Amlin Challenge Cup Quarter Finals

Team Sheets and tactics due by 23:59 hours on Thursday
Predictions open at 00:01 hours on Friday. Predictions Close at 12:00 hours on Saturday

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Weather Forecast for all games is dry and cool, with light winds.

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Northampton Saints vs. Stade Francais

Northampton Saints

Manager – Dammit Chris

01. Matthew Mullan	09. Mike Phillips
02. Rob Webber	10. Danny Cipriani
03. Carl Hayman
04. Bradley Davies	11. Julian Savea
05.Courtney Lawes	12. Jean de Villiers
06. Liam Messam	13. Manu Tuilagi
07. Sam Cane	14. Max Evans
08 Sergio Parisse (c)	15. Leigh Halfpenny (k)

Subs 16. Mike Haywood 17. Thomas Domingo 18. Matt Stevens 19. Joe Launchbury 20. Alexander Lapandy 21. Sam Harrison 22. Tyler Bleyendaal 23. Elliot Daly

Tactics

* Build on recent run of good form, which has seen us score 15 tries in 4 games and take the game to Stade from the outset.
* Work through the phases, use big ball carriers (Davies, Lawes, Messam, de Villiers, Tuilagi and Savea) to get us over the gainline and then spread the ball to our dangermen outwide.
* Play an aggressive defence and force Stade into mistakes/turnovers - attack the breakdown.
* Form players throughout the team - Savea been in Planet Rugby's team of the week in last two weeks and Cipriani playing very well.
* Get Halfpenny to keep scoreboard ticking over.
* Empty the bench and keep the tempo going strong and Stade under pressure for full 80minutes.

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Stade Francais

01. Rodrigo Roncero	09. Julien Dupuy
02. Dimitri Szarzewski	10. Felipe Contepomi
03. Rabah Slimani
04. Anton Van Zyl	11. Julien Arias
05. Pascal Pape	12. Paul Williams
06. George Smith	13. Morgan Turinui
07. Antoine Burban	14. Paul Sackey
08. Sergio Parisse	15. Djibril Camara

16. Laurent Sempere 17. Olivier Milloud 18. Stan Wright 19. Alexandre Flanquart 20. David Lyons 21. Pierre Rabadan 22. Jerome Fillol 23. Hugo Bonneval

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Bath Rugby vs. Cardiff Blues

Bath Rugby
Manager – inthefastlane

01. Dave Wilson	09. Chris Cook
02. Joe Ward	10. Stephen Donald
03. Euan Murray
04. Jarrad Hoeata	11. Maxime Medard
05.Rob Simmons	12. Steven Shingler
06. Will Skuse	13. David Marty
07. Jacques Botes	14. Olly Woodburn
08Tom Guest	15. Tim Nanai Williams

16. Jon Golding 17. Will Tanner 18. Davit Kubrashvilli 19. Tim Swinson 20. Sean O’Brien 21. Richard Wigglesworth 22. Aurelien Rougerie 23. Kurtley Beale

Use our forwards to build a good base to attack off. Play expansive attacking rugby.

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Cardiff Blues

01. Gethin Jenkins	09. Lloyd Williams
02. Ryan Tyrell	10. Dan Parks
03. Scott Andrews
04. Bradley Davies	11. Chris Czekaj
05. Paul Tito	12. Jamie Roberts
06. Michael Paterson	13. Casey Laulala
07. Sam Warburton	14. Alex Cuthbert
08. Xavier Rush	15. Leigh Halfpenny

16. Marc Breeze 17. John Yapp 18. Sam Hobbs 19. Ma'ama Molitika 20. Josh Navidi 21. Richie Rees 22. Ceri Sweeney 23. Tom James

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Exeter Chiefs vs. Munster

Exeter Chiefs

Manager – Driver

01.Brett Sturgess	09.Haydn Thomas
02.Damian Varley	10.Nick Mcleod(k)
03.Werner Kruger
04.Flip Van Der Merwe	11.Luke Fitzgerald
05.James Hudson (c)	12.Mike Tindall
06.Declan Danahar	13.George Pisi
07.Shane Jennings	14.Vasily Artmyev
08.Johnnie Beattie	15.Luke Arscott

