The Aviva Premiership Thread.

toomevara

Lots of talk that this season's going to promote and encourage fast flowing attractive rugby, and definitely alot of excitement in this neck of the woods re: Leeds RU. Mouthwatering televised Sky game on Sunday, a spicy Derby clash between Northampton and champions Leicester at Franklins Gardens. ESPN, for the first time, have two games this weekend.

Also hope LI can get something from this season if they can keep their injuries under control (yet another Armitage in the squad as well). Be interesting to see if the new set-up in Bath reaps a dividend this season and I wouldn't bet against a Bath/Leics grand final at this stage.

Fri 3rd Sep 10 19:45 Sale Sharks v Newcastle Falcons
Sat 4th Sep 10 14:00 London Irish v Saracens **ESPN**
Sat 4th Sep 10 15:00 Exeter Chiefs v Gloucester Rugby
Sat 4th Sep 10 16:30 London Wasps v Harlequins **ESPN**
Sun 5th Sep 10 15:00 Leeds Carnegie v Bath Rugby
Sun 5th Sep 10 15:00 Northampton Saints v Leicester Tigers **sky**

thomond2006

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/english/8878583.stm

BATH
In: Tom Biggs (wing, Newcastle), Ross Batty (hooker, Rotherham), Mark McMillan (scrum-half, Glasgow), Lewis Moody (flanker, Leicester), Simon Taylor (back-row, Stade Francais), Sam Vesty (utility back, Leicester)
Out: Mike Baxter (scrum-half, released), Scott Bemand (scrum-half, retired), Daniel Browne (number eight, Leeds), Rhys Crane (winger, released), Ryan Davis (fly-half, Exeter), Rob Hawkins (hooker, Leicester), Ed Jackson (number eight, Doncaster), Nicky Little (fly-half, Bristol), Joe Maddock (full-back, Treviso), Julien Salvi (flanker, ACT Brumbies), Matt Spelman (wing, released), Michael Stephenson (wing, Leeds)


EXETER
In: Luke Arscott (full-back, Bristol), Garrick Cowley (scrum-half, Esher), Ryan Davis (fly-half, Bath), Ignacio Elosu (prop, Viadana), Eoghan Grace (back-row, Shannon), Andrew Higgins (wing, unattached), James Phillips (lock, Bristol), Jason Shoemark (centre, Highlanders), Jon Vickers (hooker, Northampton), Chris Whitehead (hooker, Wasps)
Out: Tom Bedford (centre/wing, Bedford), Sam Blythe (hooker, retired), Richard Bolt (scrum-half, Bristol), Matt Cornwell (centre, Northampton), Toby Freeman (lock, released), Danny Gray (fly-half, released), Nick Greenhalgh (centre, Northampton), Steve Jones (full-back, released), Shane Kingsland (prop, released), Emyr Lewis (full-back, retired), Sean Marsden (full-back, Bristol), Alan Miller (flanker, released), Saul Nelson (hooker, London Welsh), Clive Stuart-Smith (scrum-half, Esher), Sean Tomes (lock, Bedford)


GLOUCESTER
In: Matt Cox (back-row, Worcester), Brett Deacon (back-row, Leicester), Jim Hamilton (lock, Edinburgh)
Out: Marco Bortolami (lock, Aironi), Gareth Delve (number eight, Melbourne), Adam Eustace (lock, Northampton), Apolosi Satala (back-row, Sale), Greg Somerville (prop, Melbourne), Semi Tadulala (wing, Leeds)


