Aviva Premiership Round 9

Friday 24th November

19:45 Newcastle Falcons v Gloucester Rugby
A rejuvenated Gloucester team sitting proudly in the top half of the table travel to a Falcons side that will be keen to return to early season form. Gloucester not the best travelers and could easily struggle. I expect to see the home team leapfrog their visitors in the premiership table.


Saturday 25th November

12:45 Bath v Harlequins
Quins often struggle in international windows. Expect them to struggle again on their second trip west this week.

15:00 Leicester v Worcester
Both teams won last week. Worcester were perhaps better than Leicester in securing their first win of the season.

17:30 Sale v Northampton
Sale were a tad unlucky last week, but committed far too many penalties. Saints were well stuffed at Sixways. The visitors should be able to out muscle the underpowered Sale pack - but often flatter to deceive and defeat for Mallinder's boys could see them drop into the bottom 3.



Sunday 26th November

15:00 London Irish v Wasps
LI need to be securing points during international weekends. Struggle to see them winning this one with Wasps in improved form.

Saracens v Exeter
Top of the table clash with both sides hit by injury call ups. May well descend into an arm wrestle, though both sides are capable of running the ball.

I think Friday and Saturday we will see home wins, Sunday away wins.

Newcastle Falcons team to face Gloucester Rugby (Friday, 7.45pm, Kingston Park Stadium, live on BT Sport)

15 Simon Hammersley
14 Alex Tait
13 Belisario Agulla
12 Juan Pablo Socino
11 Sinoti Sinoti
10 Joel Hodgson
9 Sam Stuart
1 Rob Vickers
2 Scott Lawson
3 Jon Welsh
4 Will Witty
5 Sean Robinson
6 Mark Wilson
7 Will Welch (captain)
8 Nili Latu

Replacements

16 Kyle Cooper
17 Sami Mavinga
18 Scott Wilson
19 Calum Green
20 Gary Graham
21 Ruaridh Dawson
22 Toby Flood
23 Chris Harris

Gloucester Rugby

15 Tom Hudson
14 Henry Purdy
13 Andy Symons
12 Billy Twelvetrees
11 Ollie Thorley
10 Billy Burns
9 Willi Heinz (captain)
1 Josh Hohneck
2 James Hanson
3 John Afoa
4 Tom Savage
5 Jeremy Thrush
6 Jake Polledri
7 Lewis Ludlow
8 Ruan Ackermann

Replacements

16 Richard Hibbard
17 Paddy McAllister
18 Gareth Denman
19 Ed Slater
20 Freddie Clarke
21 Ben Vellacott
22 Lloyd Evans
23 Mark Atkinson

Or the Glaws unavailable XV is:
Woodward, Sharples, Trinder, Marshall, Halafuoina, Williams, Braley; Rapava-Ruskin, Matu'u, Balmain, Galarza, Denton, Moriarty, Rowan, Morgan

Regardless of injuries, we were always going to struggle up at KP. Whilst we've won there twice in recent years, I don't see that happening and I'd be more than happy with a LBP... as long as we beat Irish next week, which would make a successful AI period.

Which XV would you put your money on HKC?

Not seen as much of you guys as normal but might full strength team comprise:

Woodward, Sharples, Trinder, 36/Scott, Halaifonua, Williams, Heinz, Hohneck, Hibbard, Afoa, Savage, Slater, Moriarty, Ackermann, Morgan?

10 Joel Hodgson

Meh!!
And that LH and Hooker duo is just woeful now! Front row has been a glaring weakness for years ....so WHY has it not been fixed!!

And once again a distinct lack of carrying in the pack.

We might scrape a win but it wont be pretty!

LondonTiger wrote:Which XV would you put your money on HKC?

Not seen as much of you guys as normal but might full strength team comprise:

Woodward, Sharples, Trinder, 36/Scott, Halaifonua, Williams, Heinz, Hohneck, Hibbard, Afoa, Savage, Slater, Moriarty, Ackermann, Morgan?

I'd largely agree with that side, but with a few tweaks
Marshall, Sharples, Trinder, 36, Woodward, Williams, Heinz, Rapava-Ruskin (Hohneck is playing brilliantly at the moment though), Hibbard, Afoa, Savage, Slater, Moriarty, Ludlow, Ackermann

I'm sure Ackers Snr would have Scott, Morgan, Rowan, Burns and Atkinson in and around that side.

Almost time for my weekly fit of rage at another utterly nonsensical team selection for Irish!

