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First topic message reminder :

Welcome to the 4th season of the fantasy aviva premiership game


Opening Weekend fixtures; Leicester Tigers vs Exeter Chiefs ; London Irish vs Harlequins ; Newcastle Falcons vs Bath ; Northampton vs Gloucester ; Saracens vs London Wasps ; Worcester Warriors vs Sale Sharks

This Weeks match thread(s) :- https://www.606v2.com/t8662-fixtures-3#245781

Season One Homepage (Archived)

Season Two Homepage Part One(Archived)

Season Two Homepage Part Two(Archived)

Rules

Fixture/Results list

League Table

Top Points Scorers

Top Try Scorers

European Homepage

LV Anglo Welsh Cup Homepage

Transfer Homepage

Press Releases

Unavailable Players

Waiting list for a team

1. Sam
2. pullthestrings
3. Bathite

Teams
Bath RFC
Manager:- 207bars

Exeter Chiefs
Manager:- RugbyDriver

Gloucester
Manager:- Anonmattyt

Harlequins
Manager:- Steve_sharks

Leicester Tigers
Manager:- LukeLovesLuka

London Irish
Manager:- stnick88

London Wasps
Manager:- Arry

Newcastle Falcons
Manager:- PoolyPunk

Northampton Saints
Manager:- Dammit_Chris

Sale Sharks
Manager:- SirJohnnyEnglish

Saracens
Manager:- LDCPete]

Worcester Warriors
Manager - Prop_Lyd

AAC started poorly but is playing well. Deans is faithful and AAC was best 13 about last year (better than Conrad). Horne had his chance and failed to deliver, that's why AAC was brought in at 13.

Horne may come back but he didn't cut the mustard for me.

Horne is a good player, but needs to get a run of games and really show that he can do it at the very top level.

Saffa's back line?

9 FDP
10 Steyn
11 Basson
12 JDV
13 ???
14 JP Pieterson
15 Steyn / Kirchner

forgot about fourie for 13

Can't see past AAC at 13 for Oz. As Pooly says his form for the Wallabies there is great.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/opinion/5140671/All-Blacks-Barometer-Whos-in-the-30

Latest update. Still can't believe their rating of Toeava to go. Still think his injury will cost him.

I think Henry will go

9.Cowen
10.DC
11.Jane
12.SBW
13.Smith
14.Gear
15.Mils

20.Weepu
21.Toevea
22.Nonu


No Habana nick?

no, dont think he has been playing that well of late.

basson and JP been scoring a lot of tries and playing very well.

Jp playing well, it'll be him and Habs for def.

Horne did not have his chance and failed. he had his chance and then got injured when all were calling him the heir apparent to Jason little
http://www.australiantimes.co.uk/sport/Horne-hoping-to-tackle-way-into-World-Cup

once he got injured the Tahs defence nowhere near as good.

Habana will walk the test side. He has played well this season but Stormers do not really create that many opportunites for running rugby.

I think Bassson may well start ahead of Pietersen as they know that in NZ and in the wet they cannot afford a winger who cannot kick in anyway.

Weather will play a massive role in the WC

Heres a question to ponder

IS THE RWC 2011 TO SOON FOR TOBY FLOOD?

no I wouldnt say so, its not like he's a youngster with no experience. if he cant handle it then he's just not a good enough player and Wilko should play.

I just don't see Flood having an England Career past 2013 with the likes of Farrell , Ford and Clegg all coming through i'm worried that Flood could end up like Charlie Hodgson and born in the wrong generation.

Problem is with Horne is that he offers no physical attacking threat. In a midfield of Giteau/Barnes/JOC they need somebody who can get over the line, Horne is not that player. Decent S15 player, nowhere near an International for me.

This site is so slow today. every time i post it struggles for a minute then posts. all other sites fine. Anyone else using firefox and getting grief with it??

Hodgson was not born in the wrong generation, he just doesn't cut the mustard at the very top level. Likewise I do not think that Flood will ever be a world class 10. He can do a job and will have big games from time to time, but he will never be a Wilko in his prime or a DC.

The battle over the next few years between Ford and Farrell to see if either can kick on and become a top international 10 will be fascinating. Differing styles of play mean that in 4-5 years time we could see both of them in the England squad and becoming horses for courses selections. It's all guesswork anyway, as who knows how they will kick on from here in any case.

I like Flood and heat streets ahead of the others who are nothing more than potential at the minute esp Ford.

anonmattyt wrote:This site is so slow today. every time i post it struggles for a minute then posts. all other sites fine. Anyone else using firefox and getting grief with it??

Am on IE and having no problems with it Mat.

