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European Finals

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European Finals Empty European Finals

Post by Fluxy Mon 08 May 2017, 9:50 am

Teams to be named by 23:59 hours on Wednesday
Tactics by 23:59 hours on Thursday 

Predictions to be PM’d to Fluxy by 23:59 hours on Sunday


Champions Cup Final


Sale Sharks vs Northampton Saints
Murrayfield Stadium
Light Cloud, 15 Degrees, 8mph Southerly Winds


European Finals 12 Sale Sharks
Manager – SJE

01. Jack McGrath09. Danny Care
02. Tommy Taylor10. Johnny Sexton
03. Rabah Slimani
04. Brodie Retalick11. Nick Abendanon
05. Maro Itoje12. Reece Hodge
06. Peter O'Mahony13. Joe Marchant
07. Sam Cane14. Semesa Rokoduguni
08. CJ Stander15. Jordie Barrett
Subs:
16. Malcolm Marx 17. Ross Harrison 18. Davit Zirakishvilli 19. Dave Attwood 20. Duane Vermulean 21. Faf De Klerk 22. Bernard Foley 23. Malakai Fekitoa


Attributes:
Phase Attack: Attacks build momentum until an opportunity arises.
Breakdown - Clearing: Ensuring the possession is clean and quick with quick support to the breakdown.

Blitz Defence: Your side is known for Blitz and excels at it.
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. 

SPECIFICS:

- Target the Saints lineout with no real back row jumper. Look to put pressure on their throw and prevent clean ball off the top.
- Target the breakdown for fast ball on attack with Pocock not currently playing. look to turnover any isolated Saints carriers with the entire back 5 of the pack being effective jackals.
- Look to use the pace of Marchant & Barrett in the wider channels and particularly target the channel between 13 & 14. AAC/Daly have been switching to and from both positions in the last few weeks and communication may be an issue.
  
Attack: We will be playing a high intensity phased attacking game. Look to use a rugby league shape with runners on the gain line and out the back door to force the opposition into making defensive decisions. Numerous playmakers across the back line allows us to constantly change the point of attack and restructure our attacking phases. Care to keep the fringe defence honest with his snipping runs.

Breakdown: Quick ball is the aim on attack. Mobile pack and physical back line to clear out rucks and ensure we get it. We will look to get over the gain line off all carries to give a target to hit. Defensively when the initial contact is won we will look to commit numbers and get over the ball turning it over or at least slowing opposition ball up. Otherwise we will strengthen the line.

Defence: Straight line blitz defence focused on winning the gain line collisions and driving the ball carrier back. Line speed is crucial. Care will sweep behind the line to cover chips and grubbers. Barrett & Bendy to cover the background dropping deep to cut off the green grass available to kick into.

Scrum: 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.

Lineout: Five 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 POM to get up in the air at the front and challenge on opposition ball while Retalick & Itoje marshals the middle looking to make it as messy as possible.


Northampton Saints
Interim DoR: Ozzy3213

01. Mako Vunipola09. Conor Murray
02. Dylan Hartley ©10. George Ford
03. Ramiro Herrera
04. Joe Launchbury      11. Julian Savea
05. Jonny Gray12. Wesley Fofana
06. Schalk Burger13. Adam Ashley-Cooper
07. David Pocock14. Elliott Daly
08. Billy Vunipola15. Leigh Halfpenny
.
Replacements: 16. Schalk Brits 17.  Wyatt Crockett 18. Jake Cooper-Woolley 19. Paul Jedrasiak 20. Facundo Isa 21. Joe Simpson 22. Lima Sopoaga 23. Manu Tuilagi

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.

Tactics
Priority One – The Gain Line.  In attack and defence we will look to hit with intensity, be it carrying, clearing in attack or smashing back in defence.
Priority Two – Make Sale’s best attacking threats defend.  Use big carriers (forwards) slightly further out from the ruck area, down the channels defended by backs, forcing them to work hard in defence and thereby disrupting their attacking concentration/flow.

Set Piece Specifics
Scrum.  8 man shove in attack and defence.  Keep straight in defence and hold, forcing Sale to get the ball out and play.  In attack flankers to stay down and push, if we get forward momentum but penalty does not look likely, ball out quickly to attack them whilst on the back foot.
Lineout.  In attack mix it up shortening the lineout at times, using BV as a ball carrier through the midfield.  In defence look to contest and make any ball off the top as messy as possible.

