Fantasy Aviva Premiership Season 4 Homepage

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Fantasy Aviva Premiership Current League Table

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Teams

Bath RFC	InTheFastLane
Exeter Chiefs	Driver - RIP 606
Gloucester	Anonmattyt
Harlequins	Steven_Sharks
Leicester Tigers	LukeLovesLuka
London Irish	stnick88
London Wasps	Arry
Newcastle Falcons	Sgt_Pooly
Northampton Saints	Dammit_Chris
Sale Sharks	SirJohnnyEnglish
Saracens	Ozzy3213
Worcester Warriors	prop_lyd

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Waiting List
1. pullthestrings
2. Bathite

I'm no Waldouck fan at all. weak in defence and injuries seem to of stopped him reaching his attacking potential. daly looks much better.

I wasn't best pleased with the Thomas signing, but thinking about it he is probably the type of player Wasps need as he will get us over the gainline and not be in the Waldouck/Daly/Flutey mould. Think his defence is also top rate and could be good for the rest of our backline, espc Wade and Varndell.

Im not sure with what will happen to Waldouck and Daly, both are nice runners, but not really players who can smash over the gainline, which is Wasps massive problem - we play some great rugby but this season have lacked that bit of bite in the pack and backline.

Im not 100% convinced with Dae Young and can't work out what backline he will put out next season - think Daly is a standout 13, and become very important for us because of his kicking - he'll be one of the stars at JWC this year.

Trouble is you cant have a backline with Waldouck, Daly, Varndell and Wade in it, as just doesnt get you over the gainline, and caused us a lot of problems October-December last year - pretty much coincided with when Bell got injured!

Nick - Waldouck's defence is pretty good - his trouble is that he gets moved from 12-13 all the time, so never settles into a defensive pattern properly, and has played the last two seasons injured - a lot of our players are playing with injuries at the moment, Daly has a bad knee that stops him taking kicks, which is even more impressive when he got his kick against Gloucester!

Just watching Brumbies/Highlanders. Total freak injury for Slade poor fella, was just starting to play really well too.

Hooper was excellent, shows the benifits of a proper 7 in a team. Highlanders struggled to get any momentum as Hooper kept getting hands on in the breakdown. I'm a huge fan of a 7 who can make an impact such as that.

He reads play really well and knows when get involved, Pocock will have a real fight on his hands in the coming years.

Agree Pooly.

Its partly why Irish have struggled this season. no quick ball since Steffon left. Whenever Treviranus comes on or plays we look more competitive at the breakdown.

Big fan of the breakdown specialists.

Steves got a gem in Hooper

Am hoping that Liam Gill keeps progressing, liked watching him this season, shame the Reds pack is getting di cked each week though. Getting more impressed with Sam Cane though,

Apparently NZ have got an amazing no7 for this year's JWC, so well worth keeping an eye out there.

Pete - will we be doing another youngster transfer at the end of this season? Was good from Driver last year!

Hooper is a gem. I had him earmarked after last years JWC, then completely
forgot about him untill Chris and Pooly started bidding.

Progress has been rapid. He was unreal in the game before last. Something like 30 tackles.

It was quite interesting watching Hooper in his last game, was completely singled out by the opposition and they bullied him off the ball - don't think he expected it to happen, but he will bounce back big time this weekend - the thing I have never understood though is that I am sure I watched Hooper get completely dominated by Kvesvic in an u20 game, but for some reason our u20s playing at 7 never seem to kick on as quickly.

Wonder if this is anything to do with Super Rugby being so much quicker, so they get more skills that way?

Thomas is in props side I think Steve.

Chris broster demolished dan murphy who is probably the worst prop to ever sign for glos so not really a feat althoug he has improved had broster

Bullied out of the game?? We were clearly watching different games. he was in know way bullied. He was making hits, getting turnovers and applying pressure.

No idea about Kvesic outplaying him, but no doubt Kvesic was playing in a better pack.

damn so he is.

Was it against a South African team Steven? If not might have the wrong week, there was one game where he put in something like 29 tackles and was immense, the week after the Boks got him out the game as he got some special treatment in the breakdown and didnt get any help from the ref at all.

Always happens with youngsters playing their though, think Hopper is special though.

Was Sharks at the weekend and I thought he was playing well.

He was stupendous against the Highlanders I think. If he can find that level of performance week in week out then he is in for quite a career.

Bought Thomas start of the season, may have to look to bed him in next season!!

He's got ahead of Liam Gill, which I didnt think he would do - Gill has improved his carrying, but for a youngster to come through he needs the rest of the Reds pack to stand up a bit more.

Not bad options to have coming through, Pocock is going to get some serious competition.

And Mat, just admit it you are gutted that Broster is going to France and not making the journey west...

