RugbyRebels

Harlequins Starting XV: 1. Fin Baxter 2. Jack Walker 3. Wilco Louw 4. George Hammond 5. Irne Herbst 6. Archie White 7. Luke Wallace 8. Alex Dombrandt – Captain 9. Danny Care 10. Tommy Allan 11. Josh Bassett 12. Andre Esterhuizen 13. Joe Marchant 14. Cadan Murley 15. Nick David.

Impact Players: 16. Jack Musk 17. Jordan Els 18. Simon Kerrod 19. Charlie Matthews 20. Tom Lawday 21. Lewis Gjaltema 22. Will Edwards 23. Oscar Beard



Sale Sharks Starting XV: 15. Luke James, 14. Arron Reed, 13. Sam James, 12. Manu Tuilagi, 11. Tom O’Flaherty, 10. Rob Du Preez, 9. Gus Warr; 1. Simon McIntyre, 2. Akker Van Der Merwe, 3. Nick Schonert, 4. Cobus Wiese, 5. Jonny Hill, 6. Tom Curry, 7. Ben Curry (C), 8. Jean-Luc du Preez

Replacements: 16. Ewan Ashman, 17. Bevan Rodd, 18. James Harper, 19. Josh Beaumont, 20. Jono Ross, 21. Nye Thomas, 22. Tom Curtis, 23. Joe Carpenter.

If Sale and Quins both play like they did last week this could be a miserable afternoon for Quins.

But if Sale play like they did against Newcastle....could be the game of the weekend....who knows.

Yep looking forward to this.

Sale comfortably on top.

Some Sale handling errors costing them. They are looking a much more rounded team this season.

Hope Tommy Allan is ok, don't like to see a player leave a pitch on a stretcher.

If Danny Care doesn't go to the bin after that try he's a very lucky boy it's so cynical even he was resigned to going after he did it. The try shouldn't cancel out that.

Love Sales approach- their attack was very good and ambitious despite the awful conditions. Good detail in all they do- well coached.

Sale bossed that. Scoreline flattered Quins who were some way 2nd best.

So Wayne Barnes chooses to ignore Manu's attempted 'tackle' on Allan despite the latter being carried off after several minutes' medical attention. During commentary, in contrast, Ben Kay reckoned Manu could easily have been red carded.

In the old days this collision would have invariably been called a rugby 'incident' as Allan's head was quite low to the ground, but nowadays we see massive reffing inconsistency on head contact.

The authorities really need to sort this out asap. With the reffing free-for-all that is European rugby looming next weekend, I'll no doubt have more reasons for fuse-blowing on this subject by Sunday evening.

I'm unsure whether it's even a tackle for Manu, it's almost like he's charging into pick up the dropped ball. Barnes did review it. I suppose he had the option of either reckless or rugby incident and went with rugby incident. I think this one has shades of grey where as the Farrell one was fairly clear cut.

Even if a hamstring injury is the lowest grade, they're generally two to three weeks," said Sale director of rugby Alex Sanderson.

"I've just spoken to Tom and said get your head on for the Six Nations but don't stop being a leader for us over the next two or three weeks.”

Got a lot of time for Sanderson. Hopefully Curry will be ok

p/d wrote: ↑Sun Jan 08, 2023 10:10 pm Even if a hamstring injury is the lowest grade, they're generally two to three weeks," said Sale director of rugby Alex Sanderson.

"I've just spoken to Tom and said get your head on for the Six Nations but don't stop being a leader for us over the next two or three weeks.”

Got a lot of time for Sanderson. Hopefully Curry will be ok

yep, would like Sanderson A with the England team at some point

Sale definitely the real deal in Prem terms this season. Rodd and Carpenter both caught my eye off the bench. Nice to see them producing lots of excellent young, English talent.

Yep, Sanderson looks like the real deal. There are some good young English coaches kicking about at the moment.

The biggest concern for Sale isn't that Tom will be out for a bit, it's that Borthwick calls up Ben and we end up with them both gone.

stepsider wrote: ↑Sun Jan 08, 2023 6:04 pm So Wayne Barnes chooses to ignore Manu's attempted 'tackle' on Allan despite the latter being carried off after several minutes' medical attention. During commentary, in contrast, Ben Kay reckoned Manu could easily have been red carded.

In the old days this collision would have invariably been called a rugby 'incident' as Allan's head was quite low to the ground, but nowadays we see massive reffing inconsistency on head contact.

The authorities really need to sort this out asap. With the reffing free-for-all that is European rugby looming next weekend, I'll no doubt have more reasons for fuse-blowing on this subject by Sunday evening.

I think Barnes called this right. Seemed to me that the players tumbled into one another as David reached out to recover the ball. Not sure what Tuilagi could have done to avoid contact. Sometimes guys accidentally collide on the pitch without any intent, malice or bad technique.

Yeah I think it was just a very unfortunate landing.

