[DavenportSharky]

Sale Sharks v Leicester Tigers
Referee: Adam Leal (42nd Prem match)
ARs: Hamish Smales & Peter Allan
TMO: Tom Foley

[DavenportSharky]

https://www.leicestertigers.com/news/ti ... -term-deal

[SSR]

I hope we field our strongest possible side. Really could do with a five point win ( I hope I
have not jinxed the match ). Good luck lads !

[RinTin]

https://www.leicestertigers.com/news/ti ... -term-deal

Not exactly the most positive signing - an over-the-hill former international who has just retired to the MLR.

[DavenportSharky]

Presumably a mate of Cheika

[DavenportSharky]

Sale Sharks Starting XV:  

15. Joe Carpenter, 14. Tom Roebuck, 13. Rob du Preez, 12. Luke James, 11. Arron Reed, 10. George Ford, 9. Gus Warr, 1. Bevan Rodd, 2. Luke Cowan-Dickie, 3. Asher Opoku-Fordjour, 4. Ernst van Rhyn, 5. Hyron Andrews, 6. Tom Curry, 7. Ben Curry ©, 8. Dan du Preez.  

Replacements:  

16. Tadgh McElroy, 17. Si McIntyre, 18. James Harper, 19. JL du Preez, 20. Tom Burrow, 21. Sam Dugdale, 22. Raffi Quirke, 23. Will Addison.

[DavenportSharky]

Some confusion on website as to whether it’s Bamber or Burrow on the bench. No Schonert. Great to see Luke James starting. 6-2 again which has hurt us before.

[DavenportSharky]

STARTING XV

15 Freddie Steward [93]

14 Anthony Watson [22]

13 Izaia Perese [5]

12 Solomone Kata [23]

11 Ollie Hassell-Collins [29]

10 Handré Pollard [36]

9 Jack van Poortvliet [78]

1 Nicky Smith [6]

2 Charlie Clare [101]

3 Joe Heyes [146]

4 George Martin [68]

5 Tom Manz [9]

6 Hanro Liebenberg [113]

7 Tommy Reffell [120]

8 Olly Cracknell [48]

REPLACEMENTS

16 Archie Vanes [17]

17 James Cronin [39]

18 Dan Cole [328]

19 Jed Holloway*

20 Emeka Ilione [25]

21 Ben Youngs [319]

22 Jamie Shillcock [32]

23 Will Wand [5]

[RinTin]

That Leicester backline worries me a lot, the centre combo in particular has been lethal this year for them. Blend that with Pollard pulling the strings and we could have some problems there.

Flipped on it's head our pack looks mighty.

6-2 split will hopefully work given the versatility of Addison and the fact Rob covers 10, Luke can cover 13 and 15. Do we suspect Raffi has done some training on the wing?? Our answer to Grant Williams.

[DavenportSharky]

Sale Sharks Starting XV:

15. Nikita Prothero, 14. Sophbie Hopkins, 13. Bea Rigoni, 12. Laura Perrin, 11. Holly Thorpe, 10. Lizzie Duffy, 9. Sofia Stefan, 1. Catie Benson, 2. Scarlett Fielding, 3. Detysha Harper, 4. Trudy Cowan, 5. Erica Jarrell, 6. Niamh Swailes, 7. Alba Capell, 8. Jasmine Hazell

Replacements:

16. Amber Schonert, 17. Sophie Lewis, 18. Nick James, 19. Iona Antwis, 20. Lucie Sams, 21. Olivia Ortiz, 22. Robyn Wilkins, 23. Vicky A Irwin

So Schonert is playing after all.

[dinogyro]

Even though this is probably the strongest team we can select, this is starting to look like a double loss. Sorry for the pessimism.

