Heineken Cup Final

First topic message reminder :

Team sheets and tactics due by COB Thur
Predictions open Fri. Results due Sat

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Saracens v Gloucester Rugby
White Cloud, 13 Degrees, 15 mph Winds

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Saracens
Manager – Ozzy3213

01. Alex Corbisiero	09. Francois Hougaard
02. Bismarck du Plessis	10. Patric Lambie
03. Jannie du Plessis
04. Dave Attwood	11. Digby Ioane
05. Rynhardt Elstadt	12. Owen Farrell
06. Tom Wood	13. Jonathon Davies
07. George Smith (c)	14. Andrew Trimble
08. Alessandro Zanni	15. Alex Goode

16. George Chuter 17. Max Lahiff 18. Adam Jones 19. Graham Kitchener 20. Tom Johnson 21. Morgan Parra 22. Ma'a Nonu 23. Tom Homer

Tactics

Our generic gameplan revolves around a high intensity attacking and defensive game.

In attack our primary gameplan is always to control possession and run the ball, utilising big carriers attacking gaps in the line, and looking to offload to support runners to continue getting over the gainline and keep the ball alive. If running the ball is not on we will uitilise the kicking game of one of our backs to take us into the right area of the pitch.

In defence we will look to blitz, with our scrum half sweeping behind the defensive line. Key for us is line speed, getting up to make the tackle before the ball carrier hits the gainline, and confidence and trust in the man next to you in the defensive line, meaning we will not jump out or get pulled to far away from the next defender leaving gaps that can be exploited.

At the breakdown, we will not overcommit players. If the ball is not there to be won, then we will commit 1 or 2 players to legally slow it down whilst maintaining a strong defensive line across the pitch. If the ball looks like it is there to be won, we will look to get more numbers there quickly, with the first 1 or 2 players immediately rucking past the ball to clear the opposition players who are trying to get hands on it, and the next man in will then look to get it out quickly for us to counter attack on turnover ball.

At the scrum we will look to keep it up and scrummage. Jones will look to take the hit and drop anchor allowing Corbisiero to attack the opposition tighthead. On our ball we will keep our flankers bound in tight and shoving hard behind the props and we will look to get the scrum turning legally to take the Gloucester back row out of the defensive equation before launching attacks. Our flankers will play slightly looser with heads up on Gloucester ball in order to be of quickly to stop any set play attacks.


Game Specific Tactics

• Carry in tight areas of early phases – We have selected a lot of strong carriers in the pack and the backs and will get them carrying close to rucks to tie defenders in create gaps to exploit outside.
  
  
• Scrum half sniping – Hougaard will look to make breaks from the base of rucks any time he sees a gap. Knowing he can and will break will keep the Gloucester defensive line honest and give Lambie more time and space to work in.
  
  
• Control Possession and Territory – When it is right to do so we will carry and recycle and go through the phases. Farrell has been selected this week however to ensure that we do so in the right areas areas of the pitch. If kicking we will look to go in behind the Gloucester wingers forcing them to go back before gathering and turning, thereby giving our wingers and defensive line time to get up quickly and shut them down. Once there we will try to isolate the ball carrier and turn the ball over if possible.
  
  
• Breakdown – When Gloucester carry in, unless the player is isolated and a turnover is on, we will only commit enough players to legally slow the ball, instead maintaining a strong defensive line.
  

Key Points

• Fatigue Issue – In relation to last weeks extra time, all of our front row would have been replaced before the hour mark, so played no longer than they would have in any other game. Likewise one of our locks and back row players would also have been replaced meaning they did not play a full game. Three players would have played the full game and I have rested those 3 players this week to avoid fatigue being an issue. Having looked backed Adam Jones has had a reasonably high workload whereas Bismarck was rested recently and Corbisiero was out injured for a bit so had an enforced rest, therefore Jones has been dropped to the bench this week. We come in fresh enough but battle hardened, whereas some of Mat's players who have been left out the last week or two (2 consecutive defeats) may be coming in cold and will take time to get up with the speed of the game.
  
  
• Form/Momentum – We have a number of players who are in excellent real life form. In game we have huge momentum coming into the match, including winning a huge battle last week. That was Glocuesters 2nd consecutive defeat and bumps and bruises from games always hurt more after a defeat. Mentally they may struggle to pick themselves back up this week whereas we will be mentally readily, knowing that we are able to win in these tight situations. We have all the momentum which is huge at this stage of the season.
  
  
• Pivotal Moments - At this stage of the season there are always pivotal moments and last week was one of them. We come in battle hardened and confident as a result of winning that game which gives us the momentum to go on and win from here. Look at Saints last season, lost the AP semi final against Tigers and then the following week couldn't close the game out against a confident Leinster side, who the week before when Saints were losing to Tigers, themselves beat Ulster in the Magners play off semi. Sports history is littered with these sort of cases and last weeks win should give us a huge advantage.
  
  
• Gloucester Players Real Life Form I don't like doing this and have not talked about opposition players for while now, but feel that I have to point out some real form issues amongst the Gloucester team as this is a final.
  
  1 Wood - Been injured for a while now and not world class so surely cannot carry much rating form wise.
  5 Palmer - Out of form for Stade to the point that he has started 3 T14 matches since the beginning of January and been a replacement once. Stade have not won any of the games that he has started in.
  7 Burger - Been injured all season so has no form to speak of.
  9 Genia - Been very hit and miss this season, and more miss to be honest, with decision making being well below the standard he has previously set for himself.
  10 Carter - Just back from injury and not playing 10 due to being unable to kick. World class player but no form so surely rating has to come down a bit for him.
  11 Sharples - Very poor last few months of the season. Always an attacking threat but at times a defensive liability at present.
  12 Barnes - Been very below par for the Waratahs this season has failed to control games in the way he has done in the past.
  14 May - Very poor last few months of the season. Always an attacking threat but at times a defensive liability at present.
  
