Week 15

Week 15

Toulouse vs Racing Metro 92 - 18 degrees, sunny

Toulouse

Driver

01. Guthro Steenkamp	09. Ruan Pienaar
02. Tom Youngs	10. George Ford
03. John Afoa
04. Yoann Maestri	11. Jonny May
05. Romain Millo Chulski	12. Christian Lealifiano
06. Thierry Dusautoir	13. Gael Fickou
07. Michael Hooper	14. Maxi Medard
08. Louis Picamoles	15. Leigh Halfpenny (k)

16.Christopher Tolafua 17.Antonio Guillamon 18.Cencus Johnstone 19.Patrico Albacete 20.Yannick Nyanga 21.Jano Vermaak 22.Remi Tales 23.Horsea Gear

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Racing Metro

01. Eddy Ben Arous	09. Ben Youngs
02. Andries Strauss	10. Jonathon Sexton (k)
03. Juan Figallo
04. Juandre Kruger	11. Juan Imhoff
05. Brodie Retallick	12. Jamie Roberts
06. Dan Lydiate	13. Marcelo Bosch
07. Francois Louw (c)	14. Ben Smith
08. Toby Faletau	15. Kurtley Beale

16. Soane Tonghu'ia  17. Dimitri Szarzewski 18. Luc Ducalcon 19. Steve Mafi 20. Bernard Le Roux 21. Maxime Machenaud 22. Jonathon Wisnewski 23. Marc Andreu

TACTICS
With some key players rested last week, we have a fresh squad and confidence is high, having beaten the Stormers last time around and coming off the back of a strong win in the plate final. As always, we are built on a solid set piece, with the lineout Tigers slow ball to play off,and allowing us to use our strike runners against a disjointed defence. Luatua clearing out, Louw forcing the turnover and Faletua playing it as he sees it. We've picked a big scrummaging front row, with two very good technical operators. Power players picked for carrying - Tekori, Faletau, Luatau, Roberts, Strauss, Louw

- Use carriers of Strauss, Tekori, Roberts, Luatua, Faletau to tie up back row. Youngs to snipe around the fringes, with strike runners off him on the pop - Roberts, Bosch, Smith
- Form on the bench. All players capable of making a huge impact and changing the game. Experience of Figallo and Szarz up front will be huge, Mafi and Tiny will offer incredible ball carrying.
- Use Sexton flat on the gainline, drawing defenders, with Bosch and Roberts offering short pops and Faletau, Retallick offering the inside ball to keep them narrow. Smith and Bosch both encouraged to come into the line either before Roberts or on his shoulder, looking for the offload.
- We've got a world class spine in this time at 2,5,8,9,10,12,15 and these blokes will lead the team, their experience and decision making will be crucial. The 8 9 10 12 is a very familiar unit from the Lions tour.
- Many teams have targeted Roberts defensively, so we will use Roberts to draw in defenders on the dummy run and bring Smith into the line. Use Sexton on the wrap around loop and also interchange Bosch and Roberts to keep them guessing.
- Louw to play as out and out 7, looking to slow ball and force turnovers. In Faletau and Louw, we have two blokes that are brilliant at turning over ball. Both can't be stopped!

Natal Sharks vs Leicester Tigers - 24 degrees, sunny

The Sharks
DoR: Ozzy3213

01. Cian Healy	09. Freddie Michalak
02. Stephen Moore	10. Quade Cooper
03. Jannie du Plessis
04. Joe Launchbury	11. George North
05. Pieter-Steph du Toit	12. Francois Steyn
06. Sam Warburton	13. Paul Jordaan
07. Billy Vunipola	14. JP Pietersen
08. Sergio Parisse (c)	15. Mike Brown

16. Sebastien Bruno 17. Tendai Mtawarira 18. Lourens Adriaanse 19. Courtney Lawes 20. Willem Alberts 21. Charl McLeod 22. Patric Lambie 23. Marland Yarde

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Leicester Tigers

CF

01. Benn Robinson	09. Greg Laidlaw (k)
02. George Chuter	10. Toby Flood
03. Martin Castrogiovanni
04. Paul O'Connell	11. Gonzalo Camacho
05. Louis Deacon	12. Anthony Allen
06. Tom Croft	13. Matt Smith
07. Pablo Matera	14. Cory Jane
08. Juan Manuel Leguizamon (c)	15. Juan Martin Hernandez

16. George Chuter 17.Boris Stankivich 18.Brian Muajti 19.Geoff Parling 20.Piri Weepu 21.Francois Trinh-Duc 22.Chris Ashton 23.Miles Benjamin

Looking for another physical encounter with strong forward play, and plenty of forward replacements looking to inflict damage onto the opponents. We want to get the ball to Matera and JML who will carry the ball and power over the gain-line. Laidlaw will box-kick cleverly when getting the ball, for the wingers and backs to run onto. Laidaw will be the main kicker with JMH as back up.

