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Bath RFC	InTheFastLane
Exeter Chiefs	Driver - RIP 606
Gloucester	Anonmattyt
Harlequins	Steven_Sharks
Leicester Tigers	LukeLovesLuka
London Irish	stnick88
London Wasps	Arry
Newcastle Falcons	Sgt_Pooly
Northampton Saints	Dammit_Chris
Sale Sharks	SirJohnnyEnglish
Saracens	Ozzy3213
Worcester Warriors	prop_lyd

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Waiting List
1. pullthestrings
2. Bathite

The league next year will be very competitive and I think Worcester will be the favourites to go down if Newcastle stay up.

Much more than Newcastle?

Club honours

Premiership (1): 1997–98
Division Two (1): 1992–93
National Cup (4): 1976, 1977, 2001, 2004
Middlesex 7s (1): 2007
Premiership Rugby Sevens Series (1): 2011
Heineken Cup: Quarter-Final Stage
European Challenge Cup: Final

Kind of agree Matt but I think it's key to have prem rugby throughout the country rather than pockets. Hard to say who deserves what as nobody deserves anything. I just think its good to have prem rugby up north.

RL is growing bigger up here and starting to push union so Falcons being stuck in champ is a major blow.

I went to watch Leeds vs Cornish Pirates the other week and there was about 2000 people in a 21,000 seater stadium and the atmosphere was dross but some of the rugby Leeds played was bonkers , Iain Thornley at 13 had the pirates backs in 6s and 7s.

Pirates bought a centre on with there original 13 moving to 15 and he was class turned ball over and give Pirates a bit of dynamite - turns out it was Sam Hill of Exeter Chiefs (at Bath in this game).

Gary Gold going to be New Bath boss.

After a giant 13 gents

Pooly - saw your comment about Newcastle deserving to stay up on their second half performance - sorry but I personally think Newcastle have easily been the worst team in the AP all season, they show no attacking intent and hopefully Dean Richards will get them playing a different style of rugby - just looking back at the Falcons v Quins game a month or so ago and I havent seen a team that took so many cheap shots at another team.

If Wasps hadn't had 7 retirements, 17 players injured for more than 2months (squad of 37 at the start of the season) - so at one point we just had 13 professional players in a squad.

We've been putting out starting lineups with 8-10 players aged under 22 and to stay up for the whole team is an incredible achievement - our trouble has been in most games we play well in the first half and then get bullied out of things in the second as we're not physical enough.

Just not a Newcastle fan at all - think they've got away with a lot this season.

Wonder how many Pirates players will get snapped up by AP teams this year - can never work out how Cook (their 15) and Burgess (their 7) dont get signed - both very good players

Chris....we've got away with nothing. We've finished bottom and deserve everything we get.

Gold has put together a game plan based on the players available to him and has worked wonders this 2nd half of the season.

"Newcastle have easily been the worst team in the AP all season"

Well not all season, the 1st half very much so. Wasps have been worse the 2nd half of the season and another game or two would be relegated (not the case obvioulsy). We can't have been that bad as we've just turned you over on your own patch. You only finished 1pt ahead so not very accurate to state we we're EASILY the worst team.

"just looking back at the Falcons v Quins game a month or so ago and I havent seen a team that took so many cheap shots at another team"

Nothing statement that Chris tbh, think Vickers alone got a deserved ban for a stupid blow. We played the game hard and fair that night and came away with nothing in the citings.

"Just not a Newcastle fan at all - think they've got away with a lot this season"

We've got away with nothing. I can understand why you are not a fan as we've play a style of rugby that is not pretty on the eye but has been pretty effective (2nd half of season sort of).

"If Wasps hadn't had 7 retirements, 17 players injured for more than 2months (squad of 37 at the start of the season) - so at one point we just had 13 professional players in a squad"

If's and but's mean nothing in rugby. If Vesty hadn't have screwed that try up you'd have finished bottom, he didn't and you didn't. Just got to build a bridge and get over it.

I'm gutted we've finished bottom but on a whole season it's deserved, it's not very sporting to stick the knife in.

"sorry but I personally think Newcastle have easily been the worst team in the AP all season, they show no attacking intent and hopefully Dean Richards will get them playing a different style of rugby"

Saracens do ok without much attacking rugby, it's a flawed view to think you have to play attacking rugby to be succesful. Obviously I'd love us to play an expansive game but thanks to Tait we've been stuck with a bunch of players unable to do this.

Chris

We had our skipper banned for 5 weeks in a crucial part of the season so to say we've got away with a lot is a poor thought out statement.

I wouldn't say we've been the worst side in the league? Doubles over Gloucester and Wasps , Irish at home and losing out to Quins and Sarries narrowly?

To be honest it's the type of comments i'v come to expect on the football forums.

I agree on this Cook thing!! Rated him highly for a while hence why I signed him quite quickly!!

Sorry just dont like Newcastle - its nothing personal at all, just not a fan of how they approach rugby games and like I said hope they improve with Richards.

sometimes you have to play with what you have. falcons dont have a backline like glos or irish so cant play an expansive game. on the other hand, wasps dont have a strong pack so cant try and slug it out exeter chiefs style. you have to play to your strengths

No issues Chris, just be nice of if you could feel our pain. At least Wasps score tries and are rubbish, we're just rubbish.

Was a really tight season and could have gone either way in the end. We just left it a little late to sack Tait.

Not a fan of rubbing it in when a team is suffering, especially in rugby.

Believe me being a wasps fan is all about the suffering too - been such an awful season, so much promise at the start - remember the amazing game v Tigers where Wade got arguably the best hat trick in the AP! Then injuries hit again and again!

