Briatol vs Sale, Euro QF rd2

[Adam_P]

Sale need some tackle practice, they're very lucky not to have another off the field. Also looked like a no arms in putting Bristol into touch just now

[Mellsblue]

The Dan du Preez’s shot may be the worst tackle of the lot.

[Adam_P]

The Dan du Preez’s shot may be the worst tackle of the lot.

Agreed - definitely saved by the ref clearly just not wanting to send off half the team

[Puja]

Sale could end up down to 12 if they're not careful. Their defence is wild and frantic and there's been a couple of flailing arms and thrown shoulders that they're absolutely not in control of.

27-33 on aggregate now - Bristol one try away from the lead. I'll be interested to see if they can make me eat my words from earlier in the thread. They're attacking from everywhere now.

Puja

[Puja]

Van Rensburg needs absolutely shooting. Joe Joyce takes the ball and just spins through a weak tackle that should've been very straightforward to then walk over the line. Bristol now 1 point ahead on aggregate, which I didn't see coming... and they've just failed to clear their lines from the kick-off and conceded a penalty in front of the posts. Sale back in front.

Puja

[Mellsblue]

Ridiculous decision even before you take Dan du Preez’s tackle in to account.

[Mellsblue]

Van Rensburg needs absolutely shooting.

Puja

I think someone may have done before the ‘high’ tackle.

[Puja]

Bristol have just got a yellow for a high tackle, but I don't think that's actually foul play - he's bent at the waist, it's not an upright tackle. It is head contact, but he's making a legal tackle and the Sale player has just slipped over. Poor refereeing.

Puja

[Mellsblue]

Bristol have just got a yellow for a high tackle, but I don't think that's actually foul play - he's bent at the waist, it's not an upright tackle. It is head contact, but he's making a legal tackle and the Sale player has just slipped over. Poor refereeing.

Puja

Yep. Other than evaporating I’m not sure what the defender could’ve done.

[Puja]

Bristol have just got a yellow for a high tackle, but I don't think that's actually foul play - he's bent at the waist, it's not an upright tackle. It is head contact, but he's making a legal tackle and the Sale player has just slipped over. Poor refereeing.

Puja

Yep. Other than evaporating I’m not sure what the defender could’ve done.

I'd've had no sympathy if he was stood upright, but he bent at the waist (admittedly not fully, but he definitely was bent). That's literally the technique that they're trying to encourage and he's been punished for it.

At absolute worst, it should've been penalty only, because there's two bits of mitigation (no force and drop in height).

Puja

[Mellsblue]

Has the ref actually made a decision without going to TMO.

[Mellsblue]

Bristol have just got a yellow for a high tackle, but I don't think that's actually foul play - he's bent at the waist, it's not an upright tackle. It is head contact, but he's making a legal tackle and the Sale player has just slipped over. Poor refereeing.

Puja

Yep. Other than evaporating I’m not sure what the defender could’ve done.

I'd've had no sympathy if he was stood upright, but he bent at the waist (admittedly not fully, but he definitely was bent). That's literally the technique that they're trying to encourage and he's been punished for it.

At absolute worst, it should've been penalty only, because there's two bits of mitigation (no force and drop in height).

Puja

If the tackler had been stood upright he’d have taken a headbutt to the bollocks.

[Puja]

I don't get that refereeing decision - it's a clear and undeniable penalty try, so the fact that a Sale player then grounds the ball and scores a try in the corner should be largely irrelevant. Should be the automatic penalty try and yellow card - the fact that Sale then missed the conversion could be crucial, never mind the effect that having Randall yellow carded could have made.

Puja

[Mellsblue]

RICH LANE!!! would’ve made that tip pass with his crotch and it would’ve been a miss pass.

[Puja]

Ah well. I'd've preferred Bristol to go through rather than the fifth South African franchise, but there's no doubt that Sale stand a better chance against one of the Parisians than Bristol do. I mean, neither of them really do stand a sensible chance, but Sale's is slightly less small.

Puja

[Mellsblue]

Shoite game management from Bristol in the last 20mins but I’d imagine they’ll rightly think they’ve been robbed by the TMO.

