Fantasy Heineken Cup Semi-finals

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Harlequins vs. Gloucester
at Twickenham Stadium, London.
Sunny, 12 degrees, 11 mph winds.

Harlequins
Manager – Steven_Sharks

01. Joe Marler	09. Karl Dickson
02. Gary Botha	10. Quade Cooper (k)
03. John Afoa
04. Pieter Steph Du Toit	11. Topsy Ojo
05. Steve Borthwick (c)	12. Jan Serfontein
06. George Kruis	13. Jonathan Joseph
07. Michael Hooper	14. Luke Morahan
08. Nick Easter	15. Andre Taylor

16. Schalk Brits 17. Wyatt Crockett 18. Kieran Brookes 19. Charlie Matthews
20. Jamie Gibson 21. Greig Laidlaw 22. Dan Bowden 23. Matt Smith

Tactics

Game Plan

Usual game plan of keeping the ball and building phases with play based around our half backs and strong ball carriers. We will look for our pack to get us across the gain line, tie in defenders and recycle the ball quickly before we spread it out wide to our backs. If we can we will look to offload to continue our attacking momentum.

We will look for carries off 9 and 10 where our playmakers will put others into spaces. We are looking for our players to carry in numbers so as to recycle the ball quickly or so to offload if it’s on. Carriers are looking to win the collisions and keep the legs pumping in contact.

Forwards

Look to win the hit at scrum time and keep the drive on. On our ball we will get the ball in immediately after the hit so we can continue the drive. At the lineout we will really look to disrupt with Borthwick, PDST, Kruis and Easter putting pressure on the Gloucester lineout. On our ball we will look to shorten the line between the two 22m lines and use Easter and Hooper as carriers in the midfield. At the rucks we will commit as many men as needed to secure quick ball.

Backs

Dickson and Cooper to run things. Dickson to snipe and bring players into play around the breakdown and Cooper to stand flat and run the show bringing others into the game. Serfontein will look to get the ball in hand on the front foot and test the Gloucester defence with JJ outside him running support lines. Our back 3 are three electric runners who will run the ball when they get the chance.

Defence

Quick line speed targeting the Gloucester decision makers. When we can we will double up in the tackle and look to get a man on the ball for the steal and turnover the ball. We feel we are very dangerous on the counter attack so we will look to attack off as much turnover ball as we can get.

Key Points

- As good as a home game for us. In London as the home side. Our process is just like a home game. Not true for Gloucester.


Gloucester

Manager:- Mat

01. Nick wood 09. Dan Robson
02. Joe grey 10. Dan carter (k)
03. Nicola mas
04. Tom Palmer 11. Matt banahan
05. George robsob 12. Matt Scott
06. Willem Alberts 13. Richard Kahui
07. Julian Salvi 14. Charlie Sharples
08. Harinordoquoy (c) 15. Israel Dagg

16 Coenie ousthuizen
17 adriaan Strauss
18 rupert harden
19 richie grey
20 Qera
21 will Genia
22 ryan mills
23 iain Balshaw

Form league we have steamroller momentum which counts at end of season
+ Superior carriers 1-8 carry and carry well we have dynamism and hard yards
+ 8,9,10 axis able to control and dictate. Also are a regular units.
+ more kicking options and control
+ Mobile, Dynamic Pack We have selected a pack that can hold their own in the set piece, but who offer a huge amount of carrying and impact.
+ lineout forwards all over able to disrupt ball.

+Impact Bench We have players to bring on who can make a real difference in the scrum and loose.


We are targetting the Final and know we have to win the battle and right to play our quick brand of rugby. We will be looking to get our big runners on the front foot and get over the gain line to produce quick ball for Robson to hit carter to play wide and direct. We have won the last 2 finals and want to win a 3rd to keep the trophy

Our pack is huge and mobile but great in set piece and we will be targetting the lineouts and Scrums with mas and wood looking to dominate.

We will Target lineout and generally try to affect quality of their ball.
Drive lots of lineout ball and try and hit Alberts and co of rucks in to cooper channel.

To pressure Quins halfbacks. Cooper thrives on quick attacking ball.

