Premiership Rugby 19/20 - Rd 16

[TRF_Olyy]

 

[Which Tyler]

This is going to be an exercise in Numberwang.
The gods alone know what teams are going to be sent out, and how they've prepared as those teams.

I would hope that everyone was planning to send out 2nd XVs for the 2 midweek fixtures, and had been planning and training that way since the fixtures were announced; but the amount of rotation seen att he weekend suggests that that's not the case.

Given that, and crowds; things like form, form from 6 years ago, quality of the 1st XV, home advantage... don't really mean anything.

There will be some A-league matches, and some complete mismatches. I doubt that any match will be 1sts against 1sts.

 

[BPM]

Based upon the welfare regulations and teams selected so far, we should be looking at:

Tuesday:

Wasps (first XV) vs. Sale (2nd XV)
Bristol (mix of 1st/2nd XV) vs. Exeter (mostly 2nd XV)*

Wednesday:

Worcester (first XV) vs. Quins (2nd XV)
Saracens (mix of 1st/2nd XV) vs. Gloucester (2nd XV)
Tigers (first XV) vs. London Irish (2nd XV)
Saints (mix of 1st/2nd XV) vs. Bath (mix of 1st/2nd XV)

Personally I think the sides who've gone with the 'mix and match' approach with 50/50 first and 2nd teams should manage better than those who've gone all out with two feast or famine squads.

*This team will probably still feature plenty of internationals (Moon, Francis, Skinner, Nowell) and will have plenty of experience from the likes of Armand, Yeandle, Steenson and Dollman.

 

[Reiser99]

Wasps vs Sharks: Wasps rested almost their entire rd.1 team, so I assume they will get played. Sharks didn't so much, so I guess they will struggle this time. I'll say Wasps win.

Bears vs Chiefs: Bears have rested players more than Chiefs, but still close. Be interesting to see how strong a side chiefs can field if they rest the the players who started at the weekend. Bears for me.

Tigers vs Irish: Well seems Borthwick is less focused on wins and more on getting players game time and seeing his whole squad in action, however having played a very young side at the weekend, this is probably a game leicester have targeted to win. Irish rotated a quite a bit at the weekend, but not as much, so I'll go against my better judgement and say Tigers.

Saracens vs Gloucester: Saracens have had a good bit of rotation where as Gloucester have had almost none. With a point to prove and at home, Saracens win.

Warriors vs Quins: Worcester made a lot of changes, so should put out a strong side this time. Quins had almost an identical side, so again how strong a side can they field if they rest players? Let's be optimistic, Worcester win.

Saints vs Bath: Saints have rested more than Bath. Bath especially have had most players play both games, so again I'll go Saints based on the fact they should have a stronger more rested side.

All home wins, but mainly based on who has played over the first 2 games. I'll probably be wrong though.

 

[FLOBALOB]

I can't see Chiefs or Bristol putting out anything but their near enough virtual first strings. Think Chiefs could rest a few and bring in players that wont weaken the side ,Francis, Skinner, Dennis ,Kirsten, Nowell, Armand. Then against Warriors on sun give a rest to those that have played last 2/3 games ie LCD,Slade, Hogg, Maunder and Simmonds brothers.

Surely Bristol will put out first team (last weekends) tomorrow as you'd suspect they will want to put down a marker against Chiefs, then play second string at the weekend ,although i'm not sure how strong a team that would be v aSAle.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Aren't the welfare rules actually pointless and just to make it seem like they're doing something about the crazy schedule?
No more than 180 minutes in a week, but no team has three games in a week so it's impossible to reach the threshhold

 

[Reiser99]

Aren't the welfare rules actually pointless and just to make it seem like they're doing something about the crazy schedule?
No more than 180 minutes in a week, but no team has three games in a week so it's impossible to reach the threshhold

Is it a calendar week or 7 day period, because it might be possible if it's 7 day period? If calendar week then you're right.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Is it a calendar week or 7 day period, because it might be possible if it's 7 day period? If calendar week then you're right.

I'm not sure, but looking down the schedule list it looks like most teams have 8 days between their weekend games
i.e. Sale are Friday, Tuesday Saturday
Leicester are Saturday, Wednesday, Sunday

 

[FLOBALOB]

I think a week is about 7/8/9 days and left up to the teams to use their own discretion.
Apparently theres no "punishment "if they don't stick to the guidelines.

 

[Reiser99]

Going to get interesting then. How far can these guys be pushed?

 

[Reiser99]

Actually thinking more I can imagine Exeter going all out to secure home quarter/first and then resting their players before the finals.

 

[Which Tyler]

Saints (mix of 1st/2nd XV) vs. Bath (mix of 1st/2nd XV)

Bath really should be 2nd XV + Zach Mercer. The closest thing to mixing we'll get is maybe including the bench players from the first 2 matches. Even then, I'd hope we're sensible about it, as we used the bench pretty early against Leicester.

