Summer Tournament Round 6 - Pools A & B

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Pool A

Stormers vs. Reds
Newlands Stadium, Cape Town
Sunny, 16 degrees, 5 mph winds.

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Newcastle Falcons vs. London Irish
Kingston Park, Newcastle
Light rain showers, 18 degrees, 8 mph winds.

Newcastle Falcons
Manager – Bambam

01. Matt Mullan	09. Dave Lewis
02. George McGuigan	10. Andy Goode (k)
03. Luc Ducalcon
04. Ed Slater (c)	11. Charlie Sharples
05. Juandre Kruger	12. Tom Stephenson
06. Rhys Ruddock	13. Jonathan Davies
07. Callum Clark	14. David Strettle
08. David Ewers	15. Rob Miller

:-
16.Jamie George 17.Soana Tonga'huia 18.Matt Stevens 19. Dom Barrow 20. Jack O'Donaghue 21.Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi 22. Lloyd Evans 23. Robbie Freaun

Feedback on this as a side during the RWC please

London Irish
Manager: Ozzy3213  
                  

01. Joe Marler	09. Mitchell Drummond
02. Bismarck du Plessis	10. Aaron Cruden
03. Ben Alexander
04. Matt Symons	11. Noa Nakaitaci
05. James Broadhurst	12. Samu Kerevi
06. Jerome Kaino	13. Henry Slade
07. Marcell Coetzee	14. Marland Yarde
08. Duane Vermeulen	15. Delon Armitage

16. Tom Youngs 17. Scott Sio 18. Frans Malherbe 19. Sebastien Vahaamahina 20. Blake Gibson 21. Ben Youngs 22. Tim Swiel 23. Tim Nanai-Williams

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Crusaders vs. Saracens
AMI Stadium, Christchurch
Sunny, 10 degrees, 11 mph winds.

Crusaders
Manager – Todd Blackadder

01. Wyatt Crockett	09. Andrew Ellis
02. Codie Taylor	10. Dan Carter
03. Owen Franks
04. Luke Romano	11. Nemani Nadolo
05. Sam Whitelock	12. Ryan Crotty
06. Jordan Taufua	13. Robbie Fruean
07. Richie McCaw	14. Johnny McNicholl
08. Kieran Read	15. Israel Dagg

Subs:
16 Ben Funnell 17 Joe Moody 18 Nepo Laulala 19 Dominic Bird 20 Matt Todd  21 Mitchell Drummond 22 Colin Slade 23 Nafi Tuitavake

Saracens
Manager – Pooly

01. Ben Franks	09. Morgan Parra
02. Rory Best	10. Beuden Barrett
03. Dan Cole
04. Patrick Tuipultou	11. Hosea Gear
05. Geoff Parling	12. Sonny Bill Williams
06. James Haskell	13. Conrad Smith
07. Heinrich Brussow	14. Chris Ashton
08. Nathan Hughes	15. Stuart Hogg

:-
16. Jack Walker 17. Alex Waller18. Jannie Du Plessis 19. Will Skelton 20. Will Fraser 21. Sam Harrison 22. Morne Steyn 23. Miles Benjamin

Tactics:

Combo ratings if you don't mind

- Huge pack to dominate collisions and big carrying options to get over gainline
- Breakdown options in Best, Cole, Brussow, Haskell and Hughes (most turnovers in AP)
- Kicking and running options in backs, look to use forwards to set platform and get opp defence on back foot then unleash running threats

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Pool B

Lions vs. Rebels
Ellis Park, Johannesburg
Sunny, 20 degrees, 5 mph winds.

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Sale Sharks vs. Gloucester
Salford City Stadium, Salford
Light rain showers, 19 degrees, 7 mph winds.

Sale Sharks
Manager – SJE

01. Marcos Ayerza	09. Danny Care
02. Tommy Taylor	10. Bernard Foley
03. Rabah Slimani
04. Brodie Retalick	11. Simon Zebo
05. Dave Attwood	12. Francois Steyn
06. Sean McMahon	13. Malakai Fekitoa
07. Matt Kvesic	14. Josua Tuisova
08. Louis Picamoles	15. Willie Le Roux

Subs:
16. Ross Harrison 17. David Paice 18. Martin Moore 19. Iain Henderson 20. Peter O'Mahony 21. Calum Braley 22. Johnny Sexton 23. Kyle Eastmond

Gloucester

1 Beast
2 LCD
3 Mas
4 Etzbeth
5 Gray
6 Alberts
7 Salvi
8 Heaslip
9 Perenara
10 Carter
11 May
12 Toomua
13 Kurindrani
14 Naiyaravaro
15 Folau
16 Wood
17 Strauss
18 Antonio
19 Robson
20 Matera
21 Robson
22 Pollard
23 Walker

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Exeter Chiefs vs. Highlanders
Sandy Park, Exeter
Sunny intervals, 19 degrees, 11 mph winds.

