Amlin Challenge Cup Round One

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Pool One

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Worcester Warriors vs. Stade Francais
Light rain, 13 degrees, 13mph winds.
Worcester Warriors
Manager – prop_lyd

01. BJ Botha	09. Dwayne Peel
02. Chris Fortey	10. Sam Vesty (k)
03. John Andress
04. Ollie Kohn	11. Josh Drauniniu
05. Danie Russouw	12. Gavin Henson
06. Scott Higginbotham	13. Sean Lamont
07. Craig Newby (c)	14. Marcel Garvey
08. Sebastian Chabal	15. Chis Paterson

16 Korree Britton 17 Chris Budgen 18 Sylvain Marconnet 19 Leo Cullen 20 Kearnen Myall 21 Jimmy Cowan 22 Morne Steyn 23 Ollie Morgan

Tactics

*Big pack to challenge Stade at all breakdowns and set pieces,
* Newby and Higginbotham to look to steal or slow down ball,
* Chabal to run off Henson causing problems in midfield,
* Vesty and Henson to run the show releasing big back 3,
* Take points when possible but look for bonus point try too,
* 11,13-15 to pick lines and look to run round (Lamont to run over) opposition,
* Vesty to kick tactfully into touch,
* Hard blitz defence looking for one player taking legs and the next on the ball, 3rd man goes for the steal,
* Time to play some attractive rugby with a backline capable to and a pack who can get quick ball for Peel,
* Use subs as and when all are big impact players and Britton will get big game experience,
* Stade will hate a windy, wet Sixways and we will make this our fortress!!

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Stade Francais
Manager – xxx

01. Rodrigo Roncero	09. Julien Dupuy
02. Dimitri Szarzewski	10. Felipe Contepomi
03. David Attoub
04. Gerhard Mostert	11. Francis Fainifo
05. Pascal Pape	12. Martin Rodriguez Gurruchage
06. David Lyons	13. Paul Williams
07. Pierre Rabadan	14. Paul Sackey
08. Sergio Parisse	15. Paul Warwick

16. Aled de Malmanche 17. Rabah Slimani 18. Tom Palmer 19. Scott LaValla 20. Antoine Burban 21. Jerome Fillol 22. Morgan Turinui 23. Stan Wright

Tactics

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Bucharest Wolves vs. Banca Monte Crociati

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Pool Two

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Exeter Chiefs vs. Lyon
Heavy rain, 14 degrees, 17mph winds.
Exeter Chiefs
Manager – driver - RIP 606

01. Eifion Lewis-Roberts	09. Nick Phipps
02. Neil Clark	10. Steven Myler
03. Hoani Tui
04. Peter Short	11. David Lemi
05. Tommy Hayes	12. Adam Powell
06. Declan Danaher	13. Regan King
07. David Wallace (c)	14. Sep Visser
08. Rodney So'oialo	15. Andrea Masi

16. Matthew Beamount 17. Ben Kayser 18. Tom Mercy 19. James Hudson 20. Michael Stupple 21. Charlie Pilgrim 22. Josh Matavesi 23. Iain Balshaw

Tactics

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Lyon Rugby
Manager – xxx

01. Arnauld Tchougong	09. Ricky Janaurie
02. Jean-Phillipe Bonrepaux	10. Laurent Trainer
03. Philemon Toleafoa
04. Christian Short	11. Remy Grosso
05. Coenie Basson	12. Waisale Sukanaveita
06. Vincent Clement	13. Nicolas Raffault
07. Arnaud Dorier	14. Mosese Ratuvou
08. Nicolas Bontinck	15. Regis Lespinas

16. Antonio Testa 17. Tariel Ratianidze 18. Pierre Vigouroux 19. Juan Manuel Leguizamon 20. Alipate Fatafehi 21. Xavier Sadourny 22. Romain Veniat 23. Sebastien Petit

Tactics

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Toulon vs. Petrarca Padova

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Pool Three

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Bordeaux vs. Northampton Saints
Sunny, 19 degrees, 10mph winds.
Bordeaux
Manager – xxx

