Super League - Round 6

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Natal Sharks vs Racing Metro 92
Location - Kings Park Stadium
Sunny, 29 degrees, 11 mph North Easterly winds

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 The Sharks
DoR: Ozzy3213

01. Cian Healy	09. Danny Care
02. Stephen Moore	10. Quade Cooper
03. Jannie du Plessis
04. Pieter-Steph du Toit	11. George North
05. Courtney Lawes	12. Francois Steyn
06. Sam Warbuton	13. Conrad Smith
07. Marcell Coetzee	14. Marland Yarde
08. Sergio Parisse (c)	15. James O'Connor

16. Sebastien Bruno 17. Tendai Mtawarira 18. Lourens Adriaanse 19. Joe Launchbury 20. Willem Alberts 21. Freddie Michalak 22. Patric Lambie 23. JP Pietersen

TACTICS

We will play a traditional South African gameplan in the forwards, being ultra physical and looking to dominate the collisions in attack and defence.  We are aiming to control possession by running the ball in great conditions, using the pack and big backs off first phase ball, with support runners on the ball carriers shoulder for the offloads in or just prior to contact.  We will be looking to play our game at a high tempo. Cooper will play flat with the outside backs coming from positions of depth to gain momentum.  In defence we will employ the blitz and look to hit the ball carrier before he hits the gainline to stop Metro getting any momentum.  Danny Care will act as a sweeper behind the defensive line.

• Breakdown.  In attack we will put numbers in rucking past the ball to free it up quickly to go again.  If on Care will snipe to keep us going forwards.  In defence we will be selective.  If it is on to clear out and turn ball over we will throw numbers in to do so, otherwise we will keep a strong defensive line.
  
• Spaces not faces.  Our runners will target the gaps in the defensive line rather than defenders and look to breach the gainline regularly.  If Roberts blitzes on Cooper, Danny Care to simply miss pass to 12 and put Steyn into the hole in the defensive line in the 12 channel.
  
• Wingers. North and Yarde to track the play off their wings looking for the offloads to go through gaps in midfield.
  
• Scrum.  We will Target Ryan Grant.  He only arrived at Metro on Wednesday.  Scrummaging requires unity and combined effort in the front 5 and there is no way he can be settled and work as part of a cohesive unit already.  JdP to really attack the link between him and Strauss.
  
• Target Cuthbert.  Alex Cuthbert signed this morning (Friday) and will have no idea on defensive patterns.  We will look to get men over on his side and islotate him 2 on 1 where his defensive decision making is not great at the best of times.
  
• Metro Pack Fatigue.  Strauss, Retallick, Lydiate and Louw have started every game (League and Cup) this season.  At this level with the intensity and collisions they have to be feeling fatigue now.  Faletau has started every game since signing in R3 and Kruger has only missed one game.  That's a lot of players at risk of feeling a bit leggy in this one.  We have rotated with only Courtney Lawes starting every game so far.
  
• Form Bathite mentions that Steyn is in poor form, but the Super Rugby season has not yet started.  If he is considered out of form, then so to must Roberts be, as he has no form to speak of having been out injured all season so far.  In terms of in game form, we have it, along with confidence and momentum.
  
• Home Advantage. Along with form, confidence and momentum we have home advantage.  Including this game, our last 5 games are 4 in South Africa and 1 England.  Counting back for Metro it's South Africa, France, England, France. Travel has to take it's toll and make home advantage even bigger.
  
• Bench. We have a bench containing 8 full internationals, who can all provide great impact in the final quarter of the game.
  

