Anglo Welsh Cup Semi Finals

Leicester Tigers vs Gloucester

Leicester Tigers
Manager – LukeLovesLuka

01. Ben Franks	09. Michael Claassens
02. Lee Mears	10. Brock James
03. Cencus Johnston
04. Dan Vickerman	11. Tom Biggs
05. Alex Brown	12. Billy Twelvetrees (k)
06. Sanu Manoa	13. Brian O'Driscoll (c)
07. Jonathan Poff	14. Topsy Ojo
08. Ernst Joubert	15. Isa Nacewa

16. Dan Murphy 17. Tom Youngs 18. Faan Rautenbach 19. Tom Denton 20. Jordan Crane 21. Neil de Kock 22. Dave Walder 23. Casey Laulala


Tactics

Game is built around our powerful setpiece, intelligent midfield and flying back three. We will use the scrum and lineout as weapons.

- Attack the lineout as much as we can using the tactical kicking of Claasens, James and Twelvetrees. A.Brown to lead our lineout, and we will use any of Brown, Joubert, Manoa and Vickerman to keep Gloucester guessing.

- Call for scrums when we can if we are getting the advantage we expect to. Joubert to look to control from the base.

- Look to Joubert, Manoa, Vickerman, Mears, Johnston and Poff to give us real go-forward with their carrying.

- Use Manoa off the shoulder of the half back's crashing down the 10 channel.

- Poff is the man charged with reaching the breakdown first, securing first phase possession for us and pilfering the possession of Gloucester.

- B.James is given license to play the game as he sees it. We do ask that he uses our carrying and lineout ability to put pressure on Gloucester, but if he sees an opportunity to attack out wide - that is his call.

- Use the intelligence we have in our centres to get us into the right areas and get our back three into gaps.

- Our back three are encouraged to do what they do best - counter attacking and running the ball back. All have good boots to rely on if it isn't on or they are isolated, but the counter is what we ask them to look for.

- Early on Twelvetrees to kick all penalites within range, but we won't necessarily go for the 3 points as the game progresses. BOD/Joubert to make the call dependant on the success of the lineout.


Gloucester
Manager – Mat

01. Tim Payne	09. Conor Murray
02. Jamie George	10. Stephen Donald
03. Coonie Outshuizen
04. Ali Williams	11. James Simpson-Daniel
05. George Robson	12. Juan de Jongh
06. Mauri Fa'asavalu	13. Rob Horne
07. Akapusi Qera	14. Hosea Gear
08. Ashley Johnson	15. Jonny May

16. Adriaan Strauss 17. Nick Wood18. Julian White 19. Tom Palmer 20. Tom Savage 21. Ryan Lamb 22. Shontayne Hape 23. Mils Muliaina



Northampton Saints vs. Saracens

Northampton Saints
Manager – Dammit Chris

01. Thomas Domingo	09. Joe Simpson
02. Mike Haywood	10. Matt Giteau
03. Carl Hayman
04. Courtney Lawes	11. Jamie Elliott
05. Patricio Albacete	12. Jean de Villiers
06. Calum Clark	13. Matt Hopper
07. Alexandre Lapandry	14. Elliot Daly
08. Liam Messam	15. Eerie Claasens

16. Chris Whitehead 17. Zak Taulofo 18. Henry Thomas 19. Joe Tacklebury/Launchbury 20. Liam Gill 21. Sam Harrison 22. Danny Cipriani 23. Siti Siviatu

Tactics
Saints focus this week is on winning the main contests throughout the 80minutes - the set piece, the breakdown battle and getting over the gainline. We will play at a high tempo against a team that has rarely played as part of the same lineup this season, we expect gaps in the defensive line which we will look to exploit and will play a rush defence to force mistakes in the Sarries attack.

Have mixed experience with age as we look to put in a strong performance and advance to the final next week - we've been planning this season to win both the LV and Amlin.

Set Piece - solid scrum that we will look to use as an attacking weapon with Messam picking up and running, or Simpson to snipe. Lineout will also be used to launch quick attacks from, Clark, Lawes, Albacete and Messam give us some good options and will look to get the ball quickly to the midfield when possible.

