Fantasy Aviva Premiership - Season 1

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Welcome to the New Aviva Premiership.....Teams & Tactics 8pm SATURDAY......Predo's 8pm TUESDAY......

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Bath Rugby	Bathite
Exeter Chiefs	Luke
Gloucester	Prop
Harlequins	Driver
Leicester Tigers	Pooly
London Irish	Pull
London Wasps	Nick
Newcastle Falcons	Flux
Northampton Saints	Johnny
Sale Sharks	Ollie
Saracens	Chequred
Worcester Warriors	ITFL

[b]Links
RULES
FIXTURES
LEAGUE TABLE
EUROPEAN HOMEPAGE
BUDGETS
DOMESTIC CONFIRMATIONS
NATIONAL LEAGUE BIDDING
FOREIGN TRANSFERS
DRAFT
PRESS RELEASES
PLAYER RELEASE PAGE
INJURIES

FOREIGN U21 bid - 0900 Sunday 27/05

• Born on/after 02/09/91
• U21 by 01/09/2012
• Non Int only
• 3m starting bid

FULL FOREIGNS (Summer transfers)

1st bid - 0900 Monday 04 June

2nd bid - 0900 Monday 02 July

Summer foreigns close - 31 August


WAITING LIST:
1. HERSH

Mermoz would look pretty good inside AAC to be honest! Maybe look at LH as well. Gill is dependable but still some cracking LHs available in foreigns

Here's mine, any feedback?

Mullan
Brits
Nieto
Borthwick (c.)
Skivington
Brown
McCaw
Joubert

Parra
Hodgson
Monye
Allen
Smith
Wyles
Goode

Vunipola, Dickinson, Smit, Botha, Burger, Spencer, Geraghty, Smith

Again a good 4 would be a target in the future and a possible replacement for Nieto. Wyles stands out a little in your backline but overall strong. McCaw looks sweet

Impressive CJ, maybe second row next to improve?

Building a great team buddy.

Hasn't Mullen been playing 3 most of this season? Think you need a out and out finisher in your back 3. Vincent Clerc would be a great signing.

think we've found a dark horse for next season in Saracens.

Same as Pooly I'd be looking at an enforcer 4 and an upgrade on Wyles mate. Really liking the midfield though

Never seen Mullen play TH Driver

Wouldn't say Wyles is much of a weakness though, very solid AP player.

Anyone up for a deal?

Am i thinking of the other one who begins with a M? Mercy?

I think Wyles is a class act myself.

Wyles is a good AP player but in a backline with Smith, Allen, Monye he could be improved.

Yeah he's my player.

Wyles has been great for the past year, a decent OC cover as well

Cool, thanks guys. I'll think about a flyer to bring in

Also, my back-up back row players are available on loan or for a sufficiently good deal. They are all English so won't go too cheaply for trades

How about mine lads

1 Marler
2 Moore
3 Taumoepeau
4 Mostert
5 Kitchener
6 Haskell
7 Hopper
8 Morgan
9 Genia
10 Carter
11 Strettle
12 Nonu
13 Barritt
14 Garvey
15 Rooney

Back line has no balance to it , Nonu and Barritt are a poor combo. Barrit is 10x the player at 12 than 13. Can't see much of a lineout either fella.

And can't remember the last time Rooney or Taumoepeau played?

Got a great spine at 2 , 8, 9 and 10 but rest of team needs balance.

I know Nonu plays 12 generally but I prefer Barritt 12, Nonu 13. Fantastic halfbacks. Aside form Marler, tight 5 could do with a little work, though to be fair I don't know them that well. Nice back row.

Think it's Hooper not Hopper, Rooney played at the weekend Driver lol

Really? Thought he had totally dropped off?

Rotates in and out, watched half of Metro game the other night. Just watching 2nd half now

Yer getting myself confused since I have one of each

When are the T14 semis? Saturday?

Top 10 Scrum halfs?

FDP is excluded whilst in J-League

1.Will Genia
2.Francois Houghard
3.Ben Youngs
4.Luke Burgess
5.Morgan Parra
6.Dimitri Yachvilli
7.Mike Blair
8.Mike Phillips
9.Connor Murrey
10.Danny Care

Not far off Driver, couldn't massivley argue with that. Youngs was pump in the 6N but has hit some great form and on his day is world class.

Genia after last few months is ahead of the pack, not totally sold on Hougaard as not done it on Int stage yet but deserves a top 10 spot.

I don't think I'd have Murray in there yet.

I think Houghard could be a class act for the boks at 9.

Yea he could be, really good player.

I think Genia, Parra and Yachvilli are way out in front. Hougaard looks GOOOD though, so strong and absolutely rapid.

