LV Cup Final

Worcester v Harlequins

Venue - Sixways, Worcester

Conditions - 9'C, Heavy Showers, Moderate winds

Worcester Warriors

Manager – InTheFastLane

01. George Porter	09. Will Genia
02. Tafata Polota Nau	10. Dan Carter
03. Juan Figallo
04. Gerhard Mostert	11. Tom Homer
05. George Roson	12. Maa Nonu
06. Liam Messam	13. Robbie Freaun
07. Michael Hooper	14. Julien Savea
08. Ben Morgan	15. Kurtley Beale

16. Will Radburn 17. Louis Radian 18. Tevita Taumopeau 19. Nile Dacres 20. N/A 21. Shaun Perry 22. Matt Hooper 23. Marcel Garvey

Overall: 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. We will look to use forwards advantage and use it as a base. We have strong momentum with 7 wins in 9 and the good mood in camp will be reflected by growing confidence in our rugby

At scrum time look to get a good shove on with the power from our second row really giving us an advantage.

At the lineout we feel we have a big advantage and if we can develop this advantage early we shall look to switch the game plan and look for corners with the boot. Mostert will offer a solid option at the front with Messam, Morgan and Robson all jumpers.

As well as performing in the set piece we will be looking to get our forwards making some big carries in open play. We will be looking to burst into space and makes gains with the likes of Morgan, Mostert, Moore and Messam on the ball.

Look to attack the breakdown hard and fast with lots of bodies looking to slow down or turn over Quins ball. Hooper is absolutely brilliant at getting over the ball and he will be backed up by Messam and Morgan looking to nuisance of themselves.

Strong half back combination will be looking to control the tempo of our game. Will Genia will play his natural game mixing it up with his passing and his sniping runs. Dan Carter is our main playmaker and will look to use his vast array of talents to adapt to the game. He will look to get his running and passing game involved while his kicking offers another option.

The back five will be looking to make inroads with their attacking running. Nonu will be look to make strong runs, crashing through defences. He will look to draw in defences to offer more space for our other runners. Freaun is a player in a similar vain to Nonu and will be used for his ability to get over the gainline. Homer, Beale and Savea will be looking to make use of the spaces with their movement.

Use a blitz defence with huge intensity to put pressure on Quins decision makers. Kurtley Beale will sweep in behind for any grubbers which we will either counter generously or have a run at the defence.

With Carter, Genia, Beale and Homer we have some quality boots and we will look to take advantage. Look to mix up the game with the high ball with Messam leading the chase. If we experience dominance at the lineout look to put the ball into corners. Genia will also use his box kick abilities to give our players something to chase.



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.Mark Cueto
08.Semisi Taulava	15.Jared Payne

16.John Smit 17.Mark Lambert 18.Chris Budgen 19.James Percival 20.Bryn Hall 21.Gareth Steenson 22.James Short 23.Jack Clifford



Tactics

Big pack to get on top the Worcester front 5 and put them under the cosh at the Scrum and rucks with plenty of impact from the bench.

Blast the rucks with Etz , Coatzee and Taulava looking to clear the ruck out.

Scrummage for 80 minutes with strong scrummagers on the bench to come on if need

Steyn to test Wuss backs 3s position game with Kicks in behind with Habana and Cueto chasing with neither being on the small side.

Tonga/AAC to take the ball to the gain line and ask questions of the chiefs back line with Habana/Cueto/Payne coming into the line to cause problems

Etz to challange the Wuss throw from 2.

Jumpers from 4-8 in our pack giving Joe Grey plenty of targets with Etzebeth and Botha targeting the Wuss Lineout.

Wrigglesworth to control the tempo , feeding Steyn the ball at the right times and using his own vision to snipe and put the ball in behind Wuss.

Blitz Defence to stop Wuss backs playing with Wrigglesworth sweeping behind

Impact from the bench will see this game through Smit will keep things calm up front.

Big game experience throughout our side in Ayerza , JJ , Etzebeth , Botha , Coatzee , Wrigglesworth , Steyn , Habana , AAC , Payne , Cueto , Smit and Hall.

Steyn to kick all goals and build a lead with drops.

COYQ!!!!!!

---

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mark

Heavy showers? Steyns time to shine!

