Summer Tournament Round Three - Pools A & B

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Pool A

Reds vs. Crusaders
Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane

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Newcastle Falcons vs. Saracens
Kingston Park, Newcastle

Newcastle Falcons
Manager – Bambam

01. Matt Mullan	09. Rhys Webb
02. Jamie George	10. Owen Farrell (k)
03. Luc Ducalcon
04. Yohan Maestri	11. Charles Piutau
05. Flip Van Der Merwe	12. Jean De Villiers
06. Callum Clark	13. Jonathan Davies
07. Chris Henry	14. Ben Smith
08. Kieran Read (c)	15. Gareth Anscombe

:-
16.Dane Coles 17.Vincent Debaty 18.Charlie Faumuina 19. Ed Slater 20. Dave Ewers 21.Nick Phipps 22. Scott Williams 23.David Strettle

Tactics

Grind them down with the big pack, carrying tight and challenging them to make tackles. Once we are on top and going forwards, spin out to the backs, with Anscombe and Smith helping Farrell by offering alternate options at first receiver. Webb to snipe whenever it looks on

Use the kicking game as an option for territory, but primarily look to keep ball in hand and get some continuity going

Please could I have feedback on the balance in the backs?

Saracens
Manager – Pooly

01. Alex Waller	09. Morgan Parra
02. Rory Best	10. Beuden Barrett
03. Dan Cole
04. Will Skelton	11. Juan Imhoff
05. Geoff Parling	12. Maxine Mermoz
06. Akira Ioane	13. Conrad Smith
07. Heinrich Brussow	14. Chris Ashton
08. Nathan Hughes	15. Stuart Hogg

:-
16. Keven Mealamu 17. Nick Auterac 18. Jannie Du Plessis 19. James Horwill 20. Will Fraser 21. Sam Harrison 22. Pat Lambie 23. Miles Benjamin

Tactics:

- Huge pack to dominate collisions and big carrying options to get over gainline
- Breakdown options in Best, Cole, Brussow, Ioane and Hughes (most turnovers in AP)
- Kicking and running options in backs, look to use forwards to set platform and get opp defence on back foot then unleash running threats

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Stormers vs. London Irish
Newlands Stadium, Cape Town

Stormers
Manager – Allister Coetzee

01. Steven Kitshoff	09. Nic Groom
02. Scarra Ntubeni	10. Demetri Catrakilis
03. Frans Malherbe
04. Eben Etzebeth	11. Seabelo Senatla
05. Manuel Carizza	12. Damien de Allende
06. Siya Kolisi	13. Juan de Jongh
07. Schalk Burger	14. Cheslin Kolbe
08. Duane Vermeulen	15. Jaco Taute

Subs:
16 Bongi Mbonambi 17 Oli Kebble 18 Vincent Koch 19 Ruan Botha 20 Nizaam Carr 21 Louis Schreuder 22 Kurt Coleman 23 Kobus van Wyk

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London Irish
Manager: Ozzy3213  
                 

01. Scott Sio	09. Aaron Smith
02. Tatafu Polota-Nau	10. Aaron Cruden
03. Ben Alexander
04. Alun-Wyn Jones	11. Bryan Habana
05. James Broadhurst	12. Henry Slade
06. Jerome Kaino	13. Tim Nanai-Williams
07. Marcell Coetzee	14. Henry Speight
08. Sean O'Brien	15. Anthony Watson

16. Tom Youngs 17. Thomas du Toit 18. Fraser Balmain 19. Sebastien Vahaamahina 20. Fulgence Ouedraogo 21. Mitchell Drummond 22. Samu Kerevi 23. Jesse Kriel

- Fast paced, high intensity, Super Rugby style offloading attacking game.
- Blitz defence, Aaron Smith sweeping.

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Pool B

Lions vs. Gloucester
Ellis Park, Johannesburg

Lions
Manager – Johan Ackermann

01. Schalk van der Merwe	09. Francois de Klerk
02. Armand van der Merwe	10. Elton Jantjes
03. Julian Redelinghuys
04. Martin Muller	11. Courtnall Skosan
05. Franco Mostert	12. Alwyn Hollenbach
06. Jaco Kriel	13. Harold Vorster
07. Warwick Tecklenburg	14. Ruan Combrinck
08. Warren Whiteley	15. Andries Coetzee

