Sale v Tigers

This weekend will mark more than 25% of the season completed and most probably the only remaining English Northern Division partner almost pointless. OK they are likely to be replaced by Newcastle (even if Bedford win the Championship - their ground is not eligible for promotion as the playing field is not as level as the PRL/RFU demand (irony)).

What will be important for Sale is to put out their top squad (whatever that is) and hope that the Tigers underestimate their opposition whilst distracted by thoughts of Toulouse.

Should the Tigers put out a decidedly 2nd string squad?

Teams announced:

Leicester Tigers (vs Sale Sharks, away, Friday 8pm)
15 Niall Morris
14 Adam Thompstone
13 Manusamoa Tuilagi
12 Anthony Allen
11 Vereniki Goneva
10 George Ford
9 Ben Youngs
1 Logovi'i Mulipola
2 Tom Youngs
3 Martin Castrogiovanni
4 Ed Slater
5 Graham Kitchener
6 Jordan Crane (c)
7 Richard Thorpe
8 Thomas Waldrom

Replacements
16 George Chuter
17 Boris Stankovich
18 Dan Cole
19 Rob Andrew
20 Brett Deacon
21 Sam Harrison
22 Toby Flood
23 Matt Smith

Sale Sharks: 15 Rob Miller, 14 Will Addison, 13 Johnny Leota, 12 Sam Tuitupou, 11 Mark Cueto, 10 Nick Macleod, 9 Cillian Willis; 1.Eifion Lewis-Roberts, 2.Tommy Taylor, 3 Tony Buckley, 4 Richie Gray, 5 Fraser McKenzie, 6 Richie Vernon, 7 David Seymour (c.), 8 Andy Powell
Replacements: 16 Joe Ward, 17 Ross Harrison, 18 Vadim Cobilas, 19 Kearnan Myall, 20 James Gaskell, 21 Nathan Fowles, 22 Danny Cipriani, 23 Mark Jennings

That is decidely not a 2nd string Tigers squad. But I note that Cips is dropped to the bench for the Mancs. 'bout time too.

Tigers have announced pretty much the strongest squad they could, they certainly havent underestimated the opposition - and nor would you if you were to look at that Sale line-up on paper. What baffles me is how so many really good players just havent clicked. I think they were a lot of peoples' dark horses for the top four this year.

Oh dear.

Tough time to be a Sale fan.

Tigers by 20pts

I was just looking at Sale's fixture list and it could be some time until they win a game. On present form their best chance is their home game against Irish in November.

I'm not one of the Glaws fans who wants Brush to fail, as I feel we're now better off, but I do think he's going to really struggle to get things going.

Good looking Tigers' squad. Glad to see Salvi given a rest too. Nice looking second row pairing of Kitchener and Slater- the guile and the grunt.

Part of me was thinking we might see Tait on the bench this weekend, but alas, not yet. Hoping Thompstone can continue to impress.

Let's hope Sales' half back pairing go a bit better than last week!

Is this on TV?

Brilliant to finally see a Tigers side with Crane, Youngs (x2), Manu, Ford and Slater in it. I hope they all play really well as Eng need a strong Tigers team.

If they do click then Sale could be in for a pasting.

Weather forecast anyone?

yappysnap wrote:Is this on TV?

Brilliant to finally see a Tigers side with Crane, Youngs (x2), Manu, Ford and Slater in it. I hope they all play really well as Eng need a strong Tigers team.

If they do click then Sale could be in for a pasting.

Weather forecast anyone?

Fair (dryish). About 7º.

Perfect for English rugby.

greytiger wrote:

yappysnap wrote:Is this on TV?

Brilliant to finally see a Tigers side with Crane, Youngs (x2), Manu, Ford and Slater in it. I hope they all play really well as Eng need a strong Tigers team.

If they do click then Sale could be in for a pasting.

Weather forecast anyone?

Fair (dryish). About 7º.

Perfect for English rugby.

Its also on Sky Sports 2 @ 1930

Cheers gents

Sale were bullied up front by Bath last week. Suspect more of the same from Leicester this.

Kitchener & Slater - Possible future England partnership?

Thats a tasty looking Tigers front row aswell...

OK they are likely to be replaced by Newcastle (even if Bedford win the Championship)

We'll walk the league (the change in our team is huge already)...what concerns me is an off game in the playoffs could cost us as it did Bristol last year.

Five Englishmen in the starting line up for Sale... really not that great. The thing is, Richie Gray aside the NEQ players in the line up aren't exactly amazing.

You keep hoping, for the sake of competition, that Sale will put a performance in but there's been nothing on show that would suggest it's going to happen soon. As for coaching well something's amiss and someone else is going to take the fall pretty soon for sure.

Sale are becoming more and more a joke every season. All that talk about being the academy of the north and then 5 Englishman

Yappy....WE are the academy of the North...and dont ever forget it...

WE are the academy of the North...and dont ever forget it

Ably supported by Leeds I might add!

aitchw wrote:WE are the academy of the North...and dont ever forget it

Ably supported by Leeds I might add!

Indeed, Leeds have brought through many fine players.



