Summer Tournament Round Ten - Pools A & B

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Pool A

London Irish vs. Reds

London Irish
Manager: Ozzy3213        

01. Thomas du Toit	09. Mitchell Drummond
02. Liam Coltman	10. Aaron Cruden
03. Ben Alexander
04. Matt Symons	11. Tom Fowlie
05. Sebastien Vahaamahina	12. Paul Jordaan
06. Rynhardt Elstadt	13. JJ Engelbrecht
07. Blake Gibson	14. Marland Yarde
08. Marcell Coetzee	15. Delon Armitage

16. Harry Thacker 17. Ben Moon 18. Fraser Balmain 19. James Broadhurst 20. Hayden Thompson-Stringer 21. Will Homer 22. Shane Geraghty 23. Pita Ahki

Queensland Reds
Manager – Richard Graham

01. James Slipper	09. Will Genia
02. James Hansen	10. Quade Cooper
03. Greg Holmes
04. Rob Simmons	11. Lachie Turner
05. James Horwill	12. Samu Kerivi
06. Adam Thomson	13. Karmeichel Hunt
07. Liam Gill	14. Chris Kuridrani
08. Jake Schatz	15. James O'Connor

Subs:
16 Saia Fainga'a 17 Pettowa Paraka 18 Sam Talakai 19 Eddie O'Donoghue 20 Hendrik Tui 21 Beau Robinson 22 Nick Frisby 23 Ben Tapuai

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Stormers vs. Saracens

Stormers
Manager – Allister Coetzee

01. Steven Kitshoff	09. Nic Groom
02. Scarra Ntubeni	10. Demetri Catrakilis
03. Frans Malherbe
04. Eben Etzebeth	11. Seabelo Senatla
05. Manuel Carizza	12. Damien de Allende
06. Siya Kolisi	13. Juan de Jongh
07. Schalk Burger	14. Cheslin Kolbe
08. Duane Vermeulen	15. Jaco Taute

Subs:
16 Bongi Mbonambi 17 Oli Kebble 18 Vincent Koch 19 Ruan Botha 20 Nizaam Carr 21 Louis Schreuder 22 Kurt Coleman 23 Kobus van Wyk

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Saracens
Manager – Pooly

01. Alex Waller	09. Morgan Parra
02. Guilhem Guirado	10. Pat Lambie
03. Dan Cole
04. Will Skelton	11. Juan Imhoff
05. Patrico Albacete	12. Sonny Bill Williams
06. James Haskell	13. Conrad Smith
07. Thierry Dusatoir	14. Chris Ashton
08. Dave Denton	15. Beuden Barrett

:-
16. Rory Best 17. Ben Franks 18. Tom Francis 19. Patrick Tuipultou 20. Akira Ioane 21. Brad Weber 22. Stuart Hogg 23. Hosea Gear

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Newcastle Falcons vs. Crusaders

Newcastle Falcons
Manager – Bambam

01. Matt Mullan	09. Rhys Webb
02. Dane Coles	10. Owen Farrell (k)
03. Charlie Faumuina
04. Ed Slater (c)	11. Charles Piutau
05. Flip Van Der Merwe	12. Scott Williams
06. Callum Clark	13. Jonathan Davies
07. Chris Henry	14. David Strettle
08. David Ewers	15. Ben Smith

:-
16.Jamie George 17.Vincent Debaty 18. Luc Ducalcon 19. Yohan Maestri 20. Jordi Murphy 21.Nick Phipps 22. Ian Madigan 23. Jean De Villiers

Please could i have feedback on the balance of the backline, and any areas you think its lacking?

