Aviva Premiership Round 14 - 6 Nations

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Bristol v Harlequins
Ashton Gate
Partial sunny - 5', 10mph winds

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Bristol Team 
Manager: CJ

01. Loni Uhila	09. Kahn Fotuali'i
02. Manuel Montoya	10. Jimmy Gopperth(k)
03. Sekope Kepu
04. Sam Carter	11. Rene Ranger
05. Grant Gilchrist	12. Piers Francis
06. Chris Robshaw	13. Sione Tuipolutu
07. Carl Fearns	14. Charlie Sharples
08. Victor Vito (c)	15. Chris Pennell

:-
16. James Johnston 17. Rob Buchanan  18. David Kilcoyne 19.  Kearnan Myall 20  Max Deegan 21. Ben Spencer 22. Rhys Patchell 23. Jesse Mogg

Tactics:
Attributes:

Attacking:
1) Breakdown - Clearing: Ensuring the possession is clean and quick with quick support to the breakdown
2)  Phase Attack: Attacks build momentum until an opportunity arises. 
Defending:
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. 
2) Breakdown - Organised Ruck defence: with guards and body guards set, allowing the rest of the line to set off them.


Tactics:

At the breakdown, we are looking to use our backrow's (with Carter) superior work rate to have more impact across the pitch across the whole match than their flashier flankers. Our backrow will be working flat out with out attack plan looking to keep roaming across the pitch and one of them in support constantly. This means that someone will be in place to power through and force the mobile Hooper off the ball and also that in order to join the breakdown party Armitage will have to up his range across the pitch and tire himself early. The backrow (including Carter) will be coordinating to ensure there is always one of them outwide to ensure this happens.

Generally we want to work across the first half to make their pack work hard, trusting our workrate, and then specifically aim to directly test players like Brookes and Armitage at the 50-60 minute period when we think they will be flagging

Attack:

We will still keep very slow ball in the pack, aiming to mostly pick and drive in units with a focus on ball retention, but will spin it wide earlier in terms of phases than in our usual approach.

3 playmakers at 9, 10 and 12 to make it easier to distribute wide quickly and to change the focus of attack. The other backs are direct attacking options, with Ranger and our 13 adding power, Sharples pace and Pennell dangerous lines, to offer threat from everywhere with everyone looking to mix up their position in the line

The big carriers in Vito, Fearns, Kepu, Montoya and Uhila will be looking to get on the shoulder of a playmaker to offer the inside power option, especially s an option to switch the attack inside on Jantjes' channel

The backrow roaming tactics above should mean they are easily available as linkmen too

9 and 10 given licence to go for a gap themselves if they see it

Defence: 

Blitz, Fotuali'i to sweep, with an early rush and extra backrow pressure on Jantjes whom we know can be got at

Scrum:

Look to hold them with steady scrummaging to start but target  Brookes once he tires in the second half

Lineouts:

Keep it simple and defend their lineout on the ground not the air- Kruis is a good caller so attack where they are not quite so strong

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1. Richard Barrington
2. Agustin Creevy
3. Kieran Brookes
4. Pieter Steph Du Toit
5. George Kruis
6. Steffon Armitage
7. Michael Hooper
8. Mamuka Gorgodze
9. Ruan Pienaar
10. Elton Jantjies
11. Joe Tomane
12. Bundee Aki
13. Stuart Olding
14. Santiago Cordero
15. Damian McKenzie

16. Rob Webber 17. Ethan Waller 18. John Afoa 19. Luke Romano 20. Jaco Kriel 21. Stuart Townsend 22. Steven Myler 23. James O'Connor

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[/b][/b][/b]

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• Play at pace. Look to play at a quick tempo controlled by Pienaar and Jantjies with McKenzie also acting as a first receiver. Look for Jantjies to stand flat and bring our pack onto the ball at pace in the midfield. We want to offer numerous threats to Bristol's defence with forwards carrying off 9 10 and 12.
  
  
• Look to use out the back options to get the ball wide into the hands of Olding, Aki and our back three's hands.
  
