Aviva Premiership 16/17 - Round 4

[TRF_Olyy]

Round 4 Fixtures

Live on BT Sport

Live on BT Sport

Live on BT Sport​

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

Exeter
Sarries
Worcester
Wasps
Gloucester
Bath

 

[Every Time Ref]

Exeter
Sarries
Worcester
Wasps
Gloucester
Bath

Big call there buddy! Big big call! Is this supporter bravado, or do you hand on heart think we're favourites...?

We could score a few tries against them, especially if Bowden starts, but we could also ship a bit, especially if Bowden starts.

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

Big call there buddy! Big big call! Is this supporter bravado, or do you hand on heart think we're favourites...?

We could score a few tries against them, especially if Bowden starts, but we could also ship a bit, especially if Bowden starts.

I'd back a full strength Bath side to win, but with a 2nd/3rd/4th choice back row as well as various injuries elsewhere, I can't see it happening. Should be a good game though.

 

[SWAGGER]

I'd back a full strength Bath side to win, but with a 2nd/3rd/4th choice back row as well as various injuries elsewhere, I can't see it happening. Should be a good game though.

Bath should fancy there chances against us. We are horribly out of form but sounds like you are already coming up with reason why we will beat you. What about tigers missing there two Star players / midfield in Matt toomua & Manu. Yes your back row is hit hard with injuries but you have Leroy who we get into or close most teams in the Ap at 8 & a England squad lock playing a 6 = our midfield are missing key world class players who are game changers for us whilst the people playing there are out of form and all out of position. Should be a class game.

 

[Every Time Ref]

I'd back a full strength Bath side to win, but with a 2nd/3rd/4th choice back row as well as various injuries elsewhere, I can't see it happening. Should be a good game though.

Garvey's back which is something. Not sure about Sisi, not convinced there's much to choose between him and Mercer anyway though. Would still be missing an out and out openside with Guy Mercer still out and Louw with the Boks. We were pretty slow to the breakdowns against Worcester and I don't see that changing with who we have available - although Tigers will probably play a bit tighter so might get away with it.

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

Big call there buddy! Big big call! Is this supporter bravado, or do you hand on heart think we're favourites...?

We could score a few tries against them, especially if Bowden starts, but we could also ship a bit, especially if Bowden starts.

I don't think so, Tigers looked pretty poor so far. the comeback against Gloucester was good but the fact was they still had to make that comeback in the first place. Wasps beat them and they were a proper drop goal away from losing to Falcons. Luck and Glos taking their foot off the gas in the first game have prevented Tigers entering the Bath game with no wins. Bath on the other hand have been looking pretty good recently. Some defensive issues but Leicester have had the most success playing the power game rather than the high speed going wide game, I'd back Bath to defend against the Leicester game. They have also shown they are struggling to move away from their traditional style.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Baths recipe for success
1. Kick to Genge
2. He knocks on in contact
3. Win penalty at resulting scrum
4. ????
5. Win!

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Genge didn't knock on to often but he kept trying to offload a the ball to bloody often.

 

[Every Time Ref]

I don't think so, Tigers looked pretty poor so far. the comeback against Gloucester was good but the fact was they still had to make that comeback in the first place. Wasps beat them and they were a proper drop goal away from losing to Falcons. Luck and Glos taking their foot off the gas in the first game have prevented Tigers entering the Bath game with no wins. Bath on the other hand have been looking pretty good recently. Some defensive issues but Leicester have had the most success playing the power game rather than the high speed going wide game, I'd back Bath to defend against the Leicester game. They have also shown they are struggling to move away from their traditional style.

You're starting to convince me but it's still that breakdown that's worrying me.

 

[Every Time Ref]

15. Tom Homer
14. Semesa Rokoduguni
13. Jonathan Joseph
12. Matt Banahan
11. Anthony Watson
10. George Ford ( c )
9. Kahn Fotuali'i

1. Nathan Catt
2. Ross Batty
3. Henry Thomas
4. Charlie Ewels
5. Dave Attwood
6. Matt Garvey
7. Tom Ellis
8. Leroy Houston

Replacements:
16. Tom Dunn
17. Beno Obano
18. Max Lahiff
19. Elliott Stooke
20. Zach Mercer
21. Will Homer
22. Dan Bowden
23. Jeff Williams

- - - Updated - - -

Banahan at 12 an interesting call, given the occasion and the options, Clark not offering much in attack and Bowden a bit dodge in defence. It's becoming clear that Watson is a winger now, so 3 top quality wingers to find game time for.

Another second row at 7, we are desperately in need of some real flankers to return.

