Anglo Welsh Cup - Round Four

---

Northampton Saints vs Scarlets
Franklin Gardens

---

Northampton Saints
Manager: Dammit Chris

01. Wyatt Crockett	09. Joe Simpson (c)
02. Ashley Johnson	10. Harry Mallinder (K)
03. Jake Cooper-Wooley
04. Vaea Fifita	11. Tyler Morgan
05. Scott Cummings	12. Matt Giteau
06. George Nott	13. Rieko Ioane
07. Jack Lam	14. Paolo Odogwu
08. Luke Wallace	15. Ben Foden

Replacements
16. Julien Marchand 17. - 18. Enrique Pieretto Heiland 19. James Ryan 20. Archie White 21. Jamie Shillcock 22. Matt Banahan 23. Ali Crossdale
* Saints bench a man short as Mulipola is on loan at Gloucester

Attributes:
Breakdown - Clearing: Ensuring the possession is clean and quick with quick support to the breakdown
First phase attack/strike moves: Will look to break the defence, with either a bust through or a clever move to create a gap.

Blitz Defence: Your side is known for Blitz and excels at it
Breakdown - Turnover possession: Your side is recognised to pick off turnovers at the breakdown, by getting the ball and gaining the penalty.

---

Scarlets

01. Dylan Evans	09. Declan Smith
02. Emyr Phillips	10. Jack Maynard
03. Nicky Thomas
04. Josh Helps	11. Corey Baldwin
05. Rynier Bernardo	12. Gareth Owen
06. Jack Condy	13. Steff Hughes
07. Josh MaCleod	14. Tom Williams
08. Morgan Allen	15. Dion Jones

.
Replacements: 16 Torin Myhill, 17 Gethin Robinson, 18 Peter Edwards, 19 Phil Day, 20 Tom Phillips, 21 Connor Lloyd, 22 Billy McBryde, 23 Richard Smith

---

---

Harlequins vs Sale Sharks
Twickenham Stoop

---

Harlequins
Manager – Steven_Sharks

01. Richard Barrington	09. Ruan Pienaar
02. Rob Webber	10. Dan Jones (k)
03. John Afoa
04. Luke Romano	11. Joe Tomane
05. Will Witty	12. Stuart Olding
06. Jean Luc Du Preez	13. Campbell Magnay
07. Steffon Armitage (c)	14. Keelan Giles
08. James Chisholm	15. Mike Hayley

.
16. Jack Singleton 17. Ethan Waller 18. Dillon Lewis 19. Lukhan Tui 20. Jamie Gibson 21. Stuart Townsend 22. Steven Myler 23. Leolin Zas

Attributes

Phase Attack - Attacks build momentum until an opportunity arises. 
Counter Attack - Receiving the ball down field, your players will look to attack with ball in hand, thriving in the broken field and open spaces. 

Breakdown (Turnover Possession) -  Your side is recognised to pick off turnovers at the breakdown, by getting the ball and gaining the penalty
Chop Tackle: Tacklers look to get low and chop down attackers before gaining momentum or metres over the gain line. 

Game Plan

---

 Sale Sharks
Manager – SJE

01. Ross Harrison	09. James Mitchell
02. Benjamin Kayser	10. Quade Cooper
03. Atu Moli
04. Dave Attwood	11. Tevita Li
05. Christian Day	12. Jonathan Danty
06. Issac Curtis Harris	13. Joe Marchant
07. Matt Kvesic	14. Ratu Joe Cokanasiga
08. Rob Leota	15. Willie Le Roux

Subs:
16. Malcolm Marx 17. Tau Koloamatangi 18. Martin Moore 19. Steven Luatua 20. Lewis Ludlam 21. Bill Johnstone 22. Jordie Barrett 23. Curwin Bosch

---

---

Gloucester Rugby vs Newport Gwent Dragons
Kingsholm Stadium

---

Gloucester Rugby
Manager - Anonmattyt

01. Tendai 'Beast' Mtawarira	09. Dan Robson
02. Luke Cowan-Dickie	10. Danny Cipriani
03. Coenie Ousthuizen
04. Eben Etzebeth	11. Israel Dagg
05. Tomas Lavanini	12. Ryan Crotty
06. Willem Alberts	13. Tevita Kurindrani
07. Ardie Savea	14. Will Addison
08. Ruan Ackerman	15. Israel Folau

