Aviva Premiership Final

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Sale Sharks v Harlequins
Twickenham
Sunny - 20', 7mph winds

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Sale Sharks
Manager – SJE

01. Marcos Ayerza	09. Danny Care
02. Tommy Taylor	10. Johnny Sexton
03. Rabah Slimani
04. Brodie Retalick	11. Nemani Nadolo
05. Maro Itoje	12. Charlie Ngatai
06. CJ Stander	13. Malakai Fekitoa
07. Sam Cane	14. Semesa Rokoduguni
08. Louis Picamoles	15. Willie Le Roux

Subs:
16. Benjamin Kayser 17. Ross Harrison 18. Davit Zirakishvilli 19. Matt Garvey 20. Matt Kvesic 21. Faf De Klerk 22. Bernard Foley 23. Nick Abendanon

SPECIFICS/KEY POINTS
- Possession is our aim. Make Quins work their socks off on defence. We have come in fresher to the business end of the season having been able to rotate with home play offs and 1st place secured early.
- Target the scrum with a fresher set of props following some rotation in the semi final. Both of Quins pair have been involved in tight energy sapping games in the last two weeks.  
- Use the physicality throughout our side to get on the front foot on attack and defence and particularly take advantage of the lack of a Quins blitz to make good ground on each carry.
- Take advantage of the low emphasis on Quins tactics and look to work the offload keeping our attacking momentum alive 
- Full of confidence following our first European victory over the same opposition in recent weeks.
 
Attack: We will be playing a high intensity offloading game looking to keep the ball moving and work the opposition over. Look to get the big carriers throughout our side running off Care & Sexton, carrying hard and getting over the gain line. Once on the front foot, Sexton on the wrap around and runners out of the back door will look to isolate defenders as well as move us into the wider channels. Zebo & Ngatai to be used as secondary playmakers to allow us to change the point of attack and continue to build phases. Care to keep the fringe defence honest with his snipping runs and take advantage of any early drifts from Quins.

Although Sexton, Ngatai & Le Roux offer us a strong kicking game we are primarily looking to keep the ball in hand, starving Quins of possession and making them work hard on defence. When we do kick, it will be to look for net gains in territory similar to the Highlanders set up. We will look to kick deep and rely on an aggressive kick chase to put the Quins returners under pressure and force rushed clearances.

Defence: We will be playing a straight line blitz led by Fekitoa at 13. Focused on winning the gain line collisions and driving the ball carrier back. Line speed and no dog legs are crucial. Care will sweep behind the line to cover chips and grubbers. Le Roux & Nadolo have been instructed to defend deep and cover the backfield. Both will look to primarily run the ball back.

At the breakdown when the initial contact is won and the ball carrier driven back we will commit numbers and get over the ball, turning it over or at least slowing opposition ball up. With ball winners throughout the side with the likes of Slimani, Retalick, Itoje, Cane, the midfield, Nadolo and Roko we will look to take advantage of any isolated runners particularly in wider areas. Otherwise we will strengthen the defensive line

Set Piece: Strong scrummaging unit in the front row with the support of a powerful 4-8 will look to get the better of the opposition and build a strong attacking platform. We will look to put a slight wheel on where possible to take the opposition backrow out of play and then attack the space available and look for one on ones in the backline. Look to specifically target Healys side of the scrum on their put ins with Slimani looking to break his link with the hooker and isolate him.

Four mobile, athletic jumpers allows us to genuinely mix it up on attacking ball. Primarily looking to get the backs on the ball in space. Defensively Itoje to get up in the air at the front and challenge on opposition ball looking to disrupt Creevys throwing and make the ball back as messy as possible for Pienaar.

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Harlequins
Manager – Steven_Sharks

01. Cian Healy	09. Ruan Pienaar
02. Agustin Creevy	10. Elton Jantjies (k)
03. Kieran Brookes
04. Pieter Steph Du Toit	11. Jack Nowell
05. George Kruis	12. Robbie Henshaw
06. Jack Clifford	13. Jonathan Joseph
07. Michael Hooper (c)	14. Santiago Cordero
08. Mamuka Gorgodze	15. Damian McKenzie

16. Scott Baldwin 17.Ethan Waller 18. Kyle Sinckler 19. Luke Romano 20. Jaco Kriel 21. Karl Dickson 22. Juan Martin Hernandez 23. James O'Connor


Tactics
 
In perfect sunny conditions we are going to look to play running rugby using our electric back line playing with quick ball. We've picked a very mobile pack which will get around the park well so we can play the structure we've put in place for the game.  
 