General
- We won’t change too much from what has got the team here through the season, just the minor tweaks as per the above.
- Conor Murray to sweep behind the blitz along with the blindside winger for any chips, grubbers through from Sale.


Challenge Cup Final


Leicester Tigers vs Worcester Warriors
Murrayfield Stadium
Light Cloud, 15 Degrees, 8mph Southerly Winds


Leicester TigersEuropean Finals 4
Manager – Fluxy

01. Mikheil Nariashvili 09. Francois Hougaard
02. Dave Ward10. Francois Trinh-Duc
03. Owen Franks
04. Samu Manoa11. Henry Purdy
05. Dominic Bird12. Kurtley Beale
06. Don Armand (c)13. Ben Te'o
07. Sam Jones14. Sean Maitland
08. JMF Lobbe15. Mike Brown
.
Subs: 16. Stephen Moore 17. Gethin Jenkins 18. Harry Williams 19. Jake Ball 20. Calum Chick 21. Antoine Dupont 22. Joey Carbery 23. Gael Fickou

Basic Game Plan
In good conditions we will be looking to play a possession based, fast offloading game, keeping the ball alive moving the Warriors big pack and defence around. When deep in our half we won't take chances with offloading, but will make ground carrying close to the ruck and recycling quickly, or using the boots of Trinh-Duc, Beale and Brown to take us up the field. Our general play however this week will be about keeping the ball alive and moving the point of attack. 

In defence, as always we will be running a blitz defence. Our focus will be on the gainline collisions and driving back in the tackle. Line speed and no dog-legs will be key components for us. Hougaard will sweep in behind the defensive line to counter any chips/grubbers.

Specifics

  • Lineout - In decent conditions we will mix it up on our ball, utilising Bird, Armand and Lobbe as receivers, whilst also at times shortening the line and using our big forwards as crash ball options off first phase. Defensively we will look to compete for the ball and disrupt wherever possible, making any ball secured by Worcester as scrappy as we can.

  • Scrum - Hit channel one ball and get it to the back quickly, looking to maximise the space available with the opposition forwards packed down. On their ball, 8 man shove and look to drive them off as their hooker lifts his foot to hook the ball. Franks to stay tight and straight. Flanker on that side to stay bound and keep Franks square.

  • Breakdown - When we carry in, we will flood the breakdown rucking well past the ball to free it up quickly, so that Hougaard can feed the ball quickly to forwards, the first receiver, or snipe through a hole. In defence, if we have made a passive tackle and the carrier has momentum we will not over commit, but will maintain a strong defensive line. If we win the collision and knock the carrier back we will look to get the second man in hard over the ball to slow up momentum, or turn over possession. Key for us is being selective, and only committing men to a contestable ruck. 

  • Attacking Play - We will be looking to play a fast offloading game, with the ball shifted on to the support runner just prior to the point of the tackle with the defender already committed. However this will only be implemented within the opposition half. We will also utilise the pick and go, meaning their defensive line cannot blitz efficiently. We will then we will look to exploit the delay in their blitz that results. We will then look to shift the direction of play and pull their defenders out of position to create gaps. Hougaard to also look to snipe around the fringes, to keep the defence honest and keep us going forwards all the time.



  • Tactical Kicking - If we kick, we will look to kick for the corners and contest the opposition lineout.


Key Points

  • High Quality Spine - In the key decision making jerseys, 2,8,9,10,12, and 15 we have top class operators. In big games, when things get tight, those guys can be the difference between winning and losing.
  • Impact Bench - 6 full internationals. All can have a huge impact on this game.
  • All to Play for - Finals are one game where anything can happen, and we are probably the best at one off games. 


Tigers Attributes
Defensive:


  • Blitz Defence: Your side is known for Blitz and excels at it
  • 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. 