Exeter Chiefs 

Manager – Fluxy

01. Cian Healy	09. Connor Murray
02. Rob Webber	10. Nick Evans (k)
03. Vincent Koch
04. Jake Ball	11. James Lowe
05. Paul O'Connell	12. Ma'a Nonu (c)
06. Brad Shields	13. Adam Ashley-Cooper
07. Steffon Armitage	14. Jamie Elliott
08. Fritz Lee	15. Mike Haley

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16. Dimitri Szarzewski 17. Nic Auterac 18. Jake Cooper-Wooley 19. James Horwill 20. Luke Wallace 21. Chris Cook 22. Otere Black 23. James O'Connor

Highlanders
Manager – Jamie Joseph

01. Brendon Edmonds	09. Aaron Smith
02. Liam Coltman	10. Lima Sopoaga
03. Josh Hohneck
04. Alex Ainley	11. Patrick Osborne
05. Mark Reddish	12. Richard Buckman
06. Elliot Dixon	13. Malakai Fekitoa
07. Dan Pryor	14. Waisake Naholo
08. Nasi Manu	15. Ben Smith

Subs:
16 As Dixon 17 Dan Lienert-Brown 18 Ross Geldenhuys 19 Joe Wheeler 20 Gareth Evans  21 James Lentjes 22 Fumiaki Tanaka 23 Trent Renata

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mark

Saracens
Manager – Pooly

01. Ben Franks	09. Morgan Parra
02. Rory Best	10. Beuden Barrett
03. Dan Cole
04. Patrick Tuipultou	11. Hosea Gear
05. Geoff Parling	12. Sonny Bill Williams
06. James Haskell	13. Conrad Smith
07. Heinrich Brussow	14. Chris Ashton
08. Nathan Hughes	15. Stuart Hogg

:-
16. Jack Walker 17. Alex Waller18. Jannie Du Plessis 19. Will Skelton 20. Will Fraser 21. Sam Harrison 22. Morne Steyn 23. Miles Benjamin

Tactics:

Combo ratings if you don't mind

- Huge pack to dominate collisions and big carrying options to get over gainline
- Breakdown options in Best, Cole, Brussow, Haskell and Hughes (most turnovers in AP)
- Kicking and running options in backs, look to use forwards to set platform and get opp defence on back foot then unleash running threats

Sale Sharks
Manager – SJE

01. Marcos Ayerza	09. Danny Care
02. Tommy Taylor	10. Bernard Foley
03. Rabah Slimani
04. Brodie Retalick	11. Simon Zebo
05. Dave Attwood	12. Francois Steyn
06. Sean McMahon	13. Malakai Fekitoa
07. Matt Kvesic	14. Josua Tuisova
08. Louis Picamoles	15. Willie Le Roux

Subs:
16. Ross Harrison 17. David Paice 18. Martin Moore 19. Iain Henderson 20. Peter O'Mahony 21. Calum Braley 22. Johnny Sexton 23. Kyle Eastmond

Team adjusted

Exeter Chiefs 

Manager – Fluxy

01. Cian Healy	09. Connor Murray
02. Rob Webber	10. Nick Evans (k)
03. Vincent Koch
04. Jake Ball	11. James Lowe
05. Paul O'Connell	12. Ma'a Nonu (c)
06. Brad Shields	13. Adam Ashley-Cooper
07. Steffon Armitage	14. Jamie Elliott
08. Fritz Lee	15. Mike Haley

_
16. Dimitri Szarzewski 17. Nic Auterac 18. Jake Cooper-Wooley 19. James Horwill 20. Luke Wallace 21. Chris Cook 22. Otere Black 23. James O'Connor

Newcastle Falcons
Manager – Bambam

01. Matt Mullan	09. Dave Lewis
02. George McGuigan	10. Andy Goode (k)
03. Luc Ducalcon
04. Ed Slater (c)	11. Charlie Sharples
05. Juandre Kruger	12. Tom Stephenson
06. Rhys Ruddock	13. Jonathan Davies
07. Callum Clark	14. David Strettle
08. David Ewers	15. Rob Miller

:-
16.Jamie George 17.Soana Tonga'huia 18.Matt Stevens 19. Dom Barrow 20. Jack O'Donaghue 21.Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi 22. Lloyd Evans 23. Robbie Freaun

Feedback on this as a side during the RWC please

1 Beast
2 LCD
3 Mas
4 Etzbeth
5 Gray
6 Alberts
7 Salvi
8 Heaslip
9 Perenara
10 Carter
11 May
12 Toomua
13 Kurindrani
14 Naiyaravaro
15 Folau
16 Wood
17 Strauss
18 Antonio
19 Robson
20 Matera
21 Robson
22 Pollard
23 Walker

Predictions OPEN

Newcastle Falcons vs London Irish

Newcastle 15-21 London Irish
 
Newcastle Falcons 22 - 28 London Irish
Falcons have a very hard working and gritty pack, but Irish have a stronger set piece which allows Drummond and Cruden to dictate the pace of the game and bring in the dangerous runners. I like the Falcons midfield which will have to work hard to make up for the creativity in the halfbacks. Bam you're side is decent up front and is solid for the RWC period.
 