Game Plan 
 
We want to turn the final into a very open game. We know we have the players who will exploit the wide open spaces better than Sale so we want to drag them right out of the their comfort zone. We will look to spread out forwards out across the pitch so we have carrying options right across the park. Jantjies and McKenzie will dictate the play inter-changing as first receiver. They will look to stand flat and put our players into space. We will look to use our front 5 and Gorgodze as carriers around the breakdown and in the midfield with Hooper and Clifford floating around the pitch looking to where they can cause damage with ball in hand.  It is vital get across the gain line so we can recycle quick ball to give to our backs.
 
We will very much look to the offload when it is on and key to this is supporting the ball carrier. We want to continue the flow of our attacks and will use offloads as a way to pierce the Sale defensive line. We will also look to use out the back and inside balls to men coming on at pace such as Cordero, Nowell, JJ, McKenzie and Henshaw.
 
Kicking Game
 
We won't look to kick the ball away unless we are under pressure or we can gain from it in an obvious way (eg Henshaw under the high ball) but when we do have to we will look to turn Nadolo and force him to track back or kick for touch so we can use our strong line out to pressure Taylor or Kayser's throw.
 
Set Piece
 
We are going to look to go immediately wide from our first phase ball so that we can move Sale away from their usual defensive pattern and stretch them across the pitch. We will look to try and end up on Fekitoa's outside shoulder to test his positioning and vary the ball carrier and rely on our quick pack to get to the breakdown first. Look to use the evasive ability of our backs to step him as he is charging in at pace leading the Sale blitz. Pienaar, Jantjies and McKenzie will be scanning for the isolated forwards in the Sale defensive line and looking to use our pacey back line in that channel. 
 
On a dry day we don't anticipate to many scrum's but we will look to use the ball quickly unless we are clearly showing dominance. On the Sale put in we will look to really squeeze Taylor who stands out as the non-international in the starting front rows. 
 
At the line out we will use Kruis and Du Toit to secure our own ball and put huge pressure on the Sale throw by marking Itoje and Retallick closely. 
 
Defence
 
Use our usual drift defence backing our pace and look to force Sale to play in wider channels allowing Hooper and Clifford the chance to use their pace to get to the breakdown first. Using a chop tackle makes the offload tough for Sale as they hit the ground so quick. Pick and choose the breakdowns we can slow down and build our defence from out to in. 
 
Bench
Look to bring on Kriel, Hernandez and JOC when we feel that Sale legs are tiring to add the extra pace and creativity against tired defenders.
 
Key Points

Pace - We have bags of it throughout our side and very mobile pack. This side was built for these conditions and playing and open game I feel we can really damage Sale with ball in hand. Use our elusive runners and pace advantage to evade the bigger Sale backs who will be charging at pace with the Sale Blitz defence.

Chip and Chase - With Le Roux and Nadolo remaining deep their will be space to employ the chip and chase using Henshaw's aerial ability to secure posession. 

Jantjies and Outside Backs - We have 5 lethal runners playing outside a man who thrives on playing flat off quick ball. Suited perfectly to the conditions.

Game Management at 9 - In Pienaar we have one of the great game managers. We feel his cool head against Care’s fiery temperament will play an important role in the pressure-cooker environment of a final.

Perfect rugby conditions.....no home team so in by Wednesday

Markerooney

Harlequins
Manager – Steven_Sharks

01. Cian Healy	09. Ruan Pienaar
02. Agustin Creevy	10. Elton Jantjies (k)
03. Kieran Brookes
04. Pieter Steph Du Toit	11. Jack Nowell
05. George Kruis	12. Robbie Henshaw
06. Jack Clifford	13. Jonathan Joseph
07. Michael Hooper (c)	14. Santiago Cordero
08. Mamuka Gorgodze	15. Damian McKenzie

16. Scott Baldwin 17.Ethan Waller 18. Kyle Sinckler 19. Luke Romano 20. Jaco Kriel 21. Karl Dickson 22. Juan Martin Hernandez 23. James O'Connor


Tactics
 
In perfect sunny conditions we are going to look to play running rugby using our electric back line playing with quick ball. We've picked a very mobile pack which will get around the park well so we can play the structure we've put in place for the game.  
 
