European Champions Cup

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Harlequins vs Wasps
Murrayfield Stadium
Thick Cloud, 11 degrees, 19mph Westerly Winds

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Harlequins
Manager – CJ

01. Joe Marler	09. Danny Care
02. Dane Coles	10. Marcus Smith (k)
03. Kyle Sinckler
04. James Horwill (c)	11. Tim Visser
05. Johnny Gray	12. Jamie Roberts
06. Chris Robshaw	13. Joe Marchant
07. Jack Clifford	14. Marlon Yarde
08. Renaldo Bothma	15. Mike Brown

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16. Mark Lambert 17. Dave Ward 18. Will Collier 19. George Merrick  20. Matt Luamanu 21. Charlie Mulchrone 22. Demetri Catrakalis  23. Francis Saili 

TACTICS

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Wasps
Manager - Pullthestrings

01. Matt Mullan	09. Joe Simpson
02. Ashley Johnson	10. Jimmy Gopperth (k)
03. Jake Cooper-Wooley
04. Joe Launchbury	11. Elliott Daly
05. Scott Barrett	12. Kyle Eastmond
06. James Haskell	13. Juan De Jongh
07. Sean O'Brien	14. Christian Wade
08. Nathan Hughes	15. Willie Le Roux

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16. Tom Cruse, 17. Simon McIntyre, 18. Paul Doran-Jones, 19. James Gaskell, 20. Thomas Young, 21. Dan Robson, 22. Danny Cipriani, 23. Gabiriele Lovobalavu

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Tactics
Attack:
- Mix up our lines of attack, sometimes with two lines with forwards as options
- Loose forwards to offer extra pair of hands in the backline when required
- Mix up forward runners off 9 and 10 to give go forward and tie in defence. When space opens up, go wide and utilise pace of back three.
Defence:
- Quick line speed, getting up to the 10 and putting pressure on.
- Only step out of the line for big hit opportunities.
Breakdown:
- Be disciplined at the breakdown and do not give away penalties in our half
- Compete for the turnover if it's on, even if it's only too slow down the ball
- If ruck is lost, don't compete and fan out in defence
Territory:
- Use box kicks from 9 and nudges from 10 out of hand to pin them back.
- Play rugby in their half and make them attack from deep
- Full back to marshall the back 3 and make sure our positioning is spot on for kick returns

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Northampton Saints vs ASM Clermont Auvergne
Principality Stadium
Thick Cloud, 11 degrees, 12mph Westerly Winds

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Northampton Saints
Manager: StNick

01. Campese Ma'afu	09. Nic Groom
02. Mikey Haywood	10. Steven Myler(k)
03. Paul Hill
04. David Ribbans	11. Tom Collins
05. Christian Day	12. Piers Francis
06. Jamie Gibson	13. Luther Burrell
07. Lewis Ludlam	14. Ken Pisi
08. Teimana Harrison	15. Ben Foden

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16. Dylan Hartley, 17. Jamal Ford-Robinson, 18. Kieran Brookes, 19. Api Ratuniyarawa, 20. Tom Wood, 21. Cobus Reinach, 22. Alex Goode, 23. George North

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ASM Clermont Auvgerne

01. Etienne Falgoux	09. Morgan Parra
02. Benjamin Kayser	10. Isaia Toeava
03. Rabah Slimani
04. Flip van der Merwe	11. Alivereti Raka
05. Sébastien Vahaamahina	12. Wesley Fofana
06. Peceli Yato	13. Damian Penaud
07. Alexandre Lapandry	14. David Strettle
08. Fritz Lee	15. Scott Spedding

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Replacements: 16 John Ulugia, 17 Raphael Chaume, 18 Aaron Jarvis, 19 Paul Jedrasiak, 20 Viktor Kolelishvili, 21 Charly Trussardi, 22 Peter Betham, 23 Nick Abendanon

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Ospreys vs Saracens
Stade Jean-Bouin