01. Laurent Delboulbes	09. Heini Adams
02. Ole Avei	10. Gerard Fraser
03. Silviu Florea
04. Cameron Treloar	11. Blair Connor
05. Adam Jaulhac	12. Felix Le Bourhis
06. Justin Purll	13. Andrew Mailei
07. Daniel Leo	14. Vunga Lilo
08. Matthew Clarkin	15. Bruce Reihana

16. Fabien Rofes 17. Hikairo Forbes 18. Francois Tisseau 19. Charlie Ternisien 20. Julien Seron 21. Camille Lopez 22. Thierry Brana 23. Jacobus Roux

Tactics

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Northampton Saints
Manager – Dammit Chris

01. Matt Stevens	09. Joe Simpson
02. Rob Webber	10. Danny Cipriani
03. Zakari Taulafo
04. Bradley Davies	11. Rory Lamont
05. Courtney Lawes	12. Jean de Villiers
06. Rocky Elsom	13. Manu Tuilagi
07. Liam Gill	14. Tomassi Benvenutti
08. Sergio Parisse	15. Leigh Halfpenny

Subs: 16. Mikey Haywood 17. Nic Mayhew 18. Carl Hayman 19. Calum Clark 20. Alexander Lapandy 21. Charlie Davies 22. Lionel Beauxis 23. Max Evans

Tactics

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Rugby Rovigo vs. Bayonne

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Pool Four

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Perpignan vs. Bath Rugby
Cloudy, 17 degrees, 7mph winds.
Perpignan
Manager – xxx

01. Perry Freshwater	09. Florian Cazenave
02. Guilhem Guirado	10. James Hook
03. Nicolas Mas
04. Olivier Olibeau	11. Armand Batlle
05. Robin Tchale-Watchou	12. Maxime Mermoz
06. Ovidiu Tonita	13. Ryan Cross
07. Jean-Pierre Perez	14. Farid Sid
08. Damien Chouly	15. Joffrey Michel

16. Charles Geli 17. Jerome Schuster 18. Yohan Vivalda 19. Romain Taofifenua 20. Betrand Guiry 21. David Mele 22. Rudi Coetzee 23. Kisi Pulu

Tactics

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Bath Rugby
Manager – inthefastlane

01. Richard Skuse	09. Fourie Du Preez
02. Kevin Mealamu	10. David Skrela
03. Davit Kubrashvilli
04. James Cannon	11. Ugo Monye
05. Sam Whitelock	12. Francois Steyn
06. Sean O’Brien	13. Aurelien Rougerie
07. Beau Robinson	14. Luke Fielden
08. Gareth Delve	15. Maxime Medard

16 Jon Golding 17 Joe Ward 18 Euan Murray 19 Rob Simmons 20 Tom Guest 21 Richard Wigglesworth 22 Charlie Hodgson 23 David Marty

Tactics

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I Cavieleri Prato vs. Newport Gwent Dragons

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Pool Five

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Brive vs. London Wasps
Sunny intervals, 16 degrees, 11mph winds.
Brive
Manager – xxx

01. Vassil Kakovin	09. Mathieu Belie
02. Irakli Natriashvili	10. Scott Spedding
03. Pablo Cardinali
04. Retief Uys	11. Ronnie Cooke
05. Arnaud Mela	12. Jamie Noon
06. Antonie Classen	13. Arnuad Mignardi
07. Alexandre Bias	14. Jacques Boussuge
08. Julien Ledevedec	15. Julien Caminati

16. David Khinchagashvili 17. Pablo Henn 18. Thibault Dubarry 19. Olivier Caisso 20. Poutasi Luafutu 21. Jean-Baptiste Pejoine 22. Riaan Swanepoel 23. Pat Barnard

Tactics

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London Wasps
Manager – 'Arry

01. James Slipper	09. Martin Roberts
02. Tatafu Polota-Nau	10. Stephen Jones
03. CJ van der Linde
04. Steve Mafi	11. Noah Cato
05. Richard Birkett	12. James Downey
06. Tom Johnson	13. Mike Tindall (c)
07. Jacques Burger	14. Tom Williams
08. James Haskell	15. Chris Wyles

