things up.

In our own half when kicking we will use the boots of Robson, Carter and Goosen  to gain territory, looking to kick to touch so we can use our line out to steal possession and pressure the Exeter line out.

In defence And with such a physical pack we will be using the choke tackle to slow down and turnover ball. When it gets to deck we will look to attack the breakdown with the first man there looking to win the penalty or the turnover.

We will look to use the up then out drift defence on the call of the scrum half or full back as in conditions like this it's harder to use as the ball player has more time on the ball. It's a day when blitz is ineffective

Carter to kick all penalties in range

---

Harlequins v Northampton Saints
Stoop
Partial sunny - 16', 8mph winds

---

Harlequins
Manager – Steven_Sharks

01. Cian Healy	09. Ben Youngs
02. Scott Baldwin	10. Juan Martin Hernandez (k)
03. Kieran Brookes
04. Ultan Dillane	11. Jack Nowell
05. Mamuka Gorgodze	12. Robbie Henshaw
06. Jack Clifford	13. Jonathan Joseph
07. Steffon Armitage	14. Yoann Huget
08. Damien Chouly (c)	15. James O'Connor

16. Reb Webber 17. Richard Barrington 18. Tadhg Furlong 19. Luhkan Tui 20. Jean Luc Du Preez 21. Ruan Pienaar 22. Elton Jantjies 23. Bundee Aki

Attributes

Phase Attack - Attacks build momentum until an opportunity arises. 

Counter Attack - Receiving the ball down field, your players will look to attack with ball in hand, thriving in the broken field and open spaces. 

Breakdown (Turnover Possession) -  Your side is recognised to pick off turnovers at the breakdown, by getting the ball and gaining the penalty

Chop Tackle: Tacklers look to get low and chop down attackers before gaining momentum or metres over the gain line. 

Game Plan

Look to use big runners running hard back towards the play with backs out the back.  Play at pace JMH playing flat  and putting others into holes with JOC looking to offer the option as a second receiver.

Use the up and under with Henshaw and Huget competing for the high ball to retain possession.

Look to up the tempo when we get over the gain line before sendinf the ball wide to use our pace outwide.

---

Northampton Saints
Manager: Dammit Chris

01. Nic Auterec	09. Conor Murray
02. Dylan Hartley	10. George Ford
03. Jake Cooper-Wooley
04. Joe Launchbury	11. Rieko Ioane
05. Jonny Gray	12. Wesley Fofana
06. Schalk Burger	13. Elliot Daly
07. David Pocock	14. Adam Ashley-Cooper
08. Billy Vunipola	15. Leigh Halfpenny(k)

Replacements:
16. Ashley Johnson 17. Zander Fagerson 18. Conan O'Donnell  19. Paul Jedrasiak 20. Jack Lamb 21. Joe Simpson 22. Matt Giteau 23. Manu Tuilagi

Attributes:
Breakdown - Clearing: Ensuring the possession is clean and quick with quick support to the breakdown
First phase attack/strike moves: Will look to break the defence, with either a bust through or a clever move to create a gap.

Blitz Defence: Your side is known for Blitz and excels at it
Breakdown - Turnover possession: Your side is recognised to pick off turnovers at the breakdown, by getting the ball and gaining the penalty.  

Tactics
Play this game at speed and a real high intensity from the outset and look to test the Quins defence and make the most of the attacking conditions. We want to dominate the breakdown area and backrow battle and out-muscle Quins in this area. We have picked a lot of physical ball carriers to get us over the gain-line and some backs in good try scoring form to take advantage of attacking chances. With the conditions we will keep the ball in play and go on the offensive and have a bench picked for its impact in 2nd half.

Set Piece
Lineout - Hartley's throwing looking for quick ball with Launchbury, Gray, Pocock and Burger all options, aim to put Baldwin's throwing under pressure.
Scrum - Vunipola to use any opportunity to launch attacks on JMH at every opportunity and get us over the gain-line. Though due to conditions don't expect many scrums.

Gain-line/Physical Battle
Like Saracens in real life we'll look to send big runner after runner at the Quins defence to suck in players and create space outwide. Have picked a very abrasive backrow to add a real physical approach to the game and get an advantage in a game that could really open up for the team that wins that, we will look to attack the Quins backrow unit.

Breakdown
See attributes.

Attack
- Everything goes through Ford, he's in good form and we'll get him standing flat and bringing forwards and backs into the game and really attack Quins.
- Lot of good form in the backs in real life, will look for tries and getting the ball outwide to exploit space from gain-line success.  
- Impact bench to up the tempo in final 20/25 minutes, open up the game and look for tries.  

Defence
Blitz defence, with Murray sweeping behind. Murray, Ford and Daly to kick us out of trouble.

Keep scoreboard ticking over
Halfpenny to kick all penalties, with Daly going for 3 points 50+ metres out.

---

Leicester Tigers v Worcester Warriors
Welford Road
Light rain - 16', 12mph winds

---

Leicester Tigers
Manager – Fluxy

01. Gethin Jenkins	09. Micky Young
02. Hika Elliott	10. Francois Trinh-Duc (k)
03. Atu Moli
04. Samu Manoa	11. Sean Maitland
05. Pascal Pape	12. Ben Teo'o
06. Don Armand (c)	13. Gael Fickou
07. Sam Jones	14. Drew Mitchell
08. JMF Lobbe	15. Mike Brown

.
Subs: 16. Dave Ward 17. Mikheil Nariashvili 18. Lasha Tibadze 19. Dominic Bird 20. Liam Messam 21. Antoine Dupont 22. Kurtley Beale 23. Henry Purdy

In wet conditions we will be looking to play a mixed game, and have picked a side enabling us to do so. When in Warriors 22 we will look to trust in our ability to be clinical and put the ball through the hands when it is on to do so. Further out than that and we will utilise the kicking games of our entire back line to take us into the right areas of the pitch.

In defence, in poor conditions, we will employ the blitz defence, to put pressure on the opposition carriers to receive the ball and take their eye off it. We will leave our wingers slightly deeper in anticipation of a primarily kick focussed game plan from Warriors. No dog-legs will be a key component for us. Young will sweep in behind the defensive line to counter any chips/grubbers. Trinh-Duc will take the ball to the line and tempt the Warriors to jump out of the defensive line, creating holes for our back line to exploit.
Specifics 

• Line-out: Nothing flash. Hit our front and middle jumpers and ensure that we secure our ball. We will also mix it up, shortening the line-out and using our back row as crash ball options off the top. On Worcester ball put pressure on through Pape and Armand, to make it as scrappy and untidy as possible.
  
  
• Scrum: Get low and underneath their props and drive straight. Really test their props technical abilities rather than get in to a battle of strength
  
  
• Breakdown: When we carry in, we will flood the breakdown rucking well past the ball to free it up quickly and go again. In defence, if we have made a passive tackle and the carrier has momentum we will not over commit, but will maintain a strong defensive line. If we win the collision and knock the carrier back we will look to get the second man in hard over the ball to slow up momentum, or turn over possession. Key for us is being selective, and only committing men to a winnable ruck. 
  
  
• Attacking Play: We will be looking to play a sensible offloading game, with the ball shifted on to the support runner just prior to the point of the tackle with the defender already committed. However this will only be implemented within the opposition half. We will also utilise the pick and go, meaning their defensive line cannot blitz efficiently. We will then we will look to exploit the delay in their blitz that results. We will then look to shift the direction of play and pull their defenders out of position to create gaps. Young to also look to snipe around the fringes and keep us going forwards all the time.  
  
