Aviva Premiership Round 17 Preview/Live match thread

[yappysnap]

First topic message reminder :

Current standings:

Harlequins 16 13 0 3 56
Saracens 16 11 1 4 50
Northampton Saints 16 10 0 6 46
Leicester Tigers 16 9 1 6 45
Gloucester Rugby 16 8 1 7 41
Exeter Chiefs 16 8 0 8 40
Sale Sharks 16 8 0 8 40
London Irish 16 6 1 9 35
Bath Rugby 16 7 0 9 34
Worcester Warriors 16 6 1 9 31
London Wasps 16 4 0 12 23
Newcastle Falcons 16 3 1 12 17

This weekends fixtures are:

Newcastle Falcons v Harlequins
Both teams lost last weekend, but while Quins will be aggrieved to have lost away to Gloucester they'll also be pleased with still doing enough to claim the losing bp and playing a lot of good rugby in the process. Falcons on the other hand travelled to Leicester and recorded one of worst losing margins of the season, in the process conceding 6 tries. This may well fire them up to really come out at Quins at home, but even with that it'll be a tough ask to beat a Quins side welcoming back Brown, Marler and JTH. Quins by 5.

Bath Rugby v Worcester Warriors
Bath again have been hit and miss over this time of year and it's in their pack where they have real struggles. Worcester on the other hand are fresh from beating the current league champions and will be hoping to upset the odds by getting one over the home team. If Bath can raise the tempo early and get their front row running hard then they could win this at a canter, if on the other hand it comes down to a wrestle and one try takes all, then Worcester are well built to sneak it. Bath by 12.

Exeter Chiefs v Sale Sharks
Sale had another high scoring affair last weekend, with their youngsters running out winners just shy of the half century. Exeter though are another team who are masters of keeping games tight. At home you have to Expect the Cheifs to do exactly this and to bully Sale all over the park, Sale I don't think will have enough up front to win here. Exeter by 5.

London Wasps v London Irish
Two teams who are both struggling for any kind of form. Wasps lost away at Sale last weekend but showed a lot of threat in the second half, LI were hammered at times by Saints but they too showed plenty of sparkle. Injuries will hamper Wasps and on the face of it you have to say LI have a far better team. I'm expecting another high scoring game but Irish to come out on top. LI by 9.

Leicester Tigers v Gloucester Rugby
The Tigers spent 80 minutes last week completely dismantling Newcastle, and with the emergence of their two current props as some of the best scrummagers in the league Gloucester are going to have their hands full here. Glos did them selves win against Quins last week but you have to think that the signs are omminous from Welford Rd. If the Tigers pack get control of the match then it coulf be a blitz. Tigers by 15.

Saracens v Northampton Saints
It's been an unsettling last few weeks for Saracens, they are missing a whole host of players but have stuck religiously to the same gameplan. With this they've managed to sneak a win at the worst team in the league before suffering two losses on the bounce. Saints on the other hand have hit some form during this window and with most of the pack intact are really putting the pressure on teams. If Saracens stick to the simplistic game plan and Goode again fails to execute this well, then Saints could definitely end the weekend having done the double over the League Champs, their pack is just too tough and they have threats everywhere to be given so much ball. Saints by 6.

[ChequeredJersey]

This referee, regardless of whatever calls he makes, is coming across as a complete douche

[Ozzy3213]

Score update anyone?

[yappysnap]

Finished 9-9 and having forced myself to wtch it I can honestly say worst match of the season. Neither team seemed to want to play rugby, instead just try to get cheap shots in the whole time. The ref was utter garbage as well.

All the best to Brooker, it's been reported as a dislocated knee so i'm pretty gutted for him.

[ChequeredJersey]

Apparently Barnes was slagging off Richard Hill and Worcester before the Bath game (for not trying to play rugby). They just scored. Why is Barnes allowed to speak?

[ChequeredJersey]

Bath match is rather better than yesterday's one!

[EnglishReign]

CJ you watching it somewhere?

[Ozzy3213]

Nervous as a nun at a penguin shoot here, 5 minutes to kick off.

We HAVE TO beat Wasps

Come On You Irish!!!!!

[ChequeredJersey]

I watched the first half at a mate's, need to head off now though. Banahan playing back on the wing looks like he can actually play rugby. Ozzy, I'll be cheering for Irish from afar,

[ChequeredJersey]

Also, Biggs is having a good game too

[Ozzy3213]

If we can get our back three into the game often, then we could cause them real problems, but our pack need to front up and dominate, and our decision making needs to be better than last week.

Man for man, we have a better side, but I can see us getting beat here today as we just seem to be making lots of errors at present!

And we're off!

[yappysnap]

21-10 so far at the Rec

8-0 to Exeter

3-3 between Wasps and London Irish

[yappysnap]

Make that 6-3 to Wasps

[yappysnap]

Bath get the try bp at 50 miutes 26-10 at the Rec

[Londonirishollie]

Exeter 18-0 Sale
Wasps 6-6 Irish

Both Half Time scores.

[yappysnap]

now 9-6 to Wasps

[AsLongAsBut100ofUs]

TBP time for the

[Ozzy3213]

Well done Wasps

Well done the

Gutted at how the mighty season has panned out. For me that is Newcastle through the trap door now, and the Chiefs and Gloucester nailed on for the top 6 and Heineken Cup rugby next season.

Hats off to Rob Baxter, there is something special happening at Sandy Park.

[yappysnap]

Where's it all gone wrong Pete? LI have a strong squad and a lot of talent which should be able to see them do a lot better then they have done.

Your major issues seem to be consistency and forward power. The consistency issue has been around for a few seasons now, and a lot of that seems to be the game plan. As to the forwards, you've had more then your fair share of injuries but even when at full strength your pack seems to always come off second best.

It'll be a shame if you guys miss out on HC rugby as you're usually one of the most entertaining teams in there.

[Ozzy3213]

Yappy

Difficult to put put my finger on where it's gone wrong, but it is fair to say that the team is actually less than the sum of it's parts at the moment. There is little cohesion at times in the performance, and there seems to a lack of commitment on some fronts. We also have a few players in the squad who quite simply are not good enough to play in the AP.

I don't think it will be a shame that we miss out on Heineken Cup action. I hope that it means that the club will take a long hard look at itself and work out where we have gone wrong.

My personal opinion is that Booth has taken us as far as he can, and we need a new man at the helm if we want to be a consistent top 4 or 6 side. I don't think he is able to motivate the players any more, as shown today where we lost simply because Wasps wanted it more than we did.

[yappysnap]

Agree with that.

The problems with the tactics, motivation and squad can all be traced to the coaches.

Who is there to take his place though?

Dean Ryan
John Kirwan
Dean Richards
Martin Johnson
Stuart Lancaster

Any of those would be good to interesting choices...

[Ozzy3213]

Wouldn't want Johnno, and suspect he is unlikely to want a coaching job right now. Would happily have any one of the other four.

[yappysnap]

Gloucester just got pumped by the Tigers, Leicester are firmly getting themselves in to the top four now.

Have Quins and Saracens burnt themselves out while the Saints and Tigers seem to have timed their own runs almost perfectly?

Fifth and sixth place looks like a real battle between Glos, Exeter, Bath and Sale.

Newcastle now need some magic to stop relegation or need to pray for Pirates to win the Championship.

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