Anglo Welsh Cup Final

Leicester Tigers vs. Northampton Saints

at Sixways

Weather forecast: Cloudy, 12 degrees, 11 mph winds.


Leicester Tigers
Manager – LukeLovesLuka

01. Ben Franks	09. Michael Claassens
02. Stephen Moore	10. Jonny Wilkinson (k)
03. Cencus Johnston
04. Dan Vickerman	11. Tom Biggs
05. Alex Brown	12. Billy Twelvetrees
06. Magnus Lund	13. Brian O'Driscoll (c)
07. David Pocock	14. Vincent Clerc
08. Ernst Joubert	15. Isa Nacewa

16. Dan Murphy 17. Tom Youngs 18. Faan Rautenbach 19. Simon Shaw 20. Jordan Crane 21. Neil de Kock 22. Dave Walder 23. Alesana Tuilagi

Tactics

Game is built around our powerful setpiece, ability at the breakdown and kicking 9, 10, 12. We will use the scrum and particularly the lineout as weapons.

- Attack the lineout as much as we can using the tactical kicking of Claasens, Wilkinson and Twelvetrees. A.Brown to lead our lineout, and will use any of Brown, Joubert, and Vickerman. Not one of Saints' back 5 is a lineout leader, and we will target Webber's throws constantly.

- Call for scrums when we can if we are getting the advantage we expect to. We feel we can really get after Saints' scrum, with great from in the likes of Franks and Moore. Joubert to look to control from the base.

- Look to Joubert, Moore, Vickerman, Pocock, Johnston and Lund to give us real go-forward with their carrying.

- We will target the breakdown massively, with two players who can play openside on our flanks. We want to seriously disrupt the quality of the ball Saints can get, and steal as much as we can for our own backs to use. Vickerman to clear out rucks and Moore to play as an extra flanker.

- Wilkinson and Twelvetrees are given license to play the game as they see it. We do ask that they use our lineout ability to put pressure on Saints, so a kicking game will be employed, but if they see an opportunity to attack out wide - that is their call.

- Use the intelligence we have in our centres to get us into the right areas and get our back three into gaps.

- Our back three are encouraged to do what they do best - counter attacking and running the ball back. All have good boots to rely on if it isn't on or they are isolated, but the counter is what we ask them to look for.

- Wilkinson to kick all penalites within range.

- Powerful impact players on the bench such as Youngs, Shaw, Crane and Tuilagi to give us a new aspect toour game in thelast 20/30 mins.


Northampton Saints
Manager – Dammit Chris

01. Matt Mullan	09. Joe Simpson
02. Rob Webber	10. Matt Giteau (c)(k)
03. Carl Hayman
04. Courtney Lawes	11. Siti Siviatu
05. Patricio Albacete	12. Jean de Villiers
06. Joe Launchbury	13. Matt Hopper
07. Alexandre Lapandry	14. Elliot Daly
08. Liam Messam	15. Rory Lamont

Subs: 16. Mike Haywood 17. Thomas Domingo 18. Henry Thomas 19. Calum Clark 20. Ryan Kankowski 21. Sam Harrison 22. Danny Cipriani 23. Julian Savea

Tactics

Overall: Saints will look to build a platform through our front five and the set piece. We will look to work our way through the phases, keeping position and getting our strike runners onto the ball as often as possible - we feel we have an advantage of having more players who can get over the gain line (Lawes, Albacete, Messam, Launchbury, de Villiers, Lamont, Siviatu) and aim to use them to get us on the front foot and provide gaps for Simpson, Giteau and Hopper to exploit and involve our backthree.

Attack: Work through the phases, try to suck in Tigers defenders with our big ball carriers and then speed up the tempo with getting Simpson on the ball and looking for gaps to exploit - also getting Giteau to take the ball flat and attack, whilst using Hopper's offloading ability for the backthree to attack.

Set Piece: Will use both the scrum and lineout as an attacking platform, really strong front five, our best second row combination is playing and we aim to put a lot of pressure on the Tigers scrum. With the lineout we vary the throw & will mix up the calls with five jumpers (4-8). We feel we can get at Vickerman and Brown so we will target them for the 80minutes and put them under pressure at lineout time.