As ever we look to keep the ball and force Quins in to mistakes to start with and will look to build tempo as we start to get on top. Once we have won the battles and rights to play we will open up and start to really increase the tempo with our bench contributing and keeping the foot on the pedal.

We will be targeting the 10 channel a lot to make the defence narrow to able us to then whip it wide and isolate runners with back 3

Look to pressure Quins knowing if its a kicking battle carter will win
Carter to try and isolate banahan with Quins wingers on

Specifics

- send Kahui gear Alberts etc at cooper channel
- take all points on offer with carter
- look to use the bomb early on to target Morahan and ojo
- Territory early doors and pressure their lineout
- kick in behind back 3 and pressure
- put pressure on Dickson To make him
Shovel ball to cooper
- Kahui and banahan to interchange where necessary to keep big running option to interest defenders
- blitz defence with scrum half sweeping
- look to send in numbers to breakdown to disrupt and turnover.
- carry relentlessly to keep ball and build pressure. We only use the ball when we have front foot quality ball

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ASM Clermont Auvergne vs. Northampton Saints
at Stade de la Mosson, Montpellier.
White Cloud, 19 degrees, 7 mph winds.

ASM Clermont Auvergne

01. Thomas Domingo	09. Morgan Parra
02. Benjamin Kayser	10. Ludovic Radosavljevic
03. Daniel Kotze
04. Jamie Cudmore	11. Napolioni Nalaga
05. Nathan Hines	12. Wesley Fofana
06. Gerhard Vosloo	13. Aurelien Rougerie
07. Julien Bardy	14. Sitiveni Sivivatu
08. Julien Bonnaire	15. Lee Byrne

16. Ti'i Paulo 17. Vincent Debaty 18. Clement Ric 19. Julien Pierre 20. Alexandre Lapandry 21. David Skrela 22. Regan King 23. Jean-Marcelin Buttin


Northampton Saints
Manager:- Dammit Chris

01. Mako Vunipola	09. Mike Phillips
02. Tatafu Polota-Nau	10. Juan Martin Hernandez(k)
03. Carl Hayman
04. Courtney Lawes	11. Julian Savea
05. Joe Launchbury	12. Matt Giteau
06. Calum Clark	13. Manu Tuilagi
07. Sam Cane	14. Chris Ashton
08. Sergio Parisse(c)	15. Ben Foden

Subs: 16. Moto Mata'u 17. Sona Taumalolo 18. Henry Thomas 19. Manu Samoa 20. Billy Vunipola 21. Nick Phipps 22. Christian Wade 23. Leigh Halfpenny

Tactics:With it being a semi final, we've picked a team where each of the key positions, no2, no8, 9, 10 and 12 have over 40caps, so we can ensure that cool heads make the right decisions at key moments. We have a 10/12 combination that can control the territory battle and dictate the game, we expect Clermont will place us under pressure during the game and Hernandez ability to clear the ball 60metres into touch will be invaluable.

Our game will be based on power and getting over the gainline to launch attacks at a defence that hasnt had the chance to align itself. Giteau will step in at first receiver and bring the likes of Tuilagi, Savea and Foden into play. We have picked a very mobile pack as we aim to beat Clermont to the breakdown and secure ball - with Lawes, Launcbury, Clark and Cane we have some excellent breakdown specialists and will look for turnovers and attack Clermont on the counter.

Forward options on the bench are all powerful ball carriers and can be brought on when the game starts to stretch to strengthen our chances of keeping hold of the ball.

Attack: Our attack will be take into account the importance of the game and we will not go all out attack as we usually do. But in Ashton, Savea, Tuilagi and Foden we have some very good try scorers so will not be afraid to attack Clermont from deep. However, we will look to play the initial exchanges in the Clermont half and stop them from building any momentum and tempo to the game. With Phillips, Hernandez and Giteau we have the players who can dictate this element for us.

A lot of our attacks will come through Giteau coming in at first receiver and getting Tuilagi and Savea to come from deep and get us over the gainline. With Lawes, Launchbury, Cane and Clark we will look to secure quick ball to catch Clermont on the backfoot and bring Ashton and Foden into the game.

