ERL Season 4 - Week Nine

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Fixtures and Results

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Scottish Highlanders 28 - 28 Bath

Tries: Ashton, Jane, Cusiter; Abendanon, Foden, Pocock
Cons: Paterson(2); Carter(2)
Pens: Paterson(3); Carter(3)
DG's: None
MOTM: David Pocock

Saracens 31 - 23 Biarritz Olympique

Tries: Nonu, Gear, Toeava ; Lobbe, De Villiers
Cons: Evans(2); Wilkinson(2)
Pens: Evans(4); Wilkinson(3)
DG's: None
MOTM: Nick Evans

Ospreys 32 - 19 Clermont Auvergne

Tries: Moody(2), Vito, O'Connor(2); Van Niekerk
Cons: Steyn(2); James(1)
Pens: Steyn(1); James(4)
DG's: None
MOTM: Lewis Moody

Northampton Saints 18 - 28 Leicester Tigers

Tries: O'Connell, Hartley; Rossouw, Rougerie, Dagg
Cons: Traille(1); Flood(2)
Pens: Traille(2); Flood(3)
DG's: None
MOTM: Maxime Mermoz

Stade Francais 33 - 23 Toulon

Tries: Haskell, F.Steyn, Armitage; Guildford
Cons: Yachvilli(3); Lambie(2)
Pens: Yachvilli(4); Lambie(3)
DG's: None
MOTM: James Haskell

Leinster 25 - 27 Toulouse

Tries: Ferris(2), Nacewa; C.Smith, Medard
Cons: Sexton(2); Trinh-Duc(1)
Pens: Sexton(2); Trinh-Duc(5)
DG's: None
MOTM: Conrad Smith

Oooh first game an away one against Stade best have a look at that side, teamsheets don't need to be in my Tuesday that's good will have time to buy players.

1 Corbsiero
2 TPN
3 Hayman
4 Davies
5 Whitelock
6 Lydiate
7 Barclay
8 Beattie
9 Cussiter
10 Beale
11 Williams
12 Barnes
13 Marty
14 Jane
15 Patterson

16 Ford
17 Tcachuk
18 Skivington
19 Lozada
19 Harley
21 De Luca
22 Wulf

Ospreys

1. Fabian Barcella
2. Sebastian Bruno
3. Geoff Cross
4. Nathan Sharpe
5. Victor Matfield (c)
6. Victor Vito
7. Lewis Moody
8. Louis Picamoles
9. Mike Blair
10. Morne Steyn (k)
11. Tom Prydie
12. JOC
13. SBW
14. Tommy Bowe
15. Mark Cueto

16. Huw Bennett
17. Rayno Gerber
18. Ian Gough
19. Marty Holah
20. Chris Cook
21. Barry Davies
22. Alexandre Flanqhart

Stade:

1. Rodrigo Roncero
2. Dimitri Szarzewski
3. Davit Zirakashvilli
4. Mark Chisholm
5. Julien Pierre
6. James Haskell
7. George Smith
8. Sergio Parisse (c)

9. Dmitri Yachvilli (k)
10. Juan Martín Hernández
11. Topsy Ojo
12. James Hook
13. Adam Ashley-Cooper
14. Vincent Clerc
15. Francois Steyn


16. Pedro Ledesma
17. Arnaud Marchois
18. Pascal Papé
19. Mauro Bergamasco
20. Noel Oelschig
21. Aristide Barraud

Post no longer valid

1. Tendai Mtawarira
2. William Servat
3. Cencus Johnstone
4. Bakkies Botha
5. Tom Donnolly
6. Juan Smith
7. Thierry Dusautoir(c)
8. Kieran Read

9. Morgan Parra
10. François Trinh-Duc
11. Rene Ranger
12. Yannick Jauzion
13. Conrad Smith
14. Maxime Medard
15. Mils Muliaina

16. Jamie George
17. Matt Parr
18. Loic Jacquet
19. Elvis Vermeulen
20. Freddie Michalak
21. George Pisi
22. Yann David

1.Ben Franks
2.Kevin Mealamu
3.Dave Wilson
4.Jerome Thion
5.Alistair Kellock
6.Kelly Brown
7.David Pocock
8.Simon Taylor
9.Ben Youngs
10.Dan Carter (c/k)
11.Zac Guildford
12.Olly Barkley
13.Matt Banahan
14.Nick Abendonan
15.Martin Rodrigez

16.Pietre Dixon
17.Duncan Bell
18.Mark Mcmillen
19.Butch James
20.Benoit Baby
21.Joe Ansbro

