Fantasy Anglo Welsh Cup Semi Finals

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Northampton Saints vs. London Wasps
Cloudy, 10 degrees, 9 mph winds.

Northampton Saints
Manager - Dammit Chris

01. Sona Tamaulolo	09. Joe Simpson
02. Tatafu Polota-Nau	10. George Ford
03. Carl Hayman
04. Samo Manoa	11. Juan Jose Imhoff
05. Patricio Albacete	12. Matt Giteau(k)
06. Calum Clark	13. Ashley Beck
07. Julian Salvi	14. Christian Wade
08. Liam Messam	15. Ben Foden(c)

16. Mike Haywood 17. Ben Tameifuna 18. Henry Thomas 19. Ben Nutley 20. Ashley Johnson 21. Sam Harrison 22. Elliot Daly 23. Juan Martin Hernandez

Tactics: Forward pack full of big ball carriers to take a physically aggressive game to Wasps from the outset. We will aim to beat Wasps upfront and put us on the front foot and generate good attacking ball for our backline. Game will be based around the control that Ford and Giteau bring, both on good form in recent weeks and will put us into good attacking positions with a tactical kicking game that aims to win the territory battle and put us into key attacking areas and get our dangerous runners into try scoring positions.

Attack: We have pace throughout our backline and will look to secure quick ball from our pack and use our big ball carriers to get on the front foot. Will look to use Ford & Giteau's passing ability to pull holes in the Wasps defence, use big ball runners to punch holes in the Wasps defence and put Wade, Foden and Imhoff into space.

In form Simpson to snipe around the fringes. Will also counter any kicks from Wasps when it is on.

Defence: We've picked a powerful front five and will look to play very physical defence with big hits coming in from the likes of Taumalolo, Hayman, Samoa and Messam.

Same defensive system as England utilise, based around physicality in the pack and trying to bully Wasps into mistakes, with a very aggressive style.

Set piece: Strong scrum and lineout jumpers of Samoa, Albacete and Clark - will use the lineout to set up more phases for our forwards to go through and generate quick ball from those phases.

Breakdown: Recalled inform Salvi as our fetcher and will look to win the turnover battle here. When the ball is there to be won we will send numbers in and make sure we get turnovers as very dangerous on the counter. Will use Manoa, Clark and Messam to clear the breakdown.

Key Points:
• Have a lot of gainline breakers in the pack, key point in getting us front football and providing backline chance to score.
• Win tactical kicking battle with Ford and Giteau pulling the strings.
• Once over the gainline put width on the ball for our backthree to exploit.
• Target the breakdown for full 80minutes - turnovers and open play we can score tries.


London Wasps
Manager – Fluxy

01. Ben Robinson	09. Haydn Thomas
02. Rob Webber	10. Rhys Priestland
03. Logovii Mulipola
04. Bradley Davies	11. Tom Varndell
05. Marco Wentzel (C)	12. Dan Bowden
06. Jordan Crane	13. George Pisi
07. Jonathon Poff	14. Topsy Ojo
08. Ben Mowen	15. Matt Tait

16. Huia Edmonds 17. Charlie Beech 18. Shaun Knight 19. Mouritz Botha 20. Dave Dennis 21. Mike Blair 22. Stephen Myler 23. Jamie Elliot

Tactics
With the chance to cut loose in the a competition away from the league, the lads are looking to create some momentum and confidence. The brand of rugby we want to play is physical and fast, however we won't just run the ball at every opportunity. We will only play in the right areas of the paddock, therefore Priestland will look to keep us penned in the Saints 22. If the Saints lads are going to score against us they will have to run the ball 80+ metres.
We will look to go through simple phases to reproduce quick ball to cut the defence open. Slow ball we will look to set up pods and runners off Priestland and use the clever sniping of Thomas to draw in defenders.This will drag Saints defenders further apart and produce wholes or mismatches. With a physical pack and will look to dominate from 1-10, so we will to set quick rucks to tie in their boys to allow time and space for our backs. We have experienced players all other the pitch in Wentzel, Priestland and Pisi, and they will lead the team. With the decent conditions, we have some dangerous backs with ball in hand and will look to cut loose when the opportunity arises.

Tactics

• We have some great technicians in the scrum and with our big front five, this is an area we want to get an advantage in. We will use this as both an attacking and defensive weapon. Looking to wheel and cut the scrum off from the opposing backline.
  
  
• With a strong lineout, Wentzel will lead the lineout and use himself as banker ball at the front of the line with Mowen jumping in the middle. Look to run full number lineouts to tie in the opposing pack. This will create space for our backs.
  
