Week 9

---

Racing Metro 92 vs Stormers
Location - Stade Olympique Yves-du-Manoir
Heavy Rain Showers, 10 degrees, 15 mph South Westerly Winds

---

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. Joe Tekori 20. Bernard Le Roux 21. Maxime Machenaud 22. Jean Marc Doussain 23. Adrien Plante


TACTICS
After some big wins over Tigers and Toulouse and a close fight away to table toppers Sharks, Metro announce their full strength side for a crucial home clash with Stormers. Retallick, Louw, Lydiate, Strauss, Youngs, Sexton all come into the side fresh after a rest last week. Tekori and Doussain continue their integration into the side from the bench this week.

As always, we are built on a solid set piece, with the lineout being a real strength all season and the scrum in solid shape with Grant now settled in. We'll look to use a very quick and mobile back row to get to that breakdown first, giving the Sharks slow ball to play off,and allowing us to use our strike runners against a disjointed defence. 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.

- In the poor weather conditions, we will look to play for territory with Youngs box kicking slow ball and Sexton kicking in behind Wade and Savea, both who don't have great kicking games
- Look to use carriers off the inside shoulder of Youngs and Sexton
- Form on the bench. All players capable of making a huge impact and changing the game. Experience of Jones and Szarz up front will be huge, Tekori and Tiny will offer incredible ball carrying. Le Roux, Doussain, Mach and Plante have had their great form rewarded with a place in the French 6Ns squad
- 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.
- 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.

---

Stormers

01. Alex Corbisiero	09. Dewaldt Duvenage
02. Schalk Brits	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. Scarra Ntubeni 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 afford to give away silly possession and kick aimlessly to the oppo back three. 
Playing the %'s - Faz will keep the board ticking over, and implement a simple territorial game.
Working on Players - Corbs to target Figallo at the scrum, Horwill to man mark Kruger come the line out, with Etze up at the front.

---

---

Natal Sharks vs Crusaders
Location - Kings Park Stadium
Light Rain Showers, 29 degrees, 13 mph Easterly Winds

---

 The Sharks
DoR: Ozzy3213

01. Tendai Mtawarira	09. Danny Care
02. Bismarck du Plessis	10. Quade Cooper
03. Jannie du Plessis
04. Joe Launchbury	11. George North
05. Courtney Lawes	12. Jan Serfontein
06. Sam Warbuton	13. Conrad Smith
07. Willem Alberts	14. Marland Yarde
08. Sergio Parisse (c)	15. James O'Connor

16. Stephen Moore 17. Cian Healy 18. Lourens Adriaanse 19. Pieter-Steph du Toit 20. Marcell Coetzee 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 Crusaders 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.  
  
• Wingers. North and Yarde to track the play off their wings looking for the offloads to go through gaps in midfield, with North often used either on the inside crash ball or as decoy.
  
• First receiver. If Cooper is targeted on the blitz, then O'Connor will step in to give a second option at 1st receiver.
  
• Possession. We want to keep the ball and play through the phases.  We will kick if we have to but, but first option will always be to run the ball.
  

---

Crusaders 

01. Marcus Ayerza	09. Jonathan Pelissie
02. Dylan Hartley	10. Dan Carter(k)
03. Owen Franks
04. Luke Romano	11. Zac Guildford
05. Sam Whitelock	12. Scott Williams
06. Chris Robshaw	13. Jonathan Davies
07. Richie McCaw (c)	14. Israel Folau
08. Kieran Read	15. Charles Piutau

16. Ben Funnell 17. Vincent Debaty 18. Davit Zirakashvili 19. Dominic Bird 20. Mamuka Gorgodze 21. Andrew Ellis 22. Tom Taylor 23. Ryan Crotty

Set piece - Ayerza and Hartley to focus on JDP, maximum pressure to be applied on him, with particular focus on his bind on BDP through Hartley. Franks and Vili to get one half each to anchor the scrum. In the lineout we will use all our options throughout the back row, with Whitelock to mark Lawes and Romano on the other lock.

