Heineken Cup Round Three

Heineken Cup Round Three
P1 Munster Rugby v Gloucester
P2 Northampton Saints v Benetton Treviso
P3 Leicester Tigers v Biarritz Olympique
P4 Bath v Ulster Rugby
P5 Scarlets v London Wasps
P6 London Irish v Toulon

TBC, subject to int call ups etc

Bath Rugby
Manager – Bathite

01. C.Healy	09. M.Classens (c)
02. R.Batty	10. O.Barkley (k)
03. O.Franks
04. J.Muller	11. K.Eastmond
05. D.Attwood	12. F.Steyn (lk)
06. S.O'Brien	13. E.Daly
07. F.Louw	14. T.Bowe
08. S.Kalamafoni	15. I.Dagg

16. O.Tomascyuk 17. C.Tolufua 18. N.Catt 19. R.Caldwell 20. C.Fearns 21. C.Cook 22. J.Hook 23. T.Biggs

TACTICS

General

- We want to make sure that we play rugby in the opposition half and force handling errors, where we can attack the scrum. Use the physicality of our pack to our advantage, keeping the ball tight in the middle section of the pitch to retain possession and build a platform to attack from. In our third clear to touch and challenge for the ball at lineout.

- With slow ball, look to mix up first receiver between Steyn and Hook and then look for back row runners on inside shoulder

- Steyn to ensure we play sensible rugby in the right areas, kicking long for touch in our 22, using the up and under in the centre of the pitch and delicate grubbers in behind centres to chase and force kickable penalties.

- Steyn leads the rush defence, with SOB flying up to cramp 10 for time and space and ensuring he takes the ball deep behind the gainline and starving their outside backs of ball. Classens sweeps up behind for counter attacks

- Big impact bench, with the likes of Perenise, Catt, Fearns, Caldwell providing ball carrying options up front. Banahan and Fearns will wreak havoc in the last 20 minutes, as the space opens up. Real advantage over the opposition in terms of bench options

Forwards
* In Louw, we have a world class in form flanker to compete at the breakdown. He looks to stay on his feet and slow opposition ball, stealing the turnovers
* Louw and SOB released to play as out and out flankers, linking play. Kalamafoni provides the physicality off the back of the scrum in defence and attack
* Picked a very physical pack to make sure that we defend strongly and smash over the gainline.
* At the lineout, Muller will lead the calls as in real life and look to pressurise opposition hooker and compete at every throw.
* Use ball carriers of Catt, Attwood, O'Brien, Kalamafoni to make hard yards up the pitch and draw defenders into the ruck area, looking to create space around the fringes for Laulala to exploit

Backs
* Eastmond given free rein in attack, looking to come into the line either side of Laulala. Laulala to look for the half gap with power and offload (only if on), with the pace of Biggs and Cook on their shoulder to make the break
* Barkley to take the ball flat on the gainline, drawing defenders and buying time and space for Steyn. Steyn often used as dummy runner to keep it unpredictable
* Use the inside pass with forward runners of SOB, Attwood, Fearns to keep the inside shoulder honest and force the 10 to make tackles.
* Get Laulala on the ball early on and encourage a very pacy back three to run off his shoulder. Only offload if it is on, otherwise, crash it up and use SOB and Healy to clear out and Fearns to secure.

Really struggling for time/signal at min

Sgt_Pooly wrote:Really struggling for time/signal at min

Shame that wasn't the case for our game! Would have loved another weakened LV Cup Lineup!

If you suggest a teamsheet from a previous week that's almost there, I can make the changes for you?

Leicester Tigers
Manager – Sgt_Pooly

01. Thomas Domingo	09. Ben Youngs
02. Jamie George	10. Toby Flood
03. Martin Castrogiovani
04. Ed Slater	11. Miles Benjamin
05. Richie Gray	12. James O’Connor
06. Willam Alberts	13. Matt Smith
07. Liam Gill	14. Christian Wade
08. Sergio Parisse	15. Rob Kearney

16. Bismark du Plessis 17. Dan Cole 18. Alex Corbisiero 19. Joe Launchbury 20. Maurie Fa’saivalu 21. Karl Dickson 22. Berrick Barnes 23. Digby Ioane

Scarlets:

15 Dan Newton, 14 Liam Williams, 13 Jonathan Davies (capt), 12 Scott Williams, 11 Andy Fenby, 10 Rhys Priestland, 9 Aled Davies, 8 Kieran Murphy, 7 Johnathan Edwards, 6 Aaron Shingler, 5 Richard Kelly, 4 George Earle, 3 Samson Lee, 2 Matthew Rees, 1 Phil John.