  
• Look to clear every ruck out quickly. Much like England and NZ we want to cleanly win our own possession and quickly.
  
  
• Similar to the point above but we want to legally get men over the ball and competing for possession to slow down the Saints possession.
  
  
• We will look to keep the ball alive, preventing them from setting any defensive lines and moving the point of attack. They have some very big boys and some good fetchers, so constantly moving the ruck will tire them out and prevent them from snaffling any possession.
  
  
• Preistland will look to use our pacy backline often. Just because we are in a dogfight doesn't mean we can't not turn on the style to score tries.
  
  
• Myler will use Bowden as the creative lynch-pin in midfield and allow time and space for our back line to wreak havoc, or as another kicking option.
  
  
• We will run a banana blitz in defence, with Thomas sweeping. This will cut down the time and space for their danger midfield and halfbacks. Sending them inside to the guards of the rucks and creating a chance of isolation and turnover.
  
  
• Look to use our strong bench for impact later in the game. To get an advantage in the scrum, and collisions with big impact players.
  
  
• Priestland to kick all on opportunity points, within range. Any other penalties will be sent long to gain a territorial edge with our strong lineout.

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Sale Sharks vs. Gloucester
Cloudy, 9 degrees, 11 mph winds

Sale Sharks
Manager – SJE

01. Marcos Ayerza	09. Kahn Fotuaili'i
02. Tommy Taylor	10. Johnny Sexton
03. Davit Zirakishvilli
04. Dave Attwood	11. Simon Zebo
05. Andries Bekker	12. Francois Steyn
06. Alex Tulou	13. Kyle Eastmond
07. Matt Kvesic	14. Craig Gilroy
08. Victor Vito	15. Nick Abendanon

16. Ross Harrison 17. Darren Dawdiuk 18. Neemia Tialata 19. Christian Day 20. Matt Todd 21. Ben Spencer 22. Beauden Barrett 23. Will Addison

Attacking

• Look to play high tempo, high intensity rugby. Ball in hand, look to use our big line breakers to make the hard yards and tie up defenders creating space in wider channels for Sexton to exploit.

• We see the offload as a crucial weapon and our carriers will all be looking to offload in contact, continuing our forward momentum and breaking the defensive line.

• Sexton will look to play flat on the gain line and bring our dangerous runners in to the game or find mismatches for himself to hit on the wrap around.

• Our back three will look to get involved as much as possible running support lines of the halfbacks and midfield looking for the inside ball or offload.

Set Piece

• With a powerful front 5 on show we will look to keep the scrum up and use it as a weapon. On our own feed we will look to get the wheel on and give our 8-9-10 axis as much room as possible to attack from.

• In Glaws territory, with 5 jumping options to use, we will look to play off the top and move the ball out to Sexton and the backs. In our own territory, we will look to take the ball down into the maul and drive ourselves into the right areas.

• On Glaws lineouts Bekker will stand at the front and challenge. At 6ft 10" Gloucester will need to have their darts spot on.

Defending

• We will play an aggressive blitz on defence, playing on the edge of the offside line and coming up at pace, looking to isolate the ball carrier and stop any opposition momentum before it can get going.

• Fotuaili'I will act as a sweeper and cover any chips or grubbers behind the defensive line.

• We will leave two players sitting deep to cover any kicks and they will look to counter attack of any loose ball.

• With the blitz in operation, we will look to be at the breakdown first hitting it hard and fast. If the ball looks available we will flood the breakdown with Kvesic looking to get his hands on the ball.

• If the ball is not immediately available we will only commit 1 or 2 players to legally slow the ball down and instead look to strengthen the defensive line.

Gloucester
Manager – anonmattyt

01. Coonie Ousthieuzen	09. Tj Perenara
02. Deon Fourie	10. Ryan Lamb
03. Juan Figallo
04. James Percival	11. Zac Guildford
05. Tom Palmer	12. Michelle Campagnaro
06. CJ Strander	13. Israel Dagg
07. Andy Saull	14. Iain Clarke
08. Arno Botha	15. Israel Folua

16. Murphy 17. Charles 18. Harden 19. Stookes 20. Harinordoquoy 21. Genia 22. Goosen 23. Balshaw

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Interesting, I forgot I was still in this...

Marking this one up!!

1 coonie
2 fourie
3 figallo
4 Percival
5 palmer
6 CJ stander
7 Saull
8 Botha
9 tj Perenara
10 lamb
11 Guildford
12 campagnaro
13 Dagg
14 Clarke
15 folau
16 murphy
17 Charles
18 harden
19 stookes
20 Hari
21 Genia
22 goosen
23 Balshaw

On phone most
Of
Week so giving SJE sight of my side

Isn't Guildford at Quins?