Defence: In defence we will look to stop Tigers players getting over the gainline first time and pushing them back in the tackle area. We will play an aggressive defensive line, placing Tigers under pressure, forcing the pass and mistakes. We see a lack of creativity for Tigers through 9-12 so will look to put pressure on them there with our backrow knowing that Claasens, Wilko or Twelvetrees arent the sort of player that make breaks. There are a lack of big ball carriers for Tigers and this is something we will look to exploit.

Breakdown: Pocock is obviously a danger here, so have selected Lapandry to challenge him in this area and get Pocock involved in a battle of the opensides. We've picked Lawes, Launchbury and Messam in the pack for their speed and ability to hit a breakdown - if we can limit Pocock we feel we have the overall advantage here. We will bring on Clark if Pocock gets the upperhand on Lapandry, and will use Clark's tackling prowess to get Pocock away from the breakdown area. Clark and Kankowski are two good options to bring on from the bench.

Key Points:
* Look to get Albacete, Lawes, Messam, de Villers and Lamont on the ball early to get us forward momentum and put Tigers on the backfoot.
* Pocock is the standout backrower, but we think we have enough in the rest of the pack to beat Tigers at the breakdown, espc as can bring on Clark and Kankowski.
* More creative team and will look to score tries, whilst being wary of Wilkinson's kicking game, so will try and keep hold of the ball as much as possible and work through the phases.
* Look to use offloading skills of Giteau and Hopper to bring through our backthree.

Leicester Tigers have named their side for the Anglo-Welsh Cup Final against Northampton Saints.

Tigers have made 5 changes from the semi final, bringing in Stephen Moore, Magnus Lund, David Pocock, Jonny Wilkinson and Vincent Clerc to the side that beat Gloucester 33 - 22 last week.

Manager LukeLovesLuka clearly wants to win the trophy, naming a strong side that he hopes to beat Saints with. He said:

"A final is a final, and we're desperate to win. We won the Amlin Cup last year, and I am intent on making it 2 trophies in my first 2 seasons.

I've named a very strong side, packed full of Internationals. We're up against a good Saints side, and despite them struggling this season, they will be tough opponents."



Leicester Tigers
Manager – LukeLovesLuka

01. Ben Franks	09. Michael Claassens
02. Stephen Moore	10. Jonny Wilkinson (k)
03. Cencus Johnston
04. Dan Vickerman	11. Tom Biggs
05. Alex Brown	12. Billy Twelvetrees
06. Magnus Lund	13. Brian O'Driscoll (c)
07. David Pocock	14. Vincent Clerc
08. Ernst Joubert	15. Isa Nacewa

16. Dan Murphy 17. Tom Youngs 18. Faan Rautenbach 19. Simon Shaw 20. Jordan Crane 21. Neil de Kock 22. Dave Walder 23. Alesana Tuilagi

Tactics

Game is built around our powerful setpiece, ability at the breakdown and kicking 9, 10, 12. We will use the scrum and particularly the lineout as weapons.

- Attack the lineout as much as we can using the tactical kicking of Claasens, Wilkinson and Twelvetrees. A.Brown to lead our lineout, and will use any of Brown, Joubert, and Vickerman. Not one of Saints' back 5 is a lineout leader, and we will target Webber's throws constantly.

- Call for scrums when we can if we are getting the advantage we expect to. We feel we can really get after Saints' scrum, with great from in the likes of Franks and Moore. Joubert to look to control from the base.

- Look to Joubert, Moore, Vickerman, Pocock, Johnston and Lund to give us real go-forward with their carrying.

- We will target the breakdown massively, with two players who can play openside on our flanks. We want to seriously disrupt the quality of the ball Saints can get, and steal as much as we can for our own backs to use. Vickerman to clear out rucks and Moore to play as an extra flanker.

- Wilkinson and Twelvetrees are given license to play the game as they see it. We do ask that they use our lineout ability to put pressure on Saints, so a kicking game will be employed, but if they see an opportunity to attack out wide - that is their call.

- Use the intelligence we have in our centres to get us into the right areas and get our back three into gaps.

- Our back three are encouraged to do what they do best - counter attacking and running the ball back. All have good boots to rely on if it isn't on or they are isolated, but the counter is what we ask them to look for.

- Wilkinson to kick all penalites within range.

- Powerful impact players on the bench such as Youngs, Shaw, Crane and Tuilagi to give us a new aspect toour game in thelast 20/30 mins.

Not a bad team you've put out then!

