S5, R5: Spartans vs. Gamblers - Completed

%spartans

Joshua Ritchie
Alan Izett
Dave Eggman
Heath Davis
James Torres
Michael Chung
Callum Laing
Marcuss Deane
Rob Cribb
Dion Alessi
Ali Farhat
Bobby Blunder
Paddy Orr
Matt Dorn
Peter Jackson

Tactical Substitutions

16. Gunner Shriram
17. Neil Barry
18. Charlie Downes
19. Nick Scott
20. Jacques McGrath
21. Jono Chewie
22. Ben Storer

%srgamblers

Benny Read
Aaron O'Neill
Wes Welker
Morgan Burridge
Jack Dempsey
Simon Humble
Alex O'Driscoll
Brett Gemmell
Ben Hornby
Haydos Bots
Luke Tyson
Jazman Eightyfour
Adam Vago
Ben Herd
Jordan Logan

16. Reframe
17. Lewis
18. Chance
19. Hall
20. Taylor
21. Starris
22. Lee

 

Preview

In theory, there should be no better time for the Gamblers to be taking on the Spartans, and if the Gamblers were at home - then maybe they would have a chance of stealing a win. In reality, a bonus point loss here would be a reasonable result.

The reason why the Spartans are vulnerable this week is that talismanic winger Lucas Schaw is out injured, along with solid centre/utility Geoff Smith. Schaw has been a maestro at this level and any team would miss a player with his scoring attributes. Their replacements are solid - Ali Farhat (FQ + 0.07) and Peter Jackson (FQ + 0.10) but not in the same class.

At the same time, the Gamblers welcome back the big off-season signing Jordan Logan. For the Gamblers to have a chance of a steal, they'll need Logan to hit his straps early and he hasn't been in the best form this season pre-injury.

At the same time, the Gamblers have continued to tinker with their backline. This match sees Ben Taylor demoted to the bench. As the only dedicated first-five in this line-up, his demotion looks to make little selectorial sense when his replacement is utility Haydos Bots. Bots is in marginally better form, but this will represent a real risk for the Gamblers as there is no kicker with any form or class in their starting 15.

The big debate for the Spartans is the risk of moving Bobby Blunder from the full back position that he's excelled in for years into second five-eighth. Peter Jackson takes the duties at full back, but does this afford Logan with a much more winnable contest? Would Jackson have been more suited to facing down the inexperienced Jaz Eightyfour? Surely even an out of position Blunder will outclass his opposite number here?

In the forwards, the Spartans are dominant in the 2nd row and the back row. The comparison barely warrants attention, though the battle between Marcuss Deane (FQ + 0.11) and Brett Gemmell (FQ + 0.14) is one that always sets the pulses running in anticipation of the contest for the #8 position for Norths. The one area where the Gamblers have clear superiority is in the front row where Benny Read (FQ + 0.15), Aaron O'Neill (FQ + 0.04) and Wes Welker (FQ + 0.04)outshine their opposite numbers in form, if not so clearly in quality where Joshua Ritchie (FQ - 0.15), Dave Eggman (FQ - 0.01) and even the classy Alan Izett (FQ - 0.01) are all suffering from a collective form slump.

Despite this, the Spartans look to have too much across the park and I can't see the Gamblers keeping in contention from the tee either.

Prediction: Spartans 30 - 10 Gamblers

 

I'll be that guy - what's up with the FQ numbers?

 

It's a measure of current form. One that you could work out yourself based on published info rather than a real representation of the form measure in the sim.

 

THIS in 13 hours.

 

You're out injured, buddy. You've been playing bloody well this season too.