  
• Linking to our tactical kicking, but we only want to play rugby in the Warriors half. Otherwise we look to gain territory with the tricky conditions, put pressure on the Worcester wingers to clear there lines and put pressure on the Warriors set piece to regain possession. 
  
  
• Tactical Kicking:  If we kick, we will look to kick in behind their wingers and get them on the turn going back towards their own line, with our wingers on the kick chase to really target them defensively. Trinh-Duc and Brown can take the ball to the line and kick in behind the defense, to get our wingers either on the end of the grubber, or pin back Worcester. 
  
  

Tigers Attributes
Defensive Traits

• Blitz Defence: Your side is known for Blitz and excels at it
  
• Breakdown - Slowing up ball: The defenders can get over the ball to slow it up and prevent the attack from building momentum and allowing your defence to set.
  

Attacking Traits

• Offloading in the tackle: Moving the point of attack preventing a defence to set and keeping play fluid.
  
• Breakdown - Clearing: Ensuring the possession is clean and quick with quick support to the breakdown
  

---

Worcester Warriors
Manager - Prop

01. Ali Dickinson	09. Gareth Davies
02. Ross Batty	10. Dan Biggar (k)
03. WP Nel
04. Leone Nakawara	11. Adam Thomspstone
05. Yohann Maestri	12. Jaime Roberts
06. Jordan Taufua	13. Huw Jones
07. Sam Warburton	14. Brice Dulin
08. Ben Morgan	15. Mathew Tait

:-
16. Jack Walker 17. Val Ruskin 18. Henry Thomas 19. Devin Toner 20. Jackson Wray 21. Rory Kockott 22. Owen Williams 23. Sergeal Petersen

Season's Attributes-
Offloading in the Tackle
Breakdown (Turnovers)
Blitz Defence
Choke Tackle

• We will play a controlled game, not looking to overly use the offloading-only when on. Biggar will look for territory with Nakawara and Maestri looking to put pressure on the Tigers lineout.
  
• Big carriers up front looking to offload if the conditions allow possible although being mindful of the encroaching defence and we will have support runners on their shoulders, we have brought in Maestri for the added weight in wet weather,
  
• Back row looking to be balanced with carrying, tackling and Warburton bringing the turnover attribute,
  
• We have Wray and Toner to add energy into the second half and will look to use his link play against tired legs,
  
• In these conditions the breakdown will be scrappy and the first man there will look to go for the ball using our turnover attribute. If it is obviously lost we will fan out. If Tigers under-commit we will look to drive through them for the turnover,
  
• Look to not commit too much to their breakdown if the ball is lost and use blitz defence led by Roberts allowing the chance to apply the choke tackle to stop Tigers playing a quick tempo game,
  
• Backs to play what is in front of them, runners off Roberts and Jones, we will use Dulin and Tait as a strike runner and know the pace of our back three to put pressure with quick ball,
  
• When nothing is on Biggar will go for territory and also use  his 'bombs' to challenge and turn their backlline,
  
• We will use Tait and the wingers to come into the line and switch things up to keep Tigers guessing and allow Roberts the chance to hit from deep at times and not be predictable,
  
• Thompstone is in great form and has scored against top class defences in the Prem,
  
• Take all kickable penalties.
  

---

Newcastle Falcons v Bristol
Kingston Park
Partial sunny - 14', 7mph winds

---

Newcastle Falcons
Manager – Bambam

01. Matt Mullan	09. Rhys Webb
02. Jamie George	10. Owen Farrell
03. Davit Kubriashvili
04. Matt Symons	11. Charles Piutau
05. Flip Van Der Merwe	12. Jan Serfontein
06. Callum Clark	13. Sam James
07. Chris Henry	14. Luke Morahan
08. Jordi Murphy	15. Gareth Anscombe

:-
16.Camille Chat 17.Alec Hepburn 18. Dillon Lewis 19. Jacques Potgeiter 20. Ellis Jenkins 21. Will Chudley 22. Paddy Jackson  23. Rob Miller

Attributes
Counter Attacking: Receiving the ball down field, your players will look to attack with ball in hand, thriving in the broken field and open spaces.
Phase Attack: Attacks build momentum until an opportunity arises.
Breakdown: Slowing up ball: The defenders can get over the ball to slow it up and prevent the attack from building momentum and allowing your defence to set.
Blitz Defence: Your side is known for Blitz and excels at it

Game plan

Target Ross - He hasn't had a lot of rugby, and will look to pile on the pressure behind Mullan's technique

Target 10-12 combo - Look to get our big carriers going at the 10-12 channel, put them on the back foot with Serfontein's power

Use Anscombe/James to split the field as alternate first receivers, look to create mismatches on the outside

Target the centres, we've got the physicality to put them under pressure, Piutau/Anscombe to come into the line and attack the 13 channel to test Taylor in defence, he hasn't had much rugby

Set piece - Look to really put their props under maximum pressure with our strong front row, we've got a great scrummaging lock pairing to help. If no weakness, use as restart. On their ball, mark their second rows and force long throws. On our ball, use the back row options to mix it up.

Breakdown - Back row and hooker to lead the way on turnovers. Others focus on strong clear outs and maintaining a strong defensive line. . On our ball, smash them off the ball, use pod system to ensure support if they are having success. Our openside is charged with keeping their main breakdown threat off our ball, and target turnovers if one of their carriers gets isolated

Kicking - Options throughout the backs. Kick in behind the wings for territory, aim for space not the man. Challenge wings positioning, Wings free to drop back for the counter off their kicks

Attack - Run our attack off 9 who sets the tempo, constantly change the point of attack and get our 10 quick ball.. Challenge their 10 defensively with our power backs cutting in running hard lines at his channel with the full back coming into the line. Big carrying forwards to set a platform, run at 10/12 all day long to put them on the back foot off first phase, see how they handle it.  

Defence - no weak links in the backline, use the blitz defence to put them on the back foot,  Farrell to set the tone in defence with Campagnaro putting pressure on their midfield

Bench - Big carrying forwards throughout and talented, pacy backs to see us home

---

Bristol Team 
Manager: CJ

01. Loni Uhila	09. Kahn Fotuali'i
02. Rob Buchanan	10. Jimmy Gopperth (k)
03. Mike Ross
04. Donnacha Ryan	11. Craig Gilroy
05. Luke Charteris	12. Piers Francis
06. Chris Robshaw	13. Duncan Taylor
07. Josh Van Der Flier	14.  Rene Ranger
08. Victor Vito (c)	15. Chris Pennell

:-
16. Tom West 17. Richardt Strauss  18. James Johnston 19. Kearnan Myall 20 John Barclay, 21. Ben Spencer, 22. Christian Lealiifano 23. Charlie Sharples

Tactics:

Attributes:

[size=32]Attacking:[/size]
[size=32]1) Breakdown - Clearing: Ensuring the possession is clean and quick with quick support to the breakdown[/size]
[size=32]2)  Phase Attack: Attacks build momentum until an opportunity arises. [/size]
[size=32]Defending:[/size]
[size=32]1) Breakdown - Slowing up ball: The defenders can get over the ball to slow it up and prevent the attack from building momentum and allowing your defence to set. [/size]
[size=32]2) Breakdown - Organised Ruck defence: with guards and body guards set, allowing the rest of the line to set off them.[/size]

Breakdown:

Team approach at the breakdown where we think we can press Falcons. Minimal players committed in defence with Robshaw spoiling ball, twin flankers chasing ball to support plays and ensure we get to rucks early and keep up attacking quick ball with hard clearing out.