Mine's going to be fairly similar to semi final team, but waiting for the teams to be announced.

No probs, busy all week so got team up early.

Should be a good one

Wish the actual LV cup was like this lol

I wish Pocock had a pulled hammy!!!

Shouldnt be a problem, you'v got Tom Rees ohhhh wait

G i T...

Can I loan Moody for the game? Ohhh wait...

Nasty......lol

Will put it in the right format later on but wanted to get this in now so Tigers tactics etc can get done!

1. Matt Mullan
2. Rob Webber
3. Carl Hayman
4. Courtney Lawes
5. Patricio Albacete
6. Joe Launchbury
7. Alexander LaPandry
8. Liam Messam
9. Joe Simpson
10. Matt Giteau
11. Siti Siviatu
12. Jean de Villiers
13. Matt Hopper
14. Elliot Daly
15. Rory Lamont

Subs 16 Mike Haywood 17 Thomas Domingo 18 Henry Thomas 19 Calum Clark 20 Ryan Kankowski 21 Sam Harrison 22. Danny Cipriani 23. Julian Savea

Is Webber not with England Chris?

Mears is on the bench

Missed that one, is that the only change?

Strettle in for Sharples with Sharples dropping out of the 22

Webber's having shoulder surgery Monday, picked up a knock yesterday. At least we have some experience with Mears coming in.

Northampton Saints Team for LV Cup Final
Manager – Dammit Chris

01. Matt Mullan	09. Joe Simpson
02. Rob Webber	10. Matt Giteau (c)(k)
03. Carl Hayman
04. Courtney Lawes	11. Siti Siviatu
05. Patricio Albacete	12. Jean de Villiers
06. Joe Launchbury	13. Matt Hopper
07. Alexandre Lapandry	14. Elliot Daly
08. Liam Messam	15. Rory Lamont

Subs: 16. Mike Haywood 17. Thomas Domingo 18. Henry Thomas 19. Calum Clark 20. Ryan Kankowski 21. Sam Harrison 22. Danny Cipriani 23. Julian Savea

Tactics

Overall: Saints will look to build a platform through our front five and the set piece. We will look to work our way through the phases, keeping position and getting our strike runners onto the ball as often as possible - we feel we have an advantage of having more players who can get over the gain line (Lawes, Albacete, Messam, Launchbury, de Villiers, Lamont, Siviatu) and aim to use them to get us on the front foot and provide gaps for Simpson, Giteau and Hopper to exploit and involve our backthree.

Attack: Work through the phases, try to suck in Tigers defenders with our big ball carriers and then speed up the tempo with getting Simpson on the ball and looking for gaps to exploit - also getting Giteau to take the ball flat and attack, whilst using Hopper's offloading ability for the backthree to attack.

Set Piece: Will use both the scrum and lineout as an attacking platform, really strong front five, our best second row combination is playing and we aim to put a lot of pressure on the Tigers scrum. With the lineout we vary the throw & will mix up the calls with five jumpers (4-8). We feel we can get at Vickerman and Brown so we will target them for the 80minutes and put them under pressure at lineout time.

Defence: In defence we will look to stop Tigers players getting over the gainline first time and pushing them back in the tackle area. We will play an aggressive defensive line, placing Tigers under pressure, forcing the pass and mistakes. We see a lack of creativity for Tigers through 9-12 so will look to put pressure on them there with our backrow knowing that Claasens, Wilko or Twelvetrees arent the sort of player that make breaks. There are a lack of big ball carriers for Tigers and this is something we will look to exploit.

Breakdown: Pocock is obviously a danger here, so have selected Lapandry to challenge him in this area and get Pocock involved in a battle of the opensides. We've picked Lawes, Launchbury and Messam in the pack for their speed and ability to hit a breakdown - if we can limit Pocock we feel we have the overall advantage here. We will bring on Clark if Pocock gets the upperhand on Lapandry, and will use Clark's tackling prowess to get Pocock away from the breakdown area. Clark and Kankowski are two good options to bring on from the bench.

Key Points:
* Look to get Albacete, Lawes, Messam, de Villers and Lamont on the ball early to get us forward momentum and put Tigers on the backfoot.
* Pocock is the standout backrower, but we think we have enough in the rest of the pack to beat Tigers at the breakdown, espc as can bring on Clark and Kankowski.
* More creative team and will look to score tries, whilst being wary of Wilkinson's kicking game, so will try and keep hold of the ball as much as possible and work through the phases.
* Look to use offloading skills of Giteau and Hopper to bring through our backthree.

