Anglo Welsh Cup Semi Finals

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London Wasps v London Irish
Location - Ricoh Arena
Sunny Intervals, 9 Degrees, 12mph WNW Winds

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London Wasps
Manager: Ozzy3213    
                

01. Ben Moon	09. Aaron Smith
02. Bismarck Du Plessis	10. Henry Slade
03. Fraser Balmain
04. Romain Millo-Chluski	11. Henry Speight
05. Ruan Botha	12. Paul Jordaan
06. Fulgence Ouedraogo	13. JJ Engelbrecht
07. Steffon Armitage	14. Tim Nanai-Willians
08. Jerome Kaino	15. Delon Armitage

Reps: 16. Harry Thacker, 17. Paul James, 18. Ben Alexander, 19. Rynhardt Elstadt, 20. Hayden Thompson-Stringer, 21. Mitchell Drummond, 22. Shane Geraghty, 23. Robbie Freuan.

Basic Game Plan
In good conditions we will be looking to play a possession based game, going through the phases and continually shifting the point of attack.  When deep in our half we won't take chances with offloading, but will make ground carrying close to the ruck and recycling quickly, or using the boots of Slade and Armitage to take us up the field.

In defence, as always we will be running a blitz defence.  Our focus will be on the gainline collisions and driving back in the tackle.  Line speed and no dog-legs will be key components for us.  Smith will sweep in behind the defensive line to counter any chips/grubbers.

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London Irish
Manager – Prop

01. Rhodri Jones	09. Neil De Kock
02. Ken Owens	10. Jules Plisson
03. Will Collier
04. Stuart Hooper	11. Adam Thompstone
05. Tom Savage	12. Luke McAlister
06. David Sisi	13. Cory Allen
07. Scott Higginbotham	14. Sergeal Petersen
08. Jackson Wray	15. Brice Dulin

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16. Marc Jones 17. Tom Court 18. Tomas Ramirez 19. Jacques Potgeiter 20. Ben Morgan 21. Jack Moates 22. Sam Olver 23. Conrad Smith

*Structured game with De Kock, Plisson, McAlister and Dulin able to put us deep in the right positions and target lineout.
*Strong runners in the pack looking to run 2 wide carries then release the backs.
*Backrow looking to control the breakdown with Wray's carrying form bringing the go-forward.
*Exciting back 3 with tries aplenty when we see gaps  and overlaps to go wide.
*Strong impact bench especially with Potgeiter, Morgan and Smith coming on to attack tired defences.

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Harlequins v Gloucester
Location - Twickenham Stoop
Sunny Intervals, 10 Degrees, 11mph WNW Winds

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Harlequins
Manager – Steven_Sharks

01. Steven Kitchoff	09. Karl Dickson
02. Schalk Brits (c)	10. Quade Cooper
03. John Afoa
04. Pieter Steph Du Toit	11. Joe Tomane
05. Charlie Matthews	12. Juan Martin Hernandez
06. Jamie Gibson	13. Jan Serfontein
07. Mamuka Gorgodze	14. Frank Halai
08. Nick Easter	15. Colin Slade (k)

Subs:
16. Rob Buchanan 17. Gurthro Steenkamp 18. Kyle Sinckler 19. Bakkies Botha 20. Jack Clifford 21. Eric Escande 22. Ihaia West 23. Alex Lewington

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Gloucester
Manager – anonmattyt

01. Wood	09. Dan Robson
02. LCD	10. Handre Pollard
03. Ousthuizen
04. Stooke	11. Gear
05. Dominick Bird	12. Ryan Crotty
06. Moriarty	13. Juan De Jongh
07. Salvi	14. Charlie Walker
08. Palu	15. Sam Davies

Subs:
16 Beast 17 Joe Grey 18 Juan Figallo 19 Richie Gray 20 Lewis Ludlow 21 TJ Perenara 22 Dan Carter 23 Israel Dagg

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Couple of weeks off, nice one.

Had no idea I was in the semi

Tough balancing act with this one. League and Heino the priorities so will be rotating and leaving out some big players, but hate losing so still want to stick out a strong side!

