Summer Tournament Round Two

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Pool A

Leicester Tigers v Harlequins
at Westpac Stadium, Wellington
Sunny, 9 degrees, 12 mph winds.

Leicester Tigers
Manager – LukeLovesLuka

01. Gethin Jenkins	09. Kahn Fotuali'i
02. Stephen Moore	10. Brock James
03. Dan Cole
04. Pascal Pape	11. Ugo Monye
05. James Horwill (c)	12. Billy Twelvetrees (k)
06. Francois Louw	13. Mathieu Bastareaud
07. Jacques Burger	14. Napolini Nalaga
08. JMF Lobbe	15. Mike Brown

16. Christopher Tolofua 17. Alex Corbisiero 18. Paul Doran-Jones 19. Kearnan Myall 20. Tom Johnson  21. Dwayne Peel 22. Pat Lambie 23. Alex Cuthbert

Harlequins
Manager – Steven_Sharks

01. Tony Woodcock	09. Ruan Pienaar
02. Schalk Brits	10. Quade Cooper
03. John Afoa
04. Bakkies Botha	11. Jack Nowell
05. Jim Hamilton	12. Jamie Roberts
06. Tom Wood	13. Jonathan Joseph
07. Michael Hooper	14. Yoann Huget
08. Nick Easter	15. Rob Kearney

16. Rob Buchanan 17. Steven Kitchoff 18. Kieran Brookes 19. George Kruis 20. Mamuka Gorgodze 21. Karl Dickson 22. Steven Myler 23. Jan Serfontein

This is close to full strength for me I think. Feedback on weaknesses really.

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Sale Sharks v Exeter Chiefs
at Waikato Stadium, Hamilton
Sunny, 13 degrees, 16 mph winds.

Sale Sharks
Manager – SJE

01. Jack McGrath	09. Danny Care
02. Benjamin Kayser	10. Johnny Sexton
03. Davit Zirakishvilli
04. Dave Attwood	11. Simon Zebo
05. Iain Henderson	12. Francois Steyn
06. Matt Garvey	13. George Pisi
07. Matt Todd	14. Keith Earls
08. Louis Picamoles	15. Nick Abendanon

16. Vasil Kakovin 17. David Paice 18. Rabah Slimani 19. Christian Day 20. Matt Kvesic 21. Kieran Marmion 22. JJ Hanrahan 23. Kyle Eastmond

Exeter Chiefs 

Manager – Fluxy

01. Ryan Grant	09. Connor Murray
02. Sean Cronin	10. Toby Flood
03. James Johnston
04. Paul O'Connell (c)	11. David Strettle
05. Michael Paterson	12. Luther Burrell
06. Yannick Nyanga	13. Florian Fritz
07. Justin Tipuric	14. Andrew Trimble
08. Toby Faletau	15. James O'Connor (k)

16. Jack Yeandle 17. Richard Barrington 18. Davit Kubriashvili 19. Kane Douglas 20. Carl Fearns 21. Chris Cook 22. Ian Madigan 23. Tom Varndell

Tactics:

• Use of heavy carriers, and mobile support runners in the pack to create forward momentum. 
  
• Phase play with half backs dictating play. Look for territory when need to gain field position.
  
• Counter attack whenever possible.
  

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Newcastle Falcons v Bath Rugby
at Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
Sunny, 11 degrees, 15 mph winds.

Newcastle Falcons

1.Matt Mullen 
2.Huia Edmonds
3.Scott Wilson
4.Ed Slater (c)
5.Geoff Parling
6.Ben Mowen
7.Will Fraser
8.Dave Ewers

9.Nick Phipps
10.Dan Bigger
11.Tim Visser
12.Brad Barritt
13.Robbie Frueen
14.Charlie Sharples
15.Rob Miller

16.George McGuigan 17.Soana Tonga'uhia 18.Owen Franks 19.Yoaan Maestri 20.Dan Lydiate 21.Dave Lewis 22.Owen Farrell 23.Luke Marshall

Bath Rugby
Manager – inthefastlane

01. Cian Healy	09. Richard Wigglesworth
02. Richard Hibbard	10. Charlie Hodgson
03. Ben Tameifuma
04. Graham Kitchener	11. Christian Wade
05. Andries Bekkerl	12. Damien De Allende
06. James Haskell	13. Stuart Hogg
07. Sean O'Brien	14. George North
08. Edwin Maka	15. Alex Goode

16. Mikey Haywood 17. Been Robinson 18. Jake Cooper Wollsey 19. Luke Charteris 20. Max Northcote Green 21. George Di Cothi 22.  Rob Horne 23. Sitiveni Sivivatu

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Pool B

Saracens v London Irish
at Yarrow Stadium, New Plymouth
Sunny, 14 degrees, 14 mph winds.

