Aviva Premiership Round Three - Rugby Championship

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Sale Sharks vs Gloucester Rugby
AJ Bell Stadium
Light Cloud, 15 degrees, 12mph Westerly winds

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 Sale Sharks
Manager – SJE

01. Jack McGrath	09. Danny Care
02. Tommy Taylor	10. Johnny Sexton
03. Davit Zirakishvilli
04. Maro Itoje	11. Nemani Nadolo
05. Iain Henderson	12. Kyle Eastmond
06. CJ Stander	13. Charlie Ngatai
07. Matt Kvesic	14. Ruan Combrinck
08. Duane Vermeulen	15. Willie Le Roux

Subs:
16. Benjamin Kayser 17. Ross Harrison 18. Rabah Slimani 19. Dave Attwood 20. Peter O'Mahony 21. Kieran Marmion 22. Curwin Bosch 23. Nick Abendanon

Attributes:
Phase Attack: Attacks build momentum until an opportunity arises.
Breakdown - Clearing: Ensuring the possession is clean and quick with quick support to the breakdown.

Blitz Defence: Your side is known for Blitz and excels at it.
Breakdown - Slowing up ball: The defenders can get over the ball to slow it up and prevent the attack from building momentum and allowing your defence to set.  

Attack: We will be playing an expansive, high intensity phased attacking game. Look to use a rugby league shape with runners on the gain line and out the back door to force the opposition into making defensive decisions. Numerous playmakers across the back line allows us to constantly change the point of attack and restructure our attacking phases. Care to keep the fringe defence honest with his snipping runs.

Breakdown: Quick ball is the aim on attack. Mobile pack and physical back line to clear out rucks and ensure we get it. We will look to get over the gain line off all carries to give a target to hit. Defensively when the initial contact is won we will look to commit numbers and get over the ball turning it over or at least slowing opposition ball up. Otherwise we will strengthen the line.

Defence: Straight line blitz defence focused on winning the gain line collisions and driving the ball carrier back. Line speed is crucial. Kvesic will look to defend on Eastmond's shoulder specifically looking to stop offloads and get over the ball at the breakdown. Care will sweep behind the line to cover chips and grubbers. Zebo & Le Roux to cover the background dropping deep to cut off the green grass available to kick into.

Scrum: Strong scrummaging unit in the front row with the support of a powerful 4-8 will look to get the better of the opposition and build a strong attacking platform. We will look to put a slight wheel on where possible to take the opposition backrow out of play and then attack the space available and look for one on ones in the backline.

Lineout: Five mobile, athletic jumpers allows us to genuinely mix it up on attacking ball. Primarily looking to get the backs on the ball in space. Defensively Retalick to get up in the air at the front and challenge on opposition ball looking to make it as messy as possible.

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Gloucester 
Manager – Matt

01. Rob Evans	09. Dan Robson
02. Luke Cowan-Dickie	10. Dan Carter
03. Uini Atonio
04. Richie Gray	11. Jonny May
05. Elliott Stooke	12. Matt Toomua
06. Ross Moriarty	13. Matt Scott
07. Julian Salvi	14. Taqele Naiyaravoro
08. Jamie Heaslip	15. Sam Davies

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16. Coenie Oosthuizen, 17. Joe Gray, 18 Juan Figallo, 19. Tom Croft, 20. Sam Dickinson, 21. Grant Hermanus, 22. Danny Cipriani, 23. Charlie Walker

build momentum until an opportunity arises.

Counter Attack - Receiving the ball down field, your players will look to attack with ball in hand, thriving in the broken field and open spaces.

Breakdown (Turnover Possession) -  Your side is recognised to pick off turnovers at the breakdown, by getting the ball and gaining the penalty

Choke tackle : Tacklers look where possible to hold the opposition up and force the turnover

Our game plan will be based around controlling possession when we have the ball outside our own 10m line. We will look to build phases and use the likes of moriarty, Heaslip, Gray, etc to get us across the gain line so we can play with quick ball.

we will look for Robson Carter and Toomua to control the tempo of the game. Off static ball we will look to truck it up or kick for space.

When we generate quick ball we will look to utilise our extreme gas out wide and create one on ones.

Having ball players in 9, 10, 12 means we are able to slot in on any turnover and counter attack at pace.

We are looking to create space for our outside backs with Scott and our back three looking to exploit the space outwide. We will use Toomua as a first receiver when we need to change things up.

In our own half when kicking we will use the boots of Robson, Carter and Toomua to gain territory, looking to kick to touch so we can use our line out to steal possession and pressure the Sale line out.

In defence And with such a physical pack we will be using the choke tackle to slow down and turnover ball. When it gets to deck we will look to attack the breakdown with the first man there looking to win the penalty or the turnover.

We will look to use the up then out drift defence on the call of the scrum half or full back as in conditions like this it's harder to use as the ball player has more time on the ball.

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Bath Rugby vs Worcester Warriors
The Rec
Light Cloud, 17 degrees, 12mph Westerly winds

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Bath Rugby
Manager – CJB

01. Eddy Ben Arous	09. Richard Wigglesworth
02. Rory Best	10. Finn Russell
03. Samson Lee
04. Will Skelton	11. Liam Williams
05. Graham Kitchener	12. Sam Hill
06. Dan Lydiate	13. Jonathan Davies
07. Justin Tipuric	14. Christian Wade
08. Toby Falateu	15. Alex Goode

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16. Ellis Genge 17. Mikey Haywood 18. Nepo Laulala 19. Charlie Ewels 20. Arno Botha 21. Tawera Kerr Barlow 22. George Moala 23. Lolagi Visnia

Attributes:
First phase attack/strike moves: Will look to break the defence, with either a bust through or a clever move to create a gap.
Breakdown - Clearing: Ensuring the possession is clean and quick with quick support to the breakdown
Blitz Defence: Your side is known for Blitz and excels at it
Breakdown - Turnover possession: Your side is recognised to pick off turnovers at the breakdown, by getting the ball and gaining the penalty. 

Overall: We are gonna be looking to play front foot rugby and put Worcester under immense pressure with our energy. Look for big carries to create space and break the defense. Attack the set piece where we expect to be dominant and finish strongly off the bench 

Scrum: Use the set piece to get quick ball to restart our play. Skelton really gives our scrum extra power while look for Lee to get on top of Dickinson. Falateu will look to attack off the quick ball he gets.

Lineout: We will look to switch up the lineup with Falateu, Skelton and Kitchener options in the lineout. Kitchener will run the line out. Look to get up into the air quickly and down for a quick maul. We think we can dominate here against a poor set of jumpers. Skelton will vary the throw by offering a quick ball option at the front. 

Breakdown: Look to generate quick ball for our backs to take advantage of. Tipuric is brilliant at the breakdown and we will also look to get the rest of the pack looking to help and clear out. 

Defence: Run a blitz defence. Wigglesworth to drift behind expecting kicks.

Attack: Our half backs will control our rugby. Wiggles will set the tempoand play what he sees in front of him. Outside of him, Russell will play flat and use his creativity to bring in the back line and make plays. He will be given a freedom to be creative. Look to bring in the rest of the back line, especially JD2 who we would like to get running at defenders. Williams and Wade are very skilful and if the ball gets to them will look to draw in defenders. The pack will also be involved when we have the ball for a prolonged period. We have strong carriers who excel in the loose. Look to get the ball in the hands of EBA, Lee and Falateu in order to break the line and make yards. Look to play with a high tempo and get the ball moving across the back line. Exploit the holes we create and look to tire out Warriors which can help nullify their offensive threats. 

Kicking: Russell will be our chosen place kicker. We will chuck in the occasional grabber to chase. Russell, Wigglesworth, Williams and Goode all have the boots necessary to try and put us in a good position territoriality if need. 

Substitutes: Keep a high tempo with all our internationals off the bench.

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Worcester Warriors
Manager - Prop

01. Alisdair Dickinson	09. Gareth Davies
02. Ross Batty	10. Dan Biggar (k)
03. WP Nel
04. Leone Nakawara	11. Adam Thompstone
05. Devin Toner	12. Jamie Roberts
06. Jackson Wray	13. Huw Jones
07. Sam Warburton (c)	14. Sergal Petersen
08. Ben Morgan	15. Brice Dulin

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Subs: 16. Ken Owens 17. Val Ruskin 18. Henry Thomas 19. Yoann Maestri 20. George Smith 21. Sam Harrison 22. Jules Plisson 23. Matthew Tait

Season's Attributes-
Offloading in the Tackle
Breakdown (Turnovers)
Blitz Defence
Choke Tackle

-We will play a controlled game with the conditions, not looking to overly use the offloading-only when on. Biggar will look for territory with Nakawara and Toner able to put a lot of pressure on the Bath ball.
-Big carriers up front looking to offload where possible although being mindful of the weather and we will have support runners on their shoulders,,
-Back row looking to be balanced with carrying, tackling and Warburton bringing the turnover attribute,
-We know how balanced the Bath back row is so we will look to either shift the ball one player further away or to 'leech' and throw the player into the tackle this should negate Lydiate's tackling and Tips' turnover prowess,
-In these conditions the breakdown will be scrappy and the first man there will look to go for the ball using our turnover attribute. If it is obviously lost we will fan out. If Bath undercommit we will look to drive through them for the turnover,
-Look to not commit too much to their breakdown if the ball is lost and use blitz defence led by Roberts allowing the chance to apply the choke tackle to stop Bath playing a quick tempo game,
-Backs to play what is in front of them, runners off Roberts and Jones (who is in tremendous form), we will use Dulin as a strike runner and know the pace of our back three to put pressure with quick ball,
-When nothing is on Biggar will go for territory and also use  his 'bombs' to challenge and turn their backlline,
-We will use Dulin to come into the line and switch things up to keep Bath guessing and allow Roberts the chance to hit from deep at times and not be predictable.
-Take all kickable penalties.