Can't see Farrell playing much at 10 Pete with Hodgson going to Sarries, maybe come through at 12 with Barritt at 13.

I can't see Clegg having much of an international career. will always be behind Farrell and Ford I reckon.

I agree re Flood and particularly Hodgson. neither are good international players.

Flood has his moments but i always feel will let us down at the key moment.

I would not have Hodgson anywhere near an international squad. he has had more than enough opportunites and failed.

Even by his own admission he is a poor tackler and under pressure his goal kicking goes to pieces. He is a fantastic prem player but mentally and physically not up to international rugby.

He would get in most clubs in the prem but just not internationally. I think the speed of Farrels emergence has taken Sarries by surprise and they had already agreed to sign Hodgson. The way Farrell played last year i can see him keeping Hodgson on the bench

I'd take Hodgson over Farrell. Farrell is a good kicker and has good game management but Hodgson has a much better passing game and is a better attacker.

Sgt_Pooly wrote:Can't see Farrell playing much at 10 Pete with Hodgson going to Sarries, maybe come through at 12 with Barritt at 13.

I can see them rotating Hodgson and Farrell at 10 Pooly, in the same way they have done with De Kock and Wigglesworth at 9. Farrell will also learn from the good parts of Hodgson's game without losing the strong parts of his own.

I think long term he will be a 10 now as opposed to a 12. He has looked very very comfortable their this season for Saracens despite his age.

I think he looks solid but I'd take Hodgson every time at this stage. Hodgson is a real class act at Prem level and could take Saracens to the next level, not sure Farrell is at that stage yet.

the thing is when you play in the Heineken cup can you rely on Hodgsons tackling??

Personally i dont think you can. Saracens have won the prem with Farrell and most pundits will tell you he is one of the best tactical kickers they have seen. Saracens play a very measured game and i dont think their forwards will appreciate Hodgsons errant kicking out of hand.

Think they may well rotate. Still would not be surprised if Farrell went to WC as 3rd choice for the experience and for what he can offer with his boot.

Can't see the issue with Hodgsons tackling, he's got a rep but he's a cracking cover tackler.

Even hodgson says himself that he is not very good at tackling. They were talking about when Nonu ran through him like he was not there and he said he has issues with tackling and that lots of it was mental

Sgt_Pooly wrote:Can't see the issue with Hodgsons tackling, he's got a rep but he's a cracking cover tackler.

Pooly, he may be decent covering across and bringing down a lightweight winger from time to time, but Sale have often hidden him defensively due to his tendancy to get flattened by anyone over about 13 and a half stone.

His techinique is poor when tackling ball carriers running directly at him, and at time quite honestly I would question his bottle in those situations.

He is a good attacking 10 at AP level, no question, and anyone who suggests otherwise clearly doesn't know a lot about the game, but defensively, he is a liability, particularly as you go up into Heineken Cup and International level rugby.

Really don't agree with that Pete, think Hodgson is as sound as most and definatley not a liability. Ah well lol

When even Hodgson says it is a bottle issue you have to believe the guy!!

list of poor tackling tens

http://www.rugbyspectator.com/2011/04/fly-halves-must-tackle-to-be-considered-great/

Good article that Mat. It is a very valid point that tackling is just as much a skill as passing and kicking, and one that all 10's should be able do to a reasonable level.

He's no Wilko but these days he's a very capable defender, think it's just a case of shaking that rep of. Similar with JSD really and his defence.

Cheap Jibe pooly.

Google JSD and poor defence and you get no mentions of poor defence.

Google Charlie Hodgson and poor defence and you find article after article. Capable defender my bum!!

need i say more

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/alun-carter-hodgsons-choices-show-dilemma-facing-struggling-teams-847864.html

3 tries in an international blamed on poor charlie.

That did say my A R S E but the filter kicked in!!

He's no Wilko but these days he's a very capable defender, think it's just a case of shaking that rep of. Similar with JSD really and his defence.

Message to all

I know that I am no longer running this game, but I know how much work it is so thought I would give Driver a hand. I am starting looking at academies and the first one I have looked at has at least 5 players in it who are too old.

To clarify, to be in an academy in this game the player must be born on or after 01/09/1990, making them under 21 when the season starts on 1st September.

I would suggest people get their academies in order before I publish a list of players who should not be there and Driver then removes them from your playing strength. If you want to keep them, then put them in your full squads, it is what I have done with a number of players from last seasons academy.

Lol...sorry mate was too easy! He really needs to tighten up in all honesty, he slips of too easily. I'd be prefering Sharples to JSD for England.