Saracens
Manager – Pooly

01. Alex Waller	09. Morgan Parra
02. Jamie George	10. Freddie Burns
03. Clement Ric
04. Bradley Davies	11. Zak Guildford
05. Flip van der Merwe	12. Scott Williams
06. Dave Denton	13. Jonathan Davies
07. Thierry Dusatoir	14. Chris Ashton
08. Jonnie Beattie	15. Matt Tait

16. Ross Batty 17. Max Lahiff 18. JdP 19. Louis Deacon 20. Nathan Hughes 21. Henry Taylor 22. Bernard Foley 23. George Lowe

London Irish

01. Ben Franks	09. Rory Kockott
02. Marc Jones	10. Owen Williams
03. Will Collier
04. Dean Mumm	11. Nick Cummins
05. Stuart Hooper	12. Luke McAlister
06. Jackson Wray	13. Conrad Smith
07. George Smith	14. JP Pietersen
08. Scott Higginbotham	15. Rob Cook

:-
16. Tom Lindsay 17. Tom Smallbone 18. Rhodri Jones 19. David Sisi 20. Jordan Taufua 21. Neil De Kock 22. Nick Evans 23. JSD

Looking at feedback in combos with a different backrow on show. Also any feedback on bench players who could make the step up/should stay away! This is a 6n squad but some areas could be changed.

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London Welsh v Northampton Saints
at Rotorua International Stadium, Rotorua
Sunny, 10 degrees, 18 mph winds.

London Welsh

01. Nathan Catt	09. Ben Spencer
02. Dave Ward	10. Olly Barkley
03. Oliver Tomaszczyk
04. George Skivington	11. Nemani Nadolo
05. Mouritz Botha	12. Jordan Turner-Hall
06. Tom Guest	13. Nick Tompkins
07. John Barclay	14. Mark Cueto
08. Thomas Waldrom	15. Chris Pennell

16. Koree Britton 17. Brett Sturgess 18. BJ Botha 19.James Percival 20. Victor Vito 21. Oliver Claxton 22. Tom Casson 23. Jesse Mogg

Northampton Saints

1. Mako Vunipola
2. Dylan Hartley (c)
3. Carl Hayman
4. Lood de Jager
5. Courtney Lawes
6. Chris Robshaw
7. David Pocock
8. Billy Vunipola
9. Mike Phillips
10. James Hook
11. Julian Savea
12. Matt Giteau
13. Manu Tuilagi
14. Tommy Bowe
15. Elliot Daly

16. Rob Webber 17. Thomas Domingo 18. Logi Mulipola 19.  Joe Launchbury 20. Manu Samoa 21. Joe Simpson 22. Oliver Devoto 23. Liam Williams

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London Wasps v Gloucester
at Eden Park, Auckland
Sunny, 12 degrees, 17 mph winds.

London Wasps
Manager  Ozzy3213

01. Joe Marler	09. Ben Youngs
02. Tom Youngs	10. Henry Slade
03. David Wilson
04. Romain Millo-Chluski	11. Henry Speight
05. Sebastien Vahaamahina	12. Berrick Barnes
06. Rynhardt Elstadt	13. Paul Jordaan
07. Steffon Armitage	14. Marland Yarde
08. Luke Narraway (c)	15. Delon Armitage

16. Deon Fourie 17. Paul James 18. Frans Malherbe 19. Sitaleki Timani 20. Luke Wallace 21. Sebastien Tillouse-Borde 22. Gareth Anscombe 23. Anthony Watson

Tactics

• Standard tactics of a possession based game and looking to through the phases with pace and intesity.
  
• Offloading in or just before the tackle to keep the ball alive and move the opposition defence around.
  
• Blitz defence with scrum half sweeping to cover.
  

Predictions
Would like to know where people see the biggest weaknesses being please.

