Fantasy Amlin Challenge Cup Semi-Finals

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RC Toulon vs. Bath Rugby
at Stade Mayol, Toulon
White Cloud, 18 degrees, 15 mph winds.


RC Toulon

01. Andrew Sheridan	09. Sebastien Tillous-Borde
02. Sebastien Bruno	10. Jonny Wilkinson
03. Carl Hayman
04. Bakkies Botha	11. Alexis Palisson
05. Nick Kennedy	12. Matt Giteau
06. Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe	13. Matthieu Bastareaud
07. Steffon Armitage	14. Rudi Wulf
08. Chris Masoe	15. Delon Armitage

16. Mickael Ivaldi 17. Gethin Jenkins 18. Levan Chilachava 19. Jocelino Suta 20. Vincent Martin 21. Maxime Mermoz 22. Nicolas Durand 23. Joe van Niekerk


Bath Rugby
Manager – inthefastlane

01. Cian Healy	09. Aaron Smith
02. Kevin Mealamu	10. Charlie Hodgson
03. Carl Rimmer
04. Graham Kitchener	11. George North
05. Sam Whitelock	12. Anthony Allen
06. Tom Guest	13. Jonathan Davies
07. David Pocock	14. Jake Arnott
08. James Gaskell	15. Rob Miller

16. Jon Golding 17. Chris Brooker 18. Davit Kubrashvilli 19. Luke Romano 20. 21. Fourie Du Preez 22. Cory Jane 23. Stuart Hogg

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Stade Touloussain vs. London Welsh
at Stade Ernest -Wallon, Toulouse
White CLoud, 14 degrees, 12 mph winds.


Stade Touloussain

01. Jean-Baptiste Poux	09. Luke Burgess
02. Jaba Bregvadze	10. Lionel Beauxis
03. Vassil Kakovin
04. Romain Millo-Chluski	11. Yves Donguy
05. Edwin Maka	12. Gael Fickou
06. Gregory Lamboley	13. Florian Fritz
07. Sylvain Nicolas	14. Timoci Matanavou
08. Gillian Galan	15. Maxime Medard

16. Christopher Tolofua 17. Cyril Baille 18. Yohan Montes 19. Russlan Boukerou 20. Karl Chateau 21. Yannick Jauzion 22. Yann David 23. Sebastien Bezy


London Welsh
Manager Ozzy3213

01. Ben Alexander	09. Morgan Parra
02. Rob Hawkins	10. Owen Farrell
03. Dave Wilson
04. Rynhardt Elstadt	11. James Simspon-Daniel
05. Jim Hamilton	12. Pat McCabe
06. Tom Johnson	13. Joel Tomkins
07. Siya Kolisi	14. Jack Nowell
08. Duane Vermeulen (c)	15. Gareth Anscombe

16. Bismarck du Plessis 17. Steven Kitschoff 18. Martin Castrogiovanni 19. James Hanks 20. Semisi Taulava 21. Paul Hodgson 22. Tim Nanai-Williams 23. Digby Ioane

Basic Tactics

We want to control territory and possession in this game. In our own 22 Parra, Farrell and Anscombe will put boot to ball and take us into the Toulouse 22 looking for touch. We will not take chances in our own 22. In the Toulouse half or approaching the halfway line on our side we will go through the phases keeping possession and working the Toulouse defence.

Specifics

• When kicking for touch good line speed with no doglegs from the kick chasers.
  
• When carrying we will look for gaps rather than contact and look to offload to support runners after drawing men in.
  
• No chances in our 22. We want to silence the crowd and to do so will not offer anything to Toulouse that will get them on their feet and behind the team.
  
• Take all points on offer. We will take drop goals and penalties anytime they are available. We want to to strangle the life out of Toulouse.
  
• Contest for all lineout ball on the Toulouse throw.
  

Key Points

• We are going all out for this. Toulouse have no interest in the Amlin as shown by the side they put out the performance given in real life in the quarter finals.
  
• We have selected an experienced, calm 8,9,10 axis who have played loads together in this game, which is what you need to win away games like these.
  

