View From The 22

https://www.salesharks.com/2026/02/27/t ... -sharks-7/

Starting XV:

15. Joe Carpenter, 14. Tom O’Flaherty, 13. Joe Bedlow, 12. Rekeiti Ma’asi-White, 11. Arron Reed, 10. Rob du Preez, 9. Gus Warr; 1. Si McIntyre, 2. Nathan Jibulu, 3. James Harper, 4. Ernst van Rhyn ©, 5. Ben Bamber, 6. Jacques Verrmeulen, 7. Sam Dugdale, 8. Dan du Preez.

Replacements:

16. Ethan Caine, 17. Ralph McEachran, 18. Tye Raymont, 19. Hyron Andrews, 20. Reuben Logan, 21. Dom Hanson, 22. Tom Curtis, 23. Alex Wills.

BRISTOL BEARS:

15. Rich Lane, 14. Kalaveti Ravouvou, 13. Jack Bates, 12. Benhard Janse van Rensburg, 11. Gabriel Ibitoye, 10. James Williams, 9. Harry Randall; 1. Max Lahiff, 2. Gabriel Oghre, 3. George Kloska, 4. George⁠ ⁠⁠Taylor, 5. Joe Batley, 6. Santiago Grondona, 7. Fitz Harding (c), 8. Viliame Mata.

Replacements: 16. Harry⁠ ⁠⁠Thacker, 17. Sam⁠ ⁠⁠Grahamslaw, 18. Jimmy⁠ ⁠⁠Halliwell, 19. James Dun, 20. Joe⁠ ⁠⁠Owen, 21. Kieran⁠ ⁠⁠Marmion, 22. Sam⁠ ⁠⁠Worsley, 23. Benjamin⁠ ⁠⁠Elizalde.

Both teams putting relatively strong line ups out.

Nice to OOTP James Williams at 10 for the Bears.

Based on recent form I'm not overly optimistic, but interested in seeing how we go on. Win or lose, I really want us to play some running attacking rugby.

Wonder how Bedlow will get on.

Go well lads!

AndaleManito wrote: ↑

Fri Feb 27, 2026 3:58 pm

Wonder how Bedlow will get on.

Go well lads!

I think Mr. B. Janse van Rensburg will have a field day.

Any thoughts on him playing for England as is now eligible?

Bristol Bears v Sale Sharks
Referee: Henry Pearson
ARs: Anthony Woodthorpe & Veryan Boscawen

Manchester Society referee.

Bronzbronx wrote: ↑

Fri Feb 27, 2026 5:31 pm

Any thoughts on him playing for England as is now eligible?

I'm not a huge fan of the residency based stuff, but understand it's place. If he meets all the requirements then he has to be worth looking at. I have felt that he has been markedly less influential in last couple of years, but I don't watch Bristol very often.

All assuming he has any desire to represent England of course.

I think our back three are going to have a torrid time with their attack. Would not be surprised
to see Bristol go round, over and through them. Just hoping that it is not another massacre.

I hope BJVR doesn't end up playing for England
He's an incredible player, and I love watching him play, but it'd just be yet another step towards international rugby being pointless as a concept.
He'd be playing for South Africa if he was good enough, or probably Japan if COVID hadn't happened

Personally I'd remove residency qualifications after a certain stage (I think you can still be classed as an academy player up until age 22 so maybe then?) - or have it as a sliding scale, so double residency length but have years before 22 count extra or something. So if you move as a fully fledged pro player you wait longer than a teenager whose parents emigrated somewhere




As to today's game: I'm expecting a bloodbath to be honest. Last week was the yard stick, Gloucester were in as poor form as we are and they tore us to shreds, Bristol are in much better shape this season

I prefer residency as a criterion to Grandparents' &/or parents' nation of birth. It's ludicrous that a player can represent a country in which they have never set foot.

Yeah, in my ideal/hypothetical interpretation it's where a player has their "rugby education"
International sport should be our best produced player vs your best produced player
Manu came through the England academy systems,
Brad Shields born and raised in New Zealand and moved to England with 8 seasons of super rugby under his belt, but qualified on ancestry

I know which I felt represented RFU rugby more

All hypotheticals, though - can't see it changing much more from the setup it has atm (well, other than if the RFU whine and complain like they did to get BJVR eligible )

Lord Elpus wrote: ↑

Sat Feb 28, 2026 11:50 am

I prefer residency as a criterion to Grandparents' &/or parents' nation of birth. It's ludicrous that a player can represent a country in which they have never set foot.