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Exeter Chiefs vs Harlequins
Sandy Park
Sunny Intervals, 17 degrees, 13mph Westerly winds

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Exeter Chiefs 
         
Manager – Fluxy

01. Jefferson Poirot	09. Sam Hidalgo-Clyne
02. Tom Youngs	10. Alex Lozowski (k)
03. Ben Tameifuna
04. Courtney Lawes	11. Chris Ashton
05. James Horwill (c)	12. Stuart McCloskey
06. Elliott Dixon	13. Sam James
07. Marcell Coetzee	14. JP Pietersen
08. Sergio Parisse	15. James Lowe

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16. Jack Yeandle 17. Thomas Domingo 18. Kyle Sinckler 19. Jake Ball 20. Teimana Harrison 21. Chris Cook 22. Colin Slade 23. Melani Nanai

We look to go back to the basic Chiefs style of play this week, and at home, the conditions will help with that this weekend. A high intensity game in both defence and attack, with dynamic carrying and rucking at the fore. We want to control possession and go through the phases. Sandy Park is one of the hardest places to come and play. We won't want to kick the ball away, and Saracens can't score any points without the ball. 

Territory - When we kick will aim to find touch deep within Quins territory and forcing their back three to turn and chase the ball. Lozowski, Hidalgo-Clyne, McCloskey and Lowe all have great kicking games, with all capable of kicking in behind the Quins back line, and chasing down their kick to pressurise the Quins defenders. 

Lineout - Using Lawes, Horwill & Dixon to mix up our options and look for possession, and set our powerful maul. We need to control the game, and force Quins forwards into giving away penalties by bringing our maul down. Look to drop to six man line outs, with Parisse stood at scrum half ready to secure the ball at the back of the maul, and that the original transfer is clean.

Forwards - Generally in defence with our line we will look to get stuck in early and get the carrier to ground early. This is to then either ensure we have numbers in the defensive line, or to get numbers in at the breakdown to slow up/turnover Quins ball. Our back row is renowned for physicality at the breakdown and will frustrate the Harlequins carriers and support. Our Pack will target the breakdown, looking to blow through the ruck and past the ball, to create clean ball. Allowing time for the halfbacks to dictate. Look for pick and goes in the Quins 22 to frustrate and pick up yards.

Defence - look to chop down Quins carriers before the gain line to prevent them gaining any momentum and have to give away penalties to try and secure their own ball. The speed our of line and the tackling we do, is something we are traditionally strong in. 

Attack - In the opposition half take our time and not rush with ball in hand. Have confidence in our carriers to tie in defenders and get across the gain line and in our backs to exploit the gaps when we create them. Carriers to target the defence down West's channel, who will get fed up and put off his game. Our back three looking to isolate their slower lads in the defensive line eg Huget, Brookes, Baldwin, Gorgodze.

Bench - Utilise the bench for impact, so we only make changes when we want the game to change in our favour, whether to up the effort up front, or to kick points via Nev

Build a Score - Lozowski to take on kicking at goal responsibilities. Any penalty within their ten metre to be kicked at goal to keep scoreboard ticking. Unless ten metres from the line then we kick for the line-out and apply pressure.

Attributes
Defensive Traits
Blitz Defence: Your side is known for Blitz and excels at it
Chop Tackle: Tacklers look to get low and chop down attackers before gaining momentum or metres over the gain line.  
Attacking Traits
Counter Attacking: Receiving the ball down field, your players will look to attack with ball in hand, thriving in the broken field and open spaces. 
Offloading in the tackle: Moving the point of attack preventing a defence to set and keeping play fluid.

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Harlequins
Manager – Steven_Sharks

01. Cian Healy	09. Ben Youngs
02. Scott Baldwin	10. Ihaia West
03. Kieran Brookes
04. Ultan Dillane	11. Jack Nowell
05. George Kruis	12. Robbie Henshaw
06. Jack Clifford	13. Jonathan Joseph
07. Steffon Armitage	14. Yoann Huget
08. Mamuka Gorgodze (c)	15. Damian McKenzie (k)

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16. Rob Webber 17. Richard Barrington 18. Tadhg Furlong 19. Lukhan Tui 20. Damien Chouly 21. Ruan Pienaar 22. Steven Myler 23. Bundee Aki

Attributes

Phase Attack - Attacks build momentum until an opportunity arises. 

Counter Attack - Receiving the ball down field, your players will look to attack with ball in hand, thriving in the broken field and open spaces. 

Breakdown (Turnover Possession) -  Your side is recognised to pick off turnovers at the breakdown, by getting the ball and gaining the penalty

Chop Tackle: Tacklers look to get low and chop down attackers before gaining momentum or metres over the gain line. 

Game Plan

• Play at pace - look to use the pace in our pack line and mobility of our pack to play at a high tempo, especially when we have front foot ball and get over the gain line. Youngs to zip about at 9 with runner coming off him as well as West and Henshaw standing flat.
  
  
• Switching the Point of attack - Look to use McKenzie as a first receiver to keep the Exeter defence on its toes and vary our play. Looking to set up as wedge move using big forwards as a hard running option and our back line as the out the back option to spread the ball wide
  
  
• Aggression in contact - Look to hit the contact with support to allow for a quick ruck or an offload before or out of contact to keep our attack flowing. Keep legs driving after collision to get over gain line and make it an easier ruck for us to clear out
  
  
• Drift Defence - Look to play a drift defence using the pace and mobility in our side. We will go up and out and use the chop tackle to take the attacker down and get Armitage or Clifford over the ball.
  

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Saracens vs Northampton Saints
Allianz Park
Light Cloud, 17 degrees, 12mph Westerly winds

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Saracens
Manager – Pooly

01. Dylan Smith	09. Morgan Parra
02. Guilhem Guirado	10. Pat Lambie
03. Dan Cole
04. Ed Slater	11. George North
05. Geoff Parling	12. Rohan Janse van Rensburg
06. James Haskell	13. Conrad Smith
07. John Hardie	14. Telusa Veainu
08. Nathan Hughes	15. Stuart Hogg

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16. Richard Hibbard 17. Alex Waller 18. Paul Hill 19. Brad Davies 20. Will Fraser 21. Lee Dickson 22. Ollie Devoto 23. Teddy Thomas

Tactics:

Defensive:

Blitz Defence - Get in the face of the opposition and allow them very little time on the ball.

Breakdown - Turnover possession: Your side is recognised to pick off turnovers at the breakdown, by getting the ball and gaining the penalty

Attacking:

Territorial Kicking: Looking to pin back sides and kick for open spaces or touch

Offloading in the tackle: Moving the point of attack preventing a defence to set and keeping play fluid

TARGET BREAKDOWN - Look for turnover or slowing down ball with numerous options in Cole, Guirado, Hardie, Haskell and Hughes.

TARGET SCRUM AND LINEOUT - Look to put pressure on Saints lineout with no leader and few options in the pack. If getting on top look to target corners and contest. Target scrum, especially JCW.

BIG RUNNERS AT DALY - big runners down Daly's channel and target his weak defence.

General - We'll be playing a structured physical game from the off, look to get at the opposition and target the breakdown. We'll look to tie the opposition in and then get at their backline, more so in their half. Look to keep it tight in the forward pack and grind through work. Looking to bring in the opposition pack and then use big carrying options to punch holes through their defence. Look to control the tempo and areas we play with kicking options at halfback.

Scrum - Look to get a platform from the off with a strong scrummaging unit. Strong front 5 with big locks will look for the big push once the ball is in and drive the opposition back. Our TH and Hooker will look to target LH and try to get between him and Hooker to allow LH to work on TH If no weakness seen will use as restart.

Line out – Look for safe ball with world class line out options and experience. Will allow SH good clean ball and have big carriers running off the 9 at angles. Look to target opposition throw and put pressure on the hooker.

Defence - Blitz defence with high intensity and big hits, looking to drive past the ball player if the ball hits the deck. physical pack that can look to get at the collision and breakdown allowing a chance to slow down/steal ball. Put pressure on SH's basics and force him into errors. Scrum half to sweep behind the defensive line.

Attack - Keep things simple in our own half then look to unleash backs in opp 22 territory. Scrum half to dictate play from the breakdown and runners on his shoulder. Huge carrying pack to get us over the gain line after front 5 set a platform. Midfield to run angles off the 9/10, allowing us gain line breakers. Look to keep opposition guessing with clever lines through midfield. Wingers will look to track the midfield combo.

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Northampton Saints
Manager: Dammit Chris

01. Mako Vunipola	09. Conor Murray
02. Dylan Hartley	10. George Ford
03. Jake Cooper-Wooley
04. Joe Launchbury(c)	11. Rieko Ioana
05.Vaea Fifita	12. Weslie Fofana
06. Schalk Burger	13. Elliot Daly
07. Jack Lam	14. Adam Ashley Cooper
08. Billy Vunipola	15. Leigh Halfpenny(k)

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16. Schalk Brits 17. Logi Mulipola 18. Zander Fagerson 19. Jonny Gray 20. James Davies 21. Joe Simpson 22. Harry Mallinder 23. Manu Tuilagi

Attributes:
Breakdown - Clearing: Ensuring the possession is clean and quick with quick support to the breakdown
First phase attack/strike moves: Will look to break the defence, with either a bust through or a clever move to create a gap.

