as much as it will pain me i think i will be cheering on sarries at the w-end. if we have to play sale, saints and wasps in 7 days i reckon it could scupper our charge for the play offs.

with hartley, murray, lawes, maybe geraghty, and foden out they must fancy their chances. is it on TV?

SS2 for live coverage

Am I right in thinking that England have 6 automatic places in the Heineken Cup next year (assuming that an English team doesn't win the HC)? So, if an English team outside of the top 5 of the Prem wins the LV cup, then they and the top 5 in the league would then qualify for the HC next year?

Whereas if a team in the top 5 wins the LV Cup, the top six in the Premiership would then qualify?

If that is the case (and if it isn't then I'm sure someone will take great delight in correcting me!), then, as the league stands currently, Glos winning would be a disaster, Cardiff or Saints would be ideal and Sarries... they are currently in the top 5, but if they did manage to freefall to 6th, as long as we replaced them, we would qualify through our league position, so it wouldn't matter.

simples.

Perhaps through gritted teeth

I think you're right Gussie. Basically it's better for us if Cardiff, or failing that Northampton win the LV= Cup. Wasn't there some rule ages agao about either England or France having a 7th team depending on who got a higher placed team in the HC, or have I made that up?

That rule has changed this year.

THere was a detailed discussion about the whole complicated process on another thread, but I can't find it at the moment. Maybe someone else can oblige with a link?

---

i think we have a real chance of top 4. if saints win on sat i think that goes out of the window unless we cope alot better than 2 losses and 1 win last season.....were dead on our feet by quins home game.

Detailed debate and clarification here if the link works. Otherwise it was the thread on Form Team

[www.rugbynetwork.net]

Charlieboa,ITake your point but Saints will be in the same situation as us & Sale have 1 game more than us still to play & when you say we'll be dead on our feet by the Quins game,do u mean the Wasps game as quins is the 28th of this month is it not?

Quote:

charlieboa
as much as it will pain me i think i will be cheering on sarries at the w-end. if we have to play sale, saints and wasps in 7 days i reckon it could scupper our charge for the play offs.
with hartley, murray, lawes, maybe geraghty, and foden out they must fancy their chances. is it on TV?

a), sorry, but no, I just can't bring myself to do that.

b) I'm not convinced by the argument either; if we had that little run, then Saints would also have 3 matches in 7 days, whilst also fighting on at least 2 (possibly 3) fronts, and feeling safe in the GP; they may well be willing to sacrifice that match against us to concentrate on "more important" rugby

---

RAEBURN SHIELD



A man who cannot change his mind, cannot change anything

Much simpler calculation for me. If Saints win the we play them on a Tuesday night which my kids can't go to.

So come on Sarries!

Sadly the form book says saints will walk it.

---

Stuart

--------------------------
I'm listening to:

talking about last season gussieboy when we played sale away on fri, wasps at home weds, and quins at home sat. were truly awful against quins and only got 5 points from the 3 games..... that wont be good enough to get us into play offs. yes saints would also have 3 games in 7/8 days but will wasps fancy us after 2 tough games saturday and weds....absolutely yes. no brainer for me.

Basically I prefer Saints to Sarries so I want them to win. Simple. Bath need to play the games in front of them. They are good enough to finish in the play-offs and we're making up for bad luck early in the season. If we miss out on the play-offs and the Heineken Cup it will be because we weren't good enough. Personally I think history is on our side, in that the teams who have a good second half of the season tend to carry it on into late April/early May. I think we'll clinch a play-off berth on the last day on the season with a 5 point win against a Leeds side who know they aren't gonna go down.

i prefer bath to saints and sarries so want the best result for us. 3 games in 7 days playing to your potential is basically impossible in modern pro rugby. if we have the squad depth for each player to only start 2 games and still win all 3 then great...not wholly convinced myself....certainly didnt have last season. also a 3 week break now just isnt ideal while in such good form. only positive would be having butch and grewcock back (or would DG be back anyway next week?).

do agree that form is key in second half of season and this is the first time we have timed our run well if we can maintain it.

I'll settle for Cardiff & Sarries wins then! In reality I suspect that I won't get either wish though.

Quote:

charlieboa
with hartley, murray, lawes, maybe geraghty, and foden out they must fancy their chances.

We've been doing quite nicely without them CharlieB but thanks for the concern.

---

COYSDC on Facebook

"It's not the despair, Saints, I can take the despair. It's the hope I can't stand."

ha ha, i agree phil but any team would miss that quality. sarries will only be missing borthers as far as i know though....though their form is horrible.

but cboa,iirc Belly,and others HAD to play all 3 games for example last year, we are a bit better off than last year in the injury front and player away duties arnt we?( he said nervously touching a piece of wood). But I must agree with those who think 3 fixtures in a short period of time is pretty naff.

...and we conceded a penalty try to quins at home!

agree that at the mo the injuries are maginally better.

Personally I'd rather we play the Saints on a Tuesday as it's a game I might actually get a pass for

I don't care just bring it on....suffering from Bath withdrawal symptoms!

8 - 9 after 20 mins

30 mins
11 -12 to sarries

Hooha has kicked 4 pens and missed 3 drop goal attempts all from 40m +

Skuse,Myler,Banahan......same offence, same pitch different card, different team!!!!!!!!

And Sarries have just got their second yellow card.

---

and saints have just got their 2nd try since he went in the bin



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 14/03/2010 17:30 by LOTW.

looking seriously like i wont be day tripping to bath next Sunday

looking like a tue night fixture on the cards !

---

COME ON YOU BATH
!!!!!!!
BATH, BATH, WHEREVER WE MAY BE WE ARE THE BOYS FROM THE WEST COUNTRY , AND WE'LL BEAT YOU ALL WHOEVER YOU MAY BE , BEAT YOU ALL FOR THE WEST COUNTRY !

shows what not having a kicker can do

saints all over sarries with the ball in hand but it's now 24-15

not beyond the realms.....

or is it?

converted try saints
thats it then
time to cancel the train ticket

Looking like Saints on the Tuesday. If Geraghty had his kicking boots on, saints would be out of sight.

England will be looking to add the 'good' Doctor to their coaching panel. His negative tactics would suit Wells and ford perfectly.

Botha is a bit of a thug - self styled pretty boy hard man.

i think this is a real blow to our chances against wasps on 24 april. suppose i had better try and be more positive now we know we are facing 3 games in 7 days....