Summer Tournament Semi Finals 1st Leg

Cup Semi Finals


Bath Rugby vs. Gloucester

Bath Rugby
Manager – inthefastlane

01. James Slipper	09. Richard Wigglesworth
02. Richard Hibbard	10. Rhys Patchell
03. Charlie Faumuania
04. Luke Romano	11.  Sitiveni Sivivatu
05. Luke Jones	12. Kurtley Beale
06. Siya Kolisi	13. Damien De Allende
07. Sean O'Brien	14. George North
08. James Haskell	15. Alex Goode

16. Mikey Haywood 17. Cian Healy 18. Ben Tameifuma 19. Sam Whitelock 20. Liam Messam 21. Fourie Du Preez 22. Christian Lealifiano 23. Stuart Hogg

Gloucester

1 Coenie
2 Strauss
3 Mas
4 Grey
5 Robson
6 Croft
7 Qera
8 Alberts
9 Perenara
10 Cips
11 May
12 Toomua
13 Kurindrani
14 Walker
15 Folau
16 Beast
17 LCD
18 Figallo
19 Stooke
20 Dickinson
21 Robson
22 Burns
23Dagg


Wasps vs. Sale Sharks

 Wasps
Manager  Ozzy3213

01. Joe Marler	09. Aaron Smith
02. Bismarck du Plessis (c)	10. Aaron Cruden
03. David Wilson
04. Paul Willemse	11. Bryan Habana
05. Alun-Wyn Jones	12. Ma'a Nonu
06. Jerome Kaino	13. JJ Englebrecht
07. Steffon Armitage	14. Henry Speight
08. Duane Vermeulen	15. Delon Armitage

16. Harry Thacker 17. Ben Moon 18. Fraser Balmain 19. Sebastien Vahaamahina 20. Rynhardt Elstadt 21. Sebastien Tillouse-Borde 22. Henry Slade 23. Digby Ioane

Tactics

• Standard tactics of a possession based game and looking to go through the phases with pace and intensity.
  
• Offloading in or just before the tackle to keep the ball alive and move the opposition defence around.
  
• Blitz defence with scrum half sweeping to cover.
  

Sale Sharks
Manager – SJE

01. Marcos Ayerza	09. Danny Care
02. David Paice	10. Johnny Sexton
03. Davit Zirakishvilli
04. Brodie Retalick	11. Simon Zebo
05. Dave Attwood	12. Francois Steyn
06. Peter O'Mahony	13. Gael Fickou
07. Matt Todd	14. Semesa Rokoduguni
08. Louis Picamoles	15. Willie Le Roux

:-
16. Ross Harrison 17. Tommy Taylor 18. Rabah Slimani 19. Matt Garvey 20. Steven Luatua 21. Kieran Marmion 22. Beauden Barrett 23. Kyle Eastmond


Plate Semi Finals

Newcastle Falcons vs. Saracens

Newcastle Falcons

15.Ben Smith
14.Charles Pitatau
13.Marcelo Bosch (LGK)
12.Jean De Villers
11.Cory Jane
10.Owen Farrell (K)
9.Nick Phipps

1.Matt Mullen
2.Rory Best
3.Owen Franks
4.Ed Slater (C)
5.Geoff Parling
6.Ben Mowen
7.Richie McCaw
8.Kieron Read

16.Dane Coles 17.Matt Stevens 18.Scotty Wilson 19.Yoaan Maestri 20.Will Fraser 21.Dave Ewers 22.Dave Lewis 23.Rob Miller

Saracens
Manager – Pooly

01. Alex Waller	09. Morgan Parra
02. Keven Mealamu	10. Bernard Foley
03. Jannie Du Plessis
04. Flip Van Der Merwe	11. Juan Imhoff
05. Victor Matfield(c)	12. Maxime Mermoz
06. Dave Denton	13. Jonathan Davies
07. Thierry Dusatoir	14. Miles Benjamin
08. Jonnie Beattie	15. Zak Guildford

:-
16. Jamie George 17. Max Lahiff 18. Matius Diaz 19. Louis Deacon 20. Nathan Hughes 21. Henry Taylor 22. Freddie Burns 23. George Lowe

- can I get feedback on combo's pls


Northampton Saints vs. Harlequins

Northampton Saints

1. Mako Vunipola
2. Rob Webber
3. Adam Jones
4. Lood de Jager
5. Jonny Gray
6. Schalk Burger
7. Chris Robshaw
8. Sergio Parisse (c)
9. Joe Simpson
10. Nick Evans (k)
11. Jordan Williams
12. Matt Giteau
13. Vereniki Goneva
14. Tommy Bowe
15. Ben Foden

16. Thomas Domingo 17. Logi Mulipola 18. Dylan Hartley 19. Manu Samoa 20. Billy Vunipola 21. Gareth Davies 22. George Ford 23. Elliot Daly.