Leicester Tigers (v Worcester Warriors, home, Saturday 3.00pm)

15 Telusa Veainu
14 Nick Malouf
13 Matt Smith
12 Gareth Owen
11 Adam Thompstone
10 Joe Ford
9 Sam Harrison
1 Greg Bateman
2 Harry Thacker
3 Pat Cilliers
4 Dom Barrow (c)
5 Graham Kitchener
6 Mike Williams
7 Brendon O’Connor
8 Valentino Mapapalangi

Replacements

16 George McGuigan
17 Kyle Traynor
18 Chris Baumann
19 Mike Fitzgerald
20 Will Evans
21 Ben White
22 Tom Hardwick
23 Mathew Tait

Warriors
15 Chris Pennell
14 Bryce Heem
13 Jackson Willison
12 Ryan Mills
11 Josh Adams
10 Jono Lance
9 Francois Hougaard
1 Ethan Waller
2 Jack Singleton
3 Nick Schonert
4 Donncha O‘Callaghan (C)
5 Will Spencer
6 Alafoti Faosiliva
7 Sam Lewis
8 GJ van Velze

Replacements
16 Kurt Haupt
17 Ryan Bower
18 Gareth Milasinovich
19 Christian Scotland-Williamson
20 David Denton
21 Michael Dowsett
22 Sam Olver
23 Dean Hammond

Bath Rugby team to face Harlequins

15. James Wilson
14. Jack Wilson
13. Matt Banahan
12. Ben Tapuai
11. Aled Brew
10. Freddie Burns
9. Kahn Fotuali’i
1. Beno Obano
2. Tom Dunn
3. Anthony Perenise
4. Luke Charteris
5. Elliott Stooke
6. Matt Garvey (c)
7. Zach Mercer
8. Paul Grant

Replacements

16. Michael van Vuuren
17. Nick Auterac
18. Max Lahiff
19. Levi Douglas
20. Josh Bayliss
21. Chris Cook
22. Josh Lewis
23. Darren Atkins

Harlequins squad to play Bath Rugby (Harlequins appearances)

15. Ross Chisholm (80)
14. Charlie Walker (74)
13. Alofa Alofa (37)
12. James Lang (9)
11. Tim Visser (45)
10. Marcus Smith (11)
9. Jono Kitto (1)

1. Lewis Boyce (5)
2. Dave Ward (126)
3. Will Collier (116)
4. Charlie Matthews (148)
5. James Horwill (Captain, 48)
6. Ben Glynn (11)
7. James Chisholm (42)
8. Mat Luamanu (50)

16. Elia Elia (6)
17. Cameron Holenstein (-)
18. Kyle Sinckler (105)
19. Dino Lamb (6)
20. Archie White (8)
21. Ian Prior (-)
22. Henry Cheeseman (7)
23. Gabriel Ibitoye (3)

Saints team looks like a Wandies one.

AINTS TEAM TO FACE SALE SHARKS
Aviva Premiership Round 9
AJ Bell Stadium
Saturday 25 November 2017
Kick-off 5:30pm

15 Harry Mallinder
14 Juan Pablo Estelles
13 Rory Hutchinson
12 Tom Stephenson
11 Ben Foden
10 James Grayson
9 Cobus Reinach
1 Alex Waller
2 Mikey Haywood
3 Jamal Ford-Robinson
4 Michael Paterson
5 Sam Dickinson (capt)
6 Tom Wood
7 Jamie Gibson
8 Teimana Harrison

16 Reece Marshall
17 Francois van Wyk
18 Paul Hill
19 Alex Moon
20 Mitch Eadie
21 Nic Groom
22 Stephen Myler
23 Tom Collins

Kieran Brookes sustained a fractured hand during Saints’ defeat to Worcester Warriors which will require a six week rehabilitation period.

Kieran Brookes (hand), Luther Burrell (concussion), Charlie Clare (knee), James Craig (concussion), Christian Day (leg), Jamie Elliott (hamstring), George Furbank (knee), Rob Horne (suspended), Lewis Ludlam (illness), George North (knee) and David Ribbans (ankle) are unavailable for selection.

London Irish:

15 James Marshall, 14 Joe Cokanasiga, 13 Fergus Mulchrone, 12 Luke McLean, 11 Alex Lewington, 10 Tommy Bell, 9 Ben Meehan, 1 Ben Franks, 2 David Paice (c), 3 Ollie Hoskins, 4 Franco van der Merwe, 5 Teofilo Paulo, 6 Mike Coman, 7 Max Northcote-Green, 8 Blair Cowan

Replacements: 16 Tom Woolstencroft, 17 Harry Elrington, 18 Petrus Du Plessis, 19 Sebastian De Chaves, 20 Conor Gilsenan, 21 Scott Steele, 22 Greig Tonks, 23 Tom Fowlie

