Fantasy Heineken Cup Round Six

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P1 Gloucester vs. Edinburgh Rugby

Gloucester

01. Nick wood	09. Connor Murray
02. Adriaan Strauss	10. Johan Goosen(k)
03. Rupert Harden
04. Tom Palmer	11. Johnny May
05. Richie Grey(c)	12. Berrick Barnes
06. Willem Alberts	13. Richard Kahui
07. Andy Saull	14. Charlie Sharples
08. Jamie Heaslip	15. Iain Balshaw

16. Dan Murphy 17. Joe Grey 18. Jamie johnstone 19. Eben Erzbeth20. Immanol harinordoqouy 21. Dan Robson22. Dan Carter 23. Israel Dagg


Tactics


Perfect conditions at home vs the bottom team in Europe. Aim to dominate set pieces attack off front foot ball and target a huge winning margin. Teams have roasted Edinburgh this year and we plan the same.

Massively impactful bench to make it a cricket score


Edinburgh

01. Robin Hislop	09. Richie Rees
02. Steve Lawrie	10. Greig Laidlaw (c)
03. Wp Nel
04. Grant Gilchrist	11. Tim Vissier
05. Sean Cox	12. Matt Scott
06. Stuart McInally	13. Ben Cairns
07. Dimitri Basilaia	14. Douglas Fife
08. David Denton	15. Greig Tonks

16. Andy Titterrell 17. Alex Allan 18. Geoff Cross 19. Netani Talei 20. Roddy Grant 21. Piers Francis 22. Ben Atiga 23. Sep Visser

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P1 Munster Rugby vs. Racing Métro 92

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P2 Saracens vs. Toulouse

Saracens Football Club
Manager – DHLS07

01. Matt Mullan	09. Dewaldt Duvenage
02. John Smit (c)	10. Gareth Steenson
03. Jannie du Plessis
04. Flip van der Merwe	11. Mark Cueto
05. Louis Deacon	12. Ma'a Nonu
06. Joe van Niekerk	13. Jean de Villiers
07. Liam Gill	14. Adam Thompstone
08. Billy Vunipola	15. Elliott Daly

16. George Chuter 17. Max Lahiff 18. Werner Kruger 19. Rob Simmons 20. Phil Dowson 21. 22. Francois Trinh-Duc 23. Henry Trinder

Tactics

- Very much a traditional South African game plan as adopted by Heyneke Meyer.

- Big emphasis on the forwards dominating their opponents with their physicality. Be abrasive and niggly and get under the skin of the Toulouse forwards.

- Tight forward dominated game with big carriers punching holes in the Toulouse defence.

- Kick/Chase game using our wingers to hunt the ball as it drops and if the opposition winger takes it to wrap him up in the tackle and isolate him to either win us the turnover or the penalty.

- Really go for it on turnover ball and get the ball through the hands and exploit the disorganised defence.

- Use Daly's cannon of a boot to play in the Toulouse half of the pitch.

- Solid defensive line with Liam Gill either stealing or slowing the ball at the breakdown.

- If we are going through the phases and getting nowhere near to the Toulouse twenty-two then take the drop goal and the three points.


Toulouse

01. Vasil Kakovin	09. Luke Burgess
02. Gary Botha	10. Luke McAlister
03. Census Johnston
04. Romain Millo-Chluski	11. Yoann Huget
05. Patricio Albacete	12. Yannick Jauzion
06. Gregory Lamboley	13. Florian Fritz
07. Yannick Nyanga	14. Vincent Clerc
08. Louis Picamoles	15. Clement Poitrenaud

16. Christopher Tolofua 17. Gurthro Steenkamp 18. Yohan Montes 19. Yoann Maestri 20. Sylvain Nicolas 21. Jean-Marc Doussain 22. Maxime Medard 23. Gaël Fickou

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P2 Benetton Treviso vs. Ospreys

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P3 Northampton Saints vs. Zebre

Northampton Saints
Manager - Dammit Chris

01.Mako Vunipola	09.Mike Phillps
02.Rob Webber	10.Matt Giteau(k)
03.Ben Teimanafo
04.Joe Launchbury	11.Juan Jose Imhoff
05.Patricio Albacete	12.Wesley Fofana
06.Dan Lydiate	13.Manu Tuilagi
07.Calum Clark	14.Christian Wade
08.Sergio Parisse(c)	15.Ben Foden

Subs: 16. Mike Haywood 17. Thomas Domingo 18. Loti Mulipola 19. Liam Messam 20. Sam Cane 21. Joe Simpson 22. Ben Botica 23. Tomassi Benvenutti

Tactics:

- Control the game through the power in the pack, set a high tempo and take the game to Zebre from the first minute. Will look to play an expansive game, spreading the Zebre defence all over the pitch.