On a side note, what do you think of the Yorkshire Regiment Trophy Aitchw? Will it capture the imagination of your fellow Yorkshiremen?

.WE are the academy of the North...and dont ever forget it...

Tigers certainly don't. Now about Welch...

Good to see a couple of key players rested yet young talent and those coming back from injury given a run out. Sadly Deacon couldn't make it.

Cheers for Care and Clegg as well you two!!

Hows Morris getting on at Leicester? Seems to be getting a few games.

And Sale fans what of you think of Buckley and Willis?

Morris is doing OK - but will only ever really come in as cover.

Nice to see Ben Youngs getting some much needed game time, while aprling and Flood some rest before the trip to Toulouse. Hopefuly Mafi and Salvi may be fit by then.

aitchw wrote:WE are the academy of the North...and dont ever forget it

Ably supported by Leeds I might add!

Absolutely Aitch...!Leeds produce a good number of top players.

Tigers certainly don't. Now about Welch...

Sam, Keep yer mits off! And theres more crackin young talent on the way through aswell....Deano is blooding loads of them in the Champs this season so they're a little battle hardened for the Prem (if we make it up)

LondonTiger wrote:Morris is doing OK - but will only ever really come in as cover.

Well, with Geordie likely to retire, Hamilton's future uncertain and Tait still a big question mark, he could find himself a nice little niche in the squad next season.

If Tait is unable to get a run of games this season and help ease Geordan to retirement, I suspect that they would look elsewhere. Mind Morris has his chance right now and if Murphy does not recover in the HC.

Well, with Geordie likely to retire, Hamilton's future uncertain and Tait still a big question mark, he could find himself a nice little niche in the squad next season.

I think young Alex Lewington will over take him in a season or two. Lewington is just more creative ball in hand and he has a better kicking game. Morris is edging him out at the minute because he is a touch more solid ans experienced at 15. Also Tait played 15 in the A league on Monday and by all accounts did well getting a try.

Can anyone explain why sale are doing so badly I haven't had the chance to watch a game yet? They have a quality team but are getting smashed week in and out.. bet they miss the days of Fernandez lobbe, Sheridan, Bruno, hodgson, Robinson, chabal et al !

Its a strange thing that Sale are performing so poorly. But I suppose if it was easy to fix, the Sale management would have done it already. A quarter of the season gone with no wins and only one point. Doubt they are going to be able to get another one against Tigers. Crickey, Tigers are going to pound them.

If Sale finish the weekend with no wins and 6 losses, then they have to move quickly into 'how to survive' mode. Won't be easy.

I have such mixed feelings about the Sale situation. Ok, at the moment they have a lot of NEQ's playing - but they've set up an academy to bring NW EQ based RU players through eventually (academy's do take a little while to 'pay off') and with the investment in new grounds; for RU, i like what they're doing.

The problem is it's all based on playing and winning, and i'm a firm believer that if you lose and you end up in relegation spots, then relegated you should be. Time for others to test their metal. We shall see ...

Tigers by lots.

Tigers have this seemingly in built quality to trip up in games where the general consensus has been that they should walk it. Sale are due a win..... aren't they?

Seriously, if Tigers don't win and get a TBP, i'll be very disappointed.

Cumbrian, I'm not sure if it's going to matter much in it's first outing this season. It takes time for these more sort of formalised mini competitions to develop a bit of history. Anyway, it's just a bit of fun really, there's already plenty of rivalry and inevitably it's the Leeds scalp the others want.

What's needed most are more money in the clubs, better coaching and much more activity at school level to identify and develop potential. Leeds always have enough high profile people around to call on to front things, Geech has come home but it remains to be seen in what areas his input is going to enhance. Leeds' academy is well run and attracts some rare talent but it takes cash and good coaching to retain and mature it. On the money side, Sale are proving that it takes more than that, for them it's coaching and club ethos that are lacking.

Sale

As a northerner myself i do want to see the likes of Sale, Leeds and ourselves doing well and playing in the premiership.

Sale have too much talent to stay down really...then hopefully we'll get promoted, as will Leeds the following year...and all you southern fairies will be sick to death of us "norvern mankeys"....

What time is the match today?

20:00

thanks. I'd better hustle home to catch kickoff.

so........is anyone watching?

Yep, good start by Sale, good finish from Miller. I noticed that Sale are fielding an all Cumbrian back three. Just sayin' an' that.

Some savage work at the breakdown from Sale. That's better from them.

Good show by Sale (listening not watching) - nice to see them finally get some speed up

Looks like they've got a fairly decent crowd in too.

Why are Sale standing 10m from the penalty kick and not 10m back from where the penalty was awarded. Twice now.

Sale would do well to stop Wee weeing about at the back of the ruck. It's twice they've conceded turnovers because they've dithered.

Buckley is so bad in the scrum, it's a shame really because he is clearly very good around the pitch.

What's happening to the Leicester scrum?!

Penalty but that is a really harsh yellow in my opinion.

That didn't look like a knock on to me.

Just stupid from Sale, Vernon should have given it and that kick... rubbish.

I would like to see more from Ford, he is obviously playing to a game plan but all he has done is kick.