Premiership Rugby 23/24 - Round 17

[TRF_Olyy]

​

 

[Which Tyler]

Always feels that Friday nights up North are a banana skin.
Much as I'd love 2 away wins up there.

Saints v Glos really ought to be a wash out.
Bristol v Sarries should be the match of the weekend.
Chiefs v Quins will be fascinating as well. If Quins aren't too knackered, they could end Exeter's hopes for this season; if they are, they'll give themselves a real uphill struggle to reach 4th.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Yeah, Bristol vs Saracens could be very good
Saints vs Gloucester will be interesting - Gloucester on a good run of form (when they put our their starters) and Saints could've had a lot taken out of them from the Leinster game

We've got EvR confirmed available and a slim possibility of Tom Curry (being assessed after training on Thursday) - one would be a boost but both returning would be huge.
Last home game of the season so hoping we can put in a big performance, need those 5pts to keep the dream alive - Sam James' last home game, too, so hoping he gets a good chunk of time (and scores a hat trick, obv)

 

[Scotty]

As it stands the league table is insane... must win for Chiefs but a very tough game and to get in the top 4 is very unlikely eitherway.

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

Can see saints slipping up here. A couple of injuries and the toll that Leinster game would have had mentally. Let's just hope we don't switch off.

 

[Which Tyler]

I'd hope that the Leinster match concentrates minds, and brings a backlash.
Do that, and you've guaranteed a home SF, can rotate against Bath, then have a week off before the SF.

Fail to secure the 5 points against Glos, and you risk needing to get something out of Bath Away, or accept an away SF, or even no SF.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Sale Sharks Starting XV:
15. Sam James, 14. Tom Roebuck, 13. Rob du Preez, 12. Manu Tuilagi, 11. Tom O'Flaherty, 10. George Ford, 9. Gus Warr, 1. Bevan Rodd, 2. Tommy Taylor, 3. James Harper, 4. Cobus Wiese, 5. Hyron Andrews, 6. Ben Curry ©, 7. Sam Dugdale, 8. JL du Preez.

Replacements:
16. Agustin Creevy, 17. Si McIntyre, 18. WillGriff John, 19. Ben Bamber, 20. Ernst van Rhyn, 21. Raffi Quirke, 22. Rekeiti Ma'asi White, 23. Arron Reed.


Few surprises in there - great to see SJ get a start on his final home game, but gutted it came at the expense of an injury to Carpenter

 

[Jimbo]

I'd hope that the Leinster match concentrates minds, and brings a backlash.
Do that, and you've guaranteed a home SF, can rotate against Bath, then have a week off before the SF.

Fail to secure the 5 points against Glos, and you risk needing to get something out of Bath Away, or accept an away SF, or even no SF.

Agreed, go all out here get the win and put the feet up before the semi final to some extent, might be a few seasons before they have the balance they currently have with something of a pack exodus.

 

[Which Tyler]

Friday, 7.45 pm, Kingston Park, PRTV
Ref: Tom Foley
TJs: Sara Cox and Hamish Smales
TMO: Dean Richards

Newcastle:
1 Adam Brocklebank
2 Jamie Blamire
3 Eduardo Bello
4 Tim Cardall
5 Sebastian de Chaves
6 Sam Cross
7 Guy Pepper
8 Callum Chick [C]

09 Sam Stuart
10 Brett Connon
11 Ben Redshaw
12 Cameron Hutchison
13 Matias Moroni
14 Adam Radwan
15 Louis Brown

16 Bryan Byrne, 17 Mark Dormer, 18 Richard Palframan, 19 John Hawkins, 20 Freddie Lockwood
21 James Elliott, 22 Rory Jennings, 23 Oli Spencer


Bath Rugby:
1 Beno Obano
2 Tom Dunn
3 Thomas du Toit
4 Quinn Roux
5 Charlie Ewels
6 Ted Hill
7 Sam Underhill
8 Alfie Barbeary

09 Ben Spencer [c]
10 Finn Russell
11 Will Muir
12 Cameron Redpath
13 Ollie Lawrence
14 Joe Cokanasiga
15 Matt Gallagher

16 Niall Annett, 17 Juan Schoeman, 18 Will Stuart, 19 Jacques du Plessis, 20 Miles Reid, 23 Josh Bayliss
21 Louis Schreuder, 22 Orlando Bailey


Finn's back and so is the bloody 6:2 bench

 

[Al Bangor]

Northampton > Gloucester.

Unfortunately.

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

That's a full bore Northampton team bar injuries. I expect the full 5 points from this one and then the team can rest up against Bath.

 

[Jimbo]

Damn makes you feel old when you always think of Dan Cole as old to realise he's only 6ish months older than you!

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Trust Pollard to run the first creative move of his career vs us

 

[TRF_Olyy]

That was very upright

Edit: yellow a good call

 

[TRF_Olyy]

How do you lose communication between the director and the TMO - just get on the blower or something

 

[Which Tyler]

Both teams showing well in the NE.
Bath converting to points, Newcastle forwards looking for a fight, whilst their backs are desperate to play some rugby.
Pepper definitely making himself known amongst the Bath players.

Newcastle 0 - 14 Bath
23 min

 

[Jimbo]

How do you lose communication between the director and the TMO - just get on the blower or something

Modern fangled technology, didn't have these issues with CB radios.

 

[Which Tyler]

Make that 0 - 21, as Coka shrugs off 2 tackles, and carries another 2 over the line with him

28 minutes

 

[Jimbo]

If only Sam James had some stand out athletic attributes hed world class, generally high rugby IQ.

 

[Which Tyler]

And finally, Newcastle actually convert.
Blamire at the back of the lineout maul