HARLEQUINS
In: Peter Browne (lock, Newcastle), Tom Casson (centre, unattached), Maurie Fa'asavalu (back-row, St Helens RL), Joe Gray (hooker, Northampton), David Moore (scrum-half, Leinster), Ollie Smith (centre, Montpellier), Benjamin Urdapilleta (centre, Pampas 15)
Out: Aston Croall (prop, Sale), Josh Drauniniu (winger, London Welsh), Dan Fraizer (prop, released), Tani Fuga (hooker, Bristol), Seb Jewell (fly-half, Wasps), Waisea Luveniyali (fly-half, London Welsh), Tosh Masson (centre, released), Neil McMillan (flanker, released), Nils Mordt (centre, Saracens), Steve So'oialo (scrum-half, released), David Strettle (wing, Saracens), Gonzalo Tiesi (centre, Stade Francais)


LEEDS CARNEGIE
In: Daniel Browne (number eight, Bath), Warren Fury (scrum-half, Wasps), Sean Hohneck (lock, Viadana), Michael Stephenson (wing, Bath), Semi Tadulala (wing, Gloucester), Steve Thompson (hooker, Brive), James Tincknell (winger, Wharfedale)
Out: Scott Armstrong (wing, Northampton), Joe Bedford (scrum-half, Rotherham), Peter Bucknall (prop, Leicester), Calum Clark (flanker, Northampton), Joe Ford (fly-half, Northampton), Andy Gomarsall (scrum-half, released), Jon Goodridge (full-back, released), Jonny Hepworth (winger, Rotherham), Erik Lund (lock, Biarritz), Tommy McGee (prop, retired), Vili Ma'asi (hooker, London Welsh), Alex Moreno (prop, retired), Phil Murphy (number eight, released), Henry Paul (centre, retired), Seru Rabeni (centre, La Rochelle), Rob Rawlinson (hooker, retired), Jason Strange (fly-half, released), George Warner (hooker, Moseley), Richard Welding (wing, Rotherham)


LEICESTER
In: Horacio Agulla (winger, Brive), Peter Bucknall (prop, Leeds), Rob Hawkins (hooker, Bath), Lee Robinson (winger, Bristol), George Skivington (lock, Wasps), Thomas Waldrom (number eight, Crusaders)
Out: Mefin Davies (hooker, Ospreys), Brett Deacon (back-row, Harlequins), Harry Ellis (scrum-half, retired), Robbie Harris (prop, released), Ben Kay (lock, retired), Aaron Mauger (centre, retired), Lewis Moody (flanker, Bath), Johne Murphy (wing, Munster), Greig Tonks (full-back, Northampton), Sam Vesty (utility back, Bath)


LONDON IRISH
In: Darren Allinson (scrum-half, Cardiff), Guy Armitage (centre, Wellington College), Brian Blaney (hooker, Leinster), Daniel Bowden (fly-half/centre, Crusaders), Sam Edgerley (wing, Wellington College), Marland Yarde (wing, Whitgift School)
Out: Mike Catt (fly-half, retired), Danie Coetzee (hooker, retired), Charlie Gower (centre, released), Peter Hewat (full-back, Suntory, Japan), Andy Perry (lock, released), Peter Richards (scrum-half, retired), John Rudd (winger, retired)


LONDON WASPS
In: Bob Baker (prop, Wasps Academy), Nic Berry (scrum-half, Racing Metro), James Cannon (lock, Northampton), Charlie Davies (scrum-half, Stade Francais), Riki Flutey (centre/fly-half, Brive), Richard Haughton (wing, Saracens), Seb Jewell (fly-half, Harlequins), Tom Lindsay (Wasps Academy), Will Matthews (Wasps Academy), Andy Powell (number eight, Cardiff Blues)
Out: Gabriel Bocca (prop, released), Danny Cipriani (fly-half, Melbourne Rebels), Hugo Ellis (back-row, Newport Gwent Dragons), Warren Fury (scrum-half, Leeds), Eoghan Hickey (fly-half, released), James Honeyben (prop, released), Dan Leo (lock, Bordeaux), Lachlan Mitchell (centre, Melbourne), Mark Robinson (scrum-half, retired), Paul Sackey (wing, Toulon), George Skivington (lock, Leicester), Lee Smith (Leeds Rhinos), Chris Whitehead (hooker, Exeter)


