Anglo-Welsh Cup Round Three

 

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Bath Rugby vs Cardiff Blues
Location - The Rec
Light Rain Showers, 9 Degrees, 12 mph North Westerly Winds

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Bath

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Cardiff Blues
 

01. Sam Hobbs (c)	09. Lloyd Williams
02. Kevin Dacey	10. Gareth Davies
03. Benoit Bourrust
04. Chris Dicomidis	11. Chris Czekaj
05. Filo Paulo	12. Dafydd Hewitt
06. Macauley Cook	13. Gavin Evans
07. Ellis Jenkins	14. Alex Cuthbert
08. Robin Copeland	15. Leigh Halfpenny

Replacements: 16 Marc Breeze, 17 Thomas Davies, 18 Scott Andrews, 19 James Down, 20 Rory Watts-Jones, 21 Lewis Jones, 22 Dan Fish, 23 Richard Smith

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Exeter Chiefs vs Ospreys
Location - Sandy Park
Light Rain Showers, 9 Degrees, 12 mph North Westerly Winds

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Chiefs

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Ospreys

01. Ryan Bevington	09. Rhys Webb
02. Richard Hibbard	10. Dan Biggar
03. Adam Jones
04. Alun Wyn-Jones (c)	11. Aisea Natoga
05. Ian Evans	12. Ben John
06. Tyler Ardron	13. Jonathan Spratt
07. Justin Tipuric	14. Jeff Hassler
08. Ryan Jones	15. Sam Davies

Replacements: 16 Scott Baldwin, 17 Marc Thomas, 18 Dan Suter, 19 Lloyd Peers, 20 James King, 21 Morgan Allen, 22 Thomas Habberfield, 23 Matthew Morgan.

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Harlequins vs Leicester Tigers
Location - Twickenham Stoop
Light Rain Showers, 9 Degrees, 12 mph North Westerly Winds

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Quins

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Tigers

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Sale Sharks vs Worcester Warriors
Location - AJ Bell Stadium
Light Rain Showers, 9 Degrees, 12 mph North Westerly Winds

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Sharks

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Warriors

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London Wasps vs London Irish
Location - Arms Park
Light Rain Showers, 9 Degrees, 12 mph North Westerly Winds

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Wasps

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Irish

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Newport Gwent Dragons vs Northampton Saints
Location - Rodney Parade
Light Rain Showers, 9 Degrees, 12 mph North Westerly Winds

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Newport Gwent Dragons

01. Aaron Coundley	09. Jonathan Evans
02. Sam Parry	10. Steffan Jones
03. Nathan Buck
04. Matthew Screech	11. Matthew Pewtner
05. Robert Sidoli	12. Ross Wardle
06. Andrew Coombs (c)	13. Patrick Leach
07. Scott Matthews	14. Will Harries
08. Ieuan Jones	15. Daniel Evans

Replacements: 16 Hugh Gustafson, 17 Phil Price, 18 Dan Way, 19 Adam Jones, 20 Jevon Groves, 21 Wayne Evans, 22 Kris Burton, 23 Adam Hughes.

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Saints

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Saracens vs Newcastle Falcons
Location - Allianz Park
Light Rain Showers, 9 Degrees, 12 mph North Westerly Winds

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Sarrues

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Falcons

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Scarlets vs Gloucester
Location - Parc y Scarlets
Light Rain Showers, 9 Degrees, 12 mph North Westerly Winds

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Scarlets

01. Phil John	09. Gareth Davies
02. Emyr Phillips	10. Rhys Priestland
03. Samson Lee
04. George Earle	11. Jordan Williams
05. Jake Ball	12. Scott Williams
06. Aaron Shingler	13. Gareth Maule
07. John Barclay	14. Kristian Phillips
08. Rob McCusker (c)	15. Aled Thomas

Replacements: 16 Ken Owens, 17 Rob Evans, 18 Jacobie Adriaanse, 19 Johan Snyman, 20 Josh Turnbull, 21 Rhodri Williams, 22 Adam Warren, 23 Gareth Owen

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Glaws

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Sale Sharks
Manager – SJE

01. Dave Kilcoyne	09. Kieran Marmion
02. Tommy Taylor	10. Beauden Barrett
03. Luc Ducalcon
04. Kane Douglas	11. Craig Gilroy
05. Christian Day	12. Gael Fickou
06. Iain Henderson	13. Robbie Freuen
07. Matt Kvesic	14. Semesa Rokoduguni
08. Alex Tulou	15. Jared Payne

16. Ross Harrison 17. David Paice 18. Phil Swainston 19. Tom Savage 20. Luke Whitelock 21. Callum Braley 22. JJ Hanrahan 23. Will Addison

We will play a fast paced, high intensity offloading game looking to create space for our halfbacks and to get our back three onto the ball as much possible.
 