Breakdown - 3 top breakdown operators in our back row, focus on Warburton in particular, with Alberts being targeted for clearing out by our front 5. Robshaw and McCaw to work in tandem, with Read getting involved whenever he sees a chance for a turnover. Ruck past the ball, we have strong forwards replacements to come on so want maximum energy. All the back row have international captaincy experience, will use that to play to the ref.

Attack - strong ball carrying by the front 5 around the fringes, Launchbury/Lawes are very athletic locks and we want to sap their energy by using our big ball carriers around the corner. Robshaw to help change the point of attack using his link skills, forwards looking for the inside line when it's on. 

We aim to run at Cooper as often as possible. Forwards led by Read to go down his channel, JD2 and Williams to cut inside and go straight at the 10/12 link, with Folau running off his wing at him when he sees the back row going wider. Carter to look to put the ball behind North, get the big guy turning where he isn't at his best with Folau bearing down on him. Piutau and JD2 to do likewise if putting it through the hands isn't on. 

Defence - focus on maintaining the line and letting our back row go for the turnovers. Pack to pile in if they feel the turnover is on. Try and cut out the supply to North by blitzing when centres have ball in hand. Pressure Cooper as much as possible, but keep the fringes tight to control Care. Look for the intercept if Cooper throws the miss pass

Bench - Gorgodze on to carry ball at tiring players, again primarily down the 10 channel. Taylor as a wider distribution option, and Crotty as another strong carrier. Debaty and Vili to continue to pile on the pressure at the scrum, particularly on the back up tighthead

---

---

Toulouse vs Toulon
Location - Stade Ernest-Wallon
Heavy Rain, 9 degrees, 8pmh South Westerly Winds

---

StadeToulousian
DOR: Driver
 

01. Guthro Steenkamp	09. Ruan Pienaar
02. Tom Youngs	10. George Ford
03. John Afoa
04. Yoann Maestri	11. Johnny May
05. Patrico Albacete	12. Christian Leialiffano
06. Yannick Nyanga	13. Gael Fickou
07. Thiery Dusitour (c)	14. Tommy Bowe
08. Louise Pickamoles	15. Leigh Halfpenny (K)

16.Chilliboy Ralepelle 17.Antoine Guillamon 18.Cencus Johnstone 19. Romain Millo-Chulski 20. Michael Hooper 21.Kano Vermack 22.Luke McCallister 23. Hosea Gear

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
  

---

Toulon

01. Mako Vunipola	09. Aaron Smith
02. Richard Hibbard	10.    Johnny Wilkinson(k)
03. Carl Hayman
04. Bakkies Botha	11. Bryan Habana
05. Jocelina Suta	12. Matt Giteau
06. Julien Bonnaire (c)	13. Adam Ashley-Cooper
07. Justin Tipuric	14. David Smith
08. Jaime Heaslip	15. Drew Mitchell

16. Kyle Cooper 17.Gethin Jenkins 18. Dan Cole 19. Ali Williams 20. Steffon Armitage 21. Sebastian Tillous-Borde 22. Butch James 23. Wesley Fofana
Tactics
We will play an tight 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.

---

---

Leicester Tigers vs ASM Clermont
Location - Welford Road
Heavy Rain Showers, 8 degrees, 25 mph Southerly Winds

---

Leicester Tigers 

01. Ben Robinson	09. Greig Laidlaw
02. Leonardo Ghiraldini	10. Francois Trinh-Duc
03. Martin Castrogiovanni
04. Paul O'Connell (c)	11. Cory Jane
05. Louis Deacon	12. Anthony Allen
06. Tom Croft	13. Manu Tuilagi
07. Pablo Matera	14. Gonzalo Camacho
08. Juan Manuel Leguizmanon	15. Matthew Tait

Replacements: Hawkins,Schuster,Stankovich,Kitchener,Weepu,Flood,Smith,Hernandez

We have a very powerful forward pack which we will look to utiilise. At the breakdown we will be strong and really go all in to win the ball. We will try to get quick ball to give to our backs, but if we have slow ball then we have plenty of forwards who will carry the ball and attempt to get over the gain-line. 