Where's my sponsorship deal?!

I don't think Parra has been that great this season. It's been an odd season for 9's with most even Genia not playing well

No Ruan Pienaar?

Never done it at 9 on the big stage for me.

Burguss was a Aussie star and only stopped been for Genia coming through.

Forgot about Pienaar, he'd be in a top 10 somewhere. Bit of a limited game but can be outstanding with the boot like yach

For me Genia, Pienaar, Yachvili, Parra at the top.

Youngs, Care, Houghaard have the ability to be up there soon too.

Have I used all of my bids now then? Guess we only get 1 under 21?

Also; where do people think I can improve? I'm thinking replacement prop and possibly bulk up on my wingers?

I'd say 12 , efs off to Japan and Tindall might not even by playing

I'd add to your back 3 Prop, and maybe get a meaty Hooker

If I signed SBW and at the end of the season he went to league, what would happen? Would there be any compensation? Would anyone still rate him on here? Been having a cracking season for the Chiefs

I'd still rate him as I know what he can (and can't) do in Union and how well he can play in League. As long as he's being rated in League circles, in my eyes I know how his skillset crosses over to union and would rate him accordingly- I see him as the best 12/13-/wing impact sub in the world WHEN he has strong support runners

You wouldnt get any compensation mate as its not a retirement. Would be rated for a while but after 6 months or so would lose rating for me as he won't be playing the sport! Its a big risk! I've been considering it myself as I've been looking at midfield options.

Shocked you would be in for him with Steyn on your books though!

Always looking at options SJE. C ocked my foreigns U21 bid, so having a re think. SBW is an option at 11-14

I wouldn't look to play SBW on the wing. Looks good coming in field on the carry but would get picked apart defensively by a good kicker.

I agree, SBW shouldn't really start on the wing. So good in the centres though

Don't worry lads, I have a cunning plan. SBW is about plan C, just wanted to gauge opinion, that's all.

Who do you think is best value for money on this shortlist?

Clerc
Medard
Bowe
Ioane
Wade (I know, Pooly has him)
Jane
JP Pieterson (poss fave)
Sivivatu
Gear
Malzieu
Mitchell
Benjamin
Visser

I have Benjamin too!!

Bowe & Ioane my favs there followed by Jane.

Mitchell needs to prove fitness and Gear a bit of a one season wonder, work rate is awful.

Guildford???

Guildford a possibility too. I need to factor costs in too... they are mostly Internationals so could cost my sponsorship package- might play this one more slowly over the summer

I'm a huge Jane fan, probably followed by Iaone, but he's a fair bit older. I also really rate Mitchell, great finisher and Gear. Bowe is class

Bathite wrote:If I signed SBW and at the end of the season he went to league, what would happen? Would there be any compensation? Would anyone still rate him on here? Been having a cracking season for the Chiefs

Yea you'd get nothing as he could come back.

Was very unsure on SBW when he first went back to NZ. He looked for the offload too much and was too much of a liability in defence with always looking for the big hit. Never thought he's surpass Nonu.

He's been sublime this season though, once in flow he's very very hard to stop. Agree with CJ he works really well with runners off him wether that be strong runners like Kahui, Fourie, AAC, Tuilagi or the more subtle players like Conrad Smith etc. His defence has really improved and he's tightened up the offloads.

Massive question marks over him leaving NZ (I don't think he'll go to league, possibly France, SA or Japan) so a bit of gamble but he's the form 12 in world rugby at the minute along with Fofana (another with question marks in defence)

Here we go then, areas for improvement lads?

Disclaimer: Any negatives must have a corresponding positive of equal weight

1. Gethin Jenkins/Max Lahiff
2. William Servat/James Buckland
3. Euan Murray/Paulica Ion
4. Tom Palmer/Bryn Evans
5. Nick Kennedy/Simon Shaw
6. Jerome Kaino/Declan Danahar
7. David Pocock/Richard Thorpe
8. Imanol Harinordoquy/Tom Guest

9. Joe Simpson/Darren Allinson
10. Quade Cooper/Brock James

11. Alesana Tuilagi/Paul Diggin
12. Daniel Bowden/Shontayne Hape
13. Regan King/Jamie Noon
14. Sailosi Tagicakibau/Marland Yarde
15. Delon Armitage/Tom Homer

Servat retires in a few weeks Pull

+ Best Backrow in game, perfect balance & just outstanding as a unit
- Kaino lacking form and not likely to change playing in Japan

+ Pace and flair in halfbacks
- Not a winter combo

+ loads of creativity in midfield
- Bowden/King don't really work as a combo imo, too lightweight and nobody to break the line