- Use the scrum as a restart. Look to get the ball in and out to Tulou and Marmion quickly.

- Attack from the lineout. Five genuine jumping options allows us to mix it up and really use the lineout as an attacking platform. Look to get the ball to Barrett and Payne with space outside. 

- Look to mix up play. Barrett is capable of mixing the play up and offers a serious running threat from flyhalf. Marmion provides a threat snipping around the base.

- Get the back three involved.Roko, Gilroy and Payne all to run lines looking for the inside ball or offload to get in behind the opposition defence.

- Hit the breakdown hard. Look to our dynamic front five to clear the ruck and allow the Kvesic to really attack the breakdown.

- Straight line blitz defence focusing on a quick line speed to isolate the ball carrier before the gain line. Marmion to sweep in behind to cover chips and grubbers.

Bath Rugby
Manager – inthefastlane

01. James Slipper	09. Richard Wigglesworth
02. Mike Haywood	10. Paddy Jackson
03. Charlie Faumuania
04. Luke Romano	11. Hallan Amos
05. Andries Bekker	12. Anthony Allen
06. Jerome Kaino	13. Stuart Hogg
07. James Haskell	14. Alex Cuthbert
08. Juan Martin Fernando Lobbe	15. Chris Pennell

|;
16. Chris Brooker 17. Cian Healy 18. Carl Rimmer 19. Graham Kitchener 20. Jordan Crane 21. Fourie Du Preez 22. Sam Hill 23. George North

Newcastle Falcons

Manager – Driver

01.Soana Tonga'uhai	09.Dave Lewis
02.George McGuigan	10.Tommy Allen (K)
03.Scott Wilson
04.Adam Sinclair	11.Charlie Sharples
05.Jonny Grey	12.Luke Marshall
06.Joel Coelan	13.Chris Farrell
07.Andy Saull (c)	14.Zack Kirbridge
08.Dave Ewers	15.James O'Connor

16.Darren Dawiduik 17.Matt Mullen 18.Owen Franks 19.Jonny Hill 20.Curtis Browning 21.Franscois Houghard 22.Henry Slade 23.Cory Jane

Falcons to play a high tempo game based around plenty of width and moving the ball to the spaces to exploit any gaps which will appear.

We've picked players too suit our high tempo plan with several gainline forwards and some serious gas in the backs.

Get Sharples and Kirbridge in a 1 on 1 in attack and use there pace to make most of the space

Mark

Leicester Tigers
Manager – LukeLovesLuka

01. Benn Robinson	09. Micky Young
02. Chiliboy Ralepelle	10. Brock James (k)
03. Craig Mitchell
04. Edwin Maka	11. Paul Sackey
05. James Horwill (c)	12. Paul Jordaan
06. Steve Mafi	13. Dominc Waldouck
07. James Scaysbrook	14. Vincent Clerc
08. Joe van Niekerk	15. Kurtley Beale

16. Charlie Clare 17. Harry Rudkin 18. Neale Farthing 19. Tom Price 20. Jacques Burger 21. Kahn Fotuali'i 22. Rory Lyn 23. Josh Bassett

Harlequins
Manager – Steven_Sharks

01. Ben Franks	09. Greig Laidlaw (k)
02. Gary Botha	10. Freddie Burns
03. Gjorgi Jgenti
04. George Kruis	11. Topsy Ojo
05. Pieter Steph Du Toit	12. Jan Serfontein
06. Jamie Gibson	13. Anthony Faainga
07. Sam Warburton (c)	14. Frank Halai
08. Pierre Spies	15. Andre Taylor

16. Rob Buchanan 17. Edward Byrne 18. Kieran Brookes 19. Charlie Matthews 20. Luke Braid 21. Karl Dickson 22. Dan Bowden 23. Tom Brady