Replacements: 16 Ken Owens, 17 Shaun Hopkins, 18 Jacobie Adriaanse, 19 Johan Synman, 20 Sione Timani, 21 Tavis Knoyle, 22 Aled Thomas, 23 Gareth Maule.

Munster:
15 Felix Jones, 14 Doug Howlett (capt), 13 Keith Earls, 12 James Downey, 11 Simon Zebo, 10 Ronan O'Gara, 9 Conor Murray, 8 James Coughlan, 7 Peter O'Mahony, 6 Dave O'Callaghan, 5 Donnacha Ryan, 4 Donncha O'Callaghan, 3 BJ Botha, 2 Mike Sherry, 1 David Kilcoyne.

Replacements: 16 Damien Varley, 17 Wian du Preez, 18 Stephen Archer, 19 Billy Holland, 20 Peter Butler, 21 Duncan Williams, 22 Ian Keatley, 23 Casey Laulala.

01. N.Wood	09. D.Robson
02. R.Best	10. F.Burns (c)
03. A.Jones
04. S.Whitelock	11. C.Sharples
05. J.Hamilton (c)	12. J.Roberts
06. A.Qera	13. H.Trinder
07. S.Cane	14. JSD
08. JVN	15. P.Lambie

16. Korree Britton 17. Shaun Knight 18. Dan Murphy 19. Tom Savage 20. Luke Narraway 21. Dimitri Yachvilli 22. Mike Tindall 23. Johnny May

Tactics
Strong set of forwards ready for a battle,
Exciting backs with Burns and Lambie to play off the cuff but keep scoreboard ticking over.

Ulster:
15 Jared Payne, 14 Tommy Bowe, 13 Darren Cave, 12 Paddy Wallace, 11 Andrew Trimble, 10 Paddy Jackson, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Roger Wilson , 7 Chris Henry, 6 Iain Henderson, 5 Dan Tuohy, 4 Johann Muller (c), 3 John Afoa, 2 Rory Best, 1 Tom Court.

Replacements: 16 Nigel Brady, 17 Callum Black, 18 Ricky Lutton, 19 Robbie Diack, 20 Nick Wiliams, 21 Paul Marshall, 22 Luke Marshall, 23 Craig Gilroy.

Biarritz:
15 Iain Balshaw, 14 Taku Ngwenya, 13 Charles Gimenez, 12 Marcelo Bosch, 11 Aled Brew, 10 Mat Berquist, 9 Dimitri Yachvili, 8 Raphael Lakafia, 7 Benoit Guyot, 6 Wenceslas Lauret, 5 Thibault Dubarry, 4 Erik Lund, 3 Francisco Gomez Kodela, 2 Benoit August, 1 Fabien Barcella.

Replacements: 16 Jean-Philippe Genevois, 17 Thomas Synaeghel, 18 Lodewicus Blaauw, 19 Pelu Taele, 20 Imanol Harinordoquy, 21 Yann Lesgourgues, 22 Jean-Pascal Barraque, 23 Seremaïa Burotu.

Toulon:
15 Delon Armitage, 14 Rudi Wulf, 13 Mathieu Bastareaud, 12 Matt Giteau, 11 David Smith, 10 Jonny Wilkinson, 9 Frederic Michalak, 8 Chris Masoe, 7 Steffon Armitage, 6 Juan Fernandez Lobbe, 5 Jocelino Suta, 4 Bakkies Botha, 3 Carl Hayman, 2 Sebastien Bruno, 1 Andrew Sheridan.

Replacements: 16 Jean-Charles Orioli, 17 Xavier Chiocci, 18 Davit Kubriashvili, 19 Pierrick Gunther, 20 Nick Kennedy, 21 Maxime Mermoz, 22 Sébastien Tillous-Borde, 23 Simon Shaw.

