Premiership Round 4 - Week 8

First topic message reminder :

Team Sheets and tactics due by Thursday(18:00)
Predictions due till Monday (18:00)

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Newcastle Falcons v London Irish
White Cloud, 6 Degrees, 6mph Winds

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Newcastle Falcons

Manager – Fluxy

01. Jon Golding	09. Chris Pilgrim
02. Rob Vickers	10. Jimmy Gopperth (K)
03. Tom Mercey
04. James Hudson (C)	11. Paul Diggin
05. Tim Swinson	12. James Fitzpatrick
06. Magnus Lund	13. Tom May
07. Hienrich Brussow	14. Jack Cuthbert
08. Tom Guest	15. Luke Fielden

16. Grant Shiells 17. Joe Graham 18. Adrian Fondse 19. Ally Hogg 20. Will Chudley 21. Jeremy Manning 22. Seb Stegmann 23. Darren Fearn

General Tactics

A few weeks into the season, and there is a need for a little squad rotation to prevent the onset of fatique. Furthermore there are a few losses in the line-up due to international call-ups. However there have been some recoveries from injuries and also the chance for some quality fringe players to prove that they have a case for a first team call up.

Depsite playing away to a decent team, we still have a chance to win this game with our tactics. We will look to restrict the London Irish game plan, and also with their tactics they seem to be detrimental to their usual play as some aspects of ther tactics will suit us down to the ground.

[list]
Attack

[*] Playing the right areas and using our strengths - Using the boots of; Gopperth, May and Manning to get the forwards in the oppositions half. This will be key to our game, as no team can score tries consistently from in their own 22. The ball will be pinged into space between the back three and defensive lines and kicking into the corners, instead of down the throats of the Irish players.
We have a very dominant front row at the scrum and at lineout time.

[*] Lineout - We have a large number of quality lineout jumpers and a very cleverly run lineout with Hudson at the helm. This should be a main focus of possession either from the disruption of opposition ball or just claiming our own. Also with the selection of Vickers at hook, doesn't mean we lose quality in our throwing at the lineout and at scrum time too.

[*] Ball Carriers - Falcons have a range of ball carriers from Hogg, Lund and Vickers to Fitzpatrick and May, and players like these will get us over the gain line so we can play some rugby in the oppositions half.

[*] Penalties - When the oppurtunity arises Gopperth shall take all kickable points within his rage. Cuthbert to kick any long range penalties that Gopperth cannot make.

Defence

[*] Defensive line - We shall look to get up as the fast as the slowest man, and then drift the line man on man, in the direction of the play. Scrum-half covers behind as a pendulum.

[*] Halfbacks - The back row will look to be on the backs of the Irish halfbacks, not giving them any time or space. Brussow will be straight up on Geraphty and or Shingler to give them a "warm welcome". This should then lead to pressure and mistakes which will equal mistakes.

[*] Compete at the breakdown - Look to give the opposition no time to settle in to plays or not to take any ruck lightly, as this will lead to mistakes from the forwards an panicked kicks and decisions from the backs. Brussow and Lund should be first to rucks.

[*] Substitutions - Grant Shiells on for Tom Mercey at 60 minutes, likewise Fearn on for Golding at the same time. Welch on for Hogg if we were losing in the second half. Also if we are down by a more than ten points we can bring on Manning to inject some pace and direction for Gopperth. And finally Stegmann on for Diggin at 65 minutes.

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London Irish
Manager – Pullthestrings

01. Clarke Dermody (c)	09. Paul Hodgson
02. David Paice	10. Shane Geraghty (k)
03. Paulică Ion
04. Bob Casey	11. Topsy Ojo
05. Nick Kennedy	12. Shontayne Hape
06. Jamie Gibson	13. Joe Ansbro
07. David Pocock	14. Adam Thompstone
08. Chris Hala'ufia	15. Delon Armitage (k)

16. James Buckland, 17. Faan Rautenbach, 18. Max Lahiff, 19. Bryn Evans, 20. Declan Danahar, 21. Joe Simpson, 22. Steve Shingler, 23 Marlande Yarde

Tactics
After the default win last week, we are fresh and raring to go. We make the long trip north determined to bring home the win. We have a lot of young talent across the park and we can't be scared to back ourselves and take opportunities when they arise.

- Look to compete at the scrum and provide solid ball for our backs. If it's messy, Hala'ufia to pick and go to set it up. Lahiff and Rautenbach to come on and bolser our ability to use the scrum as a platform to go from.

