Gallagher Premiership - Round 3

Friday 14th September

19:45 Gloucester v Bristol (BT Sport)


Saturday 15th September

15:00 Exeter v Sale
15:00 Harlequins v Bath (BT Sport)
15:00 Northampton v Saracens
15:00 Worcester v Newcastle


Sunday 16th September

15:00 Wasps v Leicester (BT Sport)



Gloucester and Exeter should be far too strong for Bristol and Sale and should both secure TBP wins.
Quins were good against Sale, poor against Saints. Bath were woeful in week 1 and only started playing after 35 minutes in week 2. If Quins are indeed making progress under Gustard they have to put Bath away with some ease.
My gut feel says that Saints are improved this season and should not suffer yet another thrashing from Sarries (4 last season?). Though still looking to shake of the early season rustiness, the champs should however secure an away win.
The two teams at the bottom meet at Sixways. Newcastle should be stronger but will be nervous as while not a must win game, with the fixtures both sides face in the following two weeks a win would be very useful.
Even at full strength, the Wasps pack does not look the strongest. With the injuries they currently face usually Leicester would travel down the M69 with some confidence. However without a miraculous improvement in the defense Tigers could have a new bumhole ripped for them by the Wasps backline.

Gloucester:

Woodward; Sharples, Trinder, Twelvetrees, Banahan; Cipriani, Braley; Rapava Ruskin, Marais, Balmain; Slater (capt), Grobler; Polledri, Ludlow, Ackermann

Replacements: Hanson, Hohneck, Knight, Clarke, Morgan, Vellacott, Atkinson, Hudson



Bristol Bears:

O'Conor; Morahan, S. Piutau, Pisi, Edwards; Madigan, Randall; Thomas, Malton, Afoa, Joyce, Vui, Luatua (capt), Smith, Lam

Replacements: Thacker, Woolmore, Armstrong, Holmes, Haining, Stirzaker, Sheedy, Kirchner

Leicester Tigers (v Wasps, away, Sunday 3.00pm)

15 Telusa Veainu

14 Adam Thompstone

13 Manu Tuilagi

12 Gareth Owen

11 Jonny May

10 George Ford

9 Ben Youngs

1 Greg Bateman

2 Tom Youngs (c)

3 Dan Cole

4 Mike Williams

5 Will Spencer

6 David Denton

7 Guy Thompson

8 Sione Kalamafoni

Replacements

16 Jimmy Stevens

17 David Feao

18 Joe Heyes

19 Harry Wells

20 Sam Lewis

21 Ben White

22 Tom Hardwick

23 Jordan Olowofela

Can't remember the last time we had that many academy players in the 23 for a league game. Five in the 15 and then 7 of the 8 on the bench.

Wooo hooo Johnny Williams is in....

Newcastle Falcons team to play Worcester Warriors (Saturday, 3pm, Sixways)

15 Simon Hammersley
14 Adam Radwan
13 Chris Harris
12 Johnny Williams
11 Sinoti Sinoti
10 Toby Flood
9 Sonatane Takulua

1 Sami Mavinga
2 George McGuigan
3 Logovi’i Mulipola
4 Calum Green
5 Will Witty
6 Mark Wilson
7 Will Welch (captain)
8 Callum Chick

Replacements
16 Santiago Socino
17 Adam Brocklebank
18 Jack Payne
19 Tevita Cavubati
20 Gary Graham
21 Sam Stuart
22 Joel Hodgson
23 Tom Penny

Worcester Warriors team v Falcons

15 Chris Pennell
14 Bryce Heem
13 Francois Venter
12 Ryan Mills
11 Josh Adams
10 Duncan Weir
9 Francois Hougaard

1 Callum Black
2 Joe Taufete'e
3 Simon Kerrod
4 Pierce Phillips
5 Darren Barry
6 Marco Mama
7 Sam Lewis
8 GJ van Velze (captain)

Replacements
16 Jack Singleton
17 Ryan Bower
18 Gareth Milasinovich
19 Anton Bresler
20 Alafoti Faosiliva
21 Michael Heaney
22 Jono Lance
23 Ashley Beck