NEWCASTLE
In: Luke Eves (centre, Bristol), Darren Fearn (prop, Northumbria University), Luke Fielden (full-back, Bedford), James Fitzpatrick (centre, Blaydon), Joe Graham (hooker, Tynedale), James Hall (prop, Coventry), Andrew Henderson (centre, Montauban), Joel Hodgson (RGS Newcastle), Ally Hogg (back-row, Edinburgh), Jeremy Manning (fly-half, Munster), Redford Pennycook (flanker, Bristol), Tim Ryan (prop, Toulon), Glen Townson (lock, Doncaster), Mark Wilson (flanker, Blaydon)
Out: Adam Balding (back-row, Worcester), Tom Biggs (wing, Bath), Peter Browne (lock, Harlequins), Spencer Davey (centre, retired), Carl Hayman (prop, Toulon), Chris Micklewood (utility back, released), Rob Miller (fly-half/centre, Sale), Laurence Ovens (prop, Bedford), Mark Sorenson (lock, Northampton), Alex Walker (hooker, Esher)


NORTHAMPTON
In: Scott Armstrong (wing, Leeds), Calum Clark (flanker, Leeds), Matt Cornwall (centre, Exeter), Adam Eustace (lock, Gloucester), Joe Ford (fly-half, Leeds), Tom Mercey (prop, Saracens), Ryan Powell (scrum-half, Worcester), Mark Sorenson (lock, Newcastle), Greig Tonks (full-back, Leicester), Tom Wood (back-row, Worcester)
Out: Grant Anderson (prop, released), Neil Best (flanker, Worcester), Santiago Bonorino (prop, retired), John Brake (scrum-half, released), James Cannon (second row, Wasps), Alan Dickens (scrum-half, retired), Barry Everitt (fly-half, retired), Owen Giles (flanker, released), Joe Gray (hooker, Harlequins), Scott Gray (flanker, released), Nick Greenhalgh (centre, Exeter), Mark Hopley (back row, released), Juandre Kruger (lock, Blue Bulls), Ignacio Fernandez Lobbe (lock, retired), Chris Mayer (centre, released), Darren Morris (prop, released), Liam Neale (flanker, released), Grant Pointer (centre, Cornish Pirates), Jon Vickers (hooker, Exeter)


SALE
In: Aston Croall (prop, Harlequins), Rob Miller (fly-half/centre, Newcastle), Apolosi Satala (flanker, Gloucester), Robin Sowden-Taylor (flanker, Cardiff)
Out: Luke Abraham (flanker, Lyon), Brent Cockbain (lock, released), David Doherty (utility back, released), Dafydd James (wing, released), Ian Kench (lock, Nottingham), Rob O'Donnell (prop, Rotherham), Oriol Ripol (wing, Worcester), Dean Schofield (lock, Toulon), Lee Thomas (centre, Lyon), Richard Wigglesworth (scrum-half, Saracens)


SARACENS
In: Kelly Brown (back-row, Glasgow), Deon Carstens (prop, Sharks), Nils Mordt (centre, Harlequins), Matt Parr (prop, Nottingham), David Strettle (wing, Harlequins), Matt Stevens (unattached, joins January after drugs ban expires) Richard Wigglesworth (scrum-half, Sale)
Out: Matius Aguero (prop, Aironi), Richard Haughton (wing, Wasps), Glen Jackson (fly-half, retired), Kas Lelamanua (prop, released), Justin Marshall (scrum-half, retired), Tom Mercey (prop, Northampton), Fabio Ongaro (hooker, Aironi), Michael Owen (number eight, retired), Moses Rauluni (scrum-half, retired), Kevin Sorrell (centre, retired)

Wow, revolving doors everywhere.

I think Leicester, Bath, Northampton and Saracens will make the playoffs.

