HEC Semi Final Northampton Saints v USAP, stadium:mk, 15:00

funky penguin

USAP

20-0

razorblunt

durkadurka wrote: »

What happened?

Winger took Dixon out in the air from a restart, completely took his legs from under him and he landed on his head.
No effort made for the ball just cleaned him out completely.

errlloyd

Well that was unexpected, game on?

funky penguin

USAP

Aaaaand Perp's gamble for the corner pays off.

20-5

EDIT: 20-7 HT

Championship minutes.....

Burgo

USAP

Try Perpignan.

Stev_o

Stev_o wrote: »

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Z0GMBaSoOOM/R2lorJWy9kI/AAAAAAAAArM/vP1mFWKvJu4/s400/kieran-roche-perry-freshwater.jpg

They are a dirty team.

That's a video of an Osprey's player sucker punching a Perpignan player or am I missing something?

Stev_o

USAP

Good time for them to score physiologically. USAP surely have another YC coming their way for team discipline though.

razorblunt

vital score for Perpignan there, Northampton just need to keep their heads and be cool in the second half and they should be too good to Perpignan.

Stev_o

USAP

Deleted User wrote: »

That's a video of an Osprey's player sucker punching a Perpignan player or am I missing something?

Wrong one the header said what i was looking for which was Freshwaters punch on Roche. And as i remember right that Punch was for one the million gouges the Ospreys seem to get so dunno if it's true or not.

Facts >>>>>>> Speculation.

In my book anyway.

Ah, the link was for a completely different incident.. Ok, I'll leave you to your opinion!

durkadurka

Stev_o wrote: »

Good time for them to score physiologically. USAP surely have another YC coming their way for team discipline though.

physiologically?

Stev_o

USAP

durkadurka wrote: »

physiologically?

God dammit ! Of course their knowledge of their body will have greatly improved after that score.

durkadurka

Stands to reason really

LeeroyJones

PP offering 17/2 for Perpignan.... I'm quite tempted...
Handicap is +17 which is more realistic!

LeeroyJones

LeeroyJones wrote: »

PP offering 17/2 for Perpignan.... I'm quite tempted...
Handicap is +17 which is more realistic!

snap call.

Outrageous price. take it, watch the price shorten and get on the other side of the bet later in the game for a gtd profit.

ongarite

Perpignan blew that chance. Should have stayed in the rolling maul.

Quint2010

God, Dylan Hartley is a mouthy so and so. I hope he gets stuffed in the final

ongarite

I know Northampton are leading but they are not playing well this half.

Once Perpignan sorted out their defensive line, they look way more comfortable.

LeeroyJones

Perpignan are so bloody frustrating...
2 visits to Northamptons line and nothing to show for it. They should have anything between 6-14 more points!

Waesfjord

USAP

Quint2010 wrote: »

God, Dylan Hartley is a mouthy so and so. I hope he gets stuffed in the final

[PHP][/PHP]

not the only one. Ashton loves outhing off aswell - really hate the OTT sledging in rugby these days, wish the refs would come down on it more

Stev_o

USAP

NH have one of the best scrums come 60+ minutes in the HC. Some scrum there.

Tonga'uiha is a monster

ongarite

Stev_o wrote: »

NH have one of the best scrums come 60+ minutes in the HC. Some scrum there.

Its the only thing Leinster will fear in the final. They did a demolition job on Ulster too.

Stev_o

USAP

Just wow at how they get do that with no subs after the most physical game they v had all season 60 + minutes in is amazing.

brian1976

brian1976 wrote: »

[PHP][/PHP]

not the only one. Ashton loves outhing off aswell - really hate the OTT sledging in rugby these days, wish the refs would come down on it more

See it at every breakdown in this game.

Only way to combat it is to make them eat their words though. Don't think Leinster will let them away with half the jibes.

Ross and VdMerve to start maybe? Or do we need a Wright/VdMerve sub on 60? The scrum power of Northampton is intense.

yimrsg

Mujati is always binding the looseheads arm. A decent ref would have noticed that. They've a monster pack but I'd say the intensity and speed leinster can play at would quickly sap them significantly more than what USAP have done today.

Quint2010

Deleted User wrote: »

See it at every breakdown in this game.

Only way to combat it is to make them eat their words though. Don't think Leinster will let them away with half the jibes.

Ross and VdMerve to start maybe? Or do we need a Wright/VdMerve sub on 60? The scrum power of Northampton is intense.