Referee: Wayne Barnes

EXETER CHIEFS SIDE TO FACE SALE SHARKS

15 Phil Dollman
14 Jack Nowell
13 Henry Slade
12 Ollie Devoto
11 Santiago Cordero
10 Joe Simmonds
9 Jack Maunder
1 Ben Moon
2 Luke Cowan-Dickie
3 Harry Williams
4 Ollie Atkins
5 Jonny Hill
6 Don Armand (capt)
7 Matt Kvesic
8 Sam Simmonds

16 Jack Yeandle
17 Alec Hepburn
18 Tomas Francis
19 Toby Salmon
20 Sean Lonsdale
21 Sam Maunder
22 Gareth Steenson
23 Alex Cuthbert

Sale Sharks:

15.Byron McGuigan; 14.Denny Solomona, 13.Sam James, 12.Mark Jennings, 11.Marland Yarde; 10.AJ MacGinty, 9.Will Cliff; 1.Ross Harrison, 2.Cameron Neild, 3.WillGriff John, 4.Bryn Evans, 5.James Phillips, 6.Jono Ross (capt.), 7.Tom Curry, 8.Josh Beaumont.

Replacements: 16.Rob Webber, 17.Alexandru Tarus, 18.Joe Jones, 19.Josh Strauss, 20.Ben Curry, 21.Gus Warr, 22.Luke James, 23.Paolo Odogwu.


Read more at https://www.premiershiprugby.com/2018-2019/sale-sharks-team-to-face-exeter-chiefs-2/#HwIDOGAzgc5IAB4V.99

Harlequins:

Morris; Earle, Marchant, Tapuai, Walker; Smith, Care; Lambert, Elia, Collier, Symons, Lamb, Wallace, Robshaw (capt), Chisholm.

Replacements: Ward, Marler, Swainston, South, Bothma, Mulchrone, Lang, Lasike.



Bath:

Homer; Rokoduguni, Willison, Roberts, Cokanasiga; Burns, Green; Catt, Dunn, Thomas, Stooke, Charteris (capt), Ellis, Underhill, Mercer.

Replacements: Walker, van Rooyen, Perenise, Ewels, Faletau, Cook, Priestland, Brew.

Saints side for the visit of Sarries:

15 Ahsee Tuala
14 Taqele Naiyaravoro
13 Luther Burrell
12 Piers Francis
11 Tom Collins
10 Dan Biggar
9 Cobus Reinach

1 Alex Waller (co-captain)
2 Dylan Hartley (co-captain)
3 Ehren Painter
4 David Ribbans
5 Courtney Lawes
6 James Haskell
7 Heinrich Brüssow
8 Teimana Harrison

Replacements:
16 Mike Haywood
17 Francois Van Wyk
18 Ben Franks
19 Api Ratuniyarawa
20 Jamie Gibson
21 Alex Mitchell
22 Andrew Symons
23 Harry Mallinder

Interested to see how Naiyaravoro goes, the guy looks a monster, Saints website buts him at 18 stone, (115kg) , but I am sure I have seen him stated as being 19+stone. Seemed to score tries for fun for the Waratahs; try a game.

With the likes of Burrell, Symons and Mallinder, all 17st plus, Saints are developing a monster backline, the exception being Tom Collins who is all acceleration and fast feet.

NORTHAMPTON SAINTS v SARACENS


Not available for selection:

Dom Barrow (hamstring), Alex Coles (knee), James Craig (concussion), Paul Hill (shoulder), Rory Hutchinson (knee), Reece Marshall (foot), Toby Trinder (foot), Tom Wood (groin), and Ken Pisi (shoulder).

Saracens side to face Northampton Saints at Franklin’s Gardens on Saturday 15th September (15H00 KO):

15 Liam Williams
14 David Strettle
13 Nick Tompkins
12 Brad Barritt
11 Alex Lewington
10 Alex Goode
9 Ben Spencer

1 Mako Vunipola
2 Jamie George
3 Vincent Koch
4 Maro Itoje
5 Will Skelton
6 Nick Isiekwe
7 Mike Rhodes
8 Billy Vunipola

16 Christopher Tolofua
17 Richard Barrington
18 Titi Lamositele
19 George Kruis
20 Ben Earl
21 Richard Wigglesworth
22 Alex Lozowski
23 Sean Maitland