  • Attacking:
  • Offloading in the tackle: Moving the point of attack preventing a defence to set and keeping play fluid.
  • Breakdown - Clearing: Ensuring the possession is clean and quick with quick support to the breakdown





Worcester Warriors
Manager - Prop

01. Joe Moody09. Gareth Davies
02. Ross Batty10. Dan Biggar (k)
03. Henry Thomas
04. Tom Savage11. Waisaki Naholo
05. Yohann Maestri12. Anton Leinert-Brown
06. Jackson Wray13. Jarrad Payne
07. Matt Todd 14. James Short
08. Ben Morgan15. David Havilli 
.
Subs: 16. Codie Taylor  17. Luca Paz 18. WP Nel 19. Leone Nakarawa 20. Sam Warburton 21. Sam Harrison 22. Owen Williams 23. Mathew Tait

Season's Attributes-
Offloading in the Tackle
Breakdown (Turnovers)
Blitz Defence
Choke Tackle
*Form is huge and, having just beaten Leicester last week we come in on a high and wanting to keep this momentum going..
*Rotation is everything coming into this stage of the season and we have selected some fresh legs with players able to play longer and being managed with their game time.
*We see our back row as the main impact with the balance and ability to slow their ball whilst keeping the route to our 9 clear.
*We have a big carrying, hard working pack to stop them in their tracks and put a lot of pressure on 9 to prevent the quick ball.
*Bench-we have huge impact on our bench able and will use Paz, Nakawara, Taylor and Warburton to cause all sorts of trouble in the last 20 minutes minimum.

-We have selected a heavy, hard working pack looking to nullify the danger from their big carriers and set piece,
-We will play a controlled game, offloading-only when on. Biggar will look for territory,
-Big carriers up front looking to offload if the conditions allow possible although being mindful of the encroaching defence and we will have support runners on their shoulders,
-Back row looking to be balanced with carrying, tackling and Todd bringing the turnover attribute,
-The breakdown is likely to be scrappy and the first man there will look to go for the ball using our turnover attribute. If it is obviously lost we will fan out. If they under-commit we will look to drive through them for the turnover,
-Look to not commit too much to their breakdown if the ball is lost and use blitz defence led by Payne allowing the chance to apply the choke tackle to stop them playing a quick tempo game,
-Backs to play what is in front of them, runners off ALB and Payne, we will use the back three as strike runners and know the pace of our back three to put pressure with quick ball,
-When nothing is on  go for territory and also use  'bombs' to challenge and turn their backlline,
-We will the wingers to come into the line and switch things up to keep them guessing and allow us the chance to hit from deep at times and not be predictable,
-We have selected a huge bench which will be used for impact and to maintain a high tempo game running against tired legs,
-Take all kickable penalties.


Last edited by Fluxy on Fri 19 May 2017, 3:33 pm; edited 3 times in total

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Post by Fluxy Mon 08 May 2017, 9:51 am

Ignore the conditions.

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Post by Fluxy Tue 09 May 2017, 4:52 pm

Conditions now updated. 

Please have all sides and tactics in as per the OP. 

Good luck to everyone OK

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Post by Sgt_Pooly Wed 10 May 2017, 4:54 am

mark....good luck lads.

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Post by BamBam Wed 10 May 2017, 9:06 am

Good luck chaps

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Post by prop_lyd Wed 10 May 2017, 4:37 pm

Worcester Warriors
Manager - Prop

01. Joe Moody09. Gareth Davies
02. Ross Batty10. Dan Biggar (k)
03. Henry Thomas
04. Tom Savage11. Waisaki Naholo
05. Yohann Maestri12. Anton Leinert-Brown
06. Jackson Wray13. Jarrad Payne
07. Matt Todd 14. James Short
08. Ben Morgan15. David Havilli 
.
Subs: 16. Codie Taylor  17. Luca Paz 18. WP Nel 19. Leone Nakarawa 20. Sam Warburton 21. Sam Harrison 22. Owen Williams 23. Mathew Tait

Season's Attributes-
Offloading in the Tackle
Breakdown (Turnovers)
Blitz Defence
Choke Tackle
*Form is huge and, having just beaten Leicester last week we come in on a high and wanting to keep this momentum going..
*Rotation is everything coming into this stage of the season and we have selected some fresh legs with players able to play longer and being managed with their game time.
*We see our back row as the main impact with the balance and ability to slow their ball whilst keeping the route to our 9 clear.
*We have a big carrying, hard working pack to stop them in their tracks and put a lot of pressure on 9 to prevent the quick ball.
*Bench-we have huge impact on our bench able and will use Paz, Nakawara, Taylor and Warburton to cause all sorts of trouble in the last 20 minutes minimum.