---

Stormers vs ASM Clermont Auvergne - 27 degrees, sunny

Stormers

01. Ben Franks	09. Will Genia
02. Schalk Brits (c)	10. Owen Farrell (k)
03. Nicolas Mas
04. Nathan Hines	11. Julian Savea
05. Eben Etzebeth	12. Juan De Jongh
06. Tom Wood	13. Mathieu Basteraud
07. Sean O'Brien	14. Christian Wade
08. Damien Chouly	15. Gio Aplon

16. Deon Fourie 17. Alex Corbisiero 18. Brok Harris 19. James Horwill 20. Rynhardt Elstadt 21. Dewaldt Duvenage 22. Elton Jantjies 23. Jaco Taute

Look to play a simple game based around the strong set piece game to secure possession. The pack is full of heavy carriers to get over the gain line consistently and capable of clearing out the rucks quickly and efficiently to create quick ball when possible. Look to create quick ball off pods outside the fringe defences of the ruck. Genia and Faz to run the game. Genia will look to keep the defences honest and punish any lapse in fringe defence by sniping any holes. Looking for any quick ball for Genia to orchestrate the attacking movements of the backs, and to keep the opponents guessing. Faz to play flat in attack to bring in the centres who can play simple and direct rugby or get it wide to our dangerous back three.

Set-piece - strong and efficient, put pressure on in certain situations on opposition ball. Eg clearing kicks from scrums and line outs in their 22
Breakdown - Collectively look to clear ball and smash opposing players out of the way. Opposing slow down legally by flooding the breakdown and creating turnover ball
Channels - target carries down James and Godwin's channels as these two aren't renowned for the tackling in defence.  
Playing the %'s - Faz will keep the board ticking over and pegging the back.
Working on Players - Exploit the lack of pace from Rougerie, by getting Wade and Savea on his outside shoulder.

ASMClermontAuvergne

Manager
= ChequeredJersey

01.  Thomas Domingo	09.  Morgan Parra
02. Benjamin Kayser	10.    Brock James (k)
03. Frans Malherbe
04.  Jamie Cudmore	11. Sitiveni Sivivatu
05.  Julien Pierre	12. Kyle Godwin
06. JMF Lobbe (c)	13.   Aurelian Rougerie
07. Sam Cane	14.  Napolioni Nalaga
08. Samu Manoa	15. Willie Le Roux

16. Joe Marler 17. Corey Flynn 18. Ben Tameifuina  19.   Ed Slater 20. Jacques Burger 21. Nick Evans 22.  Ludovic Radosavljevic.  23. Jared Payne

Tactics-

Breakdown-

Cane to chase the ball and act as an outright fetcher and linkman 7, aided by Lobbe and the rest of the pack where necessary. Don't overcommit numbers unless the turnover is on (for either side), then flood the breakdown. Look to clear out with approaching the ruck in 2s/3s with pace rather than a messy approach.

Attack-

Keep slow ball in the pack, using drives (changing focus of attack) or mauls to work it into quicker ball and drain the opposition. Work very hard knowing we can sub off in the pack without losing power or ability. Spin quicker ball wide, using Godwin as a second playmaker with big runners like Manoa and the sub props as inside crash balls, the wings and FB coming into the line and look to manoeuver space, then target it and support all breaks. If the defence is well set, 9, 10 and 12 to look to chip/high kick behind with opportunistic back 3 chasing

Defence- blitz led by Rougerie, with Kayser sweeping and Parra and the chasing Cane covering offloads. Lobbe to lead fringe defence.

