Summer Cup - Round 4

Team & Tactics - 0000hrs Monday
Predictions - 2000 hrs Wednesday

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Pool A - London Wasps vs Bath Rugby
Location - The Sevens
Weather - Sunny , 24 degrees, 5 mph light breeze

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London Wasps

Manager – Fluxy

01. Paul James	09. Danny Care
02. David Paice	10. Nick Evans
03. David Wilson
04. George Kruis	11. Charlie Sharples
05. Steve Borthwick	12. Francis Sailli
06. David Sisi	13. George Lowe
07. Justin Tipuric	14. Maxime Medard
08. Louis Picamoles	15. Andrea Masi

Replacements; 16. Tom Lindsay 17. Scott Wilson 18. Craig Mitchell 19. Paul O'Connell 20. Scott Higginbotham 21. Ruan Pienaar 22. Brad Barritt 23. Horacio Agulla

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Bath

Manager –  Bathite
 

01. Nathan Catt	09. Tawera Kerr - Barlow
02. Adrian Strauss	10. James Hook
03. Owen Franks
04. Johann Muller (c)	11. Tom Biggs
05. Dave Attwood	12. Frans Steyn
06. Carl Fearns	13. Kyle Eastmond
07. Sean O'Brien	14. Tommy Bowe
08. Johnnie Beattie	15. Eliot Daly

 
16. Cian Healy 17. Chris Tolufua 18. Kane P-Newport 19. Rynhardt Eldstadt 20. Guy Mercer 21. Michael Claassens 22. Rory Clegg 23. Olly Woodburn

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Pool A - Gloucester vs Northampton Saints
Location - Loftus Versfeld Stadium
Weather - Sunny , 24 degrees, 5 mph light breeze

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Gloucester

Manager – Prop

01. Rhys Gill	09. Dimitri Yachvili (K)
02. Rory Best	10. Freddie Burns
03. Adam Jones
04. Jim Hamilton	11. Adam Thompstone
05. Tom Savage (C)	12. Kyle Godwin
06. Alistair Strokosch	13. Henry Trinder
07. Akapusi Qera	14. Jonny May
08. Luke Narraway	15. Robbie Henshaw

16. Darren Dawiduk 17. Nick Wood 18. Antoine Guillamon 19. Will James 20. JVN 21. Dan Robson 22. Ryan Mills 23. Jamie Roberts

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Northampton Saints
Manager – SirJohnnyEnglish

01. Soane Tonga'uiha	09. Lee Dickson
02. Dylan Hartley	10. Johnny Sexton
03. Brian Mujati
04. Courtney Lawes	11. Chris Ashton
05. Brodie Retalick	12. Jan Senfortein
06. Stephen Luatua	13. George Pisi
07. Tom Wood	14. JP Pieterson
08. Kieran Read	15. Ben Foden

16. Steven Kitshoff 17. Mikey Haywood 18. Paul Doran-Jones 19. Samu Manoa 20. Calum Clark 21. 22. Ryan Lamb 23. Gael Fickou

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Pool A - Sale Sharks vs Exeter Chiefs  
Location - Eden Park
Weather - Sunny , 24 degrees, 5 mph light breeze

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Sale Sharks

Manager –  LondonIrishOllie

01. Andrew Sheridan	09. Connor Murray
02. Richard Hibbard	10. Aaron Cruden
03. Henry Thomas
04. Matt Garvey	11. Raymond Rhule
05. Kyran Myall	12. Jonathon Davies
06. Thierry Dusatoir	13. Jonathon Joesph
07. David Seymour	14. Hosea Gear
08. JMF Lobbe(c)	15. Will Addison

16. Gary Botha 17. Davit Kubriashvili 18. L Molopola 19. James Gaskell 20. Schalk Burger 21. Hayden Thomas 22. Johan Goosen 23. Charlie Aymsebury

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Exeter Chiefs


Manager – Pooly (Caretaker)

01. Coenie Oosthuizen	09. TJ Perenara
02. Rob Webber	10. Jonny Wilkinson (k)
03. Nicolas Mas
04. Alan Wyn-Jones	11. Ben Smith
05. James Horwill	12. Billy Twelvetrees
06. Tom Croft	13. Adam Ashley-Cooper
07. Steffon Armitage	14. Cory Jane
08. Toby Faletau	15. Jack Nowell

16. Ben Moon17. Chris Brooker 18. John Afoa 19. James Hanks 20. Ernst Joubert 21. Kevin Barrett 22. Ian Humphreys 23. Richard Kahui