-We have selected a heavy, hard working pack looking to nullify the danger from their big carriers and set piece,
-We will play a controlled game, offloading-only when on. Biggar will look for territory,
-Big carriers up front looking to offload if the conditions allow possible although being mindful of the encroaching defence and we will have support runners on their shoulders,
-Back row looking to be balanced with carrying, tackling and Todd bringing the turnover attribute,
-The breakdown is likely to be scrappy and the first man there will look to go for the ball using our turnover attribute. If it is obviously lost we will fan out. If they under-commit we will look to drive through them for the turnover,
-Look to not commit too much to their breakdown if the ball is lost and use blitz defence led by Payne allowing the chance to apply the choke tackle to stop them playing a quick tempo game,
-Backs to play what is in front of them, runners off ALB and Payne, we will use the back three as strike runners and know the pace of our back three to put pressure with quick ball,
-When nothing is on go for territory and also use 'bombs' to challenge and turn their backlline,
-We will the wingers to come into the line and switch things up to keep them guessing and allow us the chance to hit from deep at times and not be predictable,
-We have selected a huge bench which will be used for impact and to maintain a high tempo game running against tired legs,
-Take all kickable penalties.


Last edited by prop_lyd on Thu 11 May 2017, 9:25 am; edited 1 time in total
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Post by ChequeredJersey Wed 10 May 2017, 4:54 pm

Good luck
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Post by SirJohnnyEnglish Wed 10 May 2017, 11:20 pm

European Finals 12 Sale Sharks
Manager – SJE

01. Jack McGrath09. Danny Care
02. Tommy Taylor10. Johnny Sexton
03. Rabah Slimani
04. Brodie Retalick11. Nick Abendanon
05. Maro Itoje12. Reece Hodge
06. Peter O'Mahony13. Joe Marchant
07. Sam Cane14. Semesa Rokoduguni
08. CJ Stander15. Jordie Barrett
Subs:
16. Malcolm Marx 17. Ross Harrison 18. Davit Zirakishvilli 19. Dave Attwood 20. Duane Vermulean 21. Faf De Klerk 22. Bernard Foley 23. Malakai Fekitoa


Attributes:
Phase Attack: Attacks build momentum until an opportunity arises.
Breakdown - Clearing: Ensuring the possession is clean and quick with quick support to the breakdown.

Blitz Defence: Your side is known for Blitz and excels at it.
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. 

SPECEFICS:

- Target the Saints lineout with no real back row jumper. Look to put pressure on their throw and prevent clean ball off the top.
- Target the breakdown for fast ball on attack with Pocock not currently playing. look to turnover any isolated Saints carriers with the entire back 5 of the pack being effective jackals.
- Look to use the pace of Marchant & Barrett in the wider channels and particularly target the channel between 13 & 14. AAC/Daly have been switching to and from both positions in the last few weeks and communication may be an issue.
  
Attack: We will be playing a high intensity phased attacking game. Look to use a rugby league shape with runners on the gain line and out the back door to force the opposition into making defensive decisions. Numerous playmakers across the back line allows us to constantly change the point of attack and restructure our attacking phases. Care to keep the fringe defence honest with his snipping runs.

Breakdown: Quick ball is the aim on attack. Mobile pack and physical back line to clear out rucks and ensure we get it. We will look to get over the gain line off all carries to give a target to hit. Defensively when the initial contact is won we will look to commit numbers and get over the ball turning it over or at least slowing opposition ball up. Otherwise we will strengthen the line.

Defence: Straight line blitz defence focused on winning the gain line collisions and driving the ball carrier back. Line speed is crucial. Care will sweep behind the line to cover chips and grubbers. Barrett & Bendy to cover the background dropping deep to cut off the green grass available to kick into.

Scrum: 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.

Lineout: Five 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 POM to get up in the air at the front and challenge on opposition ball while Retalick & Itoje marshals the middle looking to make it as messy as possible.