Tactics

London Wasps
Manager  Ozzy3213
 

01. Paul James	09. Aaron Smith
02. Bismarck du Plessis	10. Owen Farrell
03. Martin Castrogiovanni
04. Sebastien Vahaamahina	11. Jack Nowell
05. Jim Hamilton ©	12. Michele Campagnaro
06. Rynhardt Elstadt	13. JJ Englebrecht
07. Luke Wallace	14. Marland Yarde
08. Fotu Auelua	15. Anthony Watson

16. Rob Hawkins 17. Ben Alexander 18. Fraser Balmain 19. George Skivington 20. Marcell Coetzee 21.Nathan Fowles 22. Camille Lopez 23. Tom Collins

Tactics

Kick to the corners. Tight carrying gameplan close to the rucks using big forwards. In opposition 22 if it is on we will open up and try to put our back 3 into space. Big emphasis on the set piece and using the maul to good effect from lineouts. In defence we will blitz and look to control the gainline with Aaron Smith sweeping behind the line. Farrell will take all opportunities for points from penalties.

Exeter Chiefs 

Manager – Fluxy

01. Richard Barrington	09. Hadyn Thomas
02. Jack Yeandle	10. Tom Heathcote (k)
03. Logovii Mulipola
04. Brad Thorn	11. Zac Guildford
05. Alistair Hargreaves	12. Alex Dunbar
06. Jackson Wray	13. Marcelo Bosch
07. Sam Jones	14. Dom Shipperley
08. Semisi Taulava	15. Juan Martin Hernandez

16. Sean Cronin 17. Charles Beech 18. Kieran Davies 19. Geoff Parling 20. Nick Williams 21. Morgan Parra 22. Toby Flood 23. Scott Williams

Saracens
Manager – Pooly

01. Alex Waller	09. Chris Cook
02. Chris Whitehead	10. Gareth Steenson
03. Clement Ric
04. Julian Pierre	11. Miles Benjamin
05. Tim Swinson	12. Sonny Bill Williams
06. Brad Shields	13. George Lowe
07. Chris Henry	14. Adam Thompstone
08. Chris Masoe	15. Luke Fitzgerald

16. Tiaan Liebenberg  17. Max Lahiff  18. Paul Hill 19. Tom Jubb  20. Alessandro Zanni 21. Luke Burgess  22. Tom Taylor  23. Ryan Crotty

Tactics:

General - We've selected a team packed with power and physicality and will look to dominate the contact and get over the gain line. We'll be playing a high tempo physical game from the off, look to smash the opposition back and get into the rucks/maul's and drive through. We'll look to tie the opposition in and then get at their backline, more so in the their half. Look to keep it tight in the forward pack and grind through work.

Scrum - Look to get a platform from the off with a strong scrummaging unit. Strong front 5 with big locks will look for the big push once the ball is in and drive the opposition back. Our LH and Hooker will look to target TH and try to get between him and Hooker to allow TH to work on LH If no weakness seen will use as restart.

Line out - Look to play it safe and use the rolling maul to good effect. Our big pack should have a lot of joy here and will tie in the opposition defence. We'll look to contest on opp throw especially when sub get on the pitch as we feel we can really pressure him.

Defence - High intensity and big hits, looking to drive past the ball player. Huge physical pack that can look to dominate the collision and breakdown allowing Henry etc a chance to slow down/steal ball. Scrum half to sweep behind the defensive line.

Attack - Keep things simple in our own half then look to unleash backs in opp territory. Scrum half to inject pace from the breakdown and have Lowe on his shoulder. SBW to run at 10 channel and target possible weakness. SBW also to be used as decoy running at OC looking to take him out of the defensive line to free up space for Lowe to get at the outside.

Picked masoe twice

 

Glos

01. Steenkamp	09. Genia
02. Joe Grey	10. Cipriani (k)
03. James Johnstone
04. Elliot Stooke	11. Banahan
05. Richie Grey	12. Ryan Mills
06. Arno Botha	13.Kuridrani
07. Ardie Savea	14. Charlie Walker
08. Sam Dickinson	15. Israel folau

16. Nick Wood 17. Adriaan Strauss 18. Rupert Harden 19. Tom Palmer  20. Immanol Harinordoqoy  21. Murray  22. JDJ  23. Balshaw[/quote]

Just a side note, conditions have not be updated as of yet!