Defence: We have a powerful and mobile pack, and are aware that the defensive abilities of Lawes and Launcbury will be needed massively during the game. We will guard the fringes or rucks aggressively and put numbers into mauls quickly if we see a rolling maul starting to form. It will be a similar defensive system that Sarries use.

Change of fly half for Clermont means we can focus more effort directly at Fofana and stopping him influencing the game - Cane, Clark will be looking to target him and support Giteau's defensive efforts when they can.

Phillips to sweep behind the defensive line and add extra physicality around the fringes, and will try and get at Parra from the off.

Breakdown: We see this as a key area to target throughout the 80minutes. We have players who can get to the breakdown quicker than Clermonts (Lawes, Launchbury, Clark) and can support Cane in that area. We will look to reach breakdowns first and get body positions correct to stop Clermont from disrupting our ball. When there is a chance for turnovers we will put numbers in and let Cane/Clark get their hands on the ball and seek turnovers. We will defend aggressively around the fringes to make it difficult for Clermont to go through the phases.

Set piece: Threat of Bonnaire's aerial ability will be addressed by placing Lawes in front of him and using his athleticism to get up at every lineout that isn't 15metres from our try line and causing as much of a nuisance as possible and preventing clean, quick ball. We also have Launchbury, Clark and Parisse as options for attacking throws.

The scrum is where we feel we can get an advantage, namely because Clermont have picked Bonnaire at the base and this will stop them getting go forward from their own lineouts, whilst we can launch Parisse from the back of ours. Phillips will make a nuisance of himself and try and place Bonnaire under great pressure here.

Key Points:

* Target the unfamiliarity between the Clermont 9/10/12 combination, wont be as fluid as usual.
* Target Bonnaire as no8, place pressure on him and try and disrupt Parra's service. Will also get Lawes being a nuisance in the lineout.
* When Clermont up the pressure and attack, make sure we don't make mistakes, use Phillips, Hernandez and Giteau to put the ball into touch and slow the pace of the game.
* Game is not at Clermont's ground, and Saints are the only undefeated team in the HC.
* Team is very fresh with rotation policy as we have been targeting HC success.
* Experience in all key positions - strong impact bench.
* Kick all goals, Hernandez to look at DG opportunities.

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Bonnaire plays at no8 and who on earth is Radosavljevic?

Anyone see Fofanas try at the weekend? Got to be the most in form player in rugby at the moment - probably shouldnt be saying that right now mind...

Northampton Saints
Heineken Cup Semi Final
Manager Dammit Chris

01. Mako Vunipola	09. Mike Phillips
02. Tatafu Polota-Nau	10. Juan Martin Hernandez(k)
03. Carl Hayman
04. Courtney Lawes	11. Julian Savea
05. Joe Launchbury	12. Matt Giteau
06. Calum Clark	13. Manu Tuilagi
07. Sam Cane	14. Chris Ashton
08. Sergio Parisse(c)	15. Ben Foden

Subs: 16. Moto Mata'u 17. Sona Taumalolo 18. Henry Thomas 19. Manu Samoa 20. Billy Vunipola 21. Nick Phipps 22. Christian Wade 23. Leigh Halfpenny

Tactics:With it being a semi final, we've picked a team where each of the key positions, no2, no8, 9, 10 and 12 have over 40caps, so we can ensure that cool heads make the right decisions at key moments. We have a 10/12 combination that can control the territory battle and dictate the game, we expect Clermont will place us under pressure during the game and Hernandez ability to clear the ball 60metres into touch will be invaluable.

Our game will be based on power and getting over the gainline to launch attacks at a defence that hasnt had the chance to align itself. Giteau will step in at first receiver and bring the likes of Tuilagi, Savea and Foden into play. We have picked a very mobile pack as we aim to beat Clermont to the breakdown and secure ball - with Lawes, Launcbury, Clark and Cane we have some excellent breakdown specialists and will look for turnovers and attack Clermont on the counter.

Forward options on the bench are all powerful ball carriers and can be brought on when the game starts to stretch to strengthen our chances of keeping hold of the ball.