16. Andy Titterell 17. Charlie Beech 18. Carlos Nieto 19. Mark Chisholm 20. Billy Vunipola 21. James Honeyben 22. Rory Clegg 23. Tom May

Tactics

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Rugby Club La Vila vs. Agen

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Good work Pete, here's Drivers team:

Will you post this team for me on the amlin thread


1.Efion Lewis Roberts
2.Neil Clark
3.Hoani Tui
4.Peter Short
5.Tommy Hayes
6.Declan Danahar
7.David Wallace (c)
8.Rodney So'iolo

9.Nick Phipps
10.Steven Myler
11.David Lemi
12.Adam Powell
13.Regan King
14.Sep Visser
15.Andrea Masi

16.Matthew Beamount 17.Ben Kayser 18.Tom Mercy 19.James Hudson 20. Michael Stupple 21.Charlie Pilgrim 22.Josh Matavista 23.Iain Balshaw

Are Bordeaux any good? Was thinking of making quite a few changes for this game...

Bath Rugby
Manager – inthefastlane

01. Richard Skuse	09. Fourie Du Preez
02. Kevin Mealamu	10. David Skrela
03. Davit Kubrashvilli
04. James Cannon	11. Ugo Monye
05. Sam Whitelock	12. Francois Steyn
06. Sean O’Brien	13. Aurelien Rougerie
07. Beau Robinson	14. Luke Fielden
08. Gareth Delve	15. Maxime Medard

16 Jon Golding 17 Joe Ward 18 Euan Murray 19 Rob Simmons 20 Tom Guest 21 Richard Wigglesworth 22 Charlie Hodgson 23 David Marty

You can draw your own conclusions about Bordeaux Chris...

http://www.espnscrum.com/france-top-14-2011-12/rugby/series/143738.html?template=pointstable

Bordeaux are pretty good, passed expectations a little last year. Be surprised if they can repeat their success this season with some of the signings the big teams have made.

Chiefs tactics

Will look to take Lyon on upfront and give Phipps clean ball at the base of the scrum and let him snipe or feed Myler outwide using powell to pull defenders in and give king the space on the outside to bring out back 3 into play with Masi picking lines off our centres.

Saints team for clash with Bordeaux

Saints today named a strong team for their trip to Bordeaux naming 13 internationals in their starting lineup. Dammit Chris stated:

"Over the last couple of games we haven't had the rub of the green with some refeering decisions, which has stopped us winning at home to Newcastle and then battling for at least a draw against Wasps last week. We've travelled to Bordeaux with a view to put this right and have looked to bring our Welsh boys back into the fray after a fantastic World Cup"

Manager – Dammit Chris

01. Matt Stevens	09. Joe Simpson
02. Rob Webber	10. Danny Cipriani
03. Zakari Taulafo
04. Bradley Davies	11. Rory Lamont
05. Courtney Lawes	12. Jean de Villiers
06. Rocky Elsom	13. Manu Tuilagi
07. Liam Gill	14. Tomassi Benvenutti
08. Sergio Parisse	15. Leigh Halfpenny

Subs: 16. Mikey Haywood 17. Nic Mayhew 18. Carl Hayman 19. Calum Clark 20. Alexander Lapandy 21. Charlie Davies 22. Lionel Beauxis 23. Max Evans

Tactics:

Key points:
* Away from home will look to play for territory and pin Bordeaux in their own half with Cips and Halfpenny putting the ball into the corners and chase putting them under pressure.
* Will also look to work through the phases and frustrate the French at home and force them into mistakes. Keeping possession and then kicking for territory should quieten the home support.
* Cipriani and Halfpenny to share kicking duties and take on all kickable penalities.
* Powerful team with lots of big ball carriers, with Cipriani pulling strings behind a dominate pack he will enjoy go forward and quick ball to feed the backline.
* Strong pack to give the French problems and bring in some fresh players in hte front row, Bradley Davies and Liam Gill. Good bench and will look to use each of the subs.
* Leadership throughout the spine of the team will be useful away from home.
* Will bring on Beauxis relatively early in second half to use his giant boot to pin the french in their own half and then defence led by Lawes in the pack and de Villiers in the backline do some damage.
* Will use all subs to keep team fresh and Bordeaux under pressure.
* Team should be too strong all over the park and tactics are to pin back, pressurise and take points whenever on offer.