Attack:

Fotuali'i in form running the show, playing the Eddie Jones simple 1-2 pass game, with high tempo constant phases mixing up:


1) carries at pace off 9 with Vito, De Flier, the front row taking the ball into contact and breaking the gain line 
2) clean up carries around the corner from the second row and Robshaw with forwards in immediate support in a pod of 3
3) plays off our playmaking 10-12, with mixing up the first receiver between the 2 to allow Gopperth to use his running game with more time and space in the 12 position, and simple passes to our back 3 coming off their wings and the backrow linking in the backs
4) snipes and sniping kicks from 9

All in all keeping high tempo of constant plays and moving around the defence, until a proper break forms

If this doesn't work, we have the pack for a maul game.

Defence:

Blitz, led by Taylor, Fotuali'i sweeping with a hard pressing fringe defence. Aim to pressure Webb to kill his service to Farrell and leave him on the backfoot. This will press him to kick out of hand and our back 3 will look to run that back as a group with interest

Set piece: 

Tough scrum battle so we will aim to move the front 3 about in the loose to tire them and then work them in the scrum with hard straight pushing. In the lineout, mix up our options, confident we can safely throw with Falcons not lineout focused. Charteris to man mark Van Der Merwe.

Other: 

Take all kicks at goal with Gopperth in form. Run back kicks where possible. Avoid kicking at Piutau where possible. Usual discipline in our half and press for penalties in their 22

With Gilroy, Gopperth, Fotuali'i, Der Flier etc we have a lot of in form dynamic players to bring out against Falcons. These are supplemented by the bench where we have the newly picked (for England) and in form Spencer, game changers in Sharples/Lealiifano, and a specialist fetcher to aid the breakdown in Barclay

---

Saracens v Wasps
Allianz Park
Partial sunny - 16', 7mph winds

---

Saracens
Manager – Pooly

01. Dylan Smith	09. Morgan Parra
02. Guilhem Guirado	10. Tom Taylor
03. Dan Cole
04. Bradley Davies	11. George North
05. Geoff Parling	12. Rohan Janse van Rensburg
06. Guy Thompson	13. Conrad Smith
07. John Hardie	14. Telusa Veainu
08. Nathan Hughes	15. Stuart Hogg

:-
16. Richard Hibbard 17. Alex Waller 18. Paul Hill 19. Nick Isiekwe 20. James Haskell 21. Lee Dickson 22. Robbie Fruen 23. Delon Armitage

Tactics:

Defensive:

Blitz Defence - Get in the face of the opposition and allow them very little time on the ball.

Breakdown - Turnover possession: Your side is recognised to pick off turnovers at the breakdown, by getting the ball and gaining the penalty

Attacking:

Territorial Kicking: Looking to pin back sides and kick for open spaces or touch

Offloading in the tackle: Moving the point of attack preventing a defence to set and keeping play fluid

TARGET BREAKDOWN & OUT MUSCLE THE WASPS BACKROW - Look for turnover or slowing down ball with numerous options in Cole, Guirado, Hardie, Thompson and Hughes. Hughes especially was in devastating from last week in the AP, getting 4 turnovers in the game. Look to dominate the Wasps backrow in contact and at the breakdown. Look to attack when it's on and flood through. Look to get at Evans early and rough him up.

TARGET SCRUM - TDT - Look to isolate TDT and allow Cole to work on him. Du Toit is a handy player but not quite at this level scrummaging wise and we'll look to target that throughout the game.

PUT PRESSURE ON HALFBACKS - Look to send big runners down Priestlands channel as well as giving him very little time on the ball. Once on the backfoot we'll look to keep the tempo up.

USE THE ROLLING MAUL - Big pack put out by us today. Look to use this to our advantage and get the rolling maul on, eating up the yards in the Wasps half.

General - We'll be playing a structured physical game from the off, look to get at the opposition and target the breakdown. We'll look to tie the opposition in with our physical pack/carrying options and then get at their outisde backs, more so in their half. Look to keep it tight in the forward pack and grind through work. Looking to bring in the opposition pack and then use big carrying options to punch holes through their defence. Look to control the tempo and areas we play with kicking options at halfback.

Scrum - Look to get a platform from the off with a strong scrummaging unit. Strong front 5 with big locks will look for the big push once the ball is in and drive the opposition back. Our TH and Hooker will look to target LH and try to get between him and Hooker to allow LH to work on TH If no weakness seen will use as restart.

Line out – Look for safe ball with world class line out options and experience. Will allow SH good clean ball and have big carriers running off the 9 at angles. Look to target opposition throw and put pressure on the hooker.

Defence - Blitz defence with high intensity and big hits, looking to drive past the ball player if the ball hits the deck. physical pack that can look to get at the collision and breakdown allowing a chance to slow down/steal ball. Put pressure on SH's basics and force him into errors. Scrum half to sweep behind the defensive line.

Attack - Keep things simple in our own half then look to unleash backs in opp 22 territory. Scrum half to dictate play from the breakdown and runners on his shoulder. Huge carrying pack to get us over the gain line after front 5 set a platform. Midfield to run angles off the 9/10, allowing us gain line breakers. Look to keep opposition guessing with clever lines through midfield. Wingers will look to track the midfield combo.

---

Wasps
Manager - Driver

01. Thomas Du Toit	09. Mitchell Drummond
02. Bismark Du Plessis	10. Rhy Priestland (k)
03. Frans Malherbe
04. RG Snyman	11. Marland Yarde
05. Alun Wyn Jones (c)	12. Brad Barritt
06. Tom Wood	13. Henry Slade
07. Will Owen	14. Anthony Watson
08. Nazeem Carr	15. Tim Nanai Williams

_

16. Harry Thacker, 17. Ben Moon, 18. Frasier Bailmain, 19. Sebastian Vaahaminia, 20. Louis Picamoles, 21. Luther Burrell, 22. Tom Homer, 23. Rob Kearney

---

Weather is not correct

Mark

Updated

Mwahaha rain, my only ally 

Bristol Team 
Manager: CJ

01. Loni Uhila	09. Kahn Fotuali'i
02. Rob Buchanan	10. Jimmy Gopperth (k)
03. Mike Ross
04. Donnacha Ryan	11. Craig Gilroy
05. Luke Charteris	12. Piers Francis
06. Chris Robshaw	13. Duncan Taylor
07. Josh Van Der Flier	14.  Rene Ranger
08. Victor Vito (c)	15. Chris Pennell

:-
16. Tom West 17. Richardt Strauss  18. James Johnston 19. Kearnan Myall 20 John Barclay, 21. Ben Spencer, 22. Christian Lealiifano 23. Charlie Sharples

Tactics:

Attributes:

[size=32]Attacking:[/size]
[size=32]1) Breakdown - Clearing: Ensuring the possession is clean and quick with quick support to the breakdown[/size]
[size=32]2)  Phase Attack: Attacks build momentum until an opportunity arises. [/size]
[size=32]Defending:[/size]
[size=32]1) Breakdown - Slowing up ball: The defenders can get over the ball to slow it up and prevent the attack from building momentum and allowing your defence to set. [/size]
[size=32]2) Breakdown - Organised Ruck defence: with guards and body guards set, allowing the rest of the line to set off them.[/size]

Breakdown:

Team approach at the breakdown where we think we can press Falcons. Minimal players committed in defence with Robshaw spoiling ball, twin flankers chasing ball to support plays and ensure we get to rucks early and keep up attacking quick ball with hard clearing out.