- Big Bob Casey to control the lineout, using primary jumpers Kennedy, Gibson and Pocock. Opt for full lineouts in their half to tie in their pack and go for off-the-top ball to get wide quickly.

- We know they are strong in the pack so we'll look to harness their strength and utilise our own - our running game. When turnovers arise, two quicks balls away and go. Backs, forwards, back yourselves.

- Be disciplined at the breakdown, with a guard and bodyguard at every breakdown to stop those easy yards around the fringes. No excuses here.

- Gibson comes in fresh. Although a 6 is on his back, he'll play like another 7, being industrious round the park and looking for turnover opportunities.

- Gibson and Hala'ufia to give us real go forward. Look to get outside their guards and bodyguards to suck in more and more forwards at each breakdown. The space will come, and when it does, we go.

- Hodgson comes in to add a different dimension. He'll control the pack and use big runners to set up a platform to go from.

- Play rugby in their half. Geraghty and Hodgson to pick their mark and put us in the right places.

- Geraghty to go for points at every opportunity. With Delon on hand also, we can have a pop from anywhere in their half. Make them scared to give away penalties in their half, thus giving us more time at the breakdown.

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Harlequins v Worcester Warriors
Sunny, 3 Degrees, 8mph Winds

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Harlequins
Manager – Driver

01. Joe Marler	09. Danny Care
02. Joe Grey	10. Nick Evans
03. James Johnstone
04. Ollie Kohn	11. Tom Williams
05. George Robson	12. Tom Casson
06. Matt Kvesic	13. George Lowe
07. Will Skinner (c)	14. Scott Hamilton
08. Nick Easter	15. Greg Goosen

16.Chris Brooker 17.Mark Lambert 18.George Skivington 19.Taiasina Tuifua 20.Rob Bunchaban 21..Rory Clegg 22.Ollie Lindsey Hague 23.Andy Short

- High intensity game plan based around moving ball with Evans pulling the strings.

- Goosen , Williams and Hamilton to counter.

- Kvesic and Skinner to make a mess of the breakdown.

- front 5 all mobile and offloading the ball to keep it moving.

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Bath Rugby v Gloucester Rugby
White Cloud, 3 Degrees, 10mph Winds

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Bath Rugby
Manager - Bathite

01.N.Catt	09.M.Claassens
02.P.Dixon	10.S.Donald
03.O.Franks
04.D.Attwood	11.T.Biggs
05.S.Hooper (c)	12.O.Barkley
06.B.Skirving	13. M.Carraro
07.L.Moody	14.O.Woodburn
08.C.Fearns	15.N.Abendanon

16.A.Perenise 17.L.Mears 18.C.Beech 19.R.Caldwell 20.S.Taylor 21.C.Cook 22.T.Heathcote 23. O.Phillips

General gameplan
We will look to play sensible rugby in our half, especially in the first half, to prevent giving away easy penalties away and stop Glos getting early points and confidence. We use the left and right boots of Barkley/Donald to clear our lines to touch and use up+under when in centre field. Don't kick aimlessly at all, be safe with touch and challenge the throw. Pacey back three picked to match opposition pace out wide, kick chase well and prevent quick lineouts. Moody comes into the side for his leadership qualities and ability to disrupt and force the tempo of the opposition fly half.

We think that a big pack can dominate at home up front and with 30mins to go, we have a real impact bench. Look to target the front 5 for a solid set piece to form attacking platform and give Classens quick ball.

Defensively, we know Lambie will want to kick, so use Moody and Fearns to pressurise him and rush kicks, hopefully forcing loose kicks and sacrificing distance from his clearances.

Backs play
* Classens, Donald, Barkley axis use vast experience to control the tempo. Donald takes the ball flat on the gameline, looking for a physical mismatch
* Barkley to grubber in behind EFS and Tindall, looking to expose a lack of pace and mobility with pacey back three running in behind, Fearns, Catt & Attwood following up to secure quick ruck ball
* Look to expose Tindall's outside shoulder, with Barkley dropping deep and Fearns/Bendy as dummy runners. Get Woodburn and Biggs stepping off their wings.
* Donald runs hard at 10, Carraro, Fearns, Attwood and Franks off his shoulder to attract the 10 12 channel and create space out wide
* Donald to use up and under in own half to clear lines, with Banahan, Bendy and Woodburn kick chasing and challenging well in the air
* Bendy often steps in as second receiver, allowing Barkley time to drop diagonal grubbers in behind for Woodburn and Bendy to chase
* Carraro picked for his defensive leadership, he will look for the man and ball hit at 13, where we can secure quick ball