Breakdown - will look to put Sarries under a lot of pressure here, selected Clark as a no6 to add to our breakdown work and have Gill and Launchbury who are both specialists in this area to bring on from the bench as Sarries tire. Will look to secure turnover ball and get it out to the backs to attack with.

Attack - we are hoping to do a lot of attacking in this game and will secure ball to work through the phases and build pressure on Sarries - we have got some very dangerous backs and some good ball carrying forwards who will get us over the gainline. With Giteau pulling the strings we will look to exploit defensive uncertainties in the Sarries defence, play at a high tempo and give the ball to our backthree in space. De Villiers to do a lot of initial carrying to get us over the gainline.

Defence - will play a rush defence to put Sarries under immediate pressure and force mistakes from a team that hasn't played much rugby together.

Saracens
Manager – Ozzy3213

01. Max Lahiff	09. Paul Hodgson (c)
02. Gary Botha	10. Iain Humphreys
03. Brok Harris
04. Rynhardt Elstadt	11. James Short
05. Graham Kitchener	12. Damien Traille
06. James Phillips	13. Nevin Spence
07. James Scaysbrook	14. Mark Cueto
08. Alex Gray	15. Tom Homer

16. George Chuter 17. Jared Saunders 18. Phil Swainston 19. Bob Casey 20. Rafael Lakafia 21. James Lightfoot-Brown 22. Seilala Mapusua 23. Jack Nowell


Weather forecast: (Both games) Cloudy, 10 degrees, 8 mph winds.



Weather conditions to follow tomorrow.

Saracens
Manager – Ozzy3213

01. Max Lahiff	09. Paul Hodgson (c)
02. Gary Botha	10. Iain Humphreys
03. Brok Harris
04. Rynhardt Elstadt	11. James Short
05. Graham Kitchener	12. Damien Traille
06. James Phillips	13. Nevin Spence
07. James Scaysbrook	14. Mark Cueto
08. Alex Gray	15. Tom Homer

16. George Chuter 17. Jared Saunders 18. Phil Swainston 19. Bob Casey 20. Rafael Lakafia 21. James Lightfoot-Brown 22. Seilala Mapusua 23. Jack Nowell

Week off....thank f for that.

My big guns need a couple of weeks off to be honest, hence the fact I have changed the entire starting XV for this game. I suspect that I might get a bit of a humping to be honest, but have to prioritise really and my focus is on the AP and HC.

Good to give big Bob a run out prior to his impending retirement though!

2 quality young props starting for you Pete. Harris always impresses me mainly in the currie cup though hasn't made the step up in S15

may need to look for a new 1 soon

http://www.espnscrum.com/super-rugby-2012/rugby/story/160320.html

Leicester Tigers have made a host of changes for the Anglo Welsh Cup game against Gloucester at Welford Road.

Tigers only include 3 players who played last week, in exactly the same fixture, where 4th place tigers lost by just one point to 3rd place Gloucester.

But the squad as a whole will clearly be keen on avenging last week's narrowest of losses - manager LukeLovesLuka has made it clear he was angry at the loss and is demanding an immediate response to the side's first home defeat in years.


Leicester Tigers
Manager – LukeLovesLuka

01. Ben Franks	09. Michael Claassens
02. Lee Mears	10. Brock James
03. Cencus Johnston
04. Dan Vickerman	11. Tom Biggs
05. Alex Brown	12. Billy Twelvetrees (k)
06. Sanu Manoa	13. Brian O'Driscoll (c)
07. Jonathan Poff	14. Topsy Ojo
08. Ernst Joubert	15. Isa Nacewa

16. Dan Murphy 17. Tom Youngs 18. Faan Rautenbach 19. Tom Denton 20. Jordan Crane 21. Neil de Kock 22. Dave Walder 23. Casey Laulala


Tactics

Game is built around our powerful setpiece, intelligent midfield and flying back three. We will use the scrum and lineout as weapons.

- Attack the lineout as much as we can using the tactical kicking of Claasens, James and Twelvetrees. A.Brown to lead our lineout, and we will use any of Brown, Joubert, Manoa and Vickerman to keep Gloucester guessing.

- Call for scrums when we can if we are getting the advantage we expect to. Joubert to look to control from the base.

- Look to Joubert, Manoa, Vickerman, Mears, Johnston and Poff to give us real go-forward with their carrying.