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Pool B - London Irish vs Newcastle Falcons
Location - Suncorp Stadium
Weather - Sunny , 24 degrees, 5 mph light breeze

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London Irish 

01. Max Lahiff	09. Joe Simpson
02. Rhys Marshall	10. Quade Cooper
03. Euan Murray
04. Ian Evans	11. Matt Tait
05. Simon Shaw	12. Christian Lealifiano (K)
06. Peter O'Mahony	13. Aurelien Rougerie
07. David Pocock	14. David Strettle
08. Imanol Harinodoquy (C)	15. Delon Armitage

Replacements; 16. Stephen Moore 17. Gethin Jenkins 18. Leo Halavatu 19. Nick Kennedy 20. Tom Guest 21. Greg Laidlaw 22. Dan Bowden 23. Sailosi Tagicakibau

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Newcastle Falcons

01. Tendai Mtawaria	09. Mike Blair(C)
02. Scott Lawson	10. Phil Godman(K)
03. Tom Mercy
04. Marco Wentzel	11. Matt Banahan
05. Scott Macleod	12. Luke Marshall
06. Tinius Du Plessis	13. Mathieu Basteraud
07. Richard Mayhew	14. Ryan Shortland
08. Thomas Waldrom (C)	15. Mike Brown

REPLACEMENTS: 16.Swarzeski 17.Tui 18.Deacon 19.Everad 20.Geraghty 21.Helleur 22.Hakunga 23.Monye

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Pool B - Harlequins vs Worcester Warriors
Location - Coca-Cola Park
Weather - Sunny , 24 degrees, 5 mph light breeze

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Harlequins

Manager - Driver

01. Mark Lambert	09. Richard Wrigglesworth
02. Ben Kayser	10. Rhys Priestland(K)
03. James Johnstone
04. James Percival	11. George North
05. Alistair Hargreaves	12. Wesley Fofana
06. Steve Mafi	13. Jared Payne
07. Chris Robshaw (C)	14. James Short
08. Dave Denton	15. Nick Abendanon

16. Joe Grey 17. Marcos Ayerza 18. Will Collier 19.Mo Botha 20. Iain Henderson 21. Bryn Hall 22. Morne Steyn 23. Israel Folau

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Worcester Warriors

Manager – InTheFastLane

01. Joe Marler	09. Will Genia
02. Tafana Polota Nau	10. Dan Carter
03. Juan Figallo
04. Graham Kitchener	11. Julian Savea
05. Juandre Kruger	12. Maa Nonu
06. James Haskell	13. Robbie Freaun
07.  Michael Hooper	14. Alex Cuthbert
08. Ben Morgan	15. Kurtley Beale

16. George Porter 17. Ollie Hayes 18. Samson Lee 19. George Robson 20. Liam Messam 21. Kahn Fotuali'i 22. Paddy Jackson 23. Tom Homer

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Pool A - Saracens vs Leicester Tigers
Location - ANZ Stadium
Weather - Sunny , 24 degrees, 5 mph light breeze

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Saracens
Manager – ChequeredJersey

01.  Ben Tameifuna	09. Ben Spencer
02. Rob Buchanon	10.    Charlie Hodgson
03. Davit Zirakashvili
04.  Bakkies Botha	11. Tom Williams
05.  Charlie Matthews	12.  Sam Stanley
06. Mamuka Gorgodza	13. Conrad Smith
07. Richie McCaw	14.  Tom Varndell
08. Billy Vunipola	15. Simon Zebo

16. Matt Mullan 17. Rob Hawkins 18. Sekope Kepu 19. Donnacha Ryan  20. Will Fraser 21. Morgan Parra 22. Beauden Barrett 23. Vereniki Goneva

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Leicester Tigers

Manager – Sgt_Pooly

01. Fraser Balmain	09. Karl Dickson
02. Tom Youngs	10. Ian Madigan
03. Phil Swainston
04. Ed Slater	11. Marlon Yarde
05. Tom Price	12. Matt Scott
06. Ardie Savea	13. Manu Tuilagi
07. Luke Wallace	14. Charlie Walker
08. Willam Alberts	15. Danny Cipriani

16. Bismark du Plessis 17. Thomas Domingo 18. Dan Cole 19. Richie Gray 20. Sam Warburton 21. Ben Youngs 22. James O'Connor 23. Berrick Barnes

