Premiership Final

[rjjb]

Sounds like tickets for the match are virtually being given away, so poor is the expected attendance. English club rugby is basically f*cked.

[Mikey Brown]

Oof.

[Banquo]

Sounds like tickets for the match are virtually being given away, so poor is the expected attendance. English club rugby is basically f*cked.

they are being given away

[Which Tyler]

I'd also heard that it's as near as dammit, a sell-out, and tpeople complaining about the price as recently as mid-week

[Oakboy]

Yeah I wasn't meaning to lay it all at Ford's feet, I just found it so hard to pay attention to England in that period and could hardly remember why.

I don't think there's much debate on here about Ford's quality overall, I just don't know how well equipped we are to make the most of it. Certainly more than Smith, though I still feel he was dicked about so much in the 6 nations.

I know we're meant to say we like kicking battles and stuff now but I just want to see us use Ford's absurd skill with the ball at the gain-line. Everyone goes on about there being "less space at international level" as if that's an argument against running/attacking with the ball, rather than meaning you should pick the 10 with (by far) the best hands, timing and weight/range of a pass.

Will Ford use his hands much today or just kick? I think the breakdown scrap will be worth watching but will either 9/10 pairing use quick ball?. Maybe neither of these teams attract much adulation from neutrals but there is the potential for a decent game of rugby looking at the 30 players starting, assuming they go (are sent) out wanting to play.

[chris18501]

Both Ben Curry and DDP missing is a big blow for the Sale back 5, though the back row is starting off quite well balanced with a slight favouring towards mobility.

Feels like it's a big ask for the young back 3 to cope with bombs, but if they can and the tight 5 can handle the physicality of the Sarries pack, the back row should be able to dominate the breakdown.

It all looks very finely balanced, though just as with the Leicester final all those years ago I don't trust that we'll get the rub of the green off the ref and will need to be that much better to take him out of it.

Agreed.DDP and BC are huge misses for us. I don't think the Sarries pack is to be feared at all. If anything, they are very evenly matched.
I do fear the Sarries backline with ball in hand though against the Sale narrow rush defence. But if GF and RDP can get the young back 3 moving, they have proved this season they can also do some damage.
Quirke coming off the Bench at 60mins should bring some sparkle, assuming we are still in it.

Good luck Sale!

[Mikey Brown]

I feel like the second row battle should be fun at least.

[Puja]

Yeah I wasn't meaning to lay it all at Ford's feet, I just found it so hard to pay attention to England in that period and could hardly remember why.

I don't think there's much debate on here about Ford's quality overall, I just don't know how well equipped we are to make the most of it. Certainly more than Smith, though I still feel he was dicked about so much in the 6 nations.

I know we're meant to say we like kicking battles and stuff now but I just want to see us use Ford's absurd skill with the ball at the gain-line. Everyone goes on about there being "less space at international level" as if that's an argument against running/attacking with the ball, rather than meaning you should pick the 10 with (by far) the best hands, timing and weight/range of a pass.

Will Ford use his hands much today or just kick? I think the breakdown scrap will be worth watching but will either 9/10 pairing use quick ball?. Maybe neither of these teams attract much adulation from neutrals but there is the potential for a decent game of rugby looking at the 30 players starting, assuming they go (are sent) out wanting to play.

Sale did attack against Leicester and it was really what beat us - I think we'd've had them if it'd stayed an arm wrestle.

Puja

[Banquo]

I feel like the second row battle should be fun at least.

should be a great game all round

[Mikey Brown]

I feel like the second row battle should be fun at least.

should be a great game all round

Yeah I’m surprised at the negativity around this.

Both teams can be kind of dull when they’re just grinding away, but have shown a lot more in attack this season than some, and neither will be able to rely on just steamrolling the other.

[FKAS]

It all looks very finely balanced, though just as with the Leicester final all those years ago I don't trust that we'll get the rub of the green off the ref and will need to be that much better to take him out of it.