So was Leicesters. So was Toulouse's. Leinster wont be bullied by anybody.

LeeroyJones

LeeroyJones wrote: »

PP offering 17/2 for Perpignan.... I'm quite tempted...
Handicap is +17 which is more realistic!

Went with the Handicap.... so tense right now!

Quint2010

English commentators would sicken your a*se. So biased for english sides. It was the same in ther Munster HQ match yesterday. I hope we annihilate Northampton. They played well oday but Perpignon were awful.

Quint2010

LeeroyJones wrote: »

Went with the Handicap.... so tense right now!

well done!

Stev_o

USAP

Quint2010 wrote: »

So was Leicesters. So was Toulouse's. Leinster wont be bullied by anybody.

Leinster's scrum isn't the be all and end all it has been pushed around by both those teams.

They're really not. They're winhungry more so than biased to a nationality.

Basically whoever's winning is "the best team in the world".

Reckon we should take Northhampton 5/6 times we played them. Thing is though, the cup final aspect changes it all.

Leinster will want to be on top of their game, but if they are, I don't think Northampton can trouble them.

Stev_o

USAP

Deleted User wrote: »

They're really not. They're winhungry more so than biased to a nationality.

Basically whoever's winning is "the best team in the world".

Reckon we should take Northhampton 5/6 times we played them. Thing is though, the cup final aspect changes it all.

Leinster will want to be on top of their game, but if they are, I don't think Northampton can trouble them.

When was the last time their was a hammering in a HC Final?

They'v all been very close affairs even when they match ups have been quite lopsided.

There won't be much between the two sides come the final. Should be a cracker.

CouchSmart

Stev_o wrote: »

Leinster's scrum isn't the be all and end all it has been pushed around by both those teams.

And it in turn pushed around those teams scrums too. Northamptons scrum isn't any better than Toulouse's.

LeeroyJones

Was convinced they would go for a drop goal to see out the match! Delighted

From a Leinster perspective, we have reason to be confident, but not overly so. Northampton have been clinical throughout the season but hopefully we'll have too much for them.

Kaka10

USAP

ongarite wrote: »

Its the only thing Leinster will fear in the final. They did a demolition job on Ulster too.

Leinster will fear their entire front 5 and back 3. They definitely have the best front 5 in the competition this season and their back 3 is probably the best as well alongside Leinster. We have them in the backrow, outhalf and centre but if their front 5 dominate the set piece then they will win. That said I have full confident that Healy,Strauss,Ross,Cullen and Hines can contain them.

Stev_o

USAP

CouchSmart wrote: »

And it in turn pushed around those teams scrums too. Northamptons scrum isn't any better than Toulouse's.

They made it a non factor which every team should do. Look at the tape though Healy did struggle with those teams hell McLoughlin was acting as a 3rd prop in a number of scrums.

Toulouses scrum is alright but it's certainly not a asepct that their team focuses in. Look at the pool stages of the Leicester USAP game where we had 10 minutes of scrummaging on the Tiger scrum. Both teams are very centred on scrum domiance. Now look today how Saints took on their scrum.

I don't see why it's a big deal by some Leinster fans. You have a good scrum but it's certainly not your most outstanding aspect of set pieces which i think is your Lineout which is the best in Europe both on your own throw and on the opposition throw.

funky penguin

USAP

Kaka10 wrote: »

Leinster will fear their entire front 5 and back 3. They definitely have the best front 5 in the competition this season and their back 3 is probably the best as well alongside Leinster. We have them in the backrow, outhalf and centre but if their front 5 dominate the set piece then they will win. That said I have full confident that Healy,Strauss,Ross,Cullen and Hines can contain them.

They'll respect, not fear them.

GerM

Hopefully we test Northampton more than Perpignan did; only 41 tackles required by Saints in the 80 minutes! If we play a streetwise game we can limit the impact of their big players. Our handling needs to be good, we cannot give them an opportunity to use their scrum as a platform. We also won't be kicking loose ball to their back 3. We saw that yesterday and it didn't give Clerc, Heymans and Medard a chance to run at us until the game became fractured late on. Keep it tight and attack them through the middle before moving it wide. If we're to win it, our back row will need to the major difference. Keep ball, no turnovers and chip them away, not letting them get into it. A few 3 pointers and the game will turn towards us.

One concern for them has to be their kicking. Myler often misses a few kicks and every point will count. If Sexton can continue his peerless goal kicking in this season's HEC then we've every chance of closing this out.

