Amlin Challenge Cup Quarter Finals

 
 

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Bath Rugby vs Worcester Warriors
Location - The Rec
Heavy Rain, 14 degrees, 7mph South Easterly winds

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Bath Rugby
Manager – inthefastlane

01. Peter Dooley	09. Richard Wigglesworth
02. Agustin Creevy	10. Paddy Jackson
03. Jake Cooper Woolley
04. Graham Kitchener	11. Jamie Elliot
05. Sam Whitelock	12. Hallan Amos
06. James Haskell	13. Matt Hopper
07. Liam Gill	14. Eli Walker
08. James Gaskell	15. Rob Miller

|
16. Richard Hibbard 17. Cian Healy 18. Charlie Faumuania 19. Luke Romano 20. Chris Robshaw 21. Fourie Du Preez 22. Sam Hill 23. Stuart Hogg

Look to play attacking rugby
Quick passing game and hard attacking lines
Use substitutes agressively

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Worcester Warriors
Manager-CJ

01.  Nathan Catt	09. Dimitri Yachvilli (k)
02.  Dave Ward	10. Francois Trinh-Duc
03. BJ Botha
04. George Skivington	11. Willie Le Roux
05. Alun Wynn-Jones (c)	12. Anthony Allen
06. Ashley Johnson	13. Michelle Campagnaro
07. Ross Rennie	14. Mark Cueto
08. Tom Guest	15. Chris Pennell

;-
16.  Brian Mujati 17. Matthew Rees  18.  Oliver Tomaszczyk 19. Mouritz Botha 20.   21.Tawera Kerr-Barlow  22. Kyle Godwin 23. Clement Poitrenaud


Brief tactics: 

Take on all kick able shots at goal
Use FB experienced back 3 to play a clever kick return game, looking to kick high and chase for possession in slippery conditions 
Don't overcommit at breakdown, use Rennie and Ward as chasers
Move their pack round with drives in varying directions and using Allen and Campagnaro as points of attack in backs
Blitz defence, Yachvilli sweeping
Only spread quick ball, kick slow bal high and chase for possession

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Exeter Chiefs vs Toulon
Location - Sandy Park
Light Rain Showers, 14 degrees, 7mph Westerly winds

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Exeter Chiefs 

Manager – Fluxy

01. Tendai "Beast" Mtawarira	09. Hadyn Thomas
02. Sean Cronin	10. Toby Flood (k)
03. Matt Stevens
04. Brad Thorn	11. Tom Varndell
05. Geoff Parling (c)	12. Scott Williams
06. Liam Messam	13. Marcelo Bosch
07. Will Fraser	14. Andrew Trimble
08. Johnnie Beattie	15. Matt Tait

16. Jack Yeandle 17. Richard Barrington 18. Logovii Mulipola 19. Patricio Albacete 20. Nick Williams 21. Bryn Hall 22. Freddie Burns 23. Zac Guildford

Key Points

• Target the Scrum - Sheridans lack of form - Sheridan hasn't played much recently, and with his neck problems won't want to be scrummaging too hard. Look to get a platform from the off with a strong scrummaging unit. Get both the LH and Hooker to target Hayman and try to get between him and Burden to allow Stevens to work on Sheridan.
  
• Target the Line out – Great lineout leader in Parling along with top operators like Messam and Thorn to mix the movement up. Look to turn the screw in the line out and put pressure on the Burden throw, and lack of out and out line out leader in the toulon pack.
  
• Target lack of activity 10-13 -Look to target the lack of running/creative ability in the Toulon 10-13 channel. Look to use blitz defence to cut down the options of Wilkinson and momentum of Giteau and Bast.
  
• Flood the Breakdown– With the physicality in our backrow, front five and centres we will look to just blow out any ruck to create quick ball. Even in defence in we can target one or two rucks where there are no men and clean through past the ball they won't cope. Similar with the first man in the ruck to drive through and clear any on coming opposition players to create clean quick ball.
  
• Carrying options - Loads of big carrying options to get us over the gain line and allow the backs to get into the game. Look to get options outisde the ten mostly or outside 12 to target the defensive line outside their guards where the line is weakest.
  