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Bath
Manager –  Bathite
 

01. Nathan Catt	09. Tawera Kerr - Barlow
02. Adrian Strauss	10. James Hook
03. Owen Franks
04. Johann Muller (c)	11. Tom Biggs
05. Dave Attwood	12. Frans Steyn
06. Carl Fearns	13. Kyle Eastmond
07. Sean O'Brien	14. Tommy Bowe
08. Johnnie Beattie	15. Eliot Daly

 
16. Cian Healy 17. Chris Tolufua 18. Kane P-Newport 19. Rynhardt Eldstadt 20. Guy Mercer 21. Michael Claassens 22. Rory Clegg 23. Olly Woodburn

Saracens
Manager – ChequeredJersey

01.  Ben Tameifuna	09. Ben Spencer
02. Rob Buchanon	10.    Charlie Hodgson
03. Davit Zirakashvili
04.  Bakkies Botha	11. Tom Williams
05.  Charlie Matthews	12.  Sam Stanley
06. Mamuka Gorgodza	13. Conrad Smith
07. Richie McCaw	14.  Tom Varndell
08. Billy Vunipola	15. Simon Zebo

16. Matt Mullan 17. Rob Hawkins 18. Sekope Kepu 19. Donnacha Ryan  20. Will Fraser 21. Morgan Parra 22. Beauden Barrett 23. Vereniki Goneva

1.Mark Lambert
2.Ben Kayser
3.James Johnstone
4.James Percival
5.Al Hargreaves
6.Steve Mafi
7.Chris Robshaw
8.Dave Denton

9.Richard Wrigglesworth
10.Rhys Priestland

11.George North
12.Wesley Fofana
13.Jared Payne
14.James Short
15.Nick abendonan

London Wasps

Manager – Fluxy

01. Paul James	09. Danny Care
02. David Paice	10. Nick Evans
03. David Wilson
04. George Kruis	11. Charlie Sharples
05. Steve Borthwick	12. Francis Sailli
06. Tom Johnson	13. George Lowe
07. Justin Tipuric	14. Maxime Medard
08. Louis Picamoles	15. Andrea Masi

Replacements; 16. Tom Lindsay 17. Scott Wilson 18. Craig Mitchell 19. Paul O'Connell 20. Scott Higginbotham 21. Ruan Pienaar 22. Brad Barritt 23. Horacio Agulla

London Irish 

01. Max Lahiff	09. Joe Simpson
02. Stephen Moore	10. Quade Cooper
03. Euan Murray
04. Ian Evans	11. Matt Tait
05. Simon Shaw	12. Christian Lealifiano (K)
06. Peter O'Mahony	13. Aurelien Rougerie
07. David Pocock	14. David Strettle
08. Imanol Harinodoquy (C)	15. Delon Armitage

Replacements; 16. Rhys Marshall 17. Gethin Jenkins 18. Leo Halavatu 19. Nick Kennedy 20. Tom Guest 21. Greg Laidlaw 22. Dan Bowden 23. Sailosi Tagicakibau

Rugby Championship Team

1. Rhys Gill
2. Rory Best
3. Adam Jones
4. Jim Hamilton
5. Tom Savage (c)
6. Alistair Strokosch
7. Akapusi Qera
8. Luke Narraway
9. Dimitri Yachvilli
10. Freddie Burns
11. Adam Thompstone
12. Kyle Godwin
13. Henry Trinder
14. Johnny May
15. Robbie Henshaw

16. Darren Dawiduk 17. Nick Wood 18. Antoine Guillamon 19. Will James 20. JVN 21. Dan Robson 22. Ryan Mills 23. Jamie Roberts

Sale team for R3:

Sale Sharks

Manager – LondonIrishOllie

01. Andrew Sheridan	09. Connor Murray
02. Richard Hibbard	10. Aaron Cruden
03. Henry Thomas
04. Matt Garvey	11. Raymond Rhule
05. Kyran Myall	12. Jonathon Davies
06. Thierry Dusatoir	13. Jonathon Joesph
07. David Seymour	14. Hosea Gear
08. JMF Lobbe(c)	15. Will Addison

16. Gary Botha 17. Davit Kubriashvili 18. L Molopola 19. James Gaskell 20. Schalk Burger 21. Hayden Thomas 22. Johan Goosen 23. Charlie Aymsebury