  
• Use Jantjies and McKenzie's boot to play in the right area of the field, but we will always look to run the ball if we have the overlap or an unorganised defence. Use Olding and Cordero's ability under the high ball to put pressure on the Bristol back three under the high ball
  
  
• Look for forwards to carry with support, and look for the offload out of contact if it is on or to recycle the ball quickly for the next attack. Conditions allow for us to build phases and use our pack, who are very comfortable with ball in hand, to build us momentum and recycle quick ball for our backs to use.
  
  
• Use Du Toit and Kruis to put huge pressure on the Bristol line out, looking to allow the front but not allow easy ball of the back or the tail of the line out.
  
  
  
  
  • We have electric pace in our back line. If we can use the carriers in our pack to get us across the gain line and get Bristol's defence on the back foot and allow us to attack them on the front foot. Look to counter attack any loose kicks back at pace
    
  
  
  
  

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Sale Sharks v Newcastle Falcons
AJ Bell
Partial sunny - 5', 6mph winds

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Sale Sharks
Manager – SJE

01. Scott Sio	09. Faf De Klerk
02. Tommy Taylor	10. Bernard Foley
03. Davit Zirakishvilli
04. Brodie Retalick	11. Ruan Combrinck
05. Dave Attwood	12. Reece Hodge
06. Peter O'Mahony	13. Malakai Fekitoa
07. Sam Cane	14. Semesa Rokoduguni
08. Duane Vermulean	15. Nick Abendanon

Subs:
16. Malcolm Marx 17. Ross Harrison 18. Martin Moore 19. Christian Day 20. Matt Kvesic 21. James Mitchell 22. Johnny Sexton 23. Nemani Nadolo

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. De Klerk to keep the fringe defence honest with his snipping runs.

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.

Defence: Straight line blitz defence focused on winning the gain line collisions and driving the ball carrier back. Line speed is crucial. De Klerk will sweep behind the line to cover chips and grubbers. Combrinck & Bendy 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 Retalick to get up in the air at the front and challenge on opposition ball while POM marshals the middle looking to make it as messy as possible.

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Newcastle Falcons
Manager – Bambam

01. Alec Hepburn	09. Will Chudley
02. George McGuigan	10. Gareth Anscombe
03. Charlie Faumuina
04. Guido Petti	11. Charles Piutau
05. Lood De Jager	12. Jan Serfontein
06. Pablo Matera	13. Luke Marshall
07. Francois Louw	14. David Strettle
08. Kieran Read (c)	15. Ben Smith

:-
16.Ricky Riccitelli 17.Nic Auterac 18. Davit Kubriashvili 19. Matt Symons 20. Callum Clark 21. Dave Lewis 22. Ian Madigan 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

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

Win the pack battle -  looking to use Matera/Petti/De Jager as our heavy carriers, with Louw/Read to help us rule the breakdown

Target Roko in the air and with kicks in behind him

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,  

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

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Bath v Northampton Saints
Rec
Partial sunny - 4', 10mph winds

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Bath Rugby
Manager – CJB

01. Eddy Ben Arous	09. Aaron Smith
02. Mikey Haywood	10. Jack Debrenczeni
03. Nepo Laulala
04. Will Skelton	11. Christian Wade
05. Graham Kitchener	12. Damian De Allende
06. Liam Squire	13. Jesse Kriel
07. Liam Gill	14. George Moala
08. Josh Beaumont	15. Alex Goode

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16. Steven Kitchoff 17. Leni Asipai 18. Scott Wilson 19. Mitch Lees 20. Siya Kolisi  21. Richard Wigglesworth 22. Sam Hill 23. Cheslin 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 Northampton under immense pressure with our energy. Look for big carries and offloading at a high pace looking to create space and break the defense. Attack the set piece where we expect to be dominant and finish strongly off the bench 

Scrum: Use the set piece to get quick ball to restart our play. We will look to get more power from our back five. Beaumont will look to attack off the quick ball he gets.

Lineout: We will look to switch up the lineup with Beaumont, 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 offer 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. Wiggles to drift behind expecting kicks.

Attack: Our half backs will control our rugby. Smith will set the tempoand play what he sees in front of him. Outside of him, Debrenzeni 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 De Allende and Moala who we would like to get running at defenders.  Wade and Goode 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, Skelton and Squire in order to break the line and make yards. Throughout them team look to Keep the ball alive and look for offloads. 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 Northampton which can help nullify their offensive threats. 