Leeds and Newcastle have signed some decent players and therefore I think new boys Exeter will go straight back down.

Best of luck to all the Irish lads, particularly Tom Hayes.

Stev_o

Some brilliant games this weekend. Shock of the week with the Chiefs beating the Cherry and Whites with IRISH Outhalf Steenson kicking them to victory. Close eyes need to be put on him for a future in the Irish set up he's the perfect player to complete Sexton on the bench once ROG is off.

toomevara

Stev_o wrote: »

Some brilliant games this weekend. Shock of the week with the Chiefs beating the Cherry and Whites with IRISH Outhalf Steenson kicking them to victory. Close eyes need to be put on him for a future in the Irish set up he's the perfect player to complete Sexton on the bench once ROG is off.

Re; Steenson, he'll be key to the Chiefs staying up this year. Worcester went down last season largely because they had no decent/recognised goal kicker. Good result for the new boys, good victory for LI too by all accounts.

SomeFool

Pity to see both Eoghan Hickey and Neil McMillan released, anyone know if they'll move back to the AIL or try to stay on in England?

icdg

toomevara wrote: »

ESPN, for the first time, have two games this weekend.

Some interesting innovations in ESPN's coverage including a clock that runs down from 40 to 0 and a picture-in-picture showing the kicker from the opposing angle when taking place kicks.

Very strong comeback by London Irish in their opener against Saracens at Twickenham. Saracens simply fell asleep in the second half.

Danger_dave1

Never saw Eoghan hickey as more than a AIL player to be honest, i was surprised even got a contract in england.

I have a feeling this could be bath's year. Love to see exeter stay, great first win.

Saints to win anyone else?

Stev_o

Danger_dave1 wrote: »

Never saw Eoghan hickey as more than a AIL player to be honest, i was surprised even got a contract in england.

I have a feeling this could be bath's year. Love to see exeter stay, great first win.

Saints to win anyone esle?

Could come down to the wire between Scarries, Tigers, Irish Saints and Bath. Though i do like Bath now with Vesty at 10. Interesting year ahead.

danthefan

Kyle Tonetti played the full 80 for Sale yesterday in a good win over Newcastle, yet Leinster could barely find a game for him in 3 seasons. Poor tbh, he should have gotten more gametime over here. He's a better player than Shaun Berne.

ongarite

What a start in the Northampton-Leicester game!
Northampton with 2 tries in the first 4 minutes.

toomevara

If the saints contrive to lose this I wouldn't fancy being in Mylers boots. Good game so far...

outwest

northampton should of gotten the bonus point. hartly binning was comming all day

tongauia is a animal great gam

[Jackass]

danthefan wrote: »

Kyle Tonetti played the full 80 for Sale yesterday in a good win over Newcastle, yet Leinster could barely find a game for him in 3 seasons. Poor tbh, he should have gotten more gametime over here. He's a better player than Shaun Berne.

And arguably Madigan too!

Re Steenson, he was Steenson with the pirates, if he can be a largely influential player at this level this season he'll offer a real alternative to Sexton & RO'G at out-half. Here's hoping he'll be in some squads this season to be given an oppertunity in front of the coaches, as we need more alternatives desperately.

I don't think Humphries or O'Connor will ever make the grade at international level, I'm not a fan of Wallace at 10 and Keatley is unlikely (wrongly) to get a shot as long as he's with Connacht.

Otacon

outwest wrote: »

northampton should of gotten the bonus point.

Can anyone explain the thinking behind this? Why did they go for the 3 points when they were 1. in front of the posts, 2. doing well in the scrum and 3. playing against 14 men? It honestly baffles me.

thomond2006

Great start by Exeter against Leicester.

Steenson kicks a pen. 0 - 3

Edit: Jaysus they nearly got a try there! :eek:

thomond2006

Great try from Exeter. Superb stuff.

Tom Hayes is having a stormer and Steenson looks really good indeed. Option for Ireland?

