2017/18 Aviva Premiership Round One

Not on a par with LT but, hopefully, we can keep the discussions separate week by week.

Friday, 1st September

Gloucester vs Exeter Chiefs (19:45) BT Sport
Newcastle Falcons vs Worcester Warriors (19:45)

Saturday, 2nd September

Saracens vs Northampton Saints (14:00) BT Sport
Wasps vs Sale Sharks (15:00)
London Irish vs Harlequins (16:45) BT Sport

Sunday. 3rd September

Leicester Tigers vs Bath (15:00) BT Sport

Chat already started on this general thread: https://www.606v2.com/t65292-jeff-chat
Details lifted from: http://www.premiershiprugby.com/aviva-premiership-rugby-fixtures/

I'm a little bit excited this morning waiting for our first team announcement of the season at noon.

Yea that same excitement again. Felt a bit meh over the off season but well up for it again now.

The irony, that after all the excitement of the new signings over the summer...Dean does his usual and puts out a completely baffling and seriously underwhelming side out.

I hope its down to injuries that we don't know about...but we never know anything about injuries! We have no idea whats happening with Goneva, Scott or Davy Wilson...none of those have made a single minute in preseason...yet not a mention of injuries etc. So frustrating.

I didn't think your team looked too bad GF, and certainly looks stronger on paper than the Worcester side.  It's a long season and perhaps Deano is going to integrate the new lads in gradually, which may not be a bad thing for you.

Ah Ozzy I do expect a win...but it will be a graftuing workman like performance devoid of any mercurial play.

I didn't expect to see many of the new players in the side for this one..or the few after but, it would be nice to know some of the thoughts...and injury status. By all accounts Flood has a minor knock. That's fine...but TELL US for gods sake.

That back 3 is predictable and solid...why not pick Adam Radwan the young winger who has been on fire in the friendlies and is the quickest thing ive seen?

Here is the players missing...

Scott Wilson - No info on why he's missing...
Davy Wilson - No info on why he's missing...
Sam Lockwood - Back October
Evan Olmsted - No info on why he's missing...
Sean Robinson - No info on why he's missing...
Opeti Fonua - No info on why he's missing...
Ryan Burrows - No info on why he's missing...
Ally Hogg - No info on why he's missing...
Michael Young - No info on why he's missing...
Toby FLOOD - Slight injury
Dom Waldouck - No info on why he's missing...
Maxime Mermoz - No info on why he's missing...
Sinoti Sinoti - No info on why he's missing...
Niki Goneva - No info on why he's missing...
Zach Kibirige - In a leg brace AGAIN!
DTH Van Der Merwe - Back shortly
Adam Radwan - - No info on why he's missing...

The list goes on....

I don't think the lack of info is exclusive to Falcons GF.  Our fans bemoan the same thing year on year.  Some clubs are just very cagey about what injury information they put in the public arena.

Ozzy3213 wrote:I don't think the lack of info is exclusive to Falcons GF.  Our fans bemoan the same thing year on year.  Some clubs are just very cagey about what injury information they put in the public arena.

Saints never announce either.

But I don't understand why? That is an area that I know most falcon fans get frustrated by.

Apparently Sean Robinson picked up a hip injury caused by the strain of carrying the considerable weight of Maro Itoje round in his back pocket for the last 2 seasons

Will update whenever I hear anything further

Just a gentle reminder before the squads are released that HongKongCherry has set up a 606 Superbru here: https://www.superbru.com/avivapremiership/pool.php?p=11747895


Be there or be square

oohh Fuzzy the only one to predict Gloucester, could just get you an early lead in the table!

GeordieFalcon wrote:Ah Ozzy I do expect a win...but it will be a graftuing workman like performance devoid of any mercurial play.

I didn't expect to see many of the new players in the side for this one..or the few after but, it would be nice to know some of the thoughts...and injury status. By all accounts Flood has a minor knock. That's fine...but TELL US for gods sake.

That back 3 is predictable and solid...why not pick Adam Radwan the young winger who has been on fire in the friendlies and is the quickest thing ive seen?

Here is the players missing...