Been so much uncertainty at Wasps with the off field stuff - been quite jealous of Falcons and their backers - think they will bring the good times back up there - Richards is ideal man for the job and can't see Bristol over turning the 20 odd points - so would hope Falcons also stay up! So important for rugby to have a club up there in the AP!

Been such a disappointing season for Wasps - here's hoping for a better 2012/13 season - at least with Haskell and Palmer our pack improves a lot! Just hope Wentzel stays on, played on Saturday with a really dodgy shoulder, got told one bad hit with it not being recovered then he might not play again! Wouldn't get a footballer doing that!

Really like Wentzal, comes across as a really genuine bloke. I can see Worcester struggling next season if Falcons stay up.

If Pirates win semi and Welsh win the other we need Pirates to beat Welsh in the final. Feels a bit dirty taking it away from a deserving team but it's dog eat dog. Fair play to Pirates for playing so well, I wouldn't be surprised if they were on a bonus from Falcons.

Worcester definitely will struggle, can see wasps and Newcastle being a lot better - prob won't be long before they lose Kvesvic, Abbott and Mullan.

Newcastle stay up of Bristol don't win right?

No Welsh can come up too I think (they won away at Bedford who can't)

Thought only Bristol could come up?

I read that Welsh didn't apply for a ground license they needed for the AP and won't get that now.

Trouble for championship teams is where dO they get their money from - most gates must be around the 1,000 mark or so - so how could try justify the investment for the chance of AP rugby?

Never understood why rugby isn't more commercially popular - shame Rugby Special on the BBC stopped all those years ago!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/17958844

Welsh seem to think they can come up lol

This makes my planning for next season super tough!

Also Ben Morgan a doubt for the tour.

Booth leaves Irish

shame to see Hatley go but not fussed about Booth or Catt.

Be interesting to see who we get in now.

farrell winning discovery of the year is stupid.

booths replacement being announced tomorrow. have to say i am quite pleased with it.

Rugby World saying Gold will have Booth, Hatley and Ford in his coaching staff next season.

That to me is a winning combo. I am predicting Fearns to be in England 6N squad if Bath start the season well.

Only 3 more to go with the awards guys!!

thats been confirmed today steve.

im bit disappointed to see hatley go but we have a better replacement than booth coming in.

Who's he's replacement Nick?

Robshaw named player of the season:

http://www.espnscrum.com/premiership-2011-12/rugby/story/163803.html?CMP=OTC-RSS

Great signing Irish

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/mobile/rugby-union/17996720

Only trouble with Edwards is his Welsh commitments - really had a big impact on Wasps as we hardly ever saw him in training. Potentially very good for Irish though.

Bath are putting together a really good coaching team now - the league is going to be so tight next season!

Saw Farrell won Discovery of the Season - didn't he win Sarries the AP last season with his kicking in the final? Not really sure how he's won that this year as surely he was 'discovered' the year before!

Baxter, Stowers, Hala'ufia all available cheap.

How is my giant back line coming alone guys? Looking to buy players who suit a game plan rather than cram my team with stars.

9.Rory Lawson
10.Butch James
11.Tim Visser
12.James Downey
13.Mike Tindall/Matt Smith/Adam Thomstone
14.Ben Smith
15.Lee Bryne

Getting there mate.

Ben Smith is an option at 12 also to add a bit of flair. He's been in fantastic form too, best 15 in the Super XV this season.

9 and 13 could be improved.
Lawson is decent but could be improved on.
Likewise at 13 they are all good AP players.

I have Tuitopu, Ali Williams, Matt Carraro, Fasivalu, Scott Hamilton and a few others available.

Good to get Matt dealing!!!

Available for not a great deal:

PR Grant Shiells (LH) (England)
SH Jonny Arr (England)
FL Guy Mercer (England)
N8 Chris York (England)

I am a fan of lawson think he will get quick ball out. great service.

Not the biggest fan of Smith to be honest. he is much better at 15 than anywhere else. Think he does not work anywhere else.

Another of those players where you can see why they are not regular at internationals.

to be fair a few years ago he was playing in pretty much pub league in England as player coach so has progressed a fair bit since then, think he has an AB cap.

I wonder about him positionally and in terms of bringing others in to the game. a few people question him defensively but he has always looked ok there whenever i see him

He's got a few caps Matt but always on wing. He's an outstanding FB, very tricky. Would love to see him given game time there for AB's but he's had Mils & Dagg always ahead of him.

He's been better than Dagg this season but Dagg just has that extra level in him when he needs it. Sign of a world class player, love Dagg.

I like Smith , think he's got great footwork , gas and is pretty creative in the midfield.

I think its the business end of the season where you see WC players come in to there own. Dagg been excellent of late but started sluggishly as a lot of WC players did.

World class players have extra gears they can go through i agree.

Look at Adam Thomson. i am not a fan but he is always a consistently good performer but when he hits the top level and he has nothing to offer

Smith has excellent foot work pace and an eye for a gap. I was talking more in terms of at the very top level.

He was a great signing for you Driver.

One of fav players Dagg, is looking old lately though. Hair is receding at speedy rate

Iain Thornley returns to RL

http://www.espnscrum.com/premiership-2011-12/rugby/story/163831.html


Classic example of someone trying to make a quick quid and not having the patience to wait

Your hair would recede quickly if Guildford was your best mate and drinking partner.

Both of them are weird looking but are magic together on the pitch. Both really young still despite being around for ages.

I could not believer Genia is only 24