Forwards play
* After 50mins, Beech, Mears and Perenise coming on to refresh the set piece dominance and Moody replacing Mercer to continue the pressure on the opposition 10
* Use bulk of the front five at scrumtime to create a solid set piece. Look to use strength advantage to apply pressure on opposing scrums, so backrow must deal with scrappy ball
* Always compete for throw to discourage and disrupt the quick off the top ball

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Gloucester

Manager – prop_lyd

01. Dario Chistolini	09. Dave Lewis
02. Darren Dawiduk	10. Patrick Lambie (k)
03. Rupert Harden
04. Alex Brown	11. JSD
05. Will James	12. EFS
06. Peter Buxton	13.Mike Tindall
07. Akapusi Qera	14. Johnny May
08. Luke Narraway (c)	15. Olly Morgan

16. Mataias Cortese 17. Yann Thomas 18. Shaun Knight 19. Brett Deacon 20. Andy Hazell 21. Rory Lawson 22. Freddie Burns 23. Charlie Sharples

Tactics
We go to the rec looking for a win and won't accept anything else. We have selected experience across the 15 with the youngsters in there to provide the gas and unpredictability. We will look to play fast attacking rugby and nullify any threats with a blitz banana defence called up by Tindall to stop the ball going past 10. We will look to have a flanker 2nd to each breakdown to look to either seal the ball or steal it.

Forwards
*Look to hold the scrum and use the pace and battering rams in the back row to get across the gainline,
*Put pressure on their lineout and look to steal ball and win clean ball,
*Run off EFS's shoulder where he'll find the gaps for our strong runners,
*Get quick ball at the breakdown but look to commit as little as possible to have more runners,
*Bring on Deacon and Hazell to add intensity to the game.

Backs
*Lewis to get quick ball for Lambie,
*Lambie to pin in the corners when nothing is on,
*EFS to put Tindall into space and use his creativity to release the former English skipper,
*Wingers to go looking for space and will use their pace to hit the gaps,
*Use Burns and Sharples to alter the match and add more pace.

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London Wasps v Exeter Chiefs
Sunny, 2 Degrees, 8mph Winds

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London Wasps
Manager – Stnick88

01. Tim Payne	09. Nic Berry
02. George Chuter	10. Danny Cipriani
03. Ben Broster
04. Matt Garvey	11. Tom Varndell
05. Marco Wentzel	12. Dominic Waldouck
06. Tinus Du Plessis	13. Jonathan Joseph
07. Julien Salvi	14. Alesana Tuilagi
08. John Hart	15. Hugo Southwell

16. Zak Taulafo 17. Jeremy Castex 18. Andy Titterell 19. Richard Birkett 20. Jonathan Poff 21. Charlie Davies 22. Ryan Davis 23. Chris Bell

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Exeter Chiefs
Manager – Sexton_Style

01. Perry Freshwater	09. Haydn Thomas
02. Bismarck Du Plessis	10. Aaron Cruden
03. John Andress
04. James Horwill(C)	11. Nic Sestaret
05. James Hanks	12. Sireli Naqelevuki
06. Tom Johnson	13. Gonzalo Camacho
07. James Scaysbrook	14. Paul Sackey
08. Ofisa Treviranus	15. Luke Arscott

16. Neil Clark, 17. Ben Moon, 18. Tommy Hayes, 19. Richard Baxter, 20. Junior Poluleuigaga, 21. Gareth Steenson, 22. Jason Shoemark, 23. Matt Jess

Tactics

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Northampton Saints v Sale Sharks
White Cloud, 1 Degrees, 7mph Winds

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Northampton Saints
Manager – SirJohnnyEnglish

01. Alex Waller	09. Martin Roberts
02. Brett Sharman	10. Stephen Myler
03. Brian Mujati
04. Courtney Lawes	11. Vasily Artemiev
05. Christian Day	12. James Downey
06. Calum Clark	13. John Clarke
07. Tom Wood	14. Jamie Elliot
08. Kieran Read	15. Greig Tonks

16. Ethan Waller 17. Andy Long 18. Paul Doran-Jones 19. Samu Manoa 20. Roger Wilson 21. Stuart Commins 22. Ryan Lamb 23. Noah Cato

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General Game Plan:

We want to play the game in the right areas and force mistakes from Sale today. Myler will look to use an intelligent kicking game to put us in Sale territory. When there we will use our strong carriers to attack gaps and half gaps in the Sale line, looking to offload in contact to support runners thus changing the point of attack and keeping our forward momentum going.

