Fantasy Anglo Welsh Cup Final

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Northampton Saints vs. Sale Sharks
at Sixways

Northampton Saints
Manager - Dammit Chris

01. Sona Tamaulolo	09. Joe Simpson
02. Tatafu Polota-Nau	10. Juan Martin Hernandez
03. Carl Hayman
04. Samo Manoa	11. Julian Savea
05. Patricio Albacete	12. Matt Giteau(k)
06. Julian Bonnaire	13. Elliot Daly
07. Calum Clark	14. Christian Wade
08. Liam Messam	15. Ben Foden(c)

16. Mike Haywood 17. Ben Tameifuna 18. Henry Thomas 19. Sam Cane 20. Ashley Johnson 21. Sam Harrison 22. George Ford 23. Danny Cipriani

Tactics:
Finals won by the team that makes fewest mistakes, so we've picked a 10-12-13 combination that can put us deep into Sale territory and a pack that can force mistakes with a physical/aggressive defence. Our game will be based around territory, getting our forwards over the gaininline, putting Sale under pressure and Bonnaire at the lineout. We will work through the phases and get into good positions to launch our backs - no risk rugby early on and feed off any mistake that Sale make.

Territory & going through the phases Pack full of big ball carriers to get over the gainline and put Saints on the front foot. We will aim to be more physical than Sale upfront and dominate territory and possession. Patient game, no mistakes. Three excellent kickers in Hernandez, Giteau and Daly to control territory. Look to force Sale into mistakes or conceding penalties and are a threat from 55metres with Daly's boot.

Attack: We will go through the phases and get our big ball carriers on the ball early on (Taumalolo, Manoa, Albacete, Messam, Clark). When we break the defensive line that is when we will go out wide and put pace on the game. We've got try scorers all over the backline and genuine pace out wide.

Get Savea involved as much as possible.

In form Simpson to snipe around the fringes. Will also counter any kicks from Sale when it is on.

Defence: We've picked a powerful front five and will look to play very physical defence with big hits coming in from the likes of Taumalolo, Hayman, Samoa, Clark and Messam. Same defensive system as England utilise, based around physicality and aggression in the pack, forcing mistakes.

Simpson to sweep behind defensive line, but also have Daly and Wade's pace for any linebreaks and Foden as one of the best tackling fullbacks in world rugby.

Set piece: Strong scrum and lineout jumpers of Bonnaire, Samoa, Albacete and Clark - will use the lineout to set up more phases for our forwards to go through and generate quick ball from those phases and first phase is to use Savea or Foden to punch holes in Sale defence.

Breakdown: Calum Clark always comes close to top of turnover stats in AP and will use him to slow down Sale ball, but use Manoa and Messam to clear out any Sale players. We have picked Sam Cane and Ashley Johnson on the bench to add some real impact to this area.

Key Points:
• Patient game, working through the phases and getting powerful runners over the gainline. Once we've put Sale on backfoot spread the ball wide. Not looking to make mistakes and take all points on offer.
• Win tactical kicking battle with Hernandez, Giteau and Daly...
• Use lineout to launch attacks, using Bonnaire, Clark, Albcete and Manoa to mix throws.
• Get Savea on the ball.


Sale Sharks
Manager – SJE

01. Marcos Ayerza	09. Kahn Fotuali'i
02. David Paice	10. Johnny Sexton
03. Davit Zirakishvilli
04. Brodie Retalick	11. Kyle Eastmond
05. Andries Bekker	12. Francois Steyn
06. Fulgence Quedragao	13. Robbie Freuen
07. Matt Kvesic	14. David Strettle
08. Victor Vito	15. Nick Abendanon

16. Ross Harrison 17. Tommy Taylor 18. Neemia Tialata 19. Dave Attwood 20. Wycliffe Palu 21. Ben Spencer 22. Beauden Barrett 23. Will Addison

Key Points

Attack the Breakdown

Saints have no one known for their work at the breakdown so we have gone with a flanker combo to really attack here and slow ball down. Look to make the ruck area a real mess and disrupt Simpson who struggles of slow ball.

Attacking

• Look to play high tempo, high intensity rugby. Ball in hand, look to use our big line breakers to make the hard yards and tie up defenders creating space in wider channels for Sexton to exploit.

• We see the offload as a crucial weapon and our carriers will all be looking to offload in contact, continuing our forward momentum and breaking the defensive line.

• Sexton will look to play flat on the gain line and bring our dangerous runners in to the game or find mismatches for himself to hit on the wrap around.

• Our back three will look to get involved as much as possible running support lines of the halfbacks and midfield looking for the inside ball or offload.

Set Piece

• With a powerful front 5 on show we will look to keep the scrum up and use it as a weapon. On our own feed we will look to get the wheel on and give our 8-9-10 axis as much room as possible to attack from.

• In Saints territory, with 5 jumping options to use, we will look to play off the top and move the ball out to Sexton and the backs. In our own territory, we will look to take the ball down into the maul and drive ourselves into the right areas.