Blitz Defence: Your side is known for Blitz and excels at it
Breakdown - Turnover possession: Your side is recognised to pick off turnovers at the breakdown, by getting the ball and gaining the penalty.  

Tactics
A good time to take on Sarries during the RC, we are going to play the game at a high intensity, bringing our big ball carriers into the game early and over the gain-line. We want to get the ball into the hands of our form forwards - BV, Mako, Launchbury and Burger - so they can stamp their influence on the game.

We want to make the most of the good conditions to keep the ball in play and attack Sarries with our power runners and then exploit any space outwide, constantly looking to test the Sarries defensive line and tire them with their work in defence.

Set Piece
Base our attacking platform on a strong setpiece, with Hartley's darts being key at the lineout, with the option of four jumpers to secure good attacking ball. We've opted to select Fifita as a more dynamic jumping option to occupy Parling, with Lam providing a good option for quick ball from the back of the lineout. Use the scrum to launch BV at the Sarries no10.

Gain-line/Physical Battle
We've picked a big, abrasive pack, that has a lot of strong ball carriers and we will work through our phases and build pressure on the Sarries defence. We will send power runner after power runner into the Sarries defensive line, getting ourselves over the gain-line and creating space for our strike moves in the backs. Our backrow has been picked as a tough tackling unit, to get in the faces of our opposition and stop Saracens getting gain-line success with their pack, as we feel Parling and Slater can be got at, as they lack real physicality.

Breakdown
See attributes

Attack
Everything goes through Ford, with Sarries blitz attack we'll be looking to use the inside pass to big forwards and hit the inside shoulders of the rush defence, we'll use this to get gain-line success, but also to ensure the Sarries defence has to think its blitz, so on other phases we use Ford's passing game to bring in our strike runners in the backline, but importantly get Daly attacking Smith's outside shoulder with his pace.

Defence
Blitz defence, with Murray sweeping behind the defensive line. Again really looking to pressure the Sarries 10-12-13 combination, forcing mistakes and errors from a new combination. We see two major threats with Sarries (i) Hughes, so will ensure we chop him down, or double up in the tackle as if we stop him then Sarries do not have many gain-line breakers and (ii) North, we've gone with AAC to marshall him out of the game and limit his threat.

We'll also look to use Murray, Ford, Daly and Halfpenny's boots to get us out of our 22 when needed and use this to ensure we win the tactical kicking battle.

Bench
Selected for its impact and means up upping the tempo in the final quarter, espc after Sarries have had to deal with our power game, so the aim is to wear them out and then speed up the game with the speed/power our bench offers.

Points
Halfpenny boot vital in away games, with Daly taking on kicks from 55m - keep the scoreboard ticking over - Halfpenny guarantees 15 points per game.

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Wasps vs Bristol Rugby
Ricoh Arena
Light Cloud, 17 degrees, 12mph Westerly winds

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Wasps
Manager - Driver

01. Joe Marler	09. Sebastian Tillous Borde
02. Bismark Du Plessis	10. Nick Evans (c) (k)
03. Frans Malherbe
04. RG Synman	11. Bryan Habana
05. Sebastian Vahaamahina	12. Brad Barritt
06. Tom Wood	13. Luther Burrell
07. Sean O'Brien	14. Marlande Yarde
08. Louis Picamoles	15. Anthony Watson

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16. Harry Thacker 17.Ben Moon 18.Dave Wilson 19.Alun Wyn Jones 20.Nazeem Carr 21.Mitchell Drummound 22.Rhys Pristland 23.Henry Slade

Kick Chase: Organised kick and chase to attempt to regain possession.
Counter Attacking: Receiving the ball down field, your players will look to attack with ball in hand, thriving in the broken field and open spaces.

Breakdown - Turnover possession: Your side is recognised to pick off turnovers at the breakdown, by getting the ball and gaining the penalty.
Maul Defence: Legally can slow up a maul or stop them gaining headway.

TACTICS

We've gone for a balanced selection throughout our team with players complimenting there positions through a strong mixture of skills too fall into our tactical plan.

Our game plan is going too be based around attacking the space and using our kicking game too put us in the opposition half and exploit the spaces. We've picked a powerful front 5 as we'll look too keep the ball on the field and get a strong driving game going along with our powerful midfield.

We'll play mainly off 9 with Nick Evans dictating the tempo of the game through playing flat too inject pace at times when it's needed and testing the opposition through change in direction, passes round the back and chips over the top and grubbers. STB will look too tap and go in the opposition half and keep us rolling.

At the lineout we're well aware of the threats Luke Charteris brings too the table and too counter him we've worked into our game a shortened lineout too secure quick ball along with a quick 1-2 between the front man and hooker.

The lineout in the opposition half will be cruicial as we've got a strong mauling pack and will look too get that moving on the 22 and past it as well as splitting into a second drive following it too generate quick ball for our backs too hit the spaces fast and hard.

Too counter the Bristol strength of slowing the ball, we'll look too Pickermoles , BDP , SOB , Barritt and Burrell too get our offloading game going and get behind the line and not allow them the time too reorganize.

We've given Anthony Watson free reign too find his own space in attack and break out a bit and look for one on ones with weak links in the defense.

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Bristol Team
Manager: CJ

01. Loni Uhila	09. Kahn Fotuali'i
02. Rob Buchanan	10. Jimmy Gopperth (k)
03. Mike Ross
04. Sam Carter	11. Craig Gilroy
05. Luke Charteris	12. Piers Francis
06. Chris Robshaw	13. Duncan Taylor
07. Josh Van Der Flier	14. Jesse Mogg
08. Victor Vito (c)	15. Chris Pennell

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16. David Kilcoyne 17. Richardt Strauss 18. Tom West 19. Kearnan Myall 20 Carl Fearns 21. Ben Spencer 22. Rhys Patchell  23. Rene Ranger

Attributes:
Attacking:
1) Breakdown - Clearing: Ensuring the possession is clean and quick with quick support to the breakdown
2)  Phase Attack: Attacks build momentum until an opportunity arises.
Defending:
1) Breakdown - Slowing up ball: The defenders can get over the ball to slow it up and prevent the attack from building momentum and allowing your defence to set.
2) Breakdown - Organised Ruck defence: with guards and body guards set, allowing the rest of the line to set off them.

Tactics:
We will approach as a unit, working in small groups to hit rucks with impact to get over the ball fast and clear out, using our twin fetching flankers to ensure we have a strong breakdown player at every ruck and shadow the ball. I

In defence, we will commit minimal numbers, with a select few slowing the ball to neuter the Wasps attack and encourage them to kick the ball back

Attack:
Using and building up quick ball we will use our twin playmakers to build up strings of incessant phases, changing the focus and direction of attack with our back 3 coming off their wings and Taylor running creative lines.

We will also look to target the fringes with the in form attacking Fotuali'i and Gopperth attacking the line and use 1-2 pass phases off them with our big carriers.

Plan B will see us keeping things simple and playing supported pick and drives around the corner with units and sniping at 9, to draw the defence in and then spinning wide and using Gopperth to quickly get the ball out to space we will have created out wide by sucking in defenders around the fringes

If plan A+B struggles, plan C is to to kick through to our own kick chase with Spencer and Patchell on the bench to facilitate this plan

Defence:
Our basic structure is a blitz led by Taylor with Fotuali'i sweeping, but emphasis on tight fringe defence and aggressive pushing up on the halfbacks around the corner, Der Flier especially looking when he is free to pressurise Evans for a chargedown/TO.

We have also noted Wasps' tactic of kick chasing this season, picking players with fullback credentials on the wings to mark them in the air and make their strength a weakness.


Set Piece:
We will look to get the ball out quickly on our own put in and run moves off Vito.

The lineout we will keep changing with multiple good options and a mix of mauling and plays off the top. In defence, we will counter the maul on the ground led by Charteris

Other:
No loose kicking, with every one chased and aiming to kick into space around and behind their back 3 not down their throats.
Press for penalties in their 22, willing to risk the referee's decision
Some recent aimless kicks from Evans – run them back

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Newcastle Falcons vs Leicester Tigers
Kingston Park
Light Cloud, 16 degrees, 11mph Westerly winds

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 Newcastle Falcons
Manager – Bambam

01. Matt Mullan	09. Rhys Webb
02. Jamie George	10. Owen Farrell
03. Davit Kubriashvili
04. Matt Symons	11. David Strettle
05. Flip Van Der Merwe	12. Scott Williams
06. David Ewers	13. Michele Campagnaro
07. Chris Henry	14. Luke Morahan
08. Jack O'Donaghue	15. Charles Piutau

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16.Camille Chat 17.Alec Hepburn 18. Owen Hills 19.Luke Jones 20. Ellis Jenkins 21. Greig Laidlaw 22. Paddy Jackson  23. Rob Miller

Attributes
Counter Attacking: Receiving the ball down field, your players will look to attack with ball in hand, thriving in the broken field and open spaces.
Phase Attack: Attacks build momentum until an opportunity arises.
Breakdown - Slowing up ball: The defenders can get over the ball to slow it up and prevent the attack from building momentum and allowing your defence to set.
Blitz Defence: Your side is known for Blitz and excels at it