Chris, Brown has been involved in 23 games for me. What do you mean not a first choice jumper?

Sorry I didnt realise Brown was your first choice - will edit my tactics.

Tigers 22-19 Saints

Tigers have a slight edge at the set piece here and should see a better base. Bit more go forward from the Saints but Tigers can get control of possession with a strong effort at the breakdown.

Halfbacks fairly even skill wise but Simpson may struggle on the bak foot a little. Back 3s are fairly even but edge to Saints in midfield with the Tigers pair lacking form.

Tigers get a better control of possession and have the halfbacks to control the tempo and get the win.

Leicester Tigers 26 Northampton Saints 32

Fascinating that the final in this competition is the same in real life as in this game this year. Anyway, my thoughts on this one.

Almost a complete contrast in game plans looking at the tactics. I know Luke has said that Wilko and 36 will play what is in front of them but they are putting some emphasis on a territorial kicking game and working off the set piece, whereas Chris is looking to control possession and go through the phases ball in hand. Both tactics suit the half backs on display for their teams so in that regard I can't fault either as I like to see game plans that you have the players to exploit.

There question therefore is which one works better through the overall team?

I take Lukes point about no recognised lineout leader in the Saints pack, but Albacete is experienced enough to take charge here I think. I do however give the Tigers a marginal lineout advantage. I cannot agree with Luke in relation to the form of Ben Franks, who has looked very average for the Crusaders so far this Super Rugby season and as I recall has actually been starting more at 3 than 1. My personal view is that Saints would at very least hold their own in the scrum and may have a marginal edge there. It is however a slightly moot point as with the good conditions and game plans employed I don't see that there will masses of scrums anyway.

I like the Saints back row unit a bit better as I think it is well ballanced and in decent form. Messam has been cracking for the Chiefs in their first 4 games. I can see them having the dynamism to counter the two 7's at the breakdown and don't see an advantage either way there.

In the Tigers outside backs there is fantastic attacking threat, however I do worry about the wingers defensively. BOD is also hard to rate as he has been out for a long while now and has no form so is a slight mark down. I quite like JDV and Hopper as a combo. JDV has a carrying game that can attract defenders, despite not quite being the player he was 3 years ago, and Hopper has the attacking game to exploit any space that is created outside that. In Sivivatu and Daly, Saints also have 2 wingers who will come looking for work.

This is a really tough one to call, as a final should be, and if the conditions were wet and horrible, I think I would have gone for Tigers, but on firm ground and on a dry day, there is just so much running threat in the Saints side that I think they will cause Tigers a lot of problems and come away with the win.

(P.S. Sorry for the essay but felt that I wanted to do justice to both teams who have put in a lot of effort to get to the final.)

Tigers 20-24saints

Tough game to call. Personally I think set piece even in both scrum and lineout.
Alex brown has been shocking for glos this year and is powder puff scrummager negating the slight front row advantage tigers have.

My problem with the tigers pack is a complete absence of
Ball carriers. Chris tactic of
Going through phases
Will
Work. Ball carrying controls the game and tires opposition and for me
Tigers lack dynamic ball carriers and this is the main thing that loses it
For them.


Backs half backs to tigers but back 3 and
Centres
To saints. They have more variety and threat. Bod hard to rate also.

Great game
A few ball carriers and tigers would win this one

Leicester Tigers 23 - 25 Northampton Saints

Quite a tough game to call, Leicester lack people to get them across the gainline across there whole side and although big carrying isn't part of there game plan it is something which they will miss. Overall the packs are pretty even with perhaps a slight lineout advantage to Leicester but I prefer Saints in the loose with Leicester getting the marginal advantage at the breakdown.

I prefer Saints at half back with there being much more attacking spark in there, Centres are pretty even and in the back three there is a slight advantage to Leicester.

Overall it's a very decent game which I see Saints edging.

Tigers v Saints
- Close contest in the scrum but think overall the Saints pack has more grunt, power and carriers to get them on the front foot. the back lines are close, both have some pace and spark but see saints seeing more ball and doing a bit more damage with it.
23-27

Leicester 12 Saints 18

Tight up front this one but Saints are a team in similer style to the welsh and based around a lot of Power and this will see them win a bit more ball to play with.

