RugbyRebels

Sale: Carpenter; Roebuck, James, Tuilagi, O'Flaherty; Ford, Warr; McIntyre, Taylor, Schonert, Bamber, Hill, Dugdale, B Curry, Du Preez.

Replacements: Creevy, Harrison, Opoku-Fordjour, Wiese, Beaumont, Quirke, Curtis, Doherty.

Stade Francais: Barre; Hamdaoui, Ward, Boudehent, Dakuwaqa; Segonds, Zabalza; Castets, Peyresblanques, Alo-Emile, Azagoh, Van der Mescht, Ory, Chapuis, Hirigoyen.

Replacements: Meite, Abramishvili, Kodela, Gabrillagues, Pesenti, Gimbert, Halaifonua, Etien.

11 changes for Stade, suggesting that they're not targetting this comp (or are extremely cocky). Big chance for Sale to make an opening statement.

Quirke's back - that's ahead of expectations, isn't it?

Puja

Tuilagi getting a game at last. Did the WC really take that much out of him?

Obviously the main point of interest is seeing whether Opoku-Fordjour can produce another eye catching cameo from the bench.

Puja wrote: ↑Fri Dec 08, 2023 10:48 pm 11 changes for Stade, suggesting that they're not targetting this comp (or are extremely cocky). Big chance for Sale to make an opening statement.

Quirke's back - that's ahead of expectations, isn't it?

Puja

If SF aren’t prioritising the Champions’ Cup, it’ll be a big opportunity for Tigers to win in Paris next weekend.

fivepointer wrote: ↑Sat Dec 09, 2023 7:48 am Tuilagi getting a game at last. Did the WC really take that much out of him?

Obviously the main point of interest is seeing whether Opoku-Fordjour can produce another eye catching cameo from the bench.

Broke his hand didn’t he at the RWC?

Puja wrote: ↑Fri Dec 08, 2023 10:48 pm 11 changes for Stade, suggesting that they're not targetting this comp (or are extremely cocky). Big chance for Sale to make an opening statement.

Quirke's back - that's ahead of expectations, isn't it?

Puja

He came off the bench last week and looked very lively. Was expected to be out for about 6 weeks.

I’m half an hour into rhe game and shit me Sales attack is so telegraphed!

They improved in the 2nd half. Quirke made a difference.

Ford had a terrible game. Mistakes and part of an attacking display that it'd be kind to call lethargic.

Puja

Puja wrote: ↑Mon Dec 11, 2023 1:00 am Ford had a terrible game. Mistakes and part of an attacking display that it'd be kind to call lethargic.

Puja

Yep. I was a bit surprised when the co commentators talked about his ‘good 60 mins’

Got it right with Dugdale though.

Can we just take a moment to appreciate Asher Opoku-Fordjour. Thought he did really well for a 20 year old who was called into action after only a few minutes of the game.

He played well last week against Quinns, although accept Marler was tiring but if he continues to progress could see him and Rodd being first choice props at Sale for years to come. Next week away at Leinster could be a big step up for him but last time he played against Irish props he had a field day

Spartan Shark wrote: ↑Tue Dec 12, 2023 8:20 am Can we just take a moment to appreciate Asher Opoku-Fordjour. Thought he did really well for a 20 year old who was called into action after only a few minutes of the game.

He played well last week against Quinns, although accept Marler was tiring but if he continues to progress could see him and Rodd being first choice props at Sale for years to come. Next week away at Leinster could be a big step up for him but last time he played against Irish props he had a field day

My too much, too young anxiety is starting to really kick in here.

He's probably already well on his way to the full adult minutes he should be playing in a season at this age.

16th man wrote: ↑Tue Dec 12, 2023 8:46 am

Spartan Shark wrote: ↑Tue Dec 12, 2023 8:20 am Can we just take a moment to appreciate Asher Opoku-Fordjour. Thought he did really well for a 20 year old who was called into action after only a few minutes of the game.

He played well last week against Quinns, although accept Marler was tiring but if he continues to progress could see him and Rodd being first choice props at Sale for years to come. Next week away at Leinster could be a big step up for him but last time he played against Irish props he had a field day

My too much, too young anxiety is starting to really kick in here.

He's probably already well on his way to the full adult minutes he should be playing in a season at this age.

Agreed that we do want to be very careful about promoting him to play too much too early and hopefully Harper should be back fit again soon to be able to give him some downtime. If you look at his frame, he is absolutely still growing right now. However, I am seconding Spartan's excitement for the long-run. As long as he doesn't get overplayed, this kind of early experience is invaluable for him - he'll have learned so much from wrestling with the likes of Marler and it'll do well for his development to be learning lessons at such a young age. What I enjoyed most against Stade Francais was that he got folded in an early scrum, clearly went away to think, and then won the next three with an adapted technique. Learning on the fly and apapting is a rare skill.

We don't want him a regular in the Sale XXIII at least until next season (at the earliest), and anyone suggesting England recognition this year (aside from a non-playing apprentice slot) needs a bonk on the nose with a rolled up newspaper, but I'm excited about our 2027 tighthead reserves with him and Fasogbon coming through.

Puja

Spartan Shark wrote: ↑Tue Dec 12, 2023 8:20 am Can we just take a moment to appreciate Asher Opoku-Fordjour. Thought he did really well for a 20 year old who was called into action after only a few minutes of the game.

He played well last week against Quinns, although accept Marler was tiring but if he continues to progress could see him and Rodd being first choice props at Sale for years to come. Next week away at Leinster could be a big step up for him but last time he played against Irish props he had a field day

The lad is some talent. He shone for the U20s at loose head and to move over and play the more demanding side is some going. That he can scrummage and offers real vitality in the loose is some asset to have. He is plainly a young player with enormous potential.
But he needs to be very carefully managed. Young props need to play but they need to have periods of inaction.
He's not 20 until next summer. Plenty of time to develope. No need to rush at this stage.

As Alex Sanderson put it so eloquently:
“You look at his power: he’s a tight-head prop with fast twitch. You just don’t get them. Rare as teddy bear shit.”

Oooh. Fast twitch fibres. Haven't heard that in a while. Could he really be the Matthew Tait of front rows?

Epaminondas Pules wrote: ↑Wed Dec 13, 2023 9:38 am As Alex Sanderson put it so eloquently:
“You look at his power: he’s a tight-head prop with fast twitch. You just don’t get them. Rare as teddy bear shit.”

brilliant