WASPS TACTICS


ROTATION THIS WEEK

01.Tendi Mtawaria
02.Scott Lawson
03.Tom Mercer
04.Marco Wenztel
05.Scott Macloead
06.Tinis Du Plessis
07.Richard Mayhew
08.Thomas Waldrom (c)
09.Mike Blair
10.Phil Godman
11.Matt Banahan
12.Luke Marshall
13.Matheiru Basteraud
14.Ryan Shortland
15.Mike Brown

REPLACEMENTS: 16.Swarzeski 17.Tui 18.Deacon 19.Everad 20.Geraghty 21.Helleur 22.Hakunga 23.Monye

largely a 2nd string side

Have you ever played your best XV CF??? Lol

I don't think you have Brown CF??

i did when i posted these tactics.....

pooly not playing best XV until season starts

Manager – InTheFastLane

01. Joe Marler	09. Will Genia
02. Tafana Polota Nau	10. Dan Carter
03. Juan Figallo
04. Graham Kitchener	11. Julian Savea
05. Juandre Kruger	12. Maa Nonu
06. James Haskell	13. Robbie Freaun
07.  Michael Hooper	14. Alex Cuthbert
08. Ben Morgan	15. Kurtley Beale

16. George Porter 17. Ollie Hayes 18. Samson Lee 19. George Robson 20. Liam Messam 21. Kahn Fotuali'i 22. Paddy Jackson 23. Tom Homer

Can't play two Cuthberts chap

Team updated.

Changes

Chiefs - Sturgess retired - Moon replaces

Falcons - George McGuigan included for U21 player - Monye pushed into starting XV to bump up EQ to 10. Kirbridge takes places on the bench. Shortland dropped

Warriors - Matt Hopper in for Freaun, Homer in for Beale, Kvesic on the bench for Messam too bump EQ to the quota of ten.

Cheers Flux, don't think Sturgess has retired has he???

Do I need to do anything for this? As my team has already been entered ..?

Just predictions I'd imagine this week, chap, to break you in. Nice to meet you btw, I'm CJ the Saracens manager

Hi CJ!

So predictions need to be in by 8 this evening?

In theory but as this started late they may be open late

Wasps 17-22 Bath
Sale 21-23 Exeter
Irish 36-9 Newcastle
Quins 24-28 Worc
Sarries 20-21 Tigers

Wasps 27-27 Bath

Notes: Wing defence for Wasps suspect....Bath unsure of Eastmond at 13.

Gloucester 24-28 Saints

Notes: not sure on both midfield balances

Irish 26-22 Falcons

Notes: Irish, lack a bit of pace in pack for hard pitches, good winter pack. Falcons...too lightweight in engine room, 6 & 7 poor.

Harlequins 20-25 Worcester

Notes: Quins 1,5,14 need improving. Worcester strong but front row bench options poor.

Pooly, Eastmond has played a lot more games at 13 than 12 for Bath

I don't think I've ever seen him there Bathite, or maybe not noticed.

Has the attributes but not sure how he'd get on. I'll keep an eye out next season.

Played most the season at 13 outside Banahan, pretty flexible and I've got no idea where he might play this year, with JJ at 13 now as well

won't have time tonight sorry

Wasps 24 - Bath 29

Bath's line breakers too much for Wasps IMO

Gloucester 21 - 26 Saints

Saints pack is the key here

Falcons 24 - Irish 19

LLF to keep the board ticking over and the pack to muscle their way to victory

Quins 22 - 31 Warriors

Warriors back row and half backs are the key here, great group of players

Saracens 26 - 23 Tigers

Strong Sarries side sneaks one here

Glos 17-18 saints
Sale 17-22 Exeter
Irish 26-14 Newcastle
Quins 20-23 Worc
Sarries 20-22 Tigers

Any feedback on my front 5 guys?

Wasps 27 -26 Bath

2 good sides. Great dynamic back rows but edged at breakdown by Wasps. think Sisi is better at 8. Huge power from Bath pack. No real weakness in Bath but lacking dazzle in back 3 and Daly is still a better 13 to me. actually Eastmond at 15 would probably work. Fluky's back also good. Win due to slight edge at breakdown and line out and my love for those HBs

A lot of big ball carriers in your pack, you should be solid in the scrum with the Georgian and Botha behind him. Line out might be a bit iffy though, none of your guys are particular line out specialists are they?

Gloucester 28 -28 Saints

Look close to full strength sides. Hartley loses points for his ban etc but Ross was poor for Lions. Lualua fits Saints back row ok but that back row could do with help at the breakdown. Gloucester win scrum but back line looks a little lightweight- Godwin and Trinder both class but both together could be exploited with those wingers too.