Scott Wilson - No info on why he's missing...
Davy Wilson  - No info on why he's missing...
Sam Lockwood - Back October
Evan Olmsted  - No info on why he's missing...
Sean Robinson  - No info on why he's missing...
Opeti Fonua  - No info on why he's missing...
Ryan Burrows  - No info on why he's missing...
Ally Hogg  - No info on why he's missing...
Michael Young  - No info on why he's missing...
Toby FLOOD  - Slight injury
Dom Waldouck  - No info on why he's missing...
Maxime Mermoz  - No info on why he's missing...
Sinoti Sinoti  - No info on why he's missing...
Niki Goneva  - No info on why he's missing...
Zach Kibirige - In a leg brace AGAIN!
DTH Van Der Merwe - Back shortly
Adam Radwan -  - No info on why he's missing...

The list goes on....

Seasons not even started GF, take a chill mate, you'll burst something!

I'm looking forward to HKCs superbru league (thanks for setting up) and very much looking forward to the Newcastle v Wuss match later on - great to have the Aviva back again. I'm yet to have the small amount of pre season confidence knocked out of me and hope that there is still some of it remaining after the game tonight!

BamBam wrote:Apparently Sean Robinson picked up a hip injury caused by the strain of carrying the considerable weight of Maro Itoje round in his back pocket for the last 2 seasons

Will update whenever I hear anything further

Ah what have you done....

yappysnap wrote:

GeordieFalcon wrote:Ah Ozzy I do expect a win...but it will be a graftuing workman like performance devoid of any mercurial play.

I didn't expect to see many of the new players in the side for this one..or the few after but, it would be nice to know some of the thoughts...and injury status. By all accounts Flood has a minor knock. That's fine...but TELL US for gods sake.

That back 3 is predictable and solid...why not pick Adam Radwan the young winger who has been on fire in the friendlies and is the quickest thing ive seen?

Here is the players missing...

Scott Wilson - No info on why he's missing...
Davy Wilson  - No info on why he's missing...
Sam Lockwood - Back October
Evan Olmsted  - No info on why he's missing...
Sean Robinson  - No info on why he's missing...
Opeti Fonua  - No info on why he's missing...
Ryan Burrows  - No info on why he's missing...
Ally Hogg  - No info on why he's missing...
Michael Young  - No info on why he's missing...
Toby FLOOD  - Slight injury
Dom Waldouck  - No info on why he's missing...
Maxime Mermoz  - No info on why he's missing...
Sinoti Sinoti  - No info on why he's missing...
Niki Goneva  - No info on why he's missing...
Zach Kibirige - In a leg brace AGAIN!
DTH Van Der Merwe - Back shortly
Adam Radwan -  - No info on why he's missing...

The list goes on....

Seasons not even started GF, take a chill mate, you'll burst something!

Ah I know mate, im very happy with the way the club is going and I have full trust in Dean Richards...but just being constantly in the dark about player availability is a pain in the backside.

London Irish: 15 Tommy Bell, 14 Alex Lewington, 13 Ciaran Hearn, 12 Fergus Mulchrone, 11 Topsy Ojo, 10 James Marshall, 9 Scott Steele, 1 Danny Hobbs-Awoyemi, 2 David Paice (c), 3 Petrus Du Plessis, 4 Franco van der Merwe, 5 Sebastian De Chaves, 6 Mike Coman, 7 Blair Cowan, 8 Ofisa Treviranus

Replacements: 16 Dave Porecki, 17 Gordon Reid, 18 Ben Franks, 19 Josh McNally, 20 Conor Gilsenan, 21 Brendan McKibbin, 22 Greig Tonks, 23 Aseli Tikoirotuma

Saints

Waller Hartley Brookes Lawes Day Wood Ludlam Eadie Groom Mallinder Collins Burrell Tuitavaki Foden Tuala
Subs: Haywood Ma'afu Hill Ribbans Gibson Mitchell Grayson Pisi

Tigers vs Bath


Tigers

15. Telusa Veainu, 14. Nick Malouf, 13. Manu Tuilagi, 12. Matt Toomua, 11. Jonny May, 10. George Ford, 9. Ben Youngs, 1. Ellis Genge, 2. Tom Youngs (c), 3. Logovi’i Mulipola, 4. Dom Barrow, 5. Graham Kitchener, 6. Dominic Ryan, 7. Brendon O’Connor, 8. Sione Kalamafoni,