.
Subs: 16. Titi Lamositele, 17. Joe Gray, 18. Logi Mulipola, 19. Elliott Stooke, 20. Julian Salvi, 21. TJ Perenara, 22. Billy Burns, 23. Charlie Walker

---

Newport Gwent Dragons

01. Thomas Davies	09. Sarel Pretorious
02. Rhys Buckley	10. Dorian Jones
03. Brok Harris
04. Matthew Screech	11. Tom Prydie
05. Rynard Landman	12. Adam Warren
06. Ollie Griffiths	13. Tyler Morgan
07. Nic Cudd	14. Adam Hughes
08. Harrison Keddie	15. Carl Meyer

.
Replacements: 16 Thomas Rhys Thomas, 17 Sam Hobbs, 18 Lloyd Fairbrother, 19 James Thomas, 20 Robson Blake, 21 Charlie Davies, 22 Angus O’Brien, 23 Sam Beard

---

---

Newcastle Falcons vs Bath Rugby
Kingston Park

---

 Newcastle Falcons
Manager – Bambam

01. Alec Hepburn	09. Will Chudley
02. Ricky Riccitelli	10. Ian Madigan
03. Charlie Faumuina
04. Rory Thornton	11. Zac Kibirige
05. Matt Symons (c)	12. Vince Aso
06. Callum Clark	13. Jan Serfontein
07. Will Evans	14. Denny Solomona
08. Jack O'Donaghue	15. Rob Miller

:-
16. George McGuigan 17. Nic Auterac 18. Davit Kubriashvili 19. Jacques Potgeiter 20. Jordi Murphy 21. Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi 22. Lloyd Evans 23. Gabriel Ibitoye

Attributes
Counter Attacking: Receiving the ball down field, your players will look to attack with ball in hand, thriving in the broken field and open spaces.
Phase Attack: Attacks build momentum until an opportunity arises.
Breakdown: Slowing up ball: The defenders can get over the ball to slow it up and prevent the attack from building momentum and allowing your defence to set.
Blitz Defence: Your side is known for Blitz and excels at it

---

Bath Rugby
Manager – CJB

01. Ellis Genge	09. Richard Wigglesworth
02. Leni Asipai	10. Jack Debrenczeni
03. Nepo Laulala
04. Will Skelton	11. Damian De Allende
05. Graham Kitchener	12. Sam Hill
06. Arno Botha	13. George Moala
07. Liam Gill	14. Christian Wade
08. Toby Falateu	15. Jesse Kriel

.
16. Steven Kitchoff 17. Mikey Haywood 18. Scott Wilson 19. Mitch Lees 20. Liam Squire 21. Aaron Smith 22. - 23. -
* Bench short, as Beauden Barrett and Juan Imhoff both injured

---

---

Cardiff Blues vs Worcester Warriors
Twickenham Stoop

---

Cardiff Blues

01. Corey Domachowski	09. Pele Cowley
02. Ethan Lewis	10. Jarrod Evans
03. Kieron Assiratti
04. Ben Edwards	11. Harri Millard
05. Seb Davies	12. Garyn Smith
06. James Sheekey	13. Corey Allen
07. Morgan Sienawski	14. Teri Gee
08. Cam Dolan	15. Aled Summerhill

.
Replacements: 16 Liam Belcher, 17 Marc Thomas, 18 Ben Leung, 19 Callum Bradbury, 20 Aled Ward, 21 Dane Blacker, 22 Ben Jones, 23 Cameron Lewis

---

Worcester Warriors
Manager - Prop

01. Val Ruskin	09. Sam Harrison
02. Codie Taylor	10. Owen Williams
03. WP Nel
04. Tom Savage	11. Sergeal Petersen
05. Leone Nakawara	12. Anton Leniert-Brown
06. Mike Williams	13. Jarrad Payne
07. George Smith	14. Waisake Naholo
08. Ben Morgan	15. Nehe Milner-Skudder

.
16. Ross Batty 17. Joe Moody 18. Henry Thomas 19. Kieran Tredwell 20. Warren Whiteley 21. Rory Kockott 22. Sam Olver 23. Brice Dulin

