LV= Cup Semi Finals

Semi Finals -March 8/9/10 - Teams and tactics in by 8pm Saturday 9th March, Predos by 8pm on Tuesday

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London Irish vs Worcester
At the Madkeski Stadium, Reading

Weather- Dark clouds, 7 degrees C, 7mph winds
London Irish

Manager – Mad for Chelsea

01. Gethin Jenkins	09. Joe Simpson
02. Stephen Moore	10. Quade Coopêr
03. Tom Smallbone
04. Simon Shaw	11. Sailosi Tagicakibau
05. Bryn Evans	12. Shontayne Hape
06. Tom Guest	13. Aurelien Rougerie
07. David Pocock (c)	14. David Strettle
08. Imanol Harinordoquy	15. Matt Tait

16. Rhys Marshall, 17. Dean Greyling, 18. Fraan Rautenbach, 19. Kieran Low, 20. Jerome Kaino, 21. Jack Moates, 22. Brock James, 23. Anthony Watson

Tactics
Look to our forwards to dominate the contact area and secure quick ball while slowing theirs down, giving us time to unleash a dangerous backline while keeping theirs in check. Jenkins plays as he wasn't involved this week-end for Wales so should be nice and fresh.

- with a strong tight five, we're looking to get a nudge on at the set piece if possible, but should secure a level footing at least.

- Harinordoquy will run the line-out, they're enough options there to secure our own ball and we'll be hoping to put the Worcester line-out under pressure as well.

- Pocock and his cohorts will look to dominate the breakdown, securing quick ball for us and slowing theirs down or turning it over. Having Jenkins back is a big bonus here.

- if we do get slow ball, we should use our powerful ball carriers to get across the gainline again (Shaw, Harinordoquy, Rougerie, Hape, etc.)

- with quick ball, let Simpson and Cooper (the latter in great form) run the show.

- play a bliitz defense, don't let Savea get any space and look to close Nonu down quickly in midfield.

- play in the right areas of the pitch, no point trying to run it out from our own try-line all day. A few decent options with the boot.

- use the bench wisely. There's plenty of impact there (Low, Moates, Watson for instance could all be useful if it starts to break up), but also some experienced heads if we need to just control the latter stages (Kaino, James).

Worcester Warriors

Manager – InTheFastLane

01. George Porter	09. Shaun Perry
02. Tafata Polota Nau	10. Dan Carter
03. Tevita Taumoepeau
04. Gerrard Mostert	11. Luke Rooney
05. George Robson	12. Maa Nonu
06. Liam Messam	13. Matt Hopper
07. Matt Kvesic	14. Julien Savea
08. Ben Morgan	15. Tom Homer

16. Will Radburn 17. Louis Radian 18. James Figallo 19. Nile Dacres 20. Michael Hooper 21. Will Genia 22. Robbie Freaun 23. Kurtley Beale

Overall: Look for strong running rugby led by our half back combination who will look to control our tempo and keep us playing in the right areas.

Solid momentum with the last 8 weeks bringing qualification in bottle LV and Amlin as well as 6 wins in 8 (Two losses being games in LV that didn't matter) whereas Irish have 3 losses in 4.

Our set piece will look to stay consistent and solid

Look to get the ball in the hands of our big forwards whenever possible. TNW, Messam and Morgan especially are huge carriers and we want to see them picking up yards, finding holes and making spaces.

Dan Carter will look to control our tempo and the areas of the field we play in with his vast ability. He will look to get his running and passing game up whilst his kicking offers another option.

The back five will look to make inroads with their attacking running. Nonu is a great option with the ball and we will look to put him in strong positions. He will look to draw in defenders to create space for our other attackers. Hopper is a great talent with the ball and we will look to use his electric running whenever possible. Our back three will also look to get their hand son the ball and try to impact the game

Target Cooper defensively as we feel he can be easily gotten to. Also we feel with pressure he will struggle in the conditions

Look to use our bench to really punish Irish late on. Figallo can really help our scrum and carrying late on along wi Radburn and Padian. Hooper will also come on looking to add to not only our breakdown but our overall game. Genia can add a different type of attack late on while Beale and Freaun give us the chance to vary the attack.

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Bath vs Harlequins
At the Recreation Ground, Bath

Grey Clouds, 3 degrees C, 20mph winds

Harlequins

Manager – Driver

01.Marcos Ayerza	09.Richard Wrigglesworth (c)
02.Joe Grey	10. Morne Steyn (K)
03.James Johnstone
04.Eben Etzebeth	11.Bryan Habana
05.Mouritz Botha	12.Hudson Tonga'uhia
06.Jamie Gibson	13.Adam Ashley Cooper
07.Marcell Coatzee	14.James Short
08.Semisa Taulava	15.Jared Payne

16.John Smit 17.Mark Lambert 18.Chris Budgen 19.James Percival 20.Jack Clifford 21.Luke Burguss 22. Gareth Steenson 23.Ollie Lindsey Hague

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Two very good games!