Scrum- Look to attack the join between Franks and Brits. Go hard as our props on the bench are excellent. Run moves off Manoa if we get go forward

Lineout- Pierre to call, mix up options, mauling and off the top. Tire their pack with mauls, and give them the front to force them to maul too whilst pressurising any longer throws

Kicking- take any easy shots at goal. Chase all kicks and look to kick high for possession not deep for territory

Subs- look to bring on pack subs for impact. Evans can boost our attack and we will blood him if we can, and Payne adds impact in the backs

Targets- Manoa and Parra look to get in Genia's face to put pressure on Farrell. Kick high to their back 3 who are short/not good at kick-defence. As Bast doesn't often pass, look to isolate him and win penalties off him

Crusaders vs Toulon - 17 degrees, overcast

Crusaders

01. Marcus Ayerza	09. Jonathan Pelissie
02. Dylan Hartley	10. Beauden Barrett(k)
03. Davit Zirakashvili
04. Luke Romano	11. Rene Ranger
05. Sam Whitelock	12. Scott Williams
06. Chris Robshaw	13. Jonathan Davies
07. Richie McCaw (c)	14. Zac Guildford
08. Kieran Read	15. Charles Piutau

16. Ben Funnell 17. Vincent Debaty 18. Owen Franks 19. Dominic Bird 20. Mamuka Gorgodze 21. Andrew Ellis 22. Tom Taylor 23. Tom Marshall

Set piece - we think we have the edge at the scrum, and will look to use Franks and Vili to really pile the pressure on Vunipola/Jenkins, neither of who have looked strong under the new rules. Ayerza and Hartley to focus on their opposite numbers, allowing tighthead to get under the weak link at LH. At lineout, use Whitelock to mark Bonnaire and force the erratic Hibbard to throw to his other jumpers.

Breakdown - flankers to work as a combo, if Tips gets to ball first, first man in to clear him out and second to secure the ball. Bonnaire and Masoe not as good around the park as they were, Read to play it as he sees it, turnover If possible, if not look to carry and defend. Front 5 to focus on strong clearing out and beating their opposite numbers.

Attack - Use Robshaw as a link man when possible, shift the ball out one to avoid running straight headlong into their big pack. Use the boots to get them going backwards, play territory and look to turn them over deep if we can't make headway through the forwards. Barrett to run whenever he is against a front 5 forward, Ranger to come off his wing and look for the ball on Barrett's shoulder. Try and get Ranger 1 on 1 with Gilroy. Counter with Barrett/Piutau off loose kicks

Defence - Strong defensive line, use the strength of the back row at breakdown to avoid putting too many men in and weaken the line. Pelissie to sweep in behind

Bench - international forwards off the bench, Gorgodze on to carry at tiring defenders, Taylor to offer a distribution option if we need to go wider

Toulon

01. Mako Vunipola 09. Aaron Smith
02. Richard Hibbard 10. Johnny Wilkinson(k)
03. Carl Hayman  
04. Jocelina Suta 11. Bryan Habana
05. Alun Wyn-Jones (c) 12. Matt Giteau
06. Julien Bonnaire 13. Adam Ashley-Cooper
07. Justin Tipuric 14. Craig Gilroy
08. Chris Masoe 15.Drew Mitchell

16. Kyle Cooper 17.Gethin Jenkins18. Dan Cole 19. Ali Williams 20. Steffon Armitage 21. Sebastian Tillous-Borde 22. Butch  James 23. Maxime Mermoz
Tactics
We will play an territorial game today and have selected a big pack to win us ball and a fast backrow to get around the park. Wilko will stand deep and play territory for our lineout to challenge, the pack will carry a lot as will our centres for quick ball. Strong front row with immense power to come on and a 2nd row who are used to driving players back come scrum time. We have selected a centre partnership who will make good breaks and look for quick recycling of the ball to keep them on the back foot and under constant pressure. Forwards will look to carry a lot in first 20 punching the holes before moving to running off of 12-13.

*9-10 combo-we have Smith to Wilko who will then look to play a controlled kicking game especially from turnover ball and using tight runners off 2nd phase ball.
*Bench-Our bench is full of impact and will look to dominate the end of the game.
*Defence-we have strong defensive leaders in Wilko and AAC and will look to slow down/turnover a lot of ball.
*Set Piece-power is key today at scrum time and in the lineouts using AWJ's leading skills to get good ball.
*Breakdown-look to  here and use our abrasive pack to do this with heavy carrying and tactical breakdown slowing.