[Olyy]

I'm not a fan of 6:2 benches at all, but other than that I'm happy with the side - did think we might see Waisea in the 23 after shaking off the cobwebs with Fiji over the Autumn Internationals

Shame no Schonert

Really don't know how this is going to go, hope that a number of returning leaders in the side can shake the stink of the last few rounds off, but I'm not overly optimistic

[DavenportSharky]

Best odds
Sale to win 3-4
Tigers to win 13-10
Draw 22-1

1st try scorer
Raffi 20-1
Gus 28-1
Ford 50-1
Bevan 50-1
Asher 66-1
Hyron 80-1

[wrinklieshark]

We're in trouble if it's Raffi ....

[Evo]

Encouraged by the team selection - excited by the energy that the pack"on paper" appears to have. Certainly should be after the turnovers in abundance. At ad surprised Jonny Hill doesn't make the bench
Half backs will have a point to prove and the back three as always fills me with optimism.
A little concerned with the centre pairing versus that of the Tigers, but...confident of a win!

[Stoke Shark]

This is the last game of Hills ban. Free to play next week

[Evo]

Thank you, I mistakenly thought he was good to go on the 1st.

Be interesting though how he is reintegrated back into the 23 without the luxury of practice games etc.

[Olyy]

Massive result for the Budgies tonight, hopefully we can do the same

[Lord Elpus]

Massive result for the Budgies tonight, hopefully we can do the same

I was hoping for 0-0.

Brizz were sensational last night v Smith-less Quins. Their combined handling and pace were in a different league to ours. I'm sorry but there's no way Roebuck should be ahead of Ibitoye for England. Roll on 2026 when the other Janse van Rensburg qualifies.

Re Schonert - came off after 20 odd mins. v Budgies so guessing crocked again.

[DavenportSharky]

Yes Bristol were on fire. Seem quite happy to let the opposition score 5 tries if they can score 6.
It’s extraordinary to think that Ibitoye was playing in Tel Aviv not too long ago. Not sure his defence or work in the air is international class but his attack certainly is. The only problem is whether England team mates could keep up with him.

[Olyy]

His defence would make Cipriani blush,
Absolutely insane on attack though, would like to see him tour with England next summer when the Lions is on

BJvR is one of my favourite players in the Prem, so skillful, and I know it's inevitable but I hope he doesn't play for England - makes a mockery of what international sport should be
There's talk that he might not be eligible because of his South Africa u20s appearances but who knows - Duhan played u20s and is Scottish now, but Jacques Vermeulen has been told his u20s caps have locked him to SA

[poyntonshark]

Depends whether U20's was classed as SA's second team at the time they played (i.e. they had no 'A' Team at the time) . England didn't select a Saxons team for a few years so any U20's caps counted as senior caps.

[dinogyro]

Massive result for the Budgies tonight, hopefully we can do the same

Why did Newcastle kick the ball off the pitch at the end when they had a penalty? A 3 point point score would have denied Saracens the losing bonus point. Or was it a free kick? Or had I consumed too much alcohol by then?

[Yareet]

Massive result for the Budgies tonight, hopefully we can do the same

Why did Newcastle kick the ball off the pitch at the end when they had a penalty? A 3 point point score would have denied Saracens the losing bonus point. Or was it a free kick? Or had I consumed too much alcohol by then?

It was a full pen (red card to Tizard) but I can understand it.

Imagine they missed, Sarries caught the ball and went the length.

I’d imagine a win was everything to Falcons whilst catching Sarries in the league is a pipe dream.

[SSR]

League table makes grim reading after the results this weekend ( so far ). We are in danger of
becoming adrift. Same number of wins as Glos but six points behind.
I hope the necessity to start winning ( with bonus points ) does not prove a burden too
heavy for the team. Did not think we would miss Manu's presence so much. Hiding behind the
sofa for this one.

[DavenportSharky]

Manchester United, Manchester City, Sale Sharks…….

Has Putin put something in the water?

[SSR]

As a matter of interest does anyone know where the player who fills a Nayacalevu-shaped
hole is ?

[Surbiton_Shark]

As a matter of interest does anyone know where the player who fills a Nayacalevu-shaped
hole is ?