Attack:

Fotuali'i in form running the show, playing the Eddie Jones simple 1-2 pass game, with high tempo constant phases mixing up:


1) carries at pace off 9 with Vito, De Flier, the front row taking the ball into contact and breaking the gain line 
2) clean up carries around the corner from the second row and Robshaw with forwards in immediate support in a pod of 3
3) plays off our playmaking 10-12, with mixing up the first receiver between the 2 to allow Gopperth to use his running game with more time and space in the 12 position, and simple passes to our back 3 coming off their wings and the backrow linking in the backs
4) snipes and sniping kicks from 9

All in all keeping high tempo of constant plays and moving around the defence, until a proper break forms

If this doesn't work, we have the pack for a maul game.

Defence:

Blitz, led by Taylor, Fotuali'i sweeping with a hard pressing fringe defence. Aim to pressure Webb to kill his service to Farrell and leave him on the backfoot. This will press him to kick out of hand and our back 3 will look to run that back as a group with interest

Set piece: 

Tough scrum battle so we will aim to move the front 3 about in the loose to tire them and then work them in the scrum with hard straight pushing. In the lineout, mix up our options, confident we can safely throw with Falcons not lineout focused. Charteris to man mark Van Der Merwe.

Other: 

Take all kicks at goal with Gopperth in form. Run back kicks where possible. Avoid kicking at Piutau where possible. Usual discipline in our half and press for penalties in their 22

With Gilroy, Gopperth, Fotuali'i, Der Flier etc we have a lot of in form dynamic players to bring out against Falcons. These are supplemented by the bench where we have the newly picked (for England) and in form Spencer, game changers in Sharples/Lealiifano, and a specialist fetcher to aid the breakdown in Barclay

Saracens
Manager – Pooly

01. Dylan Smith	09. Morgan Parra
02. Guilhem Guirado	10. Tom Taylor
03. Dan Cole
04. Bradley Davies	11. George North
05. Geoff Parling	12. Rohan Janse van Rensburg
06. Guy Thompson	13. Conrad Smith
07. John Hardie	14. Telusa Veainu
08. Nathan Hughes	15. Stuart Hogg

:-
16. Richard Hibbard 17. Alex Waller 18. Paul Hill 19. Nick Isiekwe 20. James Haskell 21. Lee Dickson 22. Robbie Fruen 23. Delon Armitage

Tactics:

Defensive:

Blitz Defence - Get in the face of the opposition and allow them very little time on the ball.

Breakdown - Turnover possession: Your side is recognised to pick off turnovers at the breakdown, by getting the ball and gaining the penalty

Attacking:

Territorial Kicking: Looking to pin back sides and kick for open spaces or touch

Offloading in the tackle: Moving the point of attack preventing a defence to set and keeping play fluid

TARGET BREAKDOWN & OUT MUSCLE THE WASPS BACKROW - Look for turnover or slowing down ball with numerous options in Cole, Guirado, Hardie, Thompson and Hughes. Hughes especially was in devastating from last week in the AP, getting 4 turnovers in the game. Look to dominate the Wasps backrow in contact and at the breakdown. Look to attack when it's on and flood through. Look to get at Evans early and rough him up.

TARGET SCRUM - TDT - Look to isolate TDT and allow Cole to work on him. Du Toit is a handy player but not quite at this level scrummaging wise and we'll look to target that throughout the game.

PUT PRESSURE ON HALFBACKS - Look to send big runners down Priestlands channel as well as giving him very little time on the ball. Once on the backfoot we'll look to keep the tempo up.

USE THE ROLLING MAUL - Big pack put out by us today. Look to use this to our advantage and get the rolling maul on, eating up the yards in the Wasps half.

General - We'll be playing a structured physical game from the off, look to get at the opposition and target the breakdown. We'll look to tie the opposition in with our physical pack/carrying options and then get at their outisde backs, more so in their half. Look to keep it tight in the forward pack and grind through work. Looking to bring in the opposition pack and then use big carrying options to punch holes through their defence. Look to control the tempo and areas we play with kicking options at halfback.

Scrum - Look to get a platform from the off with a strong scrummaging unit. Strong front 5 with big locks will look for the big push once the ball is in and drive the opposition back. Our TH and Hooker will look to target LH and try to get between him and Hooker to allow LH to work on TH If no weakness seen will use as restart.

Line out – Look for safe ball with world class line out options and experience. Will allow SH good clean ball and have big carriers running off the 9 at angles. Look to target opposition throw and put pressure on the hooker.

Defence - Blitz defence with high intensity and big hits, looking to drive past the ball player if the ball hits the deck. physical pack that can look to get at the collision and breakdown allowing a chance to slow down/steal ball. Put pressure on SH's basics and force him into errors. Scrum half to sweep behind the defensive line.

Attack - Keep things simple in our own half then look to unleash backs in opp 22 territory. Scrum half to dictate play from the breakdown and runners on his shoulder. Huge carrying pack to get us over the gain line after front 5 set a platform. Midfield to run angles off the 9/10, allowing us gain line breakers. Look to keep opposition guessing with clever lines through midfield. Wingers will look to track the midfield combo.

Harlequins
Manager – Steven_Sharks

01. Cian Healy	09. Ben Youngs
02. Scott Baldwin	10. Juan Martin Hernandez (k)
03. Kieran Brookes
04. Ultan Dillane	11. Jack Nowell
05. Mamuka Gorgodze	12. Robbie Henshaw
06. Jack Clifford	13. Jonathan Joseph
07. Steffon Armitage	14. Yoann Huget
08. Damien Chouly (c)	15. James O'Connor

16. Reb Webber 17. Richard Barrington 18. Tadhg Furlong 19. Luhkan Tui 20. Jean Luc Du Preez 21. Ruan Pienaar 22. Elton Jantjies 23. Bundee Aki

Attributes

Phase Attack - Attacks build momentum until an opportunity arises. 

Counter Attack - Receiving the ball down field, your players will look to attack with ball in hand, thriving in the broken field and open spaces. 

Breakdown (Turnover Possession) -  Your side is recognised to pick off turnovers at the breakdown, by getting the ball and gaining the penalty

Chop Tackle: Tacklers look to get low and chop down attackers before gaining momentum or metres over the gain line. 

Game Plan

Look to use big runners running hard back towards the play with backs out the back.  Play at pace JMH playing flat  and putting others into holes with JOC looking to offer the option as a second receiver.

Use the up and under with Henshaw and Huget competing for the high ball to retain possession.

Look to up the tempo when we get over the gain line before sendinf the ball wide to use our pace outwide.

Sale Sharks
Manager – SJE

01. Jack McGrath	09. Kieran Marmion
02. Tommy Taylor	10. Johnny Sexton
03. Rabah Slimani
04. Maro Itoje	11. Ruan Combrinck
05. Dave Attwood	12. Kyle Eastmond
06. CJ Stander	13. Seta Taminavula
07. Sam Cane	14. Nemani Nadolo
08. Duane Vermulean	15. Simon Zebo

Subs:
16. Benjamin Kayser 17. Ross Harrison 18. Davit Zirakishvilli 19. Matt Garvey 20. Peter O'Mahony 21. James Mitchell 22. Curwin Bosch 23.Nick Abendanon

Attributes:
Phase Attack: Attacks build momentum until an opportunity arises.
Breakdown - Clearing: Ensuring the possession is clean and quick with quick support to the breakdown.