16.Neil Clark 17.Wyatt Crockett 18.Hoani Tui 19.Juilian Pierre 20.Ben Skirving 21.Rob Coote 22.Colin Slade 23.Adam Thompstone

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Munster

01. Wian du Preez	09. Conor Murray
02. Damien Varley	10. Ian Keatley
03. BJ Botha
04. Donncha O'Callaghan	11. Simon Zebo
05. Paul O'Connell	12. Lifeimi Mafi
06. Donnacha Ryan	13. Keith Earls
07. Peter O'Mahony	14. Johne Murphy
08. James Coughlan	15. Denis Hurley

16. Denis Fogarty 17. Marcus Horan 18. Stephen Archer 19. Mick O'Driscoll 20. David O'Callaghan 21. Tomas O'Leary 22. Doug Howlett 23. Danny Barnes

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London Wasps vs. Leinster

London Wasps
Manager – ‘Arry

01. Perry Freshwater	09. Luke Burgess
02. Tatafu Polota-Nau	10. Stephen Jones (k)
03. Carlos Nieto
04. Steve Mafi	11. Christian Wade
05. Mouritz Botha	12. Dan Bowden
06. Rocky Elsom (c)	13. Jamie Roberts
07. Jacques Burger	14. Tom Williams
08. Roger Wilson	15. Mike Brown

16. Benjamin Kayser 17. Jared Saunders 18. James Slipper 19. Richard Birkett 20. Luke Narraway 21. Nick Phipps 22. George Ford 23. Noah Cato

Tactics
Use our big forwards early on to get us over the gainline and recycle the ball quickly to create mismatches in midfield to exploit. Target the collision area and look to get our offloading game going, keep the ball moving and get Leinster tiring with our high tempo game plan. Jones will play flat and we will look to mix it up with Bowden playing as a playmaking option and Roberts running some hard lines into midfield. Look to push Leinster onto the back foot and keep them there where we can exert pressure upon them. Build up plenty of phases and attack gaps and half gaps in the defensive line of Leinster. Suck in their players to the breakdown to spread the ball and exploit the space.

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Leinster

01. Cian Healy	09. Isaac Boss
02. Richardt Strauss	10. Ian Madigan
03. Jamie Hagan
04. Leo Cullen	11. Luke Fitzgerald
05. Damian Browne	12. Fergus McFadden
06. Rhys Ruddock	13. Eoin O'Malley
07. Sean O'Brien	14. Isa Nacewa
08. Jamie Heaslip	15. Rob Kearney

16. Sean Cronin 17. Heinke van der Merwe 18. Mike Ross 19. Brad Thorn 20. Shane Jennings 21. Eoin Reddan 22. Johnny Sexton 23. Brian O'Driscoll

Saints Team versus Stade Francais

Will put into correct format later on.

1. Matt Mullan
2. Rob Webber
3. Carl Hayman
4. Bradley Davies
5. Courtney Lawes
6. Liam Messam
7. Sam Cane
8. Sergio Parisse (c)
9. Mike Phillips
10. Danny Cipriani
11. Julian Savea
12. Jean de Villiers
13. Manu Tuilagi
14. Max Evans
15. Leigh Halfpenny (k)

Subs 16. Chris Whitehead 17. Matt Stevens 18. Joe Launchbury 19. Liam Gill 20. Sam Harrison 21. Tyler Bleyendaal 22. Elliot Daly

London Wasps
Manager – ‘Arry

01. Perry Freshwater	09. Luke Burgess
02. Tatafu Polota-Nau	10. Stephen Jones (k)
03. Carlos Nieto
04. Steve Mafi	11. Christian Wade
05. Mouritz Botha	12. Dan Bowden
06. Rocky Elsom (c)	13. Jamie Roberts
07. Jacques Burger	14. Tom Williams
08. Roger Wilson	15. Mike Brown

16. Benjamin Kayser 17. Jared Saunders 18. James Slipper 19. Richard Birkett 20. Luke Narraway 21. Nick Phipps 22. George Ford 23. Noah Cato

Tactics
Use our big forwards early on to get us over the gainline and recycle the ball quickly to create mismatches in midfield to exploit. Target the collision area and look to get our offloading game going, keep the ball moving and get Leinster tiring with our high tempo game plan. Jones will play flat and we will look to mix it up with Bowden playing as a playmaking option and Roberts running some hard lines into midfield. Look to push Leinster onto the back foot and keep them there where we can exert pressure upon them. Build up plenty of phases and attack gaps and half gaps in the defensive line of Leinster. Suck in their players to the breakdown to spread the ball and exploit the space.

