Tigers Vs Sale - Sat 3pm

[FKAS]

STARTING XV:
15 Freddie Steward [58]
14 Harry Potter [44]
13 Matt Scott [49]
12 Jimmy Gopperth [4]
11 Nemani Nadolo [39]
10 Freddie Burns [106]
9 Richard Wigglesworth (vc) [38]
1 James Cronin [4]
2 Julián Montoya [27]
3 Dan Cole (vc) [294]
4 Harry Wells [160]
5 Calum Green [93]
6 George Martin [43]
7 Hanro Liebenberg (c) [63]
8 Jasper Wiese [45]

REPLACEMENTS:
16 Charlie Clare [56]
17 Nephi Leatigaga [70]
18 Joe Heyes [104]
19 Eli Snyman [22]
20 Olly Cracknell [4]
21 Jack van Poortvliet [51]
22 Phil Cokanasiga [4]
23 Anthony Watson [1]

Sale Sharks Starting XV: 15. Joe Carpenter, 14. Tom Roebuck, 13. Sam James, 12. Manu Tuilagi, 11. Tom O'Flaherty, 10. Robert du Preez, 9. Gus Warr; 1. Bevan Rodd, 2. Akker van der Merwe, 3. Nick Schonert, 4. Cobus Wiese, 5. Jonny Hill, 6. Jono Ross, 7. Tom Curry (C), 8. Jean-Luc du Preez

Replacements: 16. Ewan Ashman, 17. Simon McIntyre, 18. Coenie Oosthuizen, 19. Josh Beaumont, 20. Sam Dugdale, 21. Raffi Quirke, 22. Sam Hill, 23. Arron Reed

[Puja]

Having Montoya back is going to be massive - all due respect to Clare, but that's a step up and a half. Odd that Chessum's disappeared (although could be an EPS rest) and sad that Pollard's clearly not fit to even bench.

Very disappointed to see Gopperth still at 12. He's looked off the pace and staid so far this season and I'm just not seeing what Borthwick clearly does to make him an everpresent. Would far rather see PhilC given a shot at 12.

Man-for-man, you'd say we have the stronger team in most units (probably not at centres or locks) and home advantage, combined with needing to recover some pride after last weekend, should hopefully make this a win. Sale are not to be underestimated, but we should be disappointed if we don't get 4 points here.

Puja

[Epaminondas Pules]

Good to see Quirke back for Sale. Should be fun and collision heavy.

[Mellsblue]

Yep. One for the purists.

[Puja]

Good to see Quirke back for Sale.

Hadn't even spotted Quirke's return! Excellent news.

Yep. One for the purists.

Thankfully, not on television. Gloucester annihilating Bath in the first half followed by Bath scoring four late tries will be much more entertaining.

Puja

[Mellsblue]

Thankfully, not on television. Gloucester annihilating Bath in the first half followed by Bath scoring four late tries will be much more entertaining.

Puja

You’re not watching Donny v The Finishing School?!?! Tut tut.

[FKAS]

JVP vs Quirke off the bench should be fun.

Rumours that Chessum picked up an injury in England camp.

[Peej]

I heard that one Tigers player ended up on crutches. Guess it could be him

[Banquo]

Having Montoya back is going to be massive - all due respect to Clare, but that's a step up and a half. Odd that Chessum's disappeared (although could be an EPS rest) and sad that Pollard's clearly not fit to even bench.

Very disappointed to see Gopperth still at 12. He's looked off the pace and staid so far this season and I'm just not seeing what Borthwick clearly does to make him an everpresent. Would far rather see PhilC given a shot at 12.

Man-for-man, you'd say we have the stronger team in most units (probably not at centres or locks) and home advantage, combined with needing to recover some pride after last weekend, should hopefully make this a win. Sale are not to be underestimated, but we should be disappointed if we don't get 4 points here.

Puja

wiese back is equally significant imo. Gopperth was actually a key player in making sure Saints got demolished, but you make a fair point.

[FKAS]

Sounds like Tigers backline is still shocking and Sale are running rampant in the second half.

[Tigger]

Raffi and Carpenter...unbelievable...thought Tigers where going to win this. Not a good game from a Leicester supporter perspective

[fivepointer]

Big win that even if Leicester arent quite firing. Sale looking every inch a top 4 side right now.

[FKAS]

Tigers were missing their starting 9/10/12/13 and their replacements are bearing the brunt of the frustration on the offy. The freshly inked contracts for Gopperth and Scott are looking like poor moves so far and putting player coach Wigglesworth in didn't really have the desired effect.

Worrying for Tigers it sounds like it was a second week of the lineout being gash. Borthwick is probably apocalyptic after what has been described to me as a shit show. Not scoring a point in a second half at home isn't something I'd have accepted in the Murphy days.

Borthwick tends to go back to his experienced squad members when under pressure but those are the ones letting the side down currently. It's time for him to start giving chances to some of the younger guys. If the lineout is misfunctioning we've got Henderson and 6ft9+ Chessum Jnr sat in the stands. Cokanasiga is sat on the bench who must be able to do a better job than Gopperth, sod it give Cusick a run at OC.

[Mellsblue]

IBWT

[FKAS]

IBWT

He'll turn it around but this might be an aim for fourth season and not a lead from the front one. I do wonder whether we'll go shopping at Wuss discount sale for someone like Venter to offer some midfield security if Kelly isn't likely to be back soon.

[Banquo]

IBWT

Don’t panic pike

[Puja]

Sack the coach!

Not really, but that was not a good result. Sale are looking like they've really got their act together this season, but giving away a bonus point at home through some soft defence and ropey kick chase isn't good enough. Need to buck our ideas up in the backs and I can't believe that doesn't start with dropping Gopperth rather than relying on a 39 year old, who looked over the hill last season, to be a guaranteed starter.

On Sale's side, Carpenter's looking like a good'un and it's amazing how Quirke just dropped back in after 6 months out. Wouldn't bet against him making the AIs squad if he can carry on that kind of form.

Puja

[FKAS]

For someone who's had a number of knee injuries Quirke looked rapid for his try.

[Mellsblue]

Just caught up on the highlights. Steward missed another easy tackle to allow a try. Quirke is class.

[Mikey Brown]

It was a bit of an awkward one to be fair. Du Preez basically jumped out of that tackle, but yeah it did look like RDP had taken the wrong option and Steward should have stopped him.

[Mellsblue]

I was thinking of the first try - Roebuck, I think - but he wasn’t too great on that one either

[Mikey Brown]

Ah. Whoops. Didn't realise that was him too.

Are Roebuck and Carpenter considered England prospects? Not seen a whole lot of either. I know there was some chat about Scotland being interested in Roebuck, but that doesn't necessarily mean much. He does seem to have that knack for being in the right spot and his physical attributes are pretty impressive, but no idea if his all round game is up to it.

[FKAS]

I was thinking of the first try - Roebuck, I think - but he wasn’t too great on that one either

Yeah Burns and Steward provided a clown esque moment of tackling each other instead of doubling up on Roebuck. Wasn't the best to put it mildly.

The one on R Du Perez, I think he's in an almost textbook position but to early. RDP jumps over him NFL style because Steward commits to going low to early.

Last season tackling was one of Steward's really strong points. He'll be disappointed with those two.