Sale vs Bristol

[Epaminondas Pules]

Sale Sharks Starting XV:  

15. Joe Carpenter, 14. Tom Roebuck, 13. Rob du Preez, 12. Rekeiti Ma’asi-White, 11. Tom O’Flaherty, 10. George Ford 9. Gus Warr, 1. Bevan Rodd, 2. Tadgh McElroy, 3. Asher Opoku-Fordjour 4. Ernst van Rhyn, 5. Jonny Hill, 6. JL du Preez, 7. Ben Curry ©, 8. Dan du Preez.  

Replacements:  

16. Alfie Longstaff, 17. Si McIntyre, 18. WillGriff John, 19. Ben Bamber, 20. Sam Dugdale, 21. Raffi Quirke, 22. Sam Bedlow, 23. Alex Wills.

Debut for Longstaff, another superb young hooker in his first season of professional rugby!

[Epaminondas Pules]

15. Rich Lane (59 apps), 14. Kalaveti Ravouvou (29 apps), 13. Benhard Janse van Rensburg (47 apps), 12. James Williams (52 apps), 11. Gabriel Ibitoye (56 apps), 10. AJ MacGinty (50 apps), 9. Harry Randall (143 apps); 1. Jake Woolmore (166 apps), 2. Gabriel Oghre (40 apps), 3. George Kloska (62 apps), 4. Josh Caulfield (35 apps), 5. Joe Batley (72 apps), 6. Santiago Grondona (13 apps), 7. Fitz Harding (c) (94 apps), 8. Viliame Mata (15 apps).

System players: 16. Will Capon (98 apps), 17. Ellis Genge (59 apps), 18. Max Lahiff (108 apps), 19. James Dun (51 apps), 20. Joe Owen (33 apps), 21. Kieran Marmion (49 apps), 22. Harry Byrne (8 apps), 23. Siva Naulago (43 apps).

Unavailable: Harry Thacker, Tomas Gwilliam, Lovejoy Chawatama, Steele Barker, George Taylor, Steven Luatua, Sam Worsley, Noah Heward, Jack Bates, Harry Rowson, Max Malins.

[FKAS]

LCD had a lot of strapping on his knee last weekend, not surprised to see him take a game off this weekend.

Going to be a big clash of styles. Bristol need a result of they want to make the playoffs.

[fivepointer]

Important for both teams to get something out of the game.

Sale faltered last week and Bristol got a much needed win but the home side look to be in better form to me.

[Slater582]

Important for both teams to get something out of the game.

Sale faltered last week and Bristol got a much needed win but the home side look to be in better form to me.

Bristol did get a try bonus point out of the game.

Sale have Exeter next though so should make the semi-final.

[jimKRFC]

Can't see Bristol making the playoffs now & on recent form really don't deserve to. No idea what the coaching staff have been doing since the 6N but it's clearly not working.

Think it's time to change the whole management of the side as we're never going to become a genuine challenger with the set up we have.

[Captainhaircut]

Hard to judge because Bristol are a bit useless but some big performances from Sale players there.

Can’t understand the general apathy to Carpenter- always excellent whenever I see him. RMW went well again- possible he could play at 12 for England this summer with Dingwall at 13? Particularly if we have Ford at 10, Roebuck on wing and possibly Carpenter at full back.
Quirke electric off the bench. I hope he tours this summer- significant upgrade on Randall for me.
Rodd is always very strong- presume he’ll bench behind Baxter this summer but an argument that it should be the other way around.
AOF was very strong in the loose.
Ford is just supreme isn’t he. What a player.

As I say, Bristol a bit useless. Batley went ok. Ibitoye at full back a fun experiment I’d like to see more of!

[fivepointer]

Bristol can still make it. Getting a try BP could be key. They score some excellent tries but their achilles heel is a porous defence.

2 fine individual scores from Randall and Quirke.

[FKAS]

Man of the match for George Ford. His form is peaking in time for the Lions, he's just unfortunate Farrell isn't taking more than two specialist 10s.

I don't think there's an apathy towards Carpenter on here, we all think he's good, it's he just doesn't fit the type of playmaking fullback England are seeming to prefer but also doesn't offer the powerful carrying we might need to make up for the lack of direct carrying in the midfield.

[Captainhaircut]

Man of the match for George Ford. His form is peaking in time for the Lions, he's just unfortunate Farrell isn't taking more than two specialist 10s.

I don't think there's an apathy towards Carpenter on here, we all think he's good, it's he just doesn't fit the type of playmaking fullback England are seeming to prefer but also doesn't offer the powerful carrying we might need to make up for the lack of direct carrying in the midfield.

Interesting options with regards to composition of the side now. Freeman, RMW, Beard, Lawerence and Hartley all offer hard carrying in midfield whilst Atkinson, Dingwall and Ojomoh can all play as a second playmaker. IFW and Murley also both offer a carrying option too if needed.

A more traditional all round full back could therefore fit quite nicely. I’m not sure Furbank really plays as a playmaking full back in the way I see a Le Roux do it for example- he never stands in as a first receiver for England for example. I think Carpenter is probably the closest in style to Furbank- lacking his kicking game and ability to step in at 10.

[FKAS]

Man of the match for George Ford. His form is peaking in time for the Lions, he's just unfortunate Farrell isn't taking more than two specialist 10s.

I don't think there's an apathy towards Carpenter on here, we all think he's good, it's he just doesn't fit the type of playmaking fullback England are seeming to prefer but also doesn't offer the powerful carrying we might need to make up for the lack of direct carrying in the midfield.

Interesting options with regards to composition of the side now. Freeman, RMW, Beard, Lawerence and Hartley all offer hard carrying in midfield whilst Atkinson, Dingwall and Ojomoh can all play as a second playmaker. IFW and Murley also both offer a carrying option too if needed.

A more traditional all round full back could therefore fit quite nicely. I’m not sure Furbank really plays as a playmaking full back in the way I see a Le Roux do it for example- he never stands in as a first receiver for England for example. I think Carpenter is probably the closest in style to Furbank- lacking his kicking game and ability to step in at 10.

I don't see much in terms of similarity between Furbank and Carpenter. Furbank played out the back as a playmaker a fair bit when partnered with Marcus Smith, I don't think it really worked as Marcus likes to be hands on in running the attack and the ball never got wide enough to bring Furbank into the game enough (Steward as well in the 6N vs Ireland, don't think he got passed the ball).

Dingwall was in the midfield all 6N and Slade before that but England still wanted a playmaker back there. The only time they opted against a playmaker at the back has been using Steward to defuse the aerial bombardment from sides like SA and Ireland.

It might be we see a change in attacking style with Blackett but I doubt it as he seems to favour a creative fullback at Bath.

[fivepointer]

Carpenter was excellent last night. So many positive involvements, mostly with the ball but by no means exclusively. He just looks a quality player.
Ford is playing ridiculously well. Liking Ma'asi White's development a lot.
Overall Sale far too strong.