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

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Pool B

Exeter Chiefs vs. Lions

Exeter Chiefs 

Manager – Fluxy

01. Nic Auterac	09. Nic White
02. Jack Yeandle	10. Camille Lopez (k)
03. Jake Cooper-Wooley
04. James Horwill	11. James Lowe
05. Juandre Kruger	12. James O'Connor
06. Brad Shields	13. JP Pietersen
07. Steffon Armitage	14. Andrew Trimble
08. Fritz Lee	15. Mike Haley

_
16. Camille Chat 17. Jefferson Poirot 18. Vincent Koch 19. Glen Youngs 20. Luke Wallace 21. Chris Cook 22. Will Hooley 23. Cory Jane

Lions
Manager – Johan Ackermann

01. Schalk van der Merwe	09. Francois de Klerk
02. Armand van der Merwe	10. Elton Jantjes
03. Julian Redelinghuys
04. Martin Muller	11. Courtnall Skosan
05. Franco Mostert	12. Alwyn Hollenbach
06. Jaco Kriel	13. Harold Vorster
07. Warwick Tecklenburg	14. Ruan Combrinck
08. Warren Whiteley	15. Andries Coetzee

Subs:
16 Malcolm Marx 17 Corne Fourie 18 Ruan Dreyer 19 Robert Kruger 20 Kwagga Smith 21 Dillon Smit 22 Marnitz Boshoff 23 Howard Mnisi

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Sale Sharks vs. Highlanders


Sale Sharks
Manager – SJE

01. Marcos Ayerza	09. Danny Care
02. Benjamin Kayser	10. Johnny Sexton
03. Rabah Slimani
04. Iain Henderson	11. Nemani Nadolo
05. Brodie Retalick	12. Francois Steyn
06. Peter O'Mahony	13. George Pisi
07. Matt Kvesic	14. Semesa Rokoduguni
08. Louis Picamoles	15. Nick Abendanon

16. Jack McGrath 17. Tommy Taylor 18. Martin Moore 19. Dave Attwood 20. Sam Cane 21. Faf De Klerk 22. Bernard Foley 23. Willie Le Roux

- Could I have feedback on the balance of the overall pack please?

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 Ash 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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Rebels vs. Gloucester

Melbourne Rebels
Manager – Tony McGahan

01. Toby Smith	09. Nic Stirzaker
02. Pat Leafa	10. Jack Debreczeni
03. Paul Alo-Emile
04. Luke Jones	11. Cam Crawford
05. Lopeti Timani	12. Micth Inman
06. Sean McMahon	13. Tamati Ellison
07. Scott Fuglistaller	14. Sefanaia Naivalu
08. Scott Higginbottom	15. Mike Harris

Subs:
16 Tom Sexton 17 Cruze Ah-Nau 18 Tim Metcher 19 Sam Jeffries 20 Colby Fainga'a 21 Jordy Reid 22 Ben Meehan 23 Jonah Placid

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 Gloucester
Manager – anonmattyt


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

Mark

Saracens
Manager – Pooly

01. Alex Waller	09. Morgan Parra
02. Guilhem Guirado	10. Pat Lambie
03. Dan Cole
04. Will Skelton	11. Juan Imhoff
05. Patrico Albacete	12. Sonny Bill Williams
06. James Haskell	13. Conrad Smith
07. Thierry Dusatoir	14. Chris Ashton
08. Dave Denton	15. Beuden Barrett

:-
16. Rory Best 17. Ben Franks 18. Tom Francis 19. Patrick Tuipultou 20. Akira Ioane 21. Brad Weber 22. Stuart Hogg 23. Hosea Gear

Tactics:

Morgan Brad Weber sounds like a good lad...

Exeter Chiefs 

Manager – Fluxy

01. Nic Auterac	09. Nic White
02. Jack Yeandle	10. Nick Evans (k)
03. Vincent Koch
04. James Horwill	11. Cory Jane
05. Juandre Kruger	12. Toby Flood
06. Brad Shields	13. Adam Ashley-Cooper
07. Steffon Armitage	14. Andrew Trimble
08. Fritz Lee	15. James O'Connor

_
16. Camille Chat 17. Jefferson Poirot 18. Jake Cooper-Wooley 19. Sam Skinner 20. Luke Wallace 21. Chris Cook 22. Camille Lopez 23. Mike Haley

Newcastle Falcons
Manager – Bambam

01. Matt Mullan	09. Rhys Webb
02. Dane Coles	10. Owen Farrell (k)
03. Charlie Faumuina
04. Ed Slater (c)	11. Charles Piutau
05. Flip Van Der Merwe	12. Scott Williams
06. Callum Clark	13. Jonathan Davies
07. Chris Henry	14. David Strettle
08. David Ewers	15. Ben Smith

:-
16.Jamie George 17.Vincent Debaty 18. Luc Ducalcon 19. Yohan Maestri 20. Jordi Murphy 21.Nick Phipps 22. Ian Madigan 23. Jean De Villiers

Please could i have feedback on the balance of the backline, and any areas you think its lacking?