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Toulon

01. Andrew Sheridan	09. Sebastien Tillous-Borde
02. Craig Burden	10. Jonny Wilkinson
03. Carl Hayman
04. Bakkies Botha	11. David Smith
05. Jocelino Suta	12. Matt Giteau
06. Juan Smith	13. Mathieu Bastareaud
07. Joe van Niekerk	14. Drew Mitchell
08. Steffon Armitage	15. Delon Armitage

16 Jean Charles Orioli 17 Xavier Chiocci 18 Levan Chilachava 19 Virgile Bruni 20 Rudi Wulf 21 Maxime Mermoz 22 Frederic Michalak 23 Konstantin Mikautadze

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London Irish v Newcastle Falcons
Location - Madejski Stadium
Heavy Rain, 15 degrees, 8mph South Easterly winds

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London Irish

01. Ben Franks	09. Rory Kockott (k)
02. Ken Owens	10. Nick Evans
03. Adam Jones
04. Stuart Hooper (c)	11. Nick Cummins
05. Nick Kennedy	12. Shane Geraghtyl
06. Matt Garvey	13. Conrad Smith
07. Justin Tipuric	14. JP Pieterson
08. Ben Morgan	15. Rob Cook

;-
16. Marc Jones 17. Will Collier 18. Tom Court 19. Thierry Dusatoir 20. Scott Higginbotham 21. Lee  Dickson 22. Owen Williams 23. JSD
Tactics:


SET PIECE
We have picked a scrummaging pack in good conditions and Hooper and Morgan will provide grunt. We have four lineout jumpers and will keep it simple today, we will jack 2 up in their half on opposition ball.

BREAKDOWN
looking to control our BREAKDOWN and give Kockott time on the ball. Warburton and Wray will only compete if available but we will aim to fan out. In attack we will look for quick ball and play a pod system with the forwards taking on tight ball for a couple of phases then out wide.

HALF BACKS
Controlled ball with good tactical players looking to use the conditions to their advantage, they will start with a tight game for THREE phases then spread. If it's not on we will look to pin them back with kicks to touch.

ATTACK
Evans will stand flat giving Geraghty good ball to run onto and look for the offloads. Controlled with strong runners and will look for simple passes and our back three cutting back on inside shoulder at times, our pack will give options off of 10 and 12 to get over the gainline. We will look to use our strong carriers to get us over the gainline and recycle quick ball.

DEFENCE
Controlled and hard hitting. Look to snag 9 to stop quick ball and for Tips and Garvey to get into 10's face to stop quick ball, any high balls will be secured and kicked back into space or off the park, if it's on we run. Kockott will sweep.

BENCH
Strong impact with a strong front row replacements to come on and Higginbotham looking to run ball against tired legs. The bench can up the tempo with Dickson and Williams playing heads up rugby in the last quarter to drag open a tired defence, Dickson will bring late control and game management.

OVERALL
Tight game initially keeping the weather in mind and look for quick ball and strong direct runners, take the points when available but back ourselves if it's on. We are getting into the run in of the end of  the season and want to get good form going with good international experience all over the park.

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Newcastle Falcons

5.Alex Goode
14.Charles Pitatau
13.Jean De Villers
12.Brad Barritt
11.Cory Jane
10.Henry Slade
9.Ben Youngs

8.Dave Ewers
7.Richie McCaw (c)
6.Ben Mowen
5.Juandre Kruger
4.Ed Slater
3.Owen Franks
2.Dane Coles
1.Matt Mullen

16.Darren Dawidiuk 17.Soana Tonga'uhia 18.Paul Doran Jones 19.Yoaan Maestri 20.Kelly Brown 21.Dave Lewis 22.Dan Bigger 23.Adam Ashley Cooper[/quote]

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Saracens vs Gloucester
Location - Allianz Park
Light Rain, 15 degrees, 9mph South Easterly winds

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Saracens
Manager – Pooly

01. Max Lahiff	09. Henry Taylor
02. George McGuigan	10. Gareth Steenson
03. Rabah Slimani
04. Julian Pierre	11. Adam Thompstone
05. Dom Barrow	12. Sonny Bill Williams
06. James Thacker	13. George Lowe
07. Sam Underhill	14. Charlie Kingsman
08. Joe Batley	15. Nathan Earle

;-
16. Tiaan Liebenberg  17. Nic Auterac  18. Paul Hill 19. Rob Simmons 20. Brad Shields 21. Luke Burgess  22. Tom Taylor  23. Aaron Morris

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Gloucester

01. nick wood	09. Connor Murray
02. Jaimie George	10. Danny cipriani
03. Coenie Ousthuizen
04. Elliot Stooke	11. Johnny May
05. Richie Gray	12. Robert Ebersohn
06. Tom Croft	13. Juan de Jonghe
07. Akapusi Qera	14. Charlie walker
08. Immanol Harinordoquoy	15. Andreas Masi

;-
16. Luke Cowan-dickie  17. Ofa tufungisi  18. Coenie Ousthuizen 19. Eben Etzbeth 20. Arno Botha 21. Dan Robson 22. Ryan Mills  23. Israel Folau

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What are EQ rules for Europe?

