Fantasy Amlin Challenge Cup Round Three

Amlin Challenge Cup Round Three

P1 Sale Sharks v Connacht

Sale Sharks
Manager – SJE

01. Vasil Kakovin	09. Ben Spencer
02. Darren Dawdiuk	10. James Hook
03. Luc Ducalcon
04. Dave Attwood	11. Kyle Eastmond
05. Christian Day	12. Jordan Turner-Hall
06. Matt Kvesic	13. Yann David
07. Matt Todd	14. Graig Gilroy
08. Wycliffe Palu	15. Luke Rooney

16. Jerome Schuster 17. Tommy Taylor 18. Neemia Tialata 19. Romain Millo-Chluski 20. Alex Tulou 21. Nicholas Bezy 22. JJ Hanrahan 23. Will Addison

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Tactics

We will look to play a fast paced attacking game using big carriers running of the 9/10 axis to get us over the gain line and generate quick ball. Keeping the ball alive is crucial so our carriers will be looking for support runners to hit on the offload and get us further over the gain line. Our back three will look to get involved as much as possible running support lines of the halfbacks and midfield looking for the inside ball or offload. If for whatever reason we aren’t getting quick ball, we will look to take control of territory with the boots of Spencer & Hook and force opposition to come at us from deep.

• With a powerful front 5 on show we will look to keep the scrum up and use it as a weapon. On our own feed we will look to get the wheel on and give our 8-9-10 axis as much room as possible to attack from.

• In opposition territory, with 5 jumping options to use, we will look to play off the top and move the ball out to Hook and the backs. In our own territory, we will look to take the ball down into the maul and drive ourselves into the right areas.

• We will play an aggressive blitz on defence, playing on the edge of the offside line and coming up at pace, looking to isolate the ball carrier and stop any opposition momentum before it can get going.

• Spencer will act as a sweeper and cover any chips or grubbers behind the defensive line.

• We will leave two players sitting deep to cover any kicks and they will look to counter attack of any loose ball.

• With the blitz in operation, we will look to be at the breakdown first hitting it hard and fast. If the ball looks available we will flood the breakdown with Kvesic & Todd looking to get their hands on the ball.

• If the ball is not immediately available we will only commit 1 or 2 players to legally slow the ball down and instead look to strengthen the defensive line.

Connacht

01. Dennis Buckley	09. Kieran Marmion
02. Adrian Flavin	10. Dan Parks
03. Nathan White (c)
04. Michael Swift	11. Fetu'u Vainikolo
05. Mike McCarthy	12. Dave McSharry
06. John Muldoon	13. Eoin Griffin
07. Willie Faloon	14. Tiernan O'Halloran
08. George Naoupu	15. Robbie Henshaw

16. Jason Harris Wright 17. Brett Wilkinson 18. Ronan Loughney 19. Eoin McKeon 20. Johnny O'Connor 21. Dave Moore 22. Miah Nikora 23. Mata Fifita

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P1 Bordeaux-Begles v Mont de Marsan

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P2 Worcester Warriors v Perpignan

Worcester Warriors
Manager - prop_lyd

01. Paul James	09. Dwayne Peel
02. Gary Botha	10. Olly Barkley
03. Chris Budgen
04. Ollie Kohn	11. Marcel Garvey
05. Leo Cullen	12. Fergus McFadden
06. Ryan Jones (c)	13. Matt Hopper
07. Scott Higginbotham	14. James Short
08. Mamuka Gorgodze	15. Rob Cook

16. Richardt Strauss 17. Beast 18. Fraser Balmain 19. Tom Savage 20. Ben Morgan 21. Eoin Reddan 22. Tom Heathcote 23. Marcelo Bosch

Tactics
Forwards to run hard, heavy pack to battle against their big pack, big carriers and plenty of lineout options here, we want to win well so will ruffle their feathers and look to control the breakdown.

Backs to play what's in front of them, we have form and strong runners who will look to offload to our big lumps to begin with we want terriotry then we will look for Hopper and Cook on the angles.

