Aviva Premiership Round Two

First topic message reminder :

Well round one is done, and the Aviva Premiership is most definitely back.  With over 300 points scored, 34 tries and 3 hat tricks, it was an exciting weekends rugby, that began on Friday night with Saints putting 50+ points on Gloucester, and finished on Sunday afternoon with the Chiefs doing the same to hapless London Welsh.  Sandwiched in between Bath got themselves up and running with a win on the road at Sale, and Tigers completed a comprehensive victory over the Falcons at Welford Road.  At Twickenham, the first game f the double header was great spectacle and fantastic advert for the league, with Saracens edging out Wasps courtesy of a late try.  This was followed by Quins proving to strong for a London Irish team who simply failed to turn up until half time, by which time the game had gone.


With regard predictions, I got 4 from 6 right on here, having tipped my own boys to beat Quins, and Gloucester to nick it at The Gardens.  By the time I did my Superbru predictions and put my accumulator on, I'd gone for Saints, so was 5 from 6 elsewhere, but I'm clearly not going to get rich this way unless London Irish start winning a bit more often!  Anyway, here's the table of round one of the action:

	Pos	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	Diff	TF	TA	TBP	LBP	PTS
	1.	Exeter Chiefs	1	1	0	0	52	0	+52	7	0	1	0	5
	2.	Northampton Saints	1	1	0	0	53	6	+47	8	0	1	0	5
	3.	Leicester Tigers	1	1	0	0	36	17	+19	4	2	1	0	5
	4.	Saracens	1	1	0	0	34	28	+6	4	3	1	0	5
	5.	Bath Rugby	1	1	0	0	29	20	+9	2	2	0	0	4
	6.	Harlequins	1	1	0	0	20	15	+5	2	0	0	0	4
	7.	London Irish	1	0	0	1	15	20	-5	0	2	0	1	1
	8.	Wasps	1	0	0	1	28	34	-6	3	4	0	1	1
	9.	Sale Sharks	1	0	0	1	20	29	-9	2	2	0	0	0
	10.	Newcastle Falcons	1	0	0	1	17	36	-19	2	4	0	0	0
	11.	Gloucester	1	0	0	1	6	53	-47	0	8	0	0	0
	12.	London Welsh	1	0	0	1	0	52	-52	0	7	0	0	0

So on to this weeks fixtures, and here they are:

Friday 12th September 2014   19:45   Harlequins vs. Saracens

Two of last seasons top 4 go head to head in an early season clash of the big guns.  Both won last week, although neither were wholly convincing and have room for improvement.  Quins look very strong defensively, whilst Saracens look to have a real cutting edge in attack, which seems strange to say as I would imagine the perception of both sides would be the other way round.  Both will be fired up and wanting to lay down a marker in this one, and I expect a fiercely competitive contest, which Quins just sneak, sending Saracens home with just the losing bonus point.


Saturday 13th September 2014   15:00   Bath Rugby vs. London Welsh

It certainly doesn't get any easier for London Welsh does it.  Bath, to the surprise of their own fans on here I would imagine, managed to come back from Sale with 4 points in the bag, and should really extend their total to nine points with a big victory in this one.  Welsh, unsurprisingly for a team with 25 new players looked all over the place defensively on Sunday, and will need to improve very quickly if they are to avoid more thumpings by a similar scoreline this season.  Pride I suspect will keep it closer this weekend, but I don't see them getting anywhere near Bath this time out.


Saturday 13th September 2014   15:00   Gloucester vs. Sale Sharks

Two teams who lost in the opening round, one at home, and one in spectacular fashion on the road.  Both will want to put things right this weekend, and Gloucester will take comfort in being back in familiar surroundings at Kingsholm.  Sale will be undaunted by the atmosphere there though, having won there last season, and I would imagine the players will be keen to not incur the wrath of Steve Diamond, which is the likely outcome if they lose two on the bounce.  David Humphreys doesn't strike me as putting the same fear into his players, but you have to think that guys like Richard Hibbard, John Afoa and James Hook will all step up a gear of their own accord this weekend.  This is a really tough call, but I can see a wounded Gloucester side sneaking this at home and Sale heading back North with a losing bonus point.