01. BJ Botha	09. Dwayne Peel
02. Chris Fortey	10. Sam Vesty (k)
03. John Andress
04. Ollie Kohn	11. Josh Drauniniu
05. Danie Russouw	12. Gavin Henson
06. Scott Higginbotham	13. Sean Lamont
07. Craig Newby (c)	14. Marcel Garvey
08. Sebastian Chabal	15. Chis Paterson

16 Korree Britton 17 Chris Budgen 18 Sylvain Marconnet 19 Leo Cullen 20 Kearnen Myall 21 Jimmy Cowan 22 Morne Steyn 23 Ollie Morgan

Tactics

*Big pack to challenge Stade at all breakdowns and set pieces,
* Newby and Higginbotham to look to steal or slow down ball,
* Chabal to run off Henson causing problems in midfield,
* Vesty and Henson to run the show releasing big back 3,
* Take points when possible but look for bonus point try too,
* 11,13-15 to pick lines and look to run round (Lamont to run over) opposition,
* Vesty to kick tactfully into touch,
* Hard blitz defence looking for one player taking legs and the next on the ball, 3rd man goes for the steal,
* Time to play some attractive rugby with a backline capable to and a pack who can get quick ball for Peel,
* Use subs as and when all are big impact players and Britton will get big game experience,
* Stade will hate a windy, wet Sixways and we will make this our fortress!!

We are looking to win and take this on to the league.

London Wasps team to face Brive

1. James Slipper
2. Tatafu Polota-Nau
3. CJ Van Der Linde
4. Steve Mafi
5. Richard Birkett
6. Tom Johnson
7. Jacques Burger
8. James Haskell

9. Martin Roberts
10. Stephen Jones
11. Noah Cato
12. James Downey
13. Mike Tindall (c)
14. Tom Williams
15. Chris Wyles

16. Andy Titterell
17. Charlie Beech
18. Carlos Nieto
19. Mark Chisholm
20. Billy Vunipola
21. James Honeyben
22. Rory Clegg
23. Tom May

Tactics to come....

Pete

You have Marty starting for Perpinguan despite being on Bath's bench in the same fixture.

Could you update to 13.Ryan Cross.

Sorry to be a bother mate

Sorry for the late tactics...

High intensity game plan, our forwards will look to get us onto the front foot with big carrying, recycle the ball through the phases. Get our offloading game going, punch holes with our big centres to create spaces for others.

Worcester 18-16 Stade

Worcester just edge this one in a real messy battle

Exeter 19-5 Lyon

Too much for Exeter around the park. Myler will keep the scoreboard ticking

Bordeaux 22-35 Saints

Apart from getting a hard time in the scrum, see Saints coming home with a big win with too much quality.

USAP 22-23 Bath

Belter this one. Tough place to go but a serious outfit from Bath. Skuse will be in for a tough night but I think Bath have some quality throughout. SOB to be at his electric best!

Brive 18-24 Wasps

Strong side from Wasps that will see them through

Worcester 15-15 Stade

Stade with the upper hand in the starting sides but a quality bench and home advantage see Worcester sneak the draw

Exeter 20-9 Lyon

Exeter with the better quality on show and with home advantage get the win.

Bordeaux 13-26 Saints

Saints with enough quality throughout to win in France.

USAP 26-26 Bath

Cracking game on show here. Bath with the upper hand in the backrow but Skuse will took a bit of beating here. Same as Irish game in the Heino not sure if Bath have enough to win away from home but are edging it overall quality wise so get the draw

Brive 16-22 Wasps

Brive dont particularly take the european competitions seriously and a decent Wasps side should pick up the win here.

