Heineken Cup Final

Team & Tactics - 0000hrs Sunday
Predictions - 2000 hrs Wednesday

Final preview - After the results of the Semi-Finals of the Aviva Premiership, Saints and Tigers line-up against each other two weeks in a row, with the chance of a domestic and European double. With success ingrained in the Tigers DNA, they will look to keep their winning form in finals going as they continue to add to their trophy cabinet. However Saints who have reached their first AP final are out to upset the odds and disrupt the Tigers celebration party.

Key men -

Rob Kearney (Tigers) - The Irish talisman has been in blistering form for Tigers, safe under the high ball and with his booming left boot, Kearney's attacking play has complemented his fellow back three players Ioane and Wade.

Tom Wood (Saints) - The influential flanker, recently named England captain for the tour to Argentina will look to finish his domestic season with some silverware. After some strong outings for Saints, it appears the boys from the midlands are in great form and that is courtesy of the of Wood.

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Leicester Tigers vs. Northampton Saints
Location - Aviva Stadium
Weather - Heavy Rain Showers, 12 degrees, 7 mph Northly
Referee: Alain Rolland (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Wayne Barnes (England); George Clancy (Ireland)
TMO: Marshall Kilgore (Ireland)

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Leicester Tigers

Manager – Sgt_Pooly

01. Alex Corbisiero	09. Ben Youngs
02. Tom Youngs	10. Toby Flood
03. Dan Cole
04. Luke Romano	11. Digby Ioane
05. Geoff Parling	12. Berrick Barnes
06. Willam Alberts	13. Manu Tuilagi
07. Sam Warburton	14. James O’Connor
08. Sergio Parisse(c)	15. Rob Kearney

16. Bismark du Plessis 17. Martin Castrogiovani 18. Thomas Domingo 19. Richie Gray 20. Liam Gill 21. Karl Dickson 22. George Ford 23. Marlon Yarde

Tactics

In the poor conditions we'll be looking to play in the right areas of the pitch and take little risk in our own 22/half.

We'll look to utalise our strong scrummaging front 5(and subs) throughout the game and really target the opposition unit. If a weakness is seen early on Parisse will look to turn the screw.

Barnes/Flood will look to dictate the tempo and keep Saints pinned back. We'll look to hit the corners early on and test out the Saints throw with Parling/Romano/Alberts/Parisse putting pressure on Hartley.

Youngs will look to sweep in behind and look for the gap on turnover ball especially. JOC and Kearney will give us big kicking options in the back 3 and we'll look to target the Saints back 3 early on to see if they can match us here.

Manu will look to give us a physical edge in the centres and target his opposite number throughout. We will target the Saints midfield and look for gaps between the two centres.

Impact bench to come on and really turn the screw, especially in the front row.

POINTS:

- SCRUM - Big options throughout and will really look to attack Saints here
- SQUAD ROTATION - Looked to rotate through the last month or so and players are fresh and up for this game.
- MENTAL EDGE - We've managed to beat Saints numerous times over the lst 2 season and will have a mental edge with them struggling against us
- REAL FORM - Some great real life form for the majority of our players with SBW and Ferris in particular having little for Saints.
- FATIGUE - Saints had a gruelling semi going into extra time last week that will take it's toll

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Northampton Saints
Manager – SirJohnnyEnglish

01. Soane Tonga'uiha	09. Lee Dickson
02. Dylan Hartley	10. Johnny Sexton
03. Paul Doran Jones
04. Courtney Lawes	11. Chris Ashton
05. Andries Bekker	12. Gael Fickou
06. Samu Manoa	13. George Pisi
07. Tom Wood	14. JP Pieterson
08. Kieran Read	15. Ben Foden

16. Steven Kitshoff 17. Richardt Strauss 18. Brian Mujati 19. Brodie Retalick 20. Calum Clark 21. Aaron Smith 22. Stephen Myler 23. Jamie Elliot

Tactics

We will look to control territory and apply pressure on Tigers in key areas looking to force mistakes. When in possession in the right areas, we will look to play a strong carrying game, attacking in groups so as to win the collisions and get over the gain line. Offloads will be kept to an absolute minimum as we look to sustain pressure deep in Tigers territory. We will kick all penalties in opposition territory at goal and take the drop goal option whenever it’s available.

