Sale vs Leicester - Sunday 3pm

[16th man]

Looks like Tiger's are coughing up a lot of red zone pens.

[p/d]

Roebuck should have been in the bin for scoring that try

[FKAS]

Can't believe the TMO is trying to fit Youngs up for a no arms tackle. Absolutely ridiculous.

[FKAS]

Looks like Tiger's are coughing up a lot of red zone pens.

Under a lot of pressure at the minute. Ford is controlling the game fantastically and Sale are very much on top.

[16th man]

Lots of pressure for no points. Might have been worth popping the Cole yellow pen over for the 3.

[FKAS]

Lots of pressure for no points. Might have been worth popping the Cole yellow pen over for the 3.

I think going for it was the right call but I was surprised it was with the lineout. I'd have put money on it being the scrum. Force Tigers to take a back off for Heyes as there's no way we'd have got away with a 7 man scrum. Get Manu on the dummy line and wrap the back three round the corner. It being a scrum in the middle of the pitch Tigers would have to have marked both sides.

[oldbackrow]

Fingers crossed. Looked in a lot of pain.

Looked very similar to one of our 1st XV which ended up being two of the hamstring muscles being torn .
Hope not the same as he has been excellent this year.

[FKAS]

Dan Kelly has been excellent today. Coming back into form at the right time. Great pass from him for the Tigers try.

[16th man]

Kelly isn'y going to get himself picked by England throwing passes like that from 12.

[16th man]

Ford making a bit of a mockery of the suggestion Farrell is the better place kicker

[16th man]

If we've lost Ben Curry and DDP for the final then that's a big blow.

[twitchy]

Ooof.

[stepsider]

Ooof.

x2

[Puja]

Fair play Sale - you put in a great performance and the best team won. Very proud of the effort that Leicester gave, both today and in rescuing the season after a mild bit of disruption partway through.

How good was George Ford though? His attacking choices on the gainline always rattled us and that torpedo kick for touch knocked the wind right out of us. Dan Kelly and Carpenter were also superb - looking forward to seeing all of them in the England training camp squad.

Puja

[FKAS]

Ooof.

x2

And that was the game.

Ford the difference between the two teams, he was superb. Losing Pollard before kick off was a huge loss, there's no way Ford would have been able to control the game with the ease he did if Handre was testing him and he wouldn't have fouled up those final two kicks to touch.

Ah well. Well done Sale, can't say the top two don't deserve to be in the final. They've been well ahead of the rest all season.

[Spiffy]

Ford making a bit of a mockery of the suggestion Farrell is the better place kicker

Not just place kicking. George is better at everything. Some wonderful touches today. A class player with a real rugby brain.

[Shiny]

For me Ford replaces Smith as the backup fly half in the England Squad. Let’s face it Farrell will be the chosen one and there is no getting around that. But in a World Cup knockout match I would rather have Fords game management than Smith’s flair off the bench.

[Oakboy]

Ford making a bit of a mockery of the suggestion Farrell is the better place kicker

Not just place kicking. George is better at everything. Some wonderful touches today. A class player with a real rugby brain.

I've not been Ford's greatest fan over the years but that was some display today. 'In the right place to do the right thing at the right time' sounds simple. It's not.

[FKAS]

For me Ford replaces Smith as the backup fly half in the England Squad. Let’s face it Farrell will be the chosen one and there is no getting around that. But in a World Cup knockout match I would rather have Fords game management than Smith’s flair off the bench.

Ford and Borthwick worked closely together at Tigers. Ford was picked pretty much whenever he could work let alone when he was fit. Ford's presence during the 6N when he'd barely played on his return from injury suggested Borthwick wanted him included and providing input.

Fingers crossed we get to see Ford/Kelly/Lawrence at some point.

[FKAS]

Ford making a bit of a mockery of the suggestion Farrell is the better place kicker

Not just place kicking. George is better at everything. Some wonderful touches today. A class player with a real rugby brain.

I've not been Ford's greatest fan over the years but that was some display today. 'In the right place to do the right thing at the right time' sounds simple. It's not.

Agreed. Also the moving his fellow players into the right place at the right time. There was one particular move where Rob du Preez looped from open to the blind side and launched an attack had the commentators purring but on the replay you can see Ford call the move to him and then dummy as if he's going to receive it. Sells it to the defence and sets du Preez off in space on the other side.

The highlights reel wouldn't impress many but his influence on the game was huge.

[morepork]

It's comical that the Wooden Soldier is picked over Ford. I mean, every aspect of Ford's game is better, with the exception of cheap shots and starting fights at rucks.

I almost feel sorry for you.

[Spiffy]

For me Ford replaces Smith as the backup fly half in the England Squad. Let’s face it Farrell will be the chosen one and there is no getting around that. But in a World Cup knockout match I would rather have Fords game management than Smith’s flair off the bench.

Ford and Borthwick worked closely together at Tigers. Ford was picked pretty much whenever he could work let alone when he was fit. Ford's presence during the 6N when he'd barely played on his return from injury suggested Borthwick wanted him included and providing input.

Fingers crossed we get to see Ford/Kelly/Lawrence at some point.

Yes. Ford/Tuilagi/Lawrence could work too.

You're more likely to see Ford/Farrell/Slade

[FKAS]

For me Ford replaces Smith as the backup fly half in the England Squad. Let’s face it Farrell will be the chosen one and there is no getting around that. But in a World Cup knockout match I would rather have Fords game management than Smith’s flair off the bench.

Ford and Borthwick worked closely together at Tigers. Ford was picked pretty much whenever he could work let alone when he was fit. Ford's presence during the 6N when he'd barely played on his return from injury suggested Borthwick wanted him included and providing input.

Fingers crossed we get to see Ford/Kelly/Lawrence at some point.

Yes. Ford/Tuilagi/Lawrence could work too.

You're more likely to see Ford/Farrell/Slade

Kelly was in the 6N squad before injury ruled him out before the first game. It was heavily reported at the time that he was due to start at 12 before his injury. He does sit nicely between having a playmaker and a bosh merchant.

I'm hoping we see some experimentation in the pre world cup friendlies, Borthwick wasn't worried about mixing and matching over the course of the 6N.

[Oakboy]

For me Ford replaces Smith as the backup fly half in the England Squad. Let’s face it Farrell will be the chosen one and there is no getting around that. But in a World Cup knockout match I would rather have Fords game management than Smith’s flair off the bench.

Ford and Borthwick worked closely together at Tigers. Ford was picked pretty much whenever he could work let alone when he was fit. Ford's presence during the 6N when he'd barely played on his return from injury suggested Borthwick wanted him included and providing input.

Fingers crossed we get to see Ford/Kelly/Lawrence at some point.

Yes. Ford/Tuilagi/Lawrence could work too.

You're more likely to see Ford/Farrell/Slade

I'd pick Ford/Lawrence/Slade but getting Quirke back up to speed for the 9 shirt looks vital after the various SF displays by the SH contenders. Then, we need to sort out the 8 shirt. Oh, and I still think Hill is Itoje's best 2nd row partner.

[Banquo]

George Ford is a good player shock.