Guinness Premiership Round 1 Preview

[getofmeland]

Well its all about to begin, a new season of the Guinness Premiership, the first chance to see the ELV's in place in one of the premier leagues of the Northern Hemisphere Game.

This is a weekly feature which I am hoping to do, where we preview all of this weekends games, and also tell you what's on tele and when.
Gloucester v Leicester - KO: 16:00 BST - Kingsholm - Live on Sky Sports[/b]
Gloucester will start this season still looking for a Guinness Premiership Title, for the second season in a row they finished top of the league, but missed out in the Play-off's for the the title, both times being thwarted by Leicester who they face this weekend. They have undoubtedly one of the strongest squads in the league now, and this year should see the end of the quest for the title. Leicester came from nowhere on the final day to clinch the 4th spot in the play off's last season and then beat Gloucester in the Semi Final Play Off at Kingsholm, only to lose in the final to London Wasps.

New Signing for Gloucester from rivals Bath, Olly Barkley, will miss the first game of the season due to injury, but they will see the return of James Simpson Daniel, who set the Premiership alight last season. The squad which is captained by Mike Tindall, will see Rory Lawson at Scrum Half, but Andy Hazell and Alex Brown are only replacements, with Alasdair Strokosch and Marco Bortolami both in the team. Leicester's new coach, Heyneke Meyer, has made Aaron Mauger his captain in the absence of the injured Martin Corry. Martin Castrogiovanni, Lewis Moody and Louis Deacon are also injured but new signing Toby Flood plays at fly-half.

Squads

Gloucester Rugby - Olly Morgan, James Simpson-Daniel, Mike Tindall (capt), Anthony Allen, Lesley Vainikolo, Ryan Lamb, Rory Lawson; Nick Wood, Andy Titterrell, Carlos Nieto, Will James, Marco Bortolami, Peter Buxton, Alasdair Strokosch, Luke Narraway.
Replacements: Olivier Azam, Dave Young, Alex Brown, Andy Hazell, Gareth Cooper, Willie Walker, Matthew Watkins.

Leicester Tigers - Tom Varndell, Dan Hipkiss, Aaron Mauger (capt), Alesana Tuilagi, Toby Flood, Harry Ellis; Marcos Ayerza, George Chuter, Julian White, Richard Blaze, Ben Kay, Tom Croft, Ben Herring, Jordan Crane.
Replacements: Benjamin Kayser, Dan Cole, Marco Wentzel, Ben Woods, Julien Dupuy, Sam Vesty, Matt Smith.

Thats this weeks fixtures, I am sure there will be a few shocks during the first weekend, as there usually are on the opening weekend.

Also remember you can watch all the highlights of the Guinness Premiership on ITV4 at 6.30pm on Sunday 7th Septmeber

 

[danny]

No Ben Foden for Saints, that is a surprise !

 

[Vambo]

I have to say I preferred it when each game was given it's own thread well in advance. No offence intended.

 

[getofmeland]

Problem being last time a lot of the threads only had 2 posts in which was the Team news and the result and nothing else...

 

[Vambo]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (getofmeland @ Sep 6 2008, 05:37 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Problem being last time a lot of the threads only had 2 posts in which was the Team news and the result and nothing else...[/b]

I understand that but these threads could get very messy and hard to follow with different people talking about different games.

 

[feicarsinn]

perphaps a subforum with game news results etc and make this a general league discussion area?

 

[Prestwick]

Things going well for Northamton's brave new world I see! :lol:

I noticed that Chris Ashton hasn't scored a billion tries yet either...

 

[Vambo]

Decent second half for Northampton. I don't think they'll lose too many at home this season but they need to make sure the kicks go over if they have any serious ambition for the top half of the table. Good opener for them overall and they'll only get better as the season goes on. Their back row looks very good indeed. Worcester however looked a lot poorer than I thought they would.

 

[Sir Speedy]

Newcastle 9 - 14 Sale

First win away to Newcastle! Allez Sale! :bana:

 

[getofmeland]

Woop Woop

Bristol 20 - 33 Bath

Hopefully a sign of things to come from Bath!!!

 

[Sir Speedy]

Gloucester 8 - 13 Leicester.

Wow... Gloucester butcher a try on a plate; Leicester run the whole field and score. 11 minutes left...

 

[getofmeland]

Make that 8 - 20 to Leicester in the end...

Last Minute interception try from Toby Flood

 

[Sir Speedy]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (getofmeland @ Sep 7 2008, 05:49 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Make that 8 - 20 to Leicester in the end...

Last Minute interception try from Toby Flood [/b]

Perhaps it's for the best that they choked at the beginning of the season, rather than the end...

 

[getofmeland]

Bath for the title this season... as long as they don't get distracted by Europe!!!

Don't Forget ITV4 6.30PM til 8PM Tonight Highlights of all Premiership games!!!

 

[Vambo]

Glaws butchered at least two tries and Lamb's kicking was woeful but I'd expect them to work on those failings and get a lot sharper as the season unfolds. Their lineout was awful... they could have put all 15 into them and still wouldn't have won one!

Great start for Leicester who will enjoy their journey home.

Morgan looked the part at FB though... a major positive for Glaws to take out of the game.

Azam to start next week at the Rec?

 

[ollybarkley]

Titterell did well in the open, but Azam certainly helped the scrum to be sure.

A disappointing day for Glaws.... We butchered 2 certain trys with simple mistakes and Leicester played a basic, powerful game that capitilized on our mistakes. Lamb looked poor on the day, especially on defence, as everyone seemed to be knocking him off, and his composure as our primary play-caller and tactical decision-maker. Wonder if he is looking over his shoulder at Barkley for when he is finally match fit...which I hope is soon.

Good news in Olly Morgan really solidifed the #15 jersey.. thank god no more Balshaw, and thought that Tindall seemed to have a decent go as skipper and made some good hard yards, although his lack of skills cost us a couple of opoprtunities I think. Watkins impressed when he came in as well. Think next week we will hopefully see Brown back in the number 4 or 5 jumper and Bartolomi off. Certainly was a forgettable day for him, and the line-out was much improved when Brown entered the fray.

Worrying about Allen.. .hopefully nothing too serious there.

 

[danny]

I`ll add more tomorrow but all I can say at the moment is.................********!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Crackdown]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (getofmeland @ Sep 7 2008, 06:00 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Bath for the title this season... as long as they don't get distracted by Europe!!!

Don't Forget ITV4 6.30PM til 8PM Tonight Highlights of all Premiership games!!![/b]

Barf looked extremely sharp today, as I've stated before our forwards have gone to pot since Haag left and Brain(less) joined - our front 5 were mullered and that ultimately cost us the game as we had no platform to play from, especially in the second half. Try of the season candidate already from little Lemi?

:cheers:

 

[Vambo]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ollybarkley @ Sep 7 2008, 07:58 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Worrying about Allen.. .hopefully nothing too serious there.[/b]

Yep... lets hope he's ok. I hate seeing players on the stretcher.

 

[Vambo]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (getofmeland @ Sep 7 2008, 06:00 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Bath for the title this season... as long as they don't get distracted by Europe!!!

Don't Forget ITV4 6.30PM til 8PM Tonight Highlights of all Premiership games!!![/b]

Sadly not.
I enjoyed the programme but they really do need to show all the games even if that means moving the show to a later slot.