Will change depending on trades


ASMClermontAuvergne


Manager
= ChequeredJersey

01.  Thomas Domingo	09.  Morgan Parra
02. Benjamin Kayser	10.    Brock James (k)
03. Frans Malherbe
04.  Jamie Cudmore	11. Sitiveni Sivivatu
05.  Julien Pierre	12. Kyle Godwin
06. JMF Lobbe (c)	13.   Aurelian Rougerie
07. Sam Cane	14.  Napolioni Nalaga
08. Samu Manoa	15. Willie Le Roux

16. Joe Marler 17. Corey Flynn 18. Ben Tameifuina  19.   Ed Slater 20. Jacques Burger 21. Nick Evans 22.  Ludovic Radosavljevic.  23. Jared Payne

Tactics-

Breakdown-

Cane to chase the ball and act as an outright fetcher and linkman 7, aided by Lobbe and the rest of the pack where necessary. Don't overcommit numbers unless the turnover is on (for either side), then flood the breakdown. Look to clear out with approaching the ruck in 2s/3s with pace rather than a messy approach.

Attack-

Keep slow ball in the pack, using drives (changing focus of attack) or mauls to work it into quicker ball and drain the opposition. Work very hard knowing we can sub off in the pack without losing power or ability. Spin quicker ball wide, using Godwin as a second playmaker with big runners like Manoa and the sub props as inside crash balls, the wings and FB coming into the line and look to manoeuver space, then target it and support all breaks. If the defence is well set, 9, 10 and 12 to look to chip/high kick behind with opportunistic back 3 chasing

Defence- blitz led by Rougerie, with Kayser sweeping and Parra and the chasing Cane covering offloads. Lobbe to lead fringe defence.

Scrum- Look to attack the join between Franks and Brits. Go hard as our props on the bench are excellent. Run moves off Manoa if we get go forward

Lineout- Pierre to call, mix up options, mauling and off the top. Tire their pack with mauls, and give them the front to force them to maul too whilst pressurising any longer throws

Kicking- take any easy shots at goal. Chase all kicks and look to kick high for possession not deep for territory

Subs- look to bring on pack subs for impact. Evans can boost our attack and we will blood him if we can, and Payne adds impact in the backs

Targets- Manoa and Parra look to get in Genia's face to put pressure on Farrell. Kick high to their back 3 who are short/not good at kick-defence. As Bast doesn't often pass, look to isolate him and win penalties off him

Need to update, but here's a starting point

Racing Metro TBC

01. Eddy Ben Arous	09. Ben Youngs
02. Andries Strauss	10. Jonathon Sexton (k)
03. Juan Figallo
04. Juandre Kruger	11. Juan Imhoff
05. Brodie Retallick	12. Jamie Roberts
06. Dan Lydiate	13. Marcelo Bosch
07. Francois Louw (c)	14. Ben Smith
08. Toby Faletau	15. Kurtley Beale

16. Soane Tonghu'ia  17. Dimitri Szarzewski 18. Luc Ducalcon 19. Steve Mafi 20. Bernard Le Roux 21. Maxime Machenaud 22. Jonathon Wisnewski 23. Marc Andreu

TACTICS TBC
With some key players rested last week, we have a fresh squad and confidence is high, having beaten the Stormers last time around and coming off the back of a strong win in the plate final. As always, we are built on a solid set piece, with the lineout Tigers slow ball to play off,and allowing us to use our strike runners against a disjointed defence. Luatua clearing out, Louw forcing the turnover and Faletua playing it as he sees it. We've picked a big scrummaging front row, with two very good technical operators. Power players picked for carrying - Tekori, Faletau, Luatau, Roberts, Strauss, Louw


- Use carriers of Strauss, Tekori, Roberts, Luatua, Faletau to tie up back row. Youngs to snipe around the fringes, with strike runners off him on the pop - Roberts, Bosch, Smith
- Form on the bench. All players capable of making a huge impact and changing the game. Experience of Figallo and Szarz up front will be huge, Mafi and Tiny will offer incredible ball carrying.
- Use Sexton flat on the gainline, drawing defenders, with Bosch and Roberts offering short pops and Faletau, Retallick offering the inside ball to keep them narrow. Smith and Bosch both encouraged to come into the line either before Roberts or on his shoulder, looking for the offload.
- We've got a world class spine in this time at 2,5,8,9,10,12,15 and these blokes will lead the team, their experience and decision making will be crucial. The 8 9 10 12 is a very familiar unit from the Lions tour.
- Many teams have targeted Roberts defensively, so we will use Roberts to draw in defenders on the dummy run and bring Smith into the line. Use Sexton on the wrap around loop and also interchange Bosch and Roberts to keep them guessing.
- Louw to play as out and out 7, looking to slow ball and force turnovers. In Faletau and Louw, we have two blokes that are brilliant at turning over ball. Both can't be stopped!

