Summer Tournament Semi Finals 1st Leg

First topic message reminder :

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

Ok to predo?

Wasps 27-28 Sale

Great game with two top sides going head to head. Nothing in the scrum but BdP a step up on Paice around the park. Sale a class up in the engine room and line out with a strong pairing. AWJ a good signing by Pete but they lack a line out op to secure good ball with both locks more suited to ork around the park, Sale would worry them here I think. Wasps backrow trio would just get on top with 7's close but Wasps edging 6/8.

Nothing in the halfbacks, two of the best in the game. JJ sticks out a bit in the Wasps backline, they could do with a better option. Sale have a good centre combo on show and just shade it bu a whisker. Sale back 3 just shading things with Zebo getting at Speight and Habana at Roko, WLR a class above Delon currently.

Great game, Sale can target line out a little and just have enough in backs to sneak a very close game with two top teams.

Northampton 29-30 Harlequins

Another very good match up. Quins not at their strongest in the front row but Jones not taking to the new laws and lacking form allows them to get an edge in the scrum. Good young combo from Saints but they lack a real line out op to take control, Quins with the old guard will get on top around the park and line out. Nothing in the backrow, Burger is really good signing for Chris if he can find some form, nice unit. Tried and tested for Steve, Gorgodze slightly better at 6 for me.

Quins shade both half backs by a little, Simpson not great but Evans in good form (which he was) will be a good signing for Chris. Not much in the centres, JJ needs some form at the beginning of the season or could be a problem, Sale just edge the back 3.

Another v good game, Quins front 5 give them a great platform and sneak it by another small margin.

Bath 27-26 Gloucester

Slight edge Glaws at scrum time with a strong front row and see them edging the lineout. Backrow edges to Bath slightly on recent form. Both 8s better at BS. Cips a step above Patchell at 10 and like the Glaws midfield. More danger from the Bath back three though. Some real power on the Bath bench sees them finish strongly.


Newcastle 22-19 Saracens

Front 5 battle is tight but there's an edge at the lineout for Sarries. More form and quality to the Falcons backrow. Farrell more proven at 10 but doesn't always get the backs going. Very fluid look to the Falcons back three and midfield is rock solid but more attacking endeavor from the Sarries combo. Falcons need a creative spark somewhere for those tight games. 


Northampton Saints 26-22 Harlequins


No real set piece difference here and the backrow battle is mighty close but Evans gives Saints an advantage at 10. Evans signing makes Saints a top title contender if he keeps his end of season form. Both back lines very similar overall. Bench halfbacks can see Quins dictate the tempo but Saints forwards will give great carrying options.


Exeter Chiefs 24-25 London Irish

Not an awful lot at scrum time but Chiefs shade the lineout. Irish can get some turnovers but feel there's a better balance to Exeter who aren't weak at the breakdown. Advantage to Irish at 10 with Flood lacking form. Little more in midfield and back three as well for Irish. Contrasting game and difference at 10 decides it. 

Prop: EQ = Thomas, Savage, Morgan, Dickson. Thomas over Collier currently. Not sure if flanks work well together Warbs needs a big tackler next to him to see his best. TH looks the weakest position based on that line up. 


London Welsh 24-31 Leicester Tigers

Scrum edge to Tigers due to sheer power! Both backrows with similar set up but edge to Tigers. More of a carrying game to the Tigers pack overall. Halfbacks to Tigers with a specialist 10. Love the Tigers midfield but Welsh edge the wings. Maitland not the most influential of fullbacks though. Nathan Catt starting and on bench. Quality of Tigers bench telling in final quarter. 

CJ: Godwin can do a cover at 10 but would only look to play him there during the AIs as will be marked down against specialists and strong backrows. Campagnaro looks a player but Poitrenaud is poor these days. Backrow on show can work but will need help in the carrying stakes.

Ah, Catt shouldn't be starting, wanted Kilcoyne there. Thanks mate

Bath 29 - 30 Gloucester

Bath's pack looks strong with good players to come back into it. Gloucester packed with quality but short of form in some positions.

9 and 10 combo for Gloucester electric but weak in the wet. Like Cips/Toomua combo.

Patchell stands out as weakness in the Bath backs.

London Wasps 25 - 24 Sale

For Wasps Willemse stands out as a weakness for me in the pack and I'd be concerned for any of the front row replacements in a full strength AP game. In the backs it's strong all round with Speight the weak link if their is one. I might be alone here but I'd start Ioane ahead of him.

