Sale v Exeter Fri 7.45

[fivepointer]

Sale: L James; McGuigan, S James, Hill, Yarde; MacGinty, de Klerk; Rodd, Langdon, John, Beaumont, de Jager, Ross (capt.), Neild, D du Preez.

Replacements: Ashman, Harrison, Oosthuizen, Wiese, Dugdale, Quirke, R du Preez, Hammersley.

Exeter: Hodge; Cordero, Whitten, Devoto, O'Flaherty; J Simmonds, Maunder; Hepburn, Yeandle (capt), Williams, Lonsdale, S Skinner, Ewers, Vermeulen, S Simmonds.

Replacements: Innard, Moon, Street, Armand, Capstick, Townsend, H Skinner, Hendrickson.

[Mellsblue]

Hodge seems to be getting a run with Hogg away. How’s he going? I had high hopes watching him at age grade.

[FKAS]

I'm glad to see Hodge getting a run because it seemed initially that Baxter didn't trust him. I can't remember the game but he had a cameo off the bench where he beat players for fun but looked useless in contact and unable to hold onto the ball. Interesting to see how he develops because he could be special.

England future back three with Hodge and Steward in it. That's be tasty, crossfield kick option very much on with them both north of 6 foot (6ft2 and 6ft5 respectively) both with a cannon of a boot as well.

[Oakboy]

What is Lonsdale's background? Has he played in the 2nd row much? I thought I'd only seen him come of the bench as a flanker. With Armand on the bench covering the 2nd row, it seems the area where Exeter are struggling.

[FKAS]

Injuries and call ups seem to be leaving them a bit short in the row at present. Not helping their normally fearsome driving game.

[TheNomad]

I'm glad to see Hodge getting a run because it seemed initially that Baxter didn't trust him. I can't remember the game but he had a cameo off the bench where he beat players for fun but looked useless in contact and unable to hold onto the ball. Interesting to see how he develops because he could be special.

England future back three with Hodge and Steward in it. That's be tasty, crossfield kick option very much on with them both north of 6 foot (6ft2 and 6ft5 respectively) both with a cannon of a boot as well.

He’s talented but got turned over a few times yesterday, once crucially that (indirectly) cost them the game

[FKAS]

I'm glad to see Hodge getting a run because it seemed initially that Baxter didn't trust him. I can't remember the game but he had a cameo off the bench where he beat players for fun but looked useless in contact and unable to hold onto the ball. Interesting to see how he develops because he could be special.

England future back three with Hodge and Steward in it. That's be tasty, crossfield kick option very much on with them both north of 6 foot (6ft2 and 6ft5 respectively) both with a cannon of a boot as well.

He’s talented but got turned over a few times yesterday, once crucially that (indirectly) cost them the game

He looks a bit like a school boy thrown into senior rugby. Could do with adding a little muscle to help with the physical aspects. Nothing ridiculous but a kg or two can sometimes go a long way. He doesn't look as far progressed as Steward and I was a bit surprised Chiefs sacrificed Cordero Jnr as opposed to Hodge. Hodge does have that lovely swerve though it's very hard to teach that and I can see him gliding past a lot of dumbfounded looking players in the next few years.

I half watched the game and thought that knock on where he took contact in the 22 trying for an optimistic dart up the touchline was the kind of thing he'd have got away with at age grade. Right game in senior rugby either the boot or linking with some support would have been wiser. It's the loss of control as he hits the floor which is what let him down in the other cameo I saw. He's got to sort that out.

[fivepointer]

Spot on about Hodge. Looks like a lovely runner but does need to put on a few pounds and will need to make better decisions.
Cordero scored a cracking try and then is sacrificed! Tough call that one.
Yeandle's red was just dumb. Players have to display better control than that.
Exe up against it for most of the game and did well to take it into the last few minutes to be within a score.

[Oakboy]

Is Langdon EQ?

[fivepointer]

He is. Played really well last night.

[twitchy]

Quality from cordero jnr.

[Mellsblue]

Niiice. Lovely from Simmonds to put him through the gap but the rest is all his own work. I was trying to work out who the last player he beat before scoring was by working my way through Sale’s backrow options until Kay said it was Yarde...... seriously quick feet.

[FKAS]

It's a nice backs move and a lovely delayed pass from Simmonds. Simple but perfectly executed. Cordero Jnr looks to have something of his brother about him. He mugs off about a third of the Sale team on the way to the line there. Yarde won't enjoy the replay of that, he gets nowhere near him.

[Banquo]

It's a nice backs move and a lovely delayed pass from Simmonds. Simple but perfectly executed. Cordero Jnr looks to have something of his brother about him. He mugs off about a third of the Sale team on the way to the line there. Yarde won't enjoy the replay of that, he gets nowhere near him.

Yarde certainly has lost at least a yard.