RugbyRebels

Bristol:
15. RICH LANE!!!(46 apps), 14. Jack Bates (46 apps), 13. Kalaveti Ravouvou (16 apps), 12. Benhard Janse van Rensburg (35 apps), 11. Gabriel Ibitoye (53 apps), 10. Sam Worsley (14 apps), 9. Harry Randall (135 apps); 1. Ellis Genge (52 apps), 2. Harry Thacker (123 apps), 3. Max Lahiff (97 apps), 4. James Dun (43 apps), 5. Joe Owen (22 apps), Steven Luatua (139 apps), 7. Fitz Harding (c) (82 apps), 8. Viliame Mata (4 apps).

Subs: 16. Gabriel Oghre (28 apps), 17. Jake Woolmore (161 apps), 18. George Kloska (51 apps), 19, Jamie Hodgson (2 apps), 20. Ben Grondona (14 apps), 21. Kieran Marmion (36 apps), 22. James Williams (45 apps), 23. Benjamin Elizalde (9 apps).

Happy with that - can't really grumble about the side given how they've been playing! Normally struggle with Sales style but fingers crossed they can keep the form the going!

Worsley, son of Joe I believe, getting a start is good to see. Also nice to have Jamie Williams back available.

Sale;

15. Joe Carpenter, 14. Tom Roebuck, 13. Rob du Preez, 12. Luke James, 11. Tom O’Flaherty, 10. George Ford, 9. Raffi Quirke, 1. Bevan Rodd, 2. Luke Cowan-Dickie, 3. Asher Opoku-Fordjour, 4. Ernst van Rhyn, 5. Jonny Hill, 6. Tom Curry, 7. Ben Curry ©, 8. Dan du Preez.  

Replacements:  

16. Ethan Caine, 17. Si McIntyre, 18. WillGriff John, 19. Josh Beaumont, 20. JL du Preez, 21. Gus Warr, 22. Sam Bedlow, 23. Sam Dugdale

Bristol were brilliant last weekend but Tigers played way to open and loose, didn't look after the breakdown. A real Christmas gift for a team as free flowing as the Bears. I doubt Sale will be that generous, particularly with Ford pulling the strings.

Should be an enjoyable clash of styles.

Barnes' thoughts on the game;

https://archive.ph/k0cZs

jimKRFC wrote: ↑Thu Dec 26, 2024 7:24 pm Barnes' thoughts on the game;

https://archive.ph/k0cZs

Tigers tried to open up and offer more to try and out Bristol, Bristol. See how well that went. Sale would be foolish to do the same. Barnes is either delusional or just wants to have a dig at Ford for being pragmatic.

MacGinty likely a big loss for Bristol. Interesting to see how young Worsley goes.

fivepointer wrote: ↑Fri Dec 27, 2024 7:57 am MacGinty likely a big loss for Bristol. Interesting to see how young Worsley goes.

I was disappointed to find out he was not a 6 foot 5 and 18 stone fly half after hearing he was joe's son.

Isn’t he Mike’s lad?

p/d wrote: ↑Fri Dec 27, 2024 10:02 am Isn’t he Mike’s lad?

He is. no connection with Joe.

fivepointer wrote: ↑Fri Dec 27, 2024 10:29 am

p/d wrote: ↑Fri Dec 27, 2024 10:02 am Isn’t he Mike’s lad?

He is. no connection with Joe.

Tidy prop in his day.

I think this sale kit is terrible.

Bris 0 - Sale - 17, didn't expect this.

twitchy wrote: ↑Fri Dec 27, 2024 8:16 pm Bris 0 - Sale - 17, didn't expect this.

We've been playing too well for too long - due an absolute shit show....

Talk about sublime to ridiculous...

0-30.....

Really not sure how this could be worse.
Losing 38-0 is just embarrassing, but may well have lost Ibitoye, Randell and Owen to injury as well.

A few of those should be glad they signed their deals before this clown show...

This Sale performance is like watching Sarries in their pomp.

Sale playing to their strengths and undoing Bristol up front. Ford fantastic, big concern for Sanderson that he limped off.

Bristol just couldnt get out of first gear. Some of that was down to them - too many had a game to forget - but a lot was to do with Sale who were very impressive.
They pretty much controlled the game from first to last.

Is Quirke finally on the road back to pushing for an England place again? In theory Mitchell, JVP, Quirke is a handy group to work with.

Definitely, he scored a great solo try. Not sure what his injury was but he hasn't lost pace.

I thought Quirke was brilliant. Sale a completely different proposition with him at 9 instead of Warr. He was also excellent when he went to the wing- potential to be a saffa style 9/wing option…

Ben Curry was also absolutely excellent. Jonny Hill also playing very well- particularly considering the length of time he was out for.

As much as I hate to agree with Healey, Quirke makes too many basic errors, for me. He did vs Sale and he did yesterday. That may just be rust after such a long time out but it needs sorting before he’s in the mix for Eng, imo.

Errr... He plays for Sale

Ffs *vs Exeter.