In the lineout, we have Ghilardini back which will strengten. In the scrum we have our best front 3 out, and they will be very strong and powerful. In terms of kicking, the duties go to Hook, Laidlaw will box kick with reguarlity, and look to gain some territory...


One of the strongest sides we have put out this season..

---

ASMClermontAuvergne

Manager
= ChequeredJersey

01. Thomas Domingo	09. Morgan Parra
02. Corey Flynn	10. Aaron Cruden
03. Ben Tameifuina
04. Manu Samoa	11. Willie Le Roux
05. Andries Bekker	12. Ma'a Nonu
06. Schalk Burger	13. Regan King
07. Sam Cane	14. Sitiveni Sivivatu
08. JMF Lobbe (c)	15. JM Buttin

16. Joe Marler 17. Benjamin Kayser 18. Frans Malherbe  19.  Jamie Cudmore 20. Julien Bardy 21.  Ludovic Radosavljevic  22. Brock James 23. Aurelien Rougerie

Tactics: The scrum, lineout and breakdown are vital in the rain. we will approach the breakdown as a unit, with Cane chasing the ball to be there to jackal, tackle or support as needed. The whole pack to help clearing out, but don't overcommit to any rucks unless there is a danger of the ball being turned over either way. The aim will be to create quick ball, and if it is slow we will build up momentum into quick ball using carries from the pack and crash balls. In sticky situations, Parra to choose whether to kick or retain the ball. Quick ball spun wide, then kept simple with recycling at the breakdown and direct running with back 3 running angles off the midfield.

Set piece- Tigers scrum has been shaky so really attack it then use as a base to carry off. In the lineout, let them have front ball and force them into the maul, contesting middle and back ball

Defence- blitz with Parra sweeping. Run back kicks where possible, Cane to harass 10 and Burger smash the 9

Subs- we have great pack subs so go 100% intensity as we can use them

Kicking- chase vital. Take points on offer and don't kick to touch too much as their lineout is good Kick high in the difficult handling conditions and contest for possession.

Targets- Domingo looking to attack Castro. Choke tackle Manu out of the game. Target blind side off scrums as Croft can miss tackles

ASMClermontAuvergne

Manager
= ChequeredJersey

01.  Thomas Domingo	09.  Morgan Parra
02. Corey Flynn	10.    Aaron Cruden
03. Ben Tameifuina
04.  Manu Samoa	11. Willie Le Roux
05.  Andries Bekker	12. Ma'a Nonu
06. Schalk Burger	13.   Regan King
07. Sam Cane	14.  Sitiveni Sivivatu
08. JMF Lobbe (c)	15. JM Buttin

16. Joe Marler 17. Benjamin Kayser 18. Frans Malherbe  19.  Jamie Cudmore 20. Julien Bardy 21.  Ludovic Radosavljevic  22. Brock James 23. Aurelien Rougerie

Tactics: The scrum, lineout and breakdown are vital in the rain. we will approach the breakdown as a unit, with Cane chasing the ball to be there to jackal, tackle or support as needed. The whole pack to help clearing out, but don't overcommit to any rucks unless there is a danger of the ball being turned over either way. The aim will be to create quick ball, and if it is slow we will build up momentum into quick ball using carries from the pack and crash balls. In sticky situations, Parra to choose whether to kick or retain the ball. Quick ball spun wide, then kept simple with recycling at the breakdown and direct running with back 3 running angles off the midfield.