Alex Goode at 10 an interesting call

Wasps team to face Leicester Tigers at the Ricoh Arena on Sunday September 16 (3:00pm kick off)

15 Elliot Daly
14 Christian Wade
13 Juan De Jongh
12 Michael Le Bourgeois
11 Josh Bassett
10 Lima Sopoaga
9 Dan Robson
1 Ben Harris
2 Tommy Taylor
3 Kieran Brookes
4 Joe Launchbury (c)
5 James Gaskell
6 Ashley Johnson
7 Nizaam Carr
8 Nathan Hughes


Replacements
16 Tom Cruse
17 Zurabi Zhvania
18 Will Stuart
19 Will Rowlands
20 Ben Morris
21 Joe Simpson
22 Billy Searle
23 Rob Miller

Saracens and Wasps going with "mahoosive" back rows

Tempted to go with 6 home wins, with Saracens and Falcons my favourites to upset their hosts.

 waiting for a Skelton and Naiyaravoro collision, then the resulting earthquake to be felt across the country.

Like the Saints second row, lots of mobility and physicality there. Backrow are pretty horrible as well.

The big backline looks light on talent. Watched their first couple of games and can't say I saw much outside twinkle toes on the wing that looked a real threat. The centres have no real acceleration and they are playing quite deep which is magnifying the lack of pace in midfield.

LondonTiger wrote:Tempted to go with 6 home wins, with Saracens and Falcons my favourites to upset their hosts.

Sarries will be the only team to win away. It won't be a 100 point margin last last season, but it'll probably be 20+.

I can definitely see Wuss beating Newcastle. Wuss have been unlucky/inept to have lost the last 2 games and I think they'll finally step up this weekend.

Naturally I'm thoroughly looking forward to the game tonight. Working in Bristol, it's always good to have the bragging rights for a while. But the game I'm really looking forward to is Wasps v Leicester. Both have under-performed and therefore, it'll probably end up being a fantastic game.

LondonTiger wrote:Saracens and Wasps going with "mahoosive" back rows

That was my thoughts as well, Haskell apart, Saints backrowers are more pocket rockets than bruisers.

Saints will have to move that massive pack around a lot to get much joy I feel.

Wuss V Falcons could be a massive game.

Welly wrote: Wuss V Falcons could be a massive game.

Hopefully Falcons will condemn Worcester and their whining DOR to another loss.

formerly known as Sam wrote:

Welly wrote: Wuss V Falcons could be a massive game.

Hopefully Falcons will condemn Worcester and their whining DOR to another loss.

Hope not Sam. Wuss have been close so far and I’m hoping they’ll click tomorrow.

The local rag is reporting that Solomons is content after meeting Spreadbury so perhaps he’ll stop moaning and annoying you.

Good win for Glaws after going behind early on.

Bristol trying to play from their own line all the time cost them quite a bit - plus a huge number of penalties, especially from George Smith - good to finally see a ref pinging players for going past the ruck and taking out defenders on the wrong side who aren't even in the ruck - been a pet hate of mine for years.

Bristol overplayed. Knackered out their forwards in the first half and were so predictable that Glaws were playing 14 up flat defending in the Bristol 22 with only Woodward deep and Bristol still didn't kick. Madigan opened up Glaws with a little kick flat footing the defence but didn't try anything similar after that, just let Glaws press.

Bristol need the young scrum half from Bristol that played in the first two games as the two 9s they had out tonight were sub par and couldn't have controlled the game against a pub side.

WELL-PAST-IT wrote:Saints side for the visit of Sarries:

15 Ahsee Tuala
14 Taqele Naiyaravoro
13 Luther Burrell
12 Piers Francis
11 Tom Collins
10 Dan Biggar
9 Cobus Reinach

1 Alex Waller (co-captain)
2 Dylan Hartley (co-captain)
3 Ehren Painter
4 David Ribbans
5 Courtney Lawes
6 James Haskell
7 Heinrich Brüssow
8 Teimana Harrison

Replacements:
16 Mike Haywood
17 Francois Van Wyk
18 Ben Franks
19 Api Ratuniyarawa
20 Jamie Gibson
21 Alex Mitchell
22 Andrew Symons
23 Harry Mallinder

Interested to see how Naiyaravoro goes, the guy looks a monster, Saints website buts him at 18 stone, (115kg) , but I am sure I have seen him as being 19+stone. Seemed to score tries for fun for the Waratahs; try a game.