Kicking: Debrenczeni will be our chosen place kicker. We will chuck in the occasional grabber to chase. Beaumont, 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 off the bench.

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Northampton Saints
Manager: Dammit Chris

1. Mako Vunipola
2. Schalk Brits
3. Ramiro Herrera
4. Paul Jedrasiak
5. Michael Paterson
6. Schalk Burger
7. David Pocock
8. Billy Vunipola
9. Joe Simpson (c)
10. Lima Sopoaga (k)
11. Julian Savea
12. Wesley Fofana
13. Adam Ashley-Cooper
14. Manuel Montero
15. Ben Foden

Replacements
16. Ashley Johnson 17. Wyatt Crockett 18. Jake Cooper-Wooley 19. Vaea Fifita 20. N/A 21. Jamie Shillcock 22. Harry Mallinder 23. Rieko Ioane

SAINTS ONE MAN DOWN, ISA INJURED

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
Recalled Mako, Brits, Herrera, Burger, Pocock and BV to the starting pack after 2 weeks off, really fresh pack and will play at a high intensity and make the game very physical for the homeside. We have big ball carriers throughout the forwards and will look to dominate both the gain line and breakdown areas, get ourselves on the front foot and allow our halfbacks to bring our power runners in the backline into the game. We've got a strong, physical side and will aim to place Bath under a lot of pressure, force mistakes and stop them getting over that gainline.

Look for advantage at:
- gain line / collisions
- breakdown
- impact bench

Set Piece & Pack
We will look to put Bath under pressure at the setpiece, we have a strong, powerful pack at the scrum (lucky that Mako & BV are both available!) and will launch BV off the base to attack the Bath no10 channel. Lineout will be used to generate quick ball for Sopoaga to get our strike runners into the game off first phase ball. Have an impact forwards bench with likes of AJ and Isa being able to add real power from the bench against a tiring Bath team in the second half.  

Gain-line/Physical Battle
Like Saracens in real life we'll look to send big runner after runner at the Bath defence to suck in players and create space out wide for our strike runners to exploit. This is an area we feel we can get a big advantage on and set our game plan around getting our backline on the front foot by winning the collisions and physical battle with our big ball carriers.

Breakdown
Another area we will look to win, Pocock and Burger both been rested in recent weeks and we'll look to try and get an advantage in this area.

Attack
- Look for our pack to win the collisions and gain line battle to get Sopoaga onto the front foot and bring in our backline into the game - believe we have an advantage in terms of ball carriers and will use this to tire the Bath defence and create space
- We have two big wingers, with good kick chase game and we will look for Simpson and Sopoaga to put the ball high at both of Bath's wings, where we aim to exploit Wade's height and Moala's lack of game time as a winger of late.
- Use Burger and Pocock to generate quick attacking ball to attack Bath from the breakdown
- Impact bench to really finish strongly

Kicking
- Keep scoreboard ticking over with Sopoaga's boot, look at Simpson and Sopoaga to test Bath's wingers defensively with box kicks from Simpson and Sopoaga putting up high balls to chase.  

Defence
Blitz defence, with Simpson sweeping behind. Kicking game of 9, 10 a

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Exeter Chiefs v Wasps
Sandy Park
Partial sunny - 4', 10mph winds

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1 Jefferson Poirot
2 Dane Coles
3 Ben Tameifuna
4 James Horwill
5 Kane Douglas
6 Dave Ewers
7 Teimana Harrison
8 Fritz Lee
9 Nic White
10 Alex Lozowski
11 James Lowe
12 Ma'a Nonu
13 Maxime Mermoz
14 Chris Ashton
15 Maxime Medard

16 Tom Youngs
17 Nathan Catt
18 Harry Williams
19 Juandre Kruger
20 Charles Ollivon
21 Chris Cook
22 Richie Mo'unga
23 JP Pietersen

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.

The weather isn't brilliant so we will play a forward based and territory based game to get in the right positions of the pitch.

We have picked a big pack and are targeting the forward battle as key to the win. We have a solid scrum to build from and two big locks who are both good lineout options.

The set piece will be important and we will look to use this as a weapon to attack from and gain territory. Our back row are all big carriers and we will use them all to gain hard yards and tire out Wasps defenders. Ewers, Coles, Ben T, Lee, Harrison are all good strong ball carriers and will look to get us front foot ball for Lozowski to work with.