1st XV:
01. Cian Healy 09. Ruan Pienaar
02. John Smit (c) 10. Johnny Sexton (k)
03. Mike Ross
04. James Horwill 11. Luke Fitzgerald
05. Leo Cullen 12. Stirling Mortlock
06. Stephen Ferris 13. Digby Iaone
07. Sean O'Brien 14. Fergus McFadden
08. Jaimie Heaslip 15. Isa Nacewa

16. Heinike Van Der Merwe
17. Stan Wright
18. Nathan Hines
19. Rhys Ruddock
20. Eoin Reddan
21. Gordon D'Arcy
22. Shane Horgan

Looks like I won't be doing anymore deals, very quiet for some reason.

Toulon side

1.Tony Woodcock
2.Keven Mealamu
3.WP Nel
4.Chris Jack
5.Ali Williams(C)
6.Kelly Brown
7.Fulgence Ouedraego
8.Ben McCalman
9.Byron Kelleher
10.Patrick Lambie(K)
11.Zac Guildford
12.Jonathan Davies
13.Max Evans
14.Tim Visser
15.Clement Poitrenaud

16.Benoit August
17.Allan Jacobsen
18.Louis Deacon
19.Magnus Lund
20.Dan Biggar
21.Paul Sackey
22.Alesana Tuilagi

Clermont team removed

saints updated team for week 9 - excluded injured players

1. Soane Tonga’uhia
2. Dylan Hartley
3. Owen Franks
4. James Gaskell
5. Paul O'Connell (c)
6. Rocky Elsom
7. Ryan Jones
8. Imanol Harinordoquy

9. Luke Burgess
10. Colin Slade (k)
11. Bryan Habana
12. Brad Barritt
13. Damien Traille
14. Leigh Halfpenny
15. Ben Foden

16. Andrew Hore
17. Phil Dowson
18. Christian Day
19. Phil Dowson
20. Lee Dickson
21. Stephen Myler
22. Billy Twelvetrees

I rate Dowson, great player, but not sure that he is good enough to fill two bench spots!

STARTING TEAM

1. Soane Tonga'uhia
2. Dylan Hartley
3. Owen Franks

4. Paul O'Connell (c)
5. Jerome Thion

6. Rocky Elsom
7. Imanol Harinordoquy
8. Ryan Jones

9. Luke Burgess
10. Felipe Contepomi

11. Matt Banahan
12. Damien Traille
13. Mathieu Bastareaud
14. Bryan Habana
15. Leigh Halfpenny

16. Andrew Hore
17. Christian Day
18. Phil Dowson
19. Lee Dickson
20. Colin Slade
21. Brad Barritt
22. Billy Twelvetrees

SARACENS team to play BIARRITZ

Bathite unleashes his All New Zealand set of backs

1. G.Steenkemp
2. B.Du Plessis
3. M.Stevens
4. L.Nallet
5. J.Thion
6. L.Messam
7. S.Burger
8. R.Elsom
9. J.Cowan
10. N.Evans
11. H.Gear
12. M.Nonu
13. R.Kahui
14. S.Maitland
15. I.Toeava

16. J.Saunders
17. P.Dixon
18. A.W-Jones
19. R.Wigglesworth
20. A.Goode
21. B.Barritt
22. L.Halfpenny

Pull, can I put Juan De Jongh in at 12 please?! And Earls on the bench instead of D'Arcy? Cheers

SAINTS STARTING TEAM - new due to transfers

1. Soane Tonga'uhia
2. Dylan Hartley
3. Owen Franks

4. Paul O'Connell (c)
5. Jerome Thion

6. Rocky Elsom
7. Imanol Harinordoquy
8. Ryan Jones

9. Luke Burgess
10. Felipe Contepomi

11. Matt Banahan
12. Damien Traille
13. Mathieu Bastareaud
14. Bryan Habana
15. Leigh Halfpenny

16. Andrew Hore
17. Christian Day
18. Phil Dowson
19. Lee Dickson
20. Colin Slade
21. Brad Barritt
22. Billy Twelvetrees

PUll ignore my posts until after 8pm mate - I am hoping for a final change and all teh above are wrong now due to transfers - will get you set team list asap

You can delete the above posts Hon just so you know

it wont let you after a certain amount of time ??

right pull hers my team for week 9 - hopefully no more changes today

STARTING TEAM WEEK 9

1. Soane Tonga'uhia
2. Dylan Hartley
3. Owen Franks

4. Paul O'Connell (c)
5. Andries Bekker

6. Willem Alberts
7. Francois Louw
8. Imanol Harinordoquy

9. Luke Burgess
10. Colin Slade (k)

11. Matt Banahan
12. Felipe Contepomi (k)
13. Mathieu Bastareaud
14. Bryan Habana
15. Damien Traille (k)

16. Andrew Hore
17. Christian Day
18. Phil Dowson
19. Lee Dickson
20. Billy Twelvetrees
21. David Strettle
22. Stephen Myler

Add in Bardy at 6, and should have Ayerza and Clarke on the bench.