He might be on standdown due to the internationals
Or we decided if we're not going to bother passing him the ball then what's the point in playing him?

Got the women's game on - not a classic start by us - lovely finish from our winger was good

[dinogyro]

As a matter of interest does anyone know where the player who fills a Nayacalevu-shaped
hole is ?

He might be on standdown due to the internationals
Or we decided if we're not going to bother passing him the ball then what's the point in playing him?

Got the women's game on - not a classic start by us - lovely finish from our winger was good

That game has turned bad pretty quickly.

[The Back Row]

First women's club game i've ever seen. Ten minutes in - I have views. But maybe my expectations are wrong. Give me a club standard this should compare to, these are not full time professionals - so someone who watches it regularly help me out, is this a good game, a poor game or pretty much par for the course.

[dinogyro]

It's par for the course for Sale women, I'm afraid. A poor start to the season and generally they lack a bit of belief and cohesion.

[The Back Row]

Im seeing (On an admittedly minuscule sample) generally good handling, pace when teams find an edge, forwards look lower club level (Out of shape and chosen for set piece and short carries - but the e.g. of the Tiggers bonus point try the 'Quality move' was simply running a long lazy loop around a prop who cant run). Good discipline in rucks. Kicking absymal.

Whats the USPs of women's rugby? With slower, less mobile forwards and big pace differentials, Im assuming more space, so more line breaks and foot races?

[Surbiton_Shark]

My first time watching - one USP seems to be the amount of time the ball is in play!!!

Our 11 and 14 look terrific - beautiful runners ball in hand.

[dinogyro]

If this is your first taste of women's rugby, it's not the best introduction. It's the bottom two of the league playing.

Generally, womens rugby is a lot better.

[Surbiton_Shark]

I'm already stupid nervous for this match.

I knew we needed to win.....then they showed the table....we REALLY have to win.

Good we have some more forwards coming back - I still don't think we have a style of play that will score tries created from the backs - it's a massive handbrake on us but let's see!

[Olyy]

Decent goal line defence considering how poor it looked for the build up to the line

Ref very generous not to card us, think we've given away about 8 penalties before that warning

[Olyy]

Starting Rodd after almost three months out is looking the wrong choice
Always felt he was the kind of player that grows into his form, probably should've been on the bench today

[Surbiton_Shark]

Luke James.. why oh why did it take us so long to put him as a centre….

[Olyy]

Lovely try, and nice for DDP to get it on his century

[Olyy]

Ford getting strapped up,
6:2 curse is stretching it's legs

[Olyy]

Starting Rodd after almost three months out is looking the wrong choice
Always felt he was the kind of player that grows into his form, probably should've been on the bench today

Take it back, he's warming up nicely

[RinTin]

Bevan on top now. Took time to adapt to Hayes and the refereeing interpretation.

[RinTin]

Poor penalty count and look poor every time a high ball is put on us.

That aside we are deserving of the narrow lead at half time imo.

[Surbiton_Shark]

Even Steven at half time. Rodd really got wound up by earlier scrum pens and getting his own back

Our rolling maul is really on top and Luke is going really well.

Need to cut out pens conceded on our side. Already in double figures and crucially our bench needs to make a positive impact

[Olyy]

Two from Scotland's finest secures the BP in 7mins!

Need to keep the pressure on now, though, can't let complacency set it

[Olyy]

Masher!

[Lord Elpus]

ASHER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Couldn't lay a finger on him.

[Olyy]

Nightmare offload from Curry

They need to check this new lock's tight 5 credentials, that kick couldn't have been better

[Olyy]

What a trysaver from JL

[Olyy]

Obviously 5pt is the ideal result, but the performance i'm most happy with - unrecognisable from the last few rounds

Great to see Raffi and Rodd back, and Luke put in a good shift at 12
DDP and JLdP both firing too, and LCD increasingly looking like he did pre-injury