Good games, should be tight

On phone , will try and format later on

1.Marcos Ayerza
2.Joe Grey
3.James Johnstone
4.Eben Etzebeth
5.Mouritz Botha
6.Jamie Gibson
7.Marcell Coatzee
8.Semisi Taulava

9.Richard Wrigglesworth (c)
10.Morne Steyn
11.Bryan Habana
12.Hudson Tonga'uhia
13.Adam Ashley cooper
14.James Short
15.Jared Payne

16.John Smit 17.Mark Lambert 18.Chris Budgen 19.James Percival 20.Jack Clifford 21.Luke Burguss 22.Gareth Steenson 23.Ollie Lindsey Hague

Worcester Warriors

Manager – InTheFastLane

01. George Porter	09. Shaun Perry
02. Tafata Polota Nau	10. Dan Carter
03. Tevita Taumoepeau
04. Gerrard Mostert	11. Luke Rooney
05. George Robson	12. Maa Nonu
06. Liam Messam	13. Matt Hopper
07. Matt Kvesic	14. Julien Savea
08. Ben Morgan	15. Tom Homer

16. Will Radburn 17. Louis Radian 18. James Figallo 19. Nile Dacres 20. Michael Hooper 21. Will Genia 22. Robbie Freaun 23. Kurtley Beale

Overall: Look for strong running rugby led by our half back combination who will look to control our tempo and keep us playing in the right areas.

Solid momentum with the last 8 weeks bringing qualification in bottle LV and Amlin as well as 6 wins in 8 (Two losses being games in LV that didn't matter) whereas Irish have 3 losses in 4.

Our set piece will look to stay consistent and solid

Look to get the ball in the hands of our big forwards whenever possible. TNW, Messam and Morgan especially are huge carriers and we want to see them picking up yards, finding holes and making spaces.

Dan Carter will look to control our tempo and the areas of the field we play in with his vast ability. He will look to get his running and passing game up whilst his kicking offers another option.

The back five will look to make inroads with their attacking running. Nonu is a great option with the ball and we will look to put him in strong positions. He will look to draw in defenders to create space for our other attackers. Hopper is a great talent with the ball and we will look to use his electric running whenever possible. Our back three will also look to get their hand son the ball and try to impact the game

Target Cooper defensively as we feel he can be easily gotten to. Also we feel with pressure he will struggle in the conditions

Look to use our bench to really punish Irish late on. Figallo can really help our scrum and carrying late on along wi Radburn and Padian. Hooper will also come on looking to add to not only our breakdown but our overall game. Genia can add a different type of attack late on while Beale and Freaun give us the chance to vary the attack.

London Irish

Manager – Mad for Chelsea

01. Gethin Jenkins	09. Joe Simpson
02. Stephen Moore	10. Quade Cppêr
03. Tom Smallbone
04. Simon Shaw	11. Sailosi Tagicakibau
05. Bryn Evans	12. Shontayne Hape
06. Tom Guest	13. Aurelien Rougerie
07. David Pocock (c)	14. David Strettle
08. Imanol Harinordoquy	15. Matt Tait

16. Rhys Marshall, 17. Dean Greyling, 18. Fraan Rautenbach, 19. Kieran Low, 20. Jerome Kaino, 21. Jack Moates, 22. Brock James, 23. Anthony Watson

Tactics
Look to our forwards to dominate the contact area and secure quick ball while slowing theirs down, giving us time to unleash a dangerous backline while keeping theirs in check. Jenkins plays as he wasn't involved this week-end for Wales so should be nice and fresh.

- with a strong tight five, we're looking to get a nudge on at the set piece if possible, but should secure a level footing at least.

- Harinordoquy will run the line-out, they're enough options there to secure our own ball and we'll be hoping to put the Worcester line-out under pressure as well.

- Pocock and his cohorts will look to dominate the breakdown, securing quick ball for us and slowing theirs down or turning it over. Having Jenkins back is a big bonus here.

- if we do get slow ball, we should use our powerful ball carriers to get across the gainline again (Shaw, Harinordoquy, Rougerie, Hape, etc.)

- with quick ball, let Simpson and Cooper (the latter in great form) run the show.

- play a bliitz defense, don't let Savea get any space and look to close Nonu down quickly in midfield.

- play in the right areas of the pitch, no point trying to run it out from our own try-line all day. A few decent options with the boot.

- use the bench wisely. There's plenty of impact there (Low, Moates, Watson for instance could all be useful if it starts to break up), but also some experienced heads if we need to just control the latter stages (Kaino, James).

Bathite, I'll give you till midnight, please try and get a team up before tomorrow

Shall we say midday tomorrow for cut off CJ?