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Racing Metro

01. Ryan Grant	09. Ben Youngs
02. Andries Strauss	10. Jonathon Sexton (k)
03. Juan Figallo
04. Juandre Kruger	11. Juan Imhoff
05. Brodie Retallick	12. Jamie Roberts
06. Dan Lydiate	13. Marcelo Bosch
07. Francois Louw (c)	14. Alex Cuthbert
08. Toby Faletau	15. Ben Smith

16. Adam Jones 17. Dimitri Szarzewski 18. Soane Tonghu'ia 19. Jone Qovu 20. Wenclas Lauret 21. Sebastian Descons 22. Jonathan Wisnewski 23. Benjamin Fall

TACTICS
We've got a very settled side, that has been very lucky with injuries and now, off the back of 2 big wins against Tigers and Toulouse. With this confidence and in perfect running conditions, we'll look to play with a bit more possession in the middle third. Fatigue isn't a consideration this early into the season and we've got great options on the bench to come on after 50 minutes. Jones, Szarz, Tiny, Qovu, Lauret are all full internationals that will make a significant impact in the second half.

We'll look to use a very quick and mobile back row to get to that breakdown first and give Youngs/Cooper slow ball to play off, where they are at their least effective. With Michalak as the 9 on the bench, there is no commander, tactical player to come on and change it at SH. Lydiate clearing out, Louw forcing the turnover and Faletua playing it as he sees it. We've picked a big scrummaging front row, with two very good technical operators.....We have Jones and Tiny to come off the bench in the second half to add fresh legs and mobile ball carriers in the loose.

- Look to target the link between Care and Cooper. Both are great players, but very similar and like to play instinctively with pace. We'll get our mobile backrow to slow the ball down for Care, forcing him to dig for it and allowing us to set up defence against Cooper
- Roberts to lead the blittz defence on Cooper, aiming to tackle high with the choke and prevent offloads. We'll looking to isolate individuals and allow back row to compete for turnovers. Youngs to sweep up
- Without time and space for Care and Cooper, we can force them to take too much on themselves, get isolated and turned over and in the case of Cooper, look for those loopy miss passes for intercepts.
- Use Sexton flat on the gainline, drawing defenders, with Bosch and Roberts offering short pops and Faletau, Retallick offering the inside ball to keep them narrow. Smith and Bosch both encouraged to come into the line either before Roberts or on his shoulder, looking for the offload.
- Truck Roberts and Bosch down the 10 channel all day. Steyn has been in really poor form, out of the national side and overweight in the super season and not played alongside Cooper much at all. If Cooper defends at 15 like he does for the Reds, we'll look to isolate him 1:1, where his defence is even worse. 
- We've got a world class spine in this time at 2,5,8,9,10,12,15 and these blokes will lead the team, their experience and decision making will be crucial. The 8 9 10 12 is a very familiar unit from the Lions tour.
- In the backs, we are incredibly solid defensively and have a nice mix of power (Roberts, Imhoff, Cuthbert), pace (Smith, Cuthbert, Youngs) and guile (Sexton, Smith and Bosch)
- Many teams have targeted Roberts defensively, so we will use Roberts to draw in defenders on the dummy run and bring Smith into the line. Use Sexton on the wrap around loop and also interchange Bosch and Roberts to keep them guessing.
- Louw to play as out and out 7, looking to slow ball and force turnovers. In Faletau and Louw, we have two blokes that are brilliant at turning over ball. Both can't be stopped!
- Use Strauss, Retallick, Faletua, Lydiate as our big ball carriers around the fringes to keep the defence narrrow. Youngs to snipe and look for mismatches against forwards to keep them honest.

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Stormers vs Toulouse
Location - Newlands Stadium
Sunny Intervals, 27 degrees, 13 mph Southerly winds

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Stormers

01. Alex Corbisiero	09. Dewaldt Duvenage
02. Scarra Ntubeni	10. Owen Farrell (k)
03. Nicolas Mas
04. Eben Etzebeth	11. Julian Savea
05. James Horwill	12. Jean De Villiers (c)
06. Tom Wood	13. Juan De Jongh
07. Sean O'Brien	14. Christian Wade
08. Duane Vermeulen	15. Jaco Taute

16. Tian Liebenburg 17. Stephen Kitschoff 18. Brok Harris 19. Rynhardt Elstadt 20. Siya Kolisi 21. Louis Schrouder 22. Elton Jantjies 23. Chelsin Kolbe