Subs:
16 Malcolm Marx 17 Corne Fourie 18 Ruan Dreyer 19 Robert Kruger 20 Kwagga Smith 21 Dillon Smit 22 Marnitz Boshoff 23 Howard Mnisi


Gloucester

1 Wood
2 Strauss
3 Mas
4 taofufina
5  Robson
6 Moriarty
7 Savea
8 palu
9 Genia
10 Pollard
11 Walker
12 Toomua
13 Kurindrani
14 Naiyaravoro
15 folau
16 Beast
17 LCD
18 Figallo
19 Gray
20 Croft
21 TJ Perenara
22 Cipriani
23 Johnny May

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Rebels vs. Highlanders
AAMI Park, Melbourne

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Sale Sharks vs. Exeter Chiefs
Salford City Stadium

Sale Sharks
Manager – SJE

01. Nicky Smith	09. Danny Care
02. Tommy Taylor	10. Bernard Foley
03. Martin Moore
04. Brodie Retalick	11. Simon Zebo
05. Maro Itoje	12. Jonathan Danty
06. Peter O'Mahony	13. Malakai Fekitoa
07. Matt Kvesic	14. Nemani Nadolo
08. Steven Luatua	15. Willie Le Roux

Subs:
16. Ross Harrison 17. David Paice 18. Rabah Slimani 19. Iain Henderson 20. Matt Garvey 21. Faf De Klerk 22. Johnny Sexton 23. Kyle Eastmond


Exeter Chiefs 
Manager – Fluxy

01. Cian Healy	09. Connor Murray
02. Rob Webber	10. Camille Lopez (k)
03. Vincent Koch
04. Lood De Jager	11. James O'Connor
05. Paul O'Connell	12. Ma'a Nonu (c)
06. James Haskell	13. Adam Ashley-Cooper
07. Steffon Armitage	14. Cory Jane
08. Fritz Lee	15. Mike Haley

_
16. Sean Cronin 17. Ben Franks 18. Jake Cooper-Wooley 19. Patrick Tuipulotu 20. Luke Wallace 21. Chris Cook 22. Otere Black 23. Jamie Elliott

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London Irish
Manager: Ozzy3213  
                 

01. Scott Sio	09. Aaron Smith
02. Tatafu Polota-Nau	10. Aaron Cruden
03. Ben Alexander
04. Alun-Wyn Jones	11. Bryan Habana
05. James Broadhurst	12. Henry Slade
06. Jerome Kaino	13. Tim Nanai-Williams
07. Marcell Coetzee	14. Henry Speight
08. Sean O'Brien	15. Anthony Watson

16. Tom Youngs 17. Thomas du Toit 18. Frans Malherebe 19. Sebastien Vahaamahina 20. Fulgence Ouedraogo 21. Mitchell Drummond 22. Samu Kerevi 23. Jesse Kriel

Mark

Newcastle Falcons
Manager – Bambam

01. Matt Mullan	09. Rhys Webb
02. Jamie George	10. Owen Farrell (k)
03. Luc Ducalcon
04. Yohan Maestri	11. Charles Piutau
05. Flip Van Der Merwe	12. Jean De Villiers
06. Callum Clark	13. Jonathan Davies
07. Chris Henry	14. Ben Smith
08. Kieran Read (c)	15. Gareth Anscombe

:-
16.Dane Coles 17.Vincent Debaty 18.Charlie Faumuina 19. Ed Slater 20. Dave Ewers 21.Nick Phipps 22. Scott Williams 23.David Strettle

Tactics

Grind them down with the big pack, carrying tight and challenging them to make tackles. Once we are on top and going forwards, spin out to the backs, with Anscombe and Smith helping Farrell by offering alternate options at first receiver. Webb to snipe whenever it looks on

Use the kicking game as an option for territory, but primarily look to keep ball in hand and get some continuity going

Please could I have feedback on the balance in the backs?

