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London Wasps	Arry
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Waiting List
1. pullthestrings
2. Bathite

Chris,

1m for full predictions
.5m for scores only

Cash is going to be very tight in the summer I think!

Loving the French side, they're going to be the team to beat this 6N. Debaty aside that's the strongest I reckon they could go. Fofana & Pickles deserve to be there on form and bring Hari & Mermoz off the bench is just plain scary.

I wish Manu & Flood were fit for Jocks, love to see a Bartitt/Manu midfield with Sharples/Foden/Ashton running lines off them....could be outstanding

Cheers SJE - yeah it could be an interesting summer transfer window!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rTAU75rTNuQ&feature=related

Saracens don't play with width my arse

Following return to clubs:

Dave Attwood (Bath Rugby)
Matt Banahan (Bath Rugby)
Calum Clark (Northampton Saints)
Alex Goode (Saracens)
Lee Mears (Bath Rugby)
Joe Simpson (London Wasps)
Thomas Waldrom (Leicester Tigers)
David Wilson (Bath Rugby)

John Wells joins Falcons

Jesus, these are some coups. Gold, Ford & Wells!

Wasps are going down .........

Good coaching set up for the Championship that...

We shall see Christopher....getting worried?

All depends on injuries really - we are a better team when Robinson plays at 10, but he's always injured. We are a better team with Flutey at 12, but he's always injured and without those two are backline falters a bit.

We need Launchbury back - I think if we get him then we will be fine and hopefully the four new signings will make a big difference and lift the team. Just never known a team to be hit by so many injuries.

Injuries happen, just have to roll with it I guess. I still suspect we'll go down but a bit of fight would work wonders.

It would be funny if Wasps went down though.

In a way I almost hope we do, as look how it got Quins and Saints back to the top of English rugby - I dont think we will as a 9 point cushion is pretty big and we've got a few players coming back.

We just need to move away from Wycombe, that move has killed us as a club.

Atmosphere looks dire at High Wycombe, I was at the barracks for a few weeks and realised as I was leaving the stadium was about a mile away. Prob would have took in a game

For every Saints, Quins there's Leeds, Bristol etc

BBC news reporting that Marler and Brown/Sharples will also be returned to their clubs. which I guess will mean the England team as:

1. Corbs
2. Hartley
3. Cole
4. Deacon (think he's fit)
5. Palmer
6. Croft
7. Robshaw
8. Morgan
9. Youngs
10. Hodgson
11. Strettle
12. Farrell
13. Barritt
14. Ashton
15. Foden

16. Webber 17. Stevens 18. Botha 19. Dowson 20. Dickson 21. Turner-Hall 22. Sharples

Sharples should start ahead of Strettle surely?!?!

You see Webber signed for Bath?

9 points is not a big lead. After this weeks LV Cup games we have a period of 4 AP matches. whether or not there will be a dogfight to avoid relegation will be much clearer after that.

Interesting that Wasps and Newcastle play each other on the final day of season. Could be a winner takes all clash.

Botha

Hearing horrible rumours that Phil Dowsen will start at 8 for England this week on Twitter.

BBC reporting this

Forwards (13): Alex Corbisiero (London Irish), Dan Cole (Leicester), Joe Marler (Harlequins), Matt Stevens (Saracens); Dylan Hartley (Northampton), Rob Webber (Wasps); Mouritz Botha (Saracens), Tom Palmer (Stade Francais), Geoff Parling (Leicester); Tom Croft (Leicester), Phil Dowson (Northampton), Ben Morgan (Scarlets), Chris Robshaw (Harlequins - capt).

Backs (11): Mike Brown (Harlequins), Ben Foden (Northampton), Chris Ashton (Northampton), Charlie Sharples (Gloucester), David Strettle (Saracens); Brad Barritt (Saracens), Owen Farrell (Saracens), Jordan Turner-Hall (Harlequins); Charlie Hodgson (Saracens); Lee Dickson (Northampton), Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers).

Released players: Matt Banahan, Dave Attwood, Alex Goode, Lee Mears, Joe Simpson, Thomas Waldrom, David Wilson.

Strange that Attwood has been released and they've kept Parling who wasn't in original EPS. Palmer/Parling engine room??? Or can we go Palmer/Botha with Croft in backrow?

Once again

Botha

Palmer/Botha I reckon. I like Botha. really good engine. Lots of work in the loose, similar to Lawes.

John Wells added to the Newcastle coaching staff. Another good addition.

RFU warming to the idea of Lancaster taking the role full time

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2012/jan/20/england-rugby-union-coach

incidentally the photo pictured i threw up over roughly that spot when on tour to Leeds after drinking games after playing WPL. - Fact of the day.

I like Palmer/Botha but neither are great in lineout, Gray could dismantle us there, hes an outstanding lineout technician.