Does it ever rain on the highveld

Its his right boot that matters

"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.Mark Cueto
08.Semisi Taulava	15.Jared Payne

16.John Smit 17.Mark Lambert 18.Chris Budgen 19.James Percival 20.Bryn Hall 21.Gareth Steenson 22.James Short 23.Jack Clifford



Tactics

Big pack to get on top the Worcester front 5 and put them under the cosh at the Scrum and rucks with plenty of impact from the bench.

Blast the rucks with Etz , Coatzee and Taulava looking to clear the ruck out.

Scrummage for 80 minutes with strong scrummagers on the bench to come on if need

Steyn to test Wuss backs 3s position game with Kicks in behind with Habana and Cueto chasing with neither being on the small side.

Tonga/AAC to take the ball to the gain line and ask questions of the chiefs back line with Habana/Cueto/Payne coming into the line to cause problems

Etz to challange the Wuss throw from 2.

Jumpers from 4-8 in our pack giving Joe Grey plenty of targets with Etzebeth and Botha targeting the Wuss Lineout.

Wrigglesworth to control the tempo , feeding Steyn the ball at the right times and using his own vision to snipe and put the ball in behind Wuss.

Blitz Defence to stop Wuss backs playing with Wrigglesworth sweeping behind

Impact from the bench will see this game through Smit will keep things calm up front.

Big game experience throughout our side in Ayerza , JJ , Etzebeth , Botha , Coatzee , Wrigglesworth , Steyn , Habana , AAC , Payne , Cueto , Smit and Hall.

Steyn to kick all goals and build a lead with drops.

COYQ!!!!!!!

Worcester Warriors

Manager – InTheFastLane

01. George Porter	09. Will Genia
02. Tafata Polota Nau	10. Dan Carter
03. Juan Figallo
04. Gerhard Mostert	11. Tom Homer
05. George Roson	12. Maa Nonu
06. Liam Messam	13. Robbie Freaun
07. Michael Hooper	14. Julien Savea
08. Ben Morgan	15. Kurtley Beale

16. Will Radburn 17. Louis Radian 18. Tevita Taumopeau 19. Nile Dacres 20. James Haskell 21. Shaun Perry 22. Matt Hooper 23. Marcel Garvey

Overall: 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. We will look to use forwards advantage and use it as a base. We have strong momentum with 7 wins in 9 and the good mood in camp will be reflected by growing confidence in our rugby

At scrum time look to get a good shove on with the power from our second row really giving us an advantage.

At the lineout we feel we have a big advantage and if we can develop this advantage early we shall look to switch the game plan and look for corners with the boot. Mostert will offer a solid option at the front with Messam, Morgan and Robson all jumpers.

As well as performing in the set piece we will be looking to get our forwards making some big carries in open play. We will be looking to burst into space and makes gains with the likes of Morgan, Mostert, Moore and Messam on the ball.

Look to attack the breakdown hard and fast with lots of bodies looking to slow down or turn over Quins ball. Hooper is absolutely brilliant at getting over the ball and he will be backed up by Messam and Morgan looking to nuisance of themselves.

Strong half back combination will be looking to control the tempo of our game. Will Genia will play his natural game mixing it up with his passing and his sniping runs. Dan Carter is our main playmaker and will look to use his vast array of talents to adapt to the game. He will look to get his running and passing game involved while his kicking offers another option.

The back five will be looking to make inroads with their attacking running. Nonu will be look to make strong runs, crashing through defences. He will look to draw in defences to offer more space for our other runners. Freaun is a player in a similar vain to Nonu and will be used for his ability to get over the gainline. Homer, Beale and Savea will be looking to make use of the spaces with their movement.

Use a blitz defence with huge intensity to put pressure on Quins decision makers. Kurtley Beale will sweep in behind for any grubbers which we will either counter generously or have a run at the defence.

With Carter, Genia, Beale and Homer we have some quality boots and we will look to take advantage. Look to mix up the game with the high ball with Messam leading the chase. If we experience dominance at the lineout look to put the ball into corners. Genia will also use his box kick abilities to give our players something to chase.

I'll sort page in a bit, predo's open

Funny that the final has worked out to be at Worcesters home ground!

Not that I want to ruin the final, but Haskell was on the bench for England, so he needs to be removed?

Done, lets go.

