Aviva Premiership - Round 1

[Peat]

Quins' have two England mainstays starting for them. Exeter have no one of that quality. Sure they've got some decent players, but there's a difference between some decent players and a top 4 challenging pack.

 

[Patchey]

We won't see Tikarotuma for Quins this weekend, he's apparently had to have an opperation and is out 4-6 weeks. Shame.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Sale side:

uke McLean, Tom Brady, Will Addison, Mark Jennings, Mark Cueto, Danny Cipriani, Chris Cusiter, Eifion Lewis Roberts, Marc Jones, Vadim Cobilas, Nathan Hines, Michael Paterson, Dan Braid (Captain), David Seymour, Mark Easter

Replacements Cameron Neild, Ross Harrison, Alberto di Marchi, Jonathan Mills, Magnus Lund, Will Cliff, Joe Ford, Tom Arscott



Wouldn't have AdM and ELR that way around, at all - AdM should be starting at 1 and Fridge the reserve tight head.
Both Tuitupou and Leota out is a blow as well, no real power in the backs to get over the gain line. They also add a lot to maul defence, as they're bigger than a lot of flankers.

Still, looking forward to the game. Addison and Jennings have bags of potential.

First competitive game that Seymour and Lund have had together since winning silver at the commonwealth in 06!

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Leicester Tigers (v Newcastle Falcons, Aviva Premiership Round 1, Welford Road, Saturday 3pm)
15 Niall Morris
14 Blaine Scully
13 Manusamoa Tuilagi
12 Seremaia Bai
11 Vereniki Goneva
10 Freddie Burns
9 Ben Youngs (c)
1 Logovi'i Mulipola
2 Leonardo Ghiraldini
3 Fraser Balmain
4 Sebastian De Chaves
5 Graham Kitchener
6 Tom Croft
7 Julian Salvi
8 Jordan Crane

Replacements
16 Tom Youngs
17 Tom Bristow
18 Tiziano Pasquali
19 Jamie Gibson
20 Robert Barbieri
21 David Mele
22 Owen Williams
23 Matt Smith

16 players out ATM.

 

[lynam1104]

Christ I didn't realize Cueto was still kicking around. Looking forward to seeing some NH club rugby back up and running again.

I know T14 but meh, not as interesting.

 

[ratsapprentice]

Bath Rugby team to face Sale Sharks
15. Luke Arscott
14. Semesa Rokoduguni
13. Jonathan Joseph
12. Kyle Eastmond
11. Anthony Watson
10. George Ford
9. Peter Stringer
1. Paul James
2. Rob Webber
3. David Wilson
4. Stuart Hooper ( c )
5. Dominic Day
6. Alafoti Fa'osiliva
7. Guy Mercer
8. Leroy Houston
Replacements
16. Tom Dunn
17. Nick Auterac
18. Henry Thomas
19. Dave Attwood
20. Carl Fearns
21. Chris Cook
22. Gavin Henson
23. Matt Banahan


Not really what I predicted at all!

Hopefully we can expose Sale's outside backs - who don't look the strongest to me... or am I underestimating them Olyy?

 

[TheSaffycen]

Saracens team to face Wasps:

15. Alex Goode; 14. Chris Ashton, 13. Duncan Taylor, 12. Brad Barritt, 11. David Strettle 10. Charlie Hodgson, 9. Richard Wigglesworth; 1. Richard Barrington, 2. Jamie George, 3. Kieran Longbottom, 4. George Kruis, 5. Alistair Hargreaves ©, 6. Kelly Brown, 7. Will Fraser, 8. Billy Vunipola.

Replacements; 16. Scott Spurling, 17. Rhys Gill, 18. Petrus Du Plessis, 19. Jim Hamilton, 20. Jackson Wray, 21. Ben Spencer, 22. Owen Farrell, 23. Tim Streather.

 

[goodNumber10]

glad i didn't go for Farrell in my Fantasy team now

Hopefully we can expose Sale's outside backs - who don't look the strongest to me... or am I underestimating them Olyy?

To be fair they are a pretty solid defensive unit, it'll be an interesting match up for certain.

 

[ratsapprentice]

That team gets significantly better if you put Leiua in at 12.

Could be an interesting game!

 

[TheSaffycen]

glad i didn't go for farrell in my fantasy team now



to be fair they are a pretty solid defensive unit, it'll be an interesting match up for certain.

crap i have farrell why sarries why !!!!!!!!!

 

[Peat]

I'm not sure why Bell is ahead of Masi. That don't make sense to me. Also, Gaskell at lock, don't think that's been seen for a while either.

Feel that Bath might regret that line-up.

 

[HenryChinaski]

Dai commented on Gaskell after he gave a MOTM performance and said the following:

“I thought that he was outstanding today, I thought he played very well. He was deservedly man of the match and was by far the best player out there today. We all know that he can play at number eight but, with international aspirations, he probably feels that the second row is his best chance of that and I would be inclined to agree."

I think that's the rationale, therefore.

 

[Tony Manx]

I'm not sure why Bell is ahead of Masi. That don't make sense to me. .

Bell 01/07/1983 against Masi 30/03/1981 plus the latter was playing for Italy in June in Samoa?