Thick Cloud, 9 degrees, 6mph Westerly Winds

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Ospreys

01. Nicky Smith	09. Thomas Habberfield
02. Scott Baldwin	10. Sam Davies
03. Dmitri Arhip
04. Bradley Davies	11. Jeff Hasler
05. Alun Wyn-Jones	12. Owen Watkin
06. Dan Lydiate	13. Keiron Fonotia
07. Justin Tipuric	14. Ben John
08. Olly Cracknell	15. Dan Evans

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Replacements: 16 Scott Otten, 17 Paul James, 18 Ma'afu Fia, 19 Adam Beard, 20 Rob McCusker, 21 Rhys Webb, 22 Dan Biggar, 23 Ashley Beck

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Saracens
Manager – Pooly

01. Richard Barrington	09. Ben Spencer
02. Christopher Tolofua	10. Alex Lozowski
03. Juan Figallo
04. Will Skelton	11. Chris Wyles
05. Nick Isiekwe	12. Brad Barritt
06. Michael Rhodes	13. Nick Tompkins
07. Callum Clark	14. Nathan Earle
08. Jackson Wray	15. Harry Maillinder

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16. Schalk Brits 17. Hayden Thompson-Stringer 18. Titi Lamositele 19. Dominic Day  20. Joe Conlon 21. Henry Taylor 22. Duncan Taylor 23. Rotimi Segun
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Tactics:

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Exeter Chiefs vs Montpellier
Kingspan Stadium
Thick Cloud, 12 degrees, 15mph South Westerly Winds

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Exeter Chiefs 
Manager – Fluxy

01. Alec Hepburn	09. Conor Murray
02. Luke Cowan-Dickie	10. Gareth Steenson (k)
03. Tomas Francis
04. Mitch Lees	11. Jack Nowell
05. Sam Whitelock	12. Henry Slade
06. Don Armand (c)	13. Ian Whitten
07. Matt Kvesic	14. James Short
08. Thomas Waldrom	15. Lachlan Turner

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16. Jack Yeandle, 17. Ben Moon, 18. Harry Williams, 19. Jonny Hill, 20. Sam Simmonds, 21. Nic White 22. Anthony Belleau, 23. Michele Campagnaro



Play in the standard Chiefs style of play, 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. 



- Use the set piece as a weapon to launch attacks, especially the maul, with the likes of Waldrom or Armand attached at the back. 

- Pick & goes - in twos and threes around the fringes, to starve Irish of possession and a great weapon of the Chiefs over the years. 

- Half-backs to dictate the game and play for territory. Steenson to also kick available points when on offer - to keep the scoreboard ticking over. 

- Slade to act as the second playmaker and look to spread the ball wide to back three when the space is available to attack, or to take pressure off Steenson on clearances.

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Montpellier

01. Grégory Fichten	09. Benoit Paillaugue
02. Romain Ruffenach	10. Aaron Cruden
03. Johannes Jonker
04. Nicholaas van Rensburg	11. Nemani Nadolo
05. Konstantine Mikautadze	12. Jan Serfontein
06. Kelian Galletier	13. Francois Steyn
07. Julian Bardy	14. Gabriel N'gandebe
08. Louis Picamoles	15. Jesse Mogg

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Replacements: 16 Bismarck du Plessis, 17 Mikheil Nariashvili, 18 Mohamed Haouas, 19 Julien Delannoy, 20 Fulgence Ouedraogo, 21 Enzo Sanga, 22 Henry Immelman, 23 Timoci Nagusa

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Castres Olympique vs Leicester Tigers
Liberty Stadium
Light Rain, 11 degrees, 13mph Westerly Winds

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Castres Olympique

01. Tudor Stroe	09. Rory Kockott
02. Marc-Antoine Rallier	10. Yohan Le Bourhis
03. Yohan Montes
04. Christophe Samson	11. Kylian Jaminet
05. Loic Jacquet	12. Florian Vialelle
06. Yannick Caballero	13. Robert Ebersohn
07. Steve Mafi	14. Afusipa Taumoepeau
08. Alex Tulou	15. Julien Caminati