Perpignan will lose their cool away from home and we want to keep the scoreboard ticking so hard blitz defence with 9 peeling and look for turnovers and pressure. Go for goal when in range.


Perpignan

01. Jerome Schuster	09. David Mele
02. Maxime Delonca	10. Gilles Bosch
03. Nicolas Mas
04. Guillaume Vilaceca	11. Adrien Plante
05. Romain Taofifenua	12. Gavin Hume
06. Yoann Vivalda	13. Lifeimi Mafi
07. Bertrand Guiry	14. Farid Sid
08. Henry Tuilagi	15. Joffrey Michel

16. Guilhem Guirado 17. Sebastien Taofifenua 18. Pascal Cotet 19. Sebastien Vahaamahina 20. Luke Narraway 21. Florian Cazenave 22. Armand Batlle 23. Sione Piukala

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P2 Bizkaia Gernika RT v Femi-CZ VEA Rovigo

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P3 Bayonne v London Wasps

Bayonne

01. Aretz Iguiniz	09. Mike Phillips
02. David Roumieu	10. Benjamin Boyet
03. Nemiah Tialata
04. Abdellatif Boutaty	11. Marvin O'Connor
05. Mark Chisholm (c)	12. Gabi Lovobalavu
06. Jean-Jo Marmouyet	13. Thibault Lacroix
07. Dwayne Haare	14. Sam Gerber
08. Julien Puricelli	15. Scott Spedding

16. Francois Da Ros 17. Pierre Philippe Lafond 18. Vitolio Manukula 19. Robin Linde 20. Cedric Garcia 21. Marc Baget 22. Matthieu Ugalde 23. Cedric Heymans


London Wasps

Manager – Fluxy

01. Ben Daley	09. Haydn Thomas
02. Sean Cronin	10. Stephen Myler
03. Shaun Knight
04. Mouritz Botha	11. Tom Varndell
05. Marco Wentzel	12. Brad Barritt
06. Steve Mafi	13. George Pisi
07. Jonathon Poff	14. Topsy Ojo
08. Roger Wilson	15. Simon Zebo

16. Huia Edmonds 17. Charlie Beech 18.Carlos Nieto 19. Dan Tuohy 20. 21. Jonah Holmes 22. Dan Bowden 23.

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P3 Rugby Mogliano v Newport Gwent Dragons

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P4 Bath Rugby v Cammi Rugby Calvisano

Bath Rugby
Manager – inthefastlane

01. Jon Golding	09. Chris Cook
02. Chris Brooker	10. Gareth Anscombe
03. Charle Faumuania
04. Louis Deacon	11. Napolini Nalaga
05. Graham Kitchener	12. Luther Burrell
06. Brad Shields	13. Stuart Hogg
07. Akapusi Qera	14. Tim Nanai Williams
08. Tom Guest	15. Mike Harris

16. Cian Healy 17. Kevin Mealamu 18. Carl Rimmer 19. Sam Whitelock 20. James Haskell 21. Fourie Du Preez22. Cory Jane 23. Rob Miller


Calvisano

01. Andrea Lovotti	09. Gullo Palazzani
02. Luigi Ferraro	10. Paul Griffen
03. Gabriele Morelli
04. Jaco Erasmus	11. Ben de Jager
05. Alessio Zdrilich	12. Andy Vilk
06. Giacomo Brancoli	13. Pablo Canavosio
07. Gabriele Cicchinelli	14. Alberto Bergamo
08. Samu Vunisa	15. Shaun Berne

16. Andrea Gavazzi 17. Luca Scarsini 18. Marco Coletti 19. Luca Beccaris 20. Jacopo Salvetti 21. Simon Picone 22. Andrea Marcato 23. Tommy Castello

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P4 Bucharest Wolves v Agen

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P5 Grenoble v London Welsh

Grenoble

01. Albertus Buckle	09. Jonathan Pelissie
02. Anthony Hegarty	10. Nicolas Laharrague
03. Karim Kouider
04. Thibault Rey	11. Florian Ninard
05. Andrew Farley (c)	12. Aloisio Butonidualevu
06. Florent Fourcade	13. Ronald Cooke
07. Fabien Alexandre	14. Matthieu Nicolas
08. Flavein Nouhaillaguet	15. Joaquim Tuculet