Blitz Defence: Your side is known for Blitz and excels at it.
Breakdown - Slowing up ball: The defenders can get over the ball to slow it up and prevent the attack from building momentum and allowing your defence to set.  

Attack: We will be playing a high intensity phased attacking game. Look to use a rugby league shape with runners on the gain line and out the back door to force the opposition into making defensive decisions. Numerous playmakers across the back line allows us to constantly change the point of attack and restructure our attacking phases. Marmion to keep the fringe defence honest with his snipping runs.

Target Midfield Axis: Late changes to the Bath midfield and there will be some confusion at times. We will look to test them with big carriers on the gain line and the likes of Eastmond & Zebo out the back door. Sexton to work the wrap around and create overlaps.
 
Breakdown: Quick ball is the aim on attack. Mobile pack and physical back line to clear out rucks and ensure we get it. We will look to get over the gain line off all carries to give a target to hit. Defensively when the initial contact is won we will look to commit numbers and get over the ball turning it over or at least slowing opposition ball up. Otherwise we will strengthen the line. Double team of POM & Cane will look to target the ball.

Defence: Straight line blitz defence focused on winning the gain line collisions and driving the ball carrier back. Line speed is crucial. Marmion will sweep behind the line to cover chips and grubbers. Combrinck & Zebo to cover the background dropping deep to cut off the green grass available to kick into.


Scrum: Strong scrummaging unit in the front row with the support of a powerful 4-8 will look to get the better of the opposition and build a strong attacking platform. We will look to put a slight wheel on where possible to take the opposition backrow out of play and then attack the space available and look for one on ones in the backline.

Lineout: Five mobile, athletic jumpers allows us to genuinely mix it up on attacking ball. Primarily looking to get the backs on the ball in space. Defensively Itoje to get up in the air at the front and challenge on opposition ball looking to make it as messy as possible.

Newcastle Falcons
Manager – Bambam

01. Matt Mullan	09. Rhys Webb
02. Jamie George	10. Owen Farrell
03. Davit Kubriashvili
04. Matt Symons	11. Charles Piutau
05. Flip Van Der Merwe	12. Jan Serfontein
06. Callum Clark	13. Sam James
07. Chris Henry	14. Luke Morahan
08. Jordi Murphy	15. Gareth Anscombe

:-
16.Camille Chat 17.Alec Hepburn 18. Dillon Lewis 19. Jacques Potgeiter 20. Ellis Jenkins 21. Will Chudley 22. Paddy Jackson  23. Rob Miller

Attributes
Counter Attacking: Receiving the ball down field, your players will look to attack with ball in hand, thriving in the broken field and open spaces.
Phase Attack: Attacks build momentum until an opportunity arises.
Breakdown: Slowing up ball: The defenders can get over the ball to slow it up and prevent the attack from building momentum and allowing your defence to set.
Blitz Defence: Your side is known for Blitz and excels at it

Game plan

Target Ross - He hasn't had a lot of rugby, and will look to pile on the pressure behind Mullan's technique

Target 10-12 combo - Look to get our big carriers going at the 10-12 channel, put them on the back foot with Serfontein's power

Use Anscombe/James to split the field as alternate first receivers, look to create mismatches on the outside

Target the centres, we've got the physicality to put them under pressure, Piutau/Anscombe to come into the line and attack the 13 channel to test Taylor in defence, he hasn't had much rugby

Set piece - Look to really put their props under maximum pressure with our strong front row, we've got a great scrummaging lock pairing to help. If no weakness, use as restart. On their ball, mark their second rows and force long throws. On our ball, use the back row options to mix it up.

Breakdown - Back row and hooker to lead the way on turnovers. Others focus on strong clear outs and maintaining a strong defensive line. . On our ball, smash them off the ball, use pod system to ensure support if they are having success. Our openside is charged with keeping their main breakdown threat off our ball, and target turnovers if one of their carriers gets isolated

Kicking - Options throughout the backs. Kick in behind the wings for territory, aim for space not the man. Challenge wings positioning, Wings free to drop back for the counter off their kicks

Attack - Run our attack off 9 who sets the tempo, constantly change the point of attack and get our 10 quick ball.. Challenge their 10 defensively with our power backs cutting in running hard lines at his channel with the full back coming into the line. Big carrying forwards to set a platform, run at 10/12 all day long to put them on the back foot off first phase, see how they handle it.  

Defence - no weak links in the backline, use the blitz defence to put them on the back foot,  Farrell to set the tone in defence with Campagnaro putting pressure on their midfield

Bench - Big carrying forwards throughout and talented, pacy backs to see us home

Bath Rugby
Manager – CJB

01. Eddy Ben Arous	09. Richard Wigglesworth
02. Rory Best	10. Finn Russell
03. Samson Lee
04. Will Skelton	11. Liam Williams
05. Graham Kitchener	12. Damian De Allende
06. Dan Lydiate	13. Jonathan Davies
07. Liam Gill	14. Juan Imhoff
08. Josh Beaumont	15. Alex Goode

16. Ellis Genge 17. Mike Haywood 18. Nepo Laulala 19. Charlie Ewels 20. Josh Beaumont 21. Sam Hill 22. Tawera Kerr Barlow 23. George Moala

Northampton Saints
MAnager Dammit Chris

01. Nic Auterec	09. Conor Murray
02. Dylan Hartley	10. George Ford
03. Jake Cooper-Wooley
04. Joe Launchbury	11. Rieko Ioane
05. Jonny Gray	12. Wesley Fofana
06. Schalk Burger	13. Elliot Daly
07. David Pocock	14. Adam Ashley-Cooper
08. Billy Vunipola	15. Leigh Halfpenny(k)

Replacements:
16. Ashley Johnson 17. Zander Fagerson 18. Conan O'Donnell  19. Paul Jedrasiak 20. Jack Lamb 21. Joe Simpson 22. Matt Giteau 23. Manu Tuilagi

Attributes:
Breakdown - Clearing: Ensuring the possession is clean and quick with quick support to the breakdown
First phase attack/strike moves: Will look to break the defence, with either a bust through or a clever move to create a gap.

Blitz Defence: Your side is known for Blitz and excels at it
Breakdown - Turnover possession: Your side is recognised to pick off turnovers at the breakdown, by getting the ball and gaining the penalty.  

Tactics
Play this game at speed and a real high intensity from the outset and look to test the Quins defence and make the most of the attacking conditions. We want to dominate the breakdown area and backrow battle and out-muscle Quins in this area. We have picked a lot of physical ball carriers to get us over the gain-line and some backs in good try scoring form to take advantage of attacking chances. With the conditions we will keep the ball in play and go on the offensive and have a bench picked for its impact in 2nd half.

Set Piece
Lineout - Hartley's throwing looking for quick ball with Launchbury, Gray, Pocock and Burger all options, aim to put Baldwin's throwing under pressure.
Scrum - Vunipola to use any opportunity to launch attacks on JMH at every opportunity and get us over the gain-line. Though due to conditions don't expect many scrums.

Gain-line/Physical Battle
Like Saracens in real life we'll look to send big runner after runner at the Quins defence to suck in players and create space outwide. Have picked a very abrasive backrow to add a real physical approach to the game and get an advantage in a game that could really open up for the team that wins that, we will look to attack the Quins backrow unit.