---

---

Bristol Rugby vs Exeter Chiefs
Ashton Gate Stadium

---

Bristol Team 
Manager: CJ

01. Loni Uhila	09. Kahn Fotuali'i
02. Manuel Montoya	10. Jimmy Gopperth(k)
03. Sekope Kepu
04. Donnacha Ryan	11. Charlie Sharples
05. Luke Charteris	12. Duncan Taylor
06. Chris Robshaw	13. Sione Tuipolutu
07. Carl Fearns	14. Craig Gilroy
08. Laurence Pearce	15. Chris Pennell

:-
16. James Johnston 17. Rob Buchanan  18. Tom West 19.  Sam Carter 20 - 21. Ben Spencer 22. Callum Sheedy 23. Jesse Mogg
*Bristol bench short 
Tactics:
Attributes:

Attacking:
1) Breakdown - Clearing: Ensuring the possession is clean and quick with quick support to the breakdown
2)  Phase Attack: Attacks build momentum until an opportunity arises. 
Defending:
1) Breakdown - Slowing up ball: The defenders can get over the ball to slow it up and prevent the attack from building momentum and allowing your defence to set. 
2) Breakdown - Organised Ruck defence: with guards and body guards set, allowing the rest of the line to set off them.

---

Exeter Chiefs
Manager – StNick

01. Nathan Catt	09. Nic White
02. Jack Yeandle	10. Richie Mo'unga
03. Harry Williams
04. Juandre Kruger	11. Olly Woodburn
05. Kane Douglas	12. Stuart McCloskey
06. Brad Shields	13. Francis Saili
07. Charles Ollivon	14. JP Pietersen
08. Fritz Lee	15. James Lowe

.
Subs: 16. Thomas Domingo, 17. Dane Coles, 18. Ben Tameifuna, 19. Joshua Goodhue, 20. Sam Skinner, 21. Chris Cook, 22. Alex Lozowski, 23. Tom Howe

---

---

Wasps vs Opsreys
Ricoh Arena

---

Wasps
Manager - Pullthestrings

01. Marcos Ayerza	09. Sebastien Tillous Borde
02. Bismark Du Plessis	10. Aaron Cruden (k)
03. Frans Malherbe
04. Jim Hamilton	11. Bryan Habana
05. Andrew Kitchener	12. Brad Barritt
06. Jerome Kaino	13. Henry Slade
07. Fulgence Quedraogo	14. Anthony Watson
08. Blake Gibson	15.Tim Nani-Williams

_
16. Harry Thacker, 17. -, 18. Fraiser Bailmen, 19. Dom Barrow, 20. -, 21. Mitchell Drummound, 22. Nick Evans, 23. -
*Bench Short - Dave Wilson, Nazeem Carr and Marland Yarde all injured

---

Tactics
Attack:
- Good mobility in the back row to get round the park
- Mix up forward runners off 9 and 10 to give go forward and tie in defence. When space opens up, go wide and utilise pace of back three.
Defence:
- Nullify the midfield threat, looking for big hit opportunities and wrap tackles to prevent the offloads
- Good line speed to put pressure on their handling and ability to go round our blitz defence
Breakdown:
- Be disciplined at the breakdown and do not give away penalties in our half
- If ruck is lost, don't compete and fan out in D
Bench:
- Good quality on the bench with a number of options. Slade can open up the attack in the latter stages.

---

Ospreys

01. Gareth Thomas	09. Matthew Aubrey
02. Scott Otten	10. Luke Price
03. Rhodri Jones
04. James Ratti	11. Ben John
05. Adam Beard	12. Jonathan Spratt
06. Joe Bearman	13. Joe Thomas
07. Sam Underhill	14. Jay Baker
08. Rob McCusker	15. Dafydd Howells

.
Replacements: 16 Ifan Phillips, 17 Rowan Jenkins, 18 Daniel Suter, 19 Tyler Ardron, 20 Will Jones, 21 Matthew Aubrey, 22 Phil Jones, 23 Tom O’Flaherty