Wasps team to play London Irish

15. Willie Le Roux
14. Christian Wade
13. Juan De Jongh
12. Gaby Lovobalavu
11. Josh Bassett
10. Jimmy Gopperth
9. Joe Simpson
1. Simon McIntyre
2. Ashley Johnson
3. Jake Cooper-Woolley
4. James Gaskell
5. Will Rowlands
6. James Haskell
7. Thomas Young
8. Nizaam Carr

Replacements

16. Nathan Charles
17. Ben Harris
18. Marty Moore
19. Kearnan Myall
20. Guy Thompson
21. Dan Robson
22. Danny Cipriani
23. Rob Miller

CHIEFS SIDE TO FACE SARACENS

15 Phil Dollman
14 Lachie Turner
13 Ian Whitten
12 Sam Hill
11 Olly Woodburn
10 Gareth Steenson
9 Nic White
1 Ben Moon
2 Jack Yeandle (capt)
3 Greg Holmes
4 Mitch Lees
5 Jonny Hill
6 Don Armand
7 Matt Kvesic
8 Thomas Waldrom

16 Shaun Malton
17 Alec Hepburn
18 Moray Low
19 Toby Salmon
20 Sam Skinner
21 Will Chudley
22 Joe Simmonds
23 James Short

13 Rory Hutchinson
12 Tom Stephenson

Interested to see how they go shame they don't have an experienced 10 to play off, (Greyson is rightly rated) but that is very inexperienced 10,12,13

LondonTiger wrote:Harlequins squad to play Bath Rugby (Harlequins appearances)

15. Ross Chisholm (80)
14. Charlie Walker (74)
13. Alofa Alofa (37)
12. James Lang (9)
11. Tim Visser (45)
10. Marcus Smith (11)
9. Jono Kitto (1)

1. Lewis Boyce (5)
2. Dave Ward (126)
3. Will Collier (116)
4. Charlie Matthews (148)
5. James Horwill (Captain, 48)
6. Ben Glynn (11)
7. James Chisholm (42)
8. Mat Luamanu (50)

16. Elia Elia (6)
17. Cameron Holenstein (-)
18. Kyle Sinckler (105)
19. Dino Lamb (6)
20. Archie White (8)
21. Ian Prior (-)
22. Henry Cheeseman (7)
23. Gabriel Ibitoye (3)

Is Clifford injured again?

Welly wrote:13 Rory Hutchinson
12 Tom Stephenson

Interested to see how they go shame they don't have an experienced 10 to play off, (Greyson is rightly rated) but that is very inexperienced 10,12,13

Played a bit together in the A league. I'm not confident at all though.

Saracens Team to face Exeter Chiefs (Saracens appearances)

15 Alex Goode (241)
14 Nathan Earle (26)
13 Marcelo Bosch (103)
12 Brad Barritt (c) (204)
11 Chris Wyles (236)
10 Max Malins (8)
9 Ben Spencer (112)

1 Richard Barrington (116)
2 Schalk Brits (211)
3 Vincent Koch (25)
4 Will Skelton (13)
5 George Kruis (144)
6 Calum Clark (7)
7 Schalk Burger (33)
8 Jackson Wray (182)

Replacements
16 Christopher Tolofua (6)
17 Hayden Thompson-Stringer (17)
18 Juan Figallo (68)
19 Mark Flanagan (12)
20 Ben Earl (8)
21 Richard Wigglesworth (195)
22 Nick Tompkins (66)
23 Mike Ellery (43)


Read more at https://www.premiershiprugby.com/2017-2018/saracens-name-side-face-exeter-chiefs/#EF4wMp6UC02CeYhi.99


Could be a tough day at the office for Malins and Saracens....

Having Wray helps, bit more balanced backrow this week.

Burger isn't forced to play no 8.

Saracens look weak at loosehead, lock and fly half in my opinion

Skelton and Kruis weak, really?!

Agree with fly half.

Was in reference to beshocked's indignation that Farrell/Mako/Itoje had been kept by England

Max Malins looks seriously talented, I'm wondering if there's still time for Eddie Jones to call him up for tomorrow's match to help with the H2O distribution?

Mallins at 10 with Goode as secondary playmaker from 15 with and experienced centre partnership looks solid enough to me. Bit short on pace in that backline though.

LondonTiger wrote:AINTS TEAM TO FACE SALE SHARKS
Aviva Premiership Round 9
AJ Bell Stadium
Saturday 25 November 2017
Kick-off 5:30pm

15 Harry Mallinder
14 Juan Pablo Estelles
13 Rory Hutchinson
12 Tom Stephenson
11 Ben Foden
10 James Grayson
9 Cobus Reinach
1 Alex Waller
2 Mikey Haywood
3 Jamal Ford-Robinson
4 Michael Paterson
5 Sam Dickinson (capt)
6 Tom Wood
7 Jamie Gibson
8 Teimana Harrison

16 Reece Marshall
17 Francois van Wyk
18 Paul Hill
19 Alex Moon
20 Mitch Eadie
21 Nic Groom
22 Stephen Myler
23 Tom Collins

Kieran Brookes sustained a fractured hand during Saints’ defeat to Worcester Warriors which will require a six week rehabilitation period.