Replacements

16. Harry Thacker, 17. Greg Bateman, 18. Dan Cole, 19. Mike Williams, 20. Luke Hamilton, 21. Sam Harrison, 22. Joe Ford, 23. Mathew Tait

Bath

15. Anthony Watson, 14. Semesa Rokoduguni, 13. Jonathan Joseph, 12. Max Clark, 11. Matt Banahan, 10. Rhys Priestland, 9. Chris Cook, 1. Beno Obano, 2. Tom Dunn, 3. Kane Palma-Newport, 4. Luke Charteris, 5. Elliott Stooke, 6. Matt Garvey (c), 7. Francois Louw, 8. Taulupe Faletau,

Replacements

16. Jack Walker, 17. Nick Auterac, 18. Anthony Perenise, 19. James Phillips, 20. Paul Grant, 21. Kahn Fotuali’i, 22. Freddie Burns, 23. Ben Tapuai

englishborn wrote:oohh Fuzzy the only one to predict Gloucester, could just get you an early lead in the table!

I have to admit I forgot that Owen Williams is injured so I'm a lot less happy about the pick now. Still it's a nailed on Gloucester win...right guys? Guys?

https://bikesballsandwellbeing.wordpress.com/2017/09/01/london-irish-vs-harlequins-match-preview/

Tigers v Bath

Those two backline look naughty. Impressive players all over the park, and the packs aren't shabby either.

yappysnap wrote:Tigers v Bath

Those two backline look naughty. Impressive players all over the park, and the packs aren't shabby either.

I'm really hopeful for Tigers this season. Back line is brilliant and they are actually fit to play, lets hope that remains the case throughout the season.

Manu looked really hungry in the preseason game against the Ospreys, I'm guessing he has a point to prove for both club and country.

May will be the top try scorer at the end of the season.

Looks like a tight game at WR on Sunday. I'm hoping Tigers superior tight five will be a bigger factor than Bath's superior backrow. The backlines for both teams look like fun and at present it's nice and try here so could well be game on.

Have Wasps and Sale announced their sides yet?
There are some seriously strong teams being named.

15. Mike Brown (280)
14. Marland Yarde (74)
13. Joe Marchant (37)
12. Jamie Roberts (29)
11. Charlie Walker (67)
10. Marcus Smith (-)
9. Danny Care (224)

1. Joe Marler (152)
2. Rob Buchanan (117)
3. Will Collier (108)
4. Ben Glynn (-)
5. James Horwill (Captain, 40)
6. Chris Robshaw (239)
7. Dave Ward (117)
8. Jack Clifford (66)

16. Joe Gray (140)
17. Mark Lambert (209)
18. Kyle Sinckler (100)
19. George Merrick (59)
20. Mat Luamanu (38)
21. Charlie Mulchrone (16)
22. Demetri Catrakilis (-)
23. Winston Stanley (17)

Surprised that Francis Saili isn't there, and Swiel! Catrakilis hasn't played in any of the pre-seasons I think! Quins are certainly short on back rows at the moment.

15. Willie Le Roux
14. Christian Wade
13. Gaby Lovobalavu
12. Jimmy Gopperth
11. Josh Bassett
10. Danny Cipriani
9. Dan Robson
1. Simon McIntyre
2. Tom Cruse
3. Jake Cooper-Woolley
4. Joe Launchbury (c)
5. Kearnan Myall
6. Ashley Johnson
7. Alex Rieder
8. Nathan Hughes

16. Will Rowlands
17. Matt Mullan
18. Marty Moore
19. Matt Symons
20. Jack Willis
21. Joe Simpson
22. Juan De Jongh
23. Marcus Watson

Unavailable for selection through injury

Kyle Eastmond, Marcus Garratt, James Gaskell, James Haskell, Sam Jones, Alex Lundberg, Tommy Taylor, Guy Thompson, Thomas Young.

Not the best Wasps team.

TEAM: Mike Haley, Denny Solomona, Will Addison, Sam James, Byron McGuigan, AJ MacGinty, Faf de Klerk, Ross Harrison, Rob Webber, Halani Aulika, Bryan Evans, Josh Beaumont, Jono Ross, Ben Curry, Josh Strauss

Replacements: Marc Jones, James Flynn, Alex Tarus, Andrei Ostrikov, TJ Ioane, Tom Curry, Will Cliff and Mark Jennings

Not too shabby either though Scottrf!
Front row looks a bit like last years benchers - apart from that its pretty good.

propdavid_london wrote:Not too shabby either though Scottrf!
Front row looks a bit like last years benchers - apart from that its pretty good.

