[DavenportSharky]

Best Odds to win
Sale Sharks 4/5
Saracens 11/9
Draw 25/1

Best Odds to Win Premiership outright
Bath 6/5
Saracens 10/3
Bristol 8/1
Leicester 11/1
Sale 16/1

[DavenportSharky]

Friday 25 April

Sale Sharks v Saracens, Salford Community Stadium, 7.45pm - live on TNT Sports 1 and UHD

Referee: Christophe Ridley

Assistant Referees: Harry Walbaum and George Selwood

TMO: Stuart Terheege

[DavenportSharky]

https://saracens.com/press-notes-mark-m ... p-to-sale/

[DavenportSharky]

Sale Sharks Starting XV:  

15. Joe Carpenter, 14. Tom Roebuck, 13. Rob du Preez (c), 12. Rekeiti Ma’asi-White, 11. Arron Reed, 10. George Ford 9. Gus Warr, 1. Bevan Rodd, 2. Luke Cowan-Dickie, 3. Asher Opoku-Fordjour 4. Ben Bamber, 5. Hyron Andrews, 6. Ernst van Rhyn, 7. Tom Curry, 8. JL du Preez.  

Replacements:  

16. Tadgh McElroy, 17. Si McIntyre, 18. WillGriff John, 19. Josh Beaumont, 20. Dan du Preez, 21. Sam Dugdale, 22. Raffi Quirke, 23. Tom O’Flaherty.

[DavenportSharky]

Saracens Men team to play Sale Sharks:

1 Rhys Carre
2 Jamie George
3 Alec Clarey
4 Maro Itoje (c)
5 Hugh Tizard
6 Nick Isiekwe
7 Ben Earl
8 Tom Willis
9 Ivan van Zyl
10 Fergus Burke
11 Rotimi Segun
12 Olly Hartley
13 Nick Tompkins
14 Angus Hall
15 Elliot Daly

Replacements:

16 Theo Dan
17 Eroni Mawi
18 Harvey Beaton
19 Theo McFarland
20 Andy Onyeama-Christie
21 Juan Martin Gonzalez
22 Charlie Bracken
23 Alex Goode

[RinTin]

Big impact from the Sarries bench there, but I'd argue we also have impact and experience to come on.

This is very winnable. Looking at our settled team and performance last week, I think we should be targeting the bonus point win.

Do we want to stop Sarries getting anything from the game? Or maximise what we get and not worry about them getting 1 or 2 bonus points?

I'm hoping RMW can get one over on Olly Hartley. Both came through the Wasps academy set up together and played together for the first team a couple of times.

[Bucks1861]

If my maths is right Friday’s game will be Tom Roebucks’s 100th for us!!

[Yareet]

If my maths is right Friday’s game will be Tom Roebucks’s 100th for us!!

Would appear so

https://www.salesharks.com/2025/04/24/t ... aracens-3/

[DavenportSharky]

Looks like Sarries have noticed that we are prone to conceding in the last quarter so have loaded the bench. Need to be 50 points ahead with 20 minutes left!

[Evo]

Obviously both teams have gone 6/2....think our bench continues the vibe of the first 15, Sarries bench is a little looser, less physical.

I do think this could go either way, and will be decided by no's 1-3 and 9-10....

[poyntonshark]

I think we should be targeting the bonus point win.

Did it take you long to work that out?

Seriously though. I think we are in a position where we don't need to worry about anyone else, four wins, one with a BP and we are second despite what anyone else does. That has to be the target.

[RinTin]

I think we should be targeting the bonus point win.

Did it take you long to work that out?

Seriously though. I think we are in a position where we don't need to worry about anyone else, four wins, one with a BP and we are second despite what anyone else does. That has to be the target.

If it was a full bore Sarries side from the get go with every one of their big names fit I would just be aiming to win. The team they are putting out makes me think the BP is possible, therefore a realistic target is more than just a win.

[Olyy]

Isiekwe at 6 is interesting when they've got AOC and McFarland on the bench - really rate NI, will add more bulk and lineout threat and then more dynamism off the bench. Glad to se DDP back to offer us the same

Scrums will be interesting, Riccioni is a loss


Really looking forward to this one, should be a cracker

[ageinghoody]

Start by aiming for the win, anything more is just a distraction putting extra pressure on yourselves. Think about the fourth try once you've got the third.

In a different context, there's a saying regularly being quoted at the moment, "Enter the conclave as a Pope, come out a cardinal."

Enter the pitch with five points, come off with ... ?

[exileneal]

Just an outline of our tries per game:

W - Quins home - 0
L - Sarries away - 3
W - Gloucester home - 5
W - Newcastle home - 6
L - Saints away - 2
L - Bath away - 1
W - Leics home - 6
W - Exeter home - 4
W - Bristol away - 4
L - Gloucs away - 3
L - Bath home - 3
W - Newcastle away - 5
W - Saints home - 4
W - Quins away - 7

Three games where we were one try away. All were games we lost and so the team would rightly have been more occupied with trying to get the win in whatever way possible than focussing specifically on tries.