01. Tom Court	09. Ruan Pienaar
02. Tom Lindsay	10. Owen Williams (k)
03. Matt Stevens
04. Nick Kennedy	11. JP Pieterson
05. Mike McCarthy	12. Serieli Naqaveluki
06. Will Fraser	13. Henry Trinder
07. Thierry Dusatoir	14. Bjorn Basson
08. David Sisi	15. Robbie Henshaw

16. Hika Elliot 17. Antoine Guillamon 18. Tom Smallbone. 19. Stuart Hooper 20. Ed Jackson 21. Neil De Kock 22. Tommy Bell 23. Tom Homer



Tactics:
Front 5 build to hold their own and win quick lineout ball,
Backrow looking for turnover ball and running options,
Experience and youthfulness at 9-10 brings a cool head and creativity,
Strong centres both looking to be influential-Naqa smashing and Evans with creativity,
Quick back 3 all looking to continue our fast paced game plan,
Looking for quick ball but, if conditions don't allow it the front 5 will play up the jumper before playing a tight game with backs off 10-12,
Strong defence looking to slow down or steal ball,
Good bench with experience, raw power and youthful energy,
We want to continue our recent form in this competition (unbeaten) and overall (3-0).

Worcester Warriors

01. Tendai Mtawrira 09. Tawera Kerr-Barlow
02. Dave Ward 10. Remi Tales
03. BJ Botha
04. Johann Muller 11. Sailosi Tagicakibau
05. Alun Wyn-Jones 12. Maxime Mermoz
06. Danie Russouw 13. Casey Laulala
07. Shane Jennings 14. Mark Cueto
08. Thomas Waldrom 15. Delon Armitage

16. Nathan Catt 17. Koree Britton 18. Halani Aulika 19. Mouritz Botha 20.Phil Dowson 21. Michael Classens 22. Olly Barkley 23. Tom Casson

On phone, will edit tactics tomorrow

Have removed Ian Evans from my side.

Stuck on phone and can't seem to edit tactics.

Can someone edit evans to Trinder in tactics and remove final point please! Ta

Am just back from hospital trip with one of the kids and won't get tactics in tonight.  If allowed I will get them in first thing tomorrow.

Work away Pete mate hope all is ok with the kids

All good mate. Routine appointment that started late and ran later, then sat in traffic getting home.

That's fine by me ozzy, I'm a bit swamped at work with the joys of safeguarding issues!

Tactics added.   

Northampton Saints
Manager: Dammit Chris

01. Mako Vunipola	09. Joe Simpson
02. Tatafu Polota-Nau	10. George Ford
03. Carl Hayman
04. Dean Mumm	11. Siti Siviatu
05. Cadeyn Neville	12. Matt Giteau (c)(k)
06. Julian Bonnaire	13. Manu Tuilagi
07. Calum Clark	14. Christian Wade
08. Opeti Fonua	15. Jordan Williams

Subs: 16. Mike Haywood 17. Thomas Domingo 18. Henry Thomas 19. CJ Stander 20. Same Cane 21. Alex Day 22. Jamie Elliott 23. Tyler Bleyendaal

Not sure how serious Chris is taking this so copied his team from R2 and just replaced the injuries

Bath 33-18 Cardiff
Just too much international quality from Bath for the welsh to compete.
 
Chiefs 17-16 Ospreys
Bit more about the Chiefs backs 11-15 but Ospreys stronger in the pack and halfbacks. Good impact off the bench though sees Chiefs snatch a late home win.
 
Quins 20-17 Tigers
Not an awful lot between the teams but more experience overall on the bench for Quins should allow them to see this one out at home.
 
Wasps 23-21 Irish
Wasps obviously prioritising the AW cup and can see their front 5 really giving a platform. Breakdown will be messy at times but feel the Wasps halfbacks will dictate the pace of the game and get the tight turgid affair Pete is looking for.
 
Dragons 12-30 Saints
Saints can control the front 5 battle fairly comfortably while breakdown won’t be much of a concern so easy day out for Ford & Giteau.
 