Newcastle 16-31 Irish
A strong side from Irish especially the pack means they take this comfortably. Newcastle is hard to compare without other teams. Front row and backs look weak.
 
Newcastle Falcons 20-30 London Irish
WC side v a primarily 1st choice side in the packs here. Falcons set piece will hold up but will be playing off a lot of slow ball in this one. Irish halfbacks a big step up overall but the backs are fairly even. Irish off much better ball pick up an easy win. Bam would say the pack competes well but halfbacks mean a very limited game during the WC. Could possibly be outworked at the breakdown as well thinking of some of the back row options still available.
 
Newcastle 24 - 25 London Irish
I'm not convinced by hooker and TH bam and could consider then a weakness. Stephenson also a little raw and half backs could be a weakness. Back three good as is back row.
Irish strong although perhaps locks to similar in style? Alexander could be seen as a weakness as could Drummond against top notch opposition. Two decent sides though.
 
Newcastle 22 - 27 London Irish
Bit confused as Andy Goode is playing here and in the Bath game! Difference between the two hookers is decisive here, but Bam that is a very good team for the RWC period, would start George as hooker if he doesnt make the squad, some great EQ options there. Haven't seen much of the Irish no9 play and be good to see how Symons gets on plying his trade in the AP.
 
Falcons 23-22 Irish

Slight scrum advantage for Falcons and similar in the line out with slightly better options and quality. Irish get back into the game in the backrow with a strong combo and better man for man. 9's pretty close but Cruden a much better option than Goode although he'll suit the set piece advantage. Falcons the better centres combo with Irish just shading the back 3. Close game but Falcons just a bit better and can see their set piece working for a good base.

Crusaders vs Saracens


Crusaders 25-22 Saracens
Crusaders advantage in front five. Fan of the Sarries back row but Crusaders have the advantage. Half backs to Sarries. I'm not a fan of the Sarries wing combo. Backs about even.
 
Crusaders 27-25 Saracens
Two test class packs out against each other, hard to call a real advantage for either.  Saracens better in the centres, Crusaders better in the back three.  Main issue for me with Saracens is that I don't think Parra is the right 9 to get the best from Barrett at 10.  Nothing in this game really, home advantage just swings it for the Crusaders.
 
Crusaders 30 - 27 Saracens
Crusaders pack is pretty much a full international quality side, and a huge ask for any opponent. Franks and Cole make up a solid prop combo though, and fancy them to have the advantage at the scrum. Lineout and the breakdown is probably a win for Crusaders. One each at half back, prefer Sarries centres and Crusaders back 3. Close game, but think at home Crusaders are a bit too strong.
 
Crusaders 18-24 Saracens
Not an awful lot of give in the set piece but fancy Sarries to get the better ball from the breakdown overall. Halfbacks one a piece but Sarries much stronger as a combo. Sarries midfield should link up well but Nadolo will cause the Sarries defence issues. See Sarries on the front foot more often and should see this one out.
 
Crusaders 26 - 26 Saracens
Saracens looking strong. Not taking a few form issues into account they look strong and well balanced with some good signings. Think the combos work well with good physicality across the side mixed with creativity.
 
Crusaders 28 - 25 Saracens
Home side very strong and can bring on that extra bit of impact from the bench. Not overly sure the Parra/Barrett halfback combination works as very contrasting styles, backrow is also likely to give away quite a few penalties. Gear is a good addition out wide as offers someone who can get over the gainline (just needs a bit of form), while Ashton and Hogg could get a lot from the 10/12 combination.
 
Crusaders 23 - 25 Saracens
 

Saders have good names on the sheet, but they have lacked consistent performances. Sarries have a strong spine in their pack and a side full of work rate as well as power. Parra's control allows Barrrett to dictate the tempo and use his creativity to bring SBW and Hogg into the game with devastating effect. Sarries have enough to see away the Saders.

Sale Sharks vs Gloucester


Sale 23-26 Gloucester
Slight edge to Gloucester in the front five. Think they can use physicality to get edge in back row. Half backs one each. Gloucester have a bit more in outside backs. Sale bench keeps it close.
 