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What kind of a Toulouse team is that! Where's dusatoir, nyanga etc

Doussain mccalister steenkamp etc

That's the team that they put out in their last European game.....

http://www.espnscrum.com/amlin-challenge-cup-2012-13/rugby/match/168103.html

Nice. You've had a touch there.

Little bit!

I certainly have a slightly easier task than Bath do!

Yeh the Toulon side is unreal. as is clermonts to face Chris in Hc

Clermont 10 missing is a big issue for them
But apart from that a great side.

I don't think Toulon backs are up to much out wide. I worry whether Toulon have a plan b. stopping their plan a is bloody difficult though

Bath Rugby
Manager – inthefastlane

01. Cian Healy	09. Aaron Smith
02. Kevin Mealamu	10. Charlie Hodgson
03. Carl Rimmer
04. Graham Kitchener	11. George North
05. Sam Whitelock	12. Anthony Allen
06. Tom Guest	13. Jonathan Davies
07. David Pocock	14. Jake Arnott
08. JMF Lobbe	15. Rob Miller

16. Jon Golding 17. Chris Brooker 18. Davit Kubrashvilli 19. Luke Romano 20. James Gaskell 21. Fourie Du Preez 22. Cory Jane 23. Stuart Hogg

Mark

London Welsh
Manager Ozzy3213

01. Ben Alexander	09. Morgan Parra
02. Rob Hawkins	10. Owen Farrell
03. Dave Wilson
04. Rynhardt Elstadt	11. James Simspon-Daniel
05. Jim Hamilton	12. Pat McCabe
06. Tom Johnson	13. Joel Tomkins
07. Siya Kolisi	14. Jack Nowell
08. Duane Vermeulen (c)	15. Gareth Anscombe

16. Bismarck du Plessis 17. Steven Kitschoff 18. Martin Castrogiovanni 19. James Hanks 20. Semisi Taulava 21. Paul Hodgson 22. Tim Nanai-Williams 23. Digby Ioane

Basic Tactics

We want to control territory and possession in this game. In our own 22 Parra, Farrell and Anscombe will put boot to ball and take us into the Toulouse 22 looking for touch. We will not take chances in our own 22. In the Toulouse half or approaching the halfway line on our side we will go through the phases keeping possession and working the Toulouse defence.

Specifics

• When kicking for touch good line speed with no doglegs from the kick chasers.
  
• When carrying we will look for gaps rather than contact and look to offload to support runners after drawing men in.
  
• No chances in our 22. We want to silence the crowd and to do so will not offer anything to Toulouse that will get them on their feet and behind the team.
  
• Take all points on offer. We will take drop goals and penalties anytime they are available. We want to to strangle the life out of Toulouse.
  
• Contest for all lineout ball on the Toulouse throw.
  

Key Points

• We are going all out for this. Toulouse have no interest in the Amlin as shown by the side they put out the performance given in real life in the quarter finals.
  
• We have selected an experienced, calm 8,9,10 axis who have played loads together in this game, which is what you need to win away games like these.
  

Predictions OPEN

Toulon v Bath
- Such a strong Toulon lineup throughout. Think they have too much for the Bath pack and a slightly better backline. Very strong at their home ground as well.
26-21

Toulouse v Welsh
- Not Toulouse strongest side but they are always strong at home. Front rows are even. Maka is a beast but Hamilton has the experience. Edge to the away side in backrow. Backlines pretty even, bit more experience in Toulouse side but Welsh have some good players.
20-20

Toulon 20-16 Bath

Bath playing Lobbe who is ineligible? Assuming Gaskell has to step up from the bench to BS and Guest to 8.

Scrum: Decent battle but Rimmer will struggle up against a powerful Toulon scrum.
Lineout: Decent battle and both sides should do well on their own ball.
Breakdown: See Pocock winning the 7 battle but Armitage gtes more support from his backrow colleagues. Evens.
HB's: Smith struggling a little at the moment but still favour the Bath combo overall and see them capable of getting more from their backs.
Attack: Its tough with the 7 eq requirements and feel on current form only North would get into the Toulon side with Allen/Giteau similar level at 12.
Defence: Both sides strong overall.
Bench: Bath now a man down with Lobbe ineligible doesn’t help but great impact from Hogg & Jane. Not sure how Miller would do as back up 10 against such a big Toulon pack though.
Tactics: N/A. Feel Toulon are that bit stronger overall.