In the backs we will use Nonu as a crash ball option and a decoy runner to open up space for the likes of Mermoz, Lowe and Medard to exploit. Lozowski will kick all pens for goal if in range and if not look to kick deep to gain territory.

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Wasps
Manager - Pullthestrings

01. Marcos Ayerza	09. Sebastien Tillous Borde
02. Bismark Du Plessis	10. Aaron Cruden (k)
03. Frans Malherbe
04. Jim Hamilton	11. Bryan Habana
05.Andrew Kitchener	12. Brad Barritt
06. Jerome Kaino	13. Henry Slade
07.Fulgence Quedraogo	14. Anthony Watson
08. Nazeem Carr	15.Tim Nani-Williams

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16. Harry Thacker, 17. Ben Moon, 18. Fraiser Bailmen, 19. Dom Barrow, 20. Tom Wood 21. Mitchell Drummound, 22. Nick Evans, 23. Luther Burrell

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Tactics
Attack:
- Good mobility in the back row to get round the park
- Mix up forward runners off 9 and 10 to give go forward and tie in defence. When space opens up, go wide and utilise pace of back three.
Defence:
- Nullify the midfield threat, looking for big hit opportunities and wrap tackles to prevent the offloads
- Good line speed to put pressure on their handling and ability to go round our blitz defence
Breakdown:
- Be disciplined at the breakdown and do not give away penalties in our half
- If ruck is lost, don't compete and fan out in D
Bench:
- Good quality on the bench with a number of options. Slade can open up the attack in the latter stages.

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Leicester Tigers v Gloucester
Welford Road
Cloudy - 4', 8mph winds

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Leicester Tigers
Manager – Fluxy

01. Mikheil Nariashvili	09. Francois Hougaard
02. Stephen Moore	10. Francois Trinh-Duc
03. Owen Franks
04. Samu Manoa	11. Henry Purdy
05. Dominic Bird	12. Billy Twelvetrees
06. Don Armand (c)	13. Matheiu Basteraud
07. Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe	14. Drew Mitchell
08. Thomas Waldrom	15. Kurtley Beale (k)

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Subs: 16. Dave Ward 17. Max Lahiff 18. Brian Mujati 19. Stanley South 20. Calum Chick 21. Nick Phipps 22. Freddie Burns 23. Alex Cuthbert

Tigers Attributes
Defensive:

• 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:
  
• 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
  

In decent conditions we will be looking to play a possession based game, working through the phases. Looking to make ground carrying close to the ruck and recycling quickly, with offloading and forward inter-play to keep the ball off the ground and moving, preventing a ruck and defensive line being set. Trinh - Duc will take the ball to the line and tempt the Gloucester defence to jump out of the defensive line, creating holes for our back line to exploit. Multiple play-makers to come in at first receiver, either side of the ruck to stretch the Gloucester defence in an attempt to create an overlap, or to provide the opportunity of grubber or high ball in behind the wings. Ideally we want to be putting the ball through the hands to stretch the defence. 

In defence, as always we will be running our hard blitz defence - looking for us to win the gain line battle as we will cause the Gloucester carrier to make negative metres. Our focus will be on the gain line collisions and driving back in the tackle. Line speed and no dog-legs will be key components for us. Houagaard will sweep in behind the defensive line to counter any chips/grubbers.

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 Gloucester ball put pressure on; by getting Bird up at the front and Armand up in the middle to compete. 
  
  
• 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. This is an area this week, where we believe we can manipulate the scrum in directions we require, to get Waldrom doing his best carrying at the try line. 
  
  
• Breakdown: When we carry in, we will flood the breakdown rucking well past the ball to free it up quickly, so that Hougaard can feed the ball quickly to forwards, the first receiver, or snipe through a hole. 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 contestable ruck. 
  
  
• Attacking Play: We will be looking to play a fast 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. Hougaard to also look to snipe around the fringes, to keep the defence honest and keep us going forwards all the time.
  
  
• 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/Beale/Twelvetrees who can take the ball to the line and kick in behind the defence, to get our wingers either on the end of the grubber, or pin back Gloucester. 
  
  
• Look to use the bench to freshen the impetus - especially with the 'finishers' in the forwards. 
  