Set piece- Tigers scrum has been shaky so really attack it then use as a base to carry off. In the lineout, let them have front ball and force them into the maul, contesting middle and back ball

Defence- blitz with Parra sweeping. Run back kicks where possible, Cane to harass 10 and Burger smash the 9

Subs- we have great pack subs so go 100% intensity as we can use them

Kicking- chase vital. Take points on offer and don't kick to touch too much as their lineout is good Kick high in the difficult handling conditions and contest for possession.

Targets- Domingo looking to attack Castro. Choke tackle Manu out of the game. Target blind side off scrums as Croft can miss tackles

When is the deadline for this lads? Jetlag killing me.

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. Joe Tekori 20. Bernard Le Roux 21. Maxime Machenaud 22. Jean Marc Doussain 23. Adrien Plante


TACTICS
After some big wins over Tigers and Toulouse and a close fight away to table toppers Sharks, Metro announce their full strength side for a crucial home clash with Stormers. Retallick, Louw, Lydiate, Strauss, Youngs, Sexton all come into the side fresh after a rest last week. Tekori and Doussain continue their integration into the side from the bench this week.

As always, we are built on a solid set piece, with the lineout being a real strength all season and the scrum in solid shape with Grant now settled in. We'll look to use a very quick and mobile back row to get to that breakdown first, giving the Sharks slow ball to play off,and allowing us to use our strike runners against a disjointed defence. 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.

- In the poor weather conditions, we will look to play for territory with Youngs box kicking slow ball and Sexton kicking in behind Wade and Savea, both who don't have great kicking games
- Look to use carriers off the inside shoulder of Youngs and Sexton
- Form on the bench. All players capable of making a huge impact and changing the game. Experience of Jones and Szarz up front will be huge, Tekori and Tiny will offer incredible ball carrying. Le Roux, Doussain, Mach and Plante have had their great form rewarded with a place in the French 6Ns squad
- 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.
- 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.

TIGERS

01.Benn Robinson
02.Leonardo Ghirladini
03.Martin CastroGivanni
04.Paul O'Connell
05.Louis Deacon
06.Tom Croft
07.Pablo Matera
08.Juan Manuel Leguizamon (c)
09.Greig Laidlaw
10.Francois Trinh-Duc
11.Gonzalo Camacho
12.Anthony Allen
13.Manu Tuilagi
14.Corey jane
15.Matthew Tait

Replacements: Hawkins,Schuster,Stankovich,Kitchener,Weepu,Flood,Smith,Hernandez

We have a very powerful forward pack which we will look to utiilise. At the breakdown we will be strong and really go all in to win the ball. We will try to get quick ball to give to our backs, but if we have slow ball then we have plenty of forwards who will carry the ball and attempt to get over the gain-line. 

In the lineout, we have Ghilardini back which will strengten. In the scrum we have our best front 3 out, and they will be very strong and powerful. In terms of kicking, the duties go to Hook, Laidlaw will box kick with reguarlity, and look to gain some territory...


One of the strongest sides we have put out this season..

Nice one mate, everyone in their normal position, team looks good. Might want to look at your hook ok king comment though

[/b]

01. Marcus Ayerza	09. Jonathan Pelissie
02. Dylan Hartley	10. Dan Carter(k)
03. Owen Franks
04. Luke Romano	11. Zac Guildford
05. Sam Whitelock	12. Scott Williams
06. Chris Robshaw	13. Jonathan Davies
07. Richie McCaw (c)	14. Israel Folau
08. Kieran Read	15. Charles Piutau

16. Ben Funnell 17. Vincent Debaty 18. Davit Zirakashvili 19. Dominic Bird 20. Mamuka Gorgodze 21. Andrew Ellis 22. Tom Taylor 23. Ryan Crotty

Set piece - Ayerza and Hartley to focus on JDP, maximum pressure to be applied on him, with particular focus on his bind on BDP through Hartley. Franks and Vili to get one half each to anchor the scrum. In the lineout we will use all our options throughout the back row, with Whitelock to mark Lawes and Romano on the other lock.

