Challenge Cup Thread

[Mikey Brown]

Is it worth having just a single thread for this?

I mean nobody cares enough to have individual match threads each time do they? However I'd like to note that Clifford returns to the 23. Shame it's too late for the Autumn as he was well worth a shot before this last injury.



Good looking team. Saili, Merrick, Kunatini getting starts is a big positive. I guess Horwill has played his 1 game for this season.

[fivepointer]

Excellent to see Clifford back.

[Mellsblue]

It is good see Clifford back. Quality player.

To avoid time over the weekend.....any news on how bad his injury is?

[Stom]

That's a big positive team wise.

I really hope Clifford is not rushing things, he needs a nice, long, slow reintroduction so we don't break him again...

Is Horwill just fecked or are we simply managing him by not playing him when he doesn't need to?

Good to see Elia in there, too.

[Digby]

Is it worth having just a single thread for this?

Perhaps, though my instinct is it's one too many.

[fivepointer]

Te'o on bench for Wuss.

[Tigger]

Sale team

XV: 15.Sam James; 14.Byron McGuigan, 13.James O’Connor, 12.Rohan Janse Van Rensburg, 11.Chris Ashton; 10.Kieran Wilkinson, 9.Faf De Klerk; 1.Ross Harrison, 2.Rob Webber, 3.WillGriff John, 4.Bryn Evans, 5.James Phillips, 6.Jono Ross (capt), 7.Tom Curry, 8.Josh Beaumont.

Replacements: 16.Curtis Langdon, 17.Tom Bristow, 18.Alexandru Tarus, 19.George Nott, 20.Ben Curry, 21.Will Cliff, 22.Luke James, 23.Arron Reed

Unavailable for selection were Marland Yarde, AJ MacGinty, Cameron Redpath, Denny Solomona, Josh Strauss, James Flynn, Mark Jennings, Bevan Rodd and Sam Moore.

[Mikey Brown]

Is the James/JOC positional switch a permanent thing?

[Digby]

Ashton on the left wing is unexpected

[Scrumhead]

That's a big positive team wise.

I really hope Clifford is not rushing things, he needs a nice, long, slow reintroduction so we don't break him again...

Is Horwill just fecked or are we simply managing him by not playing him when he doesn't need to?

Good to see Elia in there, too.

Really happy with that lineup. Hopefully we can build upon the result last week and start building some momentum before our internationals drop out of the squad.

Brilliant to see Clifford on the team sheet (a timely return given Robshaw’s injury) and also I’m really interested to see how Saili goes at 12.

If we can keep this squad fit, this is the best depth we’ve had in ages.

[Epaminondas Pules]

Sale team

XV: 15.Sam James; 14.Byron McGuigan, 13.James O’Connor, 12.Rohan Janse Van Rensburg, 11.Chris Ashton; 10.Kieran Wilkinson, 9.Faf De Klerk; 1.Ross Harrison, 2.Rob Webber, 3.WillGriff John, 4.Bryn Evans, 5.James Phillips, 6.Jono Ross (capt), 7.Tom Curry, 8.Josh Beaumont.

Replacements: 16.Curtis Langdon, 17.Tom Bristow, 18.Alexandru Tarus, 19.George Nott, 20.Ben Curry, 21.Will Cliff, 22.Luke James, 23.Arron Reed

Unavailable for selection were Marland Yarde, AJ MacGinty, Cameron Redpath, Denny Solomona, Josh Strauss, James Flynn, Mark Jennings, Bevan Rodd and Sam Moore.

Awesome to see Wilkinson staring again! Proper talent that kid and game time, especially with Faf, will do his development wonders.

[fivepointer]

Saints won 35-21 at Dragons
Line up : Tuala; Collins, Kellaway, Francis, Naiyaravoro; Biggar, Mitchell; Waller (capt), Haywood, Franks, Ribbans, Lawes, Gibson, Wood, Harrison.
Replacements: Fish, Van Wyk, Painter, Barrow, Ludlam, Reinach, Grayson, Burrell.

[fivepointer]

Sale won and guess who scored a hat trick of tries?

[Mikey Brown]

Josh Beaumont?

[Mikey Brown]

Rob Webber?

[Galfon]

Wuss top of a tough Pool 2 with 2 wins fi' 2.
No BP today but good win against Ospreys who are having a good season.

[Scrumhead]

Sale won and guess who scored a hat trick of tries?

WillGriff John obviously

[Mellsblue]

Rob Webber?

Tries. He said tries, not pies.

[Warrior85]

Worcester were poor today but still managed to scrape together a win. Great start to the competition. Really on a roll at the moment.

England squad wise: Ben Te'o looks a long long way from being match fit...should be nowhere near a test squad.
Ted Hill had a solid game, lots of choke tackles and great defensively.

[Scrumhead]

Quins contrived to lose 19-13 to Grenoble. Following on Twitter it sounded as though we were mainly he better team but screwed up a number of try scoring opportunities and our subs cost us the game with some idiotic play. Bothma and Catrakilis getting the most stick.

[morepork]

Quins contrived to lose 19-13 to Grenoble. Following on Twitter it sounded as though we were mainly he better team but screwed up a number of try scoring opportunities and our subs cost us the game with some idiotic play. Bothma and Catrakilis getting the most stick.

I watched it (stuck at work waiting for something to finish). You blew at least 3 clear try scoring opportunities, all off clean breaks. That baby faced 10 was putting some sweet short balls in but the backs were too slow to both run and support. Passing was a bit pish too. Some classic heave it at the inside shoulder of the supporting runner at pace. Default back move seems to be give it to Saili.

[Mikey Brown]

Quins contrived to lose 19-13 to Grenoble. Following on Twitter it sounded as though we were mainly he better team but screwed up a number of try scoring opportunities and our subs cost us the game with some idiotic play. Bothma and Catrakilis getting the most stick.

I watched it (stuck at work waiting for something to finish). You blew at least 3 clear try scoring opportunities, all off clean breaks. That baby faced 10 was putting some sweet short balls in but the backs were too slow to both run and support. Passing was a bit pish too. Some classic heave it at the inside shoulder of the supporting runner at pace. Default back move seems to be give it to Saili.

Not surprised to hear any of that I’m afraid. Saili has played 3 games in the season and a bit he’s been with us so if he’s on the pitch we should definitely demand he does something.

[Tom Moore]

Looks like Clifford got through half a game unscathed, so I assume on the basis of that tomorrow is now a Bank Holiday?