---

---

Saracens vs Leicester Tigers
Allianz Park

---

Saracens
Manager – Pooly

01. Alex Waller	09. Brad Weber
02. Richard Hibbard	10. Tom Taylor
03. Paul Hill
04. Patrick Tuipultou	11. Teddy Thomas
05. Marcos Kremer	12. Ollie Devoto
06. Akira Ioane	13. Robbie Fruen
07. Sam Underhill	14. Nathan Earle
08. Dave Denton	15. Aaron  Morris

:-
16. Scott Spurling 17. Dylan Smith 18. Ben Franks 19. Nick Isiekwe 20. Will Fraser 21. Lee Dickson 22. Pat Lambie 23. George Perkins

Tactics:

Defensive:
Blitz Defence - Get in the face of the opposition and allow them very little time on the ball.
Breakdown - Turnover possession: Your side is recognised to pick off turnovers at the breakdown, by getting the ball and gaining the penalty

Attacking:
Territorial Kicking: Looking to pin back sides and kick for open spaces or touch
Offloading in the tackle: Moving the point of attack preventing a defence to set and keeping play fluid

---

Leicester Tigers
Manager – Fluxy

01. Mikheil Nariashvili	09. Nick Phipps
02. Hika Elliott	10. Freddie Burns
03. Owen Franks
04. Dominic Bird	11. Henry Purdy
05. Stanley South	12. Billy Twelvetrees
06. Don Armand (c)	13. Damien Penaud
07. Hienrich Brussow	14. Drew Mitchell
08. Thomas Waldrom	15. Kurtley Beale

.
Subs: 16. Stephen Moore 17. Max Lahiff 18. Brian Mujati 19. Tom Price 20. Calum Chick 21. Thierry Lacrampe 22. James Lang 23. Alex Cuthbert

---

Northampton Saints
Manager: Dammit Chris

01. Logi Mulipola 09. Joe Simpson (c)
02. Ashley Johnson 10. Harry Mallinder (k)
03. Jake Cooper-Wooley
04. Vaea Fifita 11. Tyler Morgan
05. Scott Cummings 12. Matt Giteau
06. George Nott 13. Rieko Ioane
07. Jack Lam 14. Paolo Odogwu
08. Luke Wallace 15. Ben Foden
.
Replacements
16. Julien Marchand 17. Wyatt Crockett 18. Enrique Pieretto Heiland 19. James Ryan 20. Archie White 21. Jamie Shillcock 22. Matt Banahan 23. Ali Crossdale

Attributes:
Breakdown - Clearing: Ensuring the possession is clean and quick with quick support to the breakdown
First phase attack/strike moves: Will look to break the defence, with either a bust through or a clever move to create a gap.

Blitz Defence: Your side is known for Blitz and excels at it
Breakdown - Turnover possession: Your side is recognised to pick off turnovers at the breakdown, by getting the ball and gaining the penalty.

Saracens
Manager – Pooly

01. Alex Waller	09. Brad Weber
02. Richard Hibbard	10. Tom Taylor
03. Paul Hill
04. Patrick Tuipultou	11. Teddy Thomas
05. Marcos Kremer	12. Ollie Devoto
06. Akira Ioane	13. Robbie Fruen
07. Sam Underhill	14. Nathan Earle
08. Dave Denton	15. Aaron  Morris

:-
16. Scott Spurling 17. Dylan Smith 18. Ben Franks 19. Nick Isiekwe 20. Will Fraser 21. Lee Dickson 22. Pat Lambie 23. George Perkins

Tactics:

Defensive:

Blitz Defence - Get in the face of the opposition and allow them very little time on the ball.

Breakdown - Turnover possession: Your side is recognised to pick off turnovers at the breakdown, by getting the ball and gaining the penalty

Attacking:

Territorial Kicking: Looking to pin back sides and kick for open spaces or touch

Offloading in the tackle: Moving the point of attack preventing a defence to set and keeping play fluid

Sale Sharks
Manager – SJE

01. Ross Harrison	09. James Mitchell
02. Benjamin Kayser	10. Quade Cooper
03. Atu Moli
04. Dave Attwood	11. Tevita Li
05. Christian Day	12. Jonathan Danty
06. Issac Curtis Harris	13. Joe Marchant
07. Matt Kvesic	14. Ratu Joe Cokanasiga
08. Rob Leota	15. Willie Le Roux