Breakdown - 3 top breakdown operators in our back row, focus on Warburton in particular, with Alberts being targeted for clearing out by our front 5. Robshaw and McCaw to work in tandem, with Read getting involved whenever he sees a chance for a turnover. Ruck past the ball, we have strong forwards replacements to come on so want maximum energy. All the back row have international captaincy experience, will use that to play to the ref.

Attack - strong ball carrying by the front 5 around the fringes, Launchbury/Lawes are very athletic locks and we want to sap their energy by using our big ball carriers around the corner. Robshaw to help change the point of attack using his link skills, forwards looking for the inside line when it's on.

We aim to run at Cooper as often as possible. Forwards led by Read to go down his channel, JD2 and Williams to cut inside and go straight at the 10/12 link, with Folau running off his wing at him when he sees the back row going wider. Carter to look to put the ball behind North, get the big guy turning where he isn't at his best with Folau bearing down on him. Piutau and JD2 to do likewise if putting it through the hands isn't on.

Defence - focus on maintaining the line and letting our back row go for the turnovers. Pack to pile in if they feel the turnover is on. Try and cut out the supply to North by blitzing when centres have ball in hand. Pressure Cooper as much as possible, but keep the fringes tight to control Care. Look for the intercept if Cooper throws the miss pass

Bench - Gorgodze on to carry ball at tiring players, again primarily down the 10 channel. Taylor as a wider distribution option, and Crotty as another strong carrier. Debaty and Vili to continue to pile on the pressure at the scrum, particularly on the back up tighthead

01. Mako Vunipola	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.   Adam Ashley-Cooper
07. Justin Tipuric	14.  David Smith
08. Jaime Heaslip	15. Drew Mitchell

16. Kyle Cooper 17.Gethin Jenkins 18. Dan Cole 19. Ali Williams 20. Steffon Armitage 21. Sebastian Tillous-Borde 22. Butch James 23. Wesley Fofana
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.

Can't edit in phone properly, can habana be put at 11 and change the expansive word to tight please

Bathite wrote:Nice one mate, everyone in their normal position, team looks good. Might want to look at your hook ok king comment though

i spose the only person who isnt really a regualr would be Tait.

Will leave the chance to get teams in until midnight tonight.

I've got no chance of getting a team in tonight. I'm struggling to keep up as to when match threads are going up and when teams need to be in by, it seems to change every week, which is no good for me to be honest.

agree...original deadlines should be stuck to!

Ozzy3213 wrote:I've got no chance of getting a team in tonight.  I'm struggling to keep up as to when match threads are going up and when teams need to be in by, it seems to change every week, which is no good for me to be honest.

I can help in matches that I don't play you in chap

It's always been Fridays lads, not tricky!

Yep it's Friday. Maybe we should enforce that more strictly?

Bit difficult when the thread only goes up thursday afternoon though.

Would it be worth having a rest week next week to let the schedule reset without knockon delays?

The Sharks welcome back the big guns as they return to league action at The Shark Tank. Bismarck and Jannie du Plessis, Courtney Lawes, Sergio Parisse, Danny Care, Quade Cooper and Conrad Smith all return having been rested for the cup semi final last week.

The Sharks
DoR: Ozzy3213

01. Tendai Mtawarira	09. Danny Care
02. Bismarck du Plessis	10. Quade Cooper
03. Jannie du Plessis
04. Joe Launchbury	11. George North
05. Courtney Lawes	12. Jan Serfontein
06. Sam Warbuton	13. Conrad Smith
07. Willem Alberts	14. Marland Yarde
08. Sergio Parisse (c)	15. James O'Connor

16. Stephen Moore 17. Cian Healy 18. Lourens Adriaanse 19. Pieter-Steph du Toit 20. Marcell Coetzee 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 Crusaders 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.  
  
• Wingers. North and Yarde to track the play off their wings looking for the offloads to go through gaps in midfield, with North often used either on the inside crash ball or as decoy.
  