- Playmaking no10 to provide backline with scoring opportunities as we seek a BP win at home with try scorers in the backthree and in the centres.

- Impact bench - new front row early second half and then other players to come on and up the tempo in final 20-30mins.


Zebre

01. Matias Aguero	09. Alberto Chillon
02. Andrea Manici	10. Luciano Orquera
03. David Ryan
04. Quintin Geldenhuys	11. Sinoti Sinoti
05. Mike Van Vuren	12. Daniel Halangahu
06. Filippo Ferrarini	13. Gonzalo Garcia
07. Mauro Bergamasco	14. Matteo Prtichetti
08. Josh Sole	15. Paulo Buso

16. Carlo Festuccia 17. Luca Redolfini 18. Salvatore Perugini 19. Emiliano Caffini 20. Nicola Belardo 21. Tito Tebaldi 22. Alberto Benettin 23. Ruggero Trevisan

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P3 Biarritz Olympique vs. Newcastle Falcons

Biarritz Olympique

01. Fabien Barcella	09. Dimitri Yachvili
02. Jean-Philippe Genevois	10. Jean-Pascal Barraque
03. Eugene Van Staden
04. Jerome Thion	11. Aled Brew
05. Pelu Taele	12. Damien Traille
06. Magnus Lund	13. Benoit Baby
07. Wenceslas Lauret	14. Iain Balshaw
08. Raphael Lakafia	15. Marcelo Bosch

16. Arnaud Heguy 17. Thomas Synaeghe, 18. Ben Broster 19. Thibault Dubarry 20. Imanol Harinordoquy 21. Yann Lesgourgues 22. Julien Peyrelongue 23. Seremaïa Burotu


Newcastle Falcons
Manager - Driver

01.Soane Tonga'uhia	09.Ben Youngs
02.Lee Mears	10.Toby Flood
03.Paul Doran Jones
04.Yoaan Masteri	11.Alex Cuthbert
05.Paul O'Connell	12.Scott Williams
06.Tom Croft	13.George Lowe
07.Richie McCaw(c)	14.Tommy Bowe
08.Toby Falatau	15.Alex Goode

16.Alex Waller 17.Agustin Creevy 18.Scott Wilson 19.Ed Slater 20.Chris Robshaw 21.Luke Burguss 22.Aaron Cruden 23.Miles Benjiman

Tactics

Keep the tempo high , move the point of contact and stretch the OB Defence line.

Use our big runners off the set piece with Cuthbert and Bowe coming into the line running a second line behind the midfield to attack the gaps.

Youngs to tap and go and keep the OB line honest with Flood taking the ball to the line to get Williams/Lowe moving in the midfield.

POC and Croft to release the ball sharpish from the lineout with line being shortened with Falatau and McCaw giving Flood a forward option.

McCaw to target the deck to slow ball down or turn it over.

Burguss/Cruden on at 55 mins to keep tempo high.

Flood to build a lead through penalties in range , or Goode to kick them if Flood struggles following his injury.

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P4 Glasgow Warriors vs. Leicester Tigers

Glasgow Warriors

01. Ryan Grant	09. Henry Pyrgos
02. Dougie Hall	10. Duncan Weir
03. Moray Low
04. Tom Ryder	11. DTH van der Merwe
05. Alastair Kellock (c)	12. Peter Horne
06. James Eddie	13. Alex Dunbar
07. Rob Harley	14. Sean Maitland
08. Josh Strauss	15. Peter Murchie

16. Pat MacArthur 17. Gordon Reid 18. 19. Nick Campbell 20. Tim Swinson 21. Niko Matawalu, 22. Scott Wight 23. Stuart Hogg