Game plan - Use the big pack to really put their front 5 under pressure,. Compete hard for the ball at the ruck to get on top, and challenge their half back combo we think they can be targeted with Burns particularly in for a lot of tackling to put him off his game. Target the positional sense of their back 3, with the wings in particular the target for kicks in behind

Set piece - Look to really put their props under maximum pressure with Mullan and Kubs, we've got a great scrummaging lock pairing to help. If no weakness, use as restart. We'll target Jenkins here with Ewers packing down behind Kubs to put the pressure on. Flip to call lineout, mark their second rows and force long throws. On our ball, use the back row options to mix it up. Neither of their second rows is a true caller, see how they do with Flip pressuring them

Breakdown - Henry, Ewers and George to lead the way on turnovers. Others focus on strong clear outs and maintaining a strong defensive line. . On our ball, smash them off the ball, use pod system to ensure support if they are having success. Henry is charged with keeping Lobbe off our ball, and target turnovers if one of their carriers gets isolated

Kicking - Piutau to offer options outside Farrell. Kick in behind the wings for territory, aim for space not the man. Challenge wings positioning,  Piutau/Morahan free to drop back for the counter off their kicks

Attack - Webb to run our attack and set the tempo, constantly change the point of attack and get Farrell quick ball.. Challenge Burns defensively with Campaganaro cutting in running hard lines at his channels with Piutau coming into the line. Big carrying forwards to set a platform, run at 10/12 all day long to put them on the back foot off first phase, see how they handle it.  

Defence - no weak links in the backline, use the blitz defence to put them on the back foot,  Farrell to set the tone in defence with Campagnaro putting pressure on their midfield

Bench - Big carrying forwards throughout and talented, pacy backs to see us home

---

Leicester Tigers
Manager – Fluxy

01. Gethin Jenkins	09. Micky Young
02. Hika Elliott	10. Freddie Burns (k)
03. Brian Mujati
04. Samu Manoa	11. Sean Maitland
05. Pascal Pape	12. Francois Steyn
06. Don Armand (c)	13. Gael Fickou
07. Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe	14. Henry Purdy
08. Thomas Waldrom	15. Mike Brown

.
Subs: 16. Dave Ward 17. Mikheil Nariashvili 18. Ricardo Brugnara 19. Dominic Bird 20. Liam Messam 21. Antoine Dupont 22. Kurtley Beale 23. Ben Teo'o

In reasonable conditions we will be looking to play a possession based game, going through the phases and continually shifting the point of attack. With it being slightly damp however we won't take chances with offloading in our half, but will make ground carrying close to the ruck and recycling quickly. Burns will take the ball to the line and tempt someone to rush out of the line, creating holes for our back line to exploit

In defence, as always we will be running a blitz defence. Our focus will be on the gainline collisions and driving back in the tackle. Line speed and no dog-legs will be key components for us. Young will sweep in behind the defensive line to counter any chips/grubbers.

Specifics 

• Line-out: Nothing flash. Hit our front and middle jumpers and ensure that we secure our ball. We will also mix it up, shortening the line-out and using our back row as crash ball options off the top. On Falcons ball put pressure on through Pape and Armand, who are athletic line-out jumpers. 
  
• Scrum: Get low and underneath their props and drive straight. Really test their props technical abilities rather than get in to a battle of strength.
  
• Breakdown: When we carry in, we will flood the breakdown rucking well past the ball to free it up quickly and go again. In defence, if we have made a passive tackle and the carrier has momentum we will not over commit, but will maintain a strong defensive line. If we win the collision and knock the carrier back we will look to get the second man in hard over the ball to slow up momentum, or turn over possession. Key for us is being selective.
  
• Attacking Play: We will be looking to play a fast offloading game, with the ball shifted on to the support runner just prior to the point of the tackle with the defender already committed. We will also utilise the pick and go, meaning their defensive line cannot blitz efficiently. We will then we will look to exploit the delay in their blitz that results. We will then look to shift the direction of play and pull their defenders out of position to create gaps. Young to also look to snipe around the fringes and keep us going forwards all the time.  
  
• Tactical Kicking:  If we kick, we will look to kick in behind their wingers and get them on the turn going back towards their own line, with our wingers on the kick chase to really target them defensively. Burns and Steyn can take the ball to the line and kick in behind the defense, to get our wingers either on the end of the grubber, or pin back Wasps. 
  
  

Tigers Attributes
Defensive Traits

• Blitz Defence: Your side is known for Blitz and excels at it
  
• Breakdown - Slowing up ball: The defenders can get over the ball to slow it up and prevent the attack from building momentum and allowing your defence to set. 
  

Attacking Traits

• Offloading in the tackle: Moving the point of attack preventing a defence to set and keeping play fluid.
  
• Breakdown - Clearing: Ensuring the possession is clean and quick with quick support to the breakdown
  

---

Just working on results for this weekend and will update this thread just afterwards.

Bristol Team
Manager: CJ

01. Loni Uhila	09. Kahn Fotuali'i
02. Rob Buchanan	10. Jimmy Gopperth (k)
03. Mike Ross
04. Sam Carter	11. Craig Gilroy
05. Luke Charteris	12. Piers Francis
06. Chris Robshaw	13. Duncan Taylor
07. Josh Van Der Flier	14. Jesse Mogg
08. Victor Vito (c)	15. Chris Pennell

:-
16. David Kilcoyne 17. Richardt Strauss 18. Tom West 19. Kearnan Myall 20 Carl Fearns 21. Ben Spencer 22. Rhys Patchell  23. Rene Ranger

Attributes:
Attacking:
1) Breakdown - Clearing: Ensuring the possession is clean and quick with quick support to the breakdown
2)  Phase Attack: Attacks build momentum until an opportunity arises.
Defending:
1) Breakdown - Slowing up ball: The defenders can get over the ball to slow it up and prevent the attack from building momentum and allowing your defence to set.
2) Breakdown - Organised Ruck defence: with guards and body guards set, allowing the rest of the line to set off them.

Tactics:

We will approach as a unit, working in small groups to hit rucks with impact to get over the ball fast and clear out, using our twin fetching flankers to ensure we have a strong breakdown player at every ruck and shadow the ball. I

In defence, we will commit minimal numbers, with a select few slowing the ball to neuter the Wasps attack and encourage them to kick the ball back

Attack:

Using and building up quick ball we will use our twin playmakers to build up strings of incessant phases, changing the focus and direction of attack with our back 3 coming off their wings and Taylor running creative lines.

We will also look to target the fringes with the in form attacking Fotuali'i and Gopperth attacking the line and use 1-2 pass phases off them with our big carriers.

Plan B will see us keeping things simple and playing supported pick and drives around the corner with units and sniping at 9, to draw the defence in and then spinning wide and using Gopperth to quickly get the ball out to space we will have created out wide by sucking in defenders around the fringes

If plan A+B struggles, plan C is to to kick through to our own kick chase with Spencer and Patchell on the bench to facilitate this plan


Defence:

Our basic structure is a blitz led by Taylor with Fotuali'i sweeping, but emphasis on tight fringe defence and aggressive pushing up on the halfbacks around the corner, Der Flier especially looking when he is free to pressurise Evans for a chargedown/TO.

We have also noted Wasps' tactic of kick chasing this season, picking players with fullback credentials on the wings to mark them in the air and make their strength a weakness.


Set Piece:

We will look to get the ball out quickly on our own put in and run moves off Vito.

The lineout we will keep changing with multiple good options and a mix of mauling and plays off the top. In defence, we will counter the maul on the ground led by Charteris

Other:

No loose kicking, with every one chased and aiming to kick into space around and behind their back 3 not down their throats.
Press for penalties in their 22, willing to risk the referee's decision
Some recent aimless kicks from Evans – run them back


EDIT: cut down tactics to fit word limit, hope that's ok

Bath Rugby
Manager – CJB

01. Eddy Ben Arous	09. Richard Wigglesworth
02. Rory Best	10. Finn Russell
03. Samson Lee
04. Will Skelton	11. Liam Williams
05. Graham Kitchener	12. Sam Hill
06. Dan Lydiate	13. Jonathan Davies
07. Justin Tipuric	14. Christian Wade
08. Toby Falateu	15. Alex Goode

16. Ellis Genge 17. Mikey Haywood 18. Nepo Laulala 19. Charlie Ewers 20. Arno Botha 21. Tawera Kerr Barlow 22. George Moala 23. Lolagi Visnia

Attributes:
First phase attack/strike moves: Will look to break the defence, with either a bust through or a clever move to create a gap.
Breakdown - Clearing: Ensuring the possession is clean and quick with quick support to the breakdown
Blitz Defence: Your side is known for Blitz and excels at it
Breakdown - Turnover possession: Your side is recognised to pick off turnovers at the breakdown, by getting the ball and gaining the penalty. 

Overall: We are gonna be looking to play front foot rugby and put Worcester under immense pressure with our energy. Look for big carries to create space and break the defense. Attack the set piece where we expect to be dominant and finish strongly off the bench 

Scrum: Use the set piece to get quick ball to restart our play. Skelton really gives our scrum extra power while look for Lee to get on top of Dickinson. Falateu will look to attack off the quick ball he gets.

Lineout: We will look to switch up the lineup with Falateu, Skelton and Kitchener options in the lineout. Kitchener will run the line out. Look to get up into the air quickly and down for a quick maul. We think we can dominate here against a poor set of jumpers. Skelton will vary the throw by offering a quick ball option at the front. 