I won't be doing tactics if you agree Matt

Absolutely Steve. Works for me. Will edit when back home later in week

 Gloucester
Manager – anonmattyt

01. Wood	09. Dan Robson
02. LCD	10. Handre Pollard
03. Ousthuizen
04. Stooke	11. Gear
05. Dominick Bird	12. Ryan Crotty
06. Moriarty	13. Juan De Jongh
07. Salvi	14. Charlie Walker
08. Palu	15. Sam Davies

Subs:
16 Beast 17 Joe Grey 18 Juan Figallo 19 Richie Gray 20 Lewis Ludlow 21 TJ Perenara 22 Dan Carter 23 Israel Dagg

Harlequins
Manager – Steven_Sharks

01. Steven Kitchoff	09. Karl Dickson
02. Schalk Brits (c)	10. Quade Cooper
03. John Afoa
04. Pieter Steph Du Toit	11. Joe Tomane
05. Charlie Matthews	12. Juan Martin Hernandez
06. Jamie Gibson	13. Jan Serfontein
07. Mamuka Gorgodze	14. Frank Halai
08. Nick Easter	15. Colin Slade (k)

Subs:

16. Rob Buchanan 17. Gurthro Steenkamp 18. Kyle Sinckler 19. Bakkies Botha 20. Jack Clifford 21. Eric Escande 22. Ihaia West 23. Alex Lewington

Happy to go without tactics or a 5 bullet point tactics Ozzy? Will get team in tonight hopefully!!

Minimal or no tactics is fine by me mate. Will get my team in when I'm home this evening.

London Irish
Manager – Prop

01. Rhodri Jones	09. Neil De Kock
02. Ken Owens	10. Jules Plisson
03. Will Collier
04. Stuart Hooper	11. Adam Thompstone
05. Tom Savage	12. Luke McAlister
06. David Sisi	13. Cory Allen
07. Scott Higginbotham	14. Sergeal Petersen
08. Jackson Wray	15. Brice Dulin

.
16. Marc Jones 17. Tom Court 18. Tomas Ramirez 19. Jacques Potgeiter 20. Ben Morgan 21. Jack Moates 22. Sam Olver 23. Conrad Smith

*Structured game with De Kock, Plisson, McAlister and Dulin able to put us deep in the right positions and target lineout.
*Strong runners in the pack looking to run 2 wide carries then release the backs.
*Backrow looking to control the breakdown with Wray's carrying form bringing the go-forward.
*Exciting back 3 with tries aplenty when we see gaps and overlaps to go wide.
*Strong impact bench especially with Potgeiter, Morgan and Smith coming on to attack tired defences.

London Wasps
Manager: Ozzy3213                      

01. Ben Moon	09. Aaron Smith
02. Bismarck Du Plessis	10. Henry Slade
03. Fraser Balmain
04. Romain Millo-Chluski	11. Henry Speight
05. Ruan Botha	12. Paul Jordaan
06. Fulgence Ouedraogo	13. JJ Engelbrecht
07. Steffon Armitage	14. Tim Nanai-Willians
08. Jerome Kaino	15. Delon Armitage

Reps: 16. Harry Thacker, 17. Paul James, 18. Ben Alexander, 19. Rynhardt Elstadt, 20. Hayden Thompson-Stringer, 21. Mitchell Drummond, 22. Shane Geraghty, 23. Robbie Freuan.

Basic Game Plan
In good conditions we will be looking to play a possession based game, going through the phases and continually shifting the point of attack.  When deep in our half we won't take chances with offloading, but will make ground carrying close to the ruck and recycling quickly, or using the boots of Slade and Armitage to take us up the field.

In defence, as always we will be running a blitz defence.  Our focus will be on the gainline collisions and driving back in the tackle.  Line speed and no dog-legs will be key components for us.  Smith will sweep in behind the defensive line to counter any chips/grubbers.