Harlequins

1. Steven Kitchoff
2. Tatafu Polata-Nau
3. Kieran Brookes
4. Bakkies Botha
5. Jim Hamilton
6. Tom Wood
7. Michael Hooper (c)
8. Mamuka Gorgodze

9. Karl Dickson
10. Colin Slade

11. Jack Nowell
12. Jamie Roberts
13. Jonathan Joseph
14. Yoann Huget
15. Rob Kearney

16. Rob Buchanan 17. Gjorgi Jgenti 18. Kyle Sinckler 19. George Kruis 20. Jamie Gibson 21. Ruan Pienaar 22. Steven Myler 23. Aurelien Rougerie


Shield Semi Finals

Exeter Chiefs vs. London Irish

Exeter Chiefs 

Manager – Fluxy

01. Ryan Grant	09. Connor Murray
02. Dimitri Szarzewski	10. Toby Flood (k)
03. Davit Kubriashvili
04. Patrick Tuipulotu	11. Tom Varndell
05. Paul O'Connell (c)	12. Luther Burrell
06. Carl Fearns	13. Adam Ashley-Cooper
07. Justin Tipuric	14. Andrew Trimble
08. Toby Faletau	15. James O'Connor

16. Sean Cronin 17. Richard Barrington 18. Jamie Johnston 19. Calum Clark 20. 21. Chris Cook 22. Marnitz Boshoff 23. David Strettle

Tactics:

• Use of heavy carriers, and mobile support runners in the pack to create forward momentum. 
  
• Phase play with half backs dictating play. Look for territory when need to gain field position.
  
• Counter attack whenever possible.
  

Leicester Tigers

01. Ben Franks	09. Rory Kockott
02. Ken Owens	10. Dan Biggar
03. Rhodri Jones
04. Jacques Potgeiter	11. Nick Cummins
05. Dean Mumm (c)	12. Alapati Leiua
06. Sam Warburton	13. Conrad Smith
07. George Smith	14. JP Pietersen
08. Scott Higginbotham	15. Brice Dulin

16. Tom Lindsay 17. Tom Smallbone 18. Henry Thomas 19. Tom Savage 20. Ben Morgan 21. Lee Dickson 22. Henry Trinder 23. Rob Cook

I've named a fully foregin side and a full eq bench.
Who should I swap from the bench to be one of the starting 4 eq?
Do people rate Thomas or Collier more?
Is the backrow balanced or not?
Do I have enough carrying options in the pack?
Where is my main weakness now?


London Welsh vs. Leicester Tigers

London Welsh

01. Nathan Catt	09. Tawera Kerr-Barlowe
02. Dave Ward	10. Kyle Godwin (k)
03. Sekope Kepu
04. George Skivington (c)	11. Nemani Nadolo
05. Alexandre Flanquart	12. Clement Poitrenaud
06. Luke Wallace	13. Michelle Campagnaro
07. Ross Rennie	14. Aseili Tikoirituima
08. Victor Vito	15. Sean Maitland

16. Koree Briton 17. Nathan Catt 18. Oliver Tomaszczyk 19.  
Setaliki Timani 20. Tom Guest 21. Ben Spencer 22. Nick Tompkins 23. Jesse Mogg

Questions- Godwin at 10? The Centres? The backrow? And who on the bench could make an impact at AP level?

Leicester Tigers
Manager – LukeLovesLuka

01. Gethin Jenkins	09. Kahn Fotuali'i
02. Stephen Moore (c)	10. Tusi Pisi (k)
03. Cencus Johnston
04. Nathan Hines	11. Rene Ranger
05. Kearnan Myall	12. Billy Twelvetrees
06. Francois Louw	13. Matthieu Basteraud
07. James Scaysbrook	14. Drew Mitchell
08. JMF Lobbe	15. Mike Brown

16. Alex Corbisiero 17. Christopher Tolofua 18. Dan Cole 19. Pascal Pape 20. Ernst Joubert 21. Micky Young 22. Brock James 23. Alex Cuthbert

Tactics:

TBC

Wasps v Sale......two favourites for the league this year?

Any rules in place, Luke?

Sgt_Pooly wrote:Wasps v Sale......two favourites for the league this year?

Not sure about that. League looks quite tight this year. I am expecting yourself and Bath to come hard at the top 6. League is too open to call I reckon.

I'm a long way from top 6.

You've looked the best two sides in pre's I reckon, any coincidence you have the best two 10's in world??

