[Olyy]

LCD debut and Carpenter back!

Not sure how I feel about the continued 6:2 split, is it by choice or because of injuries in the backs?
Maybe just something we're doing while the weather's naff?

Good to see Josh B get a start,
Interesting that RdP is captain - wasn't Ben named as captain for the year? Maybe Ben's only going to play a half, or something, as he returns from injury and Ron's expected to play the 80

[Halifaxshark]

No Jonny Hill?

Happy to see Birch get another shot.

[DavenportSharky]

Bristol Bears team to face Sale Sharks at Ashton Gate on Saturday, November 11th (2.30pm KO):

15. Max Malins (19 apps), 14. Noah Heward (9 apps), 13. Virimi Vakatawa (4 apps), 12. Benhard Janse van Rensburg (7 apps), 11. Rich Lane (22 apps), 10. Callum Sheedy (157 apps), 9. Harry Randall (108 apps); 1. Jake Woolmore (137 apps), 2. Gabriel Oghre (debut), 3. Kyle Sinckler (44 apps), 4. Josh Caulfield (8 apps), 5. Joe Batley (46 apps), 6. Magnus Bradbury (28 apps), 7. Harry Thacker (106 apps), 8. Fitz Harding (c) (58 apps).

System players: 16. Will Capon (78 apps), 17. Sam Grahamslaw (1 app), 18. George Kloska (35 apps), 19. James Dun (20 apps), 20. Dan Thomas (134 apps), 21. Kieran Marmion (8 apps), 22. James Williams (23 apps), 23. Gabriel Ibitoye (24 apps).

Unavailable: Ellis Genge, Yann Thomas, Jay Tyack, Jono Benz-Salomon, Chris Vui, Steven Luatua, Santiago Grondona, AJ MacGinty, Siva Naulago, Jack Bates.

Thacker at 7
AJ not even on the bench

[DavenportSharky]

Bristol Bears v Sale Sharks
Referee: Karl Dickson
ARs: George Selwood & Paul Dix
TMO: Dan Jones

[Olyy]

AJ not even on the bench

Pretty sure he got a bad injury in the opening round

[Yareet]

Bristol Bears team to face Sale Sharks at Ashton Gate on Saturday, November 11th (2.30pm KO):

15. Max Malins (19 apps), 14. Noah Heward (9 apps), 13. Virimi Vakatawa (4 apps), 12. Benhard Janse van Rensburg (7 apps), 11. Rich Lane (22 apps), 10. Callum Sheedy (157 apps), 9. Harry Randall (108 apps); 1. Jake Woolmore (137 apps), 2. Gabriel Oghre (debut), 3. Kyle Sinckler (44 apps), 4. Josh Caulfield (8 apps), 5. Joe Batley (46 apps), 6. Magnus Bradbury (28 apps), 7. Harry Thacker (106 apps), 8. Fitz Harding (c) (58 apps).

System players: 16. Will Capon (78 apps), 17. Sam Grahamslaw (1 app), 18. George Kloska (35 apps), 19. James Dun (20 apps), 20. Dan Thomas (134 apps), 21. Kieran Marmion (8 apps), 22. James Williams (23 apps), 23. Gabriel Ibitoye (24 apps).

Unavailable: Ellis Genge, Yann Thomas, Jay Tyack, Jono Benz-Salomon, Chris Vui, Steven Luatua, Santiago Grondona, AJ MacGinty, Siva Naulago, Jack Bates.

Thacker at 7
AJ not even on the bench

[dinogyro]

That's quite a few of their key players out. I'm feeling hopeful.

[Alex]

Even with quite a few players out that is a scary center partnership

Interesting stat from Chris Jones, kudos to the clubs fantastic academy!

[Surbiton_Shark]

AJ not even on the bench

Pretty sure he got a bad injury in the opening round

Hasn't really had anything like the same impact he had whilst with us.