ETA: For Bath, I'd expect/hope (fitness allowing):
Catt, Batty, Thomas
Stooke, Spencer
Williams, Baylis, Mercer (c)

Chudley, Matavesi
Wright, Clark
Hamer-Webb, Atkins, De Glanville

Walker, Obano, Judge, Cattell, Ellis/Reid, Green/Fox, Bailey, Cokanasiga

Of those, Stooke played 22 min on Saturday, Bayliss 34, Matavesi 30, Chudley 22, De Glanville 38
Walker played 27 minutes on Saturday, Obano 34, Judge 30 and Ellis 46

I'd have prefered to delay the front row on Saturday, and given the start on Wednesday - I expect the coaches to start them, I wouldn't, especially as I want them available against Wasps at the weekend. I'm led to believe that Catt and Thomas are fit, and that Coka is due back around now-ish (said 2 weeks after the opening match)

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

Actually thinking more I can imagine Exeter going all out to secure home quarter/first and then resting their players before the finals.

I hope not. Without starting any of our players from Friday we could still put out:
Moon, Yeandle, Francis
Dennis, Skinner
Armand, Hinkley, Kirsten
SHC, Steenson
Hendrickson, Devoto (Not sure if hes injured)
O'Flaherty, Dollman, Nowell

I think that's a strong enough team to beat Bristol, or at least do very well against them. There's no need to push our players to play twice in 5 days.

 

[BPM]

Pretty sure Devoto is injured (he usually is ...) still, a strong side with plenty of opportunity to rotate. Exeter are arguably the best equipped side to weather this period unless one of Joe Simmonds or Steenson gets injured.

 

[FLOBALOB]

I hope not. Without starting any of our players from Friday we could still put out:
Moon, Yeandle, Francis
Dennis, Skinner
Armand, Hinkley, Kirsten
SHC, Steenson
Hendrickson, Devoto (Not sure if hes injured)
O'Flaherty, Dollman, Nowell

I think that's a strong enough team to beat Bristol, or at least do very well against them. There's no need to push our players to play twice in 5 days.

I gotta disagree with you Beast, like I said above i think (and hope) we put out virtual first string against Bears and play virtual second string against Warriors at w/e. Its a chance to virtually guaratee home s/f as well as providing a spectacle. If the players cant play twice in 4 days before having 10 days rest then theres someting wrong.
I'd go with;
Hepburn,LCD,Francis
Dennis,Hill
Skinner, Simmonds, Vermeulen
Maunder, Simmonds
Whitten, Slade,
Woodburn,Nowell, Hogg

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

I assume a few teams are being named today. Anyone know for sure?

edit: Chiefs team announced. We've gone for a 2nd string team.


CHIEFS SIDE TO FACE BRISTOL BEARS

15 Josh Hodge
14 Tom O'Flaherty
13 Phil Dollman
12 Tom Hendrickson
11 Olly Woodburn
10 Gareth Steenson
9 Sam Hidalgo-Clyne
1 Alec Hepburn
2 Jack Yeandle (capt)
3 Tomas Francis
4 Dave Dennis
5 Sam Skinner
6 Jannes Kirsten
7 Don Armand
8 Sean Lonsdale

16 Jack Innard
17 Billy Keast
18 Marcus Street
19 Will Witty
20 Richard Capstick
21 Joe Snow
22 Harvey Skinner
23 Tom Wyatt

 

[TRF_Olyy]

I wasn't a million miles off,
Didn't expect Faf to be in the side, and I was 50/50 on whether Sam would be at 22
Excited to see Doherty play, he's looked good in what I've seen of him in the past and Dimes name dropped him pre(/mid-pre) season as one to watch.
Ashman had a big u20s campaign with Scotland as well

 

[FLOBALOB]

I assume a few teams are being named today. Anyone know for sure?

edit: Chiefs team announced. We've gone for a 2nd string team.


CHIEFS SIDE TO FACE BRISTOL BEARS

15 Josh Hodge
14 Tom O'Flaherty
13 Phil Dollman
12 Tom Hendrickson
11 Olly Woodburn
10 Gareth Steenson
9 Sam Hidalgo-Clyne
1 Alec Hepburn
2 Jack Yeandle (capt)
3 Tomas Francis
4 Dave Dennis
5 Sam Skinner
6 Jannes Kirsten
7 Don Armand
8 Sean Lonsdale

16 Jack Innard
17 Billy Keast
18 Marcus Street
19 Will Witty
20 Richard Capstick
21 Joe Snow
22 Harvey Skinner
23 Tom Wyatt

Odd decision with that back line. White flag job.

Was really looking forward to this game. Not now, with the side Bears are putting out.
Pretty fearful tbh.

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

Odd decision with that back line. White flag job.

Interesting to see that Capstick appears to have been selected over Hinkley too. It'll be good to see Hodge get a run out though.

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

15. Charles Piutau; 14. Luke Morahan, 13. Semi Radradra, 12. Piers O'Conor, 11. Henry Purdy; 10. Callum Sheedy, 9. Harry Randall; 1. Max Lahiff, 2. Bryan Byrne, 3. Kyle Sinckler, 4. Ed Holmes, 5. Dave Attwood, 6. Steven Luatua (c), 7. Dan Thomas, 8. Nathan Hughes.

System players: 16. Harry Thacker, 17. Jake Woolmore, 18. John Afoa, 19. Joe Joyce, 20. Ben Earl, 21. Andy Uren, 22. Ioan Lloyd, 23. Alapati Leiua.

Bristol have gone all out. Fully expecting a Bristol win.