Worcester Warriors 26 - 24 Harlequins

Up front quins have a bit of an advantage especially in the scrum, as the Wuss front five won't be able to get under JJ. Lineouts are a bit more even, but even with Robson leading the line well, Quins have one of the best defensive jumpers in the world in Etz. Great back row battle. Both will clean their own rucks well, but Wuss will pinch ball with Hooper in great form and getting the better of Gibson. Overall Quins will use their scrum and it will pay for their slight forward advantage.

Step of quality in the halfbacks, Wuss will control and attack the game well. But Quins pair set up well for this sort of game, in these conditions. Centres are close but slightly edged to Wuss with Nonu controlling well and can distribute or take it up creating great variety. AAC will exploit Freaun in defence, hence why its about even. Just a bit more of a cutting edge from Wuss again, but Quins are handy here as well. The slight lack or parity will hurt Warrirors chances outwide, both have good benches. Controversial but I think the class of Genia, Carter and Nonu will marshal a great cup win for the Warriors!

Thanks for setting up the page Fluxy, I've been away all weekend and busy for a while.

Worcester 19 - Harlequins 18

FR- Quins by a distance, very good front row and Porter will struggle against the man mountain that is JJ. Also handy in the loose
SR- Also goes to Quins, bit more power with Etzebeth and a very solid lineout that will equal Wuss' one led by Robson
BR- Worcester- Hooper will win the breakdown in general and it's balance is lovely.
HBs- edge to Wuss- better players there but Steyn in the rain will accumulate points and together with Wiggles' boot Worcester will have to deal with a formidable territory game
CEs- would be Wuss in the sun, but evens here
B3- Evens, Habana's raw pace could be vital in a match with few chances and Payne is more used to playing in the wet than Beale who I think would be flaky in these conditions but Savea is the most dangerous man in either set of backs.

Bench - to Quins as Wuss miss a man
Tactics- both suitable, think I prefer Worcester's marginally

Overall- Quins take the set piece and kicking duel and Wuss the breakdown. I think the advantage of a cup final at home edges this for Wuss.

Worcester 17-15 Harlequins

Great match ups, Wuss have been very lucky with this one at home! Bit of an edge in the scrum for Quins but can see them struggling a bit in the lineout. Wuss edge backrow with a slightly better unit but overall a good pack match up.

Into the backs Wuss take a buit of control. I like the Quins halfbacks for the conditions but not sure they have the lineout to dominate. Wus backs with Carter pulling the strings just have enough.

Warriors 24-22 Quins
SP: Step up here for Quins at scrum, even in lineout.
BK: Feel Warriors will cause quite a few issues here.
HB: Quins have good control here but Warriors have the added quality, giving the 9's as even due to Genia not playing alot recently.
AT: Not much between the 2, feel Warriors will get more go forward from their backrow.
BE: Warriors having a man down doesn't help.
TA: Strong runner and boot tactics help Warriors. Quins set out well to target scrum and for the conditions. Feel Warriors will get a bit more from the backrow and being lucky to have home comforts.

Worcester 15-18 Harlequins

Scrum: Edge to Quins with porter struggling against JJ somewhat.
Lineout: Not sure whos calling the Quins lineout. Plenty of jumpers but they will lose a few balls just through confusion.
Breakdown: Edge to Worcester with a better balance in the backrow to attack the breakdown.
HB's: Worcester more capable of getting the backs moving but in these conditions Quins edge it.
Attack: Some big lumps in both sides. Titanic battle in contact here.
Defence: Question marks over the Worcester back three under the ball in these conditions.
Bench: Man down in the pack hurts Worc in what would be a tiring game.
Tactics: Feel both sides set up similar in that they both want to hit it up through midfield although Quins looking to play the territory a bit more. Defensive tactics for Worc play into Quins hands though. Beale playing sweeper leaves a lot of space in the back field for Savea/Homer to cover. Worc will slow Quins ball down but Quins have an out with the kicking game making great ground for them throughout the game.

Closed

Worcester 22-20 Harlequins

Congratulations to Worcester for winning the LV Cup

Full bonus to:

Flux, CJ, Pooly, Prop, SJE, CJB, Driver

Cup bonus:

Worcester - 5m
Harlequins - 3m

Well done CJB!