Leicester Tigers
Manager – LukeLovesLuka

01. Gethin Jenkins (c)	09. Michael Claasens
02. Tom Youngs	10. Frederic Michalak (k)
03. Cencus Johnston
04. Simon Shaw	11. Ugo Monye
05. Geoff Parling	12. Billy Twelvetrees
06. Francois Louw	13. Rene Ranger
07. James Scaysbrook	14. Vincent Clerc
08. Thomas Waldrom	15. Kurtley Beale

16. Andrew Sheridan 17. Stephen Moore 18. Brian Mujati 19. Nathan Hines 20. Steve Mafi 21. Micky Young 22. Dominic Waldouck 23. Clement Poitreanud

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P4 Castres Olympique vs. Ulster Rugby

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P5 London Irish vs. Leinster Rugby

Leinster

01. Cian Healy	09. Isaac Boss
02. Sean Cronin	10. Johnny Sexton
03. Mike Ross
04. Leo Cullen (c)	11. Luke Fitzgerald
05. Devin Toner	12. Gordon D'Arcy
06. Rhys Ruddock	13. Fergus McFadden
07. Shane Jennings	14. Isa Nacewa
08. Jamie Heaslip	15. Rob Kearney

16. Aaron Dundon 17. Heinke Van der Merwe 18. Michael Bent 19. Tom Denton 20. Jordi Murphy 21. Eoin Reddan 22. Ian Madigan 23. Brian O'Driscoll

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P5 Scarlets vs. ASM Clermont Auvergne

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P6 Cardiff Blues vs. Harlequins

Cardiff Blues

01. Sam Hobbs	09. Lewis Jones
02. Rhys Williams	10. Rhys Patchell
03. Benoit Bourrust
04. James Down	11. Harry Robinson
05. Lou Reed	12. Jamie Roberts
06. Josh Navidi (c)	13. Owen Williams
07. Sam Warburton	14. Alex Cuthbert
08. Robin Copeland	15. Leigh Halfpenny

16. Kristian Dacey 17. Nathan Trevett 18. Scott Andrews 19. Macauley Cook 20. Luke Hamilton 21. Gareth Davies 22. Ceri Sweeney 23. Dafydd Hewitt

Harlequins
Manager – Steven_Sharks

01. Joe Marler	09. Francois Houghard
02. Schalk Brits	10. Freddie Burns (k)
03. Ben Franks
04. George Kruis	11. Zac Guildford
05. Steve Borthwick (c)	12. Felipe Contepomi
06. Tom Wood	13. Jonathan Joseph
07. Michael Hooper	14. Yoann Huget
08. Nick Easter	15. Rob Kearney

16. Rob Buchanan 17. Wyatt Crockett 18. John Afoa 19. Bakkies Botha 20. Dave Denton 21. Lee Dickson 22. Quade Cooper 23. Matt Smith

Tactics

We are going for the 5 point win. We want to put on big pressure up front and score some tries. Ultimately the win in the most important thing but 4 tries is also hugely important. Keep the ball in and tire Cardiff and then exploit the gaps wherever they come with Houghard, Burns and Contepomi controlling the game and directing out forwards and backs. Cardiff have nothing to play for so we feel they will be beatable at the Arms Park.

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P6 Montpellier vs. Toulon

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Newcastle Falcons

Manager - Driver

01.Soane Tonga'uhia	09.Ben Youngs
02.Lee Mears	10.Toby Flood
03.Paul Doran Jones
04.Yoaan Masteri	11.Alex Cuthbert
05.Paul O'Connell	12.Scott Williams
06.Tom Croft	13.George Lowe
07.Richie McCaw(c)	14.Tommy Bowe
08.Toby Falatau	15.Alex Goode

16.Alex Waller 17.Agustin Creevy 18.Scott Wilson 19.Ed Slater 20.Chris Robshaw 21.Luke Burguss 22.Aaron Cruden 23.Miles Benjiman

Tactics

Keep the tempo high , move the point of contact and stretch the OB Defence line.

Use our big runners off the set piece with Cuthbert and Bowe coming into the line running a second line behind the midfield to attack the gaps.

Youngs to tap and go and keep the OB line honest with Flood taking the ball to the line to get Williams/Lowe moving in the midfield.

POC and Croft to release the ball sharpish from the lineout with line being shortened with Falatau and McCaw giving Flood a forward option.