Saracens
Manager – Pooly

01. Alex Waller	09. Morgan Parra
02. Rory Best	10. Beuden Barrett
03. Dan Cole
04. Will Skelton	11. Juan Imhoff
05. Geoff Parling	12. Maxine Mermoz
06. Akira Ioane	13. Conrad Smith
07. Heinrich Brussow	14. Chris Ashton
08. Nathan Hughes	15. Stuart Hogg

:-
16. Keven Mealamu 17. Nick Auterac 18. Jannie Du Plessis 19. James Horwill 20. Will Fraser 21. Sam Harrison 22. Pat Lambie 23. Miles Benjamin

Tactics:

- Huge pack to dominate collisions and big carrying options to get over gainline
- Breakdown options in Best, Cole, Brussow, Ioane and Hughes (most turnovers in AP)
- Kicking and running options in backs, look to use forwards to set platform and get opp defence on back foot then unleash running threats

Sale Sharks
Manager – SJE

01. Nicky Smith	09. Danny Care
02. Tommy Taylor	10. Bernard Foley
03. Martin Moore
04. Brodie Retalick	11. Simon Zebo
05. Maro Itoje	12. Jonathan Danty
06. Peter O'Mahony	13. Malakai Fekitoa
07. Matt Kvesic	14. Nemani Nadolo
08. Steven Luatua	15. Willie Le Roux

Subs:
16. Ross Harrison 17. David Paice 18. Rabah Slimani 19. Iain Henderson 20. Matt Garvey 21. Faf De Klerk 22. Johnny Sexton 23. Kyle Eastmond

Exeter Chiefs 

Manager – Fluxy

01. Cian Healy	09. Connor Murray
02. Rob Webber	10. Camille Lopez (k)
03. Vincent Koch
04. Lood De Jager	11. James O'Connor
05. Paul O'Connell	12. Ma'a Nonu (c)
06. James Haskell	13. Adam Ashley-Cooper
07. Steffon Armitage	14. Cory Jane
08. Fritz Lee	15. Mike Haley

_
16. Sean Cronin 17. Ben Franks 18. Jake Cooper-Wooley 19. Patrick Tuipulotu 20. Luke Wallace 21. Chris Cook 22. Otere Black 23. Jamie Elliott

Managed to post so don't need last weeks team

1 Wood
2 Strauss
3 Mas
4 taofufina
5 Robson
6 Moriarty
7 Savea
8 palu
9 Genia
10 Pollard
11 Walker
12 Toomua
13 Kurindrani
14 Naiyaravoro
15 folau
16 Beast
17 LCD
18 Figallo
19 Gray
20 Croft
21 TJ Perenara
22 Cipriani
23 Johnny May

Sorry Pete, have most of my predos done and ready to send in a PM, but have been caught up today, am I too late?

CJ, yes mate, just done the results, sorry.

RESULTS

Reds 17 (T:2 C:2 P:1)
Crusaders 58 (T:8 C:6 P:2)

Newcastle Falcons 30 (T:4 C:2 P:2)
Saracens 28 (T:3 C:2 P:3)

Stormers 25 (T:3 C:2 P:2)
London Irish 31 (T:4 C:4 P:1)

Lions 21 (T:3 C:3)
Gloucester 34 (T:4 C:4 P;2)

Rebels 30 (T:3 C:3 P:3)
Highlanders 33 (T:3 C:3 P:4)

Sale Sharks 30 (T:4 C:2 P:2)
Exeter Chiefs 29 (T:3 C:1 P:4)

Newcastle Falcons vs Saracens

Newcastle Falcons 27-29 Saracens
Slight edge to Sarries in front row with Falcons having a bit more in 2nd row. 2 great back rows on show Ioane looks a star in the making but Henry and Brussow coming back into form too. I do feel this game is very close looking at the backlines with good balance and a good half back pairing for both. Bam I like your centre pairing so hopefully JDV will hit the ground running back from injury. In the back 3 Anscombe could be got at with Hogg’s angles so could be the difference. Strong impact benches for both teams which would work well for Falcons in wet conditions and Sarries in a tight affair.

Newcastle Falcons 25-25 Saracens
Slight edge scrum wise for Falcons but its not a game changer. Else where hard to separate the packs. Falcons with a breakdown edge in the back 5 of the pack but Best/Cole level it up somewhat. Sarries with a bit more carrying wise in the pack. Halfbacks are one a piece but feel both combos would struggle to gel together a bit. Falcons would shade the backs overall but form issues in midfield. Good mix of carrying, kicking and defence in the backs Bam but the midfield needs form. Hard to split the teams here without full tactics etc so opting for the draw.

Newcastle Falcons 31-30 Saracens
Genuinely very little to choose from between these two sides. Both solid units up front with neither side really having much of an edge in any department. Similar story in the backs, where Falcons are better balanced than last time out, although still may lack some creativity through 10 and 12. I would be playing Ben Smith at fullback though. He is the form 15 in the world right now and I can’t see the logic of not playing him there. Home advantage settles this one by the smallest margin.