Could I change my line up please?

1.Alex Corbisiero
2.Ross Ford
3.Benn Alexander
4.Patricio Albacete
5.Juandre Kruger
6.Adam Thomson
7.Sam Warburton
8.Joe Van Niekerk
9.Mike Phillips
10.Brock James
11.Julien Malzieu
12.Luke McAlister
13.Seilala Mapasua
14.Lachie Turner
15.Rob Kearney

16.Sylvain Marconnet
17.Lionel Faure
18.Jamie Cudmore
19.Chris Robshaw
20.Duane Vermuelen
21.Charlie Sharples
22.Lee Byrne

Sorry about the bench but least I have a 22.

01. Martin Sclezo 09. Chris Cussiter (c)
02. Tatafu Polota-Nau 10. Kurtley Beale
03. Carl Hayman
04. Bradley Davies 11. Chris Ashton
05. Sam Whitelock 12. Berrick Barnes (k)
06. Dan Lydiate 13. David Marty
07. John Barclay 14. Cory Jane
08. Johnnie Beattie 15. Chris Patterson (k)

Subs:
16. Ledesma, 17. Tcachuk, 18. Skivington, 19. Lozada, 20. Harley, 21. De Luca, 22. Wulf

Highlanders 20 - 22 Bath
Saracens 23 - 22 Biarittz
Northapton 18 - 18 Leicester
Stade 24 - 20 Toulon
Leinster 28 - 28 Toulouse

Highlanders 33 - 36 Bath
Tries: Ashton 2, Cussiter - Youngs, Abendanon 2, Brits
Cons: Patterson 3/3 - Carter 3/4
Pens: Patterson 4/4 - Carter 2/3
Drops: 0 - 0
MOTM: Abendanon
Yellow card: Hape
Close game great skill from both sets of backs with Nick Abendanon really cutting up the defensive lines and going on some great runs that would have made Foden green today! Patterson was on form with his kicking as usual and bar a couple of tricky conversions for Carter the score line would have been more.



Saracens 31 - 25 Biarritz
Tries: Nonu, Thion, Gear 2 - Lobbe
Cons; Evans 2/3 - wilkinson 1/1
Pens: Evans 1/1 - WIlkinson 4/4
Drops: 0 - wilkinson 2/3
MOTM: Jerome Thion
Saracens backs prove just too strong for Biarritz, even though a fine kicking display from WIlkinson kept them in the game until midway through the second half when the Sarries backs really started to show their class. However MOTM goes to lock Jerome Thion for and out standing linnet display and some brilliant ball carrying setting up a great platform for his backs and earning a try himself.


Ospreys 20 - 13 Clermont
Tries: Bowe, O'Conner - Ford
Cons: Steyn 2/2 - James 1/1
Pens: Steyn 1/3 - James 2/2
Drops: Steyn 1/1 - 0
MOTM: SBW
Yellow card: Vito - Krugar
A tough forward game with very little flair and many handling errors from both sides. Conditions were not great for running rugby but when the ball was sent to the backs one man stood out head and shoulders above the rest, his offloads causing problems and setting up both tries for his team mates. SBW was a pleasure to watch in an otherwise forwards dominated game.


Stade 26 - 28 Toulon
Tries: Yachvilli, Smith - Kelleher 2, Tuilagi
Cons: Yachvilli 2/2 - Lambie 2/3
Pens: Yachvilli 3/4 - Lambie 3/3
Drops: yachvilli 1/3 - 0
MOTM: Kelleher
Red card: Szarzewski
Stade had control of most of the game until early in the second half Szarzewski saw red and was sent off for an alleged stamp. until that point Yachvilli had run the show, but Toulon never gave up and Kelleher pushed his men and lead by example breaking lines and setting up runs all over the place. When Guildford was replaced by Tuilagi the giant winger finished off another great move by Kelleher by charging over Ojo and Hook from 25 meters out to score the wining try, also leaving Ojo concussed and confused.