Sheet was up late in week so only fair give everyone chance

Sgt_Pooly wrote:Shall we say midday tomorrow for cut off CJ?

Sheet was up late in week so only fair give everyone chance

Fair enough, you are the boss

As much as I'd like to call cut off as its Bathite (he'll like that), we'll give him till 12pm tomorrow

What do you want me to do, Pooly?

Open them mate.

No need to predict on Bath - Quins (0-30)

Predos open until 8pm on Tuesday

Woooo im in a final!!

Irish 24-27 Warriors
SP: Geth will get the edge here, other props equal each other out. 2 strong 2nd row pairings.
BK: Bit more international quality from Irish but Warriors have good form.
HB: 9 to Irish 10 to Warriors but Cooper not far behind.
AT: Can see Warriors scoring more here.
BE: Warriors a step up in the backs.
TA: Impact bench for Warriors will help as well as using their big runners. Blitz defence and Pocock at the breakdown will keep Irish in it till the end.

London Irish 22 - 23 Worcester Warriors

Irish to gain an advantage up front in the scrum with a decent front five, in the lineout its more to Warriors with Robson leading the way. Backrows are both fantastic and I really can seperate them, I think Pocock will really get ahead of Kvesic at the breakdown and teach him a lesson in link and fetching play.

Halfbacks are close but with Cooper in a better form Irish nick this battle. But outwide Wuss have a more balanced unit and just a bit more flair. Close game with Wuss emptying the bench late on, they might nick it.

Irish 20 Worcester 21

Wuss a good side and are well balanced throughout and will ask a lot of the irish defence. Some big players in irish side but sure Jenks played for wales this weekend?

Irish 24-25 Worcester

Real tight affair this one. Both teams have some serious quality in the packs and I can imagine each set of halfbacks getting a good platform. The backrow battle would be quality.

Worcester just have that little bit more form in the backline, I can see it going right down to the wire but I just think Wuss will edge it.

London Irish 20-18 Worcester

Scrum: No real give here. Smallbone could struggle but his 2nd row offer more grunt then Worcs.
Lineout: Decent enough options for both sides and they should hold their own ball.
Breakdown: Good battle here. Pocock may turn a bit more ball over but both sides will get quick ball.
HB's: One a piece but Irish shade as a combo.
Attack: Not an awful lot between the sides overall.
Defence: Cooper is susceptible for Irish as is Homer as the last line of defence for Worc.
Bench: Nothing between the forwards really but Worc can really open the game up with the fresh backs coming into play.
Tactics: Bit more detail to how Worc are going to attack but no defensive tactics is a mark down. Tight game tough to call. Worc bench would hand them the win but away with no defensive tactics is a big mark down for me.

Irish 21 - 20 Worcester

Evens and non-spectacular front 3 but with bigger second rows and Jenkins scrummaging well for the first time in ages, Irish get the shove in the scrum. Wuss take the lineout. 2 Good backrows but Worcester look more dangerous in open play. Irish HB combo a bit better despite Carter, but I prefer Worcester centres. Irish back 3 better. Strong tactics from both but Irish just snatch it at home.

Irish 24-20 Worecester

Driver wrote:Irish 20 Worcester 21

Wuss a good side and are well balanced throughout and will ask a lot of the irish defence. Some big players in irish side but sure Jenks played for wales this weekend?

Nah, James started and Bevington subbed

I make that 26-26 when rounded off, though Worcester have a small lead beforehand (they're 26 exactly, while I'm 25.6 something). I assume this would make it a Worcester win ?

Mad for Chelsea wrote:I make that 26-26 when rounded off, though Worcester have a small lead beforehand (they're 26 exactly, while I'm 25.6 something). I assume this would make it a Worcester win ?

Nope, think it goes to extra time?

Predo's still open mate, calm your horses

Plus there's still an hour to go

of course, 8 pm English time, silly me

Irish 24-24 Worcester

Match goes into extra time.

I tend to look at impact bench, kicking options, defence and match winners. Completely up to you how you score though.
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ET Predictions open - close midday tomorrow (only scores needed)

Irish 27 - Worcester 31

Worcester have much more in the bench

Irish 30-31 Worcester

Impact of the Worc bench in the backline seals the win in extra time.

Irish 27-30 Worcester

London Irish 27 - 32 Worcester Warriors

Is it possible to get to 26 from 24-24 Flux?

I was doing it off my score lol.

fair enough, Worcester had a stronger bench than mine, was hoping my starting XV had enough to get the job done, but sadly wasn't to be. congrats Worcester

Unlucky mate, some good points to take into the rest of the season though.

Irish 24 Wuss 27

Irish 28-33 Worcester

Quins v Worcester final then

Full Bonus:

Prop, Flux, Driver, Pooly, SJE, CJ

Half - CF

MARK