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Replacements: 16 Kevin Firmin, 17 Mihaita Lazar, 18 Eric Sione, 19 Alexandre Bias, 20 Rodrigo Capo Ortega, 21 Yohan Domenech, 22 Benjamin Urdapilleta, 23 Thomas Combezou

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Leicester Tigers

01. Ellis Genge	09. Ben Youngs
02. Tom Youngs	10. George Ford
03. Dan Cole
04. Dominic Barrow	11. Jonny May
05. Graham Kitchener	12. Matt Toomua
06. Brad Shields	13. Manu Tuilagi
07. Brendon O'Connor	14. Adam Thompstone
08. CJ Stander	15. Telusa Veainu

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Subs: 16. Harry Thacker 17. Logovi'i Mulipola 18. Pat Cilliers 19. Harry Wells 20. Mike Williams 21. Sam Harrison 22. Joe Ford 23. Matt Tait
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Tactics:
- Solid set piece to set tone and provide solid platform
- Look to play high intensity rugby with a drift defence, not allowing for space for the opp
- Attack the breakdown when it's on with numerous option
- Physical pack to win collision and numerous carrying options to get us over the gain line
- Keep the intensity up with a strong bench
- Get Telusa Veainu into the game whenever possible, he's a match winner in these conditions

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Bath Rugby vs Scarlets
Stade Marcel Michelin
Thick Cloud, 8 degrees, 7mph Westerly Winds

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Bath Rugby
Manager – Driver

01. Beno Obano	09. Chris Cook
02. Nathan Charles	10. Rhys Priestland (k)
03. Henry Thomas
04. Dave Attwood	11. Aled Brew
05. Luke Charteris	12. Max Clark
06. James Phillips	13. Jonathan Joseph
07. Sam Underhill	14. Anthony Watson
08. Zac Mercer	15. Tom Homer

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16. Tom Dunn, 17. Nathan Catt, 18. Anthony Perenise, 19. Charlie Ewels, 20. Francois Louw, 21.Kahn Fotuali, 22. Freddie Burns, 23. Robbie Henshaw

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Scarlets

01. Rob Evans	09. Gareth Davies
02. Ken Owens (c)	10. Dan Jones
03. Werner Kruger
04. Steven Cummins	11. Steff Evans
05. David Bulbring	12. Scott Williams
06. Tadhg Beirne	13. Paul Asquith
07. James Davies	14. Johnny McNicholl
08. Will Boyde	15. Leigh Halfpenny

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Replacements: 16 Ryan Elias, 17 Wyn Jones, 18 Simon Gardiner, 19 Joshua Helps, 20 Joshua Macleod, 21 Aled Davies, 22 Hadleigh Parkes, 23 Steff Hughes

Exeter Chiefs 
Manager – Fluxy

01. Alec Hepburn	09. Conor Murray
02. Luke Cowan-Dickie	10. Gareth Steenson (k)
03. Tomas Francis
04. Mitch Lees	11. Jack Nowell
05. Sam Whitelock	12. Henry Slade
06. Don Armand (c)	13. Ian Whitten
07. Matt Kvesic	14. James Short
08. Thomas Waldrom	15. Lachlan Turner

. 
16. Jack Yeandle, 17. Ben Moon, 18. Harry Williams, 19. Jonny Hill, 20. Sam Simmonds, 21. Nic White 22. Anthony Belleau, 23. Michele Campagnaro

Play in the standard Chiefs style of play, 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. 

- Use the set piece as a weapon to launch attacks, especially the maul, with the likes of Waldrom or Armand attached at the back. 
- Pick & goes - in twos and threes around the fringes, to starve Irish of possession and a great weapon of the Chiefs over the years. 
- Half-backs to dictate the game and play for territory. Steenson to also kick available points when on offer - to keep the scoreboard ticking over. 
- Slade to act as the second playmaker and look to spread the ball wide to back three when the space is available to attack, or to take pressure off Steenson on clearances.