Sarries 23-15 Falcons
See Sarries pack getting on top at the scrum and breakdown. Great little back line from Falcons but going to be a long hard day for Allen at 10.
 
Scarlets 24-30 Glaws
It’s a strong Scarlets team compared to some of the other welsh sides put out but they aren’t the strongest defensively and will struggle with the massive gain line breakers Glaws have put out through the side.

Exeter 26-25 Ospreys
Forward battle goes to Ospreys as Exeter name mainly a backup unit and Ospreys have a strong pack. Think the Ospreys half backs are the more experienced unit and can control the game off the platform the pack has given them. The outside backs of Exeter have more of a spark and the potential to create magic which is lacking from Ospreys. Hernandez could be a match winner for Exeter. With a strong bench, home advantage and greater motivation Exeter can snatch it.

Quins 27-22 Tigers
Quins have the advantage in the forwards with a strong pack picked. Also feel Quins are far more likely to get a stable base from their half backs. Tigers have the better outside backs. Slight edge to Tigers in the bench but at home and with pack dominance Quins can win

Sale 23-24 Worcester
Worcester top their group with two wins and the intent Is clear here. Nick has named a strong line up and the front five will be able to dominate Sale. Sale name the stronger back row however. Both name strong half back pairings with the edge going to Worcester. Outside backs go to Sale although both units are strong. I think Worcester just have enough to overcome home advantage.

Wasps 28-21 Irish
Wasps name the stronger front five. The Irish back row looks very strong though and helps Irish gain a foothold. Wasps half backs are great players and will be able to control the game. Outside backs are difficult to separate, probably edge to Wasps with lots of youth and excitement. Wasps are in a strong position in their group and will have greater motivation and at home can't see them not getting the win.

Dragons 15-33 Saints
Dragons side just doesn't have enough quality to beat the Saints

Sarries 28-16 Newcastle
Newcastle clearly concentrating on the youth movement and Sarries just have more quality throughout their lineup. Newcastle have a better bench but away from home and with Sarries in a strong position in the group so better motivated They can come away with a good win.

Scarlets 20-26 Gloucester
Scarlets are a decent side but Gloucester are too strong

Bath 24-19 Blues
Bath too strong up front but not as convincing a win with Cuthbert playing for both teams.

Chiefs 21-19 Ospreys
Tough osprey team to play but chiefs just have enough firepower to take the win.

Dragons 12-30 Saints
Saints are too strong all over and their halfback will get an armchair ride.

Scarlets 20-27 Gloucester
Good scarlets side but glos have too much power and will break through the backline.

Bath 26-20 Cardiff
Exeter 23-19 Ospreys
Newport 11-21 Northampton
Scarlets 24-24 Gloucester

Harlequins 22-21 Leicester

Quins shade the pack and the backline. Burns hinders any real Quins go forward and they just sneak it.

Sale 20-20 Worcester

Worcester stronger but lack of game plan prevents away win. Very strong Worcester outfit

Wasps 19-17 Irish

Pretty tight throughout. Both teams pretty strong with Waspd pack shading it. Can't see loads of tries from Wasps but they'll sneak at home

Bath 33-23 Cardiff
too much international quality from Bath for the

Chiefs 20-19Ospreys
Better pack from chiefs.o's have better backs but will not win enough ball

Quins 20-17 Tigers
Pack,home advantage and experience see Quins take a big scalp
Wasps 23-19 Irish
Wasps front 5 put a strangle on the game and win the game

Dragons 10-33 Saints routine


Sarries 23-17 Falcons
See Sarries pack getting on top at the scrum and breakdown
But they get let down by their half backs

Sale 22-22 Worcester think worcester have enough to get on top of sale but without tactics do not have enough to win

Bath 41 - 12 Cardiff
Exeter 20 - 20 Ospreys
Sale 25 - 25 Worcester
Worcester stronger but can't give the win without tactics as Sale aren't weak and are at home.
Wasps 22 - 20 Irish

Good contest but think that Wasps have a little more in the front 5 and have an electric back three get the points on the board. It's a tough call but feel their is more across the park for Wasps.

NGD 16 - 24 Saints
Saracens 33 - 21 Newcastle
Experience a big factor and at home I think Saracens will get a comfortable win at home.
Scarlets 23 - 34 Gloucester

Quins 24-21 Leicester
Pack battle sees Quins go over the line here.