• In these conditions the scrum will be an important weapon. With a powerful front 5 on show we will look to keep it up and take full advantage drawing penalties from Tigers.

• With handling an issue we want to keep things simple and use Bekker, Wood and Read as banker ball at the lineout. We will look to bring the ball down into the maul and use the physicality of our pack to drive us into the right areas.

• We will look to blitz aggressively, playing on the edge of the offside line and coming up at pace, looking to isolate the ball carrier and stop any Tigers momentum before it can get going.

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

• The back 3 will sit deep to cover any kicks down the line and 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 it with Wood looking to get his 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.

Bloody rain again!

We have rotated the side after the impressive win over high flying Harlequins at Welford road. Alex Corbisiero & Luke Romano come into the pack to add carrying and bulk to the side which will be vital in the conditions.

Rob Kearney comes in at full back to give us extra kicking options with JOC moving over to the wing to allow a right/left option in the back 3.

Leicester Tigers
Manager – Sgt_Pooly

01. Alex Corbisiero	09. Ben Youngs
02. Tom Youngs	10. Toby Flood
03. Dan Cole
04. Luke Romano	11. Digby Ioane
05. Geoff Parling	12. Berrick Barnes
06. Willam Alberts	13. Manu Tuilagi
07. Sam Warburton	14. James O’Connor
08. Sergio Parisse(c)	15. Rob Kearney

16. Bismark du Plessis 17. Martin Castrogiovani 18. Thomas Domingo 19. Richie Gray 20. Liam Gill 21. Karl Dickson 22. George Ford 23. Marlon Yarde

Tactics

In the poor conditions we'll be looking to play in the right areas of the pitch and take little risk in our own 22/half.

We'll look to utalise our strong scrummaging front 5(and subs) throughout the game and really target the opposition unit. If a weakness is seen early on Parisse will look to turn the screw.

Barnes/Flood will look to dictate the tempo and keep Saints pinned back. We'll look to hit the corners early on and test out the Saints throw with Parling/Romano/Alberts/Parisse putting pressure on Hartley.

Youngs will look to sweep in behind and look for the gap on turnover ball especially. JOC and Kearney will give us big kicking options in the back 3 and we'll look to target the Saints back 3 early on to see if they can match us here.

Manu will look to give us a physical edge in the centres and target his opposite number throughout. We will target the Saints midfield and look for gaps between the two centres.

Impact bench to come on and really turn the screw, especially in the front row.

POINTS:

- SCRUM - Big options throughout and will really look to attack Saints here
- SQUAD ROTATION - Looked to rotate through the last month or so and players are fresh and up for this game.
- MENTAL EDGE - We've managed to beat Saints numerous times over the lst 2 season and will have a mental edge with them struggling against us
- REAL FORM - Some great real life form for the majority of our players with SBW and Ferris in particular having little for Saints.
- FATIGUE - Saints had a gruelling semi going into extra time last week that will take it's toll

Northampton Saints
Manager – SirJohnnyEnglish

01. Soane Tonga'uiha	09. Lee Dickson
02. Dylan Hartley	10. Johnny Sexton
03. Paul Doran Jones
04. Courtney Lawes	11. Chris Ashton
05. Andries Bekker	12. Gael Fickou
06. Samu Manoa	13. George Pisi
07. Tom Wood	14. JP Pieterson
08. Kieran Read	15. Ben Foden

16. Steven Kitshoff 17. Richardt Strauss 18. Brian Mujati 19. Brodie Retalick 20. Calum Clark 21. Aaron Smith 22. Stephen Myler 23. Jamie Elliot

Tactics

We will look to control territory and apply pressure on Tigers in key areas looking to force mistakes. When in possession in the right areas, we will look to play a strong carrying game, attacking in groups so as to win the collisions and get over the gain line. Offloads will be kept to an absolute minimum as we look to sustain pressure deep in Tigers territory. We will kick all penalties in opposition territory at goal and take the drop goal option whenever it’s available.

• In these conditions the scrum will be an important weapon. With a powerful front 5 on show we will look to keep it up and take full advantage drawing penalties from Tigers.

• With handling an issue we want to keep things simple and use Bekker, Wood and Read as banker ball at the lineout. We will look to bring the ball down into the maul and use the physicality of our pack to drive us into the right areas.