Breakdown
See attributes.

Attack
- Everything goes through Ford, he's in good form and we'll get him standing flat and bringing forwards and backs into the game and really attack Quins.
- Lot of good form in the backs in real life, will look for tries and getting the ball outwide to exploit space from gain-line success.  
- Impact bench to up the tempo in final 20/25 minutes, open up the game and look for tries.  

Defence
- Blitz defence, with Murray sweeping behind. Murray, Ford and Daly to kick us out of trouble.
- Expecting a lot of kicks from Quins, so selected Halfpenny & AAC to deal with that.

Keep scoreboard ticking over
Halfpenny to kick all penalties, with Daly going for 3 points 50+ metres out.

You've named Beaumont twice CJB 

1 Jefferson Poirot
2 Tom Youngs
3 Ben Tameifuna
4 Courtney Lawes
5 James Horwill
6 Dave Ewers
7 Marcell Coetzee
8 Fritz Lee
9 Greg Laidlaw
10 Alex Lozowski
11 Noa Nakaitaci
12 Ma'a Nonu
13 Maxime Mermoz
14 JP Pietersen
15 James Lowe

16 Jack Yeandle
17 Nathan Catt
18 Kyle Sinckler
19 Jake Ball
20 Brad Shields
21 Nic White
22 Colin Slade
23 Olly Woodburn

Territorial Kicking: Looking to pin back sides and kick for open spaces or touch.
First phase attack/strike moves: Will look to break the defence, with either a bust through or a clever move to create a gap.

Breakdown - Slowing up ball: The defenders can get over the ball to slow it up and prevent the attack from building momentum and allowing your defence to set.
Chop Tackle: Tacklers look to get low and chop down attackers before gaining momentum or metres over the gain line.

We will play a territory game and use Laidlaw and Losowski to get us in the right areas. from there we will look to get our big runners on the ball. Nakaitaci can come in off his wing to look for work and Nonu to be used as a crash ball option.

Laidlaw to kick all pens in range to keep score ticking over.

We will use Youngs, Lawes, Ewers, Tameifuna, Fritz Lee and Nonu as our main carriers to tire out Glos defenders. Coetzee will be a nuisance at the breakdown so slow their ball down.

Worcester Warriors
Manager - Prop

01. Ali Dickinson	09. Gareth Davies
02. Ross Batty	10. Dan Biggar (k)
03. WP Nel
04. Leone Nakawara	11. Adam Thomspstone
05. Yohann Maestri	12. Jaime Roberts
06. Jordan Taufua	13. Huw Jones
07. Sam Warburton ©	14. Brice Dulin
08. Ben Morgan	15. Mathew Tait

:-
16. Jack Walker 17. Val Ruskin 18. Henry Thomas 19. Devin Toner 20. Jackson Wray 21. Rory Kockott 22. Owen Williams 23. Sergeal Petersen

Season's Attributes-
Offloading in the Tackle
Breakdown (Turnovers)
Blitz Defence
Choke Tackle

• We will play a controlled game, not looking to overly use the offloading-only when on. Biggar will look for territory with Nakawara and Maestri looking to put pressure on the Tigers lineout.
  
• Big carriers up front looking to offload if the conditions allow possible although being mindful of the encroaching defence and we will have support runners on their shoulders, we have brought in Maestri for the added weight in wet weather,
  
• Back row looking to be balanced with carrying, tackling and Warburton bringing the turnover attribute,
  
• We have Wray and Toner to add energy into the second half and will look to use his link play against tired legs,
  
• In these conditions the breakdown will be scrappy and the first man there will look to go for the ball using our turnover attribute. If it is obviously lost we will fan out. If Tigers under-commit we will look to drive through them for the turnover,
  
• Look to not commit too much to their breakdown if the ball is lost and use blitz defence led by Roberts allowing the chance to apply the choke tackle to stop Tigers playing a quick tempo game,
  
• Backs to play what is in front of them, runners off Roberts and Jones, we will use Dulin and Tait as a strike runner and know the pace of our back three to put pressure with quick ball,
  
• When nothing is on Biggar will go for territory and also use  his 'bombs' to challenge and turn their backlline,
  
• We will use Tait and the wingers to come into the line and switch things up to keep Tigers guessing and allow Roberts the chance to hit from deep at times and not be predictable,
  
• Thompstone is in great form and has scored against top class defences in the Prem,
  
• Take all kickable penalties.
  

1 Evans
2 Gray
3 Antonio
4 Gray
5 Lavanini
6 Moriarty
7 Salvi
8 Heaslip
9 Robson
10 Carter
11 May
12 Toomua
13 Scott
14 Addison
15 Goosen
16 Ousthuizen
17 Singleton
18 Figallo
19 Dickinson
20 Croft
21 Phillips
22 Cipriani
23 Amos

build momentum until an opportunity arises.

Counter Attack - Receiving the ball down field, your players will look to attack with ball in hand, thriving in the broken field and open spaces.
Breakdown (Turnover Possession) - Your side is recognised to pick off turnovers at the breakdown, by getting the ball and gaining the penalty

Choke tackle : Tacklers look where possible to hold the opposition up and force the turnover
Great to be at home with conditions for running rugby. Our game plan will be based around winning quick ball and moving the ball.

We aim to take advantage of the weather and play at pace.

We will look to build phases and use the likes of moriarty, Heaslip, Gray, lavanini etc to get us across the gain line so we can play with quick ball.

we will look for Robson, Carter and Toomua to control the tempo of the game. Off static ball we will look to truck it up or kick for space but our aim is to play at pace. Matt Scott has been on fire at 13 for Glos scoring every game we will look to give him space as well as our back 3.

We will also be keen to test their ten channel with Lozoski Very much a work in progress against Carter . We will Target him and look to flood numbers for the offload.

When we generate quick ball we will look to utilise our extreme gas out wide and create one on ones. Our wings are quick and elusive

Having ball players in 9, 10, 12 means we are able to slot in on any turnover and counter attack at pace.

We are looking to create space for our outside backs with Scott and our back three looking to exploit the space outwide. We will use toomua or Goosen as a first receiver when we need to change things up.

In our own half when kicking we will use the boots of Robson, Carter and Goosen to gain territory, looking to kick to touch so we can use our line out to steal possession and pressure the Exeter line out.

In defence And with such a physical pack we will be using the choke tackle to slow down and turnover ball. When it gets to deck we will look to attack the breakdown with the first man there looking to win the penalty or the turnover.

We will look to use the up then out drift defence on the call of the scrum half or full back as in conditions like this it's harder to use as the ball player has more time on the ball. It's a day when blitz is ineffective

Carter to kick all penalties in range

Flux you've named Young twice mate.

Going to be getting tactics in on Friday morning if that is all ok, have the joys of running a conference tomorrow.

Thanks Chris

No Wasps side as yet so will use last weeks for now

Wasps
Manager - Driver

01. Thomas Du Toit	09. Mitchell Drummond
02. Bismark Du Plessis	10. Rhy Priestland (k)
03. Frans Malherbe
04. RG Snyman	11. Marland Yarde
05. Alun Wyn Jones (c)	12. Brad Barritt
06. Tom Wood	13. Henry Slade
07. Will Owen	14. Anthony Watson
08. Nazeem Carr	15. Tim Nanai Williams

_

16. Harry Thacker, 17. Ben Moon, 18. Frasier Bailmain, 19. Sebastian Vaahaminia, 20. Louis Picamoles, 21. Luther Burrell, 22. Tom Homer, 23. Rob Kearney

Kerr Barlow & Moala now named on the All Blacks bench CJB

Naholo called up-Petersen comes in.