Gloucester

01. Nick Wood	09. Dan Robson
02. Joe Gray	10. Danny Cipriani
03. Nicola Mas
04. Roman tamofuifuna	11. Hosea Gear
05. Richie Grey	12. Matt Scott
06. Tom Croft	13. Ryan Crotty
07. Qera	14. Johnny May
08. Jaimie Heaslip	15. Andrea Masi

16. LCD 17. Juan Figallo 18. LH Sebastian Adeniran-Olule 19.Elliot Stooke 20. Ardie Savea 21. Rhodri Morgan  22. Goosen 23. Charlie Walker [/quote]

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Falcons side to play Bath

1.Matt Mullen 
2.Huia Edmonds
3.Scott Wilson
4.Ed Slater (c)
5.Geoff Parling
6.Ben Mowen
7.Will Fraser
8.Dave Ewers

9.Nick Phipps
10.Dan Bigger
11.Tim Visser
12.Brad Barritt
13.Robbie Frueen
14.Charlie Sharples
15.Rob Miller

16.George McGuigan 17.Soana Tonga'uhia 18.Owen Franks 19.Yoaan Maestri 20.Dan Lydiate 21.Dave Lewis 22.Owen Farrell 23.Luke Marshall

You've picked TBA twice mate

Yeah he's that good.

Saints team to play Welsh - assuming may not be a team from Welsh?

1. Mako Vunipola
2. Dylan Hartley (c)
3. Carl Hayman
4. Lood de Jager
5. Courtney Lawes
6. Chris Robshaw
7. David Pocock
8. Billy Vunipola
9. Mike Phillips
10. James Hook
11. Julian Savea
12. Matt Giteau
13. Manu Tuilagi
14. Tommy Bowe
15. Elliot Daly

16. Rob Webber 17. Thomas Domingo 18. Logi Mulipola 19. Joe Launchbury 20. Manu Samoa 21. Joe Simpson 22. Oliver Deveto 23. Liam Williams

There will be a team from Welsh

London Welsh

01. Nathan Catt	09. Ben Spencer
02. Dave Ward	10. Olly Barkley
03. Oliver Tomaszczyk
04. George Skivington	11. Nemani Nadolo
05. Mouritz Botha	12. Jordan Turner-Hall
06. Tom Guest	13. Nick Tompkins
07. John Barclay	14. Mark Cueto
08. Thomas Waldrom	15. Chris Pennell

16. Koree Britton 17. Brett Sturgess 18. BJ Botha 19.James Percival 20. Victor Vito 21. Oliver Claxton 22. Tom Casson 23. Jesse Mogg

Leicester Tigers
Manager – LukeLovesLuka

01. Gethin Jenkins	09. Kahn Fotuali'i
02. Stephen Moore	10. Brock James
03. Dan Cole
04. Pascal Pape	11. Ugo Monye
05. James Horwill (c)	12. Billy Twelvetrees (k)
06. Francois Louw	13. Mathieu Bastareaud
07. Jacques Burger	14. Napolini Nalaga
08. JMF Lobbe	15. Mike Brown

16. Christopher Tolofua 17. Alex Corbisiero 18. Paul Doran-Jones 19. Kearnan Myall 20. Tom Johnson  21. Dwayne Peel 22. Pat Lambie 23. Alex Cuthbert

Harlequins
Manager – Steven_Sharks

01. Tony Woodcock	09. Ruan Pienaar
02. Schalk Brits	10. Quade Cooper
03. John Afoa
04. Bakkies Botha	11. Jack Nowell
05. Jim Hamilton	12. Jamie Roberts
06. Tom Wood	13. Jonathan Joseph
07. Michael Hooper	14. Yoann Huget
08. Nick Easter	15. Rob Kearney

16. Rob Buchanan 17. Steven Kitchoff 18. Kieran Brookes 19. George Kruis 20. Mamuka Gorgodze 21. Karl Dickson 22. Steven Myler 23. Jan Serfontein

This is close to full strength for me I think. Feedback on weaknesses really.