Best, in terms of the 10's is subjective, and ultimately doesn't always win you things. Half back pairing is important though, which is why I like to have a proven combo that work together. Parra and FTD did well for me in the early days of this game when they were the France pairing and hopefully Smith and Cruden can do the same.

I wouldn't say you are a long way from top 6.

Saints team versus Quins:

1. Mako Vunipola
2. Rob Webber
3. Adam Jones
4. Lood de Jager
5. Jonny Gray
6. Schalk Burger
7. Chris Robshaw
8. Sergio Parisse (c)
9. Joe Simpson
10. Nick Evans (k)
11. Jordan Williams
12. Matt Giteau
13. Vereniki Goneva
14. Tommy Bowe
15. Ben Foden

16. Thomas Domingo 17. Logi Mulipola 18. Dylan Hartley 19. Manu Samoa 20. Billy Vunipola 21. Gareth Davies 22. George Ford 23. Elliot Daly.

Think it's impossible to say who is the best side until we see the form of the players in their comps next season! One injury or one previously unrated player having a great season can change a lot

That's why I said currently....

ChequeredJersey wrote:Any rules in place, Luke?

Will just be a mixture of combos mate. Normally make 9/10 chnages. Think i've pretty much played everyone's full strength side so you might as well carry on the trend ;-)

Saints now looking like league favs for me alongside Wasps.

Saints have got some real strength in depth.

Losing Hayman big loss for Chris, he was immense last season. If Jones ends up in the Champ he can't be rated for me. Every top team needs a good TH, make or break for Jones

Any of my THs potentially available if he wants one

Harlequins

1. Steven Kitchoff
2. Tatafu Polata-Nau
3. Kieran Brookes
4. Bakkies Botha
5. Jim Hamilton
6. Tom Wood
7. Michael Hooper (c)
8. Mamuka Gorgodze

9. Karl Dickson
10. Colin Slade

11. Jack Nowell
12. Jamie Roberts
13. Jonathan Joseph
14. Yoann Huget
15. Rob Kearney

16. Rob Buchanan 17. Gjorgi Jgenti 18. Kyle Sinckler 19. George Kruis 20. Jamie Gibson 21. Ruan Pienaar 22. Steven Myler 23. Aurelien Rougerie

Haha Pooly you criticised me for playing Hayman last year in predos a few times, not sure if I can win with you   

Papers saying Jones is looking at a move to Toulon at the moment. Amazing how comics can make someone rich enough to get all of the signings for that club. Know Jones isn't what he was, but will still offer a steady scrum.

Hayman was immense 2nd half of last season

Newcastle Falcons team to play Saracens at The Darlington Arena.

15.Ben Smith 
14.Charles Pitatau
13.Marcelo Bosch (LGK)
12.Jean De Villers
11.Cory Jane
10.Owen Farrell (K)
9.Nick Phipps

1.Matt Mullen
2.Rory Best 
3.Owen Franks
4.Ed Slater (C)
5.Geoff Parling
6.Ben Mowen
7.Richie McCaw 
8.Kieron Read

16.Dane Coles 17.Matt Stevens 18.Scotty Wilson 19.Yoaan Maestri 20.Will Fraser 21.Dave Ewers 22.Dave Lewis 23.Rob Miller

Driver rolling out his best side to take on Pooly!!!

Cup semi final time mate , bagging rights on the line.

I'm just trying combos again

Leicester Tigers
Manager – LukeLovesLuka

01. Gethin Jenkins	09. Kahn Fotuali'i
02. Stephen Moore (c)	10. Tusi Pisi (k)
03. Cencus Johnston
04. Nathan Hines	11. Rene Ranger
05. Kearnan Myall	12. Billy Twelvetrees
06. Francois Louw	13. Matthieu Basteraud
07. James Scaysbrook	14. Drew Mitchell
08. JMF Lobbe	15. Mike Brown

16. Alex Corbisiero 17. Christopher Tolofua 18. Dan Cole 19. Pascal Pape 20. Ernst Joubert 21. Micky Young 22. Brock James 23. Alex Cuthbert

Tactics:

TBC

London Welsh

01. Nathan Catt	09. Tawera Kerr-Barlowe
02. Dave Ward	10. Kyle Godwin (k)
03. Sekope Kepu
04. George Skivington (c)	11. Nemani Nadolo
05. Alexandre Flanquart	12. Clement Poitrenaud
06. Luke Wallace	13. Michelle Campagnaro
07. Ross Rennie	14. Aseili Tikoirituima
08. Victor Vito	15. Sean Maitland

16. Koree Briton 17. Nathan Catt 18. Oliver Tomaszczyk 19.  
Setaliki Timani 20. Tom Guest 21. Ben Spencer 22. Nick Tompkins 23. Jesse Mogg

Questions- Godwin at 10? The Centres? The backrow? And who on the bench could make an impact at AP level?

