Sale vs Exeter friday - 6pm

[fivepointer]

Exe just too good. Sale were the better side up till h/t, then Exeter took control in a mightily impressive manner.

Curry was excellent but that is his default position nowadays. Also impressed with Sam Simmonds in the Exeter back row. The Hill-Gray pairing at lock already looks formidable and Williams had a strong game.

Still too many penalties being coughed up, but this was much better than the rugby over the first weekend back.

[twitchy]

The first half sale were just bullying exe. I rarely see teams do that. It should also be said that exe scored some really well crafted tries. That certainly doesn't fit the narrative either.

That being said I loved seeing lcd scoring the tap penalty. That just makes me so nostalgic from when I played. You just never really see it that much at pro level (do you?). I remember we actually had set moves off tap penalties which we spent ages practicing.

[Banquo]

How did Joe Simmonds go? I suppose I could just go and watch the highlights.

[Epaminondas Pules]

How did Joe Simmonds go? I suppose I could just go and watch the highlights.

He was good. Took the ball to the line, sacrificed himself to create space. Kicking was pretty good. Decision making excellent. Was named MoTM and that was probably right (though there were other good Exeter players).

[Banquo]

How did Joe Simmonds go? I suppose I could just go and watch the highlights.

He was good. Took the ball to the line, sacrificed himself to create space. Kicking was pretty good. Decision making excellent. Was named MoTM and that was probably right (though there were other good Exeter players).

Good to know, like the way he plays. Understated but classy.

[twitchy]

How did Joe Simmonds go? I suppose I could just go and watch the highlights.

He was good. Took the ball to the line, sacrificed himself to create space. Kicking was pretty good. Decision making excellent. Was named MoTM and that was probably right (though there were other good Exeter players).

He was good and bad imo. I was actually surprised he got motm. I thought quite a few of his passes went missing in the first half. That was obviously under immense pressure from the sale line speed/physicality but even so.

[Mikey Brown]

Just checking out the extended highlights on this now as I only saw one try.

That first Exeter try is beautiful. Simmonds with a really crucial clearance right at the beginning of that possession and is all over the pitch before getting on the end of that one.

[Mikey Brown]

Haha. That LCD pick and go try was so quick that Jonny Gray hadn't even realised what was happening.

[Mikey Brown]

Marland Yarde putting in a massive physical effort for 80 minutes and then dropping the ball attempting a hitch-kick really sums him up as a player.

[Puja]

There's a very real chance that Sale could wind up with zero points from their first 4 games back after the break. They're likely to put the 2nds out against Wasps in midweek and then straight after that, they have Bristol.

Puja

[Raggs]

Their 2nds don't look too shabby though. They've got a small squad but a quality one.

[Scrumhead]

In some positions, yes, but in others they have no depth at all. I think they only have two tightheads for example and losing McGuigan to injury is really going to stretch their back three options.

[fivepointer]

Sale are light in certain positions and this is a major reason why i think they are some way off being title contenders.
They will surely rest most of their 1st choice players against Wasps and put out a stronger side at home to Bristol.

[Raggs]

Wow, just looking closer at the squad. 5 props, 3 hookers, now only 2 fit wingers, 2 9s!

[Scrumhead]

Yep. It doesn’t really matter how good Ben Curry or RJvR are when the rest of the squad is threadbare.

Apparently Beaumont is almost back to fitness and eventually Wiese will arrive which will both help.

From an England POV, I’m happy with Tuilagi going there and playing regularly at 12, but I can’t help feeling that they would’ve been better to invest in some depth.

[Raggs]

Yep. It doesn’t really matter how good Ben Curry or RJvR are when the rest of the squad is threadbare.

Apparently Beaumont is almost back to fitness and eventually Wiese will arrive which will both help.

From an England POV, I’m happy with Tuilagi going there and playing regularly at 12, but I can’t help feeling that they would’ve been better to invest in some depth.

Well if they can take it easy tomorrow it'll be much appreciated.

[twitchy]

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union ... nnovative/

[Digby]

That really is a nice try from Exeter, other than Cuthbert being a bit weird going into contact

[Scrumhead]

The first half sale were just bullying exe. I rarely see teams do that. It should also be said that exe scored some really well crafted tries. That certainly doesn't fit the narrative either.

That being said I loved seeing lcd scoring the tap penalty. That just makes me so nostalgic from when I played. You just never really see it that much at pro level (do you?). I remember we actually had set moves off tap penalties which we spent ages practicing.

I know exactly what you mean. Sometimes I don’t understand why teams don’t have more tap based moves. As virtually no one does it any more, it could actually be effective.

Short range, I can understand why a 5m catch and drive or a scrum is attractive, but it depends on how good your set piece is. As a Quins fan, I often wish we’d take more tap penalties as our conversion rate from lineout drives is very low (although ironically that’s exactly how we scored against Sale). Hopefully Flannery helps sort that out, but until then, a tap penalty and keeping the ball isn’t the worst option. Obviously even ineffective mauls and scrums tie in defenders, but it’s not like teams don’t regularly score pick and go tries in open play.

[Raggs]

Wasps have been going for tap and goes recently. Nice to see, and so far paying off.