Yeah reckon it's palmer and Botha in engine room with parling on the bench - forgot Deacon had torn his hamstring from his bone and is out for the season!

Palmer is great in the lineout.

I dont think he is, great around the park but not a lineout leader. Good option though with a better operator. Deacon was brought into the team if I remember rightly to correct a stuttering lineout.

But Deacon himself is a very poor lineout jumper compared to the worlds best so I don't understand why he was used.

Palmer is a good lineout jumper, not such a good lineout leader.

Deacon is good lineout leader, not such a good jumper.

Work as a pair as they complement each other.

He runs the lineout at Tigers when Parling is not playing. Most of the Tigers locks are excellent lineout leaders, think that's why Skivs struggled so much when he first went there.

Remember Palmer/Lawes getting dismantled by Matfield last year, admitably it was Matfield but you come up against top draw operators regularly at Int Level. France - Hari/Nallet/Bonnaire Ire - POC/DOC Scotland - Gray/Kellock Wales.........

John wells
Is a dinosaur lots of
The players said he can only coach one way and that way went out with the ark. Gold is an outstanding coach loved in sa

Palmer is a great lineout forward not necessary leader. Gray is so good all round can play 4 or 5 equally well which is almost unheard of

Interesting that Gold was SA forwards coach yet he's brought in Wells as forwards coach?!?!

I think Gold, Wells, Ford is outstanding AP coaching setup....can the team step up?

Gray is out and out 5 for me. Outstanding in the lineout and next POC but better carrier. Huge huge fan, massive coup for Sale

I am mixed i like him at 4 more carries but must admit i do like him probably more at 5 for his lineout work and looser play. I play him both on here. I have Ali Williams who is another who can play both

Williams is def not a 4, spends to much time on wing. Sure you called him the "ruck inspector" lol

I agree pooly plays far too
Loose for
Me. Amazed he came back to look decent and stopped the Wing play and kicking.

Looked good as an impact sub for nz

I am old fashioned I hate it when you see these players doing all the show and no basics.

Think going to Nottingham helped Williams. Saw an interview with Steve Hansen where he said a
Season over here would do wonders for
Most sh players to learn how to slow a game and bring control back. Interesting that when nz struggled in wc or tri nations they went back to a very nh pick and go
To gain control back

I think its s great coaching set up. As Pooly said the question is can the players step up.

They were good against us at the weekend. Not over yet.

If you look at where morale must be in the Wasps and Falcons camp, it's definitely not over yet Steve.

Very good 5 Williams, still got a few years in the tank. Thats the thing with NZ they can mix up, sign of a great team.

C'mon Falcons!

Wasps morale is in the tank and falcons have nowt to lose. I think of falcons go down we may not see them for a while however if wasps
Come down they will
Go
Straight back up.

Interesting for all you guys is that Bristol are being monies up by Hargreaves landsdown a huge financial institution in Bristol. Steve landsdown owns Bristol city. They have put money in without announcing anything yet. Bristol have signed 9
Players since Xmas.

I have this from immaculate sources and would expect it to be public in next month or so. They turned down the bath owner when he wanted to buy the
So
He bought bath so at least they seen sense this time. The prem
Needs bristol

I think Newcastle will bounce back up. I am assuming Gold wants a project rather than a short term fixer.

Newcastle have plenty to win the championship i suspect.

Gold is a head coach and a director of rugby type so can see why he bought wells in. Also a knowledge of English game needed. How long is golds contract because without being rude he is too good for Newcastle and would walk in as forwards coach or head coach to a lot of international sides

I think it's 2 seasons but maybe wrong. Suspect he's on big bucks to keep us up. We have a great backing but Tait didn't know what to do with it and has messed us up big time.

Our crowds are poor and not likely to get better. It's massive for rugby to have a foothold in the NE as there's bags and bags of talent up here. Barnard Castle is a good indication winning schools cup 6 years in a row or something stupid.

Barnard castle have not won 15s or 18s cup for years got to the final in 07 I think as they beat my old school st peters who won it the year Bef

Barnard castle have not won 15s or 18s cup for years got to the final in 07 I think as they beat my old school st peters who won it the year BefOre. Durham and a few others up that way are good also

The 6 year thing was not a recent thing but I seem to recall them dominating for years. Some feat when you think we are a massive football region. All off the top of my head this so probably inaccurate

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daily_Mail_Cup

Barnard castle never won it but they are a good school didn't carling go there ??

Colstons were the best team for years. We were the only team to beat them for years in the cup and got thrown out for a technicality the year of their first win in 95. We got thrown out and they played someone else to go through. Not that I am bitter. Andy Robinson was their maths teacher and coach and matt perry played and a few other player who went on to get England caps. Remember joe ewens ??

They def won it (cup or league) I've watched the finals online with Matt Tait etc in the teams. Was a massive winning streak year after year. Greenwood went to Durham also