Newcastle Falcons 33-29 Saracens
Even front five battles, edge to Falcons in backrow as they offer more experience. Ioane is a top talent but still very young so would be better from the bench as impact. Bam - excellent balance to backline, only suggestion moving Smith to no15 so he gets his hands on the ball more.

Newcastle Falcons 24-23 Saracens

Newcastle Falcons 29-28 Saracens
Relatively even in the set piece with both virtually cancelling each other out. Parling helps the Sarries line out balance, but no clear advantage for either side as Read, Clark and Flip all prominent for Falcons as well. This allows both sides quick and efficient possession. Falcons possess a great threat around the fringes with Webb keeping the defence honest creating some space in the wider channels. Faz swapping up at first reciever with Smith, Piatau and Anscombe allows some quick and interesting moves from the Falcons side, to get the backs free into space. Barrett's pace and allows him to take the ball to the line and bringing in his wingers on adventourous attacking lines. Falcons just have a little more on the bench to up the intensity and change the game with Phipps adding zip the service from the base of rucks and scrums.

Stormers vs London Irish

Stormers 24–22 Irish
I can see Stomers getting a scrum advantage with both props a touch better than their opposition. Irish shade the locks around the park but neither have a real line out leader so both sides could struggle here. Stormers just shade the backrow with a touch more balance, SOB better on the flanks I think.
Big step up at halfback for Irish but Stormers take the centres, especially 12. Irish better at 11 but pretty even in the back 3. Stormers get a good platform in the pack and just have enough elsewhere to get a tight win.

Stormers 26-29 Irish
Feel Stormers could get an edge on at the scrum but 2nd rows pretty even. Prefer the balance of the Irish back row and think they’ll make good impact. Half backs easily to Irish making big gains and will release good centres, Stormers won’t give much in centres but if the ball gets to the Irish back 3 they’ll run riot. Better impact bench for Irish and they’ll steal a good win.

Stormers 23-31 London Irish
Great battle up front on paper, think Stormers have the advantage in the front 5 with their established unit, but around the park and the back row favours Irish, despite Vermeulen's presence. Other than the centres which are about equal, the rest of the backs is a big win for Irish, and the class of the AB pair will tell, giving them the win. The bench advantage probably knocks on an extra try late on

Stormers 23-30 London Irish
Irish just look better across the park (while Stormers shade scrum), especially with the halfback combination. Like to see Kriel start as he looks like he could become world class and Slade needs a few games at no12 to get high ratings there (very capable of playing there). Not sure on O'Brien as a no8. Some great attacking options for Irish.

Stormers 24-32 London Irish
Stormers with a small edge at the scrum but nothing major. Both front 5s good around the park but the Irish backrow can get an edge at the breakdown. Slight edge carrying wise as well. Irish halfbacks a different level and probably best in the league. Stormers edge the midfield feel TNW works better from the wings. Stormers wings both electric runners but but Irish with a bit more quality there overall. Breakdown work gives the Irish halfbacks plenty of time on the ball to work some good scores.

Stormers 26-25 London Irish

Stormers 23-24 Irish
Stormers front 5 much better and gives them a great platform. However their half backs and back 3 are not near Irish and this costs them.
Irish will be going backwards in scrums and living off bad ball but have the players to turn it in to points. Not sure about Irish back row combo in anyway.

Stormers 25-28 London Irish
The Stormers front five will make it extremely difficult for the Irish front row to live in the set piece and will get a good nudge on. The line out is an improvement for Irish, but they struggle with the defensive ability of Eztebeth making thing hard for Polota-Nau. Around the park this Irish pack is intense, and Stormers do manage to cope with them, but the service from Smith means there is no restbite and eventually wear down the Stormers defence. De Allende and De Jongh will get some metres against Slade and TNW, as they will cut them down but the Stormers duo will get over the gain line - when they get decent possession of first phase ball. The deciding factor in this contest is the tactical awareness and the clever kicking of the Irish back line, which accrues good field position for them to challenge the Stormers defence.

Lions vs Gloucester

Lions 24-31 Gloucester
Much stronger front 5 for Glos here and they’ll get a good platform. Looking at the back row it is slightly closer with Lions having good form players. Half backs fairly even with both being able to make good go forward ball. Big step up for Glos with centres and back 3 making inroads. Glos bench will pull away and get a strong win.

Lions 20-36 Gloucester
Bit of a mismatch this one, with Glos going close to full strength, think they just have way too much power in the pack, and too much pace and skills in the backs. The outside backs in particular are just far too strong for Lions, its only the Lions back row which can even compete. Arguably could see a bigger score.