• On Saints lineouts Bekker will stand at the front and challenge. At 6ft 10" Saints will need to have their darts spot on.

Defending

• We will play an aggressive blitz on defence, 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.

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

• We will leave two players sitting deep to cover any kicks and they 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 the breakdown with Quedragao & Kvesic 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.

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I'll steal the first comment here then!!

Northampton Saints
Manager - Dammit Chris

01. Sona Tamaulolo	09. Joe Simpson
02. Tatafu Polota-Nau	10. Juan Martin Hernandez
03. Carl Hayman
04. Samo Manoa	11. Julian Savea
05. Patricio Albacete	12. Matt Giteau(k)
06. Julian Bonnaire	13. Elliot Daly
07. Calum Clark	14. Christian Wade
08. Liam Messam	15. Ben Foden(c)

16. Mike Haywood 17. Ben Tameifuna 18. Henry Thomas 19. Sam Cane 20. Ashley Johnson 21. Sam Harrison 22. George Ford 23. Danny Cipriani

Tactics:
Finals won by the team that makes fewest mistakes, so we've picked a 10-12-13 combination that can put us deep into Sale territory and a pack that can force mistakes with a physical/aggressive defence. Our game will be based around territory, getting our forwards over the gaininline, putting Sale under pressure and Bonnaire at the lineout. We will work through the phases and get into good positions to launch our backs - no risk rugby early on and feed off any mistake that Sale make.

Territory & going through the phases Pack full of big ball carriers to get over the gainline and put Saints on the front foot. We will aim to be more physical than Sale upfront and dominate territory and possession. Patient game, no mistakes. Three excellent kickers in Hernandez, Giteau and Daly to control territory. Look to force Sale into mistakes or conceding penalties and are a threat from 55metres with Daly's boot.

Attack: We will go through the phases and get our big ball carriers on the ball early on (Taumalolo, Manoa, Albacete, Messam, Clark). When we break the defensive line that is when we will go out wide and put pace on the game. We've got try scorers all over the backline and genuine pace out wide.

Get Savea involved as much as possible.

In form Simpson to snipe around the fringes. Will also counter any kicks from Sale when it is on.

Defence: We've picked a powerful front five and will look to play very physical defence with big hits coming in from the likes of Taumalolo, Hayman, Samoa, Clark and Messam. Same defensive system as England utilise, based around physicality and aggression in the pack, forcing mistakes.

Simpson to sweep behind defensive line, but also have Daly and Wade's pace for any linebreaks and Foden as one of the best tackling fullbacks in world rugby.

Set piece: Strong scrum and lineout jumpers of Bonnaire, Samoa, Albacete and Clark - will use the lineout to set up more phases for our forwards to go through and generate quick ball from those phases and first phase is to use Savea or Foden to punch holes in Sale defence.

Breakdown: Calum Clark always comes close to top of turnover stats in AP and will use him to slow down Sale ball, but use Manoa and Messam to clear out any Sale players. We have picked Sam Cane and Ashley Johnson on the bench to add some real impact to this area.

Key Points:
• Patient game, working through the phases and getting powerful runners over the gainline. Once we've put Sale on backfoot spread the ball wide. Not looking to make mistakes and take all points on offer.
• Win tactical kicking battle with Hernandez, Giteau and Daly...
• Use lineout to launch attacks, using Bonnaire, Clark, Albcete and Manoa to mix throws.
• Get Savea on the ball.

Conditions showing sunny intervals, light rain showers for Saturday in Worcester according to BBC


Sale Sharks
Manager – SJE

01. Marcos Ayerza	09. Kahn Fotuali'i
02. David Paice	10. Johnny Sexton
03. Davit Zirakishvilli
04. Brodie Retalick	11. Kyle Eastmond
05. Andries Bekker	12. Francois Steyn
06. Fulgence Quedragao	13. Robbie Freuen
07. Matt Kvesic	14. David Strettle
08. Victor Vito	15. Nick Abendanon

16. Ross Harrison 17. Tommy Taylor 18. Neemia Tialata 19. Dave Attwood 20. Wycliffe Palu 21. Ben Spencer 22. Beauden Barrett 23. Will Addison

Key Points

Attack the Breakdown

Saints have no one known for their work at the breakdown so we have gone with a flanker combo to really attack here and slow ball down. Look to make the ruck area a real mess and disrupt Simpson who struggles of slow ball.

Attacking

• Look to play high tempo, high intensity rugby. Ball in hand, look to use our big line breakers to make the hard yards and tie up defenders creating space in wider channels for Sexton to exploit.

• We see the offload as a crucial weapon and our carriers will all be looking to offload in contact, continuing our forward momentum and breaking the defensive line.

• Sexton will look to play flat on the gain line and bring our dangerous runners in to the game or find mismatches for himself to hit on the wrap around.

• Our back three will look to get involved as much as possible running support lines of the halfbacks and midfield looking for the inside ball or offload.

Set Piece

• With a powerful front 5 on show we will look to keep the scrum up and use it as a weapon. On our own feed we will look to get the wheel on and give our 8-9-10 axis as much room as possible to attack from.