Sale 29 - 24 Gloucester
Ayerza is the standout up front, think he'll be the big difference. Lineout will be close, but really like the look of the Sale back row and think they have the advantage. Foley and Care are stronger at halfback, and the centres also favour Sale. Back 3s about even, bench just favours Sale. Close game, but at home and with the advantage through the spine of the side, I think Sale take this.
 
Sale 26-26 Gloucester
Can't separate the sides.  Packs very even, can't see an edge.  Just about prefer the attacking threat in the Gloucester back line, but not enough to cancel out the home advantage for Sale.  Draw.
 
Sale Sharks 28 - 30 Gloucester
The contest up front is relatively even, with Sharks just being slightly more stable on their own ball. The line out is a bit hit and miss for both with the hookers not exactly the most consistently accurate throwers. The Glos back row will get good go forward and get them selves around the pitch to make an impact. The halfback contest is an interesting one with Sharks having more creativity and threat at the moment as a combo, but TJ is lively at the minute, making both defences narrow and honest. Two very attack minded back lines, the one wekaness for Glos is the footballing ability in the back three, where Sale could get some joy. Great game hard to split at this time of year, but Glos will just edge this one.
 
Sale 25 - 25 Gloucester
Cant split this one at all, even the impact from the benches is difficult to call. Both teams lack a top class starting no2 but have quality front fives everywhere else. More experience in the away team's backrow, one each in terms of halfbacks trying to get a bit more form. Gloucester do have a bit of an edge, but the game changer is when Sale can bring on Sexton and Eastmond off the bench and that just brings it back to a draw.
 
Sale 23 - 25 Gloucester
Sale have quite a nice balance but lacking some of there usual physicality. Probably want a more consistent 12 outside of those half backs. Taylor good but in top games would look vulnerable. Gloucester look strong and physically more impressive than Sale. Wings look stronger without Walker.

Exeter Chiefs vs Highlanders


Exeter 22-18 Highlanders
 
Exeter 27-21 Highlanders
Exeter have a better set of forwards. Prefer the Highlanders half backs. Evans is a weakness. Exeter have better centres but Highlanders back three is so good. Exeter take it as Highlanders backs don't get good enough ball.
 
Exeter 32 - 34 Highlanders
Great battle this one. Packs are close, with plenty of scrum power on both sides, but Healy is the best prop on show. Exeter stronger at lock and the back row has the extra star power with Armitage and Lee, but the Highlanders established unit has proven they are the match of any, and think the back row battle is even. Highlanders stronger throughout the backline, great half back combo and the outside backs are lethal. The Exeter bench keeps this close, but think Highlanders have enough.
 
Exeter 27-23 Highlanders
Good front row options for Exeter although Healy lacks form. Webber's throwing could be a concern against a top lineout lock but should be ok here. Halfbacks shade to the Highlanders but Exeter with a good centre combo. Highlanders have a stronger back 3 on show but Exeter have too much.
 
Chiefs 23 - 22 Highlanders
Really, really close game and it is just about home advantage that sways it for me, as Chiefs do have a better pack but the backline goes to the Highlanders who just have a load of class in the back three. If Nonu and AAC weren't playing for Fluxy then i'd have given the s15 champions the win, but the experience and defensive organisation of those two makes a huge difference.
 
Exeter 28-27 Highlanders
We know the Highlanders pack functions well as a unit, but I think the Exeter one does as well here.  Big front row with a good tighthead anchoring it.  Nice lock pairing, decent carriers and a 7 who's good over the ball.  I like this pack, and there is just about enough behind it to get the win at home.
 
Exeter 24 - 22 Highlanders
Only obvious weakness for me is the back three which needs more experience. Back three has a good balance and physical edge. Decent side.
 
Exeter Chiefs 22-20 Highlanders

See Chiefs causing the odd problem at the scrum here but lineout is fairly even overall. Chiefs pack has more carrying to it though and feel they have a little bit more at the breakdown. Halfbacks a slight edge to the Highlanders. Evans a waning force these days. Highlanders back three with more about them attacking wise and defensively. Midfield one a piece but Chiefs stronger as a combo.

Pool A	P	W	D	L	PF	PA	TF	TA	TBP	LBP	PTS
1. London Irish	6	4	0	2	175	152	20	17	3	2	21
2. Saracens	6	4	0	2	174	158	21	18	3	2	21
3. Crusaders	6	4	0	2	196	150	24	19	2	2	20
4. Newcastle Falcons	6	3	0	3	162	155	19	16	2	2	16
5. Stormers	6	2	0	4	138	148	15	17	0	3	11
6. Reds	6	1	0	5	114	198	11	23	0	0	4

Tight at the top of pool A!

Ozzy, did my predos for this one come through?