Sale 22-22 Warriors
No tactics hinders Warriors here. Sale do enough to get a draw, would be a different story if Warriors brought tactics with them.

Sarries 28-20 Falcons
Falcons blooding a good youth majority here but feel Sarries are taking this quite seriously and willcome out all guns blazing to this match.

How do we predo bath game re. Cuthbert?

Bath ? - ? Cardiff

TBC


Exeter 20 - 22 Ospreys

Think the ospreys pack gets on top here. Think they look stronger overall and get a good away win.


Sale 23 - 26 Worcester

Worcs look the stronger side. No tactics hinders them but not an overriding factor in aw for me. Good away win, but maybe a mistake playing strong side?


Wasps 27 - 20 Irish

Decent pack battle that I think wasps just about edge overall. Similar story in the backs with wasps just a bit more quality. Fairly routine at home.


Dragons 18 - 29 Saints

Mismatch.


Saracens 30 - 20 Newcastle

Much stronger selection from the home side, meaning a fairly comfortable home win.


Scarlets 24 - 34 Gloucester

Not the worst Scarlets side but glos that bit stronger all over the park.

Bath 32 - 19 Cardiff Blues
Bath have taken this seriously, Cuthbert being selected puts them a man down on the bench, but overall Bath still have too much. 

Sale Sharks 22 - 22 Worcester Warriors
Warriors really give Sharks a real fight here. It's hard for both to get an upper hand, and I feel that if Warriors had a pre-planned game plan they could've taken a massive win away from home

London Wasps 25 - 23 London Irish
Good battle between these two, both are set up well overall. But the Wasps pack can get in amongst the Irish one and put Williams off his game. Close one but Wasps have some real match winning players. 

Newport Gwent Dragons 21 - 30 Northampton Saints

Saracens 24 - 20 Newcastle Falcons
Cracking game with both take different views in selection. Falcons have some real experience and ability through out their side, whereas Falcons have youthful exuberance and flair. For me the patience of Steenson can kick Sarries to a strong home win.

Scarlets 22 - 31 Gloucester


Harlequins 31 - 25 Leicester Tigers
Toughest game of the round. Not often teams get on top of the Tigers pack, but Quins have picked a stronger side through out and can rally to a solid home win.

Players like beast need game time luke after two weeks of amlin rest. Need to get players battle hardened for return of AP.

Bath 24-21 cardiff
Wasps 27-22 irish
Quins 33-28 tigers
Scarlets 25-29 glos
Saracens 26-21 falcons
Dragons 18-28 saints
Exeter 20-20 ospreys

Bath 24 Cardiff
Sale 21 Worcester 20
Wasps 23 Irish 20
Quins 23 Tigers 20
Scarlets 25 Glaws 35
Dragons 12 Northampton 24
Exeter 20 Ospreys 14

RESULTS:

Bath 34 (T:4 C:4 P:2)
Cardiff 19 (T:1 C:1 P:4)

Exeter Chiefs 24 (T:2 C:1 P:4)
Ospreys 20 (T:2 C:2 P:2)

Harlequins 29 (T:2 C:2 P:5)
Leicester Tigers 21 (T:2 C:1 P:3)

Sale Sharks 23 (T:2 C:2 P:3)
Worcester Warriors 23 (T:2 C:2 P:3)

London Wasps 29 (T:2 C:2 P:5)
London Irish 20 (T:2 C:2 P:2)

Newport Gwent Dragons 15 (T:2 C:1 P:1)
Northampton Saints 33 (T:4 C:3 P:3)

Saracens 31 (T:4 C:4 P:1)
Newcastle Falcons 19 (T:1 C:1 P:4)

Scarlets 23 (T:3 C:1 P:2)
Gloucester 34 (T:4 C:4 P:2)

BONUSES:

Full: CJB, Fluxy, Matt, Steve, Luke, Prop, Driver, SJE, Pooly & Nick
Fined: Pete
Excused: Chris

I may have it wrong but i have my game down as a win? But im not sure im calculating it right

I have 8 predictions totalling 176-179 to you. Average 22.00-22.38
Add .5 to me for 1 winning prediction and 1 to you for 2 winning predictions. 
So 22.5-23.28 rounding to 23-23