• First receiver. If Cooper is targeted on the blitz, then O'Connor will step in to give a second option at 1st receiver.
  
• Possession. We want to keep the ball and play through the phases.  We will kick if we have to but, but first option will always be to run the ball.
  

ChequeredJersey wrote:Would it be worth having a rest week next week to let the schedule reset without knockon delays?

I think that's a sensible idea. When we started match threads were up on a Monday/Tuesday for teams in by Friday, then predos by Sunday/Monday. I think Christmas knocked the routine out a bit and I definitely can't get a team in by Friday if the match thread goes up on a Thursday.

No worries then lads, we will push this week back to next weekend. 

Sorry for the delay in getting threads up, but should be more regular from now

I assume predos are open till Wednesday again?

this round has been pushed back to this weekend just to get everything back in order.

ah ok, my mistake. I understood it as this round as normal then a week off

When do they open though

I am assuming we will be just pushing these back a week, but same opening and closing times.

Weather has been updated, teams in by Saturday midnight lads!

Toulouse side for this weeks fixture against Toulon in the heavy , heavy rain.

1.Guthro Steenkamp
2.Tom Youngs
3.John Afoa
4.Patrico Albacete
5.Yoann Maestri
6.Yannick Nyanga
7.Thiery Dusitour
8.Louise Pickermole

9.Ruan Pienaar
10.George Ford
11.Tommy Bowe
12.Christian Leialifano
13.Gael Fickou
14.Jonny May
15.Leigh Halfpenny

Rallapelle , Guillamon , Johnstone , Millo Chulksi , Hooper , Vermakk , Mcallister , Gear

prop_lyd wrote:Can't edit in phone properly, can habana be put at 11 and change the expansive word to tight please

Can these changes be made to the main sheet please before the predos open.

Small change to tactics

I've made a small change as well

We should be a go-er!

Predos in by 9am Wednesday morning boys!

Metro 25-23 Stormers
Can see Stormers getting a slight edge at the set piece but not enough to make a difference. Two good carrying back rowers but think Metro could cause more issues at the breakdown. Both 10’s in good form. Prefer the Metro backline and think they’ll get a bit better ball back. Better impact bench for Metro. Simple gameplan from Stormers which will help, I think flooding the breakdown could disadvantage them out wide. Metro using their bench and tactical kicking well here for another good win.



Sharks 24-24 Crusaders
Two fantastic packs here today, like the S.A and English combo the Sharks have but Crusaders have the N.Z partnerships too. Half backs, Care is on great form and will run the game well, both 10’s can control, not sure about Cooper in wet weather but with Care dictating tempo he should be ok. Outside backs are tough to split, Crusaders back three have a bit more international experience but feel Yarde won’t be out of his depth. Bit of a stronger bench from Sharks helps. Simple tactics for Sharks today will do them good, very good tactics from Crusaders detailing how they will expose the Sharks weakness and this gets them the draw. Great match up here.

Tigers 20-24 Clermont
Good scrummaging Tigers unit but Clermont will cause them trouble there. Feel the Clermont back row will cause more problems for Tigers than vice versa. Two good halfback pairings, feel Parra brings a bit more form today. Outwide can see Clermont getting further, Tuilagi will cause King problems but can’t rate too much due to injury. Clermont’s front row bench will cause problems here. Tigers have the back up tactics of using their carrying forwards with slow ball but still need a bit more about their backs play. Clermont set up well for the rain with their tactics and have selected the weaknesses to target.