Breakdown: Look to generate quick ball for our backs to take advantage of. Tipuric is brilliant at the breakdown and we will also look to get the rest of the pack looking to help and clear out. 

Defence: Run a blitz defence. Wigglesworth to drift behind expecting kicks.

Attack: Our half backs will control our rugby. Wiggles will set the tempoand play what he sees in front of him. Outside of him, Russell will play flat and use his creativity to bring in the back line and make plays. He will be given a freedom to be creative. Look to bring in the rest of the back line, especially JD2 who we would like to get running at defenders. Williams and Wade are very skilful and if the ball gets to them will look to draw in defenders. The pack will also be involved when we have the ball for a prolonged period. We have strong carriers who excel in the loose. Look to get the ball in the hands of EBA, Lee and Falateu in order to break the line and make yards. Look to play with a high tempo and get the ball moving across the back line. Exploit the holes we create and look to tire out Warriors which can help nullify their offensive threats. 

Kicking: Russell will be our chosen place kicker. We will chuck in the occasional grabber to chase. Russell, Wigglesworth, Williams and Goode all have the boots necessary to try and put us in a good position territorially if need. 

Substitutes: Keep a high tempo with all our internationals off the bench.

Away with clients in Ireland this week, so not sure what my internet access will be like! So will get the team in early.

1. Mako Vunipola
2. Dylan Hartley
3. Jake Cooper-Wooley
4. Joe Launchbury (c)
5. Vaea Fifita
6. Schalk Burger
7. Jack Lam
8. Billy Vunipola
9. Conor Murray
10. George Ford
11. Rieko Ioane
12. Weslie Fofana
13. Elliot Daly
14. Adam Ashley Cooper
15. Leigh Halfpenny (k)

Replacements:
16. Schalk Brits 17. Logi Mulipola 18. Zander Fagerson 19. Jonny Gray 20. James Davies 21. Joe Simpson 22. Harry Mallinder 23. Manu Tuilagi

Should be able to do the sheet next week. Got net briefly now

Team announcement at 5pmish

Exeter Chiefs 
         
Manager – Fluxy

01. Jefferson Poirot	09. Sam Hidalgo-Clyne
02. Tom Youngs	10. Alex Lozowski (k)
03. Ben Tameifuna
04. Courtney Lawes	11. Chris Ashton
05. James Horwill (c)	12. Stuart McCloskey
06. Elliott Dixon	13. Sam James
07. Marcell Coetzee	14. JP Pietersen
08. Sergio Parisse	15. James Lowe

_
16. Jack Yeandle 17. Thomas Domingo 18. Kyle Sinckler 19. Jake Ball 20. Teimana Harrison 21. Chris Cook 22. Colin Slade 23. Melani Nanai

LONDON WASPS TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT

London Wasps look too continue there unbeaten start too the season at home too Bristol.

LONDON WASPS
         
Manager – Driver

01. Joe Marler	09. Sebastian Tillous Borde
02. Bismark Du Plessie	10. Nick Evans (c) (k)
03. Frans Malherbe
04. RG Synman	11. Bryan Habana
05. Sebastian Vahaamahina	12. Brad Barritt
06. Tom Wood	13. Luther Burrell
07. Sean O'Brian	14. Marlande Yarde
08. Louis Pickermoles	15. Anthony Watson

_
16. Harry Thacker 17.Ben Moon 18.Dave Wilson 19.Alun Wyn Jones 20.Nazeem Carr 21.Mitchell Drummound 22.Rhys Pristland 23.Henry Slade

Kick Chase: Organised kick and chase to attempt to regain possession.
Counter Attacking: Receiving the ball down field, your players will look to attack with ball in hand, thriving in the broken field and open spaces.

Breakdown - Turnover possession: Your side is recognised to pick off turnovers at the breakdown, by getting the ball and gaining the penalty.
Maul Defence: Legally can slow up a maul or stop them gaining headway.

TACTICS

We've gone for a balanced selection throughout our team with players complimenting there positions through a strong mixture of skills too fall into our tactical plan.

Our game plan is going too be based around attacking the space and using our kicking game too put us in the opposition half and exploit the spaces. We've picked a powerful front 5 as we'll look too keep the ball on the field and get a strong driving game going along with our powerful midfield.

We'll play mainly off 9 with Nick Evans dictating the tempo of the game through playing flat too inject pace at times when it's needed and testing the opposition through change in direction, passes round the back and chips over the top and grubbers. STB will look too tap and go in the opposition half and keep us rolling.

At the lineout we're well aware of the threats Luke Charteris brings too the table and too counter him we've worked into our game a shortened lineout too secure quick ball along with a quick 1-2 between the front man and hooker.

The lineout in the opposition half will be cruicial as we've got a strong mauling pack and will look too get that moving on the 22 and past it as well as splitting into a second drive following it too generate quick ball for our backs too hit the spaces fast and hard.

Too counter the Bristol strength of slowing the ball, we'll look too Pickermoles , BDP , SOB , Barritt and Burrell too get our offloading game going and get behind the line and not allow them the time too reorganize.

We've given Anthony Watson free reign too find his own space in attack and break out a bit and look for one on ones with weak links in the defense.

Newcastle Falcons
Manager – Bambam

01. Matt Mullan	09. Rhys Webb
02. Jamie George	10. Owen Farrell
03. Davit Kubriashvili
04. Matt Symons	11. David Strettle
05. Flip Van Der Merwe	12. Scott Williams
06. David Ewers	13. Michele Campagnaro
07. Chris Henry	14. Luke Morahan
08. Jack O'Donaghue	15. Charles Piutau

:-
16.Camille Chat 17.Alec Hepburn 18. Owen Hills 19.Luke Jones 20. Ellis Jenkins 21. Greig Laidlaw 22. Paddy Jackson  23. Rob Miller

Attributes
Counter Attacking: Receiving the ball down field, your players will look to attack with ball in hand, thriving in the broken field and open spaces.
Phase Attack: Attacks build momentum until an opportunity arises.
Breakdown - Slowing up ball: The defenders can get over the ball to slow it up and prevent the attack from building momentum and allowing your defence to set.
Blitz Defence: Your side is known for Blitz and excels at it


Game plan - Use the big pack to really put their front 5 under pressure,. Compete hard for the ball at the ruck to get on top, and challenge their half back combo we think they can be targeted with Burns particularly in for a lot of tackling to put him off his game. Target the positional sense of their back 3, with the wings in particular the target for kicks in behind

Set piece - Look to really put their props under maximum pressure with Mullan and Kubs, we've got a great scrummaging lock pairing to help. If no weakness, use as restart. We'll target Jenkins here with Ewers packing down behind Kubs to put the pressure on. Flip to call lineout, mark their second rows and force long throws. On our ball, use the back row options to mix it up. Neither of their second rows is a true caller, see how they do with Flip pressuring them

Breakdown - Henry, Ewers and George to lead the way on turnovers. Others focus on strong clear outs and maintaining a strong defensive line. . On our ball, smash them off the ball, use pod system to ensure support if they are having success. Henry is charged with keeping Lobbe off our ball, and target turnovers if one of their carriers gets isolated

Kicking - Piutau to offer options outside Farrell. Kick in behind the wings for territory, aim for space not the man. Challenge wings positioning, Piutau/Morahan free to drop back for the counter off their kicks

Attack - Webb to run our attack and set the tempo, constantly change the point of attack and get Farrell quick ball.. Challenge Burns defensively with Campaganaro cutting in running hard lines at his channels with Piutau coming into the line. Big carrying forwards to set a platform, run at 10/12 all day long to put them on the back foot off first phase, see how they handle it.

Defence - no weak links in the backline, use the blitz defence to put them on the back foot, Farrell to set the tone in defence with Campagnaro putting pressure on their midfield

Bench - Big carrying forwards throughout and talented, pacy backs to see us home

Sale Sharks
Manager – SJE

01. Jack McGrath	09. Danny Care
02. Tommy Taylor	10. Johnny Sexton
03. Davit Zirakishvilli
04. Maro Itoje	11. Nemani Nadolo
05. Iain Henderson	12. Kyle Eastmond
06. CJ Stander	13. Charlie Ngatai
07. Matt Kvesic	14. Ruan Combrinck
08. Duane Vermulean	15. Willie Le Roux

Subs:
16. Benjamin Kayser 17. Ross Harrison 18. Rabah Slimani 19. Dave Attwood 20. Peter O'Mahony 21. Kieran Marmion 22. Curwin Bosch 23. Nick Abendanon

Attributes:
Phase Attack: Attacks build momentum until an opportunity arises.
Breakdown - Clearing: Ensuring the possession is clean and quick with quick support to the breakdown.

Blitz Defence: Your side is known for Blitz and excels at it.
Breakdown - Slowing up ball: The defenders can get over the ball to slow it up and prevent the attack from building momentum and allowing your defence to set.  

Attack: We will be playing an expansive, high intensity phased attacking game. Look to use a rugby league shape with runners on the gain line and out the back door to force the opposition into making defensive decisions. Numerous playmakers across the back line allows us to constantly change the point of attack and restructure our attacking phases. Care to keep the fringe defence honest with his snipping runs.

Breakdown: Quick ball is the aim on attack. Mobile pack and physical back line to clear out rucks and ensure we get it. We will look to get over the gain line off all carries to give a target to hit. Defensively when the initial contact is won we will look to commit numbers and get over the ball turning it over or at least slowing opposition ball up. Otherwise we will strengthen the line.