Sale's pack for me is let down a touch by Paice and Todd who I think look especially weak compared to opposite numbers in this game. Sale backs as usual look very strong with Zebo's form letting him down and and Roko not quite up to the class of other backs in the Sale side.

Newcastle - Saracens

Exeter - Irish

Welsh - Leicester

Wasps 25-25 Sale

First I am assuming wasps have home advantage ???


Front row

Wasps fairly easily for me due to Paice being a weakness every time he plays. One of the worst hookers in the prem when you compare what teams have.

Wasps unit is one of the best and the EQ
Helps Pete.

Marler approaching world class although a touch behind the likes of woodcock Ayerza and Beast

Wilson for me will keep cole out and is a mean scrummager these days.

Sale props decent but BDP a monster and will really hurt Paice and dominate

Locks - Sale retallick been the form 4 in world rugby and Attwood decent but not brilliant but has good form



No AWJ Fan but think he is better at 4 but as a unit with Willemse does not work.
I like Willemse but maybe in this company needs to develop a bit more

Backrow wasps- Kaino a step up on Mahony who is very good
Todd vs Armitage = level both in amazing form both not top class and benefit from playing in great sides

Vermaulen strolls 8 and is a tough tough operator and one of the best

Half backs = one a piece smith better than care by quite a bit and sexton much better than cruden


Centres = even steyn and nonu standout. JJ lacking form and not been as good this year and been overtaken for boks. Fickou a talent but seems to have stalled

Back 3= wasps just. Le roux standout for both teams, Zebo lacks form but dangerous roko has huge defence issues but a threat

Habana top speight great ball in hand calamity in defence Armitage solid but not the threat he was but much better tactically, defensively

Bench = Sale at a canter. Bench so important as they are big in the game. Barrett luatua etc game changers
And they pull the game back to a draw

Will make the others shorter that took ages

Saints 24-22 Quins

Front row saints
Locks Quins by a bit
Backrow Quins 7 saints 6 and 8
Halfbacks  both 9s a problem saints stroll 10. Slade very average indeed

Centres both 12s great 13s less so

Back 3 Quins better

Bench saints massively up front

Quins better outside backs but bench of saints wins it with home advantage. Half backs main prob Steve

Driver serious first 15, locks may need work against wc unit and Mullen not great


Dynamite backline with such balance. Phipps form helps also. Pitua a much better 15 with smith better wing

Exeter 23-24 Irish

Best game of week and tough to call

Exeter take front row hooker and th better lh equal

Second row 1 a piece Pogieter better than tuipolutu who
Is a talent
POC better

Backrow Irish more class and big game experience

Smith and Warbs smart and higgy I am no fan of but will carry.
Faletau has talent but has stood still, tips likewise

1
A piece halfbacks with Murray best nh scrum half and biggar better than flood.

After that Irish backs
Win it

Leicester 30-24 Welsh

Form front row welsh but class to Leicester.
Jenkins had one good game vs SA so
Needs form. Moore exceptional and Census had a poor run.

Locks to Leicester  but 1 a piece man for
Man

Backrow Leicester with louw and Jmf top drawer. Jmf not an 8
So much though

Halfbacks  to Leicester just.
Not seen Godwin at
10
And pisi no form.

Both 9s had average seasons but are decent.
Luke needs half backs and has lost his banker combo so it's tough. Peel playing champ rugby means you need a back up 9 also

Centres  one a piece with bast and campagnaro stand out.

Back 3 welsh with in form wings brown best. FB

Leicester bench a step up
And close it out

Foley jd2 and mermoz could be dynamite pooly. Guildford no 15 and needs some form. Out of the game for a year

Exeter 25-24 London Irish

Not much in the scrummaging units, but Exeter will get on top in the line out due to POC. Nothing around the park, two good 4's. Exeter have the better 8 but like the Irish flanks, would work well for me. Not much in the 9's but Flood better than Bigger. Don't know a lot about Leiua so have to give the centres to Exeter with a good unit. Lovely back 3 for Irish. Good match ups, Exeter just shade a few key positions.

London Welsh 21-25 Leicester Tigers

Not much in the scrummaging units again. Kepu holding up well for CJ, looking solid. 2 & 3 good for Tigers. Little shade in the locks Tigers with Hines the standout, Myall and Skivs just ok for AP games, could do with improving. Tigers take the backrow but Scaysbrook well off the standard here, Lobbe a top 8 and Louw good at 6. Wallace a better 7 and Rennie struggling for form as playing in the champ could hurt CJ through the season, Vito playing very well at 8 though.