Leinster 20 - 18 Toulouse
Tries: Ioane, Heaslip - Muliaina, Johnstone
Cons: Sexton 2/2 - Parra 1/2
Pens: Sexton 2/2 - Parra 1/3
Drops: 0 - Parra 1
MOTM: Heaslip
Close run game this two big packs with agile back rows creating plenty of breaks for their backs and also defending well. Sextons kicking was fairing better than Parra who was having an off day and not helped by Johnstone touching down int eh corner when he could have bought the ball in filed to make the kick easier. Both sets of backs were able to express themselves by creating some good running lines but ultimately the day belonged to the back rowers who at times themselves looked like backs with the amount of ground they covered,

Nice one Banafan, doing scores like that saves a lot of work for other people to do. Cheers

does it? how?

Means you can work out the try scorers and MOTM instead of guessing which I seem to do quite a bit!

oh poop is slade that bad a kicker then - shall change it to Traille and contepmi from here on in!!!!

Wouldnt read too much into it mate. Plenty of good kickers in your side.

Its the result that is the main thing in my book, most people wont break it down by scorer. It wont be the missed kicks by Slade that prevented the win, more down to the fact that Tigers are a top top side 2nd or 3rd i think and that they win the battle of the backs and match your forwards.

Long way to go in 22 game season though mate

yeah true - I don't know much about SLade apart from he's meant to be good, getting better and a current all black. haven't seen him play much so don't know his best position or his kicking abilities? do you?

Calm down Hon with your predictions good as they are a whole lot of description woooo hooooo.

just read the rules and it said a little description to help the teams out a bit - so thats what I did!!!

Time to predict so I can add another 3 million

Highlanders 23 v 20 Bath
MOTM:Marty

Highlanders were missing some key players such as Kaino, but even though Bath did pretty well, Highlanders backs were just too strong, the centres began to tease the Bath defence, Ashton and Jane also caused problems in the second half.
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Saracens 18 v 18 Biarritz
MOTM:McCaw

No seperating these two sides, Saracens looked weaker because of injuries while Biarritz forwards and half back pairing dominated, Saracens though came out all guns blazing in the second half as the backs started to press danger, Elsom at 8 though could of easily lost Bathite the game, as he had an opposite 8 in Lobbe to contend with.
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Northampton 18 v 22 Leicester
MOTM:Mermoz

Leicester Tigers are on fire, Northampton's backs are weak as Hon has made major changes, Northampton did well mind but in the end it came down to the Leicester flankers the ball carrying skills of Croft and Spies and the skills at the breakdown by Brussow wins them this match.
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Stade 22 v 20 Toulon
MOTM:Ashley-Cooper

Hard to seperate these two sides aswell, Toulon look very strong in the forwards and easily contested Stade at home, but when push comes to shove Stade were more lethal on attack, Ashley-Cooper hit form as he ran Toulon ragged for a great amount of time, Hook's kicking from centre was exceptional aswell, so Stade claim the win.
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Leinster 19 v 21 Toulouse
MOTM:C.Smith

Leinster are a good side without any question, but I always look at Toulouse and I can't see many sides beating them still, Leinster's pack were incredible but they were missing some key players in the backs, Toulouse are much stronger in that area as Leinster couldn't handle the pace of Ranger and the skill of Conrad Smith. Toulouse win again in my view.

Scottish Highlanders 23 - 20 Bath

Saracens 20 - 22 Biarritz

Ospreys 25 - 20 Clermont

Northampton 20 - 20 Leicester

Leinster 18 - 16 Toulouse

Highlanders 18 - 21 Bath
Tries: Jane, Cussiter, Davies- Foden, Pocock
Cons: Patterson 0/3 - Carter 1/2
Pens: Patterson 1/3 - Carter 3/4
MOTM: Carter

Saints 20 - 26 Tigers
Tries: O'Connell , Hartley - Dagg [2] Russouw
Cons: Traille 2/2 - Flood 2/3
Pens: Traille 2/4 - Flood 3/4
MOTM: Dagg

Ospreys 22 - 20 Clermont
Tries: Picamoles - Van Niekerk, Kearney
Cons: Steyn 1/1 - James 1/2
Pens: Steyn 4/5 - James 1/3
Drops: Steyn 1/1
MOTM: M Steyn

Stade 23 - 16 Toulon
Tries: Smith, Chisholm – Jack, Guildford
Cons: Yachvilli 2/2 - Lambie 0/2
Pens: Yachvilli 4/4 - Lambie 2/3
MOTM: Smith

Leinster 18 - 20 Toulouse
Tries: Ioane, Ferris – C Smith, Read
Cons: Sexton 1/2 - Parra 2/2
Pens: Sexton 2/4 - Parra 1/3
Drops: Trinh-duc 1
MOTM: Read

Saracens 28 -21 Biarritz
Home advantage and a stronger front five gives Saracens a good base to get there more dangerous backs involved. Biarritz closen the gap late with some good subs.