Attack: Our attack will be take into account the importance of the game and we will not go all out attack as we usually do. But in Ashton, Savea, Tuilagi and Foden we have some very good try scorers so will not be afraid to attack Clermont from deep. However, we will look to play the initial exchanges in the Clermont half and stop them from building any momentum and tempo to the game. With Phillips, Hernandez and Giteau we have the players who can dictate this element for us.

A lot of our attacks will come through Giteau coming in at first receiver and getting Tuilagi and Savea to come from deep and get us over the gainline. With Lawes, Launchbury, Cane and Clark we will look to secure quick ball to catch Clermont on the backfoot and bring Ashton and Foden into the game.

Defence: We have a powerful and mobile pack, and are aware that the defensive abilities of Lawes and Launcbury will be needed massively during the game. We will guard the fringes or rucks aggressively and put numbers into mauls quickly if we see a rolling maul starting to form. It will be a similar defensive system that Sarries use.

Change of fly half for Clermont means we can focus more effort directly at Fofana and stopping him influencing the game - Cane, Clark will be looking to target him and support Giteau's defensive efforts when they can.

Phillips to sweep behind the defensive line and add extra physicality around the fringes, and will try and get at Parra from the off.

Breakdown: We see this as a key area to target throughout the 80minutes. We have players who can get to the breakdown quicker than Clermonts (Lawes, Launchbury, Clark) and can support Cane in that area. We will look to reach breakdowns first and get body positions correct to stop Clermont from disrupting our ball. When there is a chance for turnovers we will put numbers in and let Cane/Clark get their hands on the ball and seek turnovers. We will defend aggressively around the fringes to make it difficult for Clermont to go through the phases.

Set piece: Threat of Bonnaire's aerial ability will be addressed by placing Lawes in front of him and using his athleticism to get up at every lineout that isn't 15metres from our try line and causing as much of a nuisance as possible and preventing clean, quick ball. We also have Launchbury, Clark and Parisse as options for attacking throws.

The scrum is where we feel we can get an advantage, namely because Clermont have picked Bonnaire at the base and this will stop them getting go forward from their own lineouts, whilst we can launch Parisse from the back of ours. Phillips will make a nuisance of himself and try and place Bonnaire under great pressure here.

Key Points:

* Target the unfamiliarity between the Clermont 9/10/12 combination, wont be as fluid as usual.
* Target Bonnaire as no8, place pressure on him and try and disrupt Parra's service. Will also get Lawes being a nuisance in the lineout.
* When Clermont up the pressure and attack, make sure we don't make mistakes, use Phillips, Hernandez and Giteau to put the ball into touch and slow the pace of the game.
* Game is not at Clermont's ground, and Saints are the only undefeated team in the HC.
* Team is very fresh with rotation policy as we have been targeting HC success.
* Experience in all key positions - strong impact bench.
* Kick all goals, Hernandez to look at DG opportunities.

Fofana is sublime at the minute. Best centre in the world by a distance at the moment.

He could shred you to pieces !!

Mark

Glos 15

01. Nick wood 09. Dan Robson
02. Joe grey 10. Dan carter (k)
03. Nicola mas
04. Tom Palmer 11. Matt banahan
05. George robsob 12. Matt Scott
06. Willem Alberts 13. Richard Kahui
07. Julian Salvi 14. Charlie Sharples
08. Harinordoquoy (c) 15. Israel Dagg

16 Coenie ousthuizen
17 adriaan Strauss
18 rupert harden
19 richie grey
20 Qera
21 will Genia
22 ryan mills
23 iain Balshaw

Form league we have steamroller momentum which counts at end of season
+ Superior carriers 1-8 carry and carry well we have dynamism and hard yards
+ 8,9,10 axis able to control and dictate. Also are a regular units.
+ more kicking options and control
+ Mobile, Dynamic Pack We have selected a pack that can hold their own in the set piece, but who offer a huge amount of carrying and impact.
+ lineout forwards all over able to disrupt ball.

+Impact Bench We have players to bring on who can make a real difference in the scrum and loose.