Nothing in the halfbacks, both 10's not really at AP level but would do ok in Europe, 9's at similar levels. Both Tigers centres a level up and shade back 3. Don't know much about the Welsh 14. Good game, Tigers with a little too much quality on show. Few tweaks and CJ will have a very good side (lock, flank, 10, centre priority for me CJ).

Bath 32 vs 32 Gloucester

Evens in the scrum, but Bath props pffer more in the loose. Locks to Gloucester just, Romano the best individual though. 2 very different backrows, Gloucester v specialised and generalised for the Bath backrow. Croft' injury puts him at a disadvantage but sure he'll come back strong. HBs to Glaws with new Cips and centre too together but Beale standout at 12 after his great season. Folau> Goode but wings to Bath. Two good benches. Expect Walker to step up this season in his cameos.

Wasps 29 - 28 Sale

Great battle in the scrum but gonna give the edge to Wasps. Evens in the locks, and slight edge to the backrow to Sale, flanker combo rocks the breakdown! 2 best HB combos around. So hard to split the sides. Centres just to Wasps, wings to Wasps but FB to Sale. Just prefer Sale subs. Just about win to Wasps but so so close

Falcons 26- 25 Sarries

Scrum very slightly to Sarries. Locks just to Falcons. Sarries backrow great at carrying and defence and work rate but Falcons ahead in the breakdown. Prefer Sarries HBs on form, Foley looks great and Parra a great foil, Farrell a class act though and Phipps in good form, centres are very close. Falcons ahead on back 3, great 3 FB approach. Falcons just ahead today.

Pooly: front row v good, lock combo good but line out heavy, backrow lacks a bit in breakdown without clear help elsewhere. HBs exceptional. Centres work well. Back 3 needs a specialist FB Benjamin hard to rate too

Saints 28 - 26 Quins

On class front row to Saints, form to Quins. V green locks for Saints, Quins great power and work rate locks but lacking in line out specialisation, helped by backrow but not enough. Nicely balanced backrows, just prefer Saints which is great in all aspects. Slade kicking great but Nev raw class. Prefer Dickson to Simpson. Saints centres better in attacking potential, Quins more solid. Like both back 3s, hope J Williams gets his chance. Saints just nip it

Chiefs 28 - 25 Irish

Scrum just to Chiefs on form but Rhodri Jones will get there. One lock each (like Potgeiter and POC). Backrows close, not sure about Smith these days and like Chiefs balance better. Carrying better for Chiefs and kicking better for Irish for HBs. Both complemented by outbacks. Unsure on Varndell's defence but equally back 3s. Chiefs just edge centres. 

Prop: move Higgs to 6 and start Morgan. Start Savage, Dickson and maybe Thomas. Carrying ok. I rate Collier considerably more. Balance in backrow ok, better with the change I've suggested and either Warbs or Smith. Could do with a better scrum

Newcastle 29 - 25 Saracens

Prefer the Sarries front row but rest of the packs to Newcastle. Half backs relatively even with the outside backs to Falcons. Both squads looking strong.

Exeter 29 - 24 Irish

Good Exeter side. Well balanced and will compete when all players are fit and not with national set up.

Prop I'd stick Morgan, Dickson, Thomas and Savage. Prefer Thomas to Collier who I think will struggle to surpass Sinckler at Quins.

Welsh 24 - 26 Leicester

I prefer Godwin at 12. Rennie not played to level for a while now. One the bench Mogg, Guest and Timani ok for AP. Others may be weakness depending on the opposition.

As pre-season games not overly looking into form for players.

Bath 29 - 30 Gloucester
Like both packs, would say that Bath slightly lack some intelligence in the backrow but then make up for that in terms of power and hitting power. Not quite sure about Alberts as a no8, but front five strong for Gloucester, Robson needs a big season at Quins this year though. Haven't seen Luke Jones play, so not sure what he is like so give the edge to Gloucester in the pack. Both backlines are excellent, a lot of tries from both - Walker will be one to watch this year for Mat, while the power out wide Bath have will do them well all season. If form taken into account Croft would get marked down - Bath just need a clever backrower and it would be a massive change for them.

Newcastle 24 - 22 Saracens
Two strong teams, not many will be able to match Driver's backrow and that is an area that wins it for them - he'll also be able to shut out teams in the 10-12-13 channel as that is very strong defensively. At same time with that midfield they wont unlock the backthree as much as they could do and probably need a creative centre to come off the bench to change style of game. Pooly, wont comment on pack combinations, but centres are excellent for you and some very nice balance in the backthree - just need Benjamin and Guildford to get some form and they will do you well.