Glos

01. Nick Wood	09. Dan Robson
02. Joe Gray	10. Danny Cipriani
03. Nicola Mas
04. Roman tamofuifuna	11. Hosea Gear
05. Richie Grey	12. Matt Scott
06. Tom Croft	13. Ryan Crotty
07. Qera	14. Johnny May
08. Jaimie Heaslip	15. Andrea Masi

16. LCD 17. Juan Figallo 18. LH Sebastian Adeniran-Olule 19.Elliot Stooke 20. Ardie Savea 21. Rhodri Morgan 22. Goosen 23. Charlie Walker [/quote]

Pooly,I'm thinking of either A.I's or 6n team, are you happy to join?

Be trying out some different combos mate. Be mainly 4N bar a few like Flip JdP

ok cool. I did my 4n last game so will probably go for my 6n squad.

Just so you all know I'm away from Friday afternoon so probably won't predict till Sunday eve/Monday depending on how tired I am!!

SJE what sort of side are you looking to put out?

4N's side Fluxy just putting it together now

Sale Sharks
Manager – SJE

01. Jack McGrath	09. Danny Care
02. Benjamin Kayser	10. Johnny Sexton
03. Davit Zirakishvilli
04. Dave Attwood	11. Simon Zebo
05. Iain Henderson	12. Francois Steyn
06. Matt Garvey	13. George Pisi
07. Matt Todd	14. Keith Earls
08. Louis Picamoles	15. Nick Abendanon

16. Vasil Kakovin 17. David Paice 18. Rabah Slimani 19. Christian Day 20. Matt Kvesic 21. Kieran Marmion 22. JJ Hanrahan 23. Kyle Eastmond

Cool will get mine done in a minute

Exeter Chiefs 

Manager – Fluxy

01. Ryan Grant	09. Connor Murray
02. Sean Cronin	10. Toby Flood
03. James Johnston
04. Paul O'Connell (c)	11. David Strettle
05. Michael Paterson	12. Luther Burrell
06. Yannick Nyanga	13. Florian Fritz
07. Justin Tipuric	14. Andrew Trimble
08. Toby Faletau	15. James O'Connor (k)

16. Jack Yeandle 17. Richard Barrington 18. Davit Kubriashvili 19. Kane Douglas 20. Carl Fearns 21. Chris Cook 22. Ian Madigan 23. Tom Varndell

Tactics:

• Use of heavy carriers, and mobile support runners in the pack to create forward momentum. 
  
• Phase play with half backs dictating play. Look for territory when need to gain field position.
  
• Counter attack whenever possible.
  

Bath Rugby
Manager – inthefastlane

01. Cian Healy	09. Richard Wigglesworth
02. Richard Hibbard	10. Charlie Hodgson
03. Ben Tameifuma
04. Graham Kitchener	11. Christian Wade
05. Andries Bekkerl	12. Damien De Allende
06. James Haskell	13. Stuart Hogg
07. Sean O'Brien	14. George North
08. Edwin Maka	15. Alex Goode

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16. Mikey Haywood 17. Been Robinson 18. Jake Cooper Wollsey 19. Luke Charteris 20. Max Northcote Green 21. George Di Cothi 22. Rob Horne 23. Sitiveni Sivivatu

Saracens
Manager – Pooly

01. Alex Waller	09. Morgan Parra
02. Jamie George	10. Freddie Burns
03. Clement Ric
04. Bradley Davies	11. Zak Guildford
05. Flip van der Merwe	12. Scott Williams
06. Dave Denton	13. Jonathan Davies
07. Thierry Dusatoir	14. Chris Ashton
08. Jonnie Beattie	15. Matt Tait

:-
16. Ross Batty 17. Max Lahiff 18. JdP 19. Louis Deacon 20. Nathan Hughes 21. Henry Taylor 22. Bernard Foley 23. George Lowe

Will make a couple of changes and some tactics then do some bidding once I get off this train

01. Ben Franks	09. Rory Kockott
02. Marc Jones	10. Owen Williams
03. Will Collier
04. Dean Mumm	11. Nick Cummins
05. Stuart Hooper	12. Luke McAlister
06. Jackson Wray	13. Conrad Smith
07. George Smith	14. JP Pietersen
08. Scott Higginbotham	15. Rob Cook

:-
16. Tom Lindsay 17. Tom Smallbone 18. Rhodri Jones 19. David Sisi 20. Jordan Taufua 21. Neil De Kock 22. Nick Evans 23. JSD

Looking at feedback in combos with a different backrow on show. Also any feedback on bench players who could make the step up/should stay away! This is a 6n squad but some areas could be changed.