On defence, we will use a blitz defence coming up at pace looking to isolate the Sale ball carriers before they can get to the gain line stopping any momentum and allowing us to hit the breakdown harder. Roberts will act as a sweeper to cover any grubbers or chips behind the line while our back three will sit deep ready to cover any kicks down the touch lines.

With the blitz in operation we will look to be at the breakdown first hitting it fast and hard. The first two players on the scene will look to ruck past the ball and clear out the Sale players providing quick counter attacking ball to be used against a disorganised defense. If the ball does not look available we will not commit to the ruck and look to strengthen the defensive line instead.

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Key Points:

•Home Advantage

With a baying home crowd at the hostile Gardens looking to intimidate both Sale and the ref, the Sharks will need to be at their very best to win!

•Scrum

We will contest every engagement! On our own feed we will look to get the wheel on and create extra room for our 8-9-10 axis to work in. On Sale ball we will disrupt the put in looking for penalties or to create rushed poor ball for the Sale halfbacks.

We feel Mujati has the power to cause Dickinson, who is not known for his scrummaging at all, real problems and we want to draw penalties and perhaps a trip to the bin. Young Waller is in great form this year and is more then capable of holding his own.

When the subs come on we will look to really dominate young Imolek and Thomas. As a unit they have taken some heavy beatings in real life this season and PDJ and co will look to take full advantage.

•Lineout

With 5 jumpers, we want to really use the lineout as an attacking platform like South Africa in recent years. We will use a full compliment and play the ball off the top allowing our halfbacks to get on the ball at pace with room outside.

•Breakdown

With a huge but mobile front 5 and the back row we have on show, we have more then enough expertise at the breakdown and will look to blow Seymour away at the breakdown as Sale don’t seem to be committing numbers to the breakdown?

Wood and Read as captain and vice captain will be in the refs ear about Seymour’s attempts to slow our ball down highlighting any illegal play looking for penalties!

•Contact Battle

After the recent Ireland-Wales and dire England-Scotland game we have all seen how important it is to have plenty of strong carriers to win the contact battle. We have a huge pack that can set the tone here and out muscle Sale pushing them back.

Sale's only real carrying threat will come from Schofield and Vernon. We will look to target both with the “choke” tackle made famous by Ireland and force turnovers or force Sale to kick to our dangerous back 3.

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Sale Sharks
Manager – LondonIrishOllie

01.Dickinson	09.Peel
02.Jones	10.Wilko
03.Kubriashvili
04.Myall	11.Amesbury
05.Schofield	12.Tuitupou
06.Gaskell	13.Fourie
07.Seymour	14.Brady
08.Vernon	15.McLeod

Subs - 16.Imoliek 17.Ward 18.Thomas 19.Crane 20.Fourie 21.Mathie 22.Leota 23.Addison

Tactics

We are going to look to our halfbacks to put us in the right area of the pitch. We will aim to ensure the Saints are under pressure. Wilko and Peel will win the territorial battle. Tuitupou and Fourie will stop their one dimensional centre partneship and in attack Tuitupou will make the hard yards will Fourie providing the bit of magic.

Vernon, Schofield and Jones will make the hard yards in the pack. With Gaskell and Myall running the lineout, we will control possesion. Kubs will enjoy his day against the inexpereicned Waller, meaning we will grind out penalties at scrum time. Gaskell and Myall will put Sharman who has been well done the pecking order at Saints in real life under huge pressure at lineout, leading to them having to throw front receiver ball.

Amesbury and Brady will come off their wings to look for work. Seymour the only out and out opensideo n the pitch will slow their ball down alot and win many turnovers. We have a bench that ensures we will continue to win the forward battle and will be able to close out the game.