Subs:
16. Malcolm Marx 17. Tau Koloamatangi 18. Martin Moore 19. Steven Luatua 20. Lewis Ludlam 21. Bill Johnstone 22. Jordie Barrett 23. Curwin Bosch

1 Nathan Catt
2 Jack Yeandle
3 Harry Williams
4 Juandre Kruger
5 Kane Douglas
6 Brad Shields
7 Charles Ollivon
8 Fritz Lee
9 Nic White
10 Richie Mo'unga
11 Olly Woodburn
12 Stuart McCloskey
13 Francis Saili
14 JP Pietersen
15 James Lowe

16 Thomas Domingo
17 Dane Coles
18 Ben Tameifuna
19 Joshua Goodhue
20 Sam Skinner
21 Chris Cook
22 Alex Lozowski
23 Tom Howe

Newcastle Falcons
Manager – Bambam

01. Alec Hepburn	09. Will Chudley
02. Ricky Riccitelli	10. Ian Madigan
03. Charlie Faumuina
04. Rory Thornton	11. Zac Kibirige
05. Matt Symons (c)	12. Vince Aso
06. Callum Clark	13. Jan Serfontein
07. Will Evans	14. Denny Solomona
08. Jack O'Donaghue	15. Rob Miller

:-
16.George McGuigan 17.Nic Auterac 18. Davit Kubriashvili 19. Jacques Potgeiter 20. Jordi Murphy 21. Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi 22. Lloyd Evans 23. Gabriel Ibitoye

Attributes
Counter Attacking: Receiving the ball down field, your players will look to attack with ball in hand, thriving in the broken field and open spaces.
Phase Attack: Attacks build momentum until an opportunity arises.
Breakdown: Slowing up ball: The defenders can get over the ball to slow it up and prevent the attack from building momentum and allowing your defence to set.
Blitz Defence: Your side is known for Blitz and excels at it

Lads please be aware of the Six Nations games this weekend.
If you pick someone that has the chance of playing and you do not swap them by midnight Thursday - you may face a sanction.

Oops.. forgot it was on this weekend!

Also, I'm away on my stag do this weekend, so won't be predicting

BamBam wrote:Oops.. forgot it was on this weekend!

Also, I'm away on my stag do this weekend, so won't be predicting

And injuries! Although we should have one return this week

1 Beast
2 LCD
3 Ousthuizen
4 Etzbeth
5 Lavanini
6 Alberts
7 Savea
8 Ackerman
9 Robson
10 Cipriani
11 Dagg
12 Crotty
13 Kurindrani
14 Addison
15 Folau
16 Lamisotele
17 Gray
18 Mulipola
19 Stooke
20 Salvi
21 Perenara
22 Burns
23 Walker

Bath Rugby
Manager – CJB

01. Ellis Genge	09. Richard Wigglesworth
02. Leni Asipai	10. Beauden Barrett
03. Nepo Laulala
04. Will Skelton	11. Juan Imhoff
05. Graham Kitchener	12. Sam Hill
06. Arno Botha	13. George Moala
07. Liam Gill	14. Christian Wade
08. Toby Falateu	15. Jesse Kriel

16. Steven Kitchoff 17. Mikey Haywood 18. Scott Wilson 19. Mitch Lees 20. Liam Squire 21. Aaron Smith 22. Damian De Allende 23. Jack Debrenczeni
*Josh Beaumont played if Faletau is picked

01. Val Ruskin	09. Sam Harrison
02. Codie Taylor	10. Owen Williams
03. WP Nel
04. Tom Savage	11. Sergeal Petersen
05. Leone Nakawara	12. Anton Leniert-Brown
06. Mike Williams	13. Jarrad Payne
07. George Smith	14. Waisaki Naholo
08. Ben Morgan	15. NMS

16. Ross Batty 17. Joe Moody 18. Henry Thomas 19. Kieran Tredwell 20. Warren Whiteley 21. Rory Kockott 22. Sam Olver 23. Brice Dulin/Jonah Placid

Harlequins
Manager – Steven_Sharks

01. Richard Barrington	09. Ruan Pienaar
02. Rob Webber	10. Dan Jones (k)
03. John Afoa
04. Luke Romano	11. Joe Tomane
05. Will Witty	12. Stuart Olding
06. Jean Luc Du Preez	13. Campbell Magnay
07. Steffon Armitage (c)	14. Keelan Giles
08. James Chisholm	15. Mike Hayley

16. Jack Singleton 17. Ethan Waller 18. Dillon Lewis 19. Lukhan Tui 20. Jamie Gibson 21. Stuart Townsend 22. Steven Myler 23. Leolin Zas

Attributes

Phase Attack - Attacks build momentum until an opportunity arises. 
Counter Attack - Receiving the ball down field, your players will look to attack with ball in hand, thriving in the broken field and open spaces. 

