Aviva Premiership - Round 13

Well, the Doc brought a level of humour mixed with cynicism to the round 12 preview that I cannot hope to match (I do wonder if our former military medic has styled himself on Hawkeye Pierce ). so back to the more mundane I am afraid.

Table

POS	TEAM	-PL-	-W-	-D-	-L-	-PF-	-PA-	-DIFF-	-TF-	-TA-	-TB-	-LB-	-PTS-
1	Wasps	12	10	0	2	393	261	132	48	31	7	0	47
2	Saracens	12	10	0	2	299	134	165	33	9	4	2	46
3	Exeter Chiefs	12	7	1	4	324	226	98	40	28	6	3	39
4	Bath Rugby	12	8	0	4	272	192	80	29	19	3	2	37
5	Leicester Tigers	12	7	0	5	269	243	26	25	26	2	2	32
6	Northampton Saints	12	6	0	6	207	209	-2	18	16	1	3	28
7	Harlequins	12	6	0	6	251	285	-34	27	33	2	2	28
8	Newcastle Falcons	12	5	0	7	204	293	-89	23	34	2	3	25
9	Gloucester Rugby	12	3	2	7	264	258	6	28	30	3	6	25
10	Sale Sharks	12	3	1	8	219	293	-74	26	33	3	2	19
11	Worcester Warriors	12	2	2	8	215	354	-139	24	38	1	1	14
12	Bristol Rugby	12	2	0	10	190	359	-169	22	46	0	4	12

Fixtures

Friday 6th

19:45 Newcastle Falcons v Bath Rugby (BT Sport 1)
Falcons fans will be starting to wonder if they can qualify for next seasons Champions Cup. To do that they have to start winning these sort of matches. A misfiring Bath team, hit by injuries, will be stunned at their late collapse to Top 4 rivals Exeter last week and have to correct things very quickly. If Falcons can start as well as they did last week, Bath could be blown away before they have even shaken off the travel lethargy. Joel Hodgson needs to play better than last week (if selected – though if Delaney is in then Falcons surely have no hope.). With the mounting injuries to the Bath front row, Falcons will be looking to gain a significant edge up front and force Hodgson’s opposite number, England’s Ford, onto the back foot. With a significant number of the Bath line-up having been in Brighton for two days this week, their training will have been disjointed.
Falcons fans will be starting to wonder if they can qualify for next seasons Champions Cup. To do that they have to start winning these sort of matches.



Saturday 7th]

15:00 Gloucester v Worcester
Whilst matches with Bristol and Bath have more history, what we shall now call the M5 derby brings Glaws closest neighbours down to Castle Grim. When they are good Gloucester are a match for almost anyone, but when they are poor they are truly awful. Sometimes they manage both in one game. With 3 wins from 12 games you would normally talk about a team as relegation candidates, yet the other 9 matches have included two draws and six LBPs. This has them level on points with Falcons and only 3 behind Northampton who currently occupy the last Champions Cup spot. Start to turn those narrow defeats into wins and top 6 is still possible, though it could make the takeover more of a problem.
Worcester will have been relieved to win last week, and by all accounts were much the better team against Quins Joy however will have been tempered by news of Bristol’s win at Sale. Worcester are still missing some of their big players from last season and could struggle to match the home team this week.

15:00 Harlequins v Sale Sharks
Quins have flattered to deceive, mixing excellent performances with woeful ones. With the players available to them, they should have done better than they have so far. Noises of unease at new DoR John Kingston are surfacing on various forum. With this the last match before the 6Ns, where Quins can expect to lose the spine of their team, they simply have to beat a Sale team that has forgotten how to win.
Sale gave Bristol their first away win in the premiership last week and have not won a game now since the leaves were still on the trees. The takeover of the club has promised money for players for next season – but they have to get there first. The only real consolation for them this week will be that the two teams below them are also likely to lose.