01. Marcus Ayerza	09. Jonathan Pelissie
02. Dylan Hartley	10. Beauden Barrett(k)
03. Davit Zirakashvili
04. Luke Romano	11. Rene Ranger
05. Sam Whitelock	12. Scott Williams
06. Chris Robshaw	13. Jonathan Davies
07. Richie McCaw (c)	14. Zac Guildford
08. Kieran Read	15. Charles Piutau

16. Ben Funnell 17. Vincent Debaty 18. Owen Franks 19. Dominic Bird 20. Mamuka Gorgodze 21. Andrew Ellis 22. Tom Taylor 23. Tom Marshall

Set piece - we think we have the edge at the scrum, and will look to use Franks and Vili to really pile the pressure on Vunipola/Jenkins, neither of who have looked strong under the new rules. Ayerza and Hartley to focus on their opposite numbers, allowing tighthead to get under the weak link at LH. At lineout, use Whitelock to mark Bonnaire and force the erratic Hibbard to throw to his other jumpers.

Breakdown - flankers to work as a combo, if Tips gets to ball first, first man in to clear him out and second to secure the ball. Bonnaire and Masoe not as good around the park as they were, Read to play it as he sees it, turnover If possible, if not look to carry and defend. Front 5 to focus on strong clearing out and beating their opposite numbers.

Attack - Use Robshaw as a link man when possible, shift the ball out one to avoid running straight headlong into their big pack. Use the boots to get them going backwards, play territory and look to turn them over deep if we can't make headway through the forwards. Barrett to run whenever he is against a front 5 forward, Ranger to come off his wing and look for the ball on Barrett's shoulder. Try and get Ranger 1 on 1 with Gilroy. Counter with Barrett/Piutau off loose kicks

Defence - Strong defensive line, use the strength of the back row at breakdown to avoid putting too many men in and weaken the line. Pelissie to sweep in behind

Bench - international forwards off the bench, Gorgodze on to carry at tiring defenders, Taylor to offer a distribution option if we need to go wider

Hopefully get it in tonight

Stormers

01. Ben Franks	09. Will Genia
02. Schalk Brits (c)	10. Owen Farrell (k)
03. Nicolas Mas
04. Nathan Hines	11. Julian Savea
05. Eben Etzebeth	12. Juan De Jongh
06. Tom Wood	13. Mathieu Basteraud
07. Sean O'Brien	14. Christian Wade
08. Damien Chouly	15. Gio Aplon

16. Deon Fourie 17. Alex Corbisiero 18. Brok Harris 19. James Horwill 20. Rynhardt Elstadt 21. Dewaldt Duvenage 22. Elton Jantjies 23. Jaco Taute

Look to play a simple game based around the strong set piece game to secure possession. The pack is full of heavy carriers to get over the gain line consistently and capable of clearing out the rucks quickly and efficiently to create quick ball when possible. Look to create quick ball off pods outside the fringe defences of the ruck. Genia and Faz to run the game. Genia will look to keep the defences honest and punish any lapse in fringe defence by sniping any holes. Looking for any quick ball for Genia to orchestrate the attacking movements of the backs, and to keep the opponents guessing. Faz to play flat in attack to bring in the centres who can play simple and direct rugby or get it wide to our dangerous back three.

Set-piece - strong and efficient, put pressure on in certain situations on opposition ball. Eg clearing kicks from scrums and line outs in their 22
Breakdown - Collectively look to clear ball and smash opposing players out of the way. Opposing slow down legally by flooding the breakdown and creating turnover ball
Channels - target carries down James and Godwin's channels as these two aren't renowned for the tackling in defence.  
Playing the %'s - Faz will keep the board ticking over and pegging the back.
Working on Players - Exploit the lack of pace from Rougerie, by getting Wade and Savea on his outside shoulder. 