Harlequins
Manager – CJ

01. Joe Marler	09. Danny Care
02. Dane Coles	10. Marcus Smith (k)
03. Kyle Sinckler
04. James Horwill (c)	11. Tim Visser
05. Johnny Gray	12. Jamie Roberts
06. Chris Robshaw	13. Joe Marchant
07. Jack Clifford	14. Marlon Yarde
08. Renaldo Bothma	15. Mike Brown

:-
16. Mark Lambert 17. Dave Ward 18. Will Collier 19. George Merrick  20. Matt Luamanu 21. Charlie Mulchrone 22. Demetri Catrakalis  23. Francis Saili 


TACTICS

Northampton Saints
Manager: StNick

01. Campese Ma'afu	09. Nic Groom
02. Mikey Haywood	10. Steven Myler(k)
03. Paul Hill
04. David Ribbans	11. Tom Collins
05. Christian Day	12. Piers Francis
06. Jamie Gibson	13. Luther Burrell
07. Lewis Ludlam	14. Ken Pisi
08. Teimana Harrison	15. Ben Foden

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16. Dylan Hartley, 17. Jamal Ford-Robinson, 18. Kieran Brookes, 19. Api Ratuniyarawa, 20. Tom Wood, 21. Cobus Reinach, 22. Alex Goode, 23. George North

1.Ben Obana
2.Nathan Charles
3.Henry Thomas
4.Dave Attwood
5.Luke Charteris
6.James Phillips
7.Sam Underhill
8.Zac Mercer

9.Chris Cook
10.Rhys Priestland
11.Aled Brew
12.Max Clark
13.Johnathan Joseph
14.Anthony Watson
15.Tom Homer

Tom Dunn , Nathan Catt , Anthony Perenise , Charlie Ewels , Francois Louw , Kahn , Freddie Burns , Robbie Henshaw.

Saracens
Manager – Pooly

01. Richard Barrington	09. Ben Spencer
02. Christopher Tolofua	10. Alex Lozowski
03. Juan Figallo
04. Will Skelton	11. Chris Wyles
05. Nick Isiekwe	12. Brad Barritt
06. Michael Rhodes	13. Nick Tompkins
07. Callum Clark	14. Nathan Earle
08. Jackson Wray	15. Harry Maillinder

:-
16. Schalk Brits 17. Hayden Thompson-Stringer 18. Titi Lamositele 19. Dominic Day  20. Joe Conlon 21. Henry Taylor 22. Duncan Taylor 23. Rotimi Segun
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Tactics:

Wasps
Manager - Pullthestrings

01. Matt Mullan	09. Joe Simpson
02. Ashley Johnson	10. Jimmy Gopperth (k)
03. Jake Cooper-Wooley
04. Joe Launchbury	11. Elliott Daly
05. Scott Barrett	12. Kyle Eastmond
06. James Haskell	13. Juan De Jongh
07. Sean O'Brien	14. Christian Wade
08. Nathan Hughes	15. Willie Le Roux

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16. Tom Cruse, 17. Simon McIntyre, 18. Paul Doran-Jones, 19. James Gaskell, 20. Thomas Young, 21. Dan Robson, 22. Danny Cipriani, 23. Gabiriele Lovobalavu

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Tactics
Attack:
- Mix up our lines of attack, sometimes with two lines with forwards as options
- Loose forwards to offer extra pair of hands in the backline when required
- Mix up forward runners off 9 and 10 to give go forward and tie in defence. When space opens up, go wide and utilise pace of back three.
Defence:
- Quick line speed, getting up to the 10 and putting pressure on.
- Only step out of the line for big hit opportunities.
Breakdown:
- Be disciplined at the breakdown and do not give away penalties in our half
- Compete for the turnover if it's on, even if it's only too slow down the ball
- If ruck is lost, don't compete and fan out in defence
Territory:
- Use box kicks from 9 and nudges from 10 out of hand to pin them back.
- Play rugby in their half and make them attack from deep
- Full back to marshall the back 3 and make sure our positioning is spot on for kick returns

Harlequins 24 - 27 Wasps
Cracking game, really like what Pull has did with his pack and they give the backs a good platform. Not sure Smith will be able to get into the game on the back foot and the Wasps train keeps marching on. 