Breakdown (Turnover Possession) -  Your side is recognised to pick off turnovers at the breakdown, by getting the ball and gaining the penalty
Chop Tackle: Tacklers look to get low and chop down attackers before gaining momentum or metres over the gain line. 

Game Plan

Sorry, team is late



Bristol Team 
Manager: CJ

01. Loni Uhila	09. Kahn Fotuali'i
02. Manuel Montoya	10. Jimmy Gopperth(k)
03. Sekope Kepu
04. Donnacha Ryan	11. Charlie Sharples
05. Luke Charteris	12. Duncan Taylor
06. Chris Robshaw	13. Sione Tuipolutu
07. Judicael Cancoriet	14. Craig Gilroy
08. Laurence Pearce	15. Chris Pennell

:-
16. James Johnston 17. Rob Buchanan  18. Tom West 19.  Sam Carter 20  Carl Fearns 21. Ben Spencer 22. Callum Sheedy 23. Jesse Mogg

Tactics:
Attributes:

Attacking:
1) Breakdown - Clearing: Ensuring the possession is clean and quick with quick support to the breakdown
2)  Phase Attack: Attacks build momentum until an opportunity arises. 
Defending:
1) Breakdown - Slowing up ball: The defenders can get over the ball to slow it up and prevent the attack from building momentum and allowing your defence to set. 
2) Breakdown - Organised Ruck defence: with guards and body guards set, allowing the rest of the line to set off them.


Tactics:

Wasps
Manager - Pullthestrings

01. Marcos Ayerza	09. Sebastien Tillous Borde
02. Bismark Du Plessis	10. Aaron Cruden (k)
03. Frans Malherbe
04. Jim Hamilton	11. Bryan Habana
05.Andrew Kitchener	12. Brad Barritt
06. Jerome Kaino	13. Henry Slade
07.Fulgence Quedraogo	14. Anthony Watson
08. Nazeem Carr	15.Tim Nani-Williams

_
16. Harry Thacker, 17. Dave Wilson, 18. Fraiser Bailmen, 19. Dom Barrow, 20. Blake Gibson, 21. Mitchell Drummound, 22. Nick Evans, 23. Marland Yarde

---

Tactics
Attack:
- Good mobility in the back row to get round the park
- Mix up forward runners off 9 and 10 to give go forward and tie in defence. When space opens up, go wide and utilise pace of back three.
Defence:
- Nullify the midfield threat, looking for big hit opportunities and wrap tackles to prevent the offloads
- Good line speed to put pressure on their handling and ability to go round our blitz defence
Breakdown:
- Be disciplined at the breakdown and do not give away penalties in our half
- If ruck is lost, don't compete and fan out in D
Bench:
- Good quality on the bench with a number of options. Slade can open up the attack in the latter stages.

Predictions Open - To me please

*Bench Short - Dave Wilson, Nazeem Carr and Marland Yarde all injured

==

Concariot injured for me - so Fearns starting at 7 and a man short on the bench

Northampton Saints 28 - 19 Scarlets
Scarlets not at their strongest and takes away any chance of a win here. Saints back 5 poor by their standards and Mallinder no 10, but more enough for a decent win. 

Northampton Saints 31 - 17 Scarlets
A strong Saints side here has too much for the men from Llanelli. The front five will provide a strong platform, for a set of exciting and young backs. 

Northampton Saints 34 - 33 Scarlets

Northampton Saints 38 - 12 Scarlets 
Maybe I don't watch enough Pro 12 to know all the names, but Scarlet side looks weak to me. Unsure about Mallinder at 10 but he was ok there at U20 level and it won't hold Saints back too much in this match. Dominate the pack, Wallace at 8 a bit weird, beat up the scarlets in contact and too much running quality on show for the Pro 12 side to handle. Would have thought Ioane and Morgan should start the other way around.