Match thread updated, predictions are OPEN.

Is it a typo or have you been reading MunsterFans Matt? Love the spelling for Heaslip.

Leicester 25-29 Harlequins

Strong front 5 battle with Quins shading the scrum but not much in the line out, both locks strong around the park. Flank battle is extremley close but Tigers a step up at 8 giving them a slight edge in the backrow.

Quins stronger in both halfback positions and at 12, although Bastaraud is much stronger than JJ and could casue issues. Great back 3's on show with Nowell/Monye the weakest on show (shows the quality of the other players.) Really good game with two quality outfits, Quins just have a bit more scattered through their side though.

Sale 29-29 Exeter

Another good front 5 contest, nothing in the scrum but Exeter would get on on top in the line out and starve Sale of good ball. Contresting backrows with heavy weight v athletic. Exeter would get at the breakdown but Sale could use heavy carrying to counter. If I was Johnny I'd play a proper fetcher sandwiched between 6/8 to give a good balance.

Good halfback combo's with very little in it, Sale just shading perhaps and very close again in the centres. Exeter take the back 3 and match Sale overall in a good game.

Newcastle 27-26 Bath

Mismatch in the front row with Bath much stronger. Falcons edge the locks and line out and just sneak a good backrow battle. Halfbacks are close but Falcons edge a slightly off balance centre partnership for Bath. Bath back 3 a step up. With few scrums can see Falcons just sneaking this.

London Welsh 15-30 Northampton Saints

A little bit more quality in the Saints front 5 and they'll get a nudge on in the scrum. Nice lock pairings for both sides but Saints a little more again. 6/8 a step up for Saints but Pocock very hard to rate and I wouldn't use him in the AP. Not sure on the Welsh halfback pairing and similar with Saints although operating at different levels. Saints with a good backline offer more in terms of attack and Daly away from the 13 channel sures Saints up. Bit of a one way game with managers putting out different strength sides.

Pete,

See 5 & 12 as your weaknesses. Will struggle to rate Barnes having not played at a decent level for a while.

SirJohnnyEnglish wrote:Is it a typo or have you been reading MunsterFans Matt? Love the spelling for Heaslip.

Grew up
In Spain for 6 years Jaimie Is not
A girls name
There if that's what you mean.

Tigers 22-27 Quins
Prefer the Quins front row, not by much though. Second rows also pretty tough to split, one each. Both back rows are superb, the standout weakness for me though is Nick Easter. In the half backs the definite edge to me is to Quins. Pienaar and Cooper seem to be perfect compliments whereas I think Brock James is flaky. Feel the Quins outside backs have a bit more about them than Tigers counterparts. Both benches look mighty impressive as well.

Sale 26-27 Exeter
Not much in the front fives for me, slight edge to Sale probably. I like the Sale back row for the Four Nations but the Exeter unit is stronger. Love the Sale half back pairing but Exeter look strong there. Outside backs also difficult for me to separate, probably the edge to Exeter. Similarly Sale have a slight bench edge.

Sarries 25-18 Irish
Like both teams up front but the front five of Sarries gets the edge for me. Also like the Sarries back row, not sure Wray is ready for serious game time. Like the Sarries half backs as well, Parra is a great addition. Like the Irish outside backs although there isn't much in it.

Welsh 16-28 Saints
Very strong front five from the Saints, gives them the advantage over Welsh. Also has an advantage in the back row. Backs also a step up from Saints and strong subs.

Wasps 24-23 Gloucester
Wasps have a very strong EQ front row and it gets the edge here. Very French in the second row and Richie Grey is the standout, especially once in top form. Back rows are close. One each in the half backs. Outside backs goes to , although neither unit would look great against the stronger teams.

Will predo by 8 pm

Tigers 24- 28 Quins

Fairly even all over with Quins maybe shading front row. 2 great back row match ups. Where Leicester fall over is with James at 10. He can go to pieces and I see him as a weakness. Losing Johnny is a big blow

Falcons 22-25 bath

Huge mismatch in front row sees falcons on backfoot. Locks to Newcastle.

Decent backrows with bath shading it. Fraser needs to come back for
A rating.

Good outside backs but bath have more xfactor

Sale 27-26 Exeter

Vastly improved Exeter. They take front row on basis of their props.
Second row also shaded to them.