Machenaud, Kolbe and Kolisi on my bench for TKB, Moala and Beaumont

Thank you SJE

Not your week mate De Allande starts for the Boks as well!

Tactics will be done in the morning. Just got in!

Chaps is it
Ok if I do tactics about midday? Been
At the vets most of the night

Shouldn't be a drama, I'll update latet

I'm hoping to get full predos in but may be in 2 different p.m's over 2 days!!

PREDO'S OPEN

Can you just hold back on Gloucester game as Matt's tactics should be on shortly.

I thought I was playing quins my bad....Pooly, I've just changed the details in my tactics from quins to Tigers if that's ok to update?

I'll update later mate

Ok cheers, not sure how I mis read my opponent!

All done from me. Thanks
For waiting all

Attributes:
First phase attack/strike moves: Will look to break the defence, with either a bust through or a clever move to create a gap.
Breakdown - Clearing: Ensuring the possession is clean and quick with quick support to the breakdown
Blitz Defence: Your side is known for Blitz and excels at it
Breakdown - Turnover possession: Your side is recognised to pick off turnovers at the breakdown, by getting the ball and gaining the penalty. 

Overall: We are gonna be looking to play front foot rugby and put Salr under immense pressure with our energy. Look for big carries to create space and break the defense. Attack the set piece where we expect to be dominant and finish strongly off the bench. Our kicking attack will look to win the territory battle.

Scrum: Use the set piece to get quick ball to restart our play. Skelton really gives our scrum extra power. Falateu will look to attack off the quick ball he gets.

Lineout: We will look to switch up the lineup with Skelton and Kitchener options in the lineout. Kitchener will run the line out. Look to get up into the air quickly and down for a quick maul. We think we can dominate here against a poor set of jumpers. Skelton will vary the throw by offering a quick ball option at the front. 

Breakdown: Look to generate quick ball for our backs to take advantage of. Gill is brilliant at the breakdown and we will also look to get the rest of the pack looking to help and clear out. 

Defence: Run a blitz defence. Wigglesworth to drift behind expecting kicks.

Attack: Our half backs will control our rugby. Wiggles will set the tempoand play what he sees in front of him. Outside of him, Russell will play flat and use his creativity to bring in the back line and make plays. He will be given a freedom to be creative. Look to bring in the rest of the back line, especially JD2 who we would like to get running at defenders. Williams and Imhoff are very skilful and if the ball gets to them will look to draw in defenders. The pack will also be involved when we have the ball for a prolonged period. We have strong carriers who excel in the loose. Look to get the ball in the hands of EBA, Lee and Falateu in order to break the line and make yards. Look to play with a high tempo and get the ball moving across the back line. Exploit the holes we create and look to tire out Warriors which can help nullify their offensive threats. 

Kicking: Russell will be our chosen place kicker. We will chuck in the occasional grabber to chase. Russell, Wigglesworth, Williams and Goode all have the boots necessary to try and put us in a good position territorially if need. 

Substitutes: Keep a high tempo with all our internationals off the bench.

Tactics

Sorry about the timing

Prop just realised you're starting Naholo, whereas he started for the ABs today. I though Savea was starting myself

I commented and changed that on thurs, can be seen on the edit bit of my team comment. Will be pi$$ed if that costs me the game with other predos.

Other edit on Fri was to change quins to tigers

I only copied the tactics, my bad Prop. I don't think anyone has noticed, I'll change now.

Only a few predo's in, just checked them and no effect

Ok thanks Pooly

Shutting these at 10am lads

Think mine have gone across - kept on saying there was a technical error though, so not sure if that has effected anyone else sending PM's.

Will you give m 10 minutes please only have the one game left to look at

dammit_chris wrote:Think mine have gone across - kept on saying there was a technical error though, so not sure if that has effected anyone else sending PM's.

I had technical error and mine not showing on sent.

On my desktop at 1pm will send then

I need to get them finalised Matt as finish work soon and off for the next few days. I can give you till 11 if any good?

RESULTS:

Bath Rugby - 25
(T: Hill, Wigglesworth, Davies C: Russell [x2] P: Russell [x2])
Sale Sharks - 27
(T: Itoje, Nadolo, Bosch C: Sexton [x3] P: Sexton [x2])

Exeter Chiefs - 24
(T: Lozowski, JP Pietersen C: Lozowski [x1] P: Lozowski [x4])
Gloucester Rugby - 23
(T: Lavanini, Evans C: Carter [x2] P: Carter [x3])

Harlequins - 27
(T: O'Connor, Nowell, Furlong C: Hernandez [x2], Pienaar [x1] P: Hernandez [x2])
Northampton Saints - 28
(T: Ioane, Ashley-Cooper, Jedrasiak C: Halfpenny [x2] P: Halfpenny [x3])

Leicester Tigers - 24
(T: Jones, Dupont C: Trinh-Duc [x1] P: Trinh-Duc [x4])
Worcester Warriors - 23
(T: Maestri, Toner C: Biggar [x2] P: Biggar [x3])

Newcastle Falcons - 26
(T: James, Serfontein, Kubriashvili C: Farrell [x1] P: Farrell [x3])
Bristol Rugby - 23
(T: Van Der Flier, Robshaw C: Gopperth [x2] P: Gopperth [x3])

Saracens - 33
(T: Davies, Janse van Rensburg, Veainu, Hibbard C: Parra [x2] P: Parra [x3])
Wasps - 21
(T: Wood, du Toit C: Priestland [x1] P: Priestland [x3])

Full Bonus - Flux, Steve, Nick, Prop, Bam, Chris, SJE, Pooly, CJ

No bonus - Matt, CJB, Driver

Really close games this week, some separated by .1 or .2 in final scores.

Bath 26 - 28 Sale

Bath have some v goo props and test Sale at the scrum but ultimately fall short there. Sale probably ahead of the Bath locks at the lineout but Beaumont brings it Bath's way. Sale have done a lot of work at their balance at the breakdown and backrow and get ahead here too, though careful not to get player names wrong in the tactics (POM is not starting). CJB, Beaumont is leading lineout takes in the real Premiership so I wopuld use him here more in your tactics, esp ahead of Skelton.

Wriggles and Goode take a lot of kicking pressure off of Russell and let him focus on running the attack. Both sides will be playing nice and flat, Bath striking quickly and Sale building things more. Right now, Bath have some good HB form vs Sexton's class, and their reliable quality in the back 3 matches Sale's x-factor. I like both midfields when in form, and can see Johnny's tactics exposing the Bath midfield with Zebo etc and the loop working.

It's closer than I thought it would be, but in the end Sale's bench sees them steal an away win

Bath 26 - 24 Sale

Packs a really good battle with probably the two strongest during the RC on show. Like the physicality of the Bath pack which matches Sale. Prefer the Bath backs from 9 to 15 as a unit and as individuals. At home they get a huge scalp.

Bath 23-30 Sale
Last minute changes won't help Bath. Sale's front 5 one of the best in the league and Bath will struggle against them here. Back row brought slightly closer but not enough with Sale taking the upper hand again. Half backs will go one a piece with Connacht not firing on all cylinders at the moment. Two good back lines outside this but think Sale are a bit more settled and will get the better ball from their pack. Sale's breakdown attributes work well here and they are targetting the right weaknesses in Bath's side. Bath looking for quick tempo which I think they will struggle to get and their bench will not bring as much impact as they are saying.