  
• Defensive Strength – Defensively we are solid through the team. In the pack and backs we have tackle machines who rarely if ever get beaten one on one. Unless Gloucester have 70%+ possession then I cannot see how they score enough points against this defence to win.
  
  
• Physicality – One of Gloucesters biggest strengths is usually their physicality and they can bully teams up front. We have a pack with enough physicality not to be bullied.
  
  
• Locks/Lineout – We have selected two enforcer type locks who will bring a lot in the loose and in the scrum. As a result Tom Wood will lead the lineout, with both locks effective jumpers but not really lineout leaders. We also have Smith and Zanni who are options to hit as well.
  
  
• Bench – We have impact players to come of the bench, such as Lahiff, Jones, Kitchener, Johnson and Nonu, as well as key decision makers and tactical kickers such as Parra and Homer who can come on to see out a game.
  

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Gloucester
Manager – Current Heineken cup holder Mat

01. Nick Wood	09. Will Genia
02. Joe Gray	10. Dan Carter
03. Mas
04. Richie Gray	11. Sharples
05. Tom Palmer	12. Berrick Barnes
06.Bonnaire	13. Juan de Jongh
07. Schalk Burger	14. Johnny May
08. Alberts	15. Israel Dagg

16. jamie George 17. Payne 18.Harinordoqouy 19. George Robson 20.Julian White 21. Dave Lewis 22. Richard Kahui 23. johan Goosen


Gloucester overall game plan.

Gloucester are going to play a high intensity attacking game based on sheer physicality and carrying to get on the front foot before. Our aim is to control possession and therefore the intensity.

We have changed all of the pack bar Gray and having rested a few last week we feel we have the side to really put it to Saracens. We have packed the side with ball carriers and feel this is a major advantage for us as Saracens seem to be lacking a few.

The ball carriers are going to allow us to get to the right positions on the pitch where we can really ramp up the pace. Also by carrying the ball so relentlessly we will be able to tire the opposition allowing holes for our back to go through.

If in the wrong part of the pack and things are not happening we will look to use the kicking game of carter and barnes to put us in the right areas.

In the right areas of the park we will be looking for carter to use the options outside him. Genia has been in super form the last 3 games being pretty much man of the match in them all and he will be looking to keep sarries honest whilst giving himself the option to hit carter with quick front foot ball.

From quick ball carter and barnes are looking to supply the bullets and isolate match ups outwide for may, Sharples and Dagg


Defensively we will be sending numbers in to the break down and using our physicality to really upset the sarries pack which is not the most physical in the world. we will also be looking to pressure the 10, 12 channel as this is new lineup for sarries and Farrell is certainly not known
for his attacking prowess.

Game Specific Tactics

1. Carry the ball relentlessly and put Sarries on the back foot. our physicality is much more than theirs.
2. Target lineout. We have a much better selection and experienced lineout outfit. Attwood Elstdadt and Wood vs Gray, Palmer and Bonnaire is a mismatch. this will further strangle possession.
3. Breakdown- We will send numbers in and try and disrupt their breakdown forcing turnovers or give messy ball.
4. Target 9,10,12- Hougaard is still learning his way at SH and genia will aim to exploit this. Same with 10 and 12. Lambie and Farrell are against proven WC performers in a big game. Big game temperament cannot be questioned of Genia, Carter and Barnes


Key points

1. Fatigue- We have rotated 7 of our pack and 3 of our backs and have been saving ourself for this game. Also we can afford to go 100% and not leave anything on the field unlike sarries who have to play next week

2. Ball carriers. Too keep the ball and keep possession like both teams want to in their tactics then ball carriers are required. We see Sarries as lacking in this area. Zanni, Janni, Elstadt, attwood smith and Wood are hardly great carriers.

3. Real life form - i will tackle pete's points here and not mention the players in his team who are out of form, there are a number though


1 Wood - Been injured since mid march so should not be losing ratings. was nominated for prem player of the year so great form

5 Palmer - Stade been in disarray this season, palmer is an international and if he is out of form he is still rated higher by the england management than Attwood. Also elstadt has played about 5 games this year all of them at flanker so he may be getting used to the second row in a heino final.
7 Burger - Been injured since end of world cup but is world class.Tom wood has been out all season so and is not world class so i imagine burger will be rated higher
9 Genia - Been brilliant in the last 3 games. Coincidentally when he is playing well the reds have been winning. also been playing in an injury ravaged side

10 Carter - i do not even need to comment where Carter is concerned. Best 10 in the world

11 Sharples - Been average in the last 2 months as needed an operation and in a poor glos side. As you said he is always an attacking threat and we will be doing the attacking as we will have the ball

12 Barnes - Been very good in the last few weeks again and some of his distribution for tries in the last few weeks has been immense

14 May - Glos have won no ball in the last 2 months whenever he receives the ball loooks dangerous. he is touched by magic and is simply dynamite


4. bench- We have real game changers to come on in hari, goosen, kahui etc.

5. Mentality- this is our final game we can put everything in to it and know we do not have to play next week. we are the current holders and know how to win it. Its a neutral venue and we almost beat sarrries away last week. sarries will have one eye on next weeks final

Congrats Matt

Well done Mat - and unlucky Pete, but at least you've got the AP final to try and make up for it though!

dammit_chris wrote:Well done Mat - and unlucky Pete, but at least you've got the AP final to try and make up for it though!

Tough couple of weeks for Sarries, we've enjoyed our week off whilst they've had the semi from hell and a losing HC final....bring on the AP!!!

Battle hardened vs. Off the pace it is then Pooly

Haha...something like that eh