16. Laurent Bouchet 17. Romain David 18. Gregory Fabro 19. Jonathan Best 20. Rida Jaouher 21. Viliame Waqaseduadua 22. Clement Darbo 23. Florian Faure


London Welsh
Manager – Ozzy3213

01. Brett Sturgess	09. Tomas O’Leary
02. Chris Whitehead	10. Patric Lambie
03. David Wilson
04. Dean Schofield ©	11. James Simpson-Daniel
05. James Hanks	12. Gavin Henson
06. Ofisa Treviranus	13. Darren Cave
07. Maurie Fa’asavalu	14. Matt Jess
08. Sione Kalamafoni	15. Tom Homer

16. Christopher Tolofua 17. Steven Kitschoff 18. Frans Malherbe 19. Sitaleki Timani 20. Luke Wallace 21. Paul Hodgson 22. Joel Tomkins 23. Louis Ludik

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P5 I Cavalieri Prato v Stade Francais Paris

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Bath Rugby
Manager – inthefastlane

01. Jon Golding	09. Chris Cook
02. Chris Brooker	10. Gareth Anscombe
03. Charle Faumuania
04. Louis Deacon	11. Napolini Nalaga
05. Graham Kitchener	12. Luther Burrell
06. Brad Shields	13. Stuart Hogg
07. Akapusi Qera	14. Tim Nanai Williams
08. Tom Guest	15. Mike Harris

16. Cian Healy 17. Kevin Mealamu 18. Carl Rimmer 19. Sam Whitelock 20. James Haskell 21. Fourie Du Preez22. Cory Jane 23. Rob Miller

01. Paul James	09. Dwayne Peel
02. Gary Botha	10. Olly Barkley
03. Chris Budgen
04. Ollie Kohn	11. Marcel Garvey
05. Leo Cullen	12. Fergus McFadden
06. Ryan Jones (c)	13. Matt Hopper
07. Scott Higginbotham	14. James Short
08. Mamuka Gorgodze	15. Rob Cook

16. Richardt Strauss 17. Beast 18. Fraser Balmain 19. Tom Savage 20. Ben Morgan 21. Eoin Reddan 22. Tom Heathcote 23. Marcelo Bosch

Tactics
Forwards to run hard, heavy pack to battle against their big pack, big carriers and plenty of lineout options here, we want to win well so will ruffle their feathers and look to control the breakdown.

Backs to play what's in front of them, we have form and strong runners who will look to offload to our big lumps to begin with we want terriotry then we will look for Hopper and Cook on the angles.

Perpignan will lose their cool away from home and we want to keep the scoreboard ticking so hard blitz defence with 9 peeling and look for turnovers and pressure. Go for goal when in range.

James McFadden is a scottish footballer Prop

Argh you worked out my secret plan

Not sure if Charteris can play against his own club so put Cullen in there too.

No he can't, Charteris is a Perpignan player for this game.

Ok cool, will put Cullen in!

London Wasps

Manager – Fluxy

01. Ben Daley	09. Haydn Thomas
02. Sean Cronin	10. Stephen Myler
03. Shaun Knight
04. Mouritz Botha	11. Tom Varndell
05. Marco Wentzel	12. Brad Barritt
06. Steve Mafi	13. George Pisi
07. Jonathon Poff	14. Topsy Ojo
08. Roger Wilson	15. Simon Zebo

16. Huia Edmonds 17. Charlie Beech 18.Carlos Nieto 19. Dan Tuohy 20. 21. Jonah Holmes 22. Dan Bowden 23. Matt Banahan

Sale Sharks
Manager – SJE

01. Vasil Kakovin	09. Ben Spencer
02. Darren Dawdiuk	10. James Hook
03. Luc Ducalcon
04. Dave Attwood	11. Kyle Eastmond
05. Christian Day	12. Jordan Turner-Hall
06. Matt Kvesic	13. Yann David
07. Matt Todd	14. Graig Gilroy
08. Wycliffe Palu	15. Luke Rooney