Northampton Saints 27 - 10 Scarlets
Even with a man down, Saints are way too strong for a depleted Scarlets team. Man down stops bonus point.

Northampton Saints 17 - 16 Scarlets 

Harlequins 21 - 22 Sale Sharks
Very tight game, especially in the pack. Webber and Armitage lack of form give Sale a small advantage and more impact from the bench gives them the win. Very little in this one though with Quins home advantage keeping it tight. 

Harlequins 24 - 22 Sale Sharks
Up front, Quins have a much more abrasive pack, who will make dents in the sharks defence. They have similar backs to match with experience, however the Sharks have more of an attacking threat from their back line, as Danty and Li will offer some carrying in midifield. The Sharks bench, also has a touch more impact, however the hard work of the Quins forwards will set up a solid home victroy.

Harlequins 27 - 24 Sale Sharks
For the first time in ages, Sale outpowered up front, with Quins balance and power in the backrow especially helping them out. Sale have more quality in the backs and I really like the centre combo which in 1-2 years could compete in main competition level. But the home advantage and pack advantage swing things Quins' way

Harlequins 24 - 27 Sale Sharks
Packs are pretty even but Sale have more at half backs and just edge the centre battle today.

Harlequins 22 - 21 Sale Sharks

Harlequins 29 - 28 Sale Sharks
Stronger pack for the home side, better backs for the away side. Home advantage swings it.

Gloucester Rugby 45 - 10 Newport Gwent Dragons
Gloucester obviously taking the Anglo Welsh seriously with a plethora of international stars on show today. They'll have way too much for a poor Newport side, easy win. 

Gloucester Rugby 56 - 10 Newport Gwent Dragons
The gulf in class is very wide in this fixture and can't see anything other than a serious rout to the Cherry & whites.

Gloucester Rugby 29 - 28 Newport Gwent Dragons

Gloucester Rugby 50 - 6 Newport Gwent Dragons
Gloucester near full strength with world class players in the backs and a massive pack and will murder the Dragons. I can't add much more, except Addison a bit of s step down but solid enough player to be useful

Gloucester Rugby 38 - 7 Newport Gwent Dragons
Glos too strong against an out of sorts Dragons side.

Gloucester Rugby 27 - 26 Newport Gwent Dragons

Gloucester Rugby 40 - 20 Newport Gwent Dragons 
Home side better in all positions.

Newcastle Falcons 19 - 23 Bath Rugby
Small advantage to Bath in the front 5 with a bit more quality. The away side begin to take control in the backrow though with a better trio and more class. Too much in the backline also for Bath and they come away with the win. 

Newcastle Falcons 25 - 24 Bath Rugby
The Bath pack has more of a carrying ability to it, however the all round skill set of the Falcons pack make them a dynamic and dangerous unit to get them on the front foot. Out wide both back lines offer a threat in hand, however Falcons offer a better alternative with the boot when required. The prospetive bath bench could have swung the fixture in their favour, but the Falcons bench just helps them cling on to the win.

Newcastle Falcons 30 - 29 Bath Rugby

Newcastle Falcons 20 - 26 Bath Rugby
Like the Falcons backrow's promise but Bath have the experience to edge that battle right now - Evans quality and O'Donaghue too. Bath also generally more quality up front in the tight 5. Bath more solid outwide, though lots of spark for Falcons will see them score as well as concede. Solomona a great finisher, and I think De Allende defends better at centre so expect a try on that wing for Falcons. Bath just have a more settled and experienced side and win

Newcastle Falcons 27 - 21 Bath Rugby
Packs even but Falcons stronger at half back. Out wide not a lot between them but being men down loses it for Bath with Falcons having more fresh legs.

Newcastle Falcons 32 - 22 Bath Rugby
Losing 2 players off the bench is a big loss for Bath. Interested to see how Solomana goes for Falcons, looks a great signing.

Cardiff Blues 17 - 35 Worcester Warriors
Another pretty routine win for the AP side with Worcester having way too much in the pack against a faltering Cardiff side. Wuss will really take control in the 2nd half with a good side out. 