The Sharks
DoR: Ozzy3213

01. Cian Healy	09. Freddie Michalak
02. Stephen Moore	10. Quade Cooper
03. Jannie du Plessis
04. Joe Launchbury	11. George North
05. Pieter-Steph du Toit	12. Francois Steyn
06. Sam Warburton	13. Paul Jordaan
07. Billy Vunipola	14. JP Pietersen
08. Sergio Parisse (c)	15. Mike Brown

16. Sebastien Bruno 17. Tendai Mtawarira 18. Lourens Adriaanse 19. Courtney Lawes 20. Willem Alberts 21. Charl McLeod 22. Patric Lambie 23. Marland Yarde

prop_lyd wrote:Hopefully get it in tonight

That's what she said

 

01. Mako Vunipola 09. Aaron Smith
02. Richard Hibbard 10. Johnny Wilkinson(k)
03. Carl Hayman
04. Jocelina Suta 11. Bryan Habana
05. Alun Wyn-Jones (c) 12. Matt Giteau
06. Julien Bonnaire 13. Adam Ashley-Cooper
07. Justin Tipuric 14. Craig Gilroy
08. Chris Masoe 15.Drew Mitchell

16. Kyle Cooper 17.Gethin Jenkins18. Dan Cole 19. Ali Williams 20. Steffon Armitage 21. Sebastian Tillous-Borde 22. Butch James 23. Maxime Mermoz
Tactics
We will play an territorial game today and have selected a big pack to win us ball and a fast backrow to get around the park. Wilko will stand deep and play territory for our lineout to challenge, the pack will carry a lot as will our centres for quick ball. Strong front row with immense power to come on and a 2nd row who are used to driving players back come scrum time. We have selected a centre partnership who will make good breaks and look for quick recycling of the ball to keep them on the back foot and under constant pressure. Forwards will look to carry a lot in first 20 punching the holes before moving to running off of 12-13.


*9-10 combo-we have Smith to Wilko who will then look to play a controlled kicking game especially from turnover ball and using tight runners off 2nd phase ball.
*Bench-Our bench is full of impact and will look to dominate the end of the game.
*Defence-we have strong defensive leaders in Wilko and AAC and will look to slow down/turnover a lot of ball.
*Set Piece-power is key today at scrum time and in the lineouts using AWJ's leading skills to get good ball.
*Breakdown-look to here and use our abrasive pack to do this with heavy carrying and tactical breakdown slowing.

I'm probably not going to be able to predict this weekend gents, am up at the grand national so not likely to get online.

Any weather updates, Bam?


I'm around now, all done but I will be spending this evening/afternoon getting rather drunk, apologies if that comes across in my tactics

Weather added.

Well done CJ, have a couple on me   

tactics will be in tomorrow, as will some other work

I'm on holiday Friday afternoon until Tuesday morning. I'll get tactics in, but predictions won't be until Tuesday lunchtime - is that ok?

Yep, won't have a chance to update teams till sometime on Saturday, so can leave predos open till 9am Wednesday.

Just need to get the thread up for next week on Monday that's all

Predos are open chaps. Due by 9am Wednesday

Just a quick one. Tigers can't have Frans Steyn in their team, as he is my player and has returned to the Sharks after his loan period. Also I didn't do tactics as there was no Tigers team put in, ut my tactics never really differ and we'll be playing our standard SA confrontational pack game and throwing it around in the backs.

Fair enough Ozzy, I hadn't realised you both had Steyn!

I can't be bothered to swap someone else in, so automatic 3-0 victory to the Sharks ok with everyone?

sorry lads been really busy recently, and my time on here has been limited.

Fluxy wrote:League Structure


The league is made up of 8 teams, from around the globe. You play everyone twice, ie 14 games.

Once the league has finished the league will be split by the top four teams and the bottom four. The top four and bottom four will both compete in the Cup and Plate competitions respectively. 

Every manager needs to predict on ALL matches apart from your own.

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League Cup

There will also be Knockout Cup competition that will take place in the duration of the season. Format to be decided.

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Match-day Squads

The only quota on match day squads in league games is that the starting XV, must contain 5 players from both the North and South Hemispheres. Furthermore in total the match day squad must contain a 7:7 split. The remaining players can be from whatever hemisphere. 

At least 2 props and 1 hooker on the bench.

All players must be eligible (not injured or banned).

Failure to comply with these rules will result in forfeiting the match and a 1 league point deduction.