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Saracens v Leicester Tigers
Sunny, 2 Degrees, 6mph Winds

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SARCENS
Manager – Luke

01. Rhys Gill	09. Ben Spencer
02. Schalk Brits	10. Derick Hougaard (k)
03. Carlos Nieto
04. George Kruis	11. Joe Maddock
05. Steve Borthwick (c)	12. Adam Powell
06. Jacques Burger	13. Joel Tomkins
07. Andy Saull	14. James Short
08. Ernst Joubert	15. Alex Goode

16. Jared Saunders 17. Jamie George 18. John Smit 19. Hugh Vyvyan 20. Jackson Wray 21. Richard Wigglesworth 22. Nils Mordt 23. Michael Tagicakibau

Tactics

We will work as units and play a structured game. We will use the scrum and lineout as weapons.

- Attack the lineout as much as we can using the tactical kicking of Spencer and Hougaard. Borthwick to lead, supported by Joubert, Kruis and Saull.

- Call for scrums when we can if we are getting the advantage we expect to. Joubert to control from the base.

- Look to all of our forwards to give us real go-forward with their carrying.

- Saull is the man charged with reaching the breakdown first, securing first phase possession for us and pilfering the possession of the opposition.

- Hougaard is given license to play the game as he sees it. We do ask that he uses our lineout and carrying ability to put pressure on the opposition, but if he sees an opportunity to attack out wide - that is his call.

- Our back three are encouraged to do what they do best - counter attacking and running the ball back. All have good boots to rely on if it isn't on or they are isolated, but the counter is what we ask them to look for.

- Early on Hougaard to kick all penalites within range, but we won't necessarily go for the 3 points as the game progresses. Borthwick to make the call dependant on the success of the lineout.

- Use a very powerful bench to tie the game up in the last 20/30 mins.

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Leicester Tigers
Manager – Sgt_Pooly

01. Marco Ayerza	09. Sam Harrison
02. Rob Hawkins	10. Toby Flood
03. Julian White
04. Lewis Deacon	11. Horacio Agulla
05. Graham Kitchener	12. Berrick Barnes
06. Craig Newby	13. Manu Tuilagi
07. Luke Wallace (c)	14. James O’Connor
08. Thomas Waldroum	15. Geordan Murphy

16. Tom Youngs 17. Kieran Brookes 18. Boris Stankovich 19. Ed Slater 20. Sam Jones 21. James Grindal 22. Billy Twelvetrees 23. Elliott Daley

Tactics

In the good conditions we'll be looking to play at a high tempo and intensity from the off and move the opposition around the park.

We will look to set a tone in the set piece with our big scrummaging front 5 and will look for the squeeze from the off. Kitchener will lead the line and we will look to target the opposition's throw with Newby/Kitch marshalling the front/middle of the line. We'll use big carries from our pack to draw in the opposition defence with Harrison marshalling and looking for gaps to exploit around the fringes.

Wallace & Newby will target the breakdown with Harrison sniping around and playing flat to the line to allow Barnes & Manu space to run into. JOC will come looking for the ball in midfield and link up with Manu causing problems in the opposition midfield. We'll look to refresh pack around 60mins + and keep up the intensity.

Barnes will act as second playmaker and look to bring our backs into play and exploit Manu’s physicalty with mismatches and also as a decoy to draw the opposition defense.

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Can everyone redo Exeter game if poss, a score will do.

Well Cruden at 3 was a mistake, and I don't have a clue how to code so im sorry for that.

SirJohnnyEnglish said I could get away with tactics for this week, as I joined on the day they were meant to be in. I was getting to grips with the game, and trying stuff out.

Anyway it's Andress at 3.

I will lose anyway, but a respectable score would be nice now I have told you about the error.

Saracens 18 - 17 Leicester Tigers 

A very close. But I can see the impressive tigers picking up their first defeat go the season at Vicarage road. The Saracens pack is well drilled and less affected by international call ups and they stamp their mark on the game from the off. This allows them some dominance through the game but all their points come from the boot as Leicester infringe a few times in this game. 

The tigers backs give them some impetus, but with the pack going backwards at points it's difficult. O'Connor manages to conjure some magic for a brace of tries. But Saracens rarely gave away any penalties for Leicester to get any more points. 

Northampton Saints 23 - 16 Sale Sharks

A tough away trip for the Sharks here, but they start brightly with Wilkinson peppering the home defence with grubbers and up and unders. This generates a few penalties early on for Sale and take a lead. But as the game progresses the Saints back five begin to take control of the game. The front rows are quite even with a good battle between Sheridan and Mujati. And this allows sharks possession along with a good line out. However the big runners from the saints pack breaks wholes in the Sale defence and allows the saints back to take advantage, especially in the second half as the legs begin to tire. 
An important individual try from Read puts Saints on their way to a good win. 