Grudge match this week for Pooly and Matt

7 starting and 10 in a squad CJ   

Worcester Warriors
Manager-CJ

01.  Nathan Catt	09. Dimitri Yachvilli (k)
02.  Dave Ward	10. Francois Trinh-Duc
03. BJ Botha
04. George Skivington	11. Willie Le Roux
05. Alun Wynn-Jones (c)	12. Anthony Allen
06. Ashley Johnson	13. Michelle Campagnaro
07. Ross Rennie	14. Mark Cueto
08. Tom Guest	15. Chris Pennell

;-
16.  Brian Mujati 17. Matthew Rees  18.  Oliver Tomaszczyk 19. Mouritz Botha 20.   21.Tawera Kerr-Barlow  22. Kyle Godwin 23. Clement Poitrenaud


Brief tactics: 

Take on all kick able shots at goal
Use FB experienced back 3 to play a clever kick return game, looking to kick high and chase for possession in slippery conditions 
Don't overcommit at breakdown, use Rennie and Ward as chasers
Move their pack round with drives in varying directions and using Allen and Campagnaro as points of attack in backs
Blitz defence, Yachvilli sweeping
Only spread quick ball, kick slow bal high and chase for possession

Newcastle Falcons name side for London Irish cup game.

15.Alex Goode
14.Charles Pitatau
13.Jean De Villers
12.Brad Barritt
11.Cory Jane
10.Henry Slade
9.Ben Youngs

8.Dave Ewers
7.Richie McCaw (c)
6.Ben Mowen
5.Juandre Kruger
4.Ed Slater
3.Owen Franks
2.Dane Coles
1.Matt Mullen

16.Darren Dawidiuk 17.Soana Tonga'uhia 18.Paul Doran Jones 19.Yoaan Maestri 20.Kelly Brown 21.Dave Lewis 22.Dan Bigger 23.Adam Ashley Cooper

Bare with me forgot Sharples was injured.

Bath Rugby
Manager – inthefastlane

01. Peter Dooley	09. Richard Wigglesworth
02. Agustin Creevy	10. Paddy Jackson
03. Jake Cooper Woolley
04. Graham Kitchener	11. Jamie Elliot
05. Sam Whitelock	12. Hallan Amos
06. James Haskell	13. Matt Hopper
07. Liam Gill	14. Eli Walker
08. James Gaskell	15. Rob Miller

|
16. Richard Hibbard 17. Cian Healy 18. Charlie Faumuania 19. Luke Romano 20. Chris Robshaw 21. Fourie Du Preez 22. Sam Hill 23. Stuart Hogg

Look to play attacking rugby
Quick passing game and hard attacking lines
Use substitutes agressively

My team should be in by tomorrow driver! Just found out the training I'm on this week involves reflective journals and work each evening!!

Mark

Saracens
Manager – Pooly

01. Max Lahiff	09. Henry Taylor
02. George McGuigan	10. Gareth Steenson
03. Rabah Slimani
04. Julian Pierre	11. Adam Thompstone
05. Dom Barrow	12. Sonny Bill Williams
06. James Thacker	13. George Lowe
07. Sam Underhill	14. Charlie Kingsman
08. Joe Batley	15. Nathan Earle

;-
16. Tiaan Liebenberg  17. Nic Auterac  18. Paul Hill 19. Rob Simmons 20. Brad Shields 21. Luke Burgess  22. Tom Taylor  23. Aaron Morris

Tactics:

Toulon

01. Andrew Sheridan	09. Sebastien Tillous-Borde
02. Craig Burden	10. Jonny Wilkinson
03. Carl Hayman
04. Bakkies Botha	11. David Smith
05. Jocelino Suta	12. Matt Giteau
06. Juan Smith	13. Mathieu Bastareaud
07. Joe van Niekerk	14. Drew Mitchell
08. Steffon Armitage	15. Delon Armitage

16 Jean Charles Orioli 17 Xavier Chiocci 18 Levan Chilachava 19 Virgile Bruni 20 Rudi Wulf 21 Maxime Mermoz 22 Frederic Michalak 23 Konstantin Mikautadze

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Only just got in and bak out at 7 so ok for my team around 8 tomorrow?