Look to play a simple game based around the strong set piece game to secure possession. The pack is full of heavy carriers to get over the gain line consistently and capable of clearing out the rucks quickly and efficiently to create quick ball when possible. Look to create quick ball off pods outside the fringe defences of the ruck. Faz to run the game. Duvenage will look to keep the defences honest and punish any lapse in fringe defence by sniping any holes. Looking for any quick ball for Faz to orchestrate the attacking movements of the backs, and to keep the opponents guessing. Faz to play flat in attack to bring in the centres who can play simple and direct rugby or get it wide to our dangerous back three.

Set-piece - strong and efficient, put pressure on in certain situations on opposition ball. Eg clearing kicks from scrums and line outs in their 22
Breakdown - Collectively look to clear ball and smash opposing players out of the way. Opposing slow down legally by flooding the breakdown. 
Keep ball in hand - We can't afford to give away silly possession and kick aimlessly to the oppo back three. 
Playing the %'s - Faz will keep the board ticking over.
Working on Players - Corbs to target Afoa at the scrum, Wood to man mark Alba come the line out, with Etze up at the front.

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StadeToulousian
DOR: Driver
 

01. Guthro Steenkamp	09. Jano Vermaak
02. Tom Youngs	10. Remi Tales
03. John Afoa
04. Yoann Maestri	11. Hosea Gear
05. Patrico Albacete	12. Christian Leialiffano
06. Thiery Dusitour (c)	13. Florain Fritz
07. Michael Hooper	14. Tommy Bowe
08. Louise Pickamoles	15. Leigh Halfpenny (K)

16.Christopher Tauloufa 17.Vasil Kokovan 18.Cencus Johnstone 19.Joe Tekori 20.Yannick Nyanga 21.Jean Doussain 22.Luke McCallister 23.Maxime Medard

We've gone for what we know best and that is a power game based on plenty of carry in pack and dangerous runners outwide to punish the opposition, We've picked a massive front 5 with plenty of power from the bench and won't let the tempo drop and ensure that the tigers can't keep up with our tempo. Vermaak and Tales will be key to how we play and will look to bring runners in and put plenty of dents in the Stormers defence. Playing loose and at a high tempo this game will suit our game plan with our backs running wild into the space.

• Ruck blastingQuick ball is going to be key on the battlefield and our pack is full of ruck clearers and will ensure we can punch holes in a disorganised defence line.
  
• Aggressive defence Plenty of power around the fringes and aggressive blitz with 9-15 all fearsome defenders who will look to smash there man and drive him back. Vermaak to sweep behind.
  
• Experienced bench
  

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Crusaders vs Leicester Tigers
Location - 
Sunny Intervals, 18 degrees, 9 mph South Westerly winds

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Crusaders

01. Marcus Ayerza	09. Jonathan Pelissie
02. Corey Flynn	10. Dan Carter(k)
03. Nepo Laulala
04. Dominic Bird	11. Zac Guildford
05. Sam Whitelock	12. Scott Williams
06. Chris Robshaw (c)	13. Jonathan Davies
07. Matt Todd	14. Israel Folau
08. Mamuka Gorgodze	15. Charles Piutau

16. Dylan Hartley 17. Vincent Debaty 18. Owen Franks 19. Luke Romano 20. Kieran Read 21. Mitchell Drummond 22. Tom Taylor 23. Ryan Crotty

Giving some of our squad a run out this week to keep things fresh. Still playing our first choice back line as we want to try and go for the bonus point in good conditions. 

Set piece - we are happy to keep the ball in the scrum, based on previous weeks we expect Schuster on the tighthead against the best LH scrummager around in Ayerza, who is under instruction to conserve his energy completely so he can destroy the Tigers scrum. Flynn to pressure the ageing Chuter, and the up and coming Laulala to hold up his end against Stankovich. If we are getting pens in the scrum, we will take another in the hope of yellow cards for the opposition. In the lineout, we are happy to concede on their throw to smash their maul, on ours we will use Whitelock, Romano, Gorgodze and Robshaw as our options.