Just seen that I'm playing Crusaders, I assume I can't play McCaw and Read against them, but it hasn't been penalised elsewhere has it?!

Have let it slide over the summer Bam but some managers have picked up on it in their predictions and penalised

Fair enough, I've amended for normal rules!

Chaps I am on holiday and the wifi in my house is really poor. Can I play the same side as last week please.

Not sure I can predo this week as have a massive car journey Sunday from Spain to Portugal

Sale Sharks
Manager – SJE

01. Marcos Ayerza	09. Danny Care
02. Benjamin Kayser	10. Johnny Sexton
03. Rabah Slimani
04. Iain Henderson	11. Nemani Nadolo
05. Brodie Retalick	12. Francois Steyn
06. Peter O'Mahony	13. George Pisi
07. Matt Kvesic	14. Semesa Rokoduguni
08. Louis Picamoles	15. Nick Abendanon

16. Jack McGrath 17. Tommy Taylor 18. Martin Moore 19. Dave Attwood 20. Sam Cane 21. Faf De Klerk 22. Bernard Foley 23. Willie Le Roux

- Could I have feedback on the balance of the overall pack please?

 Gloucester
Manager – anonmattyt


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

You can send predictions to me this week please

RESULTS:

London Irish 25 (T:2 P:5)
Reds 26 (T:2, C:2 P:4)

Stormers 27 (T:2 C:1 P:5)
Saracens 28 (T:3 C:2 P:3)

Newcastle Falcons 26 (T:2, C:2 P:4)
Crusaders 28 (T:3 C:2 P:3)

Exeter Chiefs 32 (T:4 C:3 P:2)
Lions 21 (T:2 C:1 P:3)

Sale Sharks 33 (T:5 C:4)
Highlanders 25 (T:2 P:5)

Rebels 21 (T:2 C:1 P:3)
Gloucester 34 (T:5 P:3)

BONUS:
Full: Steve, Pete, Bam, Chris, SJE, Pooly & CJ
Score/Incomplete: CJB & Fluxy

Irish 19-24 Reds
As a world cup side not sure on the balance of the back row for Irish. Front 5 very dynamic and will get through a lot of work in the loose though. Cruden, Yarde & Armitage give the backline a touch of class but the wings could be caught in behind.

London Irish 18 - 20 Reds
Tough one to call. Reds have enough to get the advantage up against the Irish front row, and about evens at lock. Not sure on Coetzee as an 8, but think Irish stronger at the breakdown, while Reds have the advantage at halfback. Irish stronger in the outside backs, but think Reds will still win this. As a RWC side though, Irish look strong in the backs, while the front 5 and back row balance could be worked on

Irish 26 - 28 Reds
Reds can give the Irish setpiece a bit of a harder time than usual at the scrum with their back up front row out, but it should still cope. Reds do probably edge the lineout, and with more experience also get on top in the breakdown. Pack lacking a bit of canniness. Cruden > Cooper but Reds take the HB pairing due to their cohesion together. Irish do have a lovely centre pairing and can exploit Hunt and with Yarde and Delon the ball outwide will be dangerous but they won't get enough of it and just lose out

Wasps 23 - 25 Reds
Plenty of youth in the Wasps side. Likes of Du Toit, Gibson, Drummond and Fowlie still not ready to start in bigger games. Most of the others besides the obvious big players can fit into a stronger Wasps side without too much trouble although I'm not an Elstadt fan.

Irish 23-26 Reds

Set piece advantage for the Reds with TDT not at this level and better line out options. Reds a bit stronger in the backrow also with Coetzee no 8. Reds halfbacks just shade and little in the centres. Reds just take the back 3.