7 - 13, conversion scored.

Great game so far.

If Exeter pulled this off, it would be the biggest shock ever!

Kiwi_knock

Exeter giving a great performance, their downfall will probably be the scrum. Great 1st half performance but I expect Leicester to come out strong in the 2nd half and to come out on top.

Kiwi_knock

Exeter have been under so much pressure this half but have managed to extend their lead, some of these Leicester players do not seem up for it mainly Tuilagi who was at fault for Foster try

Kiwi_knock

Hamilton scores and Staunton converts to make it a 27-23 in favour of Exeter. It will be a success if Exeter get a losing bonus point from this match, just can not see them holding on.

thomond2006

jesus exeter 27 - 23 up with 12 to go! :eek::eek:

Kiwi_knock

Hipkiss scores and Staunton converts to make the score 30-27 to Leicester, Exeter are tired now and Leicester might push on for the try bonus point

Kiwi_knock

Leicester's dominance at scrum time has told and they get a penalty try and the bonus point. Exeter were unlucky in the end but they certainly gave it their all but just were not able to cope when Leicester upped the tempo. Leicester being able to bring on Castro and Ayerza just shows that at scrum time they are not affected by changes. Croft steadied the line out. Not that much was going on it the back division, no real incisive breaks. Exeter definitely look like they will give most teams a game and certainly could stay up.

thomond2006

Exeter are a bit like Blackpool in the Premier League. They are certain to go down so they just want to go out and play every week and enjoy the ride of the top flight for a season. In doing so, they play with no fear and actually produce very good performances and results which might just about keep them up.

The relegation battle will be fascinating. With my Irish hat on, I don't want either Newcastle or Exeter to go down.

Digifriendly

thomond2006 wrote: »

Exeter are a bit like Blackpool in the Premier League. They are certain to go down so they just want to go out and play every week and enjoy the ride of the top flight for a season. In doing so, they play with no fear and actually produce very good performances and results which might just about keep them up.

The relegation battle will be fascinating. With my Irish hat on, I don't want either Newcastle or Exeter to go down.

Wouldn't regard them as certainty to go down. If Exeter win most of their home games and pick up the odd point away from home they might well survive. I hope they do.

thomond2006

Digifriendly wrote: »

Wouldn't regard them as certainty to go down. If Exeter win most of their home games and pick up the odd point away from home they might well survive. I hope they do.

Sorry, I probably should have said "they are highly likely to go back down with their limited resources"

Digifriendly

thomond2006 wrote: »

Sorry, I probably should have said "they are highly likely to go back down with their limited resources"

No problem. Difficulty for Blackpool FC is that 3 go down rather than 1 and they will be doing very well to survive the drop. Can see Exeter survive even if they finish 10th/11th.

durkadurka

Shouldn't we be referring to this as the Lansdowne Road Premiership Thread?



I'll get me coat.

thomond2006

Exeter Chiefs are on to avoid the drop, they stunned Saracens at Vicarage Road at the weekend. The bookies favour Leeds (who haven't won all season) and Newcastle to make the drop ahead of Exeter.

It would be a stunning achievement if they could pull it off. Good luck to Hayes, Steenson and co.

PhatPiggins

durkadurka wrote: »

Shouldn't we be referring to this as the Lansdowne Road Premiership Thread?



I'll get me coat.

Yes I'd rather like it if the title was edited to that

thomond2006

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/tables/4776739.stm

Bumping this because it looks like Exeter will stay up this season.

They are 19 points (or ~5 wins) clear of bottom side Leeds who haven't won all season.

There's a lot of games yet to play but it looks like (against all the odds) Exeter will avoid relegation and Tom Hayes and Gareth Steenson will be playing top flight rugby next season.