Last edited by SirJohnnyEnglish on Wed 17 May 2017, 11:57 am; edited 3 times in total

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European Finals Empty Re: European Finals

Post by Fluxy Wed 10 May 2017, 11:24 pm

Leicester TigersEuropean Finals 4
Manager – Fluxy

01. Mikheil Nariashvili 09. Francois Hougaard
02. Dave Ward10. Francois Trinh-Duc
03. Owen Franks
04. Samu Manoa11. Henry Purdy
05. Dominic Bird12. Kurtley Beale
06. Don Armand (c)13. Ben Te'o
07. Sam Jones14. Sean Maitland
08. JMF Lobbe15. Mike Brown
.
Subs: 16. Stephen Moore 17. Gethin Jenkins 18. Harry Williams 19. Jake Ball 20. Calum Chick 21. Antoine Dupont 22. Joey Carbery 23. Gael Fickou
Basic Game Plan
In good conditions we will be looking to play a possession based, fast offloading game, keeping the ball alive moving the Warriors big pack and defence around. When deep in our half we won't take chances with offloading, but will make ground carrying close to the ruck and recycling quickly, or using the boots of Trinh-Duc, Beale and Brown to take us up the field. Our general play however this week will be about keeping the ball alive and moving the point of attack. 

In defence, as always we will be running a blitz defence. Our focus will be on the gainline collisions and driving back in the tackle. Line speed and no dog-legs will be key components for us. Hougaard will sweep in behind the defensive line to counter any chips/grubbers.

Specifics

  • Lineout - In decent conditions we will mix it up on our ball, utilising Bird, Armand and Lobbe as receivers, whilst also at times shortening the line and using our big forwards as crash ball options off first phase. Defensively we will look to compete for the ball and disrupt wherever possible, making any ball secured by Worcester as scrappy as we can.

  • Scrum - Hit channel one ball and get it to the back quickly, looking to maximise the space available with the opposition forwards packed down. On their ball, 8 man shove and look to drive them off as their hooker lifts his foot to hook the ball. Franks to stay tight and straight. Flanker on that side to stay bound and keep Franks square.

  • Breakdown - When we carry in, we will flood the breakdown rucking well past the ball to free it up quickly, so that Hougaard can feed the ball quickly to forwards, the first receiver, or snipe through a hole. In defence, if we have made a passive tackle and the carrier has momentum we will not over commit, but will maintain a strong defensive line. If we win the collision and knock the carrier back we will look to get the second man in hard over the ball to slow up momentum, or turn over possession. Key for us is being selective, and only committing men to a contestable ruck. 

  • Attacking Play - We will be looking to play a fast offloading game, with the ball shifted on to the support runner just prior to the point of the tackle with the defender already committed. However this will only be implemented within the opposition half. We will also utilise the pick and go, meaning their defensive line cannot blitz efficiently. We will then we will look to exploit the delay in their blitz that results. We will then look to shift the direction of play and pull their defenders out of position to create gaps. Hougaard to also look to snipe around the fringes, to keep the defence honest and keep us going forwards all the time.



  • Tactical Kicking - If we kick, we will look to kick for the corners and contest the opposition lineout.


Key Points

  • High Quality Spine - In the key decision making jerseys, 2,8,9,10,12, and 15 we have top class operators. In big games, when things get tight, those guys can be the difference between winning and losing.
  • Impact Bench - 6 full internationals. All can have a huge impact on this game.
  • All to Play for - Finals are one game where anything can happen, and we are probably the best at one off games. 


Tigers Attributes
Defensive:


  • Blitz Defence: Your side is known for Blitz and excels at it
  • 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. 


  • Attacking:
  • Offloading in the tackle: Moving the point of attack preventing a defence to set and keeping play fluid.
  • Breakdown - Clearing: Ensuring the possession is clean and quick with quick support to the breakdown


Last edited by Fluxy on Wed 17 May 2017, 12:30 pm; edited 1 time in total

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Post by stnick88 Fri 12 May 2017, 1:32 pm

we getting a Saints team?

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Post by Sgt_Pooly Fri 12 May 2017, 8:23 pm

Sam/Chris will sort it.....