Breakdown - 2 7s on the field for us, we expect Croft to go for a wander out wide, meanwhile Robshaw and Todd are to work as a pair in securing ball. The rest of our pack is to hit rucks hard, we want strong clearing out to give our back line quick ball. Matera in particular to be targeted for strong clearing out. We have Read to come on to step up our efforts in this area in the second half.

Attack - Gorgodze to carry off the base on the blindside, forcing Croft to tackle him, or straight at the 10-12 channel sucking in their defence. We are happy to target their front row round the fringes with our carriers, knowing the old guys are likely to get tired with limited replacements on the bench. Ball to go through the hands when possible, our centres to use their experience together to target the new combo of Tuilagi and hook. Folau to attack the line whenever he can, and Piutau to pop up all over the field, including at first receiver to take on their defence with his quick feet. 

Defence - Blitz defence aimed at cutting off the supply line to Tuilagi, and our midfield to hit him as soon as he gets the ball, before he can build up a head of steam. We expect Leguizamon to be the primary forward carrier, and we will swarm him when he gets the ball, and pile in for the turnover.

Bench - 6 internationals on our bench, 5 in the pack. Pack is to go all out knowing they have replacements coming of the same quality. Taylor on to spread the ball wider, Crotty used to smash through the tired defence out wide late on

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Leicester Tigers 

01. Jerome Schuster	09. Greig Laidlaw
02. Leonardo Ghiraldini	10. Toby Flood
03. Martin Castrogiovanni
04. Paul O'Connell (c)	11. Cory Jane
05. Geoff Parling	12. James Hook
06. Tom Croft	13. Manu Tuilagi
07. Pablo Matera	14. Yoann Huget
08. Juan Manuel Leguizmanon	15. Israel Dagg

16. George Chuter 17. Boris Stankovich 18. Brok Harris 19. Louis Deacon 20. Thomas Waldrom 21. Piri Weepu 22. Anthony Allen 23. Chris Ashton

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Toulon vs ASM Clermont Auvergne
Location - Stade Mayol
Heavy Rain, 14 degrees, 12 mph Easterly winds

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Toulon

01. Andrew Sheridan	09. Aaron Smith
02. Richard Hibbard	10. Johnny Wilkinson(k)
03. Carl Hayman
04. Bakkies Botha	11. Drew Mitchell
05. Jocelina Suta	12. Matt Giteau
06. Julien Bonnaire (c)	13. Wesley Fofana
07. Steffon Armitage	14. David Smith
08. Jaime Heaslip	15. Adam Ashley-Cooper

16. Kyle Cooper 17. Mako Vunipola 18. Dan Cole 19. Ali Williams 20. Chris Masoe 21. Sebastian Tillous-Borde 22. Butch James 23. -

Delon still injured so Fofana starts and then being a man light on the bench. 

Tactics
We will play an expansive game today and have selected a big pack to win us ball in tough conditions for a tight game. Wilko will stand deep and play territory for our lineout to challenge, the pack will carry a lot as will our centres for quick ball. Strong front row with immense power to come on and a 2nd row who are used to driving players back come scrum time. We have selected a centre partnership who will make good breaks and look for quick recycling of the ball to keep them on the back foot and under constant pressure. Forwards will look to carry a lot in first 20 punching the holes before moving to running off of 12-13.

*9-10 combo-we have Smith to Wilko who will then look to play a controlled kicking game especially from turnover ball and using tight runners off 2nd phase ball.
*Bench-Our bench is full of impact and will look to dominate the end of the game.
*Defence-we have strong defensive leaders in Wilko, Giteau, AAC and will look to slow down/turnover a lot of ball.
*Set Piece-power is key today at scrum time and in the lineouts using Bonnaire's leading skills to get good ball.
*Breakdown-look to nullify the Crusaders here and use our abrasive pack to do this with heavy carrying and tactical breakdown slowing.