London Wasps 17 - 17 Exeter Chiefs

A struggle to predict this one as a lack of tactics hurt both. The Chiefs have a good pack overall, especially with Horwill leading the way. The pack garners a good amount of ball for the backs to play with. But there is a lack of continuity in the back with camacho at outside centre as a highlight. 
Although good work from Garvey and Wenztel around the park and at line out time allows the access to some time with the ball for the dangerous backs. It was just unlucky that they couldn't get an upper handl in the pack otherwise they'd have won this one. 

Bath Rugby 20 - 14 Gloucester Rugby

Simply this one, Bath forwards are very good, and Gloucester's backline is immense. The power of the Bath front five means they grab this game by the scruff of the neck and suffocate the Cherry and whites. The tactics and lineup compliment each other and Glos suffer for the lack in front five power. Their backline is their saving grace however, as they snatch a couple of tries with inspired attacking play. But they can't cope with the Bath pack as they rampage all day giving Donald an easy day to direct them. 

Not sure if we predict for the Quins Worcester game as there isn't even a team sheet for own team. 

Newcastle 14 - 20 London Irish
This match I feel could of been closer, but Newcastle lack quality in the backs. Nobody really makes them tick in the backs, while Irish have better control and more dangerous players from 9-15. London Irish, experience at the line out with Casey and Kennedy paid dividends, while Pocock get's the better of Brussow in the battle of the big guns.

Bath 23 - 20 Gloucester
A very close game, hard to seperate these two sides, but Bath get the win due to home advantage. Bath's pack dominated Gloucester's for most of the game the front three giving Gloucester a right hard time. While Donald and Barkley's kicking game frustrated Gloucester. Gloucester looked capable when attacking, but in the scrum and line out they struggled to adapt away to Bath.

Northampton 17 - 15 Sale
Northampton prove too strong at home, they really have domination in the forwards, due to missing Tonga'uhia the Sale scrum contested Northampton well, but in the second row and with the line out skills they posses, despite the qualities Myall and Schofield, Lawes and Day teach them a lesson. Northampton carried the ball well, looked dangerous from the game line, with Read and Wood just controlling things. Sale more dangerous in the backs, but that didn't matter, Northampton win.

Saracens 18 - 23 Leicester
Saracens missing players and looking thread bare in the backs compared to Leicester's. Leicester proving way too strong for a weakened Sarries side, Sarries would of done much better if they weren't up against Leicester but they are. Leicester dominate in all areas, scrum, line out, from the base, from the game line and Waldrom carrying skills just too much to handle. O'Connor ran Saracens ragged, while Barnes and Tuilagi's defensive and attacking skills, tore Sarries apart.

Newcastle 15 - 20 Irish

Not a great deal of give in the scrums, maybve slight edge to Irish. Similar story i9n the 2nd rows. Home side slightly on top in the back rows despite Pocock edging Brussow. Backs in general to Irish but not a huge Geraghty at 10 fan. Think Irish have enough to secure a good away win.



Harlequins v Worcester

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Bath 22 - 21 Gloucester

Bath slightly stronger front three, but Brown will domiate the lineout here I think. Bath to edge the back row too. Two good HB units, slight edge to Bath. Gloucester the better runners in the backs. I think Bath have enough to sneak this at home.



Wasps 18 - 19 Exeter

Edge to Exeter up front with BdP getting on top of Chuter. Two great 2nd row combo's, Horwill the standout. Maybe slight edsge to Exeter in the back row, but not a lot in it. Exeter with the stronger HB's on show, although beyond there I much prefer Wasps. Really tight game that I think Exeter will just sneak.



Saints 18 - 16 Sale

Two nice units up front, maybe edge to Saints but tight. Saints take the 2nd row, and the back row with a great unit. Much stronger HB's from Sale, and maybe take the centres too. Saints edge the back three. Saints at home take it with a top pack, but Peel & Wilko keep Sale close.

Newcastle 14-12 Irish

Good pack battle that just shades to the home team, Brussow v Pocock would be worth the admission alone but think Brussow is a little more savvy at the breakdown and he'll edge things here. Again not a whole load in the backs but Falcons set out well to frustrate and I think with home advantage will edge things in a low scorer.

Harlequins 30-0 Worcester

No Worcester team

Bath 23-17 Gloucester

See Bath getting edge in set piece and controlling the pack. Similar story in the backline with Bath living off cleaner ball and with some good form. Gloucester will be a real threat on the counter but home advantge will see Bath control the game and get a good win.