Sale Sharks
Manager – SJE

01. Marcos Ayerza	09. Kahn Fotuaili'i
02. Tommy Taylor	10. Johnny Sexton
03. Davit Zirakishvilli
04. Dave Attwood	11. Simon Zebo
05. Andries Bekker	12. Francois Steyn
06. Alex Tulou	13. Kyle Eastmond
07. Matt Kvesic	14. Craig Gilroy
08. Victor Vito	15. Nick Abendanon

16. Ross Harrison 17. Darren Dawdiuk 18. Neemia Tialata 19. Christian Day 20. Matt Todd 21. Ben Spencer 22. Beauden Barrett 23. Will Addison

Attacking

• Look to play high tempo, high intensity rugby. Ball in hand, look to use our big line breakers to make the hard yards and tie up defenders creating space in wider channels for Sexton to exploit.

• We see the offload as a crucial weapon and our carriers will all be looking to offload in contact, continuing our forward momentum and breaking the defensive line.

• Sexton will look to play flat on the gain line and bring our dangerous runners in to the game or find mismatches for himself to hit on the wrap around.

• Our back three will look to get involved as much as possible running support lines of the halfbacks and midfield looking for the inside ball or offload.

Set Piece

• With a powerful front 5 on show we will look to keep the scrum up and use it as a weapon. On our own feed we will look to get the wheel on and give our 8-9-10 axis as much room as possible to attack from.

• In Glaws territory, with 5 jumping options to use, we will look to play off the top and move the ball out to Sexton and the backs. In our own territory, we will look to take the ball down into the maul and drive ourselves into the right areas.

• On Glaws lineouts Bekker will stand at the front and challenge. At 6ft 10" Gloucester will need to have their darts spot on.

Defending

• We will play an aggressive blitz on defence, playing on the edge of the offside line and coming up at pace, looking to isolate the ball carrier and stop any opposition momentum before it can get going.

• Fotuaili'I will act as a sweeper and cover any chips or grubbers behind the defensive line.

• We will leave two players sitting deep to cover any kicks and they will look to counter attack of any loose ball.

• With the blitz in operation, we will look to be at the breakdown first hitting it hard and fast. If the ball looks available we will flood the breakdown with Kvesic looking to get his hands on the ball.

• If the ball is not immediately available we will only commit 1 or 2 players to legally slow the ball down and instead look to strengthen the defensive line.

Gloucester
Manager – anonmattyt

01. Coonie Ousthieuzen	09. Tj Perenara
02. Deon Fourie	10. Ryan Lamb
03. Juan Figallo
04. James Percival	11. Zac Guildford
05. Tom Palmer	12. Michelle Campagnaro
06. CJ Strander	13. Israel Dagg
07. Andy Saull	14. Iain Clarke
08. Arno Botha	15. Israel Folua

16. Murphy 17. Charles 18. Harden 19. Stookes 20. Harinordoquoy 21. Genia 22. Goosen 23. Balshaw

Think SJE is keen on the silver ware for the LV. It's guaranteed Europe place also

Would be my first piece of silver ware in the game if I managed it so very keen!

Northampton Saints v Wasps
Manager - Dammit Chris

01. Sona Tamaulolo	09. Joe Simpson
02. Tatafu Polota-Nau	10. George Ford
03. Carl Hayman
04. Samo Manoa	11. Juan Jose Imhoff
05. Patricio Albacete	12. Matt Giteau(k)
06. Calum Clark	13. Ashley Beck
07. Julian Salvi	14. Christian Wade
08. Liam Messam	15. Ben Foden(c)

16. Mike Haywood 17. Ben Tameifuna 18. Henry Thomas 19. Ben Nutley 20. Ashley Johnson 21. Sam Harrison 22. Elliot Daly 23. Juan Martin Hernandez

Tactics: Forward pack full of big ball carriers to take a physically aggressive game to Wasps from the outset. We will aim to beat Wasps upfront and put us on the front foot and generate good attacking ball for our backline. Game will be based around the control that Ford and Giteau bring, both on good form in recent weeks and will put us into good attacking positions with a tactical kicking game that aims to win the territory battle and put us into key attacking areas and get our dangerous runners into try scoring positions.

Attack: We have pace throughout our backline and will look to secure quick ball from our pack and use our big ball carriers to get on the front foot. Will look to use Ford & Giteau's passing ability to pull holes in the Wasps defence, use big ball runners to punch holes in the Wasps defence and put Wade, Foden and Imhoff into space.

In form Simpson to snipe around the fringes. Will also counter any kicks from Wasps when it is on.