• We will look to blitz aggressively, playing on the edge of the offside line and coming up at pace, looking to isolate the ball carrier and stop any Tigers momentum before it can get going.

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

• The back 3 will sit deep to cover any kicks down the line and 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 it with Wood looking to get his 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.

Cheers SJE. Will try to get the page don't before work

Opennn..

Tigers 23 Saints 20

Tigers 20 - 19 Saints

Scrum- Tigers have the edge here, though it will be a great and key battle and Hartley's form might help even it up
Lineout- Saints edge it with Wood proving key and Bekker calling the shots. Not much stealing though
Breakdown- Warburton more of a 7 than Wood and with Alberts and Cole on his side Tigers would edge this however the way Saints are approaching the breakdown could see them turn over some ball. Evens out with Tigers slowing Saints ball and Saints stealing some off Tigers
Game management- Youngs/Flood is a better pairing than Dickson/Sexton together but Sexton will be happy ruling the game. Lots of kickers for Tigers but both sides will take their points, though I back JOC/Barnes over Sexton on the top pressure kicks. Flood will have to kick out of hand well though as he can often be average in this area (as can Youngs' box-kicking, though his recent form is good) and both sides have lethal counterattacking ability in the back 3.
Attack - Both quite short and sweet tactics, and tasty attacking backlines that cancel out (expect Barnes to be burned by the fleet-footed Fickou, but Pisi will have a fight on his hands vs Manu. JOC would dance around Ashton but he's struggled in a weak Rebels side with a weak pack, Pieterson and Ioane are equal as are Foden and Kearney.). The ball will be more in the forwards anyway. In the packs, I can't separate the carrying power either. Draw
Defence- Ashton a weak spot but the Saints strategy and weather shoudl stop this being a problem.
Bench - Both strong edge to Tigers

Overall- fatigue will count for Saints and this plus the bench just grants Tigers the win though they will dig deep for it

Tries - Youngs --- Manoa
Pens- Barnes x 3, O'Connor --- Sexton x 4
DG- Barnes
Con - --- Sexton

Tigers 22-20 Saints
SP: Think Tigers will just take the edge here.
BK: Both strong, little bit more for Tigers again.
HB: Hard to split these two.
AT: 2 incredible backlines, evens here.
BE: Slight edge to Tigers.
TA: Tigers play into the conditions well with a good carrying front 5. Saints do well territory-wise but thing Tigers have the edge.

Leicester Tigers 31 - 30 Northampton Saints

Cracking final here, with probably the best two sides in the league. Up front Tigers have a bit better form and technique. Lineouts are a more even affair, with both teams getting the spoils. This will allow some influence of both back-rows on the game. There's more carrying from the tigers flanks and 8 but Saints thrive on the tackle and jackling, as well as the carrying aspects. So both nullify each other here. Halfbacks are one apiece to each side, but sexton brings more out of his backs. Whereas Flood and Barnes combined just lack a little in comparison. A bit more form in the Tigers back three, but the unit of Saints has class. Benches are both class, but just a little more game changing from Saints. Its a tough one, but I think Tigers, just and only just pinch it, sorry SJE.

Tigers- 12- Saints-12

Tigers 16 - 14 Saints
FR - Solid form from Youngs and Cole means Tigers edge this with PDJ out of sorts this year. Bench options probably better for Tigers as well.
SR - Both locks pairs are very strong, but maybe Saints just edge it, but not by much at all.
BR - Tigers edge this just as Warbs is a better out and out 7
HB - Again not much in it, probably Sexton clasas over Flood edges it to Saints
CE - Tigers win this one, with more experience and class
B3 - More form from the Tigers on this one

Every battle is really really tight, but Tigers edge front row and back row, which might be crucial in a nervy final. Wins in these areas are even more important in the poor conditions. I've gone low scoring due to the conditions

Tigers 25-21 Saints
Tigers have a better front three with Saints not having the best form. Great second row from Saints though but back row goes to Tigers. Overall forwards go to Tigers. Half backs tough to call, probably just to Saints. Tigers do take the rest of the backs with some quality players. They have an incredible bench, especially the forwards and these can come on and give an advantage to Tigers.

RESULT:

Leicester Tigers 24-19 Northampton Saints

Full bonus:

Bathite, Prop, Flux, CJ, ITFL, Pooly

Half:

Driver, CF