London Irish 27 - 24 Reds
Very even forward battle, can see Reds winning the breakdown battle as Gibson is inexperienced and big fan of Gill and Thomson. Both backlines full of try scoring threats, home advantage sways it but Cruden's injury makes it a little harder to give him the usual rating. 

Irish 22-28 Reds

London Irish 32 - 15 Reds
The much rotated Irish pack are able to contain the Red threat in the tight, around the park they are a little more difficult to keep quiet with the Reds flanks being quiet prominent. Both set of halfbacks have struggled as of late with injury of form issues, apart from Drummond who looks very sharp as of late. Just a touch more experience and control in the Irish back line which allows them to capitalise on their set piece dominance and take the game out of the hands of the Reds.

Stormers 24-28 Saracens
Loose work of Sarries front 5 is great although will need to see more of Skelton at the top level. Dus wasn't great last year so will be keen to see how he gets on in the world cup. I'd always go Hogg over Barrett but he's more then capable of making an impact from FB. Both centres struggling for form based on the RC although Smith was great in Super Rugby.

Stormers 26 - 23 Saracens
Huge pack battle, both sides gone with some real power up front. Think Stormers are just stronger at the set piece, but Sarries match them around the park. I prefer the Sarries halfbacks, one a piece at centre and probably evens in the back 3. Home advantage gives this one to Stormers for me

Stormers 29 - 29 Saracens
Sarries can just get one over the strong Stormers scrum, and both sides win their own lineout. So much carrying power in that Stormer backrow plus Etzebeth, and good at the breakdown too, but when the ball gets a bit wider the Sarries backrow will cause pronblems of their own, and the power of Skelton plus tackling of Haskell and Dusautoir can counter Stormers power a bit, overall back row to Stormers though. Not much of kick chase for Sarries to take advantage of their 9-10's kicking ability but that combo can playmake too and the offload and support in the centre combo will make space for a finishing back 3 to cause damage. That backline needs to be wary of an opposition kicking approach though as it is lacking at defending against that. Sarries do enough to draw

Stormers 29 - 29 Saracens
A good game between two strong sides. I can see the Saracens lineout struggling with very limited options and Guirado a wayward thrower at times. The Saracens pack is very strong at the loose and offers enough at the breakdown. I'd need to see more of Barrett at 15 before he can play there regularly although he provides an excellent 2nd playmaker and kicking option. I'd probably switch Lambie and Barrett.

Stormers 24 - 22 Saracens
Can see the away team just falling short in winning the pack battle, not sure Skelton is the best starting lock and Albacete hasn't been at his best. In the backline Sarries are looking very good, can see Ashton and Imhoff getting a lot of joy from running off the midfield. Not sure about Barrett as a fb but gives a good second receiver option. 

Stormers 16-23 Saracens
Nothing in it up front, but behind the pack it's all Saracens really, with de Allende vs. SBW the only match up worth commenting on.  Home advantage and that quality pack keep Stormers in it, but Saracens have more than enough for a good away win.

Stormers 28-24 Sarries

Stormers 25 - 31 Saracens
Two big packs in this contest, with both relatively even in the set piece although Sarries may struggle a little at the line out. That would hurt the momentum that Sarries would like to gain from collisions. The control of Parra will aid the Sarries game plan and the attacking ability of Lambie & Barrett mixing up at first receiver will create defensive issues for Stormers. De Allende will cause the Sarries defence some worries, as well as the Stormers back three and their pace looking to exploit pace around the fringes and out wide. The seperating factor here is the big Sarries bench which will just aid the swing of the game to favour the Englishmen. 

Falcons 17-20 Crusaders
That Falcons front 5 is solid but lacking the quality of the best units in the league. Decent balance to the backrow with the All Blacks boys out. In the backs think a lot relies on Smith to be in form with Farrell the chief playmaker. Backline is defensively strong but maybe lacking a kicking option compared to some others in the league.