The only time we’ve won and not got the try bonus was in dire conditions against Quins on the opening weekend. Which perhaps suggests that we have the balance right in terms of playing a natural game to win usually getting us in a position where we either score four tries in the process or at least leaves us with enough time towards the end, if the win is something we are more confident on, that we can successfully push for the tries needed for the bonus.

[Olyy]

What are our losing BPs like, though?
I feel like when we lose we usually lose big and don't get try BP or losing BP

[Yareet]

What are our losing BPs like, though?
I feel like when we lose we usually lose big and don't get try BP or losing BP

I believe you’re correct

[exileneal]

Yeah our losing BPs are awful - when we lose we get thumped and usually don’t pick up either type of bonus point.

My “analysis” (a term that lends it more cachet than it deserves!) was just in response to the point made earlier about targeting the game as a bonus point win. My theory is that usually when we get the win, we play well enough to get the try bonus point too anyway. So I think if we just focus on getting the win against tough opposition then there is a good chance that if we succeed in that the bonus point will take care of itself along the way.

[Lord Elpus]

What are our losing BPs like, though?
I feel like when we lose we usually lose big and don't get try BP or losing BP

tbp 8 lbp 0

[Olyy]

2 losing bonus points and we're in second place - definitely one to work on

[Flumpty]

Bloody Hell. Sharky is absolutely massive

[Olyy]

We've come to play!

[Streatham Shark]

Next score crucial. Ideally a try given their bench. Credit where it's due though, this is a monumental effort. The boys have definitely had their oats.

[RinTin]

Shouldn’t this scrum be ours as he was held up following catching a kick?? Is that an old rule?

[Streatham Shark]

Prince Christophe: why?

[Olyy]

Can understand why the ref blew because that second one definitely looked a knock on live but jeeeeeeze, just don't blow and let the TMO check - he was under the sticks!

[ejndavid95]

Sir Christophe has been absolutely diabolical this evening, even by his standards

[Streatham Shark]

Seriously Christophe, what are you playing at?

[Olyy]

I know it's the laws but come on, that's a try

[RinTin]

F*****G BONUS POINTS! Hell.

Locked out sarries, epic defence, some amazing tries.

Negative - no bonus point, only 3 points scored in the second half.

[Olyy]

Obviously delighted with the win but brutal to not get a BP because of an incorrect ref call

First half was massive, Sarries woke up in the second half but feel we definitely could've/should've got the 5

[Streatham Shark]

I don't want Alex to go full Dimes, but serious questions need to be asked about that performance by Ridley because his decision on the non try was rank incompetence
That aside, it was a fantastic performance again, the guys are really coming into their own and are clearly playing for one another. Really confident after that

[RinTin]

I don't want Alex to go full Dimes, but serious questions need to be asked about that performance by Ridley because his decision on the non try was rank incompetence
That aside, it was a fantastic performance again, the guys are really coming into their own and are clearly playing for one another. Really confident after that

Throw in Raffi getting pinged for the floor tackle vs Van Zyl’s in the first half.

Mistakes get made, very annoying though.

[RugbyMarvel]

Watched the game tonight whilst back up north with the family. My Dad is an old school rugby player, motto of never question or blame the ref. Even he was seething at the rank incompetence around not only the Quirke non try, but the pen against Quirke but not against Van Zyl.

It is very painful to watch. The refs are quite well remunerated. If I was to make mistakes in my job, I’d be under serious pressure. I’m not sure the current process to tackle mistakes in the officiating of rugby actually works.

Positive note, I don’t think we had a great game as a team outside of defence. I don’t think any players had brilliant games. But they did the basics so well that we beat a team packed with internationals.

Love it. Let’s go.

[Flumpty]

Blimey, tough crowd in here tonight.

I saw probably the best try that I've ever seen at Sale tonight, then Speedy McReedy capped it with an even better one a few minutes later.

Thouroughly battered Sarries in every aspect of the game and absolutely loved it.

OK the ref made a mistake, so what, he made his apologies and the game moves on. During the 80 mins of the game tonight, many players made many mistakes, several of which could have led to points scoring opportunities, but for various reasons (wrong option taken, ball retained when should have been passed, ball dropped when it was seemingly easier to catch it etc etc). It happens, noone is perfect. Move on.

& take delight in the spanking that was delivered to Sarries and the tries that we scored.

[poyntonshark]

Thats not just a mistake it's ludicrous and may just have cost us a home semi-final. But it's OK he apologised.

