Leicester vs Sale - Saturday

[Puja]

Leicester Tigers: 15 Freddie Steward, 14 David Williams, 13 Jaco Taute, 12 Matt Scott, 11 Nemani Nadolo, 10 George Ford (c), 9 Ben Youngs, 8 Hanro Liebenberg, 7 Luke Wallace, 6 Harry Wells, 5 Calum Green, 4 Tomás Lavanini, 3 Dan Cole, 2 Charlie Clare, 1 Ellis Genge
Replacements: 16 Jake Kerr, 17 Facundo Gigena, 18 Nephi Leatigaga, 19 Cameron Henderson, 20 Jordan Taufua, 21 Ben White, 22 Zack Henry, 23 Guy Porter

Sale Sharks: 15 Luke James, 14 Denny Solomona, 13 Manu Tuilagi, 12 Rohan Janse van Rensburg, 11 Marland Yarde, 10 AJ MacGinty, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Daniel du Preez, 7 Tom Curry, 6 Jono Ross (c) 5 Lood de Jager, 4 Jean-Luc du Preez, 3 Jake Cooper-Woolley, 2 Akker van der Merwe, 1 Coenie Oosthuizen
Replacements: 16 Euan Ashman, 17 Valerey Morozov, 18 Will-Griff John, 19 Cameron Neild, 20 Matt Postlethwaite, 21 Raphael Quirke, 22 Sam James, 23 Arron Reed


Edited cause the website I got this from somehow managed to get the wrong bench for Sale.

[Puja]

Tremendous to see Steward given a go in a real team, although it is a shame that we're *still* not playing 3 back rows. Why is Taufua on the bench?! Is he limited on minutes allowed? He did come off the bench in mid-week, but I'd be surprised if he's that restricted.

This'll be a good test of the Borthwick regime - we've got a semi-decent team out (and by that I mean only missing Muri, Van Wyk, Moroni, Brink, Reffell, Mamu/Montoya and for some reason not playing Taufua) and there's been a bit of time to bed in the tactical systems and work with the players. I don't expect a win, but I want to see a creditable performance and a bit of defensive grit against Sale's extremely mysterious attack plan which might come from anywhere on the pitch.

Puja

[Raggs]

Bloody hell there's some power carying there. Who needs imagination! Thing is, with Luke James joining the attack, he can potentially keep a bit of spark in the attack anyway.

[16th man]

Get the feeling Dimes is going full on Lampard and Gerrard with Manu and RJ in Midfield. Doesn't matter if it doesn't work and there are better combos available, we're sticking with it.

[Spartan Shark]

Sale have Rafi Quirke on the bench and not Cliff. Exciting prospect who has played through England age grades and last season had a few outings for Sale FC last season...highly regarded

[Puja]

Sale have Rafi Quirke on the bench and not Cliff. Exciting prospect who has played through England age grades and last season had a few outings for Sale FC last season...highly regarded

Ooh, I've heard very good things about him. What's his style like?

Puja

[Epaminondas Pules]

Sale have Rafi Quirke on the bench and not Cliff. Exciting prospect who has played through England age grades and last season had a few outings for Sale FC last season...highly regarded

Ooh, I've heard very good things about him. What's his style like?

Puja

Decent pass, quick ball clearance, lightening quick on the break, loves a snipe, some rough edges, but he’s a good un in the making.

[Peej]

That centre pairing isn't going to be subtle. Bit I've been disappointed by RJvR, I thought he would make a huge impact in the Premiership but he's been decidedly meh

[FKAS]

That centre pairing isn't going to be subtle. Bit I've been disappointed by RJvR, I thought he would make a huge impact in the Premiership but he's been decidedly meh

Hasn't stayed fit long enough, been in and out of the team with injury. I hope he has a stinker tomorrow mind. I hope Tigers look to put lots of pressure on McGinty as he's the type of flyhalf that'll kick under pressure he won't try and play his way out. Let him kick to us and we'll build from there.

Time for Green to show his lineout skills and get Akker Van Der Nerves to start throwing wayward missiles again. Since Webber has retired the Sale lineout has looked a weakness.

[Timbo]

Sale have Rafi Quirke on the bench and not Cliff. Exciting prospect who has played through England age grades and last season had a few outings for Sale FC last season...highly regarded

Ooh, I've heard very good things about him. What's his style like?

Puja

Sort of unusual, offbeat and a little unexpected. He’s unusual in an attractive and interesting way. There’s a word for it, but it escapes me right now....

[Puja]

Sale have Rafi Quirke on the bench and not Cliff. Exciting prospect who has played through England age grades and last season had a few outings for Sale FC last season...highly regarded

Ooh, I've heard very good things about him. What's his style like?

Puja

Sort of unusual, offbeat and a little unexpected. He’s unusual in an attractive and interesting way. There’s a word for it, but it escapes me right now....

Frankly, sounds like you're in a romantic comedy describing the guy that you're *definitely* not interested in.

Puja

[Epaminondas Pules]

Manu scores under the posts! 9 v 20 at half time.

[Epaminondas Pules]

Sale score a third five minutes in to the second half. Tigers defence isn’t even good enough to be considered a joke. It is beyond laughable.

[Epaminondas Pules]

Ooh TMO check might save Tigers.

[Epaminondas Pules]

Well at least save five points for now, but no even the TMO can’t stop Sale. To be fair he did a better job from the truck than the Tigers defence did.

[Epaminondas Pules]

Comedy!! Comedy!! Tigers penalty, Ford misses touch, Sale kick, Tigers kick, de Klerk kicks into the hands of Libenberg who charges him down, gathers and scores under the posts. This was Tigers best attacking move of the day.

16 v 27.

[Epaminondas Pules]

Oh my life! Ford kicks again (he’s kicked every ball this half). Yarde gathers and passes into the floor ten metres from his own posts. James falls on it and Tigers get him holding on.

19 v 27

Could Sale be getting Tigers back into this one?

[16th man]

Oh my life! Ford kicks again (he’s kicked every ball this half). Yarde gathers and passes into the floor ten metres from his own posts. James falls on it and Tigers get him holding on.

19 v 27

Could Sale be getting Tigers back into this one?

We kind of fell apart when Quins and Exeter starting putting pressure on in the 2nd half, so it would be in line with form.

[Epaminondas Pules]

Now Taufua gives away a penalty (hands on the floor beyond the ball) and Sale go for the posts with de Klerk taking the kick.

19 v 30

[Epaminondas Pules]

Oh my life! Ford kicks again (he’s kicked every ball this half). Yarde gathers and passes into the floor ten metres from his own posts. James falls on it and Tigers get him holding on.

19 v 27

Could Sale be getting Tigers back into this one?

We kind of fell apart when Quins and Exeter starting putting pressure on in the 2nd half, so it would be in line with form.

This wasn’t really pressure, just mistakes really. Tigers look truly awful.

[Epaminondas Pules]

Manu coming off for Sam James. Big grin on his face.

[16th man]

Manu coming off for Sam James. Big grin on his face.

need to start saving minutes for the Bath game.

[Epaminondas Pules]

Sale making yards at will. Every carry makes yards. And then penalised. Leatigaga proving more effective at the breakdown than the entire backrow.

[Epaminondas Pules]

Taute off and Porter on. Sale look petrified at that prospect.

[Epaminondas Pules]

Sale steal Tigers lineout and make yards with every single carry as Tigers defence method of do nothing appears to not be that effective at preventing a team from attacking. Sale walk in their bonus point try.