Game Plan 
 
We want to turn the final into a very open game. We know we have the players who will exploit the wide open spaces better than Sale so we want to drag them right out of the their comfort zone. We will look to spread out forwards out across the pitch so we have carrying options right across the park. Jantjies and McKenzie will dictate the play inter-changing as first receiver. They will look to stand flat and put our players into space. We will look to use our front 5 and Gorgodze as carriers around the breakdown and in the midfield with Hooper and Clifford floating around the pitch looking to where they can cause damage with ball in hand.  It is vital get across the gain line so we can recycle quick ball to give to our backs.
 
We will very much look to the offload when it is on and key to this is supporting the ball carrier. We want to continue the flow of our attacks and will use offloads as a way to pierce the Sale defensive line. We will also look to use out the back and inside balls to men coming on at pace such as Cordero, Nowell, JJ, McKenzie and Henshaw.
 
Kicking Game
 
We won't look to kick the ball away unless we are under pressure or we can gain from it in an obvious way (eg Henshaw under the high ball) but when we do have to we will look to turn Nadolo and force him to track back or kick for touch so we can use our strong line out to pressure Taylor or Kayser's throw.
 
Set Piece
 
We are going to look to go immediately wide from our first phase ball so that we can move Sale away from their usual defensive pattern and stretch them across the pitch. We will look to try and end up on Fekitoa's outside shoulder to test his positioning and vary the ball carrier and rely on our quick pack to get to the breakdown first. Look to use the evasive ability of our backs to step him as he is charging in at pace leading the Sale blitz. Pienaar, Jantjies and McKenzie will be scanning for the isolated forwards in the Sale defensive line and looking to use our pacey back line in that channel. 
 
On a dry day we don't anticipate to many scrum's but we will look to use the ball quickly unless we are clearly showing dominance. On the Sale put in we will look to really squeeze Taylor who stands out as the non-international in the starting front rows. 
 
At the line out we will use Kruis and Du Toit to secure our own ball and put huge pressure on the Sale throw by marking Itoje and Retallick closely. 
 
Defence
 
Use our usual drift defence backing our pace and look to force Sale to play in wider channels allowing Hooper and Clifford the chance to use their pace to get to the breakdown first. Using a chop tackle makes the offload tough for Sale as they hit the ground so quick. Pick and choose the breakdowns we can slow down and build our defence from out to in. 
 
Bench
Look to bring on Kriel, Hernandez and JOC when we feel that Sale legs are tiring to add the extra pace and creativity against tired defenders.
 
Key Points

Pace - We have bags of it throughout our side and very mobile pack. This side was built for these conditions and playing and open game I feel we can really damage Sale with ball in hand. Use our elusive runners and pace advantage to evade the bigger Sale backs who will be charging at pace with the Sale Blitz defence.

Chip and Chase - With Le Roux and Nadolo remaining deep their will be space to employ the chip and chase using Henshaw's aerial ability to secure posession. 

Jantjies and Outside Backs - We have 5 lethal runners playing outside a man who thrives on playing flat off quick ball. Suited perfectly to the conditions.

Game Management at 9 - In Pienaar we have one of the great game managers. We feel his cool head against Care’s fiery temperament will play an important role in the pressure-cooker environment of a final.

Sale Sharks
Manager – SJE

01. Marcos Ayerza	09. Danny Care
02. Tommy Taylor	10. Johnny Sexton
03. Rabah Slimani
04. Brodie Retalick	11. Nemani Nadolo
05. Maro Itoje	12. Charlie Ngatai
06. CJ Stander	13. Malakai Fekitoa
07. Sam Cane	14. Semesa Rokoduguni
08. Louis Picamoles	15. Willie Le Roux

Subs:
16. Benjamin Kayser 17. Ross Harrison 18. Davit Zirakishvilli 19. Matt Garvey 20. Matt Kvesic 21. Faf De Klerk 22. Bernard Foley 23. Nick Abendanon


SPECIFICS/KEY POINTS
- Possession is our aim. Make Quins work their socks off on defence. We have come in fresher to the business end of the season having been able to rotate with home play offs and 1st place secured early.
- Target the scrum with a fresher set of props following some rotation in the semi final. Both of Quins pair have been involved in tight energy sapping games in the last two weeks.  
- Use the physicality throughout our side to get on the front foot on attack and defence and particularly take advantage of the lack of a Quins blitz to make good ground on each carry.
- Take advantage of the low emphasis on Quins tactics and look to work the offload keeping our attacking momentum alive 

Attack: We will be playing a high intensity offloading game looking to keep the ball moving and work the opposition over. Look to get the big carriers throughout our side running off Care & Sexton, carrying hard and getting over the gain line. Once on the front foot, Sexton on the wrap around and runners out of the back door will look to isolate defenders as well as move us into the wider channels. Zebo & Ngatai to be used as secondary playmakers to allow us to change the point of attack and continue to build phases. Care to keep the fringe defence honest with his snipping runs and take advantage of any early drifts from Quins.