Brilliant first half thoroughly rocked Sarries. Lost some intensity in the middle part of the game and allowed them a sniff, but defence was excellent throughout. Disappointing not to get the bonus for FIVE tries, still quite a few unforced handling errors and forcing of ill-advised offloads (but that is nitpicking). Continue this form, and we can easily make the playoffs. The bonus point should also come; not many other sides have a defensive line-out like Sarries.

[SSR]

Great game and GF showed what a player he is ( again ). Everyone played their part in a
great team effort.
Marvellous result but a shame we did not get a bonus point. That did not lose us a
home semi though, the many bonus points ( and losses ) missed earlier in the season will be the
reason if we don't.
Can't argue with the spirit and grit we are showing along with some great skill.
Bl**dy well done lads and thank you.
Hope there are no injuries.

[Bucks1861]

https://www.planetrugby.com/news/sale-s ... itle-hopes

Their five takeaways.

[DavenportSharky]

You can say what you like about the Ridley no try but to actually not mention it in the match report is odd. Yes there will be lots of reasons for not making a home semi but none more frustrating.

Arron Reed scores ‘try of the season’ as George Ford guides Sale to second

https://www.thetimes.com/article/deb1c8 ... fff9ce8a69

[ageinghoody]

I don't know who was the Sale player commenting with Radio Manchester last night (yes, they finally decided to notice we exist!) but he opined that Ridley performed well ... apart from that one call!

There are repeated complaints that refs rely too much on the TMO and don't have the courage to make their own decision. Maybe last night's clear howler, and even moreso the reaction to it, explain why that might be the case.

Whatever, we can't have it both ways.

[Yareet]

https://www.planetrugby.com/news/sale-s ... itle-hopes

Their five takeaways.

Just my take from watching it on TV but I assumed the warm applause when Willis went off was more for Onyeama-Christie’s return

[Lord Elpus]

Year 11's error aside we gave the ball up too often - especially in mauls - and messed up attacking lineouts as normal. Btw - the over-the-top to RMW worked fine but we kept giving Itoje a chance to pinch it.

Oddly this season we seem to score far more playing to the away end rather than the home end.

Re the ref/TMO - let's not forget there are two assistant refs. too - not mere touch judges.

[RugbyMarvel]

I think we actually scored two try of the season contenders, Reeds was unreal but Fords finish off the brilliant work of Roebuck was also top top class.

[Streatham Shark]

Pleasing that the times mentions how well Roebuck and Carpenter linked up, I thought the latter was outstanding - he pretty much always beats the first man when running the ball back and he really makes the defense second guess themselves.

[RugbyMarvel]

Agreed, Carpenter has that knack of beating the first man and his ever growing ability to then accelerate through the opening gap is becoming really dangerous.

Roebuck becoming top top level.

[Lord Elpus]

Carpenter has fine attacking skills but his defence and kicking need a lot of work.

[LJK]

What a difference between the last two games, but both with fantastic results. V Quins it was all about the forwards, with the backs hardly featuring, and last last night the tries were all by the backs...and what tries too! I agree that the build up to the Ford try was just outstanding by Carps and Roebuck, and a great team try, v Reed's run, which was just fantastic to watch coming so soon after the previous one.
The Ridley error was poor, given the play was close to the linesman who should have seen it clearly enough, but think he also did us a favour for Sarries disallowed try. He declared it as held up before asking the TMO. Think it looked to me that the tip of the ball had been grounded from the best angle they showed.
Anyway another superb showing from Sale, and what looked unlikely only a short time back, now looks much more positive. I still can't see a home semi, but feel more sure about being in the playoffs. The other games this weekend will make that clearer.

[DavenportSharky]

https://www.planetrugby.com/news/sale-sharks-v-saracens-five-takeaways-as-george-ford-fires-lions-reminder-in-a-savage-blow-to-sarries-title-hopes

Their five takeaways.

Just my take from watching it on TV but I assumed the warm applause when Willis went off was more for Onyeama-Christie’s return

I was there so not sure what the TV was showing but Joe Carpenter came off at the same time as Willis so I suspect that a lot of the applause was for him rather than Willis or Christie. Willis did play very well and certainly fits the England 8 role better than Earl. In fact I can’t remember Earl doing anything of note last night.

As far as the touch judges were concerned, I thought their estimation of where the ball exited play was pretty poor. Gus Warr was very upset with one of them when he was carted off by someone and felt the official should have informed Ridley. The only person responsible for the no try incident was Ridley himself as he pretty instantly blew up. I doubt the other officials had time to contribute. If he was blindsided then he should have let play continue and reviewed later. Let’s hope we are not talking about this in a few weeks time.

Is it just me or is Alex Goode particularly irritating?

[Lord Elpus]

Is it just me or is Alex Goode particularly irritating?

Good player but a top class whinger imho.

[RugbyMarvel]

Bearing in mind Itoje was captain, Jamie George was allowed a lot of chat with the ref. Constant moaning from him also. Real shame as I like him but he didn’t take his pack being physically dominated well.