Saturday 13th September 2014   15:15   Exeter Chiefs vs. Leicester Tigers

Now if you asked me last week to predict this one I had it down as an away banker.  The Chiefs I felt had not recruited particuarly well in the summer, but their win against London Welsh will have given them massive confidence ahead of hosting the Tigers this week.  I've not seen the Tigers game, but understand from others who have that they weren't at their very best, but were clinical enough to put away a spirited Falcons side.  The Chiefs will be solid and difficult to play against and Leicester will need to up their game slightly to win here I feel, but I think they will, and will head back to the East Midlands with 4 points in the bag.


Sunday 14th September 2014   14:00   Wasps vs. Northampton Saints

This could be a cracker.  I need say nothing about Saints really, as we all saw the power they have and the finishing ability to match on Friday night.  Wasps were excellent in spells against Saracens, with back row forwards Nathan Hughes and Ashley Johnson particularly outstanding, but once again failed to put in a full 80 minute performance.  They will have to manage that against the Saints, as you cannot give them anything or they will run right over you.  I'm putting this one down as the game of the round, with Saints to just edge out Wasps in an 8 or 9 try thriller which sees the home side pick up a try bonus point to go with their losing one.


Sunday 14th September 2014   15:00   Newcastle Falcons vs. London Irish

Two teams who need to win, it's that simple.  Falcons possibly didn't expect to get anything at Welford Road, but will be targeting this one big time for a win.  Irish conversely probably expected to beat Quins on Saturday, but came up short, and will know that they need this with Sarries, Saints and Tigers next up for them in the fixture list.  Whilst I would like to think that on Falcons new shiny 4G pitch this will be a fast and loose throwaround of a game, I suspect it will be a nervous, cagey arm wrestle with very little to wrote home about in terms of exciting play.  It will be tight, but I fancy is to nick it and head home with our first league win of the season under our belts.


Ozzy's predicted table after round two:

Northampton Saints 10, Bath Rugby 9, Leicester Tigers 9, Harlequins 8, Exeter Chiefs 6, Saracens 6, London Irish 5, Gloucester 4, Wasps 3, Sale Sharks 1, Newcastle Falcons 1, London Welsh 0.

Good start from Exeter, getting at Balmain in the scrum. Good finish Ewers

Oh dear Gloucester. Need to fight back again.

The Leicester away kit looks awful. They look like ripe tomatoes with legs.

OK, maybe not so bad, but certainly doesn't look like Leicester at all.

Welsh & Gloucester getting hammered again.

Agree Doc, it's bloody awful. Close game, Exeter perhaps deserve a bigger margin

Welsh must be truly awful. I thought the same about Gloucester, but it seems they just got back into it.

I like how Exe play. Good solid Rugby.

Slade really impressing in the centres

Yeah, Gloucester in front. Good for them, all I can see is improvement for them this season

It seems wrong that a team can ship 50 points and still come away with a bonus point, it doesn't allow for the dominant team taking their foot off the gas.

Maybe it should be 4 tries and losing by fewer than a certain number of points?

I don't mind. Gives teams like London Welsh something to play for when you're 50-10 down or whatever (didn't watch so no idea what transpired). It's unlikely to affect Bath much in any case...

Sgt_Pooly wrote:Slade really impressing in the centres

Hill impressed me more. (Manu was carp today I must admit)


Exeter will rue their lineout woes.

Well played the Tiggers, ran you close again

Heaf wrote:Maybe it should be 4 tries and losing by fewer than a certain number of points?

I am a real hater of bonus points anyway. If there was to be a TBP point I prefer the Top 14 method whereby you have to score 3 tries more than the opposition.

AsLongAsBut100ofUs wrote:Well played the Tiggers, ran you close again

Ta Asbo. How strong was the wind?

LondonTiger wrote:

Heaf wrote:Maybe it should be 4 tries and losing by fewer than a certain number of points?

I am a real hater of bonus points anyway. If there was to be a TBP point I prefer the Top 14 method whereby you have to score 3 tries more than the opposition.

That's not a bad idea - it would mean the team with the TBP would also have to keep playing to make sure they didn't lose it ...

LondonTiger wrote:

AsLongAsBut100ofUs wrote:Well played the Tiggers, ran you close again

Ta Asbo. How strong was the wind?

Not all that, LT

Just seemed that Steenson was making much more ground from kicks to touch in first half.

I don't want to get too carried away, but we're back!!