- Use Manoa off the shoulder of the half back's crashing down the 10 channel.

- Poff is the man charged with reaching the breakdown first, securing first phase possession for us and pilfering the possession of Gloucester.

- B.James is given license to play the game as he sees it. We do ask that he uses our carrying and lineout ability to put pressure on Gloucester, but if he sees an opportunity to attack out wide - that is his call.

- Use the intelligence we have in our centres to get us into the right areas and get our back three into gaps.

- Our back three are encouraged to do what they do best - counter attacking and running the ball back. All have good boots to rely on if it isn't on or they are isolated, but the counter is what we ask them to look for.

- Early on Twelvetrees to kick all penalites within range, but we won't necessarily go for the 3 points as the game progresses. BOD/Joubert to make the call dependant on the success of the lineout.

Mat wrote:Gloucester
Manager – Mat

01. Tim Payne	09. Connor Murray (c)
02. Jamie George	10. Stephen Donald
03. Coonie Outshuizen
04. Ali Williams	11. JSD
05. George Robson	12. Juan De Jongh
06. Fasivalu	13. Rob Horne	07.Qera	14. Gear
08. Aj	15. Johnny May

16. Adriaan Strauss17. Nick Wood18. Julian White 19. Tom Palmer 20. Tom Savage 21. Ryan Lamb 22. shantayne Hape 23. Mils Muliana

Glos make wholesale changes and also give a run out to great players who need some games under their belt like gear, JDJ and Horne

Mat - what position are you playing Qera and Gear in? Looks like a really exciting new formation you've set up there

Northampton Saints
Manager – Dammit Chris

01. Thomas Domingo	09. Joe Simpson
02. Mike Haywood	10. Matt Giteau
03. Carl Hayman
04. Courtney Lawes	11. Jamie Elliott
05. Patricio Albacete	12. Jean de Villiers
06. Calum Clark	13. Matt Hopper
07. Alexandre Lapandry	14. Elliot Daly
08. Liam Messam	15. Eerie Claasens

16. Chris Whitehead 17. Zak Taulofo 18. Henry Thomas 19. Joe Tacklebury/Launchbury 20. Liam Gill 21. Sam Harrison 22. Danny Cipriani 23. Siti Siviatu

Tactics
Saints focus this week is on winning the main contests throughout the 80minutes - the set piece, the breakdown battle and getting over the gainline. We will play at a high tempo against a team that has rarely played as part of the same lineup this season, we expect gaps in the defensive line which we will look to exploit and will play a rush defence to force mistakes in the Sarries attack.

Have mixed experience with age as we look to put in a strong performance and advance to the final next week - we've been planning this season to win both the LV and Amlin.

Set Piece - solid scrum that we will look to use as an attacking weapon with Messam picking up and running, or Simpson to snipe. Lineout will also be used to launch quick attacks from, Clark, Lawes, Albacete and Messam give us some good options and will look to get the ball quickly to the midfield when possible.

Breakdown - will look to put Sarries under a lot of pressure here, selected Clark as a no6 to add to our breakdown work and have Gill and Launchbury who are both specialists in this area to bring on from the bench as Sarries tire. Will look to secure turnover ball and get it out to the backs to attack with.

Attack - we are hoping to do a lot of attacking in this game and will secure ball to work through the phases and build pressure on Sarries - we have got some very dangerous backs and some good ball carrying forwards who will get us over the gainline. With Giteau pulling the strings we will look to exploit defensive uncertainties in the Sarries defence, play at a high tempo and give the ball to our backthree in space. De Villiers to do a lot of initial carrying to get us over the gainline.

Defence - will play a rush defence to put Sarries under immediate pressure and force mistakes from a team that hasn't played much rugby together.

Glaws tactics

1. Target lineout
2 high intensity quick game
3. Counter loose kicks and keep ball alive
4. Utilise bench

Struggling for time this evening guys, will get the match thread updated in the morning.

I'll knock it up Pete.

Isn't Adrian Strauss suspended for 2 weeks?

Is he Driver. Not seen that anywhere. Replace with Dawiduik

Substitute Palmer for Bakkies on the bench

Leicester Tigers 20 - 20 Gloucester

Two decent sides here but I don't think it will be a classic. A few more players who have that bit of magic in the Gloucester side see's them draw.