We are targetting the Final and know we have to win the battle and right to play our quick brand of rugby. We will be looking to get our big runners on the front foot and get over the gain line to produce quick ball for Robson to hit carter to play wide and direct. We have won the last 2 finals and want to win a 3rd to keep the trophy

Our pack is huge and mobile but great in set piece and we will be targetting the lineouts and Scrums with mas and wood looking to dominate.

We will Target lineout and generally try to affect quality of their ball.
Drive lots of lineout ball and try and hit Alberts and co of rucks in to cooper channel.

To pressure Quins halfbacks. Cooper thrives on quick attacking ball.

As ever we look to keep the ball and force Quins in to mistakes to start with and will look to build tempo as we start to get on top. Once we have won the battles and rights to play we will open up and start to really increase the tempo with our bench contributing and keeping the foot on the pedal.

We will be targeting the 10 channel a lot to make the defence narrow to able us to then whip it wide and isolate runners with back 3

Look to pressure Quins knowing if its a kicking battle carter will win
Carter to try and isolate banahan with Quins wingers on

Specifics

- send Kahui gear Alberts etc at cooper channel
- take all points on offer with carter
- look to use the bomb early on to target Morahan and ojo
- Territory early doors and pressure their lineout
- kick in behind back 3 and pressure
- put pressure on Dickson To make him
Shovel ball to cooper
- Kahui and banahan to interchange where necessary to keep big running option to interest defenders
- blitz defence with scrum half sweeping
- look to send in numbers to breakdown to disrupt and turnover.
- carry relentlessly to keep ball and build pressure. We only use the ball when we have front foot quality ball

Just back from rugby. Side in in 10.

Harlequins
Manager – Steven_Sharks

01. Joe Marler	09. Karl Dickson
02. Gary Botha	10. Quade Cooper (k)
03. John Afoa
04. Pieter Steph Du Toit	11. Topsy Ojo
05. Steve Borthwick (c)	12. Jan Serfontein
06. George Kruis	13. Jonathan Joseph
07. Michael Hooper	14. Luke Morahan
08. Nick Easter	15. Andre Taylor

16. Schalk Brits 17. Wyatt Crockett 18. Kieran Brookes 19. Charlie Matthews
20. Jamie Gibson 21. Greig Laidlaw 22. Dan Bowden 23. Matt Smith

Tactics

Game Plan

Usual game plan of keeping the ball and building phases with play based around our half backs and strong ball carriers. We will look for our pack to get us across the gain line, tie in defenders and recycle the ball quickly before we spread it out wide to our backs. If we can we will look to offload to continue our attacking momentum.

We will look for carries off 9 and 10 where our playmakers will put others into spaces. We are looking for our players to carry in numbers so as to recycle the ball quickly or so to offload if it’s on. Carriers are looking to win the collisions and keep the legs pumping in contact.

Forwards

Look to win the hit at scrum time and keep the drive on. On our ball we will get the ball in immediately after the hit so we can continue the drive. At the lineout we will really look to disrupt with Borthwick, PDST, Kruis and Easter putting pressure on the Gloucester lineout. On our ball we will look to shorten the line between the two 22m lines and use Easter and Hooper as carriers in the midfield. At the rucks we will commit as many men as needed to secure quick ball.

Backs

Dickson and Cooper to run things. Dickson to snipe and bring players into play around the breakdown and Cooper to stand flat and run the show bringing others into the game. Serfontein will look to get the ball in hand on the front foot and test the Gloucester defence with JJ outside him running support lines. Our back 3 are three electric runners who will run the ball when they get the chance.

Defence

Quick line speed targeting the Gloucester decision makers. When we can we will double up in the tackle and look to get a man on the ball for the steal and turnover the ball. We feel we are very dangerous on the counter attack so we will look to attack off as much turnover ball as we can get.

Key Points

- As good as a home game for us. In London as the home side. Our process is just like a home game. Not true for Gloucester.

Steven_Sharks wrote:Just back from rugby. Side in in 10.