Stev_o

Stev_o wrote: »

When was the last time their was a hammering in a HC Final?

They'v all been very close affairs even when they match ups have been quite lopsided.

There won't be much between the two sides come the final. Should be a cracker.

hammering?

I never mentioned a hammering?

Quint2010

To put it into perspective-Northampton have played Ulster and Perpignon. Leinster have played Leicester and Toulouse. Enough said.

eoin2nc

Missed the match, fecking study for exams :mad:. do we have much to fear?

Stev_o

USAP

Deleted User wrote: »

hammering?

I never mentioned a hammering?

Was more a question then calling you out for suggesting it would be one.

CouchSmart

Stev_o wrote: »

They made it a non factor which every team should do. Look at the tape though Healy did struggle with those teams hell McLoughlin was acting as a 3rd prop in a number of scrums.

Toulouses scrum is alright but it's certainly not a asepct that their team focuses in. Look at the pool stages of the Leicester USAP game where we had 10 minutes of scrummaging on the Tiger scrum. Both teams are very centred on scrum domiance. Now look today how Saints took on their scrum.

I don't see why it's a big deal by some Leinster fans. You have a good scrum but it's certainly not your most outstanding aspect of set pieces which i think is your Lineout which is the best in Europe both on your own throw and on the opposition throw.

I stopped reading after that. Toulouse are one of the best scrummaging teams in the World. As with all French teams they take great pride in their scrum and it is arguable that it's the biggest aspect of their game, though for me it's counter attacking.

Stev_o

Stev_o wrote: »

Was more a question then calling you out for suggesting it would be one.

ah ok.

There's rarely if ever going to be a one sided final.

That being said, if you can win a match by 3 points 5 out of the 6 times you play a team, then it's not a bizarre thing to say "they shouldn't be troubled by them".

The problem is not giving Northampton the chance to take their 1 out of 6 win in the final!

Keep the ball away from Foden/Ashton. No loose kicking, attack their lineout. Keep the ball tight, crowd the centre and stop Downey getting the ball past 13, maintain parity in the scrums.

Essentially, play the Leinster game that has worked, and give "the magic" of SOB (let us pray!), BOD, Nacewa, Heaslip, Sexton a chance to win the game.

Those players are all matchwinners, and Leinster have the ability to win the game if they keep their performance levels up. But it's cup rugby, anything can happen!

yimrsg

I'm far less nervous facing Northampton in a neutral venue rather than Toulouse in the Aviva. Leinster haven't been dominated in the scrums even against the top teams in europe, Northampton's form has wildly varied this season, they've little squad depth in key areas.

Leinster even minus SoB (should he miss out) would be favourites, Northampton's bench doesn't come near Leinster's or Toulouse. Subs for us would bring either impact or continuity wheras Northampton's wouldn't have that same input from the bench. Northampton's tries were some of the softist I've seen at this level, I can't see Leinster being that porous.

If it came to an arm wrestle Leinster would have the muscle to match them up front and beat them in the backs whilst if Northampton tried to play open rugby they'd play into Leinster's hands. I don't want to sound cocky or overconfident but that's my reading of what I saw this weekend.

Quint2010

"We're just happy to go to Cardiff"-Dylan Hartly.

Game over Dylan.

Stev_o

USAP

Deleted User wrote: »

ah ok.

There's rarely if ever going to be a one sided final.

That being said, if you can win a match by 3 points 5 out of the 6 times you play a team, then it's not a bizarre thing to say "they shouldn't be troubled by them".

The problem is not giving Northampton the chance to take their 1 out of 6 win in the final!

Keep the ball away from Foden/Ashton. No loose kicking, attack their lineout. Keep the ball tight, crowd the centre and stop Downey getting the ball past 13, maintain parity in the scrums.

Essentially, play the Leinster game that has worked, and give "the magic" of SOB (let us pray!), BOD, Nacewa, Heaslip, Sexton a chance to win the game.

Those players are all matchwinners, and Leinster have the ability to win the game if they keep their performance levels up. But it's cup rugby, anything can happen!

Leinsters game plan will be a lot easier then Saints.

Attacking NH lineout and getting at Myler. Everything else will fall into place for them.

The big question going into the final is how Myler will react in such a situation.

IngazZagni

Quint2010 wrote: »

"We're just happy to go to Cardiff"-Dylan Hartly.

Game over Dylan.

Conor O'Shea pretty much said the same thing about 'Quins going to Limerick and look what happened there!

markest

COYS