We were once again dire for 30 minutes but you could see our play slowly clicking and this came to fruition in the 2nd half when we dominated. This is perfectly summed up by our scrum, we were driven back and gave away a penalty at the first scrum then Afoa started going low and we dominated the scrum eventually getting a penalty try.

Its still a long way to go but that's the best play I've seen from Glaws for over a year!

I should say Cipriani was absolutely outstanding and made every score. He was composed, playing very flat and some of his runs were reminiscent of his Wasps days.

Well somewhat relieved we scrapped through that. Unconvincing performance but four points from a trip to Sandy Park is not to be sniffed at.

Backline lacked cohesion though the handling (particularly from Manu was a Manu) was much improved. Forwards looked a bit underpowered not massively surprising given some of the injuries but improvements are going to be needed.

Huge game at Kingston Park today.  If Saints beat Wasps as expected, whoever wins our game will finish weekend in 6th place, the losers will be 11th or 12th.  I know it's early in the season, but mentally that has to have an impact, especially for us with our next 3 fixtures being Saracens, Tigers and Saints!!!

I might pass out if we finish day in 6th place

I'll cry if we finish the day in 11th! 

Well, good luck to you, Ozzy.  I think the talent level across the Premiership is quite high at the moment so every match is a challenge.  

Hoping for a good solid win by my Saints today.  Wasps are very strong in the back line which is our strength as well.  I already feel the need to get home and get to a match or two since they clearly cannot be successful if I am not present......

Will be cheering on Wasps from behind the sofa. Saints seem to pose us the biggest problems of all the teams in the league. Been an age since we last beat them

Wasps will need to watch their discipline at the breakdown. We nearly had Saints last season, but the previous season we were beaten up front.

We kept giving away penalties, Myler kicked to the corner. Line out catch and drive and they powered over easily for four tries. We just had no answer.

Please Wasps, contest their bloody attacking line outs!!!

ALLEZ!!

Or don't oppose them and stand off the rolling maul formation stopping Saints from being able to transfer the ball to the back. Tigers used that tactic to nullify their attacking threat in that regard last season.

Having said that Saints look ominously good at the minute. The way they deconstructed Gloucester was awesome.

They just seem fluid Sam, like the season never ended. Shows the benefits of not making many changes I guess.

Saints do have the most settle squad in the league, so no real surprise they've hit the ground running.

Not watching, but sounds as if Wasps have made a decent start against Saints.

Ozzy3213 wrote:Not watching, but sounds as if Wasps have made a decent start against Saints.

Wasps have hardly had the ball. They just put together an attack a couple of minutes before half time but, otherwise, they've been on defence most of the time. 3-3 at the moment.

Real buzz at Kingston, pitch looks amazing. Looks like it's going to chuck it which could help Irish???

Cone on falcons..

Socino and hammersley both slipping

Oooh Josh. Lucky not to get a yellow



Get in try falcons. Cone on boys
We'll done Josh Furno

All Falcons so far, early try for Furno I think. Irish struggling with our rolling maul

Josh is making a big impact so,far. He's getting at them so quick

Socino 2 missed shots??? Should be 10-0.

But Fry concerns me at LH. A good TH will destroy him.

Scrum going well so far, only pen to us

Is all very ponderous with lots of side to side but little penetration

Watching Saints / wasps right now. What a dull game so far. Does North ever get a pass whoever he plays for?

TJ wrote:Watching Saints / wasps right now.  What a dull game so far.  Does North ever get a pass whoever he plays for?

I'm enjoying not being on the end of an 11 try drubbing

Poor by falcons. All that possession and just no creativity.

Fry crumbled at that scrum.

Irish handling not great so far. Noakes threw a shocker which we intercepted. Ref giving Irish everything at the breakdown so far. Falcons attack is very good

In fact I quite enjoy when we score tries against the Champions

Burrell threw an interception to Johnson after the 60 minute mark, which Jackson converted from near the touchline to give Wasps a one point lead. Two minutes later Varndell kicked and chased to score a lovely try which Jackson has again converted for an eight point lead.

TJ wrote:Watching Saints / wasps right now.  What a dull game so far.  Does North ever get a pass whoever he plays for?

well its livened up now

Its safe to say this game would cure insomnia....

Get Godman off the damn pitch

I think we're looking good when we have the ball.

Only way Irish are in this is with the scrum which is very much in top