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1 Beast
2 LCD
3 Molipola
4 Etzbeth
5 Lavanini
6 Croft
7 Savea
8 Alberts
9 Robson
10 carter
11 Dagg
12 Crotty
13 Kurindrani
14 Walker
15 Folau
16 Lamisotele
17 Gray
18 Ousthuizen
19 Stooke
20 camara
21 Perenara
22 Cipriani
23 Addison

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Worcester Warriors v Saracens
Sixways
Partial sunny - 4', 12mph winds

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Worcester Warriors
Manager - Prop

01. Joe Moody	09. Sam Harrison
02. Codie Taylor	10. Owen Williams(k)
03. WP Nel
04. Tom Savage	11. Sergeal Petersen
05. Leone Nakawara	12. Anton Leniert-Brown
06. Jackson Wray	13. Jarrad Payne
07. George Smith (c)	14. Waisake Naholo
08. Ben Morgan	15. Brice Dulin

:-
16. Ross Batty 17. Val Ruskin 18. Henry Thomas 19. Mike Williams 20. Warren Whiteley 21. Rory Kockett 22. Sam Olver 23. NMS
Season's Attributes-
Offloading in the Tackle
Breakdown (Turnovers)
Blitz Defence
Choke Tackle
*We have gone with a different centre pairing of ALB-Payneto tackle the Sarries centre pairings with Payne's ability to hit hard at the tackle. We also have Williams who can slot into the inside receiver role if needed as used at 12 by Tigers IRL.

-We have selected a heavy, hard working pack looking to nullify the Sarries danger from their big carriers and set piece,
-We will play a controlled game, offloading-only when on. Williams will look for territory,
-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,
-Back row looking to be balanced with carrying, tackling and Smith bringing the turnover attribute,
-The breakdown is likely to 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 Sarries 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 Jones allowing the chance to apply the choke tackle to stop Sarries playing a quick tempo game,
-Backs to play what is in front of them, runners off ALB and Payne, we will use Petersen and Naholo as a strike runner and know the pace of our back three to put pressure with quick ball,
-When nothing is on  go for territory and also use  'bombs' to challenge and turn their backlline,
-We will the wingers to come into the line and switch things up to keep Sarries guessing and allow us the chance to hit from deep at times and not be predictable,
-We have selected a huge bench which will be used for impact and to maintain a high tempo game running against tired legs,
-Take all kickable penalties.

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Saracens
Manager – Pooly

01. Dylan Smith	09. Morgan Parra
02. Richard Hibbard	10. Nicolas Sanchez
03. Paul Hill
04. Ed Slater	11. Teddy Thomas
05. Sam Whitelock	12. Rohan Janse van Rensburg
06. Guy Thompson	13. Conrad Smith
07. John Hardie	14. Telusa Veainu
08. Dave Denton	15. Delon Armitage

:-
16. Scott Spurling 17. Alex Waller 18. Ben Franks 19. Brad Davies 20. Sam Underhill 21. Lee Dickson 22. Ollie Devoto 23. Pat Lambie

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

KICK IN BEHIND WUSS WINGERS - Look to exploit space behind the Wuss wingers and attack them with box kicks early on. Look to exploit if this works.

NEW MIDFIELD COMBO - TARGET - First outing for this midfield combo outside a fresh halfback combo. Look to cause disruption with our blitz defence and stop any fluidity.

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.

Tigers 24-25 Gloucester

Prefer the Tigers front five although there is not much difference. A better unit for the Gloucester back row. One each in the half backs. Bit more sparkle in the Gloucester outside backs and they grab a tight win. 

Tigers 22 - 21 Gloucester

The very competent Tigers pack have a good run of form better than Gloucester's, though Gloucester's quality and power helps them compete in every area. As always, 9/10 for Gloucester are fantastic and have different attacking options in every position outside them. I love Houghaard/FTH though as a combo, big weakness for Tigers is a poor centre combo but they have enough here at home with teh pack

Leicester 17 - 16 Gloucester

Historically, this is the time of year when Gloucester build large amounts of momentum to take them into the play off run in but here I feel Leicester manage to edge the forward battle with a strong and experienced unit. This gives their backs the impetus to match a classy Gloucester back line which whilst lacking form in a few areas is packed with quality. A low scoring game.