[Olyy]

Definitely something not right with Schonert this season, just got completely folded in half (backwards) by Woolmore

Not to say that Woolmore's not a decent prop, but I've never seen Sharky manhandled that badly before

[StalyShark]

Feel it’s going to be one of those days…

[Olyy]

This is shocking so far,
Could well be a repeat of the Exeter game

[Surbiton_Shark]

that period of kicking was utterly dire from both teams

[Olyy]

Reed try, he's having a good season

Woken up a bit now - Bristol still working it wide well, though, and finding a lot of space

[Olyy]

Ford dropgoal!

Maybe he should take his kicks from the tee as DGs from now on

[StalyShark]

Ford DGs should be tactic A today in my opinion as we’re hardly looking good.

[Surbiton_Shark]

Really silly from Warr - zero need - we've really got out of jail

[Surbiton_Shark]

Half time - some poor rugby from both sides in open play - very messy

George Ford is really putting himself about - Bedlow a beast in defence. The lad who replaced Jono is already a legend

[Olyy]

Some absolutely huge hits being made today

[Surbiton_Shark]

Reed really is good at catching balls aimed at his toes - brilliant stuff

[Olyy]

Try S.James
Beauty of a pass from Ford

[Surbiton_Shark]

Try S.James
Beauty of a pass from Ford

It really really was

[Olyy]

RdP intercept try!

Carpenter on for RdP, probably deserves a rest after the 60m sprint

[Olyy]

Oof, friendly fire from Cobus on Josh

Would be a red if an opposition player, shoulder full force to the chops

[Surbiton_Shark]

Is Rob DP not allowed to kick??? I really hope this doesn't cost us

[StalyShark]

Definitely found an extra gear!

[Olyy]

Carpenter BP try!

We should tell the players the game kicks off 20mins before it does, because we have started the last two weeks awfully and then grown into the games massively

[Surbiton_Shark]

Just realised Rob got replaced by Carpenter...am blushing

[Olyy]

The replay of Carpenter somehow managing to remove both of Heward's boots at the same time was incredible

[ale shark]

13-27 FT

[Olyy]

Despite the first 20 or so there were some very good performances in that,

Reed in the form of his career,
Sam James continues his run of good form, some silky skills on display
DDP was everywhere on attack and defence - I turned over to the Tigers/Quins game after the final whistle but he'd have been my MOTM

Good to see LCD get 35mins off the bench and to see Carpenter back, who was electric

Hope Josh is OK, didn't look good after the clash with Cobus


Only concern for me is I do wonder if we need another scrumhalf - Gus out on his feet at the end, obviously hurting, but played the 80.
With Raffi out for another 5(?) weeks we're pretty threadbare at 9 if Nye's not ready yet

[45jumper]

A fantastic win. Hard to pick a MOM as it was such a good team performance

[Oh Danny Boy]

A fantastic win. Hard to pick a MOM as it was such a good team performance

Reed for me

[chris1850]

Fantastic performance- well done guys.
Thought Ben Curry had a great game, he was everywhere! Our linespeed in defence is awesome, it gives the opposition so little time.
Well done again lads! Nothing better than beating Bristol and particularly the good doctor!

[Bronzbronx]

First time I've ever seen Carps without all that leg strapping. We played some really nice rugby today, well done

[chris1850]

Looking at the table now, there is at least a win between the top4 and the rest,albeit with a couple of games to play

[StalyShark]

James Mitchell is without a club with Jersey going under.

[Yareet]

Looking at the table now, there is at least a win between the top4 and the rest,albeit with a couple of games to play

I think it’ll stay that way even after today.

The current table is:

Bath 17
Chiefs 15
Saints 11
Bristol 10

If Saints beat Chiefs it’ll be a 5-point gap from Chiefs to Bristol.

If Chiefs win, there’ll be a 6-point gap from Bath to Saints.