Worcester 23 - 20 Stade

Reallly strong side by Stade, but Worcester bench is very strong and will win them the game.

Exeter 22-11 Lyon

Lyon are one of those teams that frustrate teams and slow everything down, but wont stop Exeter winning and stopping any losing BP.


USAP 17 - 20 Bath

Tough place to go, but then Bath have way too much quality and now worries with this one at all in my mind. Think the French influence will work wonders too.

Brive 9-19 Wasps

Stephen Jones influence will see Wasps through a tricky tie, but still dont think Wasps have enough out wide to score 4 tries, wukk ve troublesome until they get another top wing.

Exeter 21-3 Lyon
Exeter's pack dominating and winning the penalties to seal the match.

Bordeaux 18-28 Saints
Saints back 3 give Reihana a torrid time against his old side.

USAP 20-21 Bath
Bath have the grunt to nick this...just.

Brive 10-25 Wasps
Wasps way too strong here.

Worcester 18 - 19 Stade

Hell of a contest with the pack battle being one to remember. Just think Stade have a bit more form throughout, and they take a great win from Worcester.

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Exeter 32 - 12 Lyon

Exeter have too much for Lyon today, and a good showing in the pack is enough for them today.

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Bordeaux 18 - 29 Saints

Saints provide a good performance, and are strong enough in the pack to run home the scores in the end.

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Perpignan 23 - 25 Bath

Tough to call this one. Think Bath have just enough class in the backs to see off a strong home side, but will go right to the death.

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Brive 12 - 36 London Wasps

Way too much class throughout for Wasps, and have them getting the advantage in all areas today.

Worcester 21 - 19 Stade

Very close game but a good win for Worcester. Strong bench see's them home.

Exeter 27 - 18 Lyon

Few decent players in the Lyon pack but not enough to give Exeter a comfortable win.

Bordeaux 18 - 67 Saints

Absolute Mauling. Saints half backs give the French side nightmares. great win for Saints.

Perpignan 23 - 25 Bath

Really tough game here for Bath but they pass the test. Two quality sides on show.

Brive 18 - 41 Wasps

Convincing Wasps win against an unusually weak Brive lineup. Tough place to go but Wasps get the job done.

Worcester 21 - 19 Stade

Very close game but a good win for Worcester. Strong bench see's them home.

Exeter 27 - 18 Lyon

Few decent players in the Lyon pack but not enough to give Exeter a comfortable win.

Bordeaux 18 - 67 Saints

Absolute Mauling. Saints half backs give the French side nightmares. great win for Saints.

Perpignan 23 - 25 Bath

Really tough game here for Bath but they pass the test. Two quality sides on show.

Brive 18 - 41 Wasps

Convincing Wasps win against an unusually weak Brive lineup. Tough place to go but Wasps get the job done.

"Bordeaux 18 - 67 Saints"

Jesus! Lol

Worcester 21 Stade 21

Bordeaux 20 Northampton 28

Perpignan 23 Bath 20

Brive 15 Wasps 45

Worcester 21-19 Stade
At home Warriors edge this, might struggle away.

Exeter 31-18 Lyon
Exeter have too much quality.

Brive 9-37 Wasps
Wasps pack provides the backs for their backs!

Worcester 21 - 19 Stade

Very close game but a good win for Worcester. Strong bench see's them home and home advantage. Unconvinced by worcs centres and backs generally but bench ends that. Bj Botha is a tight head not 1 but stade front row not greatest. Roncero does not do it anymore and should never have started wc. Attoub decent scrummager but unfit and Swarzeski average scrummager nowhere near as bad as certain people say on here but needs 2 decent rocks alongside like most modern hookers. After Servat, tincu,Bruno, bdp, Strauss and Moore which hooker scrums well

Exeter 27 - 18 Lyon

Few decent players in the Lyon pack but not enough to give Exeter a comfortable win.