15:00 Northampton v Bristol
Mikey Haywood says that Saints are refinding their mojo. Not sure I can agree with that yet, and the pressure is still on Jim and Doreen to maintain a top 6 position. Of course win this game and they would possibly leapfrog struggling neighbours Leicester into 5th spot. You do feel though that right now 5th spot just puts you at the top of the list of mediocre teams. Saints fans will want new boys Bristol to be despatched with ease and to see a style of play that indicates their team can build from here.
Bristol will probably lose, but have been much more competitive recently, gaining two wins and two losing BPs in their last five games, along with two big wins in the Challenge Cup. They could surprise Saints, but unlikely Varndell to break the Cueto try scoring record may be the only reward they get.

15:00 Saracens v Exeter (BT Sport 1)
In the 2014/15 season Chiefs beat the reigning champions home and away. Since then I think they have now lost 5 matches in a row in all competitions to the boys from Barnet. Both teams will have missed key players for much of this week’s training so impact should be negated.
While Sarries are not at their best at the moment, and will miss the Vunipola boys, Exeter too have not been on top form. If Chiefs can win the set-piece battles, most crucially at lineout, they could maul the champions out of this game. If Sarries can gain close to parity and force Exeter to go wider then their aggressive defence and ability on the counter attack should ease them home.


Sunday 8th

15:00 Wasps v Leicester (BT Sport 1)
Wasps are a good team in form. Leicester are not.

19:45 Newcastle Falcons v Bath Rugby (BT Sport 1)
Falcons fans will be starting to wonder if they can qualify for next seasons Champions Cup. To do that they have to start winning these sort of matches. A misfiring Bath team, hit by injuries, will be stunned at their late collapse to Top 4 rivals Exeter last week and have to correct things very quickly. If Falcons can start as well as they did last week, Bath could be blown away before they have even shaken off the travel lethargy. Joel Hodgson needs to play better than last week (if selected – though if Delaney is in then Falcons surely have no hope.). With the mounting injuries to the Bath front row, Falcons will be looking to gain a significant edge up front and force Hodgson’s opposite number, England’s Ford, onto the back foot. With a significant number of the Bath line-up having been in Brighton for two days this week, their training will have been disjointed.

I have no interest in Champions cup at the moment thank you very much. I want to establish consistent mid table mediocrity for a few years before that happens!

As to the game...we gave Sarries a good game...should really have beaten Wasps and to quote Kevin Keegan...I would simply love it if we beat Bath on Friday.

And if we play like we did on Friday..with a bit more efficiency on the try line with our possession and territory then we will beat them.

Falcons team for Bath

1 Rob Vickers
2 Scott Lawson
3 Jon Welsh
4 Calum Green
5 Evan Olmstead
6 Mark Wilson
7 Will Welch (captain)
8 Opeti Fonua

9 Sonatane Takulua
10 Joel Hodgson
11 Vereniki Goneva
12 Juan Pablo Socino
13 Dominic Waldouck
14 Belisario Agulla
15 Alex Tait

Replacements

16 Ben Sowrey
17 Ben Harris
18 Paddy Ryan
19 Will Witty
20 Sean Robinson
21 Michael Young
22 Craig Willis
23 Fred Burdon


Welch back from his cheek fracture...and Sean Robinson back on the bench...awesome!

So in the second half we will see Witty and Robinson pack down in the engine room.

No Wilson? Was that one of the caveats of his move from Bath?

No idea Sam possibly injured.

And no Marcus Watson either...his hamstring is an issue at the moment.

Bath Rugby team to face Newcastle Falcons

15. Anthony Watson
14. Semesa Rokoduguni
13. Jonathan Joseph
12. Ben Tapuai
11. Aled Brew
10. George Ford (co-captain)
9. Darren Allinson
1. Nathan Catt
2. Tom Dunn
3. Max Lahiff
4. Elliott Stooke
5. Luke Charteris
6. Tom Ellis
7. Francois Louw
8. Zach Mercer

Replacements

16. Jack Walker
17. Beno Obano
18. Shaun Knight
19. Matt Garvey (co-captain)
20. Paul Grant
21. Chris Cook
22. Rhys Priestland
23. Robbie Fruean