BamBam wrote:A lot of big ball carriers in your pack, you should be solid in the scrum with the Georgian and Botha behind him. Line out might be a bit iffy though, none of your guys are particular line out specialists are they?

Yeah, some decent jumpers but no standout and no real leader to call line out

Sale 24 - 27 Exeter

Henry probably the weak point in the scrubs but gets by with Sheridan and Hibbard alongside. Myall not in Horwill's league, he had a great Likns tour. Not sure how he'd do paired up to AWJ though considering stampgate! 2 well balanced back rows covering all vital skill sets, Croft a bit light but will give chiefs line out edge. Ex back line lacks true X factor but is still quite effective in attack nod looks like it would gel well. Both full backs raw. Davies at 12 will work if he sticks there. Murray Cruden looks tasty . Ex win with a bit in the line out and pack and a team that looks well balanced

Irish 25 - 20 Falcons

Evens in front 5. Back row to Irish and Falcons will want a better 6 to start. Simpson -Cooper excellent in attack but weak in D and kicking. LLF will help there and looks good. Tait and Armitage should be swapped. Power in Falcons back line but Godman not great (Biggar will be better). Thebackrow and 10 give this to Irish

Quins 25 - 30 Worcester

Wuss win scrum, Quins line out and Wuss backrow (Denton needs form). Great back line for Wuss but Beale is as much a liability as a genius. Quins a good backrow just not quite Wuss's

Pushed for time. P.M me if you want explainations.
Wasps 18-22 Bath
Sale 20-23 Exeter
Irish 28-12 Newcastle (falcons need another prop on bench?)
Quins 25-28 Worcester
Sarries 19-19 Tigers

Well spotted

Wasps 23-22 Bath
Gloucester 21-26 Saints
Sale 27-32 Exeter
Irish 19-18 Newcastle
Sarries 26-24 Tigers

Gloucester 19 - 24 Northampton Saints

Good packs on both side. Saints may lack at the lineouts, but class backrow. Saints have a much better blend in the backs, but Glos have pure magic and pace which is dangerous in any situation when they have ball in hand. Saints to win nicely here.

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Sale Sharks 27 - 32 Exeter Chiefs

Two decent packs, Chiefs probably best in the league. Sale need to move some guys around. Garvey in the backrow and Maestri into the row would add some considerable grunt. Class backrow as well. Sharks have some decent players but JD is a better 13 as the Lions demonstrated. Chiefs are a little blunt, no creative spark in the midfield - but there is some good broken field runners. Chiefs all round quality up front and Wilkos boot see's them home.

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London Irish 27 - 18 Newcastle Falcons

Scrums about even, but the Irish back five are completely dominant over their Falcons counterparts. Falcons fair better in the backs, but rarely get attacking ball. There is a flow to the Irish side, in the nice weather and dominance up front allows them to play.

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Harlequins 21 - 29 Worcester Warriors

Just a bit too much from this strong Warriors side. Quins miss Eben and Ayerza up front. Backrows are even, but pack would go in favour of Wuss. Class backline from Wuss, (Can see I forgot to make the adjustments that I mentioned!). If you can trade in some good EQ CJB, I would have you climbing this league quickly! Quins fair better in the backs, but already a forgone conclusion for Quins.

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Saracens 26 - 20 Leicester Tigers

Very good pack from Sarries, unsure of Big Ben at LH, but otherwise something to be wary of this eight. Tigers very much a rotated side, but aren't quite up to the quality of the Sarries. Backlines are about even, both possessing class players and giving out some experience. Nice Tigers midfield combo. Both benches are absolutely insane, but Sarries to get this one.

Closed

Can't do results lads, might have to delay the semi for next week

CJ - your front 5. Not sure on the front row combo, not much experience there. Not a bad unit, but will struggle against many teams here. Botha / Matthews might work, but who would run the lineout? All in all, not a bad front 5, but would struggle against the top 5 sides, but there's a great back row to balance it out a touch

I can do the results

Thanks Bathite, what are your thoughts on Big Ben covering LH? He's done it for the Chiefs but obviously TH is his primary position

Get them done mate. I can try to sort the tables and the semis out then.

I know I'm virtually out of the next round so does anyone face a game against me next week from the other group?

RESULTS:

*Wasps 24- 27 Bath
*Sale 23 - 30 Exeter *
*Irish 30 - 17 Falcons
*Gloucester 22 - Saints 27
Quins 22 - 31 Wuss *
Saracens 24 - 23 Tigers *