Aviva Premiership 16/17 - Round 2

[BPM]

Quins have named the same starting XV with a couple of changes on the bench due to injury.

1. Marler
2. Buchanan
3. Sinckler
4. Twomey
5. Horwill
6. Robshaw
7. Wallace
8. Clifford

9. Care (c)
10. N Evans
11. Visser
12. Roberts
13. Marchant
14. Yarde
15. R. Chisholm

16. Ward
17. O. Evans
18. Collier
19. Chisholm
20. Luamanu
21. Dickson
22. Jackson
23. Stanley

We need to drastically improve from last week to be in with a shout of beating Sale tomorrow.

 

[Lé Ddanno]

We need to drastically improve from last week to be in with a shout of beating Sale tomorrow.

Pretty worried about this season, even at this early stage.
Last year went to pot at the end despite lurking with a strong shot at the top four for 2/3rds of the season (I really feel that O'Shea had one foot out the door once he signed the Italy contract). Last weekend's match was poorer than mere first match jitters and looked very similar to the late games of the last.

Come the 6N we likely lose 5-6 players and drop a couple of places. I can see 9th place being a possibility.

 

[Every Time Ref]

Bath Rugby team to face Newcastle Falcons:

15. Tom Homer
14. Semesa Rokoduguni
13. Jonathan Joseph
12. Max Clark
11. Matt Banahan
10. George Ford ( c )
9. Kahn Fotuali’i
1. Nick Auterac
2. Ross Batty
3. Kane Palma-Newport
4. Luke Charteris
5. Dave Attwood
6. Charlie Ewels
7. David Sisi
8. Zach Mercer

Replacements

16. Tom Dunn
17. Beno Obano
18. Max Lahiff
19. Elliott Stooke
20. Levi Douglas
21. Chris Cook
22. Rhys Priestland
23. Jeff Williams

Glad to see Max Clark keep his place, looked good last week. No Watson, still injured.

Back row ... jeez ... five potential back rows out through injury - Taulupe Faletau, David Denton, Guy Mercer, Tom Ellis, Matt Garvey. Plus Flouw's with SA. Scratching around a bit, chance to step up for some youngsters / second Stringers I guess

 

[SWAGGER]

Tigers !!!
15 Mathew Tait
14 Adam Thompstone
13 Peter Betham
12 Matt Smith
11 J P Pietersen
10 Freddie Burns
9 Sam Harrison
1 Marcos Ayerza
2 Tom Youngs (c)
3 Dan Cole
4 Ed Slater
5 Mike Fitzgerald
6 Luke Hamilton
7 Brendon O’Connor
8 Lachlan McCaffrey

Replacements
16 George McGuigan
17 Ellis Genge
18 Greg Bateman
19 Graham Kitchener
20 Mike Williams
21 Ben Youngs
22 Owen Williams
23 Jack Roberts

 

[SWAGGER]

Tigers !!!!!
15 Mathew Tait
14 Adam Thompstone
13 Peter Betham
12 Matt Smith
11 J P Pietersen
10 Freddie Burns
9 Sam Harrison
1 Marcos Ayerza
2 Tom Youngs (c)
3 Dan Cole
4 Ed Slater
5 Mike Fitzgerald
6 Luke Hamilton
7 Brendon O’Connor
8 Lachlan McCaffrey

Replacements
16 George McGuigan
17 Ellis Genge
18 Greg Bateman
19 Graham Kitchener
20 Mike Williams
21 Ben Youngs
22 Owen Williams
23 Jack Roberts

 

[Geordie]

Falcons v Bath

I want to see us getting stuck right in to that Bath side missing a host of players. We really could get a result here.

I do think we're lacking impact from the bench though. No Fonua, No Chisanga, No Cooper....

1 Alex Rogers
2 Scott Lawson
3 Jon Welsh
4 Calum Green
5 Will Witty
6 Evan Olmstead
7 Will Welch (captain)
8 Mark Wilson

9 Sonatane Takulua
10 Mike Delany
11 Sinoti Sinoti
12 Juan Pablo Socino
13 Chris Harris
14 Vereniki Goneva
15 Simon Hammersley

Replacements:
16 Ben Sowrey
17 Sam Lockwood
18 Paddy Ryan
19 Sean Robinson
20 Ally Hogg
21 Michael Young
22 Joel Hodgson
23 Dominic Waldouck

 

[SelimNiai]

<img style="-webkit-user-select: none" src="http://i.imgur.com/F9EILkI.png">

15. Jack Wallace; 14. Ryan Edwards, 13. Will Hurrell, 12. Ben Mosses, 11. Tom Varndell; 10. Tusi Pisi, 9. Will Cliff; 1. Soane Tonga'uiha, 2. Ross McMillan, 3. Gaston Cortes, 4. Ian Evans, 5. Ben Glynn, 6. Jon Fisher, 7. Jack Lam (c), 8. Jordan Crane.
Replacements: 16. Chris Brooker, 17. Kyle Traynor, 18. Anthony Perenise, 19. James Phillips, 20. Olly Robinson, 21. Mitch Eadie, 22. Rhodri Williams, 23. Adrian Jarvis.

2 changes, Evans and Mosses start instead of Phillips and Henson

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Tuilagi already crocked?

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Tuilagi already crocked?