Defence: Straight line blitz defence focused on winning the gain line collisions and driving the ball carrier back. Line speed is crucial. Kvesic will look to defend on Eastmond's shoulder specifically looking to stop offloads and get over the ball at the breakdown. Care will sweep behind the line to cover chips and grubbers. Zebo & Le Roux to cover the background dropping deep to cut off the green grass available to kick into.

Scrum: Strong scrummaging unit in the front row with the support of a powerful 4-8 will look to get the better of the opposition and build a strong attacking platform. We will look to put a slight wheel on where possible to take the opposition backrow out of play and then attack the space available and look for one on ones in the backline.

Lineout: Five mobile, athletic jumpers allows us to genuinely mix it up on attacking ball. Primarily looking to get the backs on the ball in space. Defensively Retalick to get up in the air at the front and challenge on opposition ball looking to make it as messy as possible.

Saracens
Manager – Pooly

01. Dylan Smith	09. Morgan Parra
02. Guilhem Guirado	10. Pat Lambie
03. Dan Cole
04. Ed Slater	11. George North
05. Geoff Parling	12. Rohan Janse van Rensburg
06. James Haskell	13. Conrad Smith
07. John Hardie	14. Telusa Veainu.
08. Nathan Hughes	15. Stuart Hogg

:-
16. Richard Hibbard 17. Alex Waller 18. Paul Hill 19. Brad Davies 20. Will Fraser 21. Lee Dickson 22. Ollie Devoto 23. Teddy Thomas

Tactics:

Defensive:

Blitz Defence - Get in the face of the opposition and allow them very little time on the ball.

Breakdown - Turnover possession: Your side is recognised to pick off turnovers at the breakdown, by getting the ball and gaining the penalty

Attacking:

Territorial Kicking: Looking to pin back sides and kick for open spaces or touch

Offloading in the tackle: Moving the point of attack preventing a defence to set and keeping play fluid

TARGET BREAKDOWN - Look for turnover or slowing down ball with numerous options in Cole, Guirado, Hardie, Haskell and Hughes.

TARGET SCRUM AND LINEOUT - Look to put pressure on Saints lineout with no leader and few options in the pack. If getting on top look to target corners and contest. Target scrum, especially JCW.

BIG RUNNERS AT DALY - big runners down Daly's channel and target his weak defence.

General - We'll be playing a structured physical game from the off, look to get at the opposition and target the breakdown. We'll look to tie the opposition in and then get at their backline, more so in their half. Look to keep it tight in the forward pack and grind through work. Looking to bring in the opposition pack and then use big carrying options to punch holes through their defence. Look to control the tempo and areas we play with kicking options at halfback.

Scrum - Look to get a platform from the off with a strong scrummaging unit. Strong front 5 with big locks will look for the big push once the ball is in and drive the opposition back. Our TH and Hooker will look to target LH and try to get between him and Hooker to allow LH to work on TH If no weakness seen will use as restart.

Line out – Look for safe ball with world class line out options and experience. Will allow SH good clean ball and have big carriers running off the 9 at angles. Look to target opposition throw and put pressure on the hooker.

Defence - Blitz defence with high intensity and big hits, looking to drive past the ball player if the ball hits the deck. physical pack that can look to get at the collision and breakdown allowing a chance to slow down/steal ball. Put pressure on SH's basics and force him into errors. Scrum half to sweep behind the defensive line.

Attack - Keep things simple in our own half then look to unleash backs in opp 22 territory. Scrum half to dictate play from the breakdown and runners on his shoulder. Huge carrying pack to get us over the gain line after front 5 set a platform. Midfield to run angles off the 9/10, allowing us gain line breakers. Look to keep opposition guessing with clever lines through midfield. Wingers will look to track the midfield combo.

I've not seen any Int sides, can somebody check if my team is ok when they're out pls

Harlequins
Manager – Steven_Sharks

01. Cian Healy	09. Ben Youngs
02. Scott Baldwin	10. Ihaia West
03. Kieran Brookes
04. Ultan Dillane	11. Jack Nowell
05. George Kruis	12. Robbie Henshaw
06. Jack Clifford	13. Jonathan Joseph
07. Steffon Armitage	14. Yoann Huget
08. Mamuka Gorgodze (c)	15. Damian McKenzie (k)

16. Rob Webber 17. Richard Barrington 18. Tadhg Furlong 19. Lukhan Tui 20. Damien Chouly 21. Ruan Pienaar 22. Steven Myler 23. Bundee Aki

Attributes

Phase Attack - Attacks build momentum until an opportunity arises. 

Counter Attack - Receiving the ball down field, your players will look to attack with ball in hand, thriving in the broken field and open spaces. 

Breakdown (Turnover Possession) -  Your side is recognised to pick off turnovers at the breakdown, by getting the ball and gaining the penalty

Chop Tackle: Tacklers look to get low and chop down attackers before gaining momentum or metres over the gain line. 

Game Plan

• Play at pace - look to use the pace in our pack line and mobility of our pack to play at a high tempo, especially when we have front foot ball and get over the gain line. Youngs to zip about at 9 with runner coming off him as well as West and Henshaw standing flat.
  

• Switching the Point of attack - Look to use McKenzie as a first receiver to keep the Exeter defence on its toes and vary our play. Looking to set up as wedge move using big forwards as a hard running option and our back line as the out the back option to spread the ball wide

• Aggression in contact - Look to hit the contact with support to allow for a quick ruck or an offload before or out of contact to keep our attack flowing. Keep legs driving after collision to get over gain line and make it an easier ruck for us to clear out

• Drift Defence - Look to play a drift defence using the pace and mobility in our side. We will go up and out and use the chop tackle to take the attacker down and get Armitage or Cllifford over the ball.

1. Dickinson
2. Batty
3. Nel
4. Nakarawa
5. Toner
6. Wray
7. Warburton (c)
8. Morgan
9. Davies
10. Biggar (k)
11. Thompstone
12. Roberts
13. Jones
14. Petersen
15. Dulin

16. Owens 17. Ruskin 18. Thomas 19. Maestri 20. Smith 21. Harrison 22. Plisson 23. Tait

Season's Attributes-
Offloading in the Tackle
Breakdown (Turnovers)
Blitz Defence
Choke Tackle

-We will play a controlled game with the conditions, not looking to overly use the offloading-only when on. Biggar will look for territory with Nakawara and Toner able to put a lot of pressure on the Bath ball.
-Big carriers up front looking to offload where possible although being mindful of the weather and we will have support runners on their shoulders,,
-Back row looking to be balanced with carrying, tackling and Warburton bringing the turnover attribute,
-We know how balanced the Bath back row is so we will look to either shift the ball one player further away or to 'leech' and throw the player into the tackle this should negate Lydiate's tackling and Tips' turnover prowess,
-In these conditions the breakdown will be scrappy and the first man there will look to go for the ball using our turnover attribute. If it is obviously lost we will fan out. If Bath undercommit we will look to drive through them for the turnover,
-Look to not commit too much to their breakdown if the ball is lost and use blitz defence led by Roberts allowing the chance to apply the choke tackle to stop Bath playing a quick tempo game,
-Backs to play what is in front of them, runners off Roberts and Jones (who is in tremendous form), we will use Dulin as a strike runner and know the pace of our back three to put pressure with quick ball,
-When nothing is on Biggar will go for territory and also use  his 'bombs' to challenge and turn their backlline,
-We will use Dulin to come into the line and switch things up to keep Bath guessing and allow Roberts the chance to hit from deep at times and not be predictable.
-Take all kickable penalties.

Don't think petersen is In Sa squad?

by anonmattyt on Thu Sep 08, 2016 2:55 am
1 Evans
2. LCD
3. Antonio
4 Gray
5 Stooke
6 Moriarty
7 Salvi
8 Heaslip
9 Robson
10 Carter
11 May
12 Toomua
13 Scott
14 Naiyararo
15 Sam DAVIES
16 ousthuizen
17 Gray
18 Figallo
19 Croft
20 Dickinson
21 Hermanus ( Scrum Half)
22 Cipriani
23 Walker

build momentum until an opportunity arises.

Counter Attack - Receiving the ball down field, your players will look to attack with ball in hand, thriving in the broken field and open spaces.

Breakdown (Turnover Possession) - Your side is recognised to pick off turnovers at the breakdown, by getting the ball and gaining the penalty


Choke tackle : Tacklers look where possible to hold the opposition op
And force the turnover


Our game plan will be based around controlling possession when we have the ball outside our own 10m line. We will look to build phases and use the likes of moriarty, Heaslip, gray, etc to get us across the gain line so we can play with quick ball.

we will look for Robson Carter and Toomua to control the tempo of the game.

Off static ball we will look to truck
It up or kick for space.

When we generate quick ball we will look to utilise our extreme gas out wide
And create one on ones.

Having ball players in 9, 10, 12 means we are able
To slot in on any turnover and counter attack
At pace.

We are looking to create space for our outside backs with Scott and our back three looking to exploit the space outwide. We will use Toomua as a first receiver when we need to change things up.

In our own half when kicking we will use the boots of Robson, Carter and Toomua to gain territory, looking to kick to touch so we can use our line out to steal possession and pressure the Sale line out.



In defence And with such a physical pack we will be using the choke tackle to slow down and turnover ball. When it gets to deck we will look to attack the breakdown with the first man there looking to win the penalty or the turnover.

We will look to use the up then out drift defence on the call of the scrum half or full back as in conditions like
This it's harder to use as the ball player has more time on the ball.