Although Sexton, Ngatai & Le Roux offer us a strong kicking game we are primarily looking to keep the ball in hand, starving Quins of possession and making them work hard on defence. When we do kick, it will be to look for net gains in territory similar to the Highlanders set up. We will look to kick deep and rely on an aggressive kick chase to put the Quins returners under pressure and force rushed clearances.

Defence: We will be playing a straight line blitz led by Fekitoa at 13. Focused on winning the gain line collisions and driving the ball carrier back. Line speed and no dog legs are crucial. Care will sweep behind the line to cover chips and grubbers. Le Roux & Nadolo have been instructed to defend deep and cover the backfield. Both will look to primarily run the ball back.

At the breakdown when the initial contact is won and the ball carrier driven back we will commit numbers and get over the ball, turning it over or at least slowing opposition ball up. With ball winners throughout the side with the likes of Slimani, Retalick, Itoje, Cane, the midfield, Nadolo and Roko we will look to take advantage of any isolated runners particularly in wider areas. Otherwise we will strengthen the defensive line

Set Piece: Strong scrummaging unit in the front row with the support of a powerful 4-8 will look to get the better of the opposition and build a strong attacking platform. We will look to put a slight wheel on where possible to take the opposition backrow out of play and then attack the space available and look for one on ones in the backline. Look to specifically target Healys side of the scrum on their put ins with Slimani looking to break his link with the hooker and isolate him.

Four mobile, athletic jumpers allows us to genuinely mix it up on attacking ball. Primarily looking to get the backs on the ball in space. Defensively Itoje to get up in the air at the front and challenge on opposition ball looking to disrupt Creevys throwing and make the ball back as messy as possible for Pienaar.

My tactics are on work laptop top. Will.be in in the morning

I've updated my tactics SJE after seeing yours. Can they be changed?

Only slightly changed mind but I'd like them swapped.

Done Steve

Cheers

RESULT:

Sale Sharks 32 (T:4 C:3 P:2)
Harlequins 28 (T:3 C:2 P:3)

BONUS:
Full: CJB, Matt, Chris, Pooly & CJ
Score: Prop & Driver

Sale 30-33 Quins

A great game on paper and one played in perfect conditions 

Scrum- can't see there being many scrums in this weather but Sale would have a slight edge here. Slimani had a good season and Healy not at the races. Creevy streets ahead of sale hooker and balances things out but still slightly to sale 

Lineout - great options for both sides.kruis,psdt and Clifford vs itoje, rettalick and stander. Have this as an edge to Quins as they have a better hooker and in Kruis a true lineout leader.

Backrow - Quins by a bit. Not sure the sale trio work as a unit. Also think Quins unit has that extra pace and with them trying to run sale off their feet see Quins backrow coming out on top

Halfbacks 

Pienaar and Sexton the standouts. Jantjes in great form and suits Quins game plan. Care hit and miss these days but has real ability to up tempo. - even

Centres - 2 strong pairings and both lack a decent kicking option. Can see both pairings getting some joy- even

Back 3- Quins take this battle with superb form in each position. They also have a much better balance and are comfortable if kicked in behind.
Rokadunguni looks out of place at this level and with nadolo on the other Wing makes sale suspect to being kicked in behind. WLR and Nadolo in attack are fantastic and can see nadolos opposite wing having some issues- Quins take back 3 


Tactics- 2 teams set out with very different tactics. Sale want to play a slower game and retain possession where Quins want to attack from the off and move the bigger sale team about. Both sets of tactics match the lineups selected

Overall- I can see Sale getting out to an early lead and getting joy with nadolo etc. Then I see Quins coming back in to it and the

Sale 31 - 30 Harlequins

Looks like Sale aiming to get momentum and create gaps by making direct yards and Quins by manipulating space. Both suits the lineups they have. 