I’d counter that with my brother’s kids. They are kiwi born and raised but still very English. Support both countries pretty equally.

Yareet wrote: ↑

Sat Feb 28, 2026 2:46 pm

Lord Elpus wrote: ↑

Sat Feb 28, 2026 11:50 am

I prefer residency as a criterion to Grandparents' &/or parents' nation of birth. It's ludicrous that a player can represent a country in which they have never set foot.

I’d counter that with my brother’s kids. They are kiwi born and raised but still very English. Support both countries pretty equally.

It's not a counter argument. Supporting a nation isn't the same as representing it. If I understand you correctly the children are eligible to play for England without needing ever to visit the place.

Lord Elpus wrote: ↑

Sat Feb 28, 2026 3:08 pm

Yareet wrote: ↑

Sat Feb 28, 2026 2:46 pm

Lord Elpus wrote: ↑

Sat Feb 28, 2026 11:50 am

I prefer residency as a criterion to Grandparents' &/or parents' nation of birth. It's ludicrous that a player can represent a country in which they have never set foot.

I’d counter that with my brother’s kids. They are kiwi born and raised but still very English. Support both countries pretty equally.

It's not a counter argument. Supporting a nation isn't the same as representing it. If I understand you correctly the children are eligible to play for England without needing ever to visit the place.

I don't know if @Yareet's nieces/nephewss have set foot on that green and pleasant land, but yes in theory that could be true. My daughter was born in Australia, but to British parents, she is not officially Australian, she is British and has a British passport. She has been to England, twice, but if she were in the least interested in sport she would represent Australia by choice. (No, I don't know where I went wrong)

Under the current eligibility rules and the pattern of migration of UK citizens it's perfectly possible for a player to be eligible for seven countries, possibly more.
What is also silly is for a player born in England say, having two English born parents, three English born grandparents and one Scottish grandparent born in Scotland say. He/she is then eligible for Scotland.

Well bugger me…. we won!

Away from home and scoring seven tries. And Dan Du Preez lasted 70 minutes. What is this unfamiliar pleasant feeling I can feel?

I’m assuming we can’t see that rare event

Very happy to be very wrong in my prediction!

Sounds like defence optional for both sides, but hopefully a big confidence boost for the lads - especially in terms of scoring tries!

Lord Elpus wrote: ↑

Sat Feb 28, 2026 3:08 pm

Yareet wrote: ↑

Sat Feb 28, 2026 2:46 pm

Lord Elpus wrote: ↑

Sat Feb 28, 2026 11:50 am

I prefer residency as a criterion to Grandparents' &/or parents' nation of birth. It's ludicrous that a player can represent a country in which they have never set foot.

I’d counter that with my brother’s kids. They are kiwi born and raised but still very English. Support both countries pretty equally.

It's not a counter argument. Supporting a nation isn't the same as representing it. If I understand you correctly the children are eligible to play for England without needing ever to visit the place.

They have. But my point is that they are brought up as English as they are kiwi.

The one I always like is a friend of mine who lives in SW London. Born in Cheshire and grew up in Devon. But his dad was Welsh so he always supports Wales.

His wife is an Aussie so their kids have three nationalities to choose from.

Except one was born during the time they worked in Dubai. If the UAE government worked the same way as many other places, he’d have four nationalities to pick from.

To my mind, they’re all valid options.

How great to finally get a win!

Anyone at the match who can write a few words?

https://www.google.com/search?client=fi ... CihPo,st:0

Five minutes of highlights. Ben Bamber very noticeable .

One noticeable concern is how easily the defence is rounded by speed.
Elizalde is leaving Bristol apparently, don't know where he is going, but Carpenter needs a
bit more pace.

Carpenter's pace is fine for a 15 IMO - there aren't many players who will stop an accelerating Ibitoye on an arcing line like that. We're adding pace at 13 and wing so think it'll even out across the backline in general (do agree that at the moment we look sluggish in the backs - surprised that it was Bedlow chasing back on one of their first half tries, was beaten very easily for pace)

Love the trick play at the lineout for Jibulu's try, and that break from RMW for the one before

Scrum caps all round it seems. DDP and Jibulu now sporting them. Literal embodiment of Sanderson's mind palace chatter?...

Jokes aside good to see our attack firing. Defence questionable on both sides by the looks of it, but shows that when it gets loose we have the ability to stick with it. Good win.

Pleased we didn’t fold from 29 all

Literal embodiment of Sanderson's mind palace chatter?...

All for it as long as the scrum caps are not foil lined to inhibit the telepathic connections of the
team members.