McCaw to target the deck to slow ball down or turn it over.

Burguss/Cruden on at 55 mins to keep tempo high.

Flood to build a lead through penalties in range , or Goode to kick them if Flood struggles following his injury.

Northampton Saints
Manager - Dammit Chris

01.Mako Vunipola	09.Mike Phillps
02.Rob Webber	10.Matt Giteau(k)
03.Ben Teimanafo
04.Joe Launchbury	11.Juan Jose Imhoff
05.Patricio Albacete	12.Wesley Fofana
06.Dan Lydiate	13.Manu Tuilagi
07.Calum Clark	14.Christian Wade
08.Sergio Parisse(c)	15.Ben Foden

Subs: 16. Mike Haywood 17. Thomas Domingo 18. Loti Mulipola 19. Liam Messam 20. Sam Cane 21. Joe Simpson 22. Ben Botica 23. Tomassi Benvenutti

Tactics:

- Control the game through the power in the pack, set a high tempo and take the game to Zebre from the first minute. Will look to play an expansive game, spreading the Zebre defence all over the pitch.

- Playmaking no10 to provide backline with scoring opportunities as we seek a BP win at home with try scorers in the backthree and in the centres.

- Impact bench - new front row early second half and then other players to come on and up the tempo in final 20-30mins.

Leicester Tigers have named their side to play Glasgow Warriors this week.

Tigers have made 5 changes to the side that beat Castres 33-14 last week. Gethin Jenkins is the only change to the front five in place of Andrew Sheridan, whilst Francois Louw and Thomas Waldrom come into the back row for Sean O'Brien and Ernst Joubert. Billy Twelvetrees comes in for Dominic Waldouck, whilst Ugo Monye replaces Isa Nacewa in the only other change to the back line.

Gethin Jenkins captains the side in the absence of James Horwill and Brian O'Driscoll.


Leicester Tigers
Manager – LukeLovesLuka

01. Gethin Jenkins (c)	09. Michael Claasens
02. Tom Youngs	10. Frederic Michalak (k)
03. Cencus Johnston
04. Simon Shaw	11. Ugo Monye
05. Geoff Parling	12. Billy Twelvetrees
06. Francois Louw	13. Rene Ranger
07. James Scaysbrook	14. Vincent Clerc
08. Thomas Waldrom	15. Kurtley Beale

16. Andrew Sheridan 17. Stephen Moore 18. Brian Mujati 19. Nathan Hines 20. Steve Mafi 21. Micky Young 22. Dominic Waldouck 23. Clement Poitreanud

Harlequins
Manager – Steven_Sharks

01. Joe Marler	09. Francois Houghard
02. Schalk Brits	10. Freddie Burns (k)
03. Ben Franks
04. George Kruis	11. Zac Guildford
05. Steve Borthwick (c)	12. Felipe Contepomi
06. Tom Wood	13. Jonathan Joseph
07. Michael Hooper	14. Yoann Huget
08. Nick Easter	15. Rob Kearney

16. Rob Buchanan 17. Wyatt Crockett 18. John Afoa 19. Bakkies Botha 20. Dave Denton 21. Lee Dickson 22. Quade Cooper 23. Matt Smith

Tactics

We are going for the 5 point win. We want to put on big pressure up front and score some tries. Ultimately the win in the most important thing but 4 tries is also hugely important. Keep the ball in and tire Cardiff and then exploit the gaps wherever they come with Houghard, Burns and Contepomi controlling the game and directing out forwards and backs. Cardiff have nothing to play for so we feel they will be beatable at the Arms Park.

Saracens Football Club
Manager – DHLS07

01. Matt Mullan	09. Dewaldt Duvenage
02. John Smit (c)	10. Gareth Steenson
03. Jannie du Plessis
04. Flip van der Merwe	11. Mark Cueto
05. Louis Deacon	12. Ma'a Nonu
06. Joe van Niekerk	13. Jean de Villiers
07. Liam Gill	14. Adam Thompstone
08. Billy Vunipola	15. Elliott Daly

16. George Chuter 17. Max Lahiff 18. Werner Kruger 19. Rob Simmons 20. Phil Dowson 21. Jean-Marc Doussain 22. Francois Trinh-Duc 23. Henry Trinder

Tactics

- Very much a traditional South African game plan as adopted by Heyneke Meyer.