Saracens
Manager – Pooly

01. Alex Waller	09. Morgan Parra
02. Keven Mealamu	10. Bernard Foley
03. Jannie Du Plessis
04. Flip Van Der Merwe	11. Juan Imhoff
05. Victor Matfield(c)	12. Maxime Mermoz
06. Dave Denton	13. Jonathan Davies
07. Thierry Dusatoir	14. Miles Benjamin
08. Jonnie Beattie	15. Zak Guildford

:-
16. Jamie George 17. Max Lahiff 18. Matius Diaz 19. Louis Deacon 20. Nathan Hughes 21. Henry Taylor 22. Freddie Burns 23. George Lowe

- can I get feedback on combo's pls

Ozzy3213 wrote:Best, in terms of the 10's is subjective, and ultimately doesn't always win you things.  Half back pairing is important though, which is why I like to have a proven combo that work together.  Parra and FTD did well for me in the early days of this game when they were the France pairing and hopefully Smith and Cruden can do the same.  

I wouldn't say you are a long way from top 6.

All subjective Pete. Big FTD fan but hate Parra due to him having zero idea about how to play. Similar to yachvili it's all about them. Scrum half is the link
And he does not do it. Deserves to be 2/3 choice in a position France poor at. Parra is one of the players I don't get like Scott Williams who only has Rabo form and the odd moment internAtionally.

France have issues at 2,9,10 which are key positions hence why they are poor

But they don't pick Parra or FTD at 9 or 10!

Yes CJ

Pilisse the Montpelier 9 and FTD best combo

Mâchénaud is awful

 Wasps
Manager  Ozzy3213

01. Joe Marler	09. Aaron Smith
02. Bismarck du Plessis (c)	10. Aaron Cruden
03. David Wilson
04. Paul Willemse	11. Bryan Habana
05. Alun-Wyn Jones	12. Ma'a Nonu
06. Jerome Kaino	13. JJ Englebrecht
07. Steffon Armitage	14. Henry Speight
08. Duane Vermeulen	15. Delon Armitage

16. Harry Thacker 17. Ben Moon 18. Fraser Balmain 19. Sebastien Vahaamahina 20. Rynhardt Elstadt 21. Sebastien Tillouse-Borde 22. Henry Slade 23. Digby Ioane

Tactics

• Standard tactics of a possession based game and looking to go through the phases with pace and intensity.
  
• Offloading in or just before the tackle to keep the ball alive and move the opposition defence around.
  
• Blitz defence with scrum half sweeping to cover.
  

anonmattyt wrote:

Ozzy3213 wrote:Best, in terms of the 10's is subjective, and ultimately doesn't always win you things.  Half back pairing is important though, which is why I like to have a proven combo that work together.  Parra and FTD did well for me in the early days of this game when they were the France pairing and hopefully Smith and Cruden can do the same.  

I wouldn't say you are a long way from top 6.

All subjective Pete. Big FTD fan but hate Parra due to him having zero idea about how to play. Similar to yachvili it's all about them. Scrum half is the link
And he does not do it. Deserves to be 2/3 choice in a position France poor at. Parra is one of the players I don't get like Scott Williams who only has Rabo form and the odd moment internAtionally.

France have issues at 2,9,10 which are key positions hence why they are poor

Yawn............

Funny digging though old pages.....

When I didn't have him:

anonmattyt wrote:I love Parra

I sign him:

anonmattyt wrote:Big FTD fan but hate Parra

 

Give it rest Pooly, it's getting incredibly tedious now.

I'm entitled to respond, as Matt would.

Used to be a big fan of parra but said for a long time he has declined and holds play up.

Think he does not suit an open game. If you were going to play 9 man rugby he does a job but the game is moving on.


Said this Way before you signed him. I like the Montpelier lad

Like I said there are several players I don't rate like piccles Parra Williams etc


There are others I never used to rate but who have developed like SOB cipriani etc

If we all went dredging through past comments we would have a field day. Fielden better than sharples Youngs best SH in the worlds etc.

That comment was from a while ago and for me Parra has not been like he was for a long time.

Worked well with FTD at the time but seems to have had all the spark knocked out of him.

Yawn

anonmattyt wrote:Used to be a big fan of Parra until you signed him

Fixed that for you.....

Sgt_Pooly wrote:I'm entitled to respond, as Matt would.