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Post by prop_lyd Sat 13 May 2017, 7:08 am

1. Vunipola
2. Hartley
3. Herrera
4. Launchbury
5. Gray
6. Burger
7. Savea
8. Vunipola
9. Murray
10. Sopoaga
11. Savea
12. Fofana
13. James
14. Wlr
15. Daly

16. Brits 17. Evans 18. Jcw 19. Fifita 20. O'Connor 21. Simpson 22. Ford 23. Halfpenny
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Post by prop_lyd Sat 13 May 2017, 7:08 am

May as well name something for saints anyway! If I win them both I can claim I won the.double!!
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Post by ChequeredJersey Sat 13 May 2017, 11:57 pm

When are predictions open?
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Post by Ozzy3213 Wed 17 May 2017, 10:45 am

Lads, I'm taking on Saints in an interim capacity until the end of the season. I'll get a team in in the next couple of hours.
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Post by Fluxy Wed 17 May 2017, 10:55 am

thumbsup

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Post by Ozzy3213 Wed 17 May 2017, 11:47 am

Northampton Saints
Interim DoR: Ozzy3213

01. Mako Vunipola09. Conor Murray
02. Dylan Hartley ©10. George Ford
03. Ramiro Herrera
04. Joe Launchbury      11. Julian Savea
05. Jonny Gray12. Wesley Fofana
06. Schalk Burger13. Adam Ashley-Cooper
07. David Pocock14. Elliott Daly
08. Billy Vunipola15. Leigh Halfpenny
Replacements
16. Schalk Brits 17.  Wyatt Crockett 18. Jake Cooper-Woolley 19. Paul Jedrasiak 20. Facundo Isa 21. Joe Simpson 22. Lima Sopoaga 23. Manu Tuilagi

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.

Tactics
- Priority One – The Gain Line.  In attack and defence we will look to hit with intensity, be it carrying, clearing in attack or smashing back in defence.
- Priority Two – Make Sale’s best attacking threats defend.  Use big carriers (forwards) slightly further out from the ruck area, down the channels defended by backs, forcing them to work hard in defence and thereby disrupting their attacking concentration/flow.

Set Piece Specifics
- Scrum.  8 man shove in attack and defence.  Keep straight in defence and hold, forcing Sale to get the ball out and play.  In attack flankers to stay down and push, if we get forward momentum but penalty does not look likely, ball out quickly to attack them whilst on the back foot.
- Lineout.  In attack mix it up shortening the lineout at times, using BV as a ball carrier through the midfield.  In defence look to contest and make any ball off the top as messy as possible.

General
- We won’t change too much from what has got the team here through the season, just the minor tweaks as per the above.
- Conor Murray to sweep behind the blitz along with the blindside winger for any chips, grubbers through from Sale.
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Post by Fluxy Wed 17 May 2017, 12:33 pm

Predictions open and PM to me please OK 


They will be open until Friday 1200pm.

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Post by Fluxy Fri 19 May 2017, 2:35 pm

Get those predictions in, it is very tight at the moment!

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Post by Fluxy Fri 19 May 2017, 3:11 pm

Just totting up the results...

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Post by prop_lyd Fri 19 May 2017, 3:14 pm

The suspense!!
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Post by Fluxy Fri 19 May 2017, 3:28 pm

Champions Cup Final Result:

Sale Sharks - 31
(T: Sexton, CJ Stander, Abendanon C: Sexton [x2] P: Sexton [x3] DG: Sexton [x1])
Northampton Saints - 27
(T: J Gray, Fofana, Pocock C: Halfpenny [x3] P: Halfpenny [x2])

Challenge Cup Final Result:

Leicester Tigers - 28
(T: Armand, Beale, Lobbe C: Beale [x2] P: Beale [x2] DG: Trinh-Duc [x1])
Worcester Warriors - 26
(T: Payne [2], Todd C: Biggar [x1] P: Biggar [x3])

Prediction Bonuses:
Full: SJE, Bam, SJE, Pooly, Pull, Prop & CJ
Score: Nick
None: CJB, Steve, Ozzy,

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Post by prop_lyd Fri 19 May 2017, 3:29 pm

Ah dam-it congrats flux Ok!