Falcons 25 - 22 Crusaders
Falcons can just get ahead at the scrum, but good as they are it's hard to get one over the Crusaders lineout. Very effective Newcastle backrow that will push a more acclaimed one at the breakdown but just lacks their level of class. Form of Webb-Farrell probably means they can counter the Carter effect and they work well as a combo, Crusaders reliant on Nadolo out wide and with Smith and Piutau, Falcons can do a touch more with their ball. I like the backline balance, it's a settled and balanced centre partnership that we kniow works in real life, a half-back combo that should compliment each other and has attacking ability at 9 to take pressure off Farrell in attack, and 2 back 3 players that work well toegther and another underrated prem level finisher but Strettle could be found out at the highest level, and back row lacks "specialness"

Newcastle 23 - 24 Crusaders
Back line balance fine. I don't think it will ever win you a game on its own but behind a good pack it does very well. I am not a huge Scott Williams fan but he does a job for you. Pack looks ok maybe lacking a top class international operator in it which can be fixed by McCaw and Read.

Falcons 25-26 Crusaders

Scrum advantage to Crusaders with Faumuina not the best scrummager. Not too much in the locks but Crusaders backrow a step up. Crusaders halfbacks better but prefer the Falcons centres and back 3. 

Falcons 32 - 26 Crusaders
Really like the backline, Webb and Farrell works really well and the combination of the two Welsh midfielders works very nicely. Strettle has hit the ground running for Clermont and looks good there and then two great strike runners. Good defence and attack.

Newcastle Falcons 26-26 Crusaders
I have the Crusaders pack as a bit ahead of the Falcons one, with not much separating the backlines.  In New Zealand it would be a Crusaders win, but at home Falcons have enough not to get beaten, so it's a draw.

Newcastle 25-27 Crusaders 

Newcastle Falcons 29 - 30 Crusaders
Both front fives are quite even, but the Crusaders back row will just edge the Falcons unit. The Webb Farrell combo is a dangerous one which will threaten the Saders defence in most situations and keep their defence honest, allowing time for their back line to run moves or ship the ball out wide to their danger men. Saders have some big threats in their back line and with some decent ball will set alarms ringing in the Falcons defence. This one is real close but their just a touch more quality in the Crusaders pack which allows them to exploit the Falcons for the win.

Chiefs 26-25 Lions
Scrum looks a potential issue but would depend on opposition in the WC however I love the backrow combination and theres some decent quality in the backs. Lopez has form issues at 10 though. I'd beware JP at 13 as well depending on opposition.

Exeter 27 - 20 Lions
Exeter may struggle in the scrum, but after that i think they have the beating of a solid but limited Lions side. No obvious weakness in the Exeter world cup side, think they may be one of the best sides during the tournament. Decent battle, but the Chiefs backline is just far too good, and will win this one relatively comfortably

Chiefs 24 - 18 Lions
Good Exeter scrum lacking in nous, hard to predict the scrum battle. Equally, hard call on the lineout which Exeter might just edge, but Steff is a class apart at the breakdown and supported and Exeter take that battle, and can counter the carrying ability of Whiteley. I like the White-Lopez combo, but JOC at 12 is a risk as he hasn't played there in a while and the back 3 lack spark. Still enough to finish off chances for a home win

Exeter 27 - 22 Lions
Solid Exeter side though I'm in no way convinced by a JOC/Pieterson centre combo and this they will really struggled against top AP opposition. Think the front row could also struggle. But all in all its a strong WC side and should do very well.

Exeter 28-24 Lions

Not sure of JCW at this evel and he can give Lions a small edge. Nice back 5 from Exeter and they'll get the edge here. Exeter have the edge at halfback although not sure of the centre combo against better sides. Good wings for Exeter but unconvinced on Haley. 

Exeter Chiefs 35 - 25 Lions
A strong team put out by Exeter that can score a lot of tries but probably can also be got at defensively in some areas. Lee at no8 gives a great line breaker and if JOC comes back into good form it will make a huge difference. 

Exeter Chiefs 30-15 Lions
Only Kriel and Whiteley from the lions would get near to getting in the Chiefs side, so it's a pretty comfortable win.  What I would say to try to give a take on the Chiefs is that it's a nice looking side, but could be big form issues with that centre pairing against decent opposition.