Arrym think we have 22 players for Europe - not 100% sure though!

23

I did not know that! I have probably got away with playing 22 in my games before then

Is it 23 in HC too? Wonder why it isnt that number in internationals then!

What do you mean Chris?

Infact I get it

Exeter Chiefs name side for Munster

Exeter have named a similer side to the one which faced London Irish last week with Brett Sturgess and Werner Kruger coming into the 1 and 3 jerseys with Alisdair Dickinson and Ben Alexander and Jennings replacing Salvi at 7.

In the backs Mike Tindall returns at 12 in place of Damian Traille with Luke Arscott and Vasily Artymyerev replacing Andrea Masi and Matt Smith.

Colin Slade , Ben Skirving and Hoani Tui come into the bench.

Exeter Chiefs boss Driver on injuries

'Nick Easter is back fit again but we've decided to perceive with Johnnie for this week as he out in a good shift vs Irish , however due to rotation Nick will more than likely feature against Worcester next week'


Exeter Chiefs

Manager – Driver

01.Brett Sturgess	09.Haydn Thomas
02.Damian Varley	10.Nick Mcleod(k)
03.Werner Kruger
04.Flip Van Der Merwe	11.Luke Fitzgerald
05.James Hudson (c)	12.Mike Tindall
06.Declan Danahar	13.George Pisi
07.Shane Jennings	14.Vasily Artmyev
08.Johnnie Beattie	15.Luke Arscott

16.Neil Clark 17.Wyatt Crockett 18.Hoani Tui 19.Juilian Pierre 20.Ben Skirving 21.Rob Coote 22.Colin Slade 23.Adam Thompstone

Mark

Mark

Bath Rugby
Manager – inthefastlane

01. Dave Wilson	09. Chris Cook
02. Joe Ward	10. Stephen Donald
03. Euan Murray
04. Jarrad Hoeata	11. Maxime Medard
05.Rob Simmons	12. Steven Shingler
06. Will Skuse	13. David Marty
07. Jacques Botes	14. Olly Woodburn
08Tom Guest	15. Tim Nanai Williams

16. Jon Golding 17. Will Tanner 18. Davit Kubrashvilli 19. Tim Swinson 20. Sean O’Brien 21. Richard Wigglesworth 22. Aurelien Rougerie 23. Kurtley Beale

Use our forwards to build a good base to attack off. Play expansive attacking rugby.

Northampton Saints team versus Stade Francais

Manager – Dammit Chris

01. Matthew Mullan	09. Mike Phillips
02. Rob Webber	10. Danny Cipriani
03. Carl Hayman
04. Bradley Davies	11. Julian Savea
05.Courtney Lawes	12. Jean de Villiers
06. Liam Messam	13. Manu Tuilagi
07. Sam Cane	14. Max Evans
08 Sergio Parisse (c)	15. Leigh Halfpenny (k)

Subs 16. Mike Haywood 17. Thomas Domingo 18. Matt Stevens 19. Joe Launchbury 20. Alexander Lapandy 21. Sam Harrison 22. Tyler Bleyendaal 23. Elliot Daly

Tactics

* Build on recent run of good form, which has seen us score 15 tries in 4 games and take the game to Stade from the outset.
* Work through the phases, use big ball carriers (Davies, Lawes, Messam, de Villiers, Tuilagi and Savea) to get us over the gainline and then spread the ball to our dangermen outwide.
* Play an aggressive defence and force Stade into mistakes/turnovers - attack the breakdown.
* Form players throughout the team - Savea been in Planet Rugby's team of the week in last two weeks and Cipriani playing very well.
* Get Halfpenny to keep scoreboard ticking over.
* Empty the bench and keep the tempo going strong and Stade under pressure for full 80minutes.