My rugby has finished is it your last league games ? Higher leagues still got one or 2 left

Just back tactics in pre 8am no change from usual really. This Tuesday team in next year will be difficult for me

Predictions OPEN

Quins v Glos
- Think Mas could cause Marler problems but Afoa will trouble Wood. Prefer the Glos backrow. Salvi v Hooper would be a good watch. 1 a piece at halfbacks. Not too much in the backs. Dagg the standout. For me the difference is the Glos bench. Genia, Grey, Qera, Ouisthuizen, Strauss can all make a good impact, especially Genia, whereas Quins dont quite have as much on their bench. Late win for Glos.
25-27

Clermont v Saints
- Tough ask for Saints. No give in the front rows but think Clermonts locks help them out more. Very powerful unit. Edge to Clermont backrow aswell although Parisse the standout. 10 is a huge problem for Clermont, he is a scrum half i believe. parra will help him though. immense backline. saints backline top quality also. Slightly prefer the Saints bench, some great impact with Billy V, Wade, Halfpenny. Not a huge Cane fan, think Salvi was better Chris sorry!
24-23

Harlequins 26-30 Gloucester

Scrum: Decent battle here. Glaws with the slightly better technicians but I don’t see them getting a real advantage. Meety 2nd row and they could have done well here.
Lineout: Another good little battle. Both sides will hold their own ball but see Glaws slightly stronger in attacking positions.
Breakdown: See Quins getting an edge here. More mobility in the front 5 to help clear out the ruck.
HB's: Fairly even on current form. Carter shades the 10s but Cooper in good form while its vice versa at scrummy.
Attack: Glaws have an edge in ball carrier terms.
Defence: See Glaws making hey down Cooper & JJs channel.
Bench: Glaws can win the front 5 battle in the last quarter and Genia gives great impact.
Tactics: Both game plans strong and suit their teams. Don’t see one counteracting the other. Tough game to call. Fel Glaws get that bit more from the set piece and will finish strong for the win here.


ASM Clermont Auvergne 23-20 Northampton Saints

Scrum: See a slight edge to Clermont. Serious power in the 2nd row locking them down.
Lineout: Saints struggle at times without an out and out leader but won’t be dominated here.
Breakdown: Good battle here but see Saints edging slightly. Both sides should see some good ball though.
HB's: Edge to Saints with Radosavljevic an unknown quality. Not the comb to get the best out of their backs though.
Attack: Both sides full of power, pace and finishers.
Defence: Both sides strong here with some big hitters.
Bench: Great impact from both benches.
Tactics: Saints set up well but feel they would have been better off targeting Parra as Clermonts main playmaker rather then watching Fofanna. It’s a tough tough ask for Saints and feel with a slower pace to their game today then usual they needed to get more of the set piece battle for the win.

Quins 22-25 Glos
SP: Not much advantage for either side here.
BK: Think Glos will be good here but Hooper will terrorise the breakdown at times.
HB: 9 evens, 10 to Quins on current form.
AT: Glos have the better carriers.
BE: Good impact here from Glos.
TA: Both set up well, feel Glos will use the set piece well here.

Clermont 30-31 Saints
SP: Clermont will grind Saints down but will take time to do that.
BK: Think Saints bring more here just.
HB: Slight edge to Saints.
AT: 2 scary lineups both who will score and make this a good high scoring game.
BE: Great impact, Saints have a bit more.
TA: Saints will disrupt Parra's ball with their edge at the breakdown. Don't think they'll get as much joy from scrum as they think. Clermont home advantage comes into this but think Saints will do this.

Clermont 29-29 saints

I have mulled this for a while. Think clermont will get a slight edge front. 5 due to front row and meaty locks.

However saints extra mobility will really help them on defence.

Lineout even although TPN can go bad with darts but so can Kayser.

Parisse standout Backrow and the battle of Vosloo vs cane will be tasty. Cane is a magnificent 7 and in great form same for Vosloo who I did not know was South African.

Good carrying in both packs very tight but slight clermont edge.

Half backs parra makes them tick but playing a 9 at 10 means a clermont do not win this. Semi final is pressure time and the clermont 10 could go wrong.

Both have gun backline with great form. See clermont winning this bit saints bench salvaging the draw and looking more likely to win in the end.

Harlequins 27-25 Gloucester
Quins pack wins this game for them. I think they can get on top of Gloucester and get better ball for their backs which will see them to the win.