Kieran Brookes (hand), Luther Burrell (concussion), Charlie Clare (knee), James Craig (concussion), Christian Day (leg), Jamie Elliott (hamstring), George Furbank (knee), Rob Horne (suspended), Lewis Ludlam (illness), George North (knee) and David Ribbans (ankle) are unavailable for selection.

Without Lawes, Saints are looking very weak at lock. Patterson is under 17st and absolutely useless in the loose in attack. Dickinson is a has been eight who was an emergency lock. Try Moon and Onojaife, at least we would have some bulk, with Harrison at 8 we need it.

Well it's a cold one up here at KP...even by us tough old Geordie standards.

The wingers are going to be hoping they get plenty of work just to keep warm.

Well Ackermann is definitely earning his money at the minute. Glaws looking very good and grabbing three tries into the bargain.

Falcons looking rudderless. Need to look at their half back options.

Dire half from Falcons. Gloucester defence very good

Falcons are making it easy for the Glaws defence. There's no angles being run, no one coming back against the grain. Just makes it easy for the defence to accelerate into the tackle, no hesitation in the drift.

Well the falcons team and coaches owe us fans an apology after we made an effort to go out in the freezing cold to watch that utter tripe!

Going backwards ball in hand.
Powder Puff at the breakdown
Aimless attack
Lack of ANY kind of physicality...we look physically weak!
I can go on and on.

Its like watching the falcons from years ago. All the good stuff we were playing in the first part of the season...its like the coaches have just said...well that was working brilliant now stop doing any of it!!!!

Falcons since the Tigers game have been poor.

Really hope they snap out of it and get some form by the time the st james park game comes along.

Since Exeter Welly.

Exeter, Leicester , Wasps now Gloucester. Some VERY angry falcons fans tonight.

Joel Hodgson is simply NOT a premiership fly half!!

Well that was a pleasant surprise!

No it really wasnt

GeordieFalcon wrote:No it really wasnt

Oh it really was. Apparently it is five years since we put a run of four games together. It seems longer.

If this goes on I will get all excited and buy myself a Premiership Final ticket again. The last time Glaws looked like they might get to a final I bought a ticket and saw Leicester and Wasps. I was Lawrence Dallaglio's last game which tells you how long ago it was.

GeordieFalcon wrote:No it really wasnt

Oh yes it was

Actually you have my genuine sympathy as we've been through so many false dawns, which this may still be, and I know how hard it is to take.

Ah you deserved the win.

Sadly us falcons fans are unused to watching tripe. I just don't get what the coaches are actually doing.

At least Dean has actually come out and said they were poor. (Without taking Away from Gloucester.- we just should have challenged you alot more. )

GeordieFalcon wrote:Ah you deserved the win.

Sadly us falcons fans are unused to watching tripe. I just don't get what the coaches are actually doing.

At least Dean has actually come out and said they were poor. (Without taking Away from Gloucester.- we just should have challenged you alot more. )

Takalua and Goneva are big loses.
Don't worry too much though, just need to keep on building.

Ackerman has made all the difference

Gloucester will be in the European Cup next year I'd bet on it.
Even chance of making the play offs I reckon

geoff999rugby wrote:Ackerman has made all the difference

Gloucester will be in the European Cup next year I'd bet on it.
Even chance of making the play offs I reckon

They showed the win percentages before the game on BT and then showed the change in style of play with Glaws keep in it hand for more phases. Quite the transformation in such a short space of time. I hope for Glaws sake they signed him to a long term deal.

formerly known as Sam wrote:

geoff999rugby wrote:Ackerman has made all the difference

Gloucester will be in the European Cup next year I'd bet on it.
Even chance of making the play offs I reckon

They showed the win percentages before the game on BT and then showed the change in style of play with Glaws keep in it hand for more phases. Quite the transformation in such a short space of time. I hope for Glaws sake they signed him to a long term deal.

They better hope he doesn't have a SA clause.

Getting frustrated watching tigers/wuss. Wuss players ever so slow to move after tackling allowing them the turnover

This is a conspiracy against LI - first Saints now Tigers

Sorry heaf, not over yet but wuss seem to be street smart at the minute

you mean getting away with cheating ?

Something going on with him TV, haven't seen anything from him like his usual self

Yes heaf, not rolling away allowing for turnovers or resulting in slow ball for us

Doesn't help that we haven't a lineout at the minute