RugbyRebels

Sale: Carpenter; O'Flaherty, S James, Tuilagi, Reed; R Du Preez, Warr; McIntyre, Van der Merwe, Schonert, Wiese, Hill, Ross, B Curry (capt), JL Du Preez.

Replacements: Ashman, Rodd, Harper, Beaumont, Dugdale, Quirke, Curtis, L James.

Toulouse: Jaminet; Mallia, Barassi, Guitoune, Lebel; Ntamack, Dupont (capt); Baille, Marchand, Aldegheri, Arnold, Meafou, Jelonch, Placines, Roumat.

Replacements: Cramont, Neti, Faumuina, Brennan, Willis, Elstadt, Delibes, Retiere.

That is some Toulouse side. May be rose-tinted glasses but I fancy us to provide an upset. The AJ Bell will be virtually full, it's Sale's biggest game this season, in spite of the final score we weren't disgraced by any means in Toulouse, we're bang on form having well beaten Ulster, Tigers and Quins recently, the players should be well up for this and RAFFI'S BACK!!

It's OK to dream!

14 of the 23 are ex-Academy too

It's clear that Sale won't fold like they did in Toulouse a few weeks ago, but I reckon Toulouse will come away with a narrow win and set up nicely the home match against Munster next Sunday, for which I have a ticket!

Real test of just where Sale are. They're settled and in very good form. They'll need to be at their best. Toulouse look mightily impressive.
Possibly game of the round.

fivepointer wrote: ↑Fri Jan 13, 2023 4:33 pm Real test of just where Sale are. They're settled and in very good form. They'll need to be at their best. Toulouse look mightily impressive.
Possibly game of the round.

spot on. Nice audition for Curry B.

Banquo wrote: ↑Fri Jan 13, 2023 5:32 pm

fivepointer wrote: ↑Fri Jan 13, 2023 4:33 pm Real test of just where Sale are. They're settled and in very good form. They'll need to be at their best. Toulouse look mightily impressive.
Possibly game of the round.

spot on. Nice audition for Curry B.

The Toulouse starting back row worries me a bit as there's no true 7. Jelonch is an outstanding 6 and Placines is a 6 but blows hot and cold. Alexandre Roumat (son of ex France 2nd row, Olivier) is at 8 and has a very bright future, but could do with a bit more beef. Back row replacements, Elstadt and Willis could just tip the balance in Toulouse's favour. As 5pointer says, could be the game of the round, with Toulouse scraping home by 4 or 5 points.

francoisfou wrote: ↑Fri Jan 13, 2023 5:41 pm

Banquo wrote: ↑Fri Jan 13, 2023 5:32 pm

fivepointer wrote: ↑Fri Jan 13, 2023 4:33 pm Real test of just where Sale are. They're settled and in very good form. They'll need to be at their best. Toulouse look mightily impressive.
Possibly game of the round.

spot on. Nice audition for Curry B.

The Toulouse starting back row worries me a bit as there's no true 7. Jelonch is an outstanding 6 and Placines is a 6 but blows hot and cold. Alexandre Roumat (son of ex France 2nd row, Olivier) is at 8 and has a very bright future, but could do with a bit more beef. Back row replacements, Elstadt and Willis could just tip the balance in Toulouse's favour. As 5pointer says, could be the game of the round, with Toulouse scraping home by 4 or 5 points.

The french are generally a bit more laissez faire the in back row n'est ce pas. Left and right often, not necessarily a classic open side etc...

Banquo wrote: ↑Fri Jan 13, 2023 5:52 pm

francoisfou wrote: ↑Fri Jan 13, 2023 5:41 pm

Banquo wrote: ↑Fri Jan 13, 2023 5:32 pm

spot on. Nice audition for Curry B.

The Toulouse starting back row worries me a bit as there's no true 7. Jelonch is an outstanding 6 and Placines is a 6 but blows hot and cold. Alexandre Roumat (son of ex France 2nd row, Olivier) is at 8 and has a very bright future, but could do with a bit more beef. Back row replacements, Elstadt and Willis could just tip the balance in Toulouse's favour. As 5pointer says, could be the game of the round, with Toulouse scraping home by 4 or 5 points.

The french are generally a bit more laissez faire the in back row n'est ce pas. Left and right often, not necessarily a classic open side etc...

Oui, but I’ll feel better when Willis is on the field!

francoisfou wrote: ↑Fri Jan 13, 2023 6:00 pm

Banquo wrote: ↑Fri Jan 13, 2023 5:52 pm

francoisfou wrote: ↑Fri Jan 13, 2023 5:41 pm

The Toulouse starting back row worries me a bit as there's no true 7. Jelonch is an outstanding 6 and Placines is a 6 but blows hot and cold. Alexandre Roumat (son of ex France 2nd row, Olivier) is at 8 and has a very bright future, but could do with a bit more beef. Back row replacements, Elstadt and Willis could just tip the balance in Toulouse's favour. As 5pointer says, could be the game of the round, with Toulouse scraping home by 4 or 5 points.

The french are generally a bit more laissez faire the in back row n'est ce pas. Left and right often, not necessarily a classic open side etc...

Oui, but I’ll feel better when Willis is on the field!

C'est bon. C'est bonjour!

5-3 Sale at half time and a Kobe’s Wiese red card, which maybe should’ve been yellow. Impressive Sale defence, but Dupont is far from his usual flair. Now 5-6 Toulouse.

High tackle by Toulouse not picked up. Crowd not happy.

Manu knocked out in that tackle?

Mellsblue wrote: ↑Sat Jan 14, 2023 2:28 pm Manu knocked out in that tackle?

Meafou’s about twice the size of Tuilagi!

Sale losing their starting props in 1st minute then getting a red card didnt help their cause. Neither did an unreliable line out and some poor continuity. Toulouse didnt need to get into top gear to win comfortably.
All round felt a bit flat, i thought. Not the game i hoped we see.

fivepointer wrote: ↑Sat Jan 14, 2023 2:57 pm Sale losing their starting props in 1st minute then getting a red card didnt help their cause.

Bit of an understatement i’d say. Feel like the 2 props getting subbed that early was in effect like having 2 red cards. Harper especially is not ready to do 80 minutes in a game like that.

fivepointer wrote: ↑Sat Jan 14, 2023 2:57 pm Sale losing their starting props in 1st minute then getting a red card didnt help their cause. Neither did an unreliable line out and some poor continuity. Toulouse didnt need to get into top gear to win comfortably.
All round felt a bit flat, i thought. Not the game i hoped we see.

haven't seen the game, but what happened that both starting props went off at the same time?

Clash of heads when making a tackle on same player

Makes Wiese look even more stupid in context.