Northampton Saints
Manager – SirJohnnyEnglish

01. Steven Kitshoff	09. Lee Dickson
02. Richardt Strauss	10. Stephen Myler
03. Paul Doran-Jones
04. Samu Manoa	11. Vasily Artemiev
05. Christian Day	12. James Downey
06. Phil Dowson	13. JP Pieterson
07. Calum Clark	14. Jamie Elliot
08. Roger Wilson	15. Greig Tonks

16. Alex Waller 17. Mike Haywood 18. Brian Mujati 19. Mark Sorenson 20. Tom Wood 21. Aaron Smith 22. Ryan Lamb 23. Scott Armstrong

Tactics

We will look to control territory and apply pressure on the opposition in the key areas of the field looking to force mistakes. When in possession in the right areas, we will look to play a strong carrying game, attacking in groups so as to win the collisions and get over the gain line. Keeping the ball alive is crucial so our carriers will be looking for support runners to hit on the offload and get us further over the gain line. We will kick all penalties in Treviso territory at goal and take the drop goal option whenever it’s available.

• With a powerful front 5 on show we will look to keep the scrum up and take full advantage drawing penalties from Treviso.

• We want to keep things simple and use Day, Clark & Dowson as banker ball at the lineout. We will look to bring the ball down into the maul and use the physicality of our pack to drive us into the right areas.

• We will look to blitz aggressively, playing on the edge of the offside line and coming up at pace, looking to isolate the ball carrier and stop any opposition momentum before it can get going.

• Dickson will act as a sweeper and cover any chips or grubbers behind the defensive line.

• The back 3 will sit deep to cover any kicks down the line and will look to counter attack of any loose ball.

• With the blitz in operation, we will look to be at the breakdown first hitting it hard and fast. If the ball looks available we will flood it with Dowson & Clark looking to get their hands on the ball.

• If the ball is not immediately available we will only commit 1 or 2 players to legally slow the ball down and instead look to strengthen the defensive line.

WASPS TACTICS VS scarlets

1.Tim Payne 09.Dany Care
2.Dimitri Swarzeski 10.Owen Farrell
3.Nicolas Mas 11.Ugo Monye
4.George Skivvington 12.Maxime Mermoz
5.Marco Wentzel 13.Billy Twelvetrees
6.Theirry Dusatoir (c) 14.Tom Varndell
7.Julien Salvi 15.Mike Brown
8.Thomas Waldrom

London Irish

Manager – Pullthestrings

01. Gethin Jenkins	09. Joe Simpson
02. Tatafu Polota-Nau	10. Quade Cooper
03. Euan Murray
04. Tom Palmer	11. Sailosi Tagicakibau
05. Nick Kennedy	12. Daniel Bowden
06. Liam Messam	13. Aurelien Rougerie
07. David Pocock (c)	14. Tom Homer (k)
08. Imanol Harinordoquy	15. Delon Armitage

16. James Buckland, 17. Leo Halavatau, 18. Max Lahiff, 19. Simon Shaw, 20. Tom Guest, 21. Darren Allinson, 22. Brock James, 23. Regan King

Tactics
- Play in their half all day - there are few sides that can score against us from 60+ metres so it limits their threat straight away.

- Set a decent platform to attack from and gain some confidence. Quick ball to Quade if we're stable, Harinordoquy to pick and go if it's messy.

- In the lineout, we have plenty of options. Opt for full lineouts mostly in their half to tie in their pack, leaving more space out wide. Compete for their ball.

- Target the breakdown for possible turnovers, with Pocock staying strong on his feet. When they arise, lets use them to our advantage. If the back three are sparse, look to kick for territory. If there are mis-matches, lets have a go.

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

- Simpson to keep the tempo high, getting the ball quickly away from the breakdown and releasing the backs. The back three to be hungry and look to get involved.

- Big efforts in defence, particularly from Bowden and Rougerie. Pocock to work his socks off getting across and chopping them down before they get momentum.

- For slow ball, look to get outside their guards and bodyguards to suck in more and more forwards at each breakdown. This will give more time to the backs.

- Homer to go for points at every opportunity.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.

- Bench is full of impact players to keep the intensity high and have a run at the Toulon's tired legs.

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Treviso: 15 Luke McLean, 14 Christian Loamanu, 13 Tommaso Benvenuti, 12 Luca Morisi, 11 Ludovico Nitoglia, 10 James Ambrosini, 9 Edoardo Gori, 8 Manoa Vosawai, 7 Dean Budd, 6 Simone Favaro, 5 Valerio Bernabò, 4 Antonio Pavanello (c), 3 Ignacio Fernandez Rouyet 2 Franco Sbaraglini, 1 Alberto De Marchi.
Replacements: 16 Leonardo Ghiraldini, 17 Michele Rizzo, 18 Lorenzo Cittadini, 19 Cornelius Van Zyl, 20 Francesco Minto, 21 Paul Derbyshire, 22 Fabio Semenzato, 23 Alberto Di Bernardo.