16. Jerome Schuster 17. Tommy Taylor 18. Neemia Tialata 19. Romain Millo-Chluski 20. Alex Tulou 21. Nicholas Bezy 22. JJ Hanrahan 23. Will Addison

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Tactics

We will look to play a fast paced attacking game using big carriers running of the 9/10 axis to get us over the gain line and generate quick ball. Keeping the ball alive is crucial so our carriers will be looking for support runners to hit on the offload and get us further over the gain line. Our back three will look to get involved as much as possible running support lines of the halfbacks and midfield looking for the inside ball or offload. If for whatever reason we aren’t getting quick ball, we will look to take control of territory with the boots of Spencer & Hook and force opposition to come at us from deep.

• With a powerful front 5 on show we will look to keep the scrum up and use it as a weapon. On our own feed we will look to get the wheel on and give our 8-9-10 axis as much room as possible to attack from.

• In opposition territory, with 5 jumping options to use, we will look to play off the top and move the ball out to Hook and the backs. In our own territory, we will look to take the ball down into the maul and drive ourselves into the right areas.

• We will play an aggressive blitz on defence, playing on the edge of the offside line and coming up at pace, looking to isolate the ball carrier and stop any opposition momentum before it can get going.

• Spencer will act as a sweeper and cover any chips or grubbers behind the defensive line.

• We will leave two players sitting deep to cover any kicks and they will look to counter attack of any loose ball.

• With the blitz in operation, we will look to be at the breakdown first hitting it hard and fast. If the ball looks available we will flood the breakdown with Kvesic & Todd looking to get their hands on the ball.

• If the ball is not immediately available we will only commit 1 or 2 players to legally slow the ball down and instead look to strengthen the defensive line.

Pete,

Struggling for time this week. Got the head down studying for accounting exams next week. May not get on for predictions

No worries bud, thanks for letting me know.

London Welsh
Manager – Ozzy3213

01. Brett Sturgess	09. Tomas O’Leary
02. Chris Whitehead	10. Patric Lambie
03. David Wilson
04. Dean Schofield ©	11. James Simpson-Daniel
05. James Hanks	12. Gavin Henson
06. Ofisa Treviranus	13. Darren Cave
07. Maurie Fa’asavalu	14. Matt Jess
08. Sione Kalamafoni	15. Tom Homer

16. Christopher Tolofua 17. Steven Kitschoff 18. Frans Malherbe 19. Sitaleki Timani 20. Luke Wallace 21. Paul Hodgson 22. Joel Tomkins 23. Louis Ludik

Match thread updated, predictions are OPEN

Sale 27 - 14 Connaucht
Sale too strong all over and tries out wide.

Warriors 23 - 15 Perpignan
Again pack is too good and Perpignan arent great travelling away.

Bayonne 15 - 20 Wasps
Great pack and will win this one quite comfortably.

Bath 62 - 6 Cammi
Easy.

Grenoble 12 - 35 Welsh
Grenoble arent great - Welsh lot better.

Sharks 24-12 Connacht
Connacht aren't pushovers but Sale are too strong.

Bayonne 10-17 Wasps
Backrow and outside backs will take this for Wasps.

Bath 54-9 Calvisano
Too much from Bath

Grenoble 14-38 Welsh
Welsh too strong, love the backrow!!

Sale 32 - 15 Connacht

tought for Sale for 60 mins, then they pull away with the extra quality. Big test next week on the return leg.

Worcester 25 - 15 Perpignan

Worcester have a little bit more across the park. Should be comfortable in the end.

Bayonne 12 - 16 Wasps

Tough affair this. I think Wasps have the extra quality in key areas to get a fine away win.

Bath 37 - 6 Calvisano

Easy this for Bath. A bit of talent in the Italian side but not enough to contain Bath.

Grenoble 13 - 30 Welsh

Tough for Welsh in first 40 then they pull away. Good win in France

P2 Worcester Warriors 20-15 Perpignan
Worcester struggle a little at scrum time but backrow is a class above and will dominate this game.

