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France don't even use 6 and 7 as a system, L-R flankers for them, sensible people

I know that, I know how it works fella, just want to know what type of flanker he is and whether he would work with Lydiate and/or Louw

France have been playing him alongside Dusautoir so he should be fine next to Lydiate, I have to say I've not watched him for Racing though

Anyone seen the BaaBaas team to play Fiji this weekend?

Barbarians: 15 Santiago Cordera, 14 Frank Halai, 13 Gavin Williams, 12 Jean de Villiers (captain), 11 Charles Piutau, 10 Patrick Lambie, 9 TJ Perenara, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Schalk Burger, 6 Steven Luatua, 5 Dominic Bird, 4 Flip van der Merwe, 3 Matias Diaz, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.
Replacements: 16 Keven Mealamu, 17 Guillermo Ruan, 18 Coenie Oosthuizen, 19 Manuel Carizza, 20 Luke Whitelock, 21 Martin Landajo, 22 Tom Taylor, 23 Willie le Roux.

Is it just me, or is that one of the very best teams that they have put out in recent years?

Can't remember seeing a Barbarians team with this many definite starters for SH teams in a while

It's very good. Depends if they click and if they train properly

Awesome to see Burger back again.

Ok, so this is in the spirit of transparency and to give everyone a heads up on what I will be looking for when predicting.

- I will be treating this like real life Super Rugby in terms of travel, so I will be factoring in air miles and the fatigue that will bring. It's going to be tough to get a win if you have had a 24 hour plane journey as part of your prep (will only really affect NH teams going to Crusaders and vice versa).
- Conditions will be play a big part, so if it is wet and rainy, you better have a strong scrum and a hooker who can throw if you want a win off me.
- Gainline collisions and the breakdown are key areas of the game for me, so you can gain a lot from my predos if you have a team that wins those.
- All teams in this game have top class players, and 1 on 1 match ups mean little to me. I will be looking at how combinations work in your team, and put a lot of emphasis on the quality of your hooker, number 8, scrum half and fly half. I will be putting particular emphasis on how your 9 and 10 would play together, not all combinations of world class individuals would work in my eyes.

That's pretty much it. I have other little issues, and will call it as I say it.

Can't wait to get started.  

In fairness I'll give a similar run down:

I'm a fan of continuity in teams and pre-existing combos. If you are trying something that we haven't seen work in real life- like my own 9-10 combo for example, that is fine as long the players have complimentary styles or you explain how they will work together

The breakdown is key to me and I emphatically do not believe it is a one man job, though one man can make a difference. I do not really believe in specialist 6s or 7s.

Weather conditions don't vastly affect what I think of team choices bar the obvious but they will definitely affect my opinion of tactics

Benches matter

I mark teams on the following basis, with a slight advantage to the breakdown and overall attack/defence depending on conditions and both sides' plans

Scrum, lineout, breakdown, tight carrying, halfbacks/control, attack, defence, subs

I agree with both you mostly. Only issue I have is with traveling Pete. I want to focus on the game day itself and I know home and away will affect the result, but think it is a little too in depth for this league. But that's your opinion. 

Anyways I have had a busy day, and for one more push before the league kicks off - how about some more dough to play with...

Always welcome

I love a pre existing combo as well CJ. Going back a few years in the other game, I had the Sharks front row, and Parra and Trinh-Duc at half back, the year France did the Slam. Also have had Jenkins, Rees, Jones as my front row. Love a real world combo in these games.

Always up for some more cash Fluxy.

Everyone has had a 'sponsorship deal' of £25m into their budgets.

Pete, is there a chance you could make the budgets and the domestics pages stickies please?

I'd go with most of that

I rate combos not names and there needs to be form in real life. I'm a bit old school, I rate packs more than backs, every team needs a solid set piece.

Bring on the cash money!

I don't have moderator access on this sub forum mate, so can't do it I am afraid.

Where next for me then lads?

1. Soane Tonghu'ia
2. Andries Strauss
3. Brian Mujati
4. Juandre Kruger
5. Brodie Retallick
6. Dan Lydiate
7. Francois Louw
8. Jacques Cronje

9. Maxime Machenaud
10. Jonathon Sexton
11. Juan Imhoff
12. Jamie Roberts
13. Ben Smith
14. Benjamin Fall
15. Juan Martin Hernandez

ah no worries, will have a word with Hero!

Bathite, being ultra critical, as it's a great side, I have reservations about Tonga'uiha and Mujati in the scrum under the new law interpretations. Also you could upgrade on Cronje at 8, and I am less convinced by Smith at 13 than in the back 3.

I am going to release Jacques Botes and Jean Deysel unless anyone wants to trade squad players for squad players

Agreed, just couldn't proiritise between those three areas. Heart says a 13 to put smith in an awesome back three, but head says prop. It's just never as much fun buying a prop! Rate smith at 13 though, awesome player

At prop you can always go Big Ben!

Mate it is always fun buying props. I have 10 props in my Wasps squad in the other game!  

Big Ben, Figallo or Jones?

Jones or Figallo. I'd still probably go for Jones.

Where do we think for me? I think utility back, lock or maybe prop for depth, but would appreciate feedback

How would people rate James O'Connor if I played him at 13?

Not well. Hasn't played there in a long time, never at the highest level.

15,wing,12,10,13 in that order for me

Should I go for a 9 or a 12?

12, just, Fickou is class but raw

Any suggestions? Sh pref

Pisi? Godwin, but he's young like Fickou

Anything on mine guys?

perhaps a six or a winger?

So, wings: North or Savea?
Flankers: Zanni, Kelly Brown or Wood?

North has gone. POM would be a consideration, or Mowen

POM and Mowen are good workers with many strengths, but I'm not sure they are star class- I don't think they add anything over Vosloo, Lapandry, Bardy or JMF at 6

Mowen is streets ahead of Vosloo, Lapandry and Bardy for me.

Really? He's only really played a handful of matches at 6

Played loads at 6 for the Brumbies last season, with Auelua at 8. Excellent workrate in attack and defence and a top lineout option. Rate him highly.

He's more of a six playing 8 for oz and brumbies. very adept at both

I do need a lineout option, but then is say Wood ahead of Mowen

mowen is a little bit more of an operator there, but wood is a bit of better worker and carrier, but slight i think

It's a toss up between Mowen and Wood mate, I rate both highly. NH/SH balance may come in it.

Wood the standout 6 left available for me

Does anyone have Ben smith? Trying to think ofa 13 and bar him it seems only bod could work unless jd2 is still out there?

Batgirl has him

Is batgirl an auto correct or your pet name for bam bam?

I tried to say Bathite but it corrects it to Batgirl!

That's what they all say!

Any ideas for a 13? I'm much better at picking forwards!