Wasps 30 - 29 Sale
Really close game, Wasps have one of the best starting XV's in the league, so hard to beat and no real weakness that you can target. Not quite sure about the balance of the backrow, not the biggest fan of the SA no8 and Sale backrow could be physical enough to limit Armitage, but front five is immense and Pete has the attacking talen in his backline this season to really take the points with front foot ball. Sale have a very strong pack, just feel they are a bit let down with Paice as no2 when he comes up against top class. Big difference is the bench that SJE has, this really would swing the game back in Sale's favour but just a bit too much strength in the Wasps starting lineup.

Exeter Chiefs 25 - 28 London Irish
Irish backline gets transformed with Leuia playing at no12, will be the signing of the AP season in real life and gives them that spark to win games that they haven't had last year in the backline. Very even packs throughout, though you might be able to bully the Irish pack a little bit in the wetter months - Fluxy when you have Flood at no10 he works great having a big powerful winger - if you managed to get a Siviatu/North type player then it would make a huge difference. Prop I agree with SJE with his EQ comments.

London Welsh 23 - 26 Leicester Tigers
Tigers have an absolute beast of a pack this year and the front row replacements will make a huge impact when they come on and not many teams will be able to cope at all. See that is where this game will be won - better set peice ball will give Tigers more chances. If Welsh can get clarity upfront then that backline is one to scare defences, the wingers are incredibly strong, not sure I'd go with the 10/12 combination though. Power of the pack wins it.

Going to have to be tomorrow I predict sorry guys, just got back from mates stag do

Bath Rugby 37 Gloucester 35
Not much between these two teams, both of whom are better in attack than defence making this a high scorer.  Slight edge in the scrum to Gloucester as I am not convinced by the scrummaging of the Bath props.  Really like the Bath back row, mobile and strong and well balanced.  Overall the teams are pretty even, but the Bath bench is stronger and wins them the game late on.

Newcastle Falcons 19 Saracens 17
Even pack battle with the exception of the back row where Falcons are a step up and can gain an edge on most teams.  Lot's of talent in the back line, and I rate Farrell highly, but his game is more tactical than unleashing his backs and I don't see them running in lots of tries.  More spark from the Saracens pair but off not as good ball means this is tight, but the quality through the Falcons side nicks it.

Northampton Saints 24 Harlequins 30
Two big packs colliding here.  Scrum could be an issue for Saints with Jones form having dropped off here.  They will need him to come good early season or could end up with some scrum beatings against sides with a solid front row and top loosehead.  Hamilton and Wood can make a real mess of the Saints lineout as well as they are both top defensively there and while Saints have good jumping options there isn't top class lineout leader in this starting XV.  Also prefer the Quins flank combo (sorry Chris, seems like I am panning your team here) and see Quins getting the upper hand in the pack.  Will be tough for the Saints back line in those circumstances and Quins are set up well there to exploit their pack dominance.



Predos will be open until lunch time when I will total up and put the second legs thread up.

Bath 24-28 Gloucester
Feel Glos get a bit of an advantage in the pack today, don’t know a lot about Luke Jones sorry. Cips bringing a bit more form over Patchell and will provide good service for the outside backs. Two good sets of centres and back 3’s although feel Folau is a bit above Goode. Steady benches from both.
 
Wasps 24-23 Sale
Bit stronger up front for Wasps but not a lot in it in a good battle. Half backs are the best two pairings on show so can’t split them. It’s the same out wide so it is difficult to split the two teams here. I think Wasps will just edge it up front but it will be very close.
 
Falcons 22-21 Sarries
Packs pretty even again here. Feel Falcons do have a little bit more at half backs currently but centres even as well. Another close game here with not a lot between the two. Pooly: combos are good overall, maybe a swap out for Benjamin though.
 
Saints 24-25 Quins
Front row tough to split, feel that the 2nd row will go to Quins here. Back row to Quins. Much of a muchness in the back row but feel like Quins just have enough, Evans transforms the look of Saints.
 
Welsh 22-25 Tigers
Bit more for Tigers here up front but very close with Welsh putting out a good backrow. Halfbacks slightly to Tigers, Godwin ok at 10 but prefer him at 12. Bit more experience out wide for Tigers. Strong bench for Tigers too. CJ: I'd say: Catt, Timani and Guest will make good impact.

Sorry for no predictions guys , was working all weekend and Monday.