With the likes of Burrell, Symons and Mallinder, all 17st plus, Saints are developing a monster backline, the exception being Tom Collins who is all acceleration and fast feet.

Sounds like George North, oh how did he go for you guys??

Occasionally well, when not crocked. Bigger than North, we will find out if he is as quick. Seems to have come through his career to date without major injury. That means that he will spend half the year on treatment table, now that I have said that.

Something is happening to Saints, 10 - 0 up


Back to normal 10 -10

Falcons just ahead. Two in the sin bin

Ain't watching but saracens seem to be stumbling early doors. Very lucky with the red card last week.

Toby Flood has been woeful. So far this season he hasn't looked like a former England fly half!!

They seem to have made a new law at the Stoop just now.

Errrrrr. You're allowed to run whatever support line behind the ball you like!

Dear God we have made mistake after mistake....

But we win!! Finally points

That was a must win game.

Quins crowd are free to referee any games up to premiership standard next Weekend.

Brew did nothing wrong apart from run faster than the Quins defender.

Shocking call from the TMO.

Where does it say a supporter runner can not change his line, this isn't F1 where by you can only change direction once?

No 7&1/2 wrote:Errrrrr.  You're allowed to run whatever support line behind the ball you like!

Agreed. While it looks wrong, only question should have been did he hold Earle.

No hold from brew just got his body in front of Quins player. Plus the conversion was taken quickly.

Yup basically see the england nz game a few years ago where mike brown runs a similar thing for Tuilagi. It only come into question when the 'support runner' runs ahead of the ball.

LondonTiger wrote:

No 7&1/2 wrote:Errrrrr.  You're allowed to run whatever support line behind the ball you like!

Agreed. While it looks wrong, only question should have been did he hold Earle.

Law 9.3 (according to Ben Kay), you cannot intentionally impede a player from tackling another player (or words to that effect). If he hadn't kept looking to see where the quins player was running he may have got away with it, but it was clearly intentional and thus a penalty.

Fair enough there. You do see players run supporting lines deliberately to block bit hard to prove if they don't change their lines I suppose.

GeordieFalcon wrote:But we win!! Finally points  

That was a must win game.

Congrats Geordie and Falcons fans - a hard fought and well deserved victory from what I could make out from an audio feed whilst travelling.

Gutted from a Wuss point of view though and I’m starting to get that familiar sinking feeling already. Big improvements required if we are even going to make a fight of it at the bottom. Winning most of our own lineouts would be a good start.

Strange game at Worcester.

We ran into 14pt lead with some truly woeful defence from Worcester. It was then pretty much all Worcester, who looked good in attack (Big Bruce mainly) but never really looked like scoring as they seemed to fall apart in the 22.

Watching the game, I always thought we'd come away with the win despite Worcester always been in it. Some very strange calls not to go for the sticks from Worcester (perhaps 9pts?) and some resolute Falcons defence seen us come away with a rare win from Sixways.

On Worcester.....they look a real threat in the backline and will score tries once they start fully clicking. Pack is lacking quality though and it's got to be the worst in the league. They'll need to sort out that lineout sharpish and tighten up the defence if they are to stand a chance of staying up.

Bryce Heem did appear to be properly fired up and Worcester’s main threat - think he only lasted a half though..
Worcester are really missing Denton and Spencer and I agree need to sort out their forwards. Du Preez being injured makes this problem even worse. At least Singleton coming back is some positive news.

Do you reckon Tigers will get a penalty today? High tavkle right in front of the ref, Robson playing the ball on the floor a metre from his own line and Wasps scrum running round under pressure haven't brought one so far.

Well that was clearly in front of the kicker. The line on the pitch showed that.

Third try for Wasps as a direct result of the officials failing to spot the entire Wasps team were offside at the kick off.

Maybe if they'd interfered. As it was it was due to a good scrum from owen failing to catch an easy no pressure kick off.

No 7&1/2 wrote:Maybe if they'd interfered. As it was it was due to a good scrum from owen failing to catch an easy no pressure kick off.

The pressure was the black wall running down the pitch at him.

Be fair though no where near him. Owen mistake. Blame him if you want an individual.