Sale vs Bristol, Euro QF rd1,

[jimKRFC]

Sale:
15 L. James, 14 Metcalf, 13 S. James, 12 Tuilagi, 11 Reed, 10 R. Du Preez, 9 De Klerk, 1 Rodd, 2 VD Merwe, 3 Schonert, 4 Wiese
5 De Jager, 6 JL. Du Preez, 7 Ross (C), 8 D. Du Preez

REPLACEMENTS:
16 ASHMAN, 17 MCINTYRE, 18 OOSTHUIZEN, 19 POSTLETHWAITE, 20 TAYLOR, 21 QUIRKE, 22 JV RENSBURG, 23 HAMMERSLEY


Bristol:
15. Luke Morahan, 14. Jack Bates, 13. Piers O’Conor, 12. Sam Bedlow, 11. Alapati Leiua, 10. Callum Sheedy, 9. Harry Randall; 1. Jake Woolmore, 2. Bryan Byrne, 3. Kyle Sinckler, 4. Dave Attwood, 5. Joe Joyce (c), 6. Chris Vui, 7. Sam Jeffries, 8. Nathan Hughes.

Subs: 16. Harry Thacker, 17. Yann Thomas, 18. John Afoa, 19. Steven Luatua, 20. Fitz Harding, 21. Andy Uren, 22. Semi Radradra, 23. Charles Piutau.

No idea what's likely to happen but a bit of clash of styles so should be closely matched..

The referee team:
Ref: Mathieu Raynal (France)
Assis Ref 1: Thomas Charabas (France)
Assis Ref 2: Jonathan Dufort (France)
TMO: Philippe Bonhoure (France)

Hopefully we'll get some consistency in the decision making this week.

[Banquo]

Big call 'resting' Radradra and Piutau. No curries? and the return of Manu.

Think Harding a bit hard done by though its on odd side Brizz are fielding.

[Tigger]

England broke Tom and Ben has had a couple on knocks to the head recently.

[Beasties]

Hughes at 8 for Bris? I’m so confused. Feel like Bobby Ewing.

[jimKRFC]

Big call 'resting' Radradra and Piutau. No curries? and the return of Manu.

Think Harding a bit hard done by though its on odd side Brizz are fielding.

CP just back off a long injury lay off & Semi out of form. Frisch not in the squad is a surprise as he's been going well and Bedlow has been out injured, but suspect PL thinks Bedlow is better able to manage Manu.

Hughes over Fritz is just down to size I suspect. Very glad to see the Curry's out as Sale are not the same without them.

[Tigger]

Looking forward to the game...and will be down next Friday for the return.....

[Mikey Brown]

Is Rodd the only non South African in that pack?

[FKAS]

Big call 'resting' Radradra and Piutau. No curries? and the return of Manu.

Think Harding a bit hard done by though its on odd side Brizz are fielding.

It looks like a team built to weather the first half and then come out firing in the second when Sale are maybe tiring a bit. The Sale forwards on the bench aren't the strongest, tire their big pack first half and then try to do damage.

[fivepointer]

Does look a bit of an odd side Bris are putting out. One eye on the 2nd half tomorrow and the return game next week.

[Oakboy]

Big call 'resting' Radradra and Piutau. No curries? and the return of Manu.

Think Harding a bit hard done by though its on odd side Brizz are fielding.

It looks like a team built to weather the first half and then come out firing in the second when Sale are maybe tiring a bit. The Sale forwards on the bench aren't the strongest, tire their big pack first half and then try to do damage.

Would you not start Uren with that strategy?

[FKAS]

Big call 'resting' Radradra and Piutau. No curries? and the return of Manu.

Think Harding a bit hard done by though its on odd side Brizz are fielding.

It looks like a team built to weather the first half and then come out firing in the second when Sale are maybe tiring a bit. The Sale forwards on the bench aren't the strongest, tire their big pack first half and then try to do damage.

Would you not start Uren with that strategy?

I'd start Uren and Afoa with that strategy but maybe Lam thinks he needs some firepower from the start to wear down that Sale pack. Get the tempo high early on should leave them more fatigued for later. I'm only guessing.

[Banquo]

It looks like a team built to weather the first half and then come out firing in the second when Sale are maybe tiring a bit. The Sale forwards on the bench aren't the strongest, tire their big pack first half and then try to do damage.

Would you not start Uren with that strategy?

I'm only guessing.

Indeed. Its a mixed bag selection for me.

[Puja]

Hughes at 8 for Bris? I’m so confused. Feel like Bobby Ewing.

Lolwut. When did he get recalled?

Can't imagine he'll be particularly at his best considering he was effectively told to get lost earlier in the year, was playing like a hero as the main man for Bath and clearly enjoying himself, only to now be yanked back to play in a rotated side.

Puja

[Oakboy]

Hughes at 8 for Bris? I’m so confused. Feel like Bobby Ewing.

Lolwut. When did he get recalled?

Can't imagine he'll be particularly at his best considering he was effectively told to get lost earlier in the year, was playing like a hero as the main man for Bath and clearly enjoying himself, only to now be yanked back to play in a rotated side.

Puja

Agreed but might one argue that Bristol have not been at their best since Hughes was last fully firing for them? Maybe, he's rediscovered motivation/form with the loan period and is now worth picking. It is really odd.

[Mellsblue]

Can only assume RICH LANE!!! is injured.

[32nd Man]

Sanderson sporadically uses this blunt object back row but I can't remember the last time it actually worked.
Obviously it's a bit of a squad issue that the Curries are our only balance, when one of them is nailed on to have to survive Eddie's training camps.

[Mellsblue]

The mascot for this match is an utter legend. The most wonderful and positive kid despite all that’s happened to him. If you can spare a little cash please donate here:

https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding ... ortimer-01

[FKAS]

Would you not start Uren with that strategy?

I'm only guessing.

Indeed. Its a mixed bag selection for me.

Certainly is. I'm only guessing because it's exactly the type of thing Borthwick pulled a couple of times last season with Tigers and it was actually quite effective.

[Oakboy]

Randall may be quick but I'm struggling to rate his all-round game.

[Banquo]

dire

[FKAS]

dire

That's generous.

[Tigger]

I apologise...I am here and dire is generous.

[twitchy]

I was watching football earlier and had the bbc results page open. I thought it wasn't updating properly.

[Timbo]

Well that was a classic.

[Banquo]

brizz selection paid off but wtf