Fantasy Aviva Premiership Season 4 homepage

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Welcome to the Aviva Premiership Season 4

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Teams

Bath RFC	InTheFastLane
Exeter Chiefs	Driver - RIP 606
Gloucester	Anonmattyt
Harlequins	Steven_Sharks
Leicester Tigers	LukeLovesLuka
London Irish	stnick88
London Wasps	Arry
Newcastle Falcons	Sgt_Pooly
Northampton Saints	Dammit_Chris
Sale Sharks	SirJohnnyEnglish
Saracens	LDCPete
Worcester Warriors	prop_lyd

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Waiting List
1. Sam
2. pullthestrings
3. Bathite

AB side for weekend:

New Zealand: 15 Mils Muliaina, 14 Cory Jane, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Ma'a Nonu, 11 Zac Guildford, 10 Daniel Carter, 9 Jimmy Cowan, 8 Adam Thomson, 7 Richie McCaw (C), 6 Jerome Kaino, 5 Ali Williams, 4 Samuel Whitelock, 3 Ben Franks, 2 Andrew Hore, 1 Wyatt Crockett.
Replacements:16 Corey Flynn, 17 John Afoa, 18 Jarrad Hoeata, 19 Liam Messam, 20 Piri Weepu, 21 Colin Slade, 22 Sonny Bill Williams.


So it's Thompson at 8......

Wouldn't mind watching this:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/international/england/8666518/England-players-set-to-stage-trial-match-ahead-of-cull-of-Rugby-World-Cup-2011-training-squad.html

if anyone is in London on 13th Sept then let me know if you want to come to the Premiere of the film, we've just had Michael Palin confirm that he will introduce the whole evening! Can't wait...

Also in other news...

Saints are looking for a no9 and hooker.

15 Patrick Lambie 14 Bjorn Basson 13 Adi Jacobs 12 Juan de Jongh 11 Lwazi Mvovo 10 Morne Steyn 9 Ruan Pienaar 8 Danie Rossouw 7 Jean Deysel 6 Deon Stegmann 5 Alistair Hargreaves 4 Gerhard Mostert 3 Werner Kruger 2 John Smit (captain) 1 Dean Greyling

Replacements 16 Chiliboy Ralepelle 17 CJ van der Linde 18 Ryan Kankowski 19 Ashley Johnson 20 Charl McLeod 21 Wynand Olivier 22 Odwa Ndungan

No surprise to see Aplon & AJ drop to the bench, AB's by 30!

Sorry Aplon is injured

dont think we are chris, but he is signing for someone this week.

Boks are going to get smashed this weekend I reckon. Another performance like last week from Greyling and Kruger will ensure that JdP and Steenkamp, even on one leg, are cemented into the World Cup squad.

I think Morne Steyn is exceptionally lucky that Aplon was injured so Lambie starts at 15 as he has been very poor for 12 months now and is offering nothing at international level.

think Lambie could well be in the 10 shirt by the WC.
Steyn or Kirchner will be the WC 15 leaving Lambie to battle with Steyn for fly half. On current form has to be Lambie.

Think the selection of Adi Jacobs is terrible for SA rugby. Its so sad that they have to pick a certain amount of players based on skin colour.

Its actually disrespectful to players like Chester,Beast, AJ, Pietersen, Habana etc to pick the likes of Jacobs and Mvovo.

It is the biggest problem SA face.

Jacobs has been bench for sharks all year and would not even be there if he was white.

It really annoys black south african people when there is positive discrimination in sport. In employment i can see the value to an extent but sport should be free of it.

Got to agree with that, Steyn thrives on pack dominance and a strong set piece, something he's not getting at the minute. He's not one of these Fly halfs that can get something out nothing but is still very good at what he does.

Lambie needs a run out at this level, he's looked at ease in the S15 so why not try the lad.

Lambie should have been ten this week. he looked so assured saturday. I am a big fan

completely agree matt, nightmare situation really.

going back to the steyn thing, on current form I would have both Lambie and Butch James over Steyn. knowing PDV though he will likely stick with Steyn.

Steyn kicks goals and in clutch situations is great player. he could win them the WC behind the right pack. would have Steyn, Lambie, James, jantjes but Lambie very close and should be given a go as steyn is struggling

I'd have Steyn and Lambie ahead of Butch myself, although he playing pretty well at 12 for the Lions.

You wouldnt want Butch as your goalkicker though and its likely Du Preez will start over Pienaar. Guess there is always Frans Steyn if he starts over Kirchner.

Or Lambie can play at 15 to accomodate the goalkicking for Butch at 10. Wasnt he in the top 3 for kicking accuracy this year in the super 15 with Steyn and Cruden

Awful news

http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/Doctor-confirms-Joosts-fears-20110727

Terrible news , one of the all time greats of South African rugby

I read a about a year ago that he was ill and they suspected he had it terrible i news. Met him in Pretoria when over for the Lions tour and had a photo with him. nice chap.