Bordeaux 12-40 Saints

Absolute Mauling. This cup a mismatch for
Our teams

Perpignan 23 - 25 Bath best front row in Europe when Tincu plays. Guirado powder puff scrummager but they hammer bath at scrum time. Bath a bit too much when bench considere.Perez the perp 7 is a great player and their 9 is a fiery character

Brive 12-38Wasps

Convincing Wasps win. Home advantage stops 50

Worcester Warriors 19 Stade Francais 20

Good battle up front, just think that Warriors may lack a little bit of fluidity in the backs with Henson still needing to prove himself again. Stade have lots of quality and I think will nick it.

Exeter Chiefs 24 Lyon 15

Morale boosting win for the Chiefs against a Lyon side with not quite enough quality to compete.

Bordeaux 9 Northampton Saints 45

As Mat has said, this one is a mismatch. If at Franklins Gardens would have been an even bigger margin.

Perpignan 24 Bath Rugby 26

Bath have more quality overall, but that Perpignan pack are tough cookies and will keep them close.

Brive 12 London Wasps 35

Strong Wasps side. Not very good Brive side. Comfortable away win.

Worcester 20 - 21 Stade Francais
Good, close battle up front but I feel that Stade have that extra bit of quality and flair in their back line that will see them to victory.

Exeter Chiefs 23 - 18 Lyon
Lyon don't have enough quality to match the Chiefs here.

Bordeaux 9 - 48 Northampton Saints
No contest, the Saints will walk all over them.

Perpignan 21 - 24 Bath Rugby
Close contest but I think Bath's fantastic back line sees them to victory here.

Still digging at Guirado Matt? Given up on his lineout throwing though? ;)Hes one of the best scrummaging hooks in the Top 14 these days. If hes powder puff I shudder to thnk what Szareski's scrummaging can be classed as...

Pooly I see you mentoned Steven's big score against me as a bit of a shock - have you seen the scoreline that Wasps have put on them in real life? Some of the French teams are utter dross.

Think most teams now could win in this league by +20 points home & away now. Almost in Heineken Cup too, apart from Toulouse and Leinster away.

oi steve...glaws will destroy toulouse away....honest.....

RESULTS

Pool 1
Worcester Warriors 25 Stade Francais 22
Bucharest Wolves vs. Banca Monte Crociati

Pool 2
Toulon 53 Petraca Padova 22
Exeter Chiefs 35 Lyon Rugby 13

Pool 3
Rugby Rovigo 10 Bayonne 43
Bordeaux 15 Northampton Saints 47

Pool 4
Perpignan 23 Bath Rugby 32
I Cavieleri Prato 3 Newport Gwent Dragons 33

Pool 5
Rugby Club La Vila 10 Agen 50
Brive 13 London Wasps 32

SCORERS

Worcester Warriors 25 Stade Francais 22

Tries: Henson, Garvey, Lamont
Conversions: Vesty (2)
Penalties: Vesty (2)

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Tries: Williams
Conversions: Contepomi
Penalties: Contepomi (5)

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Exeter Chiefs 35 Lyon 13

Tries: So'oialo, Lemi (2), Masi
Conversions: Myler (3)
Penalties: Myler (3)

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Tries: Grosso
Conversions: Trainer
Penalties: Trainer

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Bordeaux 15 Northampton Saints 47

Penalties: Fraser (5)

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Tries: Parisse, Benvenuti (2), Halfpenny, Elsom, Stevens
Conversions: Cipriani (4)
Penalties: Cipriani (3)

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Perpignan 23 Bath Rugby 32

Tries: Mermoz, Sid
Conversions: Tebaldi
Penalties: Tebaldi (2)

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Tries: Monye (2), O'Brien, Steyn
Conversions: Skrela (3)
Penalties: Skrela (2)

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Brive 13 London Wasps 32

Tries: Bias
Conversions: Spedding
Penalties: Spedding (2)

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Tries: Johnson, Cato, Roberts, May
Conversions: Jones (3)
Penalties: Jones (2)

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Henson :o

had a stormer apparently