One day I will get my hands on a trophy.
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Post by Fluxy Fri 19 May 2017, 3:30 pm

Sale Sharks 30 - 28 Northampton Saints
Can't separate the front rows, both top top quality. Both helped by their locks too but the Saints 8 man shove might edge a few scrums for them. I don't think either side will be under much pressure in the lineout. I look forward to the breakdown with the locks helping both sides, but agree that for all his class, it's getting hard to rate Pocock and the Sale backrow is very strong on the floor and will have an edge. Both packs exude balance and cohesion. Ford is a class act but in current form I'm not sure Murray with no playmaking 12 or 15 is the best set up for him. The attack of both backlines is sublime, Daly vs Abs on the wings is interesting. Sale's pace is scary but still fragile in defence. It's a very close match, and Pete's simple tactics concisely bring a lot of pressure, but Sale do win, just too many attacking threats playing off the calmness of Hodge and Sexton with good ball.

Sale Sharks 29 - 24 Northampton Saints
I think Slimani's scrum power can get to Mako and think Sale edge the scrum. Lineout is a big win for Sale, they have two of the best jumpers around in Itoje and POM, while Saints look to be very reliant on the locks who aren't renowned for their lineout jumping. No weakness on either side in the pack around the park, with both front rows very strong in this area too. Pocock losing his rating now given he hasn't played all season, and Sale have a very strong back row anyway. 
Behind the scrum, its one each at half back, I think Sale just about edge it in the outside backs despite the fantastic Saints back 3. Saints need some help outside Ford imo
Sale take this on the back of their breakdown and lineout prowess making it very difficult for Saints backs to get a platform.

Sale Sharks 28 - 27 Northampton Saints
Looking pretty evens in the front 5 with the strongest packs on show in the league. Again tough to split the back row with impressive balance from both teams. Half backs one a piece with the Irish pair getting the higher ratings. Tiny bit more for Saints in the centres but out wide Sale take it again with a small edge. Sale targeting the right channels and so long as they get good ball this will work, Saints looking to nullify the main targets for Sale. Tiny bit more off the bench for Sale gives them the win.

Sale Sharks 31 - 30 Northampton Saints
What an engrossing final this is. Up front is a good contest between the front fives. I do believe that Slimani would get the better of Mako, although his engine will tire and Mako will out last him. Although if required Crockett vs Zirak would be a massive battle. Even though the locks from btoh are very highly rated, they both offer different abilities. The Sharks pair, offer that constant threat at the breakdown, but also the tight carrying and Brodie's ability to play first receiver adds a more attacking threat, compared to the Saints duo who are just tireless engines which will tackle and ruck. They offer carrying, but better in the wider channel, but the tighter stuff is covered off by their colleagues. I was intrigues to see what backrow SJE would go with, as the difference between POM and perhaps Henderson would dictate a lot in how they would play. Having POM battles the breakdown presence of Pocock, and helps lead the line out against Saints, which is an area where there is a clear advantage to be had for Sale. Out in the backs the control of the halfbacks is absolutely key, however I do think that Ford suffers slightly without a Giteau/Faz outside him. Not to say he can't do it, but if you have Maro/POM/Brodie coming your way a few times, it would rock you a little! Both team are great in open field, so it would be down to who could make it that open first. Sale perhaps offer a slightly more open field possibility, especially with the odd offload. Halfpenny will of course keep Saints ticking over, but in the end see Sharks taking home the trophy for a second time.

Sale Sharks 27 - 25 Northampton Saints
So hard to split these sides, both quality outfits. In this big match scenario, I would back Sexton to dictate the game more than Ford, who I could see perhaps being targeted a little in D. Would be a tense affair and most likely decided in the last 20, which leads me to consider the benches of both sides. I think Sale would slightly have the edge here, both in the set piece and behind the scrum with the likes of Foley being able to see out the game. 

Sale Sharks 23 - 24 Northampton Saints
Epic game with two great sides. Saints stronger on paper in the pack but Sale with a bit more form. Saints a tiny bit better in the backline. Normally a draw but have to side one way.

Sale Sharks 28 - 27 Northampton Saints

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Post by Fluxy Fri 19 May 2017, 3:31 pm

Leicester Tigers 30 - 27 Worcester Warriors
Worc off the back of a win last week but it is a much changed Tigers side for the final. Nothing between the sides at the scrum but favour the Tigers front 5 around the park. Good form in the flnaks for both sides this season. Worc welsh halfbacks offer more control but the Tigers pair are dynamite on the ball. 11-15 both sides have some danger men. Off the bench like the Tigers young halfbacks but major impact from the Worc forward replacements. Contrasting styles with Tigers looking to keep the ball alive and moving where possible while Worc want to control the tempo some what and pin Tigers back deep. Do think there's better kickers in the Tigers back three and can see them withstanding any aerial bombardment from Biggar and co early on. Conditions suit there game. See them starting very brightly and holding on late on against a strong Worc power game.