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ASMClermontAuvergne

Manager
= ChequeredJersey

01. Joe Marler	09. Morgan Parra (k)
02. Benjamin Kayser	10. Aaron Cruden
03. Davit Zirakashvili
04. Jamie Cudmore	11. Willie Le Roux
05. Andries Bekker	12. Ma'a Nonu
06. Schalk Burger	13. Aurelien Rougerie (c)
07. Sam Cane	14. Sitiveni Sivivatu
08. JMF Lobbe	15. JM Buttin

16. Clement Ric 17. Corey Flynn 18. Frans Malherbe  19.  Samu Manoa 20. Julien Bardy 21.  Ludovic Radosavljevic  22. Brock James 23. Matthieu Bastareaud

Tactics:
The weather is dire so nothing flashy. Focus to be on controlling the ball in the forwards and the breakdown and set piece. In the breakdown, our backrow to work together with the first there securing ball and the others and pack clearing out, don't be afraid to commit number to slow or turnover opposition ball as it will be harder to ship quick ball. However, Cane to track the ball to be ready to secure it, make cover tackles and be available for rare offloads. Parra and Cruden and Buttin to help us play a territory game kicking into space and corners with slow ball, as well as mauling and driving with the pack. The kick-chase is vital, and if we are kicking to nothing or the man we must pressurise him to try and reclaim ball. Keep good ball in hand and use simple inside pops  and our big centres in a crash ball manner, but if an overlap forms go for it. Definitely crossfield kick near their try-line

Defence- 
Really aggressive around the fringes to kill forward momentum and force them to throw it around. Fall off a bit in the backs (to watch for kicking) and look to hit hard to dislodge the ball

Set-piece 
Look to keep the ball at the back and 8-man shove on our ball. Simple lineout ball, then look to maul it or set up e.g. a switch inside crash for Nonu. Compete at every opposition throw

Subs- 
very flexible bench so go all out not afraid of fatigue. Can bring Bastareaud on to hammer the gain line, and James for his massive boot. 

Game Management
Take on realistic kicks at goal. Use our kickers at 9/11/15 to take pressure off 10. Be careful to avoid penalties in our half, but be aggressive every area in their half and play territory

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ChequeredJersey wrote:Attack- two fairly sexy backlines, but Crusaders have tactics and a lightning quick back 3 and a more settled centre partnership so win here

First person to ever make Rugby "sexy"...

Still waiting for predos from CF and Driver.

Both have been on the foreigns page

Frustrating if they don't predict as it affects teams chances of getting bonus points if there isn't a full house of predictions.

Well played Ozzy, think it was closer than that scoreline dictates, based on people's descriptions, but playing you away was always going to be tough

It was a lot closer than the eventual scoreline, I think that second half of the season you and Clermont will be the teams to watch out for.

Cheers mate, I hope so. Got a much better squad now, need to rotate a bit, but think I can challenge at the very top. I always make a late surge in these games, takes me a while to build a squad and gameplan I like!

Note to all - I'm off to Japan for a month next week. I'll still be on here, but bear in mind I'll be 7/8 hours ahead, so might get my timings a bit confused once or twice!

Well played, Prop, can't say I expected the away win and really unlucky with the typo that seemed to swing the game for lots of people

What you doing out there mate? Would love to go to Japan, love oriental culture.

Ozzy3213 wrote:What you doing out there mate?  Would love to go to Japan, love oriental culture.

Work trip to Tokyo, we've got an office out there. Went last year for 2 weeks, loved it. Can't wait to go back and I'll have more spare time to explore this time as well.

I have had a shocking couple of weeks!

Player try chart coming soon

Bonus point win   

Full Scores - Fluxy, Ozzy, Bathite, Bam, CJ, Prop

No predos - CF & Driver

Yeah good win fella, bit frustrated I made that silly error!!