If you fail to submit a team for a match, then the other team will be automatically awarded a 30-0 bonus point win. If both teams fail to submit a team, then it will be scored as a 0-0 draw.

I'd not be happy with a 3-0 win if I'm honest Bam.  I am happy to play the game even though a team hasn't been put in, as at least that gives me the chance of getting a TBP.

CF, if you can't get on to do a team, just give one of us a shout bud, I'm sure any of us would be happy to stick one in for you.

Toulouse didn't put in a team either, so I couldn't write my tactics accordingly. Bit of a disadvantage.

Will be countered by tactics vs no tactics though. Will write my predos tonight when I get home

I've swapped in Allen for Steyn for Tigers, as no one has predicted yet

Sorry, I will predict, just a lot of stuff going on.

Toulouse 29 - 32 Racing

scrum- no domination but an advantage to Metro
Lineout- again I see an edge to Metro
Breakdown- Louw excellent, and Dus been out awhile but with him and Hooper close battle here
Carrying- pretty even
HBs- Both sets of HBs in recent good form (Youngs finding some at a good time for Bathite and Ford having an off day with the boot but helped by Pienaar here)- in the sun the running threat of Youngs might give Metro the edge
Attack- have to give to Racing with tactics, aided by potent runners from 13-15 outside Roberts' go-forward
Defence- a few weak defenders in both sets of backs aided by great defensive 6s, evens
Subs- edge to Toulouse which gets them closer
Overall- with no tactics, I can't see how Toulouse will deal with the threats in Racing's backs, an important away win

Toulouse 25-28 Metro
Sharks 28-20 Tigers
Stormers 24-21 Clermont

Sharks 35 - 20 Tigers

Scrum- Tigers come up against as good a tight 5 as is around, advantage Sharks
Lineout- Sharks lose some continuity benching Lawes and Tigers can take advantage and steal some ball
Breakdown - back row looks a tad light of work rate and floor skills for Sharks and Matera will cause Warbs a problem or too, but then I remembered Healy and Launch there, Sharks get a slight advantage
Carrying - advantage Sharks esp with Parisse and Billy V
HBs- MIchalak in good from and could be lethal in attack with Cooper but also definitely exploitable as that is a flakey HB combo! Flood and Laidlaw not in good from though, Sharks should win this contest
Attack- no real tactics, F Steyn return to form and a lethal back 3 sees a win for Sharks
Defence- mild edge Sharks
Subs- huge bench sSharks
At home, Sharks win easily after Tigers had been improving in recent weeks

Crusaders 27 - 27 Toulon

Scrum- good unit from Toulon but Crusaders just ahead
Lineout - 2 excellent units and neither side getting the other's ball
Breakdown- Edged by Crusaders' exceptional back row
Carrying - Crusaders still strong here but can just see Toulon getting an edge in slightly looser play
HBs- Barrett in great form as an attacker but still inexperienced as a manager, think with good ball and Wilko Toulon edge this slightly
Attack - Including Barrett, very even. Ranger straight in but not too much in trims of learning patterns at wing
Defence- Barrett can be got at, surprised it's not a tactic. Both packs actively good defenders.
Subs- 2 good benches but with some great players in a looser game to come on, Toulon edge it
Overall- tad surprised but the way things have matched up means I think Toulon can grab a draw away in NZ

Toulouse 23 - 28 Racing Metro 92


There is better form in the Racing pack and this allows them to gain some decent momentum in their play. It enable their back line to play their patterns. Toulouse have serious quality in the backs and keep themselves in touch, especially with Halfpenny's boot. But Racing have enough to put away Stade. 

Natal Sharks 45 - 20 Leicester Tigers


The Sharks pack are ironically going to maul their opposition. They have much better real life form and will batter serious holes in the their defence. Again this allows their backline to punch even bigger holes and run in a real score here against the Tigers. Jane to get a great solo try, but its nothing against the Sharks barrage. 

Crusaders 31 - 29 Toulon


Saders can take hold of some of the possession in the loose, but I can see Toulon securing some decent possession off the set-piece courtesy of Bonnaire and Hayman. Toulon will see A Smith and Wilkinson control the pace of the game much better than Barrett and Pellissie. This allows them to bring in their dangerous runners and put pressure on the Crusaders defence. Saders will be great in counter attack however, and makes this game a real end-to-end affair. Really hard to seperate this one, and I think perhaps the ability of the Saders back five will edge the game will allow Taylor to boot Crusaders to a very tight home win.