Steve had to edit for rob Evans being called up

Wasps 30 - 29 Irish

Wasps have gone with a strong side, plenty of quality down the spine of the team with the likes of BDP, Kaino, Armitage and Smith. I reckon Irish could go well at the set piece, especially the lineout with plenty of options. Irish props could get a nudge on too IMO. Really good battle up front, but the extra international class for Wasps will tell in the second half around the park. The backs are dangerous on both sides, and some real form players will score tries. Home advantage just too much for Irish to overcome

Harlequins 29-27 Gloucester

Kitchoff has been in great form, and will be a good battle against Ouisthuizen, but Wood stands out as the weakest scrummager giving Quins the edge. Plenty of lineout options will give Quins an advantage here, and that platform really sets them up. Big pack battle around the park with plenty from both front 5s. Very even in the outside backs, but Glos have some big impact off the bench. Tough one to call but I'll go with home advantage and give this to Quins

This isn't being posted to influence votes but BBC and Planet Rugby have it as Scott Baldwin starting and Hibbard on the bench for Wales so Owens isn't involved.

I hadn't checked prop, I was just going by this that I read a couple of days ago

http://www1.skysports.com/rugby-union/news/12040/9751605/hooker-ken-owens-joins-wales-squad-ahead-of-ireland-game

I'll redo

No worries fella

Wasps 23-22 Irish

Good scrum advantage for Irish with both props better than their counterparts. BdP sures up things a little but Wasps have the edge in the back 5 to counter. Wasps stronger at halfback and in the back 3 but centres pretty even. Good impact from both sides from the bench and a close contest, but Wasps have a bit more quality out.

Wasps 34-27 Irish

Tough game. Irish maybe shade front row. BDP having mare been murdered by Strauss and Ntebeni in recent weeks. Wondering if he will ever hit form of old?

Irish experience and nous second row but levelled by wasps. Botha a great prospect although prob not an int. much like hooper.

Where wasps dominate is backrow. Nous breakdown and more power. With it 50/50 In front 5 this is where game is won.

Halfbacks 1/1 no slade fan at 10 as he has not had enough game time there. Fine prospect though and potentially England's 12 solutions. Centres to wasps but not sure of the combo as a unit.

Back 3 even Peterson some prospect and Dulin electric. No speight fan at int level as defence and kicking so poor but in this with ball in hand against thompstone or Peterson he will score. Delon quality but prone to moments of stupidity.

Wasps backrow win it

Quins 28-26 Glos
Can see Quins getting an edge in the set piece. Bit more in their back row but Moriarty in great form at the moment. Pretty even in the outside backs and two good benches on show but think Glos could get back in it with their bench but just not enough. Good game here.

Wasps 30 - 28 London Irish
Wasps have got that smattering of world class players in key positions and can see them getting an advantage at the breakdown. The front five battle very even, with Irish being able to bring on Morgan and Smith it allows Irish to pull back in final 20 minutes.

Harlequins 35 - 33 Gloucester
Tough game to call, home advantage plays its part but see Quins getting an advantage in the set piece, while Salvi could well dominate the breakdown battle for the away side. Just that bit more to Quins front five. Lot more from the Gloucester bench in terms of backs to change the game, but the home side just hangs on in a high scoring game.

Harlequins 29 Gloucester 28

Can you change my wasps score to 34-27 plisson Is not available and playing for france And makes a big difference

Wasps 23 - 22 Irish

Wasps 29-25 Irish
Quins 30-28 Gloucester

Wasps 32-24 London Irish
Not much of a set piece edge but Wasps can get on top at the breakdown and give the backs an easy ride overall against an Irish side missing plison

Harlequins 26-23 Gloucester
Backs fairly even but Quins get on top through the front 5. Glaws bench bring it back late on but can't finish the job away from home

RESULTS:

London Wasps 32 (T:4 C:3 P:2)
London Irish 26 (T:2 C:2 P:4)

Harlequins 33 (T:4 C:2 P:3)
Gloucester 28 (T:3 C:2 P:3)

BONUS:

Full: Matt, Prop, Bam, Chris, SJE & Pooly
Score: CJB, Steve & Pete
Fined: Fluxy, Luke & CJ