16th man wrote: ↑Mon Jan 09, 2023 9:31 am The biggest concern for Sale isn't that Tom will be out for a bit, it's that Borthwick calls up Ben and we end up with them both gone.

Diddums. It's what happens when you starting doing well. Tigers will likely lose both tightheads and both scrum halfs to the England 6N squad.

Ben deserves a call up on recent form he's been an absolute pest.

Sale have got enough depth to make it through the 6N without either Curry. Dugdale looks a good prospect and the rest of the pack will remain big and nasty.

Sanderson is doing good things at Sale, something about him still leads to me muting a lot of his interviews as I find him somewhat smug. Can't deny he has driven this Sale team on to real contenders. It'll be a shock if they aren't top two and enjoying a home semi final come the end of the season.

FKAS wrote: ↑Mon Jan 09, 2023 11:38 am

16th man wrote: ↑Mon Jan 09, 2023 9:31 am The biggest concern for Sale isn't that Tom will be out for a bit, it's that Borthwick calls up Ben and we end up with them both gone.

Diddums. It's what happens when you starting doing well. Tigers will likely lose both tightheads and both scrum halfs to the England 6N squad.

Ben deserves a call up on recent form he's been an absolute pest.

Sale have got enough depth to make it through the 6N without either Curry. Dugdale looks a good prospect and the rest of the pack will remain big and nasty.

Sanderson is doing good things at Sale, something about him still leads to me muting a lot of his interviews as I find him somewhat smug. Can't deny he has driven this Sale team on to real contenders. It'll be a shock if they aren't top two and enjoying a home semi final come the end of the season.

You find Sanderson smug? I think he just tells it like it is and he's a smart cookie.

Banquo wrote: ↑Mon Jan 09, 2023 12:10 pm
You find Sanderson smug? I think he just tells it like it is and he's a smart cookie.

This. And refreshingly so

Banquo wrote: ↑Mon Jan 09, 2023 12:10 pm

FKAS wrote: ↑Mon Jan 09, 2023 11:38 am

16th man wrote: ↑Mon Jan 09, 2023 9:31 am The biggest concern for Sale isn't that Tom will be out for a bit, it's that Borthwick calls up Ben and we end up with them both gone.

Diddums. It's what happens when you starting doing well. Tigers will likely lose both tightheads and both scrum halfs to the England 6N squad.

Ben deserves a call up on recent form he's been an absolute pest.

Sale have got enough depth to make it through the 6N without either Curry. Dugdale looks a good prospect and the rest of the pack will remain big and nasty.

Sanderson is doing good things at Sale, something about him still leads to me muting a lot of his interviews as I find him somewhat smug. Can't deny he has driven this Sale team on to real contenders. It'll be a shock if they aren't top two and enjoying a home semi final come the end of the season.

You find Sanderson smug? I think he just tells it like it is and he's a smart cookie.

Yes I accept it's a personal thing. Something about him just annoys me.

He clearly knows what he's doing as a head coach.

fivepointer wrote: ↑Mon Jan 09, 2023 10:13 am

stepsider wrote: ↑Sun Jan 08, 2023 6:04 pm So Wayne Barnes chooses to ignore Manu's attempted 'tackle' on Allan despite the latter being carried off after several minutes' medical attention. During commentary, in contrast, Ben Kay reckoned Manu could easily have been red carded.

In the old days this collision would have invariably been called a rugby 'incident' as Allan's head was quite low to the ground, but nowadays we see massive reffing inconsistency on head contact.

The authorities really need to sort this out asap. With the reffing free-for-all that is European rugby looming next weekend, I'll no doubt have more reasons for fuse-blowing on this subject by Sunday evening.

I think Barnes called this right. Seemed to me that the players tumbled into one another as David reached out to recover the ball. Not sure what Tuilagi could have done to avoid contact. Sometimes guys accidentally collide on the pitch without any intent, malice or bad technique.

There was mention on commentary of similarity with the Earl red card. Since that was rescinded, a precedent was set, it could he argued. When I watched Tuilagi's dive into contact I failed to see how he could have legitimate intent to do anything safe for his opponent. Actual intent to damage may have been absent but was there reasonable duty of care for an opponent? I'm not so sure.

p/d wrote: ↑Mon Jan 09, 2023 12:17 pm

Banquo wrote: ↑Mon Jan 09, 2023 12:10 pm
You find Sanderson smug? I think he just tells it like it is and he's a smart cookie.

This. And refreshingly so

Plus, even if he is, I think he's got the right to be a little self-satisfied when he's doing so much right!

Puja

I went back to have another look and it actually seems a lot worse than I thought at the time. I had thought Manu tripped and fell in to the collision just as Allan did, but he seems to be going for a hit without any idea of where Allan is actually going to be when he lands. I often find it strange when commentators talk about being committed as justification. He has committed to (at best) making a no-arms hit on a player who is in the air at the time. There is certainly mitigation that Allan falls in such a strange way, but I would still say it's a bit reckless from Tuilagi.