Ospreys 19 - 15 Clermont
Slight edge in the forwards to clermont. Forwards though go to Ospreys with some super backs. Home advantage to Ospreys as well.

Saints 17 -18 Tigers
Forwards are so so close. Front three slightly to saints. Locks slightly to Tigers. Tigers once again slightly take back row which gives them slight forward advantage. 9-10 to Tigers but not by a huge amount. Slade needs more game time at FH. Centres go to Tigers. Back three equal. Neither subs are much better. Saints have home advantage

Stade 24 - 18 Toulon
Front row to Toulon, not a fan of Nel though. Chisholm stands out as the best lock giving it to Stade. Parrisse is once again stand out. Half back slightly to stade. 11-15 and home advantage means stade win with a cushion.

Leinster 26-31 Toulouse
Don't think Leinster have enough to beat them anywhere on the field. BR + HB combos get close.

Scottish Highlanders 20 - 22 Bath

Saracens 24 - 22 Biarritz

Ospreys 24 - 18 Clermont

Northampton 18 - 20 Leicester

Stade 18-16 Toulon

Scottish Highlanders 19 - 15 Bath
Motm: Barclay


Saracens 24 - 21 Biarritz
Motm: Evans


Ospreys 26 - 23 Clermont
Motm: JOC


Saints 18 - 21 Leicester
Motm: Flood


Leinster 24 - 24 Toulouse
Motm: Heaslip

Scottish Highlanders 25 - 22 Bath
TPN, Beale, Wulf ; Youngs, Brits
MOTM: Beale

Saracens 20 - 19 Biarritz Olympique
Gear, Toeava ; De Villers
MOTM: Cowan

Ospreys 31 - 25 Clermont Auvergne
Moody, Vito, O'Conner, Cueto ; Krugar, JVN
MOTM: O'Conner

Stade Francais 32 - 24 Toulon
JMH, Haskell, F Steyn, Armitage ; Brown, Poitrenaud
MOTM: Yachvilli

Leinster 17 - 26 Toulouse
Nacewa ; Medard, Donnolly
MOTM: J Smith

Saracens 25 - 24 Biarittz
Northapton 18 - 19 Leicester
Stade 26 - 22 Toulon
Ospreys 26 - 23 Clermount
Leinster 21 - 20 Toulouse

sorry for lack of detail lads

Highlander 29-27 Bath

Good matchups. Scelzo is a Th and underpowered engine room for Bath.

Scottish Highlanders 28 - 28 Bath

Tries: Ashton, Jane, Cusiter; Abendanon, Foden, Pocock
Cons: Paterson(2); Carter(2)
Pens: Paterson(3); Carter(3)
DG's: None
MOTM: David Pocock

Saracens 31 - 23 Biarritz Olympique

Tries: Nonu, Gear; Lobbe, De Villiers
Cons: Evans(2); Wilkinson(2)
Pens: Evans(4); Wilkinson(3)
DG's: None
MOTM: Nick Evans

Ospreys 32 - 19 Clermont Auvergne

Tries: Moody(2), Vito, O'Connor(2); Van Niekerk
Cons: Steyn(2); James(1)
Pens: Steyn(1); James(4)
DG's: None
MOTM: Lewis Moody

Northampton Saints 18 - 28 Leicester Tigers

Tries: O'Connell, Hartley; Rossouw, Rougerie, Dagg
Cons: Traille(1); Flood(2)
Pens: Traille(2); Flood(3)
DG's: None
MOTM: Maxime Mermoz

Stade Francais 33 - 23 Toulon

Tries: Haskell, F.Steyn, Armitage; Guildford
Cons: Yachvilli(3); Lambie(2)
Pens: Yachvilli(4); Lambie(3)
DG's: None
MOTM: James Haskell

Leinster 25 - 27 Toulouse

Tries: Ferris(2), Nacewa; C.Smith, Medard
Cons: Sexton(2); Trinh-Duc(1)
Pens: Sexton(2); Trinh-Duc(5)
DG's: None
MOTM: Conrad Smith

sarries score doesn't add up bro .

robbed me of 6 points!