Leicester 29-23 Gloucester

Scrum would be a good contest but Tigers getting on top of the lineout with LCD darts liable to go off. Form issues for Gloucester in the backrow at 6/8 gives Tigers chance to impose at the breakdown. I prefer the Gloucester centres and one a piece in two good halfback combo's. Purdy and Waker not up to this level but good back 3 contest past that. Home advantage and no Gloucester tactics is the defining issue.

Leicester 22 - 24 Gloucester
Not sure why Gloucester's tactics haven't been added to this thread, they are on the mainboard and made to look like they haven't got any, which could sway predictions. Had them down as a loss for lack of tactics. The Gloucester pack can get on top of their Leicester counterparts, especially with the dynamic backrow - but it is in the backs where they are hardly touched by 6Ns where they prove so dangerous. Again Cuthbert named in the Welsh side, but appears no penalty in this game? 

Leicester 21 - 19 Gloucester

Big pack battle here, think Tigers will get Glos on the back foot at scrum time and will win the physical battle around the park. Glos better on paper behind the scrum, but with no tactics they lack direction and Tigers take it

Worcester 24 - 24 Saracens

With Nel not playing for ages, Saracens edge the scrum, and the lineout. Prefer, unusually, Worcester backrow aided by the hands of Nakawara, as usually Sarries win there, but hurt by no Hardie and Denton shaky. Saracens way ahead at halfback in terms of control, but on form Worcester edge a tough centre duel, both sides bringing the back 3 into game. It's a tough one to call, so I'm bailing on doing so

Worcester 21 - 21 Saracens

A man down hurts Saracens here as you need all your firepower off the bench in the final 20 of a game of this quality. Half backs let Worcester down a little against an international quality pairing though I am a big fan of their outside back combinations which are full of different threats. I can't separate the sides.

Warriors 27-26 Saracens 

Warriors have the stronger front row but Saracens have a better second row. Hardly anything in the back rows, like the Warriors balance. Half backs go to Saracens. Saracens more dangerous off the bench but away from home just lose.

Worcester Warriors 31 - 26 Saracens

Very strong Worcester side during 6Nations, whilst Sarries are hit in the pack and can't see who will get them the gain line success and hard to see where the tries come from in the back three. Whilst it is the opposite case with Warriors, strong impact bench as well with home advantage gets them the BP win. John Hardie is playing for Scotland too, so should be taken out of the team?

Worcester 24 - 24 Saracens

Worcester stronger in the front row, Sarries at lock but the back rows are pretty even. Prefer the Saracens half backs but Worcester have a better set of outside backs for me with the centres looking a potent combo. Very difficult to call, I'll sit on the fence

Congrats Prop

'Last edited by pullthestrings on Thu Feb 09, 2017 9:22 pm; edited 1 time in total'

I did update for Tom Wood being selected but nevermind, obviously didn't make it clear.

Well done Nick

Sorry Pull, you need to say you've changed a player as I'd already put the side in the thread.

think only one person picked up on it anyway

Cheers Pooly, didn't expect that win. Sorry for no predictions, the uni assessment put me out of sync so only just realised I didn't predict!!

Pooly, I don't think you've put up the feedback for the Bristol - Quins match?

Bristol 18-27 Quins
Prefer the Quins front five although not a huge amount between the two teams. A strong back row from Quins pushes their advantage. Stronger in the half backs and the outside backs can do damage to the scoreboard. 

Bristol 23-21 Harlequins

Both sides lucky with a few injuries making the pack contest close. Quins props not the greatest and some form issues in the backrow but the engine room is a real step in quality on Bristol. Bristol with a bit more in the halfbacks and backs are really close after that, good game. 

Bristol 22 - 22 Harlequins
Lot less changes to the Bristol side over the 6Nations period, so the added consistency and team selection will help them here, strong at the halfbacks but Quins have bigger names and more strike runners in the backline. Cant see either team winning, if Quins had a bit more control at no10, but Bristol need a top world class back to get them the wins in these games. 

Bristol 24 - 26 Quins

Bristol look strong during the 6Ns, haven't lost many and will really put the Quins pack under pressure, i can't see either team getting a big edge up front. Quins win this one in the backs, just think the quality of the likes of Mckenzie/Cordero will lead to one piece of magic winning the game