Toulouse 20 - 24 Metro

Strauss, Figallo and Retallick are the standouts in the front 5, and i think they will give Metro a real platform to build on. Prefer the Metro back row too, mainly due to Louw, and Sexton/Youngs are both in good form. Both back lines will score tries, but with the platform up front I think Metro take this on the road

Sharks 37 - 19 Tigers

Sharks front 5 will get the nudge on in the scrum, but I fancy Tigers to cause a few problems at lineout time. Sharks to win the breakdown battle, front 5 is too powerful and Just see them steamrollering Leicester. Luckily the Sharks have the advantage up front, because that pair of halfbacks would struggle going even slightly backwards! Expect the Sharks backs to run riot here, easy home win

Stormers 26 - 24 Clermont

Game of the week here. Up front, I expect Franks to give young Malherbe real problems, and think Stormers can get the edge here, especially given the power coming from the locks. Lineout about equal, as am not sure whether ASM have a lineout leader starting so can't penalise for that. Back row battle is going to be key, both very close, but Bast and the front 5 will contribute more than Clermont's for me. Cruden a big miss, James just isn't good enough, although set up well to play to his strengths. I think Stormers will struggle against the kicking game, but will have success countering and attacking the 10-12 channel. At home, with the edge up front I give this to Stormers

I just realised I didn't account for injuries on the Toulouse/Leicester teams. Sorry guys, not doing too great at this.

Could someone get the thread up for this week please, am not about for most of the week as am away at a course

Can't really update it if I do as I'm flying to Singapore on Friday! Don't worry about the injury bit, it's hard enough to sort your own injuries etc never mind adding in others'!

Sharks 22 Tigers 18
Big win up front for the Tigers, but a really nice second row combo from the Tigers. Chuter really going to struggle in the second half and there's no back up hooker on the bench - Chuter twice. Nice balance to the Sharks back row, but but perhaps lacking a little in the tighter spaces, but Healy and Launch should make up for it. Two very flaky half backs from Sharks, but in these conditions and with some good ball possession.

Stormers 19 Clermont 17
Stormers have got more than enough up front, with Malherbe the obvious weakness and with Hines and Etze pushing behind, they have some dominacne at the scrum. Stormers flankers are top class, but SOB takes a hit with form. Think I would rate Lobbe and Manoa higher if switched round. Really like the Stomers' half backs and Brock kicking might cost Clermont some points. Two big centres will have some joy against Brock and Godwin and I like the tactic to target Rougerie with pace. Stormers edge a brilliant game at home

Crusaders 24 Toulon 22
Some opportunity to win ball and penalties with the Crusaders' tactics and Ayerza/Hayman balancing out. NZ second row a big step up, as is the back row. Toulon have much superior half backs, with better tactics for the conditions, I just wonder how much turnover ball they will get. Crusaders back three can definitely be got at defensively, but Toulon don't have the tactics to do so, despite having brilliant personnel.

Predos closed

Results:

Toulouse 24 - 30 Racing Metro

T: Fickou, Hooper, Gear. /// Beale x 2, Smith, Youngs
C: halfpenny x 2, Pienaar /// Sexton x 2
P: Halfpenny // Sexton, Beale

Sharks 36 - 19 Tigers
T: Vunipola, Steyn, North, Brown /// Jane , Ashton
C: Cooper, Steyn ///
P: Michalak, Cooper x 2, Lambie /// Laidlaw x 3

Stormers 25 - 21 ASM
T: Bastareaud x 2, Hines /// Rougerie, Evans
C: Farrell x 2 /// James
P: Farrell x 2 /// James, Parra, Evans

Crusaders 28 - 26 Toulon

T: Barrett, Davies, Gorgodze /// Mitchell, M Vunipola, S Armitage
C: Barrett x 2 /// Wilkinson
P: Barrett, Taylor x 2 /// Wilkinson x 2, James

Really happy with the bonus point win away at Toulouse, now on to topple the Sharks in Paris!

Big battle between yourselves, Toulon and Stormers for that 4th spot Bathite. Who is your last game against, I am presuming it's away, so you could really need to win this week.

Bonuses

Full - Bam, Bathite, CJ, Fluxy
Scores - Prop
None - Ozzy, CF, Driver