Exeter 28-20 Lions

Sale 32 - 29 Highlanders
Sale look to have gone with a first choice pack, and think they have the quality to starve the Highlanders of ball, which is what would be needed. Highlanders backs are brilliant as we all know, and they'll make this look close with the ball they get, especially against a Sale backline which can lack in defence. Sale have enough to win at home. SJE - Really like the pack, looks to have a bit of everything for me other than possibly a lineout technician, but with the amount of options I think you'll be ok. Cane>Kvesic all day for me, although EQ is obviously a concern

Sale 27 - 20 Highlanders
Sale front row too much as per usual, not sure Slimani is a good as the rest of it though. I like the lock combo with Henderson heavy work and backrow abilities with a world class specialist lock in Retallick, then the flankers will work well togetrh and with Henderson at the breakdown, I do feel that a lot of the carrying onus is on Picamoles though. 2 good HB pairings, probably Highlanders in better form. Fekitoa, Naholo and Smith lethal in attack but across the whole backline Sale have no weak links and have the pack dominance to beat the Highlanders solidly

Sale 26 - 20 Highlanders
Pack looks excellent SJE. Kvesic could be improved upon but a decent EQ options. Looks to be good in the tight and around the park and in the set piece. Tough to beat I'd say. Backs look ok to but not as strong as your pack. 

Sale 27-22 Highlanders

Strong front 5 for Sale and they'll get a good platform in the set piece. Sale backrow stronger one a piece in the halfbacks in 2 close combo's. Little in the centres and a great back 3 battle.

Sale 25 - 19 Highlanders
A lot of strength throughout the Sale 23, the pack looks really good SJE and if Kvesvic starts the season as he finished it then you've got two top no7s to pick. If you can find a top class hooker then you've got one of the best packs around imo. 

Sale Sharks 27-25 Highlanders 
Highlanders pack is a tough unit, but SJE has put out the big guns for Sale and realistically the Sale pack looks a potential title winning one in this game.  Good balance to it and will get them on the front foot enough to win a really good, tight game.

Sale 33-31 Highlanders 

Sale Sharks 34 - 30 Highlanders
Up front the Sharks will just edge the set piece battle, as their components do look a real mark up on the landers. The competitiveness at the breakdown and around the park of the Landers makes them highly dangerous. Two very good sets of halfbacks which are hard to seperate at the moment. There are threats in the Sale back line, but the Highlanders do have the ability to create something out of nothing in their back line. The Sharks bench is markedly bigger in impact and can see it making the impact to swing the game their way late on to secure victory. 

Rebels 21-30 Gloucester
Against good technicians Glaws will struggle at the scrum but the carrying of the pack is top notch. Need to see Alberts in the world cup but currently Glaws lacking a little bit at the breakdown. Walker looks out of place in what is a top top backline.

Rebels 25 - 29 Gloucester
Gloucester gone with first choice side, as they have throughout the group stages. Not a lot to say really, Rebels are rooted to the bottom of the tables for a reason, and against a side with the firepower of Glos, this is an easy enough win. Only home advantage keeps this one a bit close

Rebels 16 - 39 Gloucester
Gloucester can attack the Rebels set piece and have the lineout options to win there too. Rebels put up more fight at the breakdown but with Alberts clearing, Savea can deal with them. Glaws a class ahead in backs too, with the centres devastating and through the back3 have issues in defence, in this game they won't have to worry and have the pace to destroy Rebels

Rebels 16 - 24 Gloucester
Gloucester side strong as usual in this tournament and have to much for the Rebels. Walker still a weakness on the wing in this league. Locks need to find some form.

Rebels 23 - 28 Gloucester
Strong Gloucester starting lineup, especially the backline where they are going to cause teams a lot of issues. Some good impact players from the bench and with teams so even in the league now that could be a big swaying factor in predos this season.

Rebels 20-30 Gloucester
Gloucester packed with international quality players throughout the team and just to strong for an average Rebels side. 

Rebels 22-27 Gloucester

Melbourne Rebels 21 - 29 Gloucester
The tough and strong Rebels pack will provide them a good platform during the game, but the Gloucester pack just shade the competition with having a few components in the pack at a higher quality. It is a similar story in the back line as the Rebels back line is very solid and effective, but the Gloucester back line is a level up in quality. A solid win, but it wouldn't be an easy victory.