Great match ups all over.

Sale half back pairing and their superiority at 10 gets them the win

Saints 30-15 welsh

Saints superior in every unit be it front row second row or back row. Shade half
Backs and Nadolo a great signing.


However there is a gulf in class in the outside backs which sees saints canter away

Leicester Tigers 24 - 26 Harlequins
 
Very close up front. In honesty Quins shade with sheer physicality at the loose, but Tigers are a formidable unit at the breakdown, and this would have been interesting had there been tactics and how both would have set out. I like the Quins back line, there is a good combination of control and flair. But in my opinion to get the best out of Cooper he needs an attacking scrum half and a controlling head outside him, to get the best results. Possibly a slight lack of electric pace in the back three, but that is being picky. 
Both sides long strong for another big season. 
 
Newcastle Falcons 28 - 32 Bath Rugby
 
A promising front row for Falcons will struggle against the power of Bath in the set piece. Line out is an interesting contest, but parling will rule here. Bath have a fearsome carrying pack and also probably shade the breakdown with SOB and Haskell using their physicality to full effect. 

Serious attacking threat with the forward momentum from Bath allowing the likes of Wade and Hogg time and space to rack up some tries. Biggar can gain some good field position off the back off Parlings work at the line out and some strong mauling work can see them gain some team tries. 
 
Saracens 25 - 25 London Irish
 
Very even line up in the set pieces. Comes down to the work in the loose, this comes down to the breakdown and with the extra physicality in the back five of Sarries, they just edge the forward battle. Some close attacking and control in both back lines and really hard to seperate the sides. Bit more of a clinical edge in the Irish wings. Overall this is a draw and would be very interesting to see how tactics would effect this game.
 
London Welsh 18 - 35 Northampton Saints
 
Tough one to watch as Welsh lack the international quality of the star studded Saints side who look impressive for the next season. Bigger step up in the backs as the Saints look dangeours with their forward momentum. Bit of mismatch and hard to really try and draw anything out of it for both to be honest. 

London Wasps 28 - 26 Gloucester Rugby


Wasps get a strong platform off the scrum with their front five, this will put some serious pressure onto Gray at the scrum. However in the line out stakes Glaws turn the tables and can pinch a few balls back, especially with Croft's athleticism. Wasps give Armitage a good basis to get around the park and make a nuisance at the breakdown. 
 
Slight edge to Wasps in the halfbacks but Gloucester edge the midfield creativity. Good carrying strength in the Wasps back three although Gloucester are no slouches here either. Tough one to decide, I think overall Wasps have a more complete and rounded gameplan here. 
Good match again, for me Pete Barnes needs a bit more exposure from super rugby. Narraway will probably develop some good momentum back at Irish, but I think you may lack a clear line out leader, which would help Youngs and his throwing in the big games.

Tigers 23 - 26 Quins
Good contest, with Wilko retiring Tigers may need to play a bit more of an expansive style, especially with James at no10. The halfback pairing works but feel they need a bit more speed in the backline, as wont get as many pk/conversions without Wilko. Would be very good in wet conditions. Really like Steve's team, can't really fault the pack, which is a powerful unit, backline with QC has more of a try scoring threat - could get a bigger win if more of an impact bench.

Sale 26 - 24 Chiefs
Great ball carrying options in SJE's pack, will set a solid platform for what has arguably been the best hb combination in the league for the last 2 seasons. They have some great options in the backline, but would say that the lack of a world class finisher in the backthree (Savea/ North/Foloa) could cause some issues in the big games. Wow, what a turnaround of a team for Exeter, really like what Fluxy has done, got a great pack and if Flood and JOC play well in France he has a team to be worried about!

Newcastle 20 - 24 Bath
Game swings on the frontrow battle for me, bit of a mismatch and giving a team with the quality Bath have in the backline an advantage with go forward ball. Hogg at 13 could be a very good call this season, would need a run there for his club. The Biggar/Barritt combination will set a really good defence for Falcons though and a very competitive team.

Saracens 28 - 26 London Irish
Saracens just about the edge the pack battle and the set piece, really good controlling hb combination too and there are tries out wide. At the same time can see that Saracens can be got at defensively with their backthree and Irish have some good attacking backs who could take advantage of this. Hughes is an impact sub and a half for Pooly though,c ould be the signing of the summer.