- Big emphasis on the forwards dominating their opponents with their physicality. Be abrasive and niggly and get under the skin of the Toulouse forwards.

- Tight forward dominated game with big carriers punching holes in the Toulouse defence.

- Kick/Chase game using our wingers to hunt the ball as it drops and if the opposition winger takes it to wrap him up in the tackle and isolate him to either win us the turnover or the penalty.

- Really go for it on turnover ball and get the ball through the hands and exploit the disorganised defence.

- Use Daly's cannon of a boot to play in the Toulouse half of the pitch.

- Solid defensive line with Liam Gill either stealing or slowing the ball at the breakdown.

- If we are going through the phases and getting nowhere near to the Toulouse twenty-two then take the drop goal and the three points.

01. Nick wood	09. Connor Murray
02. Adriaan Strauss	10. Johan Goosen(k)
03. Rupert Harden
04. Tom Palmer	11. Johnny May
05. Richie Grey(c)	12. Berrick Barnes
06. Willem Alberts	13. Richard Kahui
07. Andy Saull	14. Charlie Sharples
08. Jamie Heaslip	15. Iain Balshaw

16. Dan Murphy 17. Joe Grey 18. Jamie johnstone 19. Eben Erzbeth20. Immanol harinordoqouy 21. Dan Robson22. Dan Carter 23. Israel Dagg


Tactics[/quote]


Perfect conditions at home vs the bottom team in Europe. Aim to dominate set pieces attack off front foot ball and target a huge winning margin. Teams have roasted Edinburgh this year and we plan the same.

Massively impactful bench to make it a cricket score

Thread updated, predictions OPEN

Gloucester 38 - 18 Edinburgh
In Scotland this would be a lot closer, but an Edinburgh team low of confidence, hardly knowing how to score a try will get ruined at the Shed. Impact bench will see Gloucester walk it and Edinburgh just want their HC campaign to end.

Saracens 21 - 20 Toulouse
Toulouse haven't impressed me that much so far this season and with some world class players scattered throughout the Sarries team I think this could be a great home win. Toulouse forwards are very good but can't see their backs getting any joy, whilst Nonu and de Villiers is a very good combination to get you front foot ball.

Biarritz 11 - 18 Newcastle
Tough place to travel away, but Biarritz haven't been great this season. Will be hard, physical contest but see Falcons getting some joy in the setpiece - only issue for me with them is O'Connoll and Croft not having much form.

Glasgow 12 - 30 Tigers
Too much all over the park for Tigers - Scottish club rugby in real trouble at the moment.

Irish - Leinster
No Irish team?

Cardiff 22 - 27 Quins
Again will be a hard game for Quins but they will win away from home - they could struggle with gainline breakers until Botha and Denton come on, as Easter will be doing a lot of the work there, but Quins got a good balance over the park and a great backrow that will cause Blues all sorts of problems.

Gloucester 49 - 10 Edinburgh

You can ignore Edinburgh's bad form this season. Gloucester will tonk them here and finish off a successful HC Pool.

Saracens 19 - 17 Toulouse

Great game this one. Probably the game of the round. Upfront I think Saracens are the stronger side but I think the Toulouse backs have a little more craft but the size of the Saracens backline will help them. Half backs to Toulouse also makes a difference. It's very tight, but I'm giving it to Saracens at home.

Northampton 62 - 15 Zebre

Saints canter home here. Big win with a strong side which will take Zebre apart. Safely through to the next round. Only real issue might be at scrum time where Zebre should be competitive.

Biarittz 15 - 24 Newcastle

Newcastle win this game up front. Very tough place to go but Driver has picked a side with an especially strong pack to do a job on the Frenchmen, who have good players but not across the board.

Glasgow 22 - 32 Leicester

Easy win again for Leicester. Glasgow keep it tight in early exchanges but Leicester will begin to pull away as the game goes on. Good TBP win.

Irish 0 - 30 Leinster

Ends a pretty miserable HC campaign for Irish.

Gloucester 41-16 Edinburgh
Worst side in European history against a strong Glaws side. Only one outcome here.