Wasps by 55

Leicester Tigers (v Wasps, away, Sunday 3.00pm)
15 Freddie Burns 
14 Adam Thompstone
13 Peter Betham
12 Jack Roberts 
11 Tom Brady
10 Owen Williams
9 Ben Youngs
1 Ellis Genge
2 Tom Youngs (c)
3 Dan Cole
4 Ed Slater
5 Mike Fitzgerald
6 Mike Williams
7 Will Evans
8 Brendon O'Connor

Replacements
16 George McGuigan
17 Greg Bateman 
18 Pat Cilliers
19 Graham Kitchener
20 Lachlan McCaffrey
21 Sam Harrison
22 George Worth 
23 Matt Smith

Fitzgerald is sadly still starting. On the upside Smith is back and Mauger has gone straight for the only natural fetcher at the club to play at 7.

Glaws
15. James Hook; 14. Charlie Sharples, 13. Matt Scott, 12. Billy Twelvetrees, 11. Jonny May; 10. Billy Burns, 9. Greig Laidlaw (capt); 1. Josh Hohneck, 2. Richard Hibbard, 3. Salesi Ma'afu; 4. Tom Savage, 5. Jeremy Thrush; 6. Ross Moriarty, 7. Jacob Rowan, 8. Ben Morgan

Replacements:

16. Motu Matu'u, 17. Paddy McAllister, 18. John Afoa, 19. Joe Latta, 20. Lewis Ludlow, 21. Ben Vellacott, 22. Andy Symons, 23. Henry Purdy

Unavailable for selection:

Darren Dawidiuk, Mariano Galarza, Callum Braley, Willi Heinz, Mark Atkinson, Ollie Thorley

Wuss
15 Jamie Shillcock
14 Dean Hammond
13 Wynand Olivier
12 Jackson Willison
11 Cooper Vuna
10 Ryan Mills
9 Michael Dowsett
1 Val Rapava Ruskin
2 Jack Singleton
3 Nick Schonert
4 Donncha O'Callaghan
5 Darren Barry
6 Alafoti Faosiliva
7 Sam Lewis
8 Phil Dowson (C)

Replacements
16 Jaba Bregvadze
17 Na'ama Leleimalefaga
18 Biyi Alo
19 Tevita Cavubati
20 Will Spencer
21 Marco Mama
22 Luke Baldwin
23 Ben Howard

Wasps team to play Leicester Tigers at the Ricoh Arena

15. Kurtley Beale
14. Christian Wade
13. Elliot Daly
12. Kyle Eastmond
11. Josh Bassett
10. Jimmy Gopperth
9. Dan Robson
1. Matt Mullan (c)
2. Tommy Taylor
3. Marty Moore
4. Matt Symons
5. Kearnan Myall
6. Thomas Young
7. Guy Thompson
8. Nathan Hughes

16. Ashley Johnson
17. Simon McIntyre
18. Phil Swainston
19. James Gaskell
20. James Haskell
21. Joe Simpson
22. Danny Cipriani
23. Rob Miller

Elliott in for Pisi only change from Saints copy & paste lineup

Well the Wasps vs Tigers midfield must be the meeting of two of the least physical midfields in the AP. Not a single bosh merchant in either 12 or 13 at either side. Both sides name two opensides in the backrow as well.

On paper it looks like it should be a good game but in reality Wasps must be massive favourites to record a TBP victory.

Anthony Watson will be hoping that Eddie Jones doesn't see him get stepped and left for dead by Goneva for Falcons first try.

Joel Hodgson going well, got the ball on a string with his tactical kicking so far.

Tale of two flyhalfs, Hodgson looks relaxed and is playing for fun. Ford looks tense and annoyed. The body language of Ford following some of his team mates errors has not been positive. Against Exeter his team mates weren't chasing his signature crossfield bombs and left him high and dry as he went flat to the line on a couple of occasions. 

If Falcons can get another and keep Bath out then the Bath confidence seems low and an antagonised flyhalf won't help them settle and function.

You're not wrong Sam, I'm a huge Ford fan but he just seems fed up at the moment.

Feel like the new tackle law won't have as big an effect as the doom and gloom merchants predict.

Even as a Falcons fan... Bloody hell George.

Ref is pinging us off the park, not giving us a sniff. Ford doing his best to not get Bath on the board.