Clermont 23-24 Northampton Saints
Really close game, but the lad at 10 for Clermont is an issue. Saints have the experience to see them home in a pressure situation. Would have gone for Clermont had it been at their own ground.

Clermont 25 - 28 Saints

Think Saints better in some key positions (TH, 8 and 10 particularly) and have the mix of control and magic in the backs to get a great win.

Harlequins 26 - 24 Gloucester

There is just too much grit and power in the pack for Quins in this battle up front, backs are more or less even and both have outstanding benches to bring on. But the steadying influence with the boot from Laidlaw will just sneak the home win.

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Clermont Auvergne 29 - 28 Northampton Saints

Other than the front five and the centres the Saints have Clermont's number. But with the two aspects of the game going towards Clermont and Parra directing traffic I can just see the influence of the les Jaunards crowd willing them to last gasp winner.

Harlequins 31 - 32 Gloucester
This has possibly been the hardest game to pick a winner and didn't want to give a draw - neutral venue, but a little bit more support for Quins due to location. Big pitch, good conditions, less onus for me on the forward battle as a result.

Would give the front five battle to Quins, it is hard to say but I think Borthwick is currently in the form of his life and will be a key player in the game. If it wasn't sunny conditions then I think this would have a much bigger effect in the game, but it will generate Quins some very good attacking ball to play with.

I see Gloucester having advantage in the backrow, Kruis could be targeted throughout and there isn't much experience on the Quins bench to change this. Up against Alberts and Salvi it could sway the backrow battle and help Gloucester slow down ball and win turnovers.

Have to admit I don't watch much s15 rugby, so I have never seen the Quins no4 or no12 play, so have no idea what they are like and how they play the game, so I find it difficult to judge how good they are and sorry Steve, but this does have an impact on my prediction (will try and watch more of them).

The backlines will be a very good contest - would give Quins the edge at halfback until Genia comes on and then momentum really changes - I think Quins will get more attacking ball, but the form of guys like JJ and Ojo could stop them getting more points and I would like to see them having a guy who can get over the gainline more (apologies if that is no12s style!),

I see Gloucester as having more direct approach in the backs and being able to get over the gainline. Less chances, but a bit more clinical, but only when Genia gets on the pitch.

In wet conditions the Quins front five would have changed the result and Nick Easter would have had come into his own. But the smallest win for Gloucester.

Harlequins 28 - 32 Gloucester

Mas can get on top of marler, but the other two Quins front rowers get a nudge on to give Quins the edge. Form wise Quins take the 2nd row, although the back row is more even with maybe a slight edge to Gloucs. Overall Quins take the pack, just. Prefer Gloucs at HB, and they might edge the centres too, and they take the back threes. At a sunny twickenham, Gloucs backs can get on top, and think they can out score Quins.


Clermont 26 - 24 Saints

Good front row contest with no clear winner. Hines the standout in a well contested 2nd row battle. Again the back row is evenly contested. Don't see much between the packs, probably overall edge to Clermont with power. It's one a piece in the HBs with parra a good SH to guide rado. Centre battle worth ticket price alone, and it's a great back three contest too. Great game. In France, Clermont nick it.

Harlequins 24 Gloucester 24
ASM Clermont Auvergne 24 Northampton Saints 25

Quins 28-27 Glos
Clermont 25-23 Saints

ASM 36-33 Saints

See it going to a territorial game with Skrela on and Clermont stronger in the set piece as the benches have more to say so get more goal kicking chances.

Clermont 40 - 35 Saints

Bring on the aging Clermont pack! Let's see how their legs last for another 40minutes

clermont 29-32 saints halfpenny kicks a monster to win it

Clermont 33-37 Saints

35-38

35 - 36

35-38

Clermont Auvergne 36 - 30 Northampton Saints

Well done Chris that is a massive win.

Was lucky with the team that Clermont had out there - if they'd have had their proper no10 and not played Bonnaire as no8 then I wouldn't have won.

Glad will have Hartley and Simpson available again for the final though!

I get Johnny may back. Very glad about that

And Berrick Barnes !!