My Squad is fine. Anyone listed as academy who is too old will not take me over. That was the reason for my recent clearout of players

Went for one of my accounting exams yesterday. Had last week off to study for it so i come back in this morning to about 200 emails all needing actions! Wish i was still in Uni!!

Will sort my squad out and update budgets tonight after training or tomorrow when things calm down. Will look at an AWJ deal then as well Pete mate

Going back to an earlier debate, with barnes no out I can see

9. Genia
10. Cooper
11. Ioane
12. JOC
13. Faainga
14. AAC
15. Beale

I reckon that would be one of the best back lines ever to grace a international rugby field. Unreal talent

I think the NZ backline will be

9. Cowan
10. Carter
11. Sivivatu
12. SBW
13. Smith
14. Jane
15. Mils

Which i don't think is quite as good as the Oz backline but its close.

I'm about for some big deals lads!

The following players are available:

Carl Fearns
Steve Thompson/TPN
Berrick Barnes

Anyone watch England u 20s earlier? Missed it but will watch on replay. Watched baby boks just now the second row es something looks incredible already played for western province and on stormers books 18 Stone and am athlete.

Elstadt and bekker may have competition in a year or so. Irish wing Conway looks super exciting also

Farrell's long term position is at 12, he's a good 10 but I think he will make an excellent 12. Would bring a very good dimension to any team he plays for with his kicking game, and when he's moved to the 12 shirt he gets a little extra time and he can just kick a team to death. Will be interesting to see whether other aspects of his game improve, as right now he is just suited to how Sarries play.

I hope Twelvetrees comes through next season, he's 22 now and should really be a first team starter by now. He's got the size and power, running game reminds me a bit of Greenwood. Not sure what's happened to him, Allen has been in great form, but Twelvetrees should be pushing people like that now.

In my mind George Ford could become the complete player, never seen a youngster like him. Think he's been 18 for about 2/3 weeks and just seems to have that air of class about him. Being at Leicester is the right club for him too, think we've unearthed a gem. Seen him play 25/30 games now and he'll be starting 10 for Tigers by the time he is 20. I know I'm a bit prone to sing youngsters praises, but he's more than a little bit special.

Also I think Wilko is streets ahead of anyone in terms of who are no10 should be. Flood has a great game and then goes missing in others, I wouldnt want him to play for us against teams like SA, Ireland or New Zealand as Wilko is a far better option.

Mat - SA's look very strong, England will need to raise their game for them. They just seem more physical and direct.

England's problem at the moment is that they are doing what Wales have done for last two seasons, just go wide to early. Their back three is dangerous, but the management need to get the centres straightening the line and getting us over the gainline.

What do people think of Christian Wade, hattrick today, a really dangerous finisher - I can't work out whether he's that bit to small, or whehter he has the potential to be a Jason Robinson!

SA look like they're Mutants!!! England look average. They aren't as good as the side which Calum Clark captained 2 years ago. That was Englands best side since the Foden, lamb, Varndell, Cornwall, Croft side

Very good points there Chris, really interested to see how Ford develops. I like Wade, he looks canny when I've seen him, raw pace bit like Benjamin.

Steven, that's the odd thing about England this is their best side for years, they thrashed everyone in the 6Nations, but at the moment they are only playing well in the last 10 minutes of games, when they realise that just throwing the ball to our back three doesnt work!

With Thomas, Vunipola, Grey, and Launchbury we've got a very solid pack and Ford is better than the SA 10, and if he partners Farrell in midfield then we can just pin them back. If SA kick then with JJ, Wade and Yarde we've got the most dangerous back three in this tournament.

I think we can win against them, just need to play better and make more ground in the 12/13 channels, and get the fullback coming through the middle.

Pooly, I really can't work out whether Wade will make it - he could either be a superstar or bullied out of every game he plays.

His running lines and ability to beat a player 1-on-1 are just excellent, but on a wet, bogey pitch he really could be bossed out of it. Such an exciting player to watch.

Been a bit disappointed in Daly at 13, really arent using him properly - got 7 tries in 2 games in the 6Nations because he was attacking through the midfield - now he looks like he's been told to stop taking people on and get the ball out to the wingers.

Grey had a good cameo today - how long do you think Falcons will keep hold of him?

Other point I've noticed this year is that there seem to be a lot more players in this England team who have got AP experience and have been making starts Thomas, Launchbury, Grey in the pack and Farrell, Wade, Daly, JJ and I think Yarde in the backline. Havent really seen that before.

We will get mauled by NZ if we beat SA. NZ beat Wales by god knows how many today. We should have lost to Wales in the 6N so I don't hold much hope