Leicester Tigers 31 - 31 Worcester Warriors
Tigers whole game aimed on keeping the ball alive and moving and the opposition forwards engaged, and they have a wily pack and strength at 9-10 and 12 to do that. Maitland's assists really handy too. Brown maybe the less offloading player in the set up, but he CAN do it well for Quins and would do a lot of sucking in so kind of see how it works. Worcester look well set up to try to hold up attackers and prevent that type of play, if the choke tackle pays off (though agaonst Brown and Teo, it's a difficult defensive approach to hold up), and they also go all out offloading which will make for a very open game. Their pack will be happy to do some grinding and commit, which will do damage on their ball but play into Tigers' hands on Tigers' ball, so possession is really really key. Both sides have breakdown and defensive approaches that suit this and it is a very interesting contest. I can't see an edge in the starting scrums, and neither weakened off the bench. Tigers' edge the lineout but not by much. The real key is the breakdown and retaining possession under pressure. Worcester gain a lot with Todd's form, and carriers to break the gainline, but Tigers have great strength in the air if it ever goes aerial. 
It's a really hard one to split, and both backlines will do damage with the offloading approach. Worcester probably have more threat in the backline, but I just feel that if Tigers' tactic to keep the packs engaged and drag defences wide plays off then they can break down Worcester. I can't call it, sorry

Leicester Tigers 22 - 24 Worcester Warriors
Very difficult to call this.
Front row goes to Leicester in the scrum with Franks in good form, but lineout pretty equal and its hard to give either the advantage. Very different approaches to the breakdown, with Leicester lacking a true jackal but having the power advantage. I'd back Todd and Warbs when he comes on to nick the ball a few times against a slowish Leicester pack. Worcester stronger at halfback with the established partnership, outside backs are close but the Worcester centres are a great combo with the lethal Naholo outside
Benches even, both sides well set up tactically but I think Worcester will sneak it off the back of a bit of Naholo magic

Leicester Tigers 21 - 18 Worcester Warriors
Again another tight match. I think both sides would have parity up front but Leicester have a little more in the backline so should have enough to grab the victory here.

Leicester Tigers 27 - 28 Worcester Warriors
Another cracker with 2 evenly matched teams. Tough to rate Jones for Tigers which give Wuss the chance to get on top. Very good backlines so little in the game but Worcester just enough.

Leicester Tigers 25 - 24 Worcester Warriors

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Post by Fluxy Fri 19 May 2017, 3:32 pm

prop_lyd wrote:Ah dam-it congrats flux Ok!

One day I will get my hands on a trophy.

Bloody well played mate! I honestly thought you had it in the bag, until literally the last sets of results!

Yahoo My first trophy!

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Post by BamBam Fri 19 May 2017, 3:32 pm

Congrats SJE and Flux!

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Post by Fluxy Fri 19 May 2017, 3:33 pm

Well played SJE and Ozzy, Sharks are on back to back Champions of Europe, and possible back to back double champions?

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Post by prop_lyd Fri 19 May 2017, 3:34 pm

Yeah it was pretty close.......my wait goes on.........Jan 2010 I joined!!!!
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Post by SirJohnnyEnglish Fri 19 May 2017, 3:39 pm

Congrats Flux. Delighted with that!

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Post by Fluxy Fri 19 May 2017, 3:40 pm

SirJohnnyEnglish wrote:Congrats Flux. Delighted with that!

You too mate  Ale Likewise!

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Post by Ozzy3213 Fri 19 May 2017, 10:03 pm

Well done SJE.

I'm blaming the previous management for this loss in any case! Whistle Laugh Wink
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Post by Sgt_Pooly Sat 20 May 2017, 9:05 am

Well done lads.

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Post by stnick88 Sat 20 May 2017, 10:34 am

To be fair though, its tough running two sides at once.

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Post by Sgt_Pooly Sat 20 May 2017, 6:36 pm

stnick88 wrote:To be fair though, its tough running two sides at once.

Laugh I've just spat my beer out!

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