Its amazing how many sportsman have died from this including obviously Lou Gehrig himself.

Him and James small gave Lomu a torrid time in the WC final. He really was a competitor and so dangerous of the back of a scrum or ruck

New Zealand: 15 Mils Muliaina, 14 Cory Jane, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Ma'a Nonu, 11 Zac Guildford, 10 Daniel Carter, 9 Jimmy Cowan, 8 Adam Thomson, 7 Richie McCaw (c), 6 Jerome Kaino, 5 Ali Williams, 4 Samuel Whitelock, 3 Ben Franks, 2 Andrew Hore, 1 Wyatt Crockett.

Replacements:16 Corey Flynn, 17 John Afoa, 18 Jarrad Hoeata, 19 Liam Messam, 20 Piri Weepu, 21 Colin Slade, 22 Sonny Bill Williams.

That 2nd row looks a bit light weight. Wont help the scrum out much mind if the saffa's scrum the way they did last week that wont matter

I hope Ali has a big game , think he's an average lock but tries 200% in every game which to me is a lot better than someone with all the skills but does nothing with them.

Also see Tom Wood is expecting his second child during the RWC - Didn't this happen last time we won the world cup? Omen i hope so!

Whitelock is more a 4.5 than a clear lineout specialist. This they could give the SA lineout all sorts of probs though with 5 good options. Hargreaves suffered last week against Horwill/Simmons.

Just waiting on teams from prop and inthefastlane for this weeks matches.

I like Ali Driver mate. Been in cracking form towards the end of the super 15. Most definately in with a shout for the All Blacks side come world cup if he goes well

207 is on holiday

can't see past Thorn and Whitelock in the row.

I think they may alternate Whitelock & Williams. Williams has been outstanding in the lineout, took apart Fourie in the Stormers match, Bekker couldn't tget his hands on anything.

Against the more set piece sides they may go Williams

Williams has the experience also and was in great form at the end of the S15.

I don't think Williams was that good that he forced his way into the NZ teams. Looked really lightweight to me.

Yeah Williams really did a number on Fourie's throwing that day. Been in cracking form. Hes really put a shift in to get to this level again. Could definately see Henry starting him over Whitelock.

I like Whitelock but I see some people have him in that world class department where as I see him as still developing. Shouldnt be guranteed a shirt especially with Ali in such good form

EMPLOYMENT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


I think Thorn is the only nailed on certainty in the AB engine room , can see rotation coming into play over the 3N and groups at the RWC which will see them get knocked out in the QF/SF as they won't have gelled as much as other teams.

Congratulations Driver mate

Driver

McD's finally take you on Micky?

I wish Luke!

Nah mate , temp Labour at Longhill industrial

That'll keep you busy Driver, I done a year labouring at Peart's when I left school. Hardest work I've ever done!

Well Matt will be a happy camper. Ferris has been given the all clear and is ready and willing to go for the warm up games. Still a concern that 1 more injury to the knee will finish him but until that happens he seems raring to go and will be giving his all at the world cup

LukeLovesLuka wrote:207 is on holiday

Did he leave a team with anyone???

See Donald is considering Japan as an option if Bath move fails! Matt won't be happy

http://www.rugby365.com/news/2765981.htm

I just really don't rate Donald. Has all the basics and is a good player but I think he is mentally a bit fragile and often underperforms in big games, hence Graham Henry opting for Slade, who has barely played this year as back up for Carter.

Guys, who won the Amlin in this game in season 2??? It must be one of the teams who playing the Heino last season.

I don't think Donald was ever in Henry's thoughts Pete. Was between Cruden and Slade. I'm pretty sure Henry was happy with Slade's performance last week, was very composed for somebody who's played very little rugby.

Congrats driver

would of been good to see Donald in the Prem though.
puts a bit of a spanner in Baths works as they will struggle to get a 10 near his standard

I reckon he will get his application. Bath will get the best lawyers onto it. Football teams get unknown foreigners Work permits so should be alright

You would think so Steve mate but the fact hes sounding out other sides says he isnt to confident himself

Look at how many footballers swing it despite not having the international appearances.

Think it will not be a problem but is a new thing to rugby.

Hope he does come he will be awesome over here.

Bath will do it easily, heard that its all but finalised (good knowing the law firm working for them!) - they are going to use the example of Houghaard at Sarries and ask why he got a permit when Donald (the better player!) was refused.

Should be a no brainer, unless the UK wants to set a precedent and stop foreign players coming over like this in all sports, and given the power of football there is no way that will happen!

Pete, earlier this week you asked when England squad was getting announced, apparently it gets shortened on Sunday - cant wait for it to start now!