Defence: We've picked a powerful front five and will look to play very physical defence with big hits coming in from the likes of Taumalolo, Hayman, Samoa and Messam.

Same defensive system as England utilise, based around physicality in the pack and trying to bully Wasps into mistakes, with a very aggressive style.

Set piece: Strong scrum and lineout jumpers of Samoa, Albacete and Clark - will use the lineout to set up more phases for our forwards to go through and generate quick ball from those phases.

Breakdown: Recalled inform Salvi as our fetcher and will look to win the turnover battle here. When the ball is there to be won we will send numbers in and make sure we get turnovers as very dangerous on the counter. Will use Manoa, Clark and Messam to clear the breakdown.

Key Points:
• Have a lot of gainline breakers in the pack, key point in getting us front football and providing backline chance to score.
• Win tactical kicking battle with Ford and Giteau pulling the strings.
• Once over the gainline put width on the ball for our backthree to exploit.
• Target the breakdown for full 80minutes - turnovers and open play we can score tries.

I will not be doing tactics SJE

London Wasps

Manager – Fluxy

01. Ben Robinson	09. Haydn Thomas
02. Rob Webber	10. Rhys Priestland
03. Logovii Mulipola
04. Bradley Davies	11. Tom Varndell
05. Marco Wentzel (C)	12. Dan Bowden
06. Jordan Crane	13. George Pisi
07. Jonathon Poff	14. Topsy Ojo
08. Ben Mowen	15. Matt Tait

16. Huia Edmonds 17. Charlie Beech 18. Shaun Knight 19. Mouritz Botha 20. Dave Dennis 21. Mike Blair 22. Stephen Myler 23. Jamie Elliot

Tactics
With the chance to cut loose in the a competition away from the league, the lads are looking to create some momentum and confidence. The brand of rugby we want to play is physical and fast, however we won't just run the ball at every opportunity. We will only play in the right areas of the paddock, therefore Priestland will look to keep us penned in the Saints 22. If the Saints lads are going to score against us they will have to run the ball 80+ metres.
We will look to go through simple phases to reproduce quick ball to cut the defence open. Slow ball we will look to set up pods and runners off Priestland and use the clever sniping of Thomas to draw in defenders.This will drag Saints defenders further apart and produce wholes or mismatches. With a physical pack and will look to dominate from 1-10, so we will to set quick rucks to tie in their boys to allow time and space for our backs. We have experienced players all other the pitch in Wentzel, Priestland and Pisi, and they will lead the team. With the decent conditions, we have some dangerous backs with ball in hand and will look to cut loose when the opportunity arises.

Tactics

• We have some great technicians in the scrum and with our big front five, this is an area we want to get an advantage in. We will use this as both an attacking and defensive weapon. Looking to wheel and cut the scrum off from the opposing backline.
  
  
• With a strong lineout, Wentzel will lead the lineout and use himself as banker ball at the front of the line with Mowen jumping in the middle. Look to run full number lineouts to tie in the opposing pack. This will create space for our backs.
  
  
• Look to clear every ruck out quickly. Much like England and NZ we want to cleanly win our own possession and quickly.
  
  
• Similar to the point above but we want to legally get men over the ball and competing for possession to slow down the Saints possession.
  
  
• We will look to keep the ball alive, preventing them from setting any defensive lines and moving the point of attack. They have some very big boys and some good fetchers, so constantly moving the ruck will tire them out and prevent them from snaffling any possession.
  
  
• Preistland will look to use our pacy backline often. Just because we are in a dogfight doesn't mean we can't not turn on the style to score tries.
  
  
• Myler will use Bowden as the creative lynch-pin in midfield and allow time and space for our back line to wreak havoc, or as another kicking option.
  
  
• We will run a banana blitz in defence, with Thomas sweeping. This will cut down the time and space for their danger midfield and halfbacks. Sending them inside to the guards of the rucks and creating a chance of isolation and turnover.
  
  
• Look to use our strong bench for impact later in the game. To get an advantage in the scrum, and collisions with big impact players.
  
  
• Priestland to kick all on opportunity points, within range. Any other penalties will be sent long to gain a territorial edge with our strong lineout.

Northampton Saints 23-19 London Wasps

Scrum: No real edge to either side.
Lineout: See Wentzel getting an edge here for Wasps. Saints lacking a regular option to call the lineout. Neither hooker the most reliable thrower.
Breakdown: Edge to Saints. See Salvi getting more support from his BS and locks.
HB's: Evens. Priestland out of form but a class above. Ford is coming in to better form recently.
Attack: Good options from both sides but Saints back three can give a bit more.
Defence: For Saints Beck can be caught out positionally as can their wings under the high ball. For Wasps ground can be made down Bowdens channel and Tait isn’t 100% reassuring under the high ball. Bigger hitters in the Saints pack.
Bench: Hernadez the star from the benches but I don’t see anything that will change the pattern of the game.
Tactics: Both sides with a very similar set up. Territory first then play it expansive. Tough game to call but Saints at home slow Wasps ball down a bit and see themselves through.