Bath 23-23 Sale

I think Bath might be able to get at the Sale scrum a touch with a slightly stronger unit. Good options for both sides in the lineout with both 8's offer good options too. Sale have a bit more presence in the backrow and they'll have more effect around the park. Bath halfbacks with a bit more form and very little in the backlines, really tough to split.

Bath 24 - 28 Sale Sharks
Upfront Sale are bit of an irresistible force at the minute with their pack bang in form. Bath are a bit on the other end of the scale, with some lads doing good stuff, but others misfiring. That Bath back line is probably the strongest it has and more organise it has been in some time - and will cause sharks some troubles in defence. In these decent conditions it will be close and hard fought, but the clinical and organised Sharks side will win in the end.

Bath 27 - 25 Sale
Like the Bath team, they can target a lot of teams upfront, but Sale's second row combination are probably the two inform locks in the AP right now, which massively evens this up. Really like both backlines, Wigglesworth's performance on Sunday was excellent and bit more nous in the Bath team, mixed with home advantage just sways it.

Bath 20-22 Sale - Sale get a good away win with the quality of their pack and Sextons boot. I prefer the Bath back 5 but Sale's pack is class and will starve them of enough quality ball.

Bath 24 - 26 Sale

Bath's pack is game up front, but lacks the quality in the back 5 to put any real pressure on this Sale side, and without that platform I just can't see how they'll be able to get a foothold in the game. Bath's backs compete a bit better, but think Sale just have the edge in power and game direction with Sexton in the side, and they'll come away with this one on the road

Exeter 20 - 20 Gloucester

Laidlaw and Lozowski with that back 3 should work the kicking game well for Chiefs, which works well with the carrying ability in the pack and also the bench for them. Gloucester however have the kicking set up and back 3 (with great kickers there) to mix up countering loose kicks and making territory back with the boot, so if Exeter slip up at all, Gloucester can punish them there. Gloucester can match Exeter at the breakdown fairly well, and maybe edge a close scrum battle, but Exeter are ahead at the lineout. It's also easier to see how Gloucester will use their ball in hand. At home, with an inform carrying pack, Exeter hold out against the well set up Gloucester for a share of the points.

Exeter 23 - 23 Gloucester

Chiefs nicely balanced in the pack with a strong set piece and physical presence. Great battle at 10 with Lowsoski in great form against the peerless Carter. Centres also a great battle with Scott in fine form of late. Joe Grey sticks out like a sore thumb for Gloucester in an important position. Can't seperate the sides.

Chiefs 21-22 Glos
Not a lot between the two front rows here, neither will set the world alight but both solid. Bit more about the 2nd rows for Chiefs, back row think Glos bring a bit more and are well balanced. Half backs one a piece with Robson and Lowsiski doing well. Centres to Glos and back 3 to Chiefs with May being out for a sustained period of time now. Glos targetting the 10 channel well but think Nonu will help Chiefs here, quick ball will help Glos' backs get over the gain line. Chiefs also looking to play the territory and think both teams will be close till the benches unload, Glos have more here and will nick a win.

Exeter 27-24 Gloucester

Can see Exeter getting an advantage at the scrum with Evans having little form not playing this season and Grey just off this level. Interesting battles in the back 5's but again it's Exeter who come out on top and hold a pack advantage. One a piece in the halfbacks with the Gloucester combination offering more in attack. Not sure on Scott at 13 so would have to give the centres to the home side and similar story in the back 3. Good contest but a solid platform and better form in the backline sees Exeter through.

Exeter Chiefs 23 - 24 Gloucester Rugby
Chiefs are stronger come the set piece and offer a good dynamism around the park. While Glos will rely on their dynamic carrying around the field and the quick ball off the line out to get go forward. Gloucester looking to play the field will have some success with the positioning of Nakataci struggling at times, but the odd kick will sit up for a deadly count attack from him. Lowe is class from the back, I do think you get more from him on the wing. A close game, but the tactical kicking of the Gloucester back line and bench is too much pressure for Chiefs to keep the Cherry & whites at bay.

Exeter Chiefs 22 - 23 Gloucester
Toughest game to predict on, Chiefs can get an upper hand in the front row but good conditions cancel that out. In good running conditions, I prefer the control that Gloucester offer at 9, 10, 12, plus bit more detail in the tactics.

Exeter 24 - 21 Gloucester

Exeter look to have the edge on Glos in the scrum, with a solid front row, and think the lineouts are pretty even, possibly just favouring Glos. Back row battle is huge, Coetzee lacking a bit of form but is a class act, think its pretty even. One a piece at half back, Glos stronger in the centres but Addison is a new signing and won't know the patterns of the side, think he'll be a weakness up against a very good Exeter back 3. At home, Chiefs take this

Quins 24 - 25 Saints

Massive and hard to call battle between the tight 5s, both in the scrum and in the loose. However, in the lineout and the breakdown, and exceptional Saints unit and backrow win out. Tough battle at HB too, think Saints edge it but Ford can be got at without players taking the pressure off his kicking at 12. Halfpenny helps him by taking the GKs away though. Close in the outbacks too with very differnt but talented centre pairings. Saints have enough more in the pack to win today though.

Quins 24-28 Saints
Slight edge to Saints in the front row but a powerful pairing from Quins holds the locks. Think Saints bring more to the table in the back row and they will turnover more posession than Quins. Prefer the Quins half backs and centres pretty even, back 3 go to Saints who bring more danger. Quins looking to the big carriers but feel Saints can soak this up and their quick lineout tactic will help them over the line.

Harlequins 27-24 Northampton

Poor form for the LH's but Brookes the better TH give Quins a narrow scrum advantage. I like both lock combo's, but not the strongest in the lineout and can see both sides having some issues here. Both 7's are suffering from a lack of formsomewhat, but I like the 6/8's on show, Saints just a touch stronger here. Good form from both sets of halfbacks with Quins having a bit more in the centres, Saints perhaps missing a physical 12 to partner the outstanding Daly. Quins with more in the back 3 and bench gives them a real hard fought victory.

Harlequins 27 - 26 Northampton Saints
The fixture of the round. The forward battle is mammoth and gigantic with some big hits coming in from each and every direction. It is relatively balanced at the set pieces and at the breakdown, a touch messy with both sides competing for the turnover at the breakdown (as per their attributes!) The Saints blitz will cause Quins some issues, when they are attempting to play quickly, however the patience to play through the phases will also then see Quins hope to tire out the blitz, or attack the defensive line attempts to blitz but are not set - and hence accrue good metres through some broken line running by Henshaw and JJ hitting some gaps. Whilst Halfpenny's boot will be relentless, there is just a little more fairy dust in the Quins back line to make something happen and get them over the line to sneak a big home victory.

Quins 24-26 Saints - Another impressive away win here. Saints pack and half backs are strong and give them the edge. Quins have some class in the backs and a solid pack but Saints have that bit more class.

Quins 27 - 25 Saints

Quins front row lacks a bit of form outside of Brookes, but Saints are asking a lot for Auterac to step in so pretty even. Neither side will dominate the lineout, although Chouly a big help, think Saints have the advantage at the breakdown with their top notch back 5 and Hartley. One a piece at halfback with Youngs and Ford both doing well, think Quins are stronger man for man in the backs outside of FB. Very tough to call, I think home advantage and the extra talent in the backs off the bench gives this to Quins