[Mellsblue]

Balls. Was just getting excited about going to Sale v Racing only to discover it’s not two legs and it’ll be in Paris.

[Puja]

Deserved Player of the Match for Bevan Rodd. 80 minute performance, very active in the loose, a nuisance at the breakdown (and clever with the laws around the maul), as well as being dominant in the scrums. We're very well stocked for looseheads to have Genge, Marler, and Rodd, with Mako not even needed.

Puja

[Puja]

Balls. Was just getting excited about going to Sale v Racing only to discover it’s not two legs and it’ll be in Paris.

Thank gods. I hate two-legged things at the best of times and Leicester's main hope of winning this competition will revolve around startling some very good teams in one-off performances.

Puja

[fivepointer]

Bristol lost the plot in the last 15 minutes after getting back on terms. Some of their play lacked any kind of patience or sensible management. Got to credit Sale for coming back while down a player.
The TMO referrals do add drama, but boy we could have done with far less of them.

[FKAS]

Balls. Was just getting excited about going to Sale v Racing only to discover it’s not two legs and it’ll be in Paris.

Thank gods. I hate two-legged things at the best of times and Leicester's main hope of winning this competition will revolve around startling some very good teams in one-off performances.

Puja

I dunno I'd generally back us to grind out positive results just through playing the percentages. I think we're more likely to get caught out by freak incidents like say Wasps away this season where a deflected kick led to Wasps penalty try and effectively the difference between the teams. Pure luck.

Having said that the prospect of Leinster in the next round is quite ominous.

[Beasties]

Deserved Player of the Match for Bevan Rodd. 80 minute performance, very active in the loose, a nuisance at the breakdown (and clever with the laws around the maul), as well as being dominant in the scrums. We're very well stocked for looseheads to have Genge, Marler, and Rodd, with Mako not even needed.

Puja

Just watched this. Sheeesh, frantic stuff. Rodd has come on tremendously but he didn’t do full 80, McIntyre finished the match. Still, he’s turning into a quality all-round LH, his scrummaging was the only thing weakish but he’s developing nicely there as Sinck will testify.

DuPreez should never have been on the pitch to influence things for Sale, worst tackle of the lot by a mile.

[chris1850]

Deserved Player of the Match for Bevan Rodd. 80 minute performance, very active in the loose, a nuisance at the breakdown (and clever with the laws around the maul), as well as being dominant in the scrums. We're very well stocked for looseheads to have Genge, Marler, and Rodd, with Mako not even needed.

Puja

Just watched this. Sheeesh, frantic stuff. Rodd has come on tremendously but he didn’t do full 80, McIntyre finished the match. Still, he’s turning into a quality all-round LH, his scrummaging was the only thing weakish but he’s developing nicely there as Sinck will testify.

DuPreez should never have been on the pitch to influence things for Sale, worst tackle of the lot by a mile.

His scrummaging has come on in leaps and bounds. He had the better of Sinckler in all bar one(?) scrum.

[Puja]

RICH LANE!!! would’ve made that tip pass with his crotch and it would’ve been a miss pass.

Apparently Rich Lane broke a bone in his foot 7 minutes into the game, but played until half-time because he's just that hard-core. Unfortunately, it's ended his season and his time with Brizzle. Am surprised that Bristol are letting him go at all actually - he's looked absolutely mustard and I'd assumed they'd be making the deal permanent. I wouldn't mind if Leicester came in for him.

Also done for the season are Radradra and Naulago, who have both had surgeries.

Puja

[Mellsblue]

RICH LANE!!! would’ve made that tip pass with his crotch and it would’ve been a miss pass.

Apparently Rich Lane broke a bone in his foot 7 minutes into the game, but played until half-time because he's just that hard-core. Unfortunately, it's ended his season and his time with Brizzle. Am surprised that Bristol are letting him go at all actually - he's looked absolutely mustard and I'd assumed they'd be making the deal permanent. I wouldn't mind if Leicester came in for him.

Also done for the season are Radradra and Naulago, who have both had surgeries.

Puja

The legend grows. I’m sure nobody expects to see him back at Goldington Rd next season.