Northampton Saints 28 - 25 Saracens

A good game as I see two sides with distinctly differing styles. Saints have more in the back 5 of the pack and I like there back lines balance. Get a good win.

Leicester 32-31 Gloucester
With both teams making wholesale changes to the squads from last week this game is going to see a lot of errors in defence and attack, which should see it being a really entertaining, open attack minded game.

I think Gloucester do have the better team, but importantly Tigers are at home and I think have the better kicker in Twelvetrees, also more depth in their tactics, which gives them the narrowest of margins for a win.

Leicester 28 Gloucester 22
Northampton 27 Saracens 20

Sorry for lack of detail lads

Gloucester 26-24 Tigers
Both teams are looking to target the lineout but I'd give the edge to Tigers. The forward advantage will probably go to Leicester probably securing more ball, however the backs of Gloucester are electric. Think the half backs of Gloucester could be key and they will set the backs free for a good win.

Saints 22-18 Saracens
Think the forwards go to Saints. They don't have the most in form front row but Sarries perhaps don't have the most destructive unit to punish it. Believe it's the second and back row that give Saints the real edge. Prefer the Saints half back combination but from 11-15 the advantage has to go to Saracens. Close game but think Saints have better key combos and are at home.

Leicester 27-22 Gloucester

Good upfront battle with a little edge to Tigers in the scrum, Gloucester lack a little grunt in the engine room. Nothing in the lineout with the Gloucester pair excellent and Brown/Joubert great operators too. Nothing in backrows and split in the halfbacks. Prefer Tigers midfield and Gloucester back 3 but good contests throughout. Tigers home advantage and game plan wins it, probably switch results at Gloucester.


Saints 34-22 Saracens

Little form from Saints props but can't see Sarries front row exploiting this. Saints engine room a class above and can see who's taking this game seriously by gulf of class in backrows, good game for Sarries youngster though. Class above in most areas for Saints tbh and home advantage and game plan sees them through with ease. Sarries will never lose by this amount in another competition.

Leicester Tigers 23-19 Gloucester

Tigers can get an edge at the scrum in this one and have more for the breakdown but Glaws have some serious ball carrying options. Some good options in the backs for both sides but a big lack of form for Tigers at midfield.

Tigers with more ball in this one but Glaws have some electric backs. Big difference is the game plans on show and Tigers with more depth get the win.


Northampton Saints 27-21 Saracens

Little bit more in the front row from Sarries but Saints stronger in the back 5 of the pack and some great go forward. Saints can get a bit joy from the lineout as well. Sarries stronger 11-15 but halfbacks are a mark down with a lack of form.

Saints get an edge in the forwards and will do more with the ball at home to get the win against a directionless Sarries.

Leicester Tigers 22 Gloucester 22

Genuinely can't separate them. Looking through the teams there is very little between them man for man. Tactically there is nothing wrong with Tigers saying they will use the scrum as an attacking weapon, but I don't see there being that many scrums in the conditions so it comes down to how many opportunities to do that they will get. Gloucester have a lot of carriers which will bring them real gainline success, but it's at Welford Road so I have to add a bit for the Tigers. I could ramble on all morning but ultimately I can't separate them.

Saints 23 - 21 Sarries

Maybe slight edge to Saints upfront, but form an issue so no real gain. Do see Saints gaining quite an advantage in the back 5 though, and they really get the upper hand from here. Edge to Saints in the HB's for me. Beyond there Sarries have a bit more. Tight game - saints at home as with pack advantage take a good win, but Sarries' backs keep them in it.

Saints 23-21 Saracens home advantage and half backs and backrow win it. Sarries better backs but will lose breakdown and live off poor ball

sainta 25-20 sarries
tigers 23-19 glos

sorry no explanataions rushed for time

Saints 22 - 20 Sarries
Tigers 25 - 23 Gloucester

RESULTS

Leicester Tigers 33 Gloucester 22
Northampton Saints 35 Saracens 21

Congratulations to Luke and Chris making the final. East Midlands derby at Sixways next week it is.

Full prediction bonus for: Steve, Chris, Fast Lane, Pooly, SJE, Ozzy, Luke and Mat.
Half bonus for: Driver, stnick and Arry.
Fine for no prediction (£1m): Prop