P3 Bayonne 12-20 London Wasps
Wasps have that bit more quality about them and pick up a comfortable win.

P4 Bath Rugby 31-15 Cammi Rugby Calvisano
Bath a class above. Inexperienced halfbacks stop them routing the opposition

P5 Grenoble 9-22 London Welsh
Work man like pack from Welsh but they should get the upper hand and much more quality in the backs.

Sale 27-13 Connacht
Too strong all over and the form Gilroy is in, can't see him being stopped from causing havoc.

Warriors 26-20 Perpignan
Could be difficult game away from home but Perpignan are not the best travellers

Bayonne 14-19 Wasps
Good win for Wasps, just too much all over, especially outside backs.

Grenoble 6-33 Welsh
Bit too easy for Welsh really. Absolute smashing especially in the backs

Sale 32 - 15 Connacht
Sale a bit too much. Be a tough away game for the reverse


Worcester 25 - 18Perpignan

Worcester have a little bit more across the park fairly routine and French not travelling well

Bayonne 12 - 13Wasps

Extra quality in some key positions means they squeak it

Bath 47 - 6 Calvisano

Routine
Grenoble 16 - 32 Welsh

Welsh will be on top start to finish. Great Backrow

Sale 27 - 15 Connacht

Worcester 23 - 20 Perpignan

Bayonne 18 - 28 Wasps

Bath 35 - 12 Calvisano

Grenoble 9 - 36 Welsh

Sale Sharks 25 Connacht 16

Next week will be much tougher at the Sportsground, but at home Sale a better side and will win.


Worcester Warriors 24 Perpignan 19

Routine home win against a fairly average Perpignan side.


Bayonne 15 London Wasps 28

Too much quality from Wasps for Bayonne to handle, even at home.


Bath Rugby 60 Calvisano 6

Calvisano are rubbish, this Bath side would cut them to ribbons.

Sale Sharks 24 - 19 Connacht

Easy result really for Sale. Despite the efforts of the away pack and Dan Parks.

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Worcester Warriors 25 - 21 Perpignan

Closeest game of the round. Perpignan are no slouches but just enough power from Wuss to win this contest

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Bath Rugby 45 - 5 Calvisano

Now to the easiest game of the round, Bath are just to strong all round.

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Grenoble 17 - 27 London Welsh

Grenoble aren't a bad side out wide, with Laharrague and Tuculet for example. But upfront they will get munched and an easy win for Welsh.

Sale 30 Connacht 14
Worcester 19 Perpignan 12
Bayonne 10 Wasps 12
Bath 55 Calvisano 3
Grenoble 12 London Welsh 25

Sale 32 20 Connacht
Worcester 25 15 Perpignan
Bayonne 14 20 Wasps
Bath 48 0 Calvisano
Grenoble 3 34 London Welsh

For information only predictions that were in prior to the cut off time have been used to determine results. (Not me being arsey, just I did the results yesterday morning but was waiting for the conlcusion of all games to post them.)

RESULTS

P1 Sale Sharks 31 (4T 4C 1P) Connacht 15 (5P)
P1 Bordeaux- Begles 13 (1T 1C 2P) Mont de Marsan 20 (2T 2C 2P)

P2 Worcester Warriors 28 (3T 2C 3P) Perpignan 18 (6P)
P2 Bizkaia Gernika RT 13 (1T 1C 2P) Femi-CZ Vea Rovigo 3 (1P)

P3 Bayonne 14 (2T 2C) London Wasps 24 (3T 3C 1P)
P3 Rugby Mogliano 0 Newport Gwent Dragons 33 (5T 4C)

P4 Bath Rugby 50 (8T 5C) Cammi Rugby Calvisano 8 (1T 1P)
P4 Bucharest Wolves 25 (3T 2C 2P) Agen 22 (3T 2C 1P)

P5 Grenoble 12 (4P) London Welsh 36 (5T 4C 1P)
P5 I Cavilieri Prato 23 (3T 1C 2P) Stade Francais 37 (5T 3C 2P)


Will try to get tables updated tonight but could well be tomorrow before I have time to get them done.