Thread is updated and predictions are OPEN

Sorry for jumping the ball Pete!

Been in meetings most of the morning and off to clients this evening didn't know when I'd get on again to get it in!

Are these neutral grounds. ?

Would it be possible to get feedback on my midfield combo as a potential combo for league games please lads?

No they are not neutral grounds, and no worries SJE, I meant to update the thread last night but am so knackered at the moment completely forgot to do it.

Saints 24-20 Wasps
SP: Very strong here from Saints.
BK: Again see Saints bringing more.
HB: Evens, Ford looking good though.
AT: Saints do look dangerous, if Wasps get ball wide they will score.
BE: Hernandez the standout here.
TA: Wasps keeping it simple works but Saints using their creative players to find gaps for speed merchants takes it.

Sharks 28-25 Glos
SP: Evens here with Glos looking good in front row but Sharks having more in 2nd row.
BK: Stander and Kvesic the standouts in good form.
HB: Step up from Sharks who will control this area.
AT: Both look good and think Sharks will get better ball.
BE: Glos stronger but not enough. High scoring game here.
TA: None from Glos is a killer. Sharks playing high intensity and off Sexton will work.

Sharks 33 - 27 Gloucester
Very even battle in the set piece, more experience in the no2 jersey for Gloucester, but very strong second row of Sale. Great backrow battle, shaded by Sale but strong options for Mat to bring on second half.

Game won for me in backline, as a lot of inexperienced players for Gloucester and SJE picked a team that would know how to win a game like this - Sexton and Steyn in midfield.

Home advantage and no tactics gives Sale a win by 6 points for me, but the Gloucester team has got a lot of points in them as it is an exciting backline, just not enough experience for a semi final.

Northampton 24 - 23 Wasps

Fascinating contest upfront. Breakdown will be great with Poff v Salvi. Its tough but I think I prefer the Wasps pack as a unit (Mowen in fine form.) Half backs pretty even with one a piece but outside backs i see Saints as a step up with some quality players and their pack makes up for the lack of physicality in the Saints backline. Good game which Saints edge.

Sale 27 - 22 Gloucester

Lack of tactics hurt Gloucester but they would have had to been 100 lines of golddust to win this one against a strong Sale side at home. Sje the midfield combo is alright but against some of the stronger options in the league I think I could see Eastmond at 13 as a weakness. I would keep him on the wing.

Saints 24 London Wasps 24
Sale Sharks 19 Gloucester 15

On phone so no descriptions

Saints 27 - 25 Wasps

Decent front row contest, that I don't see either side getting on top of. similar story in the 2nd row with 2 good units. Might just edge to Saints, but Wasps better line out. Back row is interesting. Not sure on Crane at 6, and think I'd have Salvi over Poff, so edge it to Saints. Good pack battle, that Saints just sneak. Slight edge to Saints at HB, but neither side is going to control that well for me, one apiece in the centres so no winner, with two solid back threes. Good game here, but home advantage and slight edge in the pack sees Saints have enough to progress.



Sale 32 - 23 Gloucester

Decent front row contest, see both LH's getting a nudge on, Gloucs better at 2 sees them edge it. Much stronger 2nd row unit from Sale, and an area they can really dominate. Sale take the back row too here, and have a good enough unit to get on top of Gloucs. Much better HB's on show from the home side, and see them dominating their opposition. Beyond there it's all Sale, with a great back line. Sale gone for a strong side, which may come back to haunt them, but they have too much for Gloucs here.

Sale 24-20 glos
Saints 30-25wasps

Northampton Saints 27 London Wasps 26
Sale Sharks 30 Gloucester 22

Saints 27-25 Wasps
Sale 28-22 Glos

Sale Sharks 26 - 17 Gloucester

There's just a bit too much up front for Sharks in this game for me. Glos have roared and it doesn't help, and the front foot ball allows Fotuali and Sexton control and dominate the game. Goosen will keep things close and attack well but there is just too much power from the Sharks at home.

Saints 25-23 wasps

Great game and even up front with saints more dynamic but not as intelligent. Half backs one a piece but I think saints have that extra bit in backs. Poff vs salvi is a real dog fight

Lads, I will get the proper results done, probably tomorrow, but suffice to say Northampton Saints and Sale Sharks are through to the final.