• In Saints territory, with 5 jumping options to use, we will look to play off the top and move the ball out to Sexton and the backs. In our own territory, we will look to take the ball down into the maul and drive ourselves into the right areas.

• On Saints lineouts Bekker will stand at the front and challenge. At 6ft 10" Saints will need to have their darts spot on.

Defending

• We will play an aggressive blitz on defence, 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.

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

• We will leave two players sitting deep to cover any kicks and they 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 the breakdown with Quedragao & Kvesic 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.

Northampton 26 - 25 Sale

Don't see much in it at all in the front 5's at the scrum. Locks also very even with Manoa the form lock on show. Back rows have different strengths, with Sale stronger at the breakdown but Saints with the stronger carriers. I expect the set piece to be even with either side keeping its own ball. I think that Saints have the stronger carriers up front which is significant in regard to getting on the front foot in attack. The likes of Taumalolo, TPN, Manoa, Albacete, Messam and Clark are all very powerful carriers and will get Saints across the back line and get Simpson quick ball from which to snipe and attack with. I don't think Sale will have as much joy at the gain line but offloading is just as effective to get behind a defence. Overall I think the set piece will be even, Sale will have the edge at the breakdown and Saints in the loose.

In the backs the Sale half backs are a class unit, but JMH's boot is vital to Saints game plan. Freuan and Steyn should get some joy out of Giteau and Daly and cross the gain line at regular intervals. Key to the Sale back line is the effective runners in their back three. JMH, Giteau and Daly are capable of creating gaps and putting Savea, Wade and Foden into space. Savea and Wade's form is sensational and I see them causing real problems for Sale's defence. Half backs are even as they will both do the job they are asked to. Centres go to Sale but back 3's to Saints by some distance.

Both benches have players who could can change the game but neither has an advantage over the other.

Really tough game to call but I think that the x factor provided by Saints back three and go forward they get in their pack gives them enough for a slender win.

Saints 28-27 Sale

SP: Very powerful front 5 from Saints who will get the nudge on. Both teams will battle well in lineout.
BK: Prefer the balance of the Sharks backrow with ground work and good carriers.
HB: 2 very good pairings here, Sharks edge it.
AT: Saints appear more dangerous here but Steyn can put Sharks in good positions.
BE: Bit more from Saints.
TA: Saints set out very well looking to use big runners and bring their back 3 into the game when gaps appear. Sharks will slow down ball very well by targeting the fact that Saints don’t have a fetcher. Out wide I think Saints do just take it but the Sharks 9-10-12 combination will be influential in keeping the game tight. Big scoring game here.

Northampton Saints 23 Sale Sharks 21

Firstly congrats to both sides on reaching the final, tough game throughout with both sides having plenty of chances to bank there own ball. End of the day Saints have a bit more rock syar in there backs and forwards wim enough ball to take advantage of this.

Saints 25-22 Sale
- Congrats to both. Think Saints get the edge on upfront and allow a platform for their HB's to play off. plenty of threats in their back 3 as well, savea and wade especially. sale have a superb HB combo but wont get as quality ball and see saints holding out to retain the LV.

Sale 25-25 saints

Don't like to sit on the fence but have to. Think saints have better carriers in pack but sale will edge breakdown and slow down ball.

Sale walk the halfbacks but think they are blunt attaching wise and cannot see them scoring many tries.

Saints on other hand have great threat wide but question their centres defensively. Like wise can see saints lineout going awry when pressured.

Saints attacking threat against sale power = draw sorry

Saints 31 - 27 Sale

Quite even in the set piece up front, but saints have the munch stronger unit in the loose. Really good 2nd row contest, that Sale just about edge through int quality, but I like that Saints duo. Back row contest for me is very even - cant really split the 8's, the 6's are both decent int players, and 7's both up and coming EQ talent. Problem for me is Saints are unbalanced. You could argue they are playing 3 6's (England could suffer with this same problem vs Wales today too). Fotuali'i has settled now so up to speed, but Sale may struggle with Sexton not firing on all cylinders. But quality wise Sale a step up at HB, with JMH playing most of his rugby at FB these days. Sale a step up in both centre positions and get the upper hand here, but Saints much stronger in the back threes. In good conditions, there will be tries, and I see Saints outscoring Sale here.

Saints 27-25 Sale
Very strong front fives from both teams, slight advantage to Saints. Back threes also close. Half backs edge to Sale with the Sexton influence. But a better back row and good gameplan see Saints home

Northampton Saints 26 Sale Sharks 26

RESULT

Northampton Saints 29 (T: Savea 2, Messam C: Giteau P: Giteau 4)
Sale Sharks 25 (T: Kvesic, Eastmond, Strettle C: Sexton 2 P: Sexton 2)

Congratulations dammit_chris on winning the first trophy of the season, and commiserations SJE, I couldn't call it mate, was a close one.

Just on now to see this congratulations Chris

Cheers SJE, honestly thought that your centre pairing would win you the game as would have been very difficult for Giteau and Daly to stop.