Cardiff Blues 25 - 42 Worcester Warriors
Another fixture where the Welsh side is out classed by the Aviva team. Warriors just have too much quality in key decision making positions to out class their opponents.

Cardiff Blues 23 - 24 Worcester Warriors

Cardiff Blues 15 - 48 Worcester Warriors
Worcester easily on top in the breakdown, scrum and the carrying and handling ability of the pack, and probably lineout too. With a high quality backline, including vast young attacking talents like Naholo, Milner-Skudder and ALB (all AB quality) as well as Peterson, Worcester are several classes ahead of Cardiff

Cardiff Blues 28 - 29 Worcester Warriors 

Cardiff Blues 22 - 58 Worcester Warriors
Absolute smash job here. All Welsh sides putting out very inexperienced squads and Worcester looking as though they could win this one.

Bristol Rugby 23 - 22 Exeter Chiefs
Very tight game with both sides going in quite strong. I like the look of both packs and they'll go toe to toe for much of the game with home advantage just swinging it. 

Bristol Rugby 23 - 24 Exeter Chiefs
A good contest bewteen two hard working packs. Can see the Bristol half backs just controlling the game a little more to their liking, but the Exeter back line offering more of threat ball in hand and Mo'unga leading the way. Just the impact off the Chiefs bench sways it late on in their favour.

Bristol Rugby 25 - 24 Exeter Chiefs

Bristol Rugby 24 - 25 Exeter Chiefs
Tough, close game to call. Man down hurts Bristol who have the better pack but Chiefs being able to bring more off the bench gets the win.

Bristol Rugby 23 - 22 Exeter Chiefs 

Bristol Rugby 25 - 24 Exeter Chiefs
Strong home side out, even with a bench player short they can get the win with advantage in the front five and setpiece. 

Wasps 39 - 16 Ospreys
Wasps way too strong here with some real big names out on show. It won't be pretty for Ospreys despite looking good of late.

Wasps 32 - 20 Ospreys
Ospreys offer the biggest resisitance from the welsh regions, however the aulity Wasps have on display, will eventually put them to the sword, depsite being so deplted on the bench. Cold possibly been more with a full compliment, but a good days work at the Ricoh.

Wasps 23 - 23 Ospreys

Wasps 30 - 20 Ospreys
Despite the competition and the 6N, Ospreys are alone in this round by fielding a strong side for one of the Welsh teams. With missing players on the bench, Wasps will find this hard, but the starting XV should be fit enough barring injuries and are incredibly strong, so despite these issues Wasps will win at home. The backs especially outclass Ospreys

Wasps 22 - 22 Ospreys
Wasps will dominate the first half but being 3 men down is a killer and Ospreys will get the draw in the last quarter.

Wasps 37 - 36 Ospreys 

Wasps 32 - 19 Ospreys
Good win for a strong Wasps side.

Saracens 26 - 26 Leicester Tigers

Saracens 26 - 25 Leicester Tigers
Close battle between 2 packs of mostly established quality players - think of the young ones Sarries have the better current players and this sways that battle towards them. Prefer the Tigers' HBs, and very close at the outback battle. In teh AP, I'd decide on tactics, here Saracens edge based on being at home

Saracens 28 - 22 Leicester Tigers
Sarries pack and centres win this game, half backs are closer but Sarries will have the ball to get over the gainline.

Saracens 25 - 24 Leicester Tigers

Saracens 25 - 25 Leicester Tigers
Cant split the teams, very even pack battle but bit more experience in Tigers backline and backrow to get them a draw. 

Saracens 26 - 26 Leicester Tigers

Saracens 26 - 25 Leicester Tigers
Close battle between 2 packs of mostly established quality players - think of the young ones Sarries have the better current players and this sways that battle towards them. Prefer the Tigers' HBs, and very close at the outback battle. In teh AP, I'd decide on tactics, here Saracens edge based on being at home

Saracens 28 - 22 Leicester Tigers
Sarries pack and centres win this game, half backs are closer but Sarries will have the ball to get over the gainline.

Saracens 25 - 24 Leicester Tigers

Saracens 25 - 25 Leicester Tigers
Cant split the teams, very even pack battle but bit more experience in Tigers backline and backrow to get them a draw.