Lions 20-35 Gloucester
Nothing between the front 5s but the Glaws backrow definitely stronger carrying wise. Breakdown battle fairly even though. One a piece at halfbacks on current form but Glaws stronger as a combo. 11-15 though Glaws a big step up and can see them doing well against a work man like Lions side.

Lions 21-34 Gloucester
Not much in the packs, where the Lions have real grafters, despite no big names. It’s in the outside backs Gloucester win this though, with an all star cast who given any sort of decent ball will run riot.

Lions 20-31 Gloucester
Similar to Bath game as Gloucester just have an abundance of strike runners in their backline, some youth in the pack but they'll secure enough quality ball (Savea and Moriaty could have issues against more experienced back rows). Walker to have a big season at Quins in real life, which will help with quality of EQ for Gloucester.

Lions 24-25 Gloucester

Lions 15-23 Gloucester
A slight mess up front for Glos, with Wood and Mas struggling. The line out is more of a succes for Gloucester, and creates a platform for their big forward runners to get into the game. The Lions hard work and tenacity from their back five allows them to compete and give Glos a hard time. Gloucester hace some big names in their back line and will make some good yards. However when it comes to kicking a lot of pressure for me is placed upon Pollard and Toomua, with the back three not the best footballers, and Genia & Pollard being quite wobbly recently. All in all a relatively safe result for Gloucester in preseason, but it wasn't without it's moments.

Sale Sharks vs Exeter Chiefs

Sale Sharks 31-29 Exeter Chiefs
Decent pack battle with lots of quality on show. Not sure de Jager and O’Connell would work together, both a 5’s for me, and neither a big scrummaging lock. Nothing in the back rows or half backs really, and both centre pairing are good. Main problem for Exeter is in the back three, where both wingers had shocking Super Rugby seasons in real life, and the full back whilst having lots of potential is not quite there yet. That’s the only difference really in the sides and gives Sale a narrow win.

Sale Sharks 27–30 Exeter Chiefs
Sale obviously experimenting and they’ll take a bit of hit in the scrum. Decent combo for Sale but not really AP standard. I really like the look of Itoje but not at lock, I think he could play in the AP at 6 and not be a weakness, Exeter take the lock combo. Not a huge give on the flanks but Luatua much better at 6, just gives Exeter a pack advantage.
Murray shades the 9’s but Foley a big step up on Lopez, good combo for Sale. One a piece in the centres with Exeter perhaps lacking a bit of flair but strong. Sale the better back 3 on show. Exeter do most of the damage in the pack, good game but they have juts enough to win.

Sale Sharks 28-27 Exeter Chiefs
Not a lot in the front row but a slight advantage to Sale in the 2nd row with a good pairing although not a big one. Pretty evens in the back row too with good balance and form for both sides. Same with half backs but I feel like the experience of the Chiefs centres will be a big plus, go like the Sharks one and in a couple of years they will be a top pairing. Sharks more dangerous in the back 3. This game will come down to the bench and with Sexton and Eastmond to come on I think Sale will nick this. Going to be very tight at the top this season with Chiefs and Sale improving.

Sale Sharks 28 - 25 Exeter Chiefs
See Chiefs getting the advantage in the pack in this encounter as Sale opted for a v young front row and Itoje as second row as opposed to backrow. But an extremely clinical backline from the homeside that will see them take their chances and get the win. Chiefs improved out of sight compared to previous seasons - if the back three can get one WC finisher there it will also make a huge difference.

Sale Sharks 34 - 30 Exeter Chiefs
Think Exeter will do well at the scrum here, and think POC will be the dominant lineout jumper, although Sale have options, think they are missing a lineout caller though. Really tough to call the breakdown, I think POM>Haskell, Steffan>Kvesic at the breakdown, but think Sale get a bit more from their front 5 in this area and probably are the stronger. One each at half back, same at centre with Nonu and Fekitoa the stronger. Back 3s are the difference, with Le Roux showing a bit of form, him and Nadolo are the standouts and will be the difference makers. Hell of a lot of impact off the Sale bench too, will see them home

Sale Sharks 20 -24 Exeter Chiefs

Sale Sharks 27-29 Exeter Chiefs
Exeter have the better front 5 and can use this to really control game. After that it's pretty even all over. Better ball and more of it sees Exeter sneak it