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Dai commented on Gaskell after he gave a MOTM performance and said the following:

“I thought that he was outstanding today, I thought he played very well. He was deservedly man of the match and was by far the best player out there today. We all know that he can play at number eight but, with international aspirations, he probably feels that the second row is his best chance of that and I would be inclined to agree."

I think that's the rationale, therefore.

Weird, that. I understand where he's coming from re: International aspirations, but Gaskell has repeatedly said he feels much more at home in the backrow than at lock, and he doesn't particularly like it in the donkey row.

I'm not sure why Bell is ahead of Masi. That don't make sense to me. Also, Gaskell at lock, don't think that's been seen for a while either.

He's played there a few times last year, and a few more the year before, but with playing a lot of 6 in 12/13 and mostly 8 in 13/14 it's probably two seasons since he was a lock (who can cover backrow) than a backrow (who can cover lock).

Hopefully we can expose Sale's outside backs - who don't look the strongest to me... or am I underestimating them Olyy?

Hard to say. There's not a lot of pace there - Addison/Jennings/Brady/Cipriani are all quick, but not lightning.
Addison is a brilliant rugby player, but he's barely strung two games together for just over a year with recurring achilles injuries - Jennings is good (not quite as good as Addison) but is very....aggressive? maybe not the right word, he's no thug. Brady just a very good winger in general, reminds me a lot of Cueto in his youth.
Cueto is slow, but one of the smartest/best defensive wings in Europe, imo. McLean not exactly mercurial but a smart player with a good kicking game.

I think we should be OK in defence (though midfield is a slight worry, as the plan was always to have at least one of Sam/Johnny in there, so we're missing the crash ball option, and the 'enforcer' in defence - Jennings/Addison in the centre is the long term plan, but this has been forced and is probably too early to have them both on, considering their relative lack of experience) but going forward, we're not exactly going to running rings around the likes of Watson/Eastmond/Joseph.
Going to take something special from Cipriani and Cusiter to get the backs in enough room to work, but then they've both got it in them to do that if on form.

I'm quietly confident of a good performance. Not saying we'll win, but I think we'll play well. It's the front row that worries me - I'm all for continuity, and that's our starting front row from last season, but Di Marchi is infinitely better at loosehead than tighthead, and Fridge is probably about as good at either side of the scrum. AdM will make an impact in the loose when he comes on, as Fridge offers relatively little there, but I'd rather have that for 60+ mins, than 20.

Gonna be interesting to see Harrison vs Thomas, presuming they're both on at the same time - two academy front row team mates - just a shame Tommy Taylor is out injured.

 

[Tmartin995]

Exeter starting lineup against Welsh:

15 Chrysander Botha
14 Ian Whitten
13 Henry Slade
12 Sam Hill
11 Matt Jess
10 Gareth Steenson
9 Haydn Thomas

1 Carl Rimmer
2 Jack Yeandle (capt)
3 Tomas Francis
4 Mitch Lees
5 Ryan Caldwell
6 Dave Ewers
7 Ben White
8 Thomas Waldrom

16 Elvis Taione
17 Ben Moon
18 Moray Low
19 Don Armand
20 Kai Horstmann
21 Will Chudley
22 Ceri Sweeney
23 Jack Arnott

Several potential starters are out injured e.g. Mumm, Welch, Nowell, Lewis and Vainikolo. Still, a decent looking side that will hopefully get the season off to a great start!

 

[Peat]

Dai commented on Gaskell after he gave a MOTM performance and said the following:

“I thought that he was outstanding today, I thought he played very well. He was deservedly man of the match and was by far the best player out there today. We all know that he can play at number eight but, with international aspirations, he probably feels that the second row is his best chance of that and I would be inclined to agree."

I think that's the rationale, therefore.

Unless he's beefed up a lot his international aspirations are best served by moving to Scotland tbh. More seriously... no wait, yeah. But everytime I've seen him recently, he's looked really good in the back row, and not so hot as a lock. If that's changed, great, but...

Bell 01/07/1983 against Masi 30/03/1981 plus the latter was playing for Italy in June in Samoa?

Yeah, but Bell isn't very good, and Masi is. The latter might be a good reason though.

edit: Slade at 13! That's an interesting call.

 

[Tmartin995]

Slade at 13! That's an interesting call.

I'd imagine that they play it just as a number on the back of the shirt and possibly play left and right with Hill? Or possibly Hill likes to wear 12 as a tradition like Greenwood did, always wearing 13 but playing at inside.

Be interesting to see how they play!

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Just realised how mental it is that Bath have to choose between starting Day and Attwood, and can't start both despite them being their two best locks, because they gave that donkey Hooper the captain's armband again.

 

[Peat]

I'd imagine that they play it just as a number on the back of the shirt and possibly play left and right with Hill? Or possibly Hill likes to wear 12 as a tradition like Greenwood did, always wearing 13 but playing at inside.

Be interesting to see how they play!

My guess is that they line up with Hill at 12 in defence but with them mixing it up in attack. Steenson's the sort of guy who needs a lot of protecting from his defensive line after all... but yeah, very interesting.

 

[TheSaffycen]

Hill and Slade look great prospects, both could go for England's 12 shirt in a couple of years. Ona similar note does anyone think Devoto will be our 12 in the world cup ? I think lancaster wants him too play for England this year.