Sale vs La Rochelle - Sunday

[Puja]

Sale Sharks v La Rochelle
Sale Sharks: 15 Sam James, 14 Tom Roebuck, 13 Rob du Preez, 12 Sam Bedlow, 11 Arron Reed, 10 George Ford, 9 Gus Warr, 8 Josh Beaumont, 7 Ben Curry (c), 6 Sam Dugdale, 5 Jonny Hill, 4 Ben Bamber, 3 Nick Schonert, 2 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 1 Tumy Onasanya
Replacements: 16 Agustin Creevy, 17 Asher Opoku-Fordjour, 18 James Harper, 19 Tom Ellis, 20 Dan du Preez, 21 Nye Thomas, 22 Rekeiti Ma’asi-White, 23 Telusa Veainu

La Rochelle: 15 Brice Dulin, 14 Teddy Thomas, 13 UJ Seuteni, 12 Yoan Tanga, 11 Dillyn Leyds, 10 Antoine Hastoy, 9 Tawera Kerr-Barlow, 8 Gregory Alldritt (c), 7 Levani Botia, 6 Paul Boudehent, 5 Will Skelton, 4 Ultan Dillane, 3 Uini Atonio, 2 Quentin Lespiaucq, 1 Reda Wardi
Replacements: 16 Tolu Latu, 17 Joel Sclavi, 18 Aleksandre Kuntelia, 19 Thomas Lavault, 20 Judicael Cancoriet, 21 Thomas Berjon, 22 Hugo Reus 23 Jack Nowell

Venue: Salford Community Stadium
Kick-off: 13:00 GMT
Referee: Chris Busby (Ire)
Assistant Referees: Andrew Cole (Ire), Joy Neville (Ire)
TMO: Brian MacNeice (Ire)

[Banquo]

Nowell still not switched to 7, he's running out of time

[Mellsblue]

Nowell still not switched to 7, he's running out of time

Even if he’s running at full pace that’s still a long time…

[Banquo]

Nowell still not switched to 7, he's running out of time

Even if he’s running at full pace that’s still a long time…

LRZ will catch him

[FKAS]

Hill off injured, definitely a big blow for Sale and it didn't look good.

Sale 16-0 down at HT but the wind in their favour in the second half. La Rochelle have lost Dillane who calls their lineout so perhaps that is any area Sale can target in the second half.

[p/d]

Du Preez has been pants

[p/d]

Even Mells must be smitten by Kayser’s gloves

[Mellsblue]

Du Preez has been pants

Yep, he’s been almost as bad as Sam James who is playing like a pound shop Steward, ie lumbering around but without the assuredness.

[Mellsblue]

Even Mells must be smitten by Kayser’s gloves

Kayser is a class act in every aspect. The only downside is that he and Flatman are my two favourite pundits (closely followed by Scarratt) and after years of watching the front five butcher the chances I created whilst proving all the most handsome, svelte, funny and erudite people play 10 at school - see Jamie George - this annoys me greatly, albeit not as much as Dallaglio and Monye.

[16th man]

First half looked like Sale could turn it around with the wind. 2nd half looking uncomfortably like France England from last year's 6 nations.
s

[Mellsblue]

Nowell on. Cue a length of the field run burning all of Sale and RR EMB members.

[16th man]

Ref should be binning the LAR defender who just flopped on to kill that 2 metres out.

Then another advantage from the tap too.

[Mellsblue]

Ref should be binning the LAR defender who just flopped on to kill that 2 metres out.

Then another advantage from the tap too.

Tackler holding on was as big a culprit. Ref got there in the end with the team yellow but I feel like Sale are getting the run of the green with the decisions.

[16th man]

Ref should be binning the LAR defender who just flopped on to kill that 2 metres out.

Then another advantage from the tap too.

Tackler holding on was as big a culprit. Ref got there in the end with the team yellow but I feel like Sale are getting the run of the green with the decisions.

Make a change from the first half then.

Find it really annoying that anyone who sides steps is apparently fair game for a shot to the head now.

[16th man]

Oh and preventing a try with a high shot 5 metres out isn't a penalty try?

[16th man]

Gap in quality between the 2 squads is absolutely immense.

[Mellsblue]

Oh well. Ford with Farrellitis. Worth the gamble given the clock and scoreline, I’d argue.

[Mellsblue]

Class from Ford. I’ll be on his bandwagon until a couple of seasons after he’s retired.

[Mellsblue]

Nowell on. Cue a length of the field run burning all of Sale and RR EMB members.

Time for another mea culpa. Nowell tried to sprint and fell over.

[p/d]

Nye Thomas for England!!!

[Mellsblue]

Nye Thomas for England!!!

He does look good. I watched him live vs Bedford and he was very impressive in most facets. He’s not just a nippy little bugger.

[p/d]

Nye Thomas for England!!!

He does look good. I watched him live vs Bedford and he was very impressive in most facets. He’s not just a nippy little bugger.

Looks a classy lad, eye for a gap. Quick service and got himself some wheels!

[Mellsblue]

Nye Thomas for England!!!

He does look good. I watched him live vs Bedford and he was very impressive in most facets. He’s not just a nippy little bugger.

Looks a classy lad, eye for a gap. Quick service and got himself some wheels!

There’s no deNyeing it.

[Banquo]

Aneurin innit

[fivepointer]

Thomas did look sharp. First and foremost he has a terrific pass off either hand.

Thought Bamber put in a good 80 minute shift.

Sale gave themselves too much to do after LaR got 30 up. Good effort to get a try BP.