Metro 18 - 16 Stormers

Scrum: Mas edges Grant, Figallo an injured Corbs and Strauss better here than Brits so advantage Metro
Lineout:vital here. Would be Edge to Stormers with Wood, but Brits is new so maybe the odd missed throw. Both teams equal on attack but Wood and Etzebeth could disrupt ball in defence.
Breakdown: both classy units. Stormers will slow a lot of ball, but this could give penalties and Louw will still nick some, so edge Metro
Carrying: really good from metro here but Stormera have some huge carriers and a good mix of tight and wide carriers.
HBs: Farrell in good form and playing attacking rugby but missing some kicks. Sexton had a great game against Wales. Youngs not in best form still. Close
Attack: sensible tactics. Even backlines that are quite similar. Edge to Stormers in centres and evens in back 3 so Stormers
Defence: advantage in these conditions to Metro: Savea and Wade not the safest in a kicking duel
Overall: very close, pretty even in forwards and backs once everything is accounted for. But French home advantage is big, ands Sexton has the game and the pack to help him in these conditions.

Sharks 22 Crusaders 18
FR: 2 brilliant front rows with Hartley form massive, however, the Sharks trio is tried and tested.
LK: Another two tried and tested combos, but more form from the Sharks pair
BR: Edged to Crusaders, but not much in it at all
HB: Big win to the Sharks here, a step up in class and form overall
CE: Prefer the Crusaders here, but think Care/Cooper will get more from their options
B3: Slightly more in the Sharks unit, with kicking option from JOC to help out

Toulouse 17 Toulon 16
FR: Solid front rows, but Vunipola and Hibbard the stand outs for me. Hayman and Steenkemp cancel each other out. Youngs a definite weakness in the lineout, with Botha and Bonnaire able to take advantage
LK: Not much between them, 2 nice combos
BR: Bit more from Toulon with Heaslip form and Dusatoir out of the game
HB: Think Pienaar/Ford has the right balance of skills
CE: Toulon pairing is my favourite in this game
B3: Bit more from Toulouse

Tigers 15 Clermont 23
FR: A bit more from the Clermont trio
LK: Maybe struggling for carrying in tight spaces for Tigers
BR: Croft and Burger need form, but Clermont edge this
HB: Big step up for Clermont
CE: Tigers would win if on form, so actually about evens
B3: A lot more from Clermont here

Sharks 19 - 18 Crusaders
Set piece- scrum even, lineout even
Breakdown- to Crusaders with an excellent unit here
Carrying- edge Sharks
HBs- in the sun, Sharks. Today, even. JOC a big help to sharks though
Attack- frankly evens with both sides cannily playing off the other's weaknesses
Defence- Crusaders in backs but Sharks in pack
Overall- v close game, home advantage wins

Toulouse 18 - 17 Toulon
Set piece- scrum evens. Lineout with Youngs doing well for Tigers and abysmally for England hard to predict. But Bonnaire edges for Toulon
Breakdown- advantage Toulouse
Carrying- evens
HBs- Wilko far more experienced than Ford, advantage Toulon. But lessened by Halfpenny's kicking
Attack- evens
Defence- edge Toulon

Overall- Toulon would win at home, but Toulouse have enough to make it a home win in this weather with the breakdown, mostly as I'm giving Youngs starting the benefit of the doubt over his England bench performances

Metro vs Stormers - 18-16

Sharks vs Crusaders - 20-20

Tolouse vs Toulon- 21-17

Metro 20-23 Stormers

Set piece - Stormers have the better pair of props, and Brits weakness there will be covered. Stronger lineout jumpers too, with Kruger and Retallicks strength there countered by Eben and Horwill.

Breakdown - Stormers back row is brilliant, Wood/SOB a great flanker combo and Mas is the only one of the rest of the pack who is a bit immobile. Metro good too, but Lydiate not in the best form and Kruger can be a bit ineffective. Edge to Stormers

Attack/Carrying - Metro have better halfbacks, not sure why Genia isn't back for Stormers. Savea vs Cuthbert is a mismatch when Stormers have the ball, and JDV is a better version of Roberts. Youngs box kicking isn't the best, so not sure I would use it as a tactic, but Stormers back 3 is likely to have problems if there are a lot of kicks.