Who knows he did have a stinker V glous last week and Wasps attack is a hell of a lot better than Glous. (Gopperth would of had a field day with Manu ATM).

Might be a case of not match fit and this is a very big game for us.

 

[BPM]

Pretty worried about this season, even at this early stage.
Last year went to pot at the end despite lurking with a strong shot at the top four for 2/3rds of the season (I really feel that O'Shea had one foot out the door once he signed the Italy contract). Last weekend's match was poorer than mere first match jitters and looked very similar to the late games of the last.

Come the 6N we likely lose 5-6 players and drop a couple of places. I can see 9th place being a possibility.

Sadly I agree. In the predictions thread I put us down as 7th which was definitely with an optimistic, 'see what happens' mindset!

Our next 5 games are horrible. I can't remember the exact order but it's Sale, Sarries, Exeter, Wasps and Saints and based upon last weekend's performance, I think it's entirely possible we'll lose all five. I'm even concerned about our ability to pick up a losing BP in a couple of those games too. Add the AIs in to the equation and we could easily be in the relegation mix before we even hit the half way point.

I don't want to be a doom monger but right now, I'll take anything above 11th!

With the sides I've seen Bath vs Newcastle will be an interesting one. I was really impressed with the Newcastle back row last week and given that Bath's is somewhat cobbled together, I'm backing the Falcons to pull off a surprise win.

Tigers vs Wasps is too close to call. Home advantage may well be the difference-maker.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

To be fair we were pretty crap last week n all.
If neither team has improved it's going to be a bit of a cripple fight

James vs Marchant should be interesting, two different types of young centre both hoping to break into the EPS in the near future.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

The backs have quite a few good match ups tonight

 

[Which Tyler]

Bath: 13 + 7 EQP
15. Tom Homer
14. Semesa Rokoduguni
13. Jonathan Joseph
12. Max Clark
11. Matt Banahan
10. George Ford (c)
9. Kahn Fotuali'i

1. Nick Auterac
2. Ross Batty
3. Kane Palma-Newport
4. Luke Charteris
5. Dave Attwood
6. Charlie Ewels
7. David Sisi
8. Zach Mercer

16. Tom Dunn; 17. Beno Obano; 18. Max Lahiff; 19. Elliott Stooke; 20. Levi Douglas
21. Chris Cook; 22. Rhys Priestland; 23. Jeff Williams

Not selected due to injury/international absence: Taulupe Faletau, David Denton, Guy Mercer, Tom Ellis, Matt Garvey, Anthony Watson, Henry Thomas, Nathan Catt, Jack Walker, David Wilson, Niko Matawalu, Francois Louw.


Newcastle: 7 + 6 EQP
15 Simon Hammersley
14 Vereniki Goneva
13 Chris Harris
12 Juan Pablo Socino
11 Sinoti Sinoti
10 Mike Delany
9 Sonatane Takulua

1 Alex Rogers
2 Scott Lawson
3 Jon Welsh
4 Calum Green
5 Will Witty
6 Evan Olmstead
7 Will Welch (c)
8 Mark Wilson

16 Ben Sowrey; 17 Sam Lockwood; 18 Paddy Ryan; 19 Sean Robinson; 20 Ally Hogg
21 Michael Young; 22 Joel Hodgson; 23 Dominic Waldouck

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Falcons have a good chance of winning IMO.

I reckon they will have the edge in the pack (even with Bath's monster locks) I don't particulrly rate Mercer or Sisi. Ewels is great Lock but 6? Welch and Wilson are massivly experianced solid players and Evan Olmstead seems to have been a great find.

the back 3 are roughly even, the 3/4's will be where Bath will win it IMO.

 

[Every Time Ref]

Falcons have a good chance of winning IMO.

I reckon they will have the edge in the pack (even with Bath's monster locks) I don't particulrly rate Mercer or Sisi. Ewels is great Lock but 6? Welch and Wilson are massivly experianced solid players and Evan Olmstead seems to have been a great find.

the back 3 are roughly even, the 3/4's will be where Bath will win it IMO.

Mmmm yeah that pack doesn't look fearsome. Nice to see Auterac starting though

 

[Which Tyler]

Back 5 of the scrum are last men standing - THP is barely even that much.

But sure, we should send out an A team to Exeter...

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

Exeter Team to face Saracens:
1. Ben Moon
2. LCD
3. Holmes
4. Parling (c)
5. Welch
6. Armand
7. Salvi
8. Waldrom
9. Chudley
10. Slade
11. Whitten
12. Hill
13. Devoto
14. Turner
15. Dollman

16. Yeandle
17. Hepburn
18. Williams
19. Lees
20. Dennis
21. Lewis
22. Steenson
23. Bodily

It looks like a mess TBH. I'm glad Holmes is starting over Williams but why Moon? I'm also happy to see Lees moved to the bench, he's unfit, but Dennis should've been in, not Parling.

The back line's just a cluster f***. I'm glad to see the midfield remain, with time it could be a real force, but to have Whitten and Turner wings really highlights how shallow our depth is.
ATM we have a 12 at 10, a 12 at 12, a 12 at 13, a 12 on the wing and a fullback on the wing. What is going on?!

 

[Raggs]

Fairly sure we're not playing you 2 weeks in a row...

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

Fairly sure we're not playing you 2 weeks in a row...

Oops I'll edit that

 

[Which Tyler]

It's alright - nobody noticed...