Toulouse 19-26 Welsh

Scrum: Slight edge to Welsh with Poux really struggling this year.
Lineout: Welsh capable of poaching a few balls.
Breakdown: Not much give either way here.
HB's: Edge to Welsh. Burgess having a terrible season overall.
Attack: Edge to Toulouse. Great runners throughout the backline and some great carriers in the pack.
Defence: Matanovu could struggle against the Welsh halfbacks.
Bench: Massive step up for Welsh.
Tactics: Good set up from Welsh. A little fortuitous with the Toulouse side put out but they are stronger in the front 5 and halfbacks and should control this game from start to finish.

I've removed Lobbe from the Bath side as he is ineligible and replaced him with Gaskell from the bench.

Toulon 26-22 Bath
Strong Toulon line-up, just edge Bath up front but only just. Eq hampers the bench and Toulon very strong here. Bar North, Toulon much stronger out on the wings and at full back.

Toulouse 20-25 Welsh
A weak Toulouse side plays into Welsh's hands here. Matched up in front 5 but Welsh stronger in backrow. Fairly evens in the backs but Parra on form and feel Burgess may struggle with slow ball. Strong front row bench for Welsh helps them get a good win.

Toulouse 22-28 welsh

Weak Toulouse side who are not what they were. Big game players for welsh like parra make this a famous victory.

Toulon 28-22 bath

Toulon have the pack to get on top and players in key positions to control the match better like wilko. Bench to Toulon. Home advantage huge as stade Ernest mayol is a terrifying place to go

Toulon 27-20 Bath
Shame there is no tactics from Bath as that would have made me have to really think hard here, but as it is Toulon have a strong side out and at home will win through to the final.

Toulouse 19-23 London Welsh
Not a great Toulouse side and Welsh have enough especially up front and off the bench to get a famous away win.

Toulon 23 - 17 Bath
There is a lot of power in the Toulon pack and playing them at home is going to be hard work for any team. Though Bath have a very competitive pack that will play well for the 80mins and cause Toulon issues. Big issue for me would be Wilkinson putting the Bath backthree under pressure with his kicking, WIlko is in top form at the moment and gets you 16-18 points a game.

Toulouse 15 - 24 London Welsh
Like the control that 8, 9 and 10 combination bring for Welsh in this game, exactly what you need for an away semi final and Farrell is going to get Welsh a fair few penalties. Pack is good for Pete's team too and helped by Toulouse not putting out their best team.

Toulon 28 - 24 Bath

great Toulon side who have enough to sweep past Bath. Bath miss the back row sub and away from home it's too much of an ask for them!

Toulouse 21 - 26 Welsh

Poor toulouse side ruins what would have been a cracker. Welsh set out well and take a good win in the South of France.

Toulon 26 - 22 Bath

Bath are knocked back by the EQ quota and suffer for it in this close game. There's just too much for the away team to overcome in a tough game in France

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Toulouse 16 - 23 London Welsh

A weakened toulouse team come up against a well rotated Welsh side and they control the possession in this game. More ability too even out wide but its too late for the big French club!

RC Toulon 27 Bath Rugby 25

I think most people have said what needs to be said here. EQ numbers hit Bath and the backline lacks a bit with Arnott and Miller in it. Their pack however is decent with players like Healy, Mealamu, Whitelock and Pocock in there, and those guys would keep this game close. At home though, Toulon are just a little bit too strong overall.

Toulon 26 - 20 Bath

Really good front row battle here. No clear winner. One a piece in the 2nd row , but Toulon to really get On top in the back row. Wilko to control the HBs, and think toulon have more form the centres too. Slight edge to Toulon in the back threes. Toulon have enough here to get a good win.


Toulouse 18 - 29 Welsh

Reserve pa k by Toulouse gets dismantled. Fairly straight forward for welsh.

Toulouse 22-27 Welsh