Monye a bit confused, not allowed to defend with a foot on the floor haha.

Me to Cumbrian, I think he's the best playmaker in the league. He's obviously got a weakness in the kicking tee department which isn't being helped by the abuse from the local village idiot tonight. He just doesn't look like he's enjoying himself or playing at the minute and that can't be good for Bath with him as their co-captain.

Aye Sarge, not been a straight line out all game and the ref hasn't picked it. We also appear to be continually penalised for having players unbound in front at the ruck, somebody need to have a bloody word. So easy to avoid.

To be honest though, think Falcons needed better than 7-3 from that half. Can see Bath coming back from this.

It was going too well.

Surely there must be a penalty to Falcons here? Two players ahead of the ball affecting tackles?

Cumbrian wrote:Surely there must be a penalty to Falcons here?  Two players ahead of the ball affecting tackles?

Accidental offside is a scrum.

Falcons aren't really breaking tackles or making yards, they need to find some phases and go forward.

This is either a wonder tackle by Goneva or a wonder finish with Roko.

Scottrf wrote:

Cumbrian wrote:Surely there must be a penalty to Falcons here?  Two players ahead of the ball affecting tackles?

Accidental offside is a scrum.

What is deemed 'accidental' seems entirely random, I've seen that penalised so many times.

Cumbrian wrote:

Scottrf wrote:

Cumbrian wrote:Surely there must be a penalty to Falcons here?  Two players ahead of the ball affecting tackles?

Accidental offside is a scrum.

What is deemed 'accidental'  seems entirely random, I've seen that penalised so many times.

Maybe but he was in a position to recieve a pass and overran it. Sometimes you see players interfering who were never in a position to recieve. Personally I think the ref has done well.

We're missing Fonua, he was making yards for fun i the first half.

Sgt_Pooly wrote:We're missing Fonua, he was making yards for fun i the first half.

He isn't the fittest is he. 

Still Falcons get some phases and go forward and Bath cough up the pens for a Falcons three pointer.

He's been out for a long time so to be expected I guess. He's been fantastic the last couple of weeks though, just what we needed in the pack.

Just awful from Falcons, get back in the game and let Bath do that.

Bath look much better this half. Ford still can't kick for toffee.....Fruen is one hell of a unit!

Is Ford 1 from 6????

Ford's kicking is so schizophrenic, he nails the hardest one he had all evening but proceeds to miss 'relatively' easy ones.

Sgt_Pooly wrote:Is Ford 1 from 6????

He should practice. He has 3 kicks though.

Got there in the end, must say I am annoyed at the inconsistency though. Bath were awarded a penalty at the end of the first half because our players had their hands over the try line when defending... every phase Bath had hands over the line there. All you want is it to cut both ways...

Ref has not had a good at all, certainly not from a Falcons point of view.

Scottrf wrote:

Sgt_Pooly wrote:Is Ford 1 from 6????

He should practice. He has 3 kicks though.

It must be a mental thing. He's more than capable of kicking flawlessly one week and ineptly the following. He's looked unhappy all game so that may be effecting him.

Get in there!!!!!

GET IN!!!!!

Cumbrian wrote:Got there in the end, must say I am annoyed at the inconsistency though.  Bath were awarded a penalty at the end of the first half because our players had their hands over the try line when defending... every phase Bath had hands over the line there.  All you want is it to cut both ways...

Before Falcons went over for that last try the ref shouted for a penalty advantage. Can only have been for hands offside.

Hodgson kicked that too quickly...

Has Lazarus ever made a better impression????

Now switch on lads.......this will be a huge win

We'll balls it up somehow.

formerly known as Sam wrote:

Cumbrian wrote:Got there in the end, must say I am annoyed at the inconsistency though.  Bath were awarded a penalty at the end of the first half because our players had their hands over the try line when defending... every phase Bath had hands over the line there.  All you want is it to cut both ways...

Before Falcons went over for that last try the ref shouted for a penalty advantage. Can only have been for hands offside.

Remorsefully retracted, I'm listening to music whilst I am watching.

Well done Falcons! Big win and top 6 looking very realistic. A mixture of flair and going to sleep for both sides.