No it's not awful! Real mix.

Saracens: Goode; Maitland, Taylor, Barritt (capt), Earle; Lozowski, Wigglesworth; Barrington, Brits, Koch, Day, Kruis, Itoje, Burger, Wray.

Replacements: Spurling, Thompson-Stringer, Figallo, Isiekwe, Rhodes, Spencer, Bosch, Wyles.

Northampton: Tuala; Foden, Tuitavake, Burrell, Collins; Mallinder, Groom; Waller, Hartley (capt), Brookes, Lawes, Day, Wood, Ludlam, Eadie.

Replacements: Haywood, Ma'afu, Hill, Ribbans, Gibson, Mitchell, Grayson, Pisi.

Bit of a mixed bag from Sarries. Saints must be thinking they have a chance of they can get some early points and force Sarries to chase the game.

Yeah looks like they have taken a punt and rested the majority of their Lions guys....Except for Super Mauro.

Might be perception....but Saints don't really look as strong as they have done in previous seasons - Might just be that massive hole that's been left by Picamoles!

propdavid_london wrote:Yeah looks like they have taken a punt and rested the majority of their Lions guys....Except for Super Mauro.

Might be perception....but Saints don't really look as strong as they have done in previous seasons - Might just be that massive hole that's been left by Picamoles!

Missing our first/second choice Fly Halves, with potentially two other first choice players in Horne and Reinach. Harrison out too.

4 hours until kick off and the long awaited return of proper rugby. Gloucestershire is bathed in glorious sunshine and Kingsholm will be 15000 strong tonight, which bodes well for a great game. Just a tad excited

Try for Exeter after 4 minutes in their match against Gloucester. The first of the season?

Great start from Newcastle 7-0 after 6 minutes.

Ahh, the patented Burns family chip.

Glaws defence had done really well initially. Undone by a massively over optimistic chip and chase from Burns. Wasn't precalled and caught all his players out gifted the Chiefs open space in the Glaws 22.

Glaws turn over Chiefs at the rolling maul now.

Not sure what to make of that side from Saints. The tight 5 are as you would expect, how does Ludlam get ahead of Gibson, no No.8 cover, is Dickinson injured again. Are both Francis and Myler injured, Stephenson looked very sharp in the warm ups, where is he. Strong centre presence, but no guile against one of the best defences in the game.

Has JM given up on this one already and just wants to give the youngsters some experience of the real world?

I thought the clubs had protocols for bringing the Lions players back into the AV games, Itoje has had two years of constant high class rugby, he may be super human, but that is still human and we break easily when over worked.

Glaws couldn't buy a decision at the minute. Lucky for them Slade seems to have lost all accuracy after getting sat down in defence.

Oh dear Glos

Hmmm, Falcons scrum has been wheeled backwards a couple of times now, not good. Lucky that Heathcote shanked the penalty opportunity.

Chiefs have to be very disappointed with that. They've been completely dominant and go in level.

formerly known as Sam wrote:Glaws couldn't buy a decision at the minute. Lucky for them Slade seems to have lost all accuracy after getting sat down in defence.

Well they were given a try that was a clear double movement. His whole body moved in order to place the ball

Appalling decision for the game

nathan wrote:

formerly known as Sam wrote:Glaws couldn't buy a decision at the minute. Lucky for them Slade seems to have lost all accuracy after getting sat down in defence.

Well they were given a try that was a clear double movement. His whole body moved in order to place the ball

I'm in two minds about that. You are allowed to place the ball in any direction as long you don't drag yourself forward. I honestly can't tell whether his initial momentum gets him into position or whether he has a cheeky wriggle on the floor.

Sam Simmons is having a monster of a game. At only 22 you'd think international caps must be waiting for him.

Have to say, Nic White has been poor

Ackermann is looking on bemused he has no idea how Glaws managed to get a try out of that. Massive stroke of luck.

That was off the forearm, the ball changed flight slightly. Glos have had the rub of the green tonight