 

[ALJ]

Gloucester line up for tomorrow:

15. Tom Marshall; 14. Charlie Sharples, 13. Matt Scott, 12. Mark Atkinson, 11. Henry Purdy; 10. Billy Burns, 9. Willi Heinz (capt); 1. Paddy McAllister, 2. Richard Hibbard, 3. John Afoa; 4. Tom Savage, 5. Mariano Galarza; 6. Ross Moriarty, 7. Jacob Rowan, 8. Ben Morgan

Replacements:
16. Darren Dawidiuk, 17. Yann Thomas, 18. Paul Doran-Jones, 19. Joe Latta, 20. Gareth Evans, 21. Greig Laidlaw, 22. James Hook, 23. Billy Twelvetrees

No real surprises but Kvesic will be missed.
Also glad to see 3 backs on the bench, can't stand to see a 6-2 split.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Sale:
15. Byron McGuigan, 14. Nev Edwards, 13. Will Addison, 12. Johnny Leota, 11. Paolo Odogwu, 10. AJ MacGinty, 9. Peter Stringer, 1. Eifion Lewis-Roberts, 2. Neil Briggs, 3. Kieran Longbottom, 4. Bryn Evans, 5. Jonathan Mills, 6. Cameron Neild, 7. David Seymour, 8. Josh Beaumont (c)

Replacements: 16. Ross Harrison, 17. Halani Aulika, 18. Andrei Ostrikov, 19. Laurence Pearce, 20. Magnus Lund, 21. Mike Phillips, 22. Dan Mugford, 23. Nick Scott


James out with a hammy, so Addison gets a start at 13. Good to see AJ back, and also to see Stringer start.
Have massive reservations over our loose heads, neither have been upto much so far.

 

[SWAGGER]

Tigers team:
15 Telusa Veainu
14 Adam Thompstone
13 Peter Betham
12 Owen Williams
11 JP Pietersen
10 Freddie Burns
9 Ben Youngs
1 Marcos Ayerza
2 Tom Youngs (c)
3 Dan Cole
4 Mike Fitzgerald
5 Graham Kitchener
6 Mike Williams
7 Brendon O’Connor
8 Lachlan McCaffrey

Replacements
16 George McGuigan
17 Ellis Genge
18 Greg Bateman
19 Ed Slater
20 Will Evans
21 Sam Harrison
22 Jack Roberts
23 Mathew Tait

Good to see tait dropped he hasn't been paying well so far for us. Shame about Manu only 3/4 of a game so far this season.

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

Good to see tait dropped he hasn't been paying well so far for us. Shame about Manu only 3/4 of a game so far this season.

I think Manu is going to go the same way as Corbisiero, you can't keep getting the same problem this frequently and have any sort of rugby career.

 

[Mumbles119]

Franklin’s Gardens, Saturday, September 24th, 2016, Kick off 3:00pm

Wasps team to play Northampton Saints


15. Rob Miller
14. Christian Wade
13. Elliot Daly
12. Jimmy Gopperth
11. Josh Bassett
10. Danny Cipriani
9. Joe Simpson
1. Matt Mullan
2. Tommy Taylor
3. Jake Cooper-Woolley
4. Matt Symons
5. James Gaskell ©
6. Sam Jones
7. Guy Thompson
8. Nathan Hughes


Replacements
16. Ashley Johnson
17. Simon McIntyre
18. Marty Moore
19. Kearnan Myall
20. Thomas Young
21. Dan Robson
22. Kyle Eastmond
23. Nick De Luca


Unavailable for selection through injury:
Forwards â€" James Haskell, Joe Launchbury,
Backs â€"Kurtley Beale, Alapati Leiua, Brendan Macken, Frank Halai
Willie Le Roux â€" to arrive February from Cannon Eagles, Japan.

NORTHAMPTON SAINTS TEAM TO PLAY WASPS


15 Ben Foden
14 Ken Pisi
13 George Pisi
12 Harry Mallinder
11 George North
10 Stephen Myler
9 Nic Groom
1 Alex Waller
2 Mikey Haywood
3 Kieran Brookes
4 Courtney Lawes
5 Sam Dickinson
6 Tom Wood (capt)
7 Jamie Gibson
8 Louis Picamoles


16 Charlie Clare
17 Campese Ma’afu
18 Paul Hill
19 Michael Paterson
20 Teimana Harrison
21 Tom Kessell
22 Rory Hutchinson
23 Ahsee Tuala


Not surprised to see Mallinder start at 12 for Saints with Burrell out injured. For Wasps I thought they may be a bit more rotation happening for certain players, such as Tommy Taylor, now that Wasps have a bigger squad to utilise than in previous years.

I think Wasps will win +5. But certainly have an eye on the aggression I expect Saints bring, as evidenced by their very physical game they deliberately played against Saracens last weekend which could throw Wasps momentum off. Probably not going to be the pettiest of games, unless Wasps overcome the physical challenge.

 

[Peat]

Is Hartley injured?

 

[Mumbles119]

Is Hartley injured?

According to the Saints forum, yes he is injured. He was expected to be fit for this week, but apparently didn't make it. No idea on what the issue is or how long either.

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

According to the Saints forum, yes he is injured. He was expected to be fit for this week, but apparently didn't make it. No idea on what the issue is or how long either.

It was a back issue. Didn't seem to bad but from memory he's had a few minor back issues before.

Annoyed at the saints pack again. Harrison on the bench instead of Gibson WTF, gibson is a great 6 but not a 7 these days. Dickson an average 8 playing lock! Hill not starting again.

 

[Mumbles119]

It was a back issue. Didn't seem to bad but from memory he's had a few minor back issues before.

Annoyed at the saints pack again. Harrison on the bench instead of Gibson WTF, gibson is a great 6 but not a 7 these days. Dickson an average 8 playing lock! Hill not starting again.

From an England point of view, yes annoyed at no Harrison and Hill. However, does this mean that Brookes is coming back into form again? Before injury and then the following poor form, Brookes was set on being the heir apparent for Cole.