Glos xxiii

01. nick wood	09. Connor Murray
02. Jaimie George	10. Danny cipriani
03. Coenie Ousthuizen
04. Elliot Stooke	11. Johnny May
05. Richie Gray	12. Robert Ebersohn
06. Tom Croft	13. Juan de Jonghe
07. Akapusi Qera	14. Charlie walker
08. Immanol Harinordoquoy	15. Andreas Masi

;-
16. Luke Cowan-dickie  17. Ofa tufungisi  18. Coenie Ousthuizen 19. Eben Etzbeth 20. Arno Botha 21. Dan Robson 22. Ryan Mills  23. Israel Folau

Tactics:[/quote]

prop_lyd wrote:Only just got in and bak out at 7 so ok for my team around 8 tomorrow?

I'll pick it if you want Prop.

1.Robbie Henshaw
2.Someone

Exeter Chiefs 

Manager – Fluxy

01. Tendai "Beast" Mtawarira	09. Hadyn Thomas
02. Sean Cronin	10. Toby Flood (k)
03. Matt Stevens
04. Brad Thorn	11. Tom Varndell
05. Geoff Parling (c)	12. Scott Williams
06. Liam Messam	13. Marcelo Bosch
07. Will Fraser	14. Andrew Trimble
08. Johnnie Beattie	15. Matt Tait

16. Jack Yeandle 17. Richard Barrington 18. Logovii Mulipola 19. Patricio Albacete 20. Nick Williams 21. Bryn Hall 22. Freddie Burns 23. Zac Guildford

Key Points

• Target the Scrum - Sheridans lack of form - Sheridan hasn't played much recently, and with his neck problems won't want to be scrummaging too hard. Look to get a platform from the off with a strong scrummaging unit. Get both the LH and Hooker to target Hayman and try to get between him and Burden to allow Stevens to work on Sheridan.
  
  
• Target the Line out – Great lineout leader in Parling along with top operators like Messam and Thorn to mix the movement up. Look to turn the screw in the line out and put pressure on the Burden throw, and lack of out and out line out leader in the toulon pack.
  
  
• Target lack of activity 10-13 -Look to target the lack of running/creative ability in the Toulon 10-13 channel. Look to use blitz defence to cut down the options of Wilkinson and momentum of Giteau and Bast.
  
  
• Flood the Breakdown– With the physicality in our backrow, front five and centres we will look to just blow out any ruck to create quick ball. Even in defence in we can target one or two rucks where there are no men and clean through past the ball they won't cope. Similar with the first man in the ruck to drive through and clear any on coming opposition players to create clean quick ball.
  
  
• Carrying options - Loads of big carrying options to get us over the gain line and allow the backs to get into the game. Look to get options outisde the ten mostly or outside 12 to target the defensive line outside their guards where the line is weakest.
  
  

Matt, I'm happy not doing tactics if you'd prefer not too?

No tactics is fine

01. Ben Franks	09. Rory Kockott (k)
02. Ken Owens	10. Nick Evans
03. Adam Jones
04. Stuart Hooper (c)	11. Nick Cummins
05. Nick Kennedy	12. Shane Geraghtyl
06. Matt Garvey	13. Conrad Smith
07. Justin Tipuric	14. JP Pieterson
08. Ben Morgan	15. Rob Cook

;-
16. Marc Jones 17. Will Collier 18. Tom Court 19. Thierry Dusatoir 20. Scott Higginbotham 21. Lee Dickson 22. Owen Williams 23. JSD
Tactics:


SET PIECE
We have picked a scrummaging pack in good conditions and Hooper and Morgan will provide grunt. We have four lineout jumpers and will keep it simple today, we will jack 2 up in their half on opposition ball.

BREAKDOWN
looking to control our BREAKDOWN and give Kockott time on the ball. Warburton and Wray will only compete if available but we will aim to fan out. In attack we will look for quick ball and play a pod system with the forwards taking on tight ball for a couple of phases then out wide.

HALF BACKS
Controlled ball with good tactical players looking to use the conditions to their advantage, they will start with a tight game for THREE phases then spread. If it's not on we will look to pin them back with kicks to touch.