Stormers have the bigger carrying pack for me, but not a lot in it. HBs to Metro, general back line play to Stormers and carrying to Stormers.

Bench - easily to Metro

Have to go with the stronger pack given the conditions, so Stormers pick up a well earned away win

Natal Sharks 28 - 26 Crusaders 

Great contest this one, both sides - despite their quality - are quite even! I like Bam's tactics highlighting the breakdown with a number of decent operators. But for me this is a little similar to England France game in the Six nations. As Eng looked to get to every breakdown we leaked a try at the end, and I'm not saying they will lose because of it, but they may leak one or two just because of tired legs later on. Sharks have some real form in their side and is a telling factor for me. Carters quality can keep Saders ticking over from breakdown penalties and they can pick up some breakaway tries from Folau and Piatua. But Yarde and North hitting lines off shoulders, at least one will slip through, and set up a try. Both sides are really well set up and it is a compliment to both for that fact, but at home with the form and quality they are in Sharks will keep the ball rolling. 

Toulouse 23 - 20 Toulon

Two two front rows who should be about even in the scrum, but maybe a little more from Toulon around the park. Youngs is a liability in the line out and can see Bonnaire and Botha exploiting this in defence. The Toulouse will have a better impact in the game however, as they have a real mix of clsoe carrying and breakdown skills, whereas I think that Toulon back row are a little lightweight. 
I like the Toulouse half back pairing and they can compliment each other nicely. similar sort of theory to Toulon, but it will cut the ball to their backs with their tactics. I can see Toulouse back line playing the weather a little better, despite their contradicting tactics. Close in the end but Halfpenny will boot the home team to a close win. 


Leicester Tigers 20 - 24 Clermont Auvergne

The pack battle is an interesting one, as Clermont have a much stronger side in the loose, and Tigers are a real set piece side. So all in all Clermont can get good forward momentum off their solid set piece, but Tigers only supply of decent possession is from first phase. Again this needs to be implemented with Manu to get the best out of this advantage. The forwards give Clermont time and space for their half back pairing which is dangerous. This allows them the time to get the back three in play like they said and they can exploit Manu defensively. Tigers spine of their back line is good, and really rate their halfbacks. But feel they a need a bit more of a game plan. Not sure on choke tackling Manu, as he can gain more yardage by keeping his legs pumping, would prefer to get hi to ground early. 

Tigers at home, with a decent side do some damage, but they look a little rudderless in attack. Clermont just look irresistible with ball in attack and secure the win, but Tigers hold on for a bonus point.

Toulouse 17-19 Toulon

Set piece - both looseheads not the strongest, Hibbard and Afoa stronger at hooker and th. Evens. Youngs a real weakness in the lineout and Bonnaire will take advantage

Breakdown - very hard to call, both back rows about even here, and front 5s also good. Given the Toulouse settled back row a slight edge

Attack/carrying - Toulon playing better to the conditions, and have a back line to execute their plan. Toulouse back line is strong with a lot of kickers. Carrying edge to Toulon

Benches - both quality, but Toulon have Fofana and an excellent set of forwards.

Given the game plans and conditions, plus impact off the bench I give Toulon a narrow win

Tigers 19 - 24 Clermont

Set piece - Domingo the standout, rest all equal at scrum time. Tigers strong as ever at the lineout.

Breakdown - Clermont back row is excellent, Matera needs more help for tigers. Prefer Clermont front 5 too

Carrying/attack - Leicester insist on not playing their best players, particularly in the back 3. Clermont backs are lethal. Up front Clermont have the better heavy duty carriers.

Unbalanced bench for Leicester, edge to Clermont.

Relatively easy win for ASM

In fairness, Laidlaw is definitely a recognised kicker, he kicks for Scotland

Completely forgot about Laidlaw, will change that now

Predos closed .. if I knew how the scoring worked I would do the scores!

I don't know how to, so if someone that could do so that would be greatly appreciated.

Can do it over lunch