I think it's hard to see any front row, even a top notch one like Quins', beating Sale's at the scrum and they can definitely apply pressure here, pushing their props knowing the bench is strong too. 

The lineout is a great contest, 2 good throwers, and excellent locks with a strong caller and good defensive jumping. Both sides will win the odd ball here. I think later in the game Quins will edge it because Romano off the bench will strengthen their lineout a lot more than Garvey for Sale and I can see all subs being used in a match like this. It's a real 23 man game.

At the breakdown, Itoje really helps out Cane, but the pace of the Quins back row gives them a real advantage and with Clifford and Hooper both good over the ball, both packs equaling each other in hard work (Kruis, Itoje, Creevy etc) and Gorgodze's clearing power, Quins should have an advantage. 

As for what the packs offer in the loose, the Quins' front row offers quite a bit more, being very mobile, but Sale just edge the second row. There's more power and some good linking in the Sale backrow but more running threat in the Quins one.

Not much between the HBs- feel Care's kicking is a weakness but he has Sexton outside him and in this weather his sniping threat can really put the defence on the back foot. I really like Jantjes allround, and think both HB combos click well together.

Sale's backline is so powerful with a touch of running class from Le Roux, whilst Quins are full of footwork, befitting their tactics and their approach to the other side's standard defensive approaches. 

All in all I can't really separate the starting XVs, maybe a touch of an advantage to Quins in the breakdown that helps them out, but Sale's bench is a bit better. I think Sale steal this game at the death off the bench, sorry Steve

Sale 25-24 Harlequins

Sale Sharks 24 Harlequins 23

Sale 27-24 Quins
Prefer the Quins front five but there isn't much in it. Similar small edge to Sale in the back rows. The big difference is the half back combo which goes to Sale. Outside backs are once again right but would probably edge to Quins. Think Sale have a bit more on the bench as well.

Sale 32-27 Harlequins

Healy's lack of form gives Sale a front advantage and a slight edge in the scrum. Great locks on show, bit more for Quins in the lineout but more around the park for Sale. Two very good backrows but Quins have form issues on the flanks which gives Sale the overall advantage in the pack. Sale take the halfbacks and it's a fantastic contest past that, very little in it. Good benches from both sides and bags of impact. Very little in the tactics but Quins wanting to play a running game with Pienaar doesn't quite fit. This isn't a game changer though with Sale controlling the pack and halfbacks having enough for an epic double. Congratulations to both managers for making both finals.

Sale 33 - 31 Harlequins 
A great game to end the season, two fantastic teams and what makes the game really interesting is that both teams have some form issues in the important shirts (2, 8, 9 and 10) - although Jantes is playing well in s15, both have contrasting styles, where Sale have more of a power game in the backline, whilst Quins are just an attacking threat everywhere you look in the backs and using Henshaw's kick chase game will give them massive reward. 

With the weather the Quins set up works and they have the players to make the most of an expansive and open game, but Sale have all the confidence going forwards after the European Cup win and have been able to rest a few players, which could really be a decisive factor there. No real subtlety in the Sale backline, you know what you are going to get especially with their wings, really do prefer the Quins backline with its balance and attacking options. 

Set pieces are really interesting, Kruis is the lineout leader at Sarries in real life, so can see him getting all of the calls right, whilst Itoje is so disruptive and with his athleticism will get good ball for Sale - prefer Creevy to Taylor, but then Healy and Brookes haven't been at their best this season, but still a very even contest, similar with the breakdown battle where both sets of forwards will compete and everything will be so even, prefer Hooper over Cane but otherwise there is no real advantage anywhere. 

Can't split the teams really, the decisive factor for me though is that Sale have got a better bench (just) and as Sarries showed in real life yesterday it is how you make the most of the 23 players and that just sways it for me

Fantastic achievement Johnny, first double in the game, congrats

Unlucky Steve, tough to come up against Sale in both finals, so little in the sides.

Was so tough to split, barely managed it

Congrats SirJ great achievement and sorry I couldn't get in a full predo, been sorting out the house aerial all day after it packed in!!

Congrats SJE

Apologies for lack of predo

Congratulations SJE, and unlucky Steve!

Sorry the lack of predos, was on tour all weekend!

Well done SJE. 

At last we've gotten rid of the line of 'you can't win two finals' although for my sake maybe it could have stayed another year.