Saints 20-19 Sale

Not seeing too much move in the front 5's with some solid set piece. Saints are a class above in the backrow though with some serious talent. Class above for Sale in the halfbacks and I think they edge the centres with Fourie providing the spark and back 3's not much in it. Tight game but Saints just sneak it.

Wasps 6-6 Exeter
Lack of game plans hinders and not much between the team tbh.

Close games this week boys.

3m to Bathite, Sexton, Pooly, Flux, Nick, Luke, ITFL

1.5m to Ollie, Prop, Driver

0m to SJE & Pull

Easy fella, I just got back from work! Doing them now!

Sorry Pull...already worked them outas closed at 1800.

I'm going to set the times as it's causing confusion, I was away last week so not quite sure were the early start etc came from.

We had this a couple of weeks ago, agreed to extend it to 20:00?

I'm sorry mate, not sure whats happened this week. People have got a little confused with changed timings.

I'll add 1.5m to your budget as compensation.

NEW TIMINGS ON HOME PAGE

OK, fair enough. I didn't spot the 18:00 otherwise I would have done it anyway.

Shall I post scores anyway or are results final?

I'm totalled up and just doing budgets now

Yeah it was supoosed to be 8pm close?? Im just on to do predictions now!!

I'm going on timing at top?!?!

Oh sorry mate never changed that! Has been 8 since you changed it 2 weeks ago as Pull struggles to get on before 6 with work! I want my 1.5m as well!!!!

Do you want to both get them in???

Pull if you do details can bump you to 3m

Was a little confused with being away, Thursday teams etc

Yeah sure mate can get mine in now!

Pair of buggers lol

Couple of Sarries wins could prove interesting lol.

Never thought of that.

Yea it's finished now lads, too late haha

Newcastle Falcons 15-19 London Irish

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Good battle in the front 5. Irish front row can get an edge at the scrum. Lineout battle is fairly even but Falcons have more around the park for me. Back row battle is tight but better balance to Irish sees them edge it. In the backs 9-15 Irish have a bit more quality.

Irish will get more out of the forwards battle and have the backs to use the ball and pick up a good away win.

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Harlequins 30-0 Worcester Warriors

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Default win.

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Bath Rugby 18-18 Gloucester Rugby

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Scrum time both THs can win a few penalties. Glaws can get their hands on more ball at the lineout but more quality from the Bath 2nd row sees their front 5 get around more. Not sure on the balance of Baths backrow with no one really doing the breakdown work but Glaws aren’t a side to take advantage of that.

In the backs Classens at scrumhalf gives Bath better control. Some joy can be got for Glaws running at Barkley but good tactics from Bathite with the kicking game see Bath get a bit of ground. Glaws back 3 a step up in attacking threat.

Very tough game to call here. Cant’ see either pack getting on the front foot for a sustained period. Bath will move the ball well with the better set of halfbacks but Glaws midfield and back 3 has a serious threat to it. I’m going to opt for a draw here.

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London Wasps 15-17 Exeter Chiefs

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Chiefs have the advantage in the set piece here for me. Good strong front 5. Backrow is tight here. Salvi will see a few turnovers but neither side will really dominate.

In the backs Cruden wins the battle of the 10s for me. Very classy player. Not sure on Camacho at 13 at all. Can be got at defensivly while the Wasps back 3 have a bit more quality. Chiefs can get at the Wasps midfield defensively as well though with some big carries from Naqa.

Front 5 battle sets the tone here for me and gives Cruden the space he needs to pick up a decent win for the new Chiefs management.

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Saracens 21-21 Leicester Tigers

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Scrum wise neither side will get on top but Sarries can get on top at the lineout with a lack of top jumpers for Tigers. In the backrow Wallace can get a few turnovers for Tigers but theres a better balance to the Sarries unit who don’t get hit by internationals here at all!! In the backs there is definitely a better creative spark to the Tigers side. Sarries strong defensively and will make the hard ground but haven’t the spark to open an organised defence.

Sarries at home is a tough proposition especially when they can get an edge in the pack. Sarries control possession but Tigers have the spark to open them up. Tough one to call and im going to opt out again. Sorry guys draw here.

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3m please

I've deleted my post now

No worries.

Falcons score first!

Just do results now

SJE you haven't got a score for the Falcons game!

Are results final or should I wait to update the table?