I can't remember Pearce being particularly lenient to Sarries. You should be fine, as long as you don't do the usual Sale thing of following Jono Ross's example and giving away a lot of penalties, several of which are on the line.

[Banquo]

I feel like the second row battle should be fun at least.

should be a great game all round

Yeah I’m surprised at the negativity around this.

Both teams can be kind of dull when they’re just grinding away, but have shown a lot more in attack this season than some, and neither will be able to rely on just steamrolling the other.

a big forward battle can make a great game.

[Banquo]

Would definitely have started Daly ahead of Malins or Maitland, and Mako is an odd one tho I see a logic. I think Sarries may well struggle at the breakdown if there is any width. Midfield will be a great battle and Sale have a substantial edge at 9.

mako was never fit.

decent size crowd by the look of it

[Banquo]

good test for dan

[Banquo]

twice Pearce has been in the way.

compare quality v European Cup . Daft errors everywhere.

[Puja]

decent size crowd by the look of it

For the panic of earlier, it looks like the lower two tiers are full and there's a decent chunk in the top tier as well. I'd say 60k plus, maybe even more. Not shabby at all for two teams who probably have smaller size regular stadia and fanbases.

Decent game so far as well, but still getting going. Farrell's done enough workmanlike good things to justify his inevitable man of the match award.

Puja


ETA. For all the talk of English club rugby union being in trouble, we're still apparently an important enough event to attract a visit from Just Stop Oil.

[Banquo]

yay. Just stop oil.

[Banquo]

decent size crowd by the look of it

For the panic of earlier, it looks like the lower two tiers are full and there's a decent chunk in the top tier as well. I'd say 60k plus, maybe even more. Not shabby at all for two teams who probably have smaller size regular stadia and fanbases.

Decent game so far as well, but still getting going. Farrell's done enough workmanlike good things to justify his inevitable man of the match award.

Puja

? poor game to date. accuracy score -5. Good crowd

Daly on.... good

[Banquo]

that was quality - bit of luck but good set up

[stepsider]

yay. Just stop oil.

Fecking morons.

Let's get fracking going.

[Puja]

yay. Just stop oil.

I am deeply in favour of their morals and take the point that, without disruptive protest that disrupts lives, people won't pay attention to the impending and ongoing climate disaster. However, becoming hated and linking their cause to that hatred seems counterproductive.

That was a nice try. Lovely set move off the back of the scrum that Sale bought hook-line-sinker-rod-and copy of Angling Times. The bounce of the ball absolutely hated Joe Carpenter there - stopping and reversing just before his slide. Can't blame TCurry too much - no way anyone could resist trying the tackle there.

Puja

[Banquo]

handling....jeez

[Puja]

decent size crowd by the look of it

For the panic of earlier, it looks like the lower two tiers are full and there's a decent chunk in the top tier as well. I'd say 60k plus, maybe even more. Not shabby at all for two teams who probably have smaller size regular stadia and fanbases.

Decent game so far as well, but still getting going. Farrell's done enough workmanlike good things to justify his inevitable man of the match award.

Puja

? poor game to date. accuracy score -5. Good crowd

Daly on.... good

I'm having fun?

Puja

[stepsider]

yay. Just stop oil.

I am deeply in favour of their morals and take the point that, without disruptive protest that disrupts lives, people won't pay attention to the impending and ongoing climate disaster. However, becoming hated and linking their cause to that hatred seems counterproductive.

That was a nice try. Lovely set move off the back of the scrum that Sale bought hook-line-sinker-rod-and copy of Angling Times. The bounce of the ball absolutely hated Joe Carpenter there - stopping and reversing just before his slide. Can't blame TCurry too much - no way anyone could resist trying the tackle there.

Puja

{Mod} Have deleted this as was unclear whether this was a troll to be amusing which could lead to political discussion in the wrong place, or an actual genuine belief, which I'm not allowing to be hosted here. Send me a PM if you have complaints. {/Mod}

[Mikey Brown]

I can’t believe this is still the first half.