Harlequins 22 - 23 Wasps

Harlequins 25 - 26 Wasps
Two strong teams, looking to make the most of the european opportunity. I like the Wasps platform, not to say that Quins cannot provide that, but they do lack they same ball carrying that the Wasps bring to the game. A similar story in the back line, Care and Brown are in form, but the remaining quins back line, not exactly in form at the minute. Wasps likewise, but just a little more solid for me. A close game, but the reliable boot of Gopperth will see them edge it.

Northampton Saints 20 - 24 ASM Clermont Auvergne
One of the toughest games of the round. Saints up against it with a weaker lineup, scrum would get a bit of a hammering. 

Northampton Saints 21 - 21 ASM Clermont Auvergne
ASM remain a strong side in Europe but away from France they are beatable. Saints push them close but without tactics they don't quite have the class to win, so it's a draw. I think Saints not quite there with the tight 5 in this kind of game.

Northampton Saints 20 - 21 ASM Clermont Auvergne

Northampton Saints 23 - 24 ASM Clermont Auvergne

Northampton Saints 24 - 27 ASM Clermont Auvergne
Despite both being on the road, Clermont, going against French tradition will be strong, and take the game to saints. Northampton have rotated a bit and can see them struggling at times. A close game on the scoreboard, but not on paper.

Ospreys 20 - 26 Saracens
Ospreys are a mess recently, and Sarries remain very tough, equal on paper to Ospreys in every position at least even with this weakened side, and with that lapse in form and Sarries' group mentality, Sarries win, especially a step up in the backs.

Ospreys 25 - 26 Saracens

Ospreys 20 - 21 Saracens

Ospreys 22 - 28 Saracens
Sarries have been strong and look to take the game to Ospreys. Ospreys haven't been great, but have some firepower and won’t be complete pushovers. Saracens still get the win, but denied a bonus point.

Exeter Chiefs 27 - 25 Montpellier
Another beauty. Can see this one changing leaders numerous times through the game. Exeter just enough to see this home though. 

Exeter Chiefs 26 - 21 Montpellier 
Very tough game with Montpellier very strong across the board, but Exeter have a quality pack and set piece, and an efficient and machine-like backline with enough gamebreaking in Nowell and Slade to win by more than a penalty.

Exeter Chiefs 22 - 21 Montpellier

Exeter Chiefs 22 - 21 Montpellier

Castres Olympique 19 - 21 Leicester Tigers
Fancy Tigers to just sneak this one with a strong lineup that would trouble most. 

Castres Olympique 22 - 28 Leicester Tigers
All French sides hard away, but Castres don't quite have the spark for me to break down Tigers, and tehy have a set piece that can cope away, an augmented and now top class backrow, and form in the halfbacks. Just need Manu and Toomua to stay fit to be in contention to win this competition.

Castres Olympique 22 - 23 Leicester Tigers

Castres Olympique 23 - 24 Leicester Tigers

Castres Olympique 21 - 25 Leicester Tigers
Castres always struggle on the road, and even at a neutral ground they won’t travel well. Tigers aren't in the best domestic form, but will have too much for their french counterparts.

Bath Rugby 29 - 24 Scarlets
Bath a little too strong, Scarlets a good side but just can't get into this one. 

Bath Rugby 22 - 20 Scarlets
Scarlets very variable in real life, but I think have the quality to test the front row of Bath. Bath's class elsewhere holds on for a win, with a good loose 5 and 13-15. Scarlets push them close.

Bath Rugby 23 - 23 Scarlets

Bath Rugby 22 - 23 Scarlets

Bath Rugby 25 - 23 Scarlets
I feel this will be a very end to end game, as Scarlets will look to open it up each time they get hold of possession. Bath have some real dynamism and power, but some issues in keys positions slightly hinder their progress.

I assume nobody here has watched Smith acttally play on the back foot? (Ie most matches this season?).

I've never seen Marcus Smith play in my life.