Wasps 25 - 25 Gloucester
Really close game to call, both teams need a few players to come back into form - Wasps Youngs and Barnes, but also need to see what form Narroway is now in and how Slade copes as a no10 in the AP. Gloucester need Croft and Matt Scott to come back from injry well. They also need Robson to play more for Gloucester in the AP. Lot of try scoring options from both teams, which kind or mirror each other in a way. I do like Cipriani at no10 for Gloucester though and would start Watson over Speight on the wing for Wasps as he will be top class.

Tigers 22 - 28 Quins

Quins take the front 5 but Tigers edge the back row just about, then Quins take the halfbacks and close centres but Tigers have a great back 3. Really like the Tigers back row in the breakdown, but Quins edge the match.

For Tigers- hard to rate the props, HBs quite flakey, lovely back 3 and back row

For Quins- biggest weaknesses are a bit too much of the same in the back 3 and a tad lightweight flankers to be use together in combination

Sale 27- 25 Chiefs

Chiefs can get an edge in front row, but chiefs look better in locks. Chiefs backrow v good at breakdown but a bit underpowered, Sale have a nice balance. More in attack from Sale backs, v nice attacking backline but could be hurt in defence out wide. Close but Sale take it

Falcons 23 - 26 Bath

Bath take the front row with a lovely unit, but very close in the rest of the pack, Falcons just ahead in locks and Bath in back row. Bath a bit better at 9-10 and even and pretty good back 3s, but unsure of Hogg at 13 in big games. Visser also unsure in defence.

Sarries 26 - 25 Irish

Think Sarries take the front 5, and just about the backrow though Wray has a future. Halfbacks close, like both pairings. Like the centre pairings too but Irish more solid in the back 3. Don't know enough about Irish Hooker to comment but the back row is a decent combo, just need to see how Smith is doing with all te concussions. I like Wray and the halfbacks. Cook could be good, works with that back 3. Collier will come good but not a starter yet (hopefully will grow this season for Quins). Just edge to Sarroes

Wasps 27 -27 Gloucester

Slight advantage Wasps in front row, evens on locks and backrows. Two good sets of HBs, 9 to Wasps and 10 to Glaws. 2 good sets of centres and very solid back 3 to Glaws and flashier ones to Wasps.

Biggest weaknesses-

Wasps- hard to rate Barnes, need to look out for vulnerable defence on wings

Glaws- bit lacking in form of front row

anonmattyt wrote:

SirJohnnyEnglish wrote:Is it a typo or have you been reading MunsterFans Matt? Love the spelling for Heaslip.

Grew up
In Spain for 6 years Jaimie Is not
A girls name
There if that's what you mean.

Heaslip is seen as a bit self obsessed over here (outside of Leinster!). They refer to him as J'aimie on Munsterfans, as in the french for I love myself.

Tigers 22-25 Quins
Better form here for Quins in the front row with Cole not back yet but Gethin is getting back to what he was. Same at half-backs with Pienaar bringing the control for Cooper. Not loads in it out wide but Quins do have a good impact bench.

Sharks 24-23 Chiefs
Two great looking packs here who will love the hard surface. Think Sharks do have a better half-back pairing but if the Chiefs pair make a good start next season they’ll be tough. Slight edge out wide to Sharks and two good benches again.

Falcons 23-26 Bath
Falcons front row will really struggle, Bekker the standout in the 2nd row and feel Bath have good balance in the backrow. A nice backline for Bath, haven’t personally seen a lot of Hogg at 13. Feel Falcons backline is steady but needs quick ball from front 5 to make an impact. Great Falcons bench brings them back into it.

Welsh 18-30 Saints
Looking at the teams my first impression is the strength of the Saints bench which would turn around any tight game. Saints putting out a very strong squad and for Welsh I would say that: 2, 11, 12, 15 are the best picks with only 11 being NEQ.

Wasps 22-22 Glos
Close game which is tough to split. I’m not sure about some of the Glos bench mainly because I haven’t heard of them! Slade, although good may struggle against some 10’s in this league and Barnes has been in and out of the game quite a bit so maybe look at those two Ozzy.

Bonus:

Full: CJB, Fluxy, Matt, Prop, Chris, SJE, Pooly & CJ

Sorry for no pedictions guys was hoping to do them last night but fell adleep on couch!