Leicester Tigers Director of Rugby Fluxy has named his 23 that will travel to Kingston Park, still looking for their first win of the season. He made minimal changes to his 23, with Pascal Pape taking Dominic Bird's starting berth from last week, with Bird dropping to bench. In the backs, Drew Mitchell cannot get a spot in the squad, as the man from the bench with two tries in two games, Henry Purdy starts on the wing. The last remaining bench pot has been given to big centre Ben Teo'o, who will be keen to make a big impression from the bench. 


Leicester Tigers
Manager – Fluxy

01. Gethin Jenkins	09. Micky Young
02. Hika Elliott	10. Freddie Burns (k)
03. Brian Mujati
04. Samu Manoa	11. Sean Maitland
05. Pascal Pape	12. Francois Steyn
06. Don Armand (c)	13. Gael Fickou
07. Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe	14. Henry Purdy
08. Thomas Waldrom	15. Mike Brown

.
Subs: 16. Dave Ward 17. Mikheil Nariashvili 18. Ricardo Brugnara 19. Dominic Bird 20. Liam Messam 21. Antoine Dupont 22. Kurtley Beale 23. Ben Teo'o

Todd called up so smith on bench. Tactics will be in tonight or tomorrow morning depending on travel time from London.

Going to do the tactics tomorrow and update page by around 0930. So get them in!

mine'll be soon

01. Mako Vunipola	09. Conor Murray
02. Dylan Hartley	10. George Ford
03. Jake Cooper-Wooley
04. Joe Launchbury(c)	11. Rieko Ioana
05.Vaea Fifita	12. Weslie Fofana
06. Schalk Burger	13. Elliot Daly
07. Jack Lam	14. Adam Ashley Cooper
08. Billy Vunipola	15. Leigh Halfpenny(k)

_
16. Schalk Brits 17. Logi Mulipola 18. Zander Fagerson 19. Jonny Gray 20. James Davies 21. Joe Simpson 22. Harry Mallinder 23. Manu Tuilagi

Attributes:
Breakdown - Clearing: Ensuring the possession is clean and quick with quick support to the breakdown
First phase attack/strike moves: Will look to break the defence, with either a bust through or a clever move to create a gap.

Blitz Defence: Your side is known for Blitz and excels at it
Breakdown - Turnover possession: Your side is recognised to pick off turnovers at the breakdown, by getting the ball and gaining the penalty.

Tactics
A good time to take on Sarries during the RC, we are going to play the game at a high intensity, bringing our big ball carriers into the game early and over the gain-line. We want to get the ball into the hands of our form forwards - BV, Mako, Launchbury and Burger - so they can stamp their influence on the game.

We want to make the most of the good conditions to keep the ball in play and attack Sarries with our power runners and then exploit any space outwide, constantly looking to test the Sarries defensive line and tire them with their work in defence.

Set Piece
Base our attacking platform on a strong setpiece, with Hartley's darts being key at the lineout, with the option of four jumpers to secure good attacking ball. We've opted to select Fifita as a more dynamic jumping option to occupy Parling, with Lam providing a good option for quick ball from the back of the lineout. Use the scrum to launch BV at the Sarries no10.

Gain-line/Physical Battle
We've picked a big, abrasive pack, that has a lot of strong ball carriers and we will work through our phases and build pressure on the Sarries defence. We will send power runner after power runner into the Sarries defensive line, getting ourselves over the gain-line and creating space for our strike moves in the backs. Our backrow has been picked as a tough tackling unit, to get in the faces of our opposition and stop Saracens getting gain-line success with their pack, as we feel Parling and Slater can be got at, as they lack real physicality.

Breakdown
See attributes

Attack
Everything goes through Ford, with Sarries blitz attack we'll be looking to use the inside pass to big forwards and hit the inside shoulders of the rush defence, we'll use this to get gain-line success, but also to ensure the Sarries defence has to think its blitz, so on other phases we use Ford's passing game to bring in our strike runners in the backline, but importantly get Daly attacking Smith's outside shoulder with his pace.

Defence
Blitz defence, with Murray sweeping behind the defensive line. Again really looking to pressure the Sarries 10-12-13 combination, forcing mistakes and errors from a new combination. We see two major threats with Sarries (i) Hughes, so will ensure we chop him down, or double up in the tackle as if we stop him then Sarries do not have many gain-line breakers and (ii) North, we've gone with AAC to marshall him out of the game and limit his threat.

We'll also look to use Murray, Ford, Daly and Halfpenny's boots to get us out of our 22 when needed and use this to ensure we win the tactical kicking battle.

Bench
Selected for its impact and means up upping the tempo in the final quarter, espc after Sarries have had to deal with our power game, so the aim is to wear them out and then speed up the game with the speed/power our bench offers.

Points
Halfpenny boot vital in away games, with Daly taking on kicks from 55m - keep the scoreboard ticking over - Halfpenny guarantees 15 points per game.

Morning lads, all the sides are in, only missing tactics from Bam. If he gets them in before I receive a prediction, I will include.

Otherwise predictions open - and to me please.

Tactics added

I've also put a different prop on the bench as Koch is named in the SA side

No worries, will amend

Maybe will be slightly late predicting but will to do it in time.

Habana is ineligible for Wasps

Doing predos this morning if still ok?

Is there a ruling on Habana? As a few teams have put in players who have been in RC match day squads this season already and seems a bit unfair if Driver has to play with 22 players and no replacement? I know last year it was a drop to 22 in match day squad, plus a league fine in points. Are we putting in another player for him?

Haven't noticed any other sides with ineligible players

It's a point deduction as per the league rules on the homepage. 

Chris, if there have been other cases, I would like to be shown them, via PM please.

I'll take the one point deduction as a punishment for my own mistake here.

I'm not sure that we've had any others used this season, i don't think its something worth investigating as it is something too remember when picking our teams in future.

Sorry, was just looking for clarification on how we predo on Driver's team e.g. do we include Habana or whether he is replaced in the match day lineup. Fluxy has explained it, so all good there.

Results

Sale Sharks - 29
(T: Nadolo, McGrath, Combrinck C: Sexton [x1] P: Sexton [x3])  
Gloucester Rugby - 24
(T: Oosthuizen, Carter C: Carter [x2] P: Carter [x4])  

Bath Rugby - 29
(T: Wigglesworth, Kitchener, Kerr Barlow C: Russell [x1] P: Russell [x3])  
Worcester Warriors - 24
(T: Moragn, Tait C: Biggar [x2] P: Biggar [x3] DG: Biggar [x1]) 

Exeter Chiefs - 26
(T: McCloskey, T Youngs C: Lozowski [x2] P: Lozowski [x4])  
Harlequins - 28
(T: Gorgdoze, Pienaar, Healy C: McKenzie [x2] P: McKenzie [x3])  

Saracens - 27
(T: Hardie, Hogg, Smith C: Lambie [x3] P: Lambie [x2])  
Northampton Saints - 27
(T: Murray, Hartley, Launchbury C: Halfpenny [x3] P: Halfpenny [x1] DG: Ford [x1])  

Wasps - 25*
(T: RG Snyman, Moon P: Evans [x5])  
Bristol Rugby - 25
(T: Gilroy, Strauss, Spencer C: Gopperth [x2] P: Gopperth [x2])  

Newcastle Falcons - 31
(T: Symons, O'Donaghue, Miller, Hepburn C: Farrell [x4] P: Farrell [x1])  
Leicester Tigers - 26
(T: Waldrom, Teo'o, Fickou C: Burns [x1] P: Burns [x3])  

Full Bonus: Steve, Bam, Chris, Pooly, CJ
Scores: CJB, Fluxy, Matt, Prop, SJE
No Bonus: Driver

I will update scorers and tables later, got something else to issue in the meantime... 

I'm getting closer to stealing a win!

Sale 25 - 23 Gloucester
Much prefer the balance of the Sale pack and as individuals they are stronger than Gloucester in most positions. Backs much more evenly balanced but not enough to trouble Sale's win.

Sale 29-25 Gloucester
Good upfront battle, the Sale props the better scrummagers but Gloucester arguably more around the park. Not sure that Stooke is at the Sale's pairing level so i'd have to give the engine room to the home side and a similar story in the backrow. Prefer the Gloucester halfbacks and one a piece in the centres. I like the Gloucester wings but Davies perhaps not at this level yet despite looking a prospect. 

Sale Sharks 25 - 22 Gloucester
Lineout options work really well for Sale, though Attwood's form at Bath definitely worth a starting spot. A few form issues for the home side, but playing Gloucester during RC is very good timing. Taylor playing very well for Wasps and if he continues to do that will solve a problem for Sale in having a top quality no2. Lot of power outwide and see them edging this. 

Sale Sharks 22 - 22 Gloucester Rugby

Sale Sharks 27 - 28 Gloucester Rugby

Sale Sharks 25 - 24 Gloucester Rugby

Sale 26 - 21 Gloucester
Sale strong even through this time of season, and they have a clear advantage in the tight 5 and the tight exchanges. Gloucester backrow has a lot of canniness and ability, but Sale helped out here by their second row too and with the extra help there are just so strong in the pack in all areas today. Note - tactics mention Retallick who is not playing. Quite different plans in the backs, high tempo lots of phases from Sale and more kicking and spinning wide from Gloucester, Sale have form issues 9-10-12 but the back 3 to punish any gaps, Gloucester have a well selected and in form 9-10-12 and pace outwide with more pace on the bench and lead the backs battle. Sale's immense pack wins it though

Sale 32 - 24 Gloucester
Gloucester always suffer a bit during the RC, and up against a pack with the quality that Sale can field, its tough to see an area where they can get on top away from home. Always makes a game difficult, and even though the backs are closer, Sale have the extra quality to go with their home advantage, and I think we'll see a bonus point win for the champions

Bath 27 - 24 Worcester
At home feel that Bath have enough to get a good win. They have a great, proven back row trio and a nice balance to the back line but Bath's strength really lies in their pack. Worcester are missing there RC players here and will benefit hugely when they return.