[SSR]

I watched the match on PRTV with my son and basically enjoyed it.
The usual up and down ride. Fearing the worst at the start, rising confidence as the game
went on and started to panic when the side was changed after the Rob intercept try.
I assume that RdP was subbed off as maybe looking at him as flyhalf next match and
giving GF a rest? I can't understand it otherwise as a straight swap at fullback, SJ for
Carpenter seemed the more logical swap.
Hope GF finds his mojo with the place kicking as on another day those lost points
could have changed the result.
LCD looked a bit off the pace, but no surprise there. Creevy is such a great signing.
Thought the lineout /maul still needs some work, but defence overall was absolutely
awesome.

[dinogyro]

Totally agree SSR and even though I was very happy with the bonus point win, I never felt we were really dominant. We didn't seem to have the confidence that a title-winning side needs. Okay, early days, but at the moment, I don't feel that positive about getting to the final at the moment.

Having said that, the defence was good apart from the early error and we seemed to have more desire to get the ball out wide and attack.

[Surbiton_Shark]

James Mitchell is without a club with Jersey going under.

Wonder if they've asked Cliffy to get back into training?

[Yareet]

Looking at the table now, there is at least a win between the top4 and the rest,albeit with a couple of games to play

I think it’ll stay that way even after today.

The current table is:

Bath 17
Chiefs 15
Saints 11
Bristol 10

If Saints beat Chiefs it’ll be a 5-point gap from Chiefs to Bristol.

If Chiefs win, there’ll be a 6-point gap from Bath to Saints.

I may have forgotten there was another game

Still a win between 6th and 7th

[stevene]

few thoughts on the game at the weekend.

Overall thought we played pretty well away from home combined with a pretty disjointed Bears performance, certainly after the break.

RDP seems to be more accustomed to playing outside centre. I suspect our defensive system has been adapted a little to allow for GF at 10 and RDP in the centres.

S James did well at fullback however my only thought is we do look more dynamic with Carpenter at 15.

Reed seems to be playing with confidence akin to how Roebuck started last season and the game is less frenetic for him. Generally less mistakes than ever.

Defensively we were great but we really did (even more than usual) push the offside line around the ruck.

Sam Bedlow is doing a decent job deputising for Manu. I feel for Connor Doherty but he needs to get injury free and develop his game.

LCD had a quiet debut I thought but good to see him playing and get some minutes.

Selection next week for the pack will be interesting. I suspect Josh B will be out with concussion. Is Jonny Hill injured? Wonder if Tom C will be back? If we have Creevy and double Curry available to target the breakdown I wonder if we rotate Bev and start Si Mc at 1? Still think Si Mc is a better option in the scrum but Bev's all round game is quite the option off the bench.

[DavenportSharky]

Connor Doherty scored a try for Sale FC on Saturday and Curtis was kicking for goal.
I just wish GF would vary his kicking with chips, grubbers, 50:22s etc. Why didn’t RDP take the kicking tee off him? Sam James’s ability to kick for touch with his left boot is a hugely important aid to the attacking lineout and maul. I don’t think Manu should just shove Bedlow out. We look good moving the ball along the line and anything that diminishes that should be avoided. I suspect the back row bounty will at least allow rotation and probably Friday is an opportunity to rest a few against a dispirited Falcons who have a 5 day turnaround. But then again it’s a possible banana skin.

[PappjeShark]

My first thought when following along on Twitter was that RdP had got injured so I’m glad he hasn’t. He’s had an awful lot of minutes and Carps needed easing back in so perhaps a fair swap. Sure he’ll be back accustomed to English kicking conditions very shortly and be the dead eyed Fordy we’re used to.

In a more general sense, we’ve won 4 from 5 including 2 away. I remember in the first few years since becoming STH when winning 2 away in a season was an achievement. How far we’ve travelled since then and really puts into perspective apparent failings now vs then - apparent being the operative word.

[Olyy]

Nuts

[RinTin]

Nuts

That dominant tackle stat is unbelievable. What an engine this guy has.