Risteard

Anyone watching Leicester and Northampton? Has the makings of a good game so far. 8-7 to Leicester after 10 mins.

thomond2006

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12553_6786935,00.html

St Helens' Kyle Eastmond is coming to Bath. Was he highly rated in Super League? Bath have had mixed success with RL converts.

toomevara

thomond2006 wrote: »

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12553_6786935,00.html

St Helens' Kyle Eastmond is coming to Bath. Is this kid good enough to make big in RU? Bath have had mixed success with RL converts.

Definitely a talent but he's struggling massively with a huge dip in form at the minute. At his best he's a superb attacking player. Hits the line hard and not afraid to to play up in the teeth of the defence. That dynamism seems to have left him somewhat of late and his early super league outings this season have been dismal thus far. He was woeful this weekend in Saints first home defeat to Warrington in a decade, looked clueless. Also his kicking game isn't the best. Should make a decent RU scrummie with time, but tbh he'd have been better served staying in RL I reckon. I think the scrum-half role is too limiting for him in RU, but paradoxically the fly half position wouldn't suit him...

Here's what he can do;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxNMGuVd_lE

lxNMGuVd_lE

GerM

George Pisi signs for Saints. They've already secured Tom May from Toulon. Along with Ansboro, Foden and Ashton, they have the makings of a good back line for next season. Lack a scrum half though still.

toomevara

GerM wrote: »

Along with Ansboro,.

Ansbro will be playing for LI next year (replaces Mapasua), smart move by LI, really useful player.

Stev_o

I don't think Eastmonds skill set will transfer well to Union. Just a bizzare move for money really. I doubt Bath will play him at all for quite a bit of time.

GerM

toomevara wrote: »

Ansbro will be playing for LI next year (replaces Mapasua), smart move by LI, really useful player.

Assume Pisi is a straight replacement in that case. Downey should retain his place unless they're looking at May at 12 (or Geraghty comes back into the equation).

sock puppet

Stev_o wrote: »

I don't think Eastmonds skill set will transfer well to Union. Just a bizzare move for money really. I doubt Bath will play him at all for quite a bit of time.

Is he not a little small to play anywhere other than scrumhalf?

thomond2006

GerM wrote: »

Assume Pisi is a straight replacement in that case. Downey should retain his place unless they're looking at May at 12 (or Geraghty comes back into the equation).

It wouldn't surprise me if Geraghty leaves Northampton tbh. Myler is the nailed on first choice fly-half these days. They also have young Joe Ford (son of Mike Ford I think) coming through. Tom May can play all the backline positions but is mostly a 10 or 12 so he could be replacing Geraghty in the squad.

toomevara

Poor old Ollie Barclay suffered a bad ankle break in today's West Country derby.To further compound Bath's woes, Gloucester beat them well.

ongarite

Anyone watching the Leicester V Saracens game?

Not a bad game but the pitch is in appalling conditions and the weather has turned to crap also.

toomevara

ongarite wrote: »

Anyone watching the Leicester V Saracens game?

Not a bad game but the pitch is in appalling conditions and the weather has turned to crap also.

Watched it, not a bad affair considering the number of internationals absent for both sides. Worth it just to see the Tuilagi bros carving a path of destruction. Manu's try alone was worth watching the game. From an Irish perspective Staunton had a really good game albeit on the loosing side.

David900

toomevara wrote: »

Should make a decent RU scrummie with time

On the rugby club - I think - on sky sports they were talking about this and interviewed some rugby legend regarding this. It was his view that this guy could only play on the wing as his skills wouldn't transfer to either of the half back positions in union. Interesting to see if he makes it.

On a quick side note, is the balance of power wage wise in League in England or Australia?

toomevara

David900 wrote: »

On a quick side note, is the balance of power wage wise in League in England or Australia?

Wage wise in England, hence the endless parade of super-annuated aussies to the SL, but its not as lucrative as it once was with the whole image rights loophole closed and salary caps in situ. Clubs are still imo, paying way too much for these fellahs. Their commitment to anything other than a fat pay check is often highly questionable.