ATTACK
Evans will stand flat giving Geraghty good ball to run onto and look for the offloads. Controlled with strong runners and will look for simple passes and our back three cutting back on inside shoulder at times, our pack will give options off of 10 and 12 to get over the gainline. We will look to use our strong carriers to get us over the gainline and recycle quick ball.

DEFENCE
Controlled and hard hitting. Look to snag 9 to stop quick ball and for Tips and Garvey to get into 10's face to stop quick ball, any high balls will be secured and kicked back into space or off the park, if it's on we run. Kockott will sweep.

BENCH
Strong impact with a strong front row replacements to come on and Higginbotham looking to run ball against tired legs. The bench can up the tempo with Dickson and Williams playing heads up rugby in the last quarter to drag open a tired defence, Dickson will bring late control and game management.

OVERALL
Tight game initially keeping the weather in mind and look for quick ball and strong direct runners, take the points when available but back ourselves if it's on. We are getting into the run in of the end of the season and want to get good form going with good international experience all over the park.

Will try and get tactics up later

Sorry for no tactics guys

Congrats prop

Bath 17-18 Worcester

Really tight one but Worcester extremely strong and just shade.

Exeter 20-19 Toulon

London Irish 25-22 Falcons

Very evenly matched, perhaps a slight advantage to Falcons but no game plan hinders them.

Bath 20-22 Worcester
Warriors too strong here, and feel their front row will do well, more tactics from them too sees a good win.

Exeter 22-21 Toulon
Tough one to call but feel that Exeter may have just enough in the lineout to sneak a win.

Sarries 20-24 Glos
Good battle but the experience and quite hard to rate SBW so the game goes to Glos here.

Bath Rugby 25 - 27 Worcester Warriors

Too much quality in the warriors ranks takes them through to the next round. The ability in decision making positions for bath make this a close game, but Warriors edge it. 

Saracens 18 - 24 Gloucester

Its hard not to look past Glos here, as both there ability and experience shine through in the game. Sarries youthful exuberance makes a game of it for the first 50 or so minutes, but under pressure from the Cherry and Whites they crumble. 

London Irish 23 - 24 Newcastle Falcons 

Closest game of the round for me. Irish at home look solid and really like the way they set out their game. Falcons though have some real quality throughout, and will just pinch it at the death with a biggar drop goal.

Bath 18-22 Worc
More from the front row and backs for CJs men.

Exeter 19-16 Toulon
Form issues for Toulon in the pack somewhat.

Irish 28-22 Fakcons
No tactics the difference here

Sarries 24-29 Glaws
Experience of Glaws wins out with extremely hard to rate

Chiefs 23 - Toulon 22
Powerful Toulon pack could take it if in France, but enough for Ex in England

Irish 30 - 25 Falcons
Scrum Falcons, Lineout Irish tehn hard to call breakdown. Two classy backlines but with far more in tactics and Nev refinding form, Irish are fairly safe at home

Sarries 22- 26 Gloucester
Sarries locks very good but Gloucester stronger generally in the pack today. A couple of injured players on either side who are class/promising but hard to rate, but with top HBs Gloucester win away

Bath 15-17 Warriors
Warriors just have an advantage in the pack and slightly more detailed tactics will get them the away win.

Exeter 20-19 Toulon
Haven't been overly impressed with Toulon this season and don't think they will get enough of a platform against Exeter, who have a v strong set piece. Great home win.

Irish 25-20 Falcons
Haven't seen any tactics from Falcons, which for me always results in +5 points to the opposition.

Sarries 19-32 Glaws
Pooly going to test some of the younger players, Mat isn't. Big win for the away side.

13 pts Chris!

You're a cheat and a liar, you're spoiling the game for everyone!

Not really needed Pooly. Can we leave the spat alone now.

I've got no issues, just a bit of lighthearted fun.

RESULTS:

Bath Rugby 19 (T:1 C:1 P:4)
Worcester Warriors 24 (T:2 C:1 P:4)

Exeter Chiefs 23 (T:2 C:2 P:3)
Toulon 19 (T:1 C:1 P:4)

London Irish 28 (T:3 C:2 P:3)
Newcastle Falcons 23 (T:2 C:2 P:3)

Saracens 21 (T:2 C:1 P:3)
Gloucester 30 (T:4 C:2 P:2)

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

1 step closer to my first ever final!!