School of hard knocks is the best thing on the box

Hooper was always going to get the jump on Gill as he's physically ahead of him. Gill is more of a slender frame and it'll take him longer to bulk and get used to the physicality.

Both young players with plenty of talent.

Gill more in the Brussow model which is a good option to have. Hasn't kicked on the way I though he would after I first saw him.

Wish England could list some 20 year olds as good as that and playing week in week out for their clubs - off top of my head only Wallace at Quins starts, but havent seen him on the bench much.

See I wouldn't have said Gill was anything like Brussow. Brussow/Pocock are genuine fetchers in the squat low centre of gravity mould. If anything I'd have said Hooper was more like those two.

I see Gill more like Todd or Saull, bit more of a linking type 7.

Gill's breakdown play is his strength when I've seen him. Goes searching for the ruck, a lot like Brussow. Carrying is ok for his age and size. Not going to blast holes but wouldn't consider him to be weak in contact.

Gill wins masses of turnovers he just carries like a woman currently and needs to bulk up. Watch the game against the force. He turns over loads of ball yet knocks on in contact constantly,

You don't have to be squat to affect turnovers but it helps.mccaw is not squat and heaslip turns over loads of ball. They have done quite a few focuses on the rugby club about saulls work over the ball it's probably his strongest area now. Probably due to sarries coaching. He seems to link less and turnover/slow balm more now.

Personally think you can get away without a genuine 7 lots of teams have done if just depends on balance in backrow

Agree on that, it's not the be all but when you see a team with a genuine fetcher they can a lot of damage again one without.

They made Saull look like Pocock in that rugby club but truth is he doesn't have that kind of effect in a game. He's not physical enough imo to get into the positions needed. I've seen him make the odd turnover (I think 2 against Leicester during the 6N) but he seems to mainly used as kick chase flank for Sarries.

The brightest prospect I've seen in England is Wallace.

Wallace looks a prospect. incredible workrate.

I still think our best fetcher is Steffon Armitage. if you want an out an out 7 who can dominate a breakdown and get turnovers its him. does it week in week out for Toulon. Although they sometimes randomly play him at 8 if JVN cant play.

Sale move to Salford City Reds ground.

Bloody Juan Smith!!! Out for year

Listening to offers on Juan Smith

Bad news that could be his career over. Great player

Whoever has Hayden Smith in their team he's just announced a 3 year contract with the New York Jets!

Out of interest which teams are the best in s15 - am trying to get into it a bit more this season, but have never been the biggest fan of southern hem club rugby!

Hope not Matt, great to watch

Chiefs are looking good
Sharks and Stormers also started well
Crusaders always good to watch

Bulls looking strong but often boring to watch

Have any of the teams decided to try and tackle this year? And has there been a single rolling maul yet?

Chris look out for Beuden Barret playing tremendous stuff at ten. could be the man to take over post carter, needs to learn to tackle though

He was the 15 at the JWC the year before last - Bleyendaal kept him out of the 10 shirt, but have heard some really good things about Barret.

Our u20s always seem to take that little bit longer to come through - guess AP is probably most physical league in the world though, so can't throw 18-20 year olds in as early.

think we are improving though as if you go back through the England u20 teams over the years then more and more recently are playing for their first teams and seem to be making the grade

Check out some of the tries he has scored and his solo effort last week


Etzbeth the stormers lock will be the bun fight come transfers along with Barrett and a few others who have emerged.

Some great talent out there.

Cane is some 7 also chris.

one of the best I've seen in England is Teimana Harrison, reckon he will be a huge player for Saints from next season, really tough no7 and very good on the deck - reckon Saints could go Wood @6 Harrison @7 and Dowson back to no8.

Though James Craig has seemed a pretty good player when I've seen him - think the Saints scouts are very, very good, so any players they get from the Championship will definitely be worth a punt!

Craig was good in the lineout v Bath.

Etzebeth is my number one target. He looks absolutely class. Keeping out Elstadt at the moment which is no mean feat.

it will be a big bun fight steve. i am going all out for him

who has the most money?

cant believe you all put interest on loans lol - crafty!

Be interesting to see where everyone is at when SJE has the budgets up to date, as I might be in for Etsebeth as well.

I have the most as driver has given me 16 million owed plus match fees etc. depends who wins tournaments etc.

I am also interested in a certain tight head and outside half. Its tricky with the 40 limit. I have bakkies palmer williams grey robson so do I need another second row?? Alberts can also play there like he did wc.

That said the form Alberts is in he is staying back row. He is on fire and such a carrier

Putting interest on loans was my doing Chris. Probably a reflection of what I do for a living !!

I have a list of about 20 players that I am interested in during the summer, some tricky decisions though as you say Mat, with the squad limits.