 Or you could grow up a bit, ignore the comment as peoples opinions do change, and not spend the day digging through old comments in order to continue an argument that is both boring, and ultimately pointless.

Or I could type Matt and Parra into google and hey presto.

I'll respond if I want to respond as Matt always does.

Not going to say another word on the matter. It's opinions. You need to calm yourself.

Previous owner of parra will say I often marked him down. What does it matter.

Spending days trawling and trying to knock players others own like Kurindrani, Mas etc etc is weird at best.


It's a game people have opinions. I think what most people have an issue with is your relentless " Wumming"

That's my final point on the matter.

We all have players we don't rate for me that would include faletau, Williams, biggar, Madigan, parra,piccles, and many others

I'm perfectly calm.

You wum as much as I do, I like a bit of banter.

I don't need to spend days looking to mark Kurindrani down, you just have to watch him.

Some players are always gonna split fans. Let's just accept that and move on

Exeter Chiefs 

Manager – Fluxy

01. Ryan Grant	09. Connor Murray
02. Dimitri Szarzewski	10. Toby Flood (k)
03. Davit Kubriashvili
04. Patrick Tuipulotu	11. Tom Varndell
05. Paul O'Connell (c)	12. Luther Burrell
06. Carl Fearns	13. Adam Ashley-Cooper
07. Justin Tipuric	14. Andrew Trimble
08. Toby Faletau	15. James O'Connor

16. Sean Cronin 17. Richard Barrington 18. Jamie Johnston 19. Calum Clark 20. 21. Chris Cook 22. Marnitz Boshoff 23. David Strettle

Tactics:

• Use of heavy carriers, and mobile support runners in the pack to create forward momentum. 
  
• Phase play with half backs dictating play. Look for territory when need to gain field position.
  
• Counter attack whenever possible.
  
  

Need to name a 20 flux. Will get my team in in a few hours.

01. Ben Franks	09. Rory Kockott
02. Ken Owens	10. Dan Biggar
03. Rhodri Jones
04. Jacques Potgeiter	11. Nick Cummins
05. Dean Mumm (c)	12. Alapati Leiua
06. Sam Warburton	13. Conrad Smith
07. George Smith	14. JP Pietersen
08. Scott Higginbotham	15. Brice Dulin

16. Tom Lindsay 17. Tom Smallbone 18. Henry Thomas 19. Tom Savage 20. Ben Morgan 21. Lee Dickson 22. Henry Trinder 23. Rob Cook

I've named a fully foregin side and a full eq bench.
Who should I swap from the bench to be one of the starting 4 eq?
Do people rate Thomas or Collier more?
Is the backrow balanced or not?
Do I have enough carrying options in the pack?
Where is my main weakness now?

Any rules CJB

Happy with whatever, will be trying out combos

Prop hope you mean Ben Franks?

Thanks for pointing out my missing player!

Yep I do, will try to correct later

Sale Sharks
Manager – SJE

01. Marcos Ayerza	09. Danny Care
02. David Paice	10. Johnny Sexton
03. Davit Zirakishvilli
04. Brodie Retalick	11. Simon Zebo
05. Dave Attwood	12. Francois Steyn
06. Peter O'Mahony	13. Gael Fickou
07. Matt Todd	14. Semesa Rokoduguni
08. Louis Picamoles	15. Willie Le Roux

:-
16. Ross Harrison 17. Tommy Taylor 18. Rabah Slimani 19. Matt Garvey 20. Steven Luatua 21. Kieran Marmion 22. Beauden Barrett 23. Kyle Eastmond

Bath Rugby
Manager – inthefastlane

01. James Slipper	09. Richard Wigglesworth
02. Richard Hibbard	10. Rhys Patchell
03. Charlie Faumuania
04. Luke Romano	11. Sitiveni Sivivatu
05. Luke Jones	12. Kurtley Beale
06. Siya Kolisi	13. Damien De Allende
07. Sean O'Brien	14. George North
08. James Haskell	15. Alex Goode

16. Mikey Haywood 17. Cian Healy 18. Ben Tameifuma 19. Sam Whitelock 20. Liam Messam 21. Fourie Du Preez 22. Christian Lealifiano 23. Stuart Hogg

1 Coenie
2 Strauss
3 Mas
4 Grey
5 Robson
6 Croft
7 Qera
8 Alberts
9 Perenara
10 Cips
11 May
12 Toomua
13 Kurindrani
14 Walker
15 Folau
16 Beast
17 LCD
18 Figallo
19 Stooke
20 Dickinson
21 Robson
22 Burns
23Dagg

On a stag do in Exeter this weekend so won't be predicting till Monday probably!