Bath 27-24 Worcester
Front 5 to the home side but they won't have things all their own way with a good Worcester outfit. Similar story in the backrow with Bath just that little stronger. Centres and back 3 to bath but Worcester's halfbacks will keep them in the game. 

Bath 33 - 31 Worcester
Really like the balance of the Bath team, they have a bit more power in the pack and their backrow is a great combination. With both backlines it will be a high scoring game, but a lot of danger with Wade and Goode in great form. 

Bath Rugby 25 - 22 Worcester Warriors

Bath Rugby 20 - 21 Worcester Warriors

Bath 22 - 21 Worcester
I guess the idea is that Wriggles acts like Laidlaw for Russell? Not sure about Bath lineout but the scrum is strong and the work across the pack and at the breakdown is good too. Still not sold on Lydiate. Worcester have a strong pack and can match the Bath scrum and have a slightly better backrow balance. Toner gives a lineout edge allowing Nakawara to focus on the loose. Warbs can get some turnovers and the Worcester team are well designed to make turnover ball count. Very effective backs. Bath have more ability to score in their backs, with Goode and Russell creating, the wingers offering different attacking traits and a very solid centre pairing. Tough call, Worcester would probably win at a neutral venue but I feel like Bath's attack just gives them a home win

Bath 24 - 21 Worcester Warriors
Really tough game to call, both sides well matched. Think Worcester have the edge at scrum time with Lee lacking a bit of form, but the Bath second row packs a lot of power in the tight. Back row probably just favours Bath with the Wales combo, think Wray/Morgan can be improved on. Wuss stronger at halfback, think Bath better throughout the outside backs though. At home, Bath win

Exeter 26-24 Harlequins
Healy's lack of form hinders Quins and gives Exeter an edge in the front row. Exeter with the stronger engine room but very tight backrow battle with some good players on show for both sides. Little in the halfbacks but Quins a class up in the centres, good wing contest that will go all the way. 

Exeter 25 - 25 Quins
Some form issues for the Quins props and Armitage not getting to see much of since his move to Pau. Chiefs have a very strong team and a no10 in top form, but can't see them getting a win. Need to see more of West at this level as haven't seen him play that much to rate. 

Exeter Chiefs 23 - 24 Harlequins

Exeter Chiefs 22 - 23 Harlequins

Exeter Chiefs 26 - 29 Harlequins

Chiefs 27 - 30 Harlequins
Quins take the scrum, love what the Chiefs' front row offer in the loose though. Not much at the lineout or in the backrow, really like the "loose 5" combos for both sides. Quins' probably have the better players 4-8 but certainly in the backrow I think Exeter's form is better and Dixon adds a lot to them this season. Both packs doing a lot ball in hand which I like. Like the impact off Chiefe bench, and think they can just about play territory whilst using a counter/offload focussed team. Maybe. Aside from the youth of West, the quality and all around skill set and assortment of attacking options in the Quins' backline is ridiculous though, and their attributes work so well - the backs work well off both turnover and couterattack ball but can also build momentum with phases that feels unassailable. With that in mind and good weather, Chiefs wait a bit longer for their first win, sorry

Exeter 23 - 26 Quins
Quins look to have the advantage throughout the front 5, and think they can really get a platform to push on. Exeter have a strong back row, but Coetzee will lose ratings soon with his long term injury, however they can match Quins here. Youngs quality shines in a young set of halfbacks for both sides, but Quins have the quality in the backs to take advantage of the front 5 platform and will take this on the road

Saracens 22 - 21 Saints 
Two well matched teams but the home side just edge the contest with a few more big name players and what appears to be less disruption to their strongest side. Lambie is not a great option as a 10 at the moment but the guys around him help him out. It's a narrow with with Saints pushing all the way but not enough to snatch the draw.

Saracens 20 - 21 Northampton Saints

Saracens 26 - 27 Northampton Saints

Saracen 25 - 26 Northampton Saints

Saracens 30 - 32 Saints
Good scrums on each side, Saints have more power across the pack. Saints reliant on the second row to help at the breakdown and with Sarries v strong there, it could be an area in which they struggle, but the clearing ability of Burger might be enough to hold their own ball. With Hughes not playing well and Haskell not playing and not especially strong carriers at lock, Sarries struggle in the carrying stakes, so we have an interesting situation of Saracens having better ball speed and turnover ball, but Saints getting more front foot ball and momentum from that. Not really sure how that plays out. Saracens focus on Daly and have a plan picked out well for conditions. Territory, structure and hitting the midfield the way forward, just would be better for Sarries if they had more inform power options, but they will make headway. Saints now have Ford in form and with those backs will create tries. They also use the power of their carriers well and steal the away win

Saracens 27 - 26 Saints
Great matchup here. Think Sarries have the advantage in the front 5 at set piece time, both props solid in the scrum, and with Parling's lineout nous they can attack Saints here, who lack a middle jumper and true caller imo. Saints pack as a whole has the advantage round the park for me, with the front 5 getting stuck in well. Ford's form gives Saints an edge at the halfback positions. Both outside backs good

Think Sarries defensive attributes are better suited, as I'm not sure Ford,Daly Fofana make the best midfield for a blitz defence, and can see Sarries taking advantage. Both sets of attacking attributes are a good fit for the sides. Think at home Sarries sneak it

Wasps 23 - 23 Bristol
Habana is ineligible and this impacts upon the balance of the Wasps side with no recognised winger on the bench and a reshuffle required. 
A close match which is very tough to call. Wasps have a functional side but I don't see where the tries come from aside from individual brilliance from the likes of Watson and Picamoles. Bristol are more capable of building phases and with Gopperth in superb form he can drive Bristol to a fine draw with both packs well matched.

Wasps 22-21 Bristol
A step up in quality in the Wasps front row although BdP is losing rating of late. Wasps the slightly stronger back 5 but again SOB has very little form of late. Very small advantage in the Wasps backs. Habana missing for Wasps makes things very tight a real close affair. 

Wasps 32 - 28 Bristol 
Some very big names coming into form for the home side, who have too many ball carriers to keep getting through the Bristol defence and seeing them crash over the gain-line to keep forward momentum. Though Bristol do now have the form no9 in the league and they are improving, but just a little under powered on the collisions.

Wasps 19 - 20 Bristol Rugby

Wasps 24 - 23 Bristol Rugby

Wasps 29 - 26 Bristol Rugby

Wasps 23 - 24 Bristol Rugby

Wasps 20 - 22 Bristol
Wasps look to be stronger in the front row, evens in 2nd row and Bristol take the back row. Halfbacks to Bristol, with both of their veterans looking good in recent weeks, albeit with Gopperth playing a bit of 12. Both midfields solid, Watson the class back on show. I'm penalising Wasps for Habana, I haven't noticed any other sides with ineligible players. Even without that, I think Bristol have the tactical set up to really pressure Wasps, and they may have won this one anyway

Newcastle 30 - 25 Leicester
Just don't see enough in the Leicester side to trouble a solid Newcastle at home. Half backs are the biggest game changer with the quality of Webb and Farrell standing out in a big way. Packs more balanced though Elliot and Mujati inparticular need some form asap. Comfortable Falcons win.

Falcons 25-24 Leicester
Falcons with a front advantage but the away side have the slightly stronger engine room and bring a bit more to the game. Not the best backrows on show but Tigers with a touch more quality give them a slight pack edge. Falcons stronger at halfback and similar in the centres with Steyn hard to rate. Close back 3 contest and this one will come down to the quality of Farrell's boot I'm afraid.

Newcastle 28 - 27 Leicester Tigers
Hardest game of the week to predict on. Can see the Falcons halfbacks giving a bit more control and game management, whilst the home sides fb will be a constant threat and arguably has been best back in Europe over the last 12 months. Would definitely start Teo'o ahead of Steyn, he was brilliant last week for Worcester before going off injured.

Newcastle Falcons 26 - 25 Leicester Tigers

Newcastle Falcons 28 - 27 Leicester Tigers

Newcastle Falcons 29 - 26 Leicester Tigers

Falcons 31 - 31 Tigers
Falcons have an edge at the scrum, but think Tigers take the lineout. Tigers also have a bit more at the breakdown today, though this is mediated by good Newcastle tactics and clarity thereof here. Some great defence and workrate and carrying in both packs, the Leicester backrow and George/Symonds standing out right now. Burns has found a vein of decent form but Farrell-Webb is just a better class combo than he and Young. Falcons lack a bit of flair in the midfield with Farrell better but still not an outright attacker at 10 and Williams good but not a trickster, but Campagnaro gives go-forward and Piutau the main spark in the backs, and I see they have planned to use that. Tigers' backs are looking better and better, with the wingers getting form (Maitland as predicted much better with Saracens in real life), Brown coming back as a highlight in a poor Quins side and a good centre pairing. The centres and back three do work with a shifting point of attack and Tigers will score a few. I think a high scoring draw