Saracens 17-18 Toulouse
Toulouse that bit stronger in the back 5 of the pack and give McAllister the shots at goal needed.


Northampton 53-9 Zebre
Saints backrow a bit unbalanced but with a lot of big names on show they pick up a great points for booster.


Biarittz 16-31 Newcastle
Falcons pack gives them control away in France


Glasgow 20-30 Leicester
Glasgow a decent side and will stick it up to Tigers but fall away in the last quarter to Tigers extra bit of quality


Irish 0 - 30 Leinster


Blues 13-23 Quins
Quins have enough quality to see the win but struggle to get over the gain line at times in this one

Two Doussains in the Sarries match

Eagle-eyed today SJE, good work. As per my match in the Amlin and others previously this season, Saracens are now a man short on the bench.

Not sure dhl would have known this rule Pete. It's hard when you start to get your head around all rules

Gloucester 55 Edinburgh 13

Gloucester have way too much for a poor edingburgh side , Only Visser will cause Glaws problems in this game.

Saracens 15 Toulouse 12

Best way to beat the best is get your basics right and Saracens game plan suggests this. Toulouse not being at there best is a big help.

Northampton Saints 68 Zebre

Yeah Zebra..............

Glawsgow Warrions 19 Leicester Tigers 37

Glasgow are tough team to crack at home but tigers run riot after a while are bag the TBP.

London Irish 0 Leinster 30

Leinster unstoppable this week , almost as if Irish didn't turn up.

Cardiff Blues 6 Harlequins 28

Blues another poor side and Quins better throughout.

Saracens18-18 Toulouse
Toulouse that bit stronger in the back 5 of the pack but sarries have some great players and set out well. Toulouse not what they were but pedigree snatches the draw


Northampton 72-9 Zebre
Saints qualify top seeds I think. Easy


Biarittz 16-20 Newcastle
Falcons pack gets on top. Horrible place to play and conditions awful as the Atlantic winds thrash the place. Reason why Biarritz is a windsurfing and kiting hot spot.

Glasgow 20-40Leicester
Tigers extra bit of quality





Blues 13-23 Quins
Quins have enough quality to be in game and bench takes it away

Gloucester 32 - 12 Edinburgh

Decent team from the North border who will play a hard game. But their form has been iffy. A class above from Gloucester who will seal a strong win.

Saracens 20 - 22 Toulouse

A brilliant contest up front this one. But I think the experience of the Toulouse back row and halfbacks will steer them to a sneaky win. Unfortunate for Sarries but McAlisters reliable boot wins it.

Northampton Saints 43 - 9 Zebre

Big home win for the Saints, easily securing the bonus point. With a bit more grit for me in the front five.

Biarittz 17 - 27 Newcastle Falcons

Falcons pack win the game, with their backs scoring the points. Tough game away BO, but they take it in their stride.

Glasgow 18 - 31 Leicester Tigers

The strong Tigers squad will put them in the hot seat for an easy win. They'll push for the bonus pint and just get it, Glasgow aren't quite the force they could be in Europe.

London Irish 0 - 30 Leinster

Cardiff Blues 16 - 25 Harlequins

Just too much overall class from Quins will see them get the win here. Blues backs can cause havoc but not much up front sees them suffer.

when were tactics needed - I haven't seen this

In by Thursday midnight. I have not predicted your game as you are new. Think maybe If you put a team in now people will score it properly

Pete makes the final decision though

To be fair I think you are out anyway so maybe best concentrating on league !

Gloucester 33-10 Edinburgh
The Glos back row and outside backs will take this.


Saracens 21-18 Toulouse
Sarries set out tactics and squad well and take a good win.


Northampton Saints 58-3 Zebre
Saints simply too strong.


Biarittz 18-28 Newcastle Falcons
Falcons pack takes the win.


Glasgow 16-34 Leicester Tigers
Glasgow not a nice place to go but Tigers squad simply too strong for them.

London Irish 0 - 30 Leinster

Cardiff Blues 15-24 Harlequins
Quins take their win with their front 5 dominant.

Gloucester 33-8 Edinburgh
Sarries 16-18 Toulouse
Saints 52-3 Zebre
Biarritz 22-26 Falcons
Glasgow 13-21 Leicester
Blues 12-22 Quins

1 point off!!!!!