Can ROG play against me?

Forgot you had him, have edited their team

Saints 32-24 Stade
Pretty easy win with pack control

Bath 23-22 Cardiff
Home advantage just sees Bath through, Cardiff poor form hinders chance of win

Exeter 26-20 Munster
Exeter pack control

Wasps 25-24 Leinster
Thriller...Leinster bench to push Wasps and would have taken if starting

Saints 30 Stade 23

Wasn't overly impressed with Stade last night and think that this Saints side has just got too much for them all across the park.

Bath 25 Blues 19

Lot's of big names in the Blues side and on paper they are potentially a match for Bath, but in real life they are in dire form and I cannot see them getting close to what isn't even a first choice Bath XV.

Chiefs 19 Munster 17

Can see this being a dire game, with both sides trying to spoil what the other is doing and it being really messy. ROG might have had Munster in the right areas to win, but in this game he is a Chief, and Keatley does not have the same control or nous to guide them to an away win.

Wasps 23 Leinster 22

Closest game to call, and if it was in the RDS I would have Leinster winning, but I think the Wasps pack has just about enough to keep them ahead at home in this one.

Bath 23 Blues 20

Blues arent on a good run at the moment, but still have some class over the park and think that the game will be quite close as Bath have a new halfback combo with Cook being young and Donald only recently joining. Subs swing it at the end though.

Chiefs 19 Munster 12

Cant see Munster getting through the Chiefs midfield and the pack battle is just edged at home. Combination of the two gives Munster only scores through penalties and more attacking options for Chiefs.

Wasps 27 Leinster 25

Home advantage just sways this one to give an all England semi final lineup. Leinster dont have enough upfront to get a win against Wasps here.

Northampton 32 - 23 Stade

Much stronger everywhere. Parisse shouldn't be playing for Stade and he is a loss for them. Contepomi keeps things close with his classy play but never in doubt for Saints here.

Bath 18 - 21 Cardiff

I think Cardiff win here. Think they have more world class players in there side and that will show. A slightly stronger side see's bath take it but not that side.

Exeter 20 - 19 Munster

Exeter just have enough here. Varley also can't play so that weakens Munster. It will be a tough game but Exeter can win tough with some experienced heads in the side. I pisi wonder try takes it at the death.

Wasps 26 - 23 Leinster

Full strength Leinster take this game but as it is Wasps just have enough at home. Wasps rip through the Leinster midfield regularly and it pays for them with plenty of points coming that way.

Saints 33 stade 23

Routine win for ever improving saints. Too much in every department
Bath 25 Blues 24

Not baths strongest side but cardiff on the slide and
Bath sneak it

Chiefs 22 Munster 17 basically a spoil off and not pretty. Home advantage and a bit more class for chiefs

Wasps 23 Leinster 22

Closest game to call, and if it was in the RDS I would have Leinster winning

Saints 27-18 Stade
Don't think this Stade team will put up much of a challenge and can see Saints running riot. Think Saints build a big lead early and will make changes in the second half to rest players for next week letting Stade close the gap.

Exeter 17-12 Munster
Both teams have solid packs but I think Exeter have the better set of backs to seal the win. If Munster had ROG it could have potentially been a different story.

Wasps 28-30 Leinster
I really like this Leinster team. Think Wasps will open up a small cushion in the first half but when Leinster ring the changes they grab the win.

Saints 30 Stade 15

Bath 28 Blues 20

Wasps 35 Leinster 28

Arry that midfield is Magic!

Saints 30-26 Stade
Back row wins.

Bath 25-18 Blues
Backs win.

Chiefs 20-19 Munster
Overall gameplay will win and Munster not having ROG.

Wasps 24-18 Leinster
9-10 will mess this up for Leinster

Saints 26 - 24 Stade

Bath 23 - 18 Blues

Exeter 25 - 20 Munster

RESULTS

Northampton Saints 38 Stade Francais 22
Bath Rugby 31 Cardiff Blues 21
Exeter Chiefs 29 Munster 17
London Wasps 33 Leinster 25