T:N/A ; Daley , Sevea
C:N/A; Giteau (1)
P:Wilkinson (2); Giteau , Daley.

Match report (can't sleep too nervous about first game as top man tomorrow lol)

On a sun blessed day at Sixways the first piece of silverware was on offer between Amlin cup holders Leicester Tigers and last years Hieniken cup's beaten finalists Northampton.

Referee George Clancy got the game under way with the first 10 minutes being a territorial war of attrition with plenty of kicking and a matter of waiting for the first mistake. A strong line chase from Leicester Tigers on the Northampton back 3 saw Sitiveni Sivatu step back into the on rushing Brian O'Driscoll who was strong in the tackle and ever quick to his feet to give Clancy the easiest of penalties to award which was simply stroked over from the left hand side of the pitch just outside the Saints 22.

Northampton Saints took no dishaeart from this and following a series of impressive scrums the game was burst into life as the Tigers on the back foot struggled to deal with Joe Simpsons lightning break down the short side to feed Elliot Daley in the corner with Matt Giteau adding the extras to push Saints into a 7-3 lead.

On the stroke of half time Saints had prop Carl Hayman sent to bin and Tigers had Jonny Wilkinson to thank once again for keeping them within breathing distance of the Saints.

Early into the second half Jonny Wilkinson lived up to his reputation as a points scoring machine with a well struck penalty on the half and a 'ugly' drop just inside Saint's 10 metres all that they could reply with was a Giteau field goal to keep them with in 2 points.

Giteau was forced from play after 55 minutes with a tight calf and replaced by English man Danny Cipriani with Juilian Sevea coming on for Rory Lamount to give Saints a more running threat in the back 3 which soon payed off thanks to Sevea scooping up a poor kick from Neil De Kock which saw him given time and space to run at a gaping hole in the centre and under the sticks with Cipriani failing to add the 2.

With minutes left to play on loan Simon Shaw had clearly grew fustrated and George Clancy awarded his second yellow card to the England lock and Elliot Daley made no mistake in making the scores 18-12.

With only seconds left to play a knock on from Billy Twelvetrees on the halfway signaled full time and Saints first trophy of the season.

Tigers 25 - 28 Northampton Saints

Feel the Saints pack has more power and grunt, plenty of carriers to get them over the gain line as well. Don't see too many carriers in that pack of Leicesters, however I can see them getting on top at the lineout. Think in the backs the experience of the Tigers half back combo will put them in all the right places, but Simpson for the Saints brings that added spark and injection of flair to create magic, prefer the Saints centres, as I feel there is a better balance there, like the threat outwide for Tigers. I feel that the Saints have more flair and carriers which will see them to victory in the final.

Leicester 24-22 Saints

See Tigers getting a fair nudge on in the scrum but lineout bring a keen contest with Albacete able to call for Saints. More around the park for the Saints engine room though. Imagine Pocock getting a lot of joy at the breakdown though with a trio siding to Tigers. Don't really see the ball carrying issue with numerous good options for Leicester.

Two good half back pairings, more control for Tigers and more attacking threat for Saints. Backs just shade to Tigers I think with better combo's, BOD is starting to lose a bit of rating but Tigers pairing and back 3 edges.

A very very close game that home advantage would see the winner of. Just think Tigers have a little too much and with Pocock slowing ball down and BOD dragging Tigers through they'll just sneak it.

Just waiting on ITFL to predict now as Prop is away.

Just woke up

Saints 25-24 Tigers

RESULT

Leicester Tigers 24 Northampton Saints 31

Full prediction bonus for: Steve, Chris, Pooly, SJE, Ozzy, Luke, Mat, Driver, stnick and Arry
Half bonus for: ITFL

I was aware that prop was not around to predict so he is not fined for not doing so.

Northampton Saints receive £4 million for winning the competition and Leicester Tigers receive £2 million as runners up.

Congrats to Chris on the first trophy, it's only taken 4 years!

Congratulations Chris.....HC rugby for Saints next season

Well done Chris

Cheer Luke - thought you had a really good team out and I was very lucky yo be able to play Webber and Lawes, without those two I would have struggled!

Pleased to finally get my first trophy - Pete I'm pretty sure that you've been the person who has knocked me out of competitions the most at semi-final stages before!