Champions Cup 25/26 - Round 1

[Leonormous Boozer]

As **** as the whole thing is a Thursday night game would be sick. Not like they're selling out stadiums anyway.

 

[Rinkadink]

No idea how Bris are going to do away at Scarlets. Before the season started I don't think it would be unfair to say that Bristol should pick up a 5 pointer but Scarlets have only just gone and beaten Glasgow... Which is troubling.

Ended up in a tough group; Pau at home after. Then in the next block away in SA with Bulls hosting. Final fixture is home v Bordeaux.

Avoiding a banana skin in Llanelli and any kind of win v second in Top14 who have beaten a bunch of the other top sides (gulp) is imperative. Bulls game will be huge and likely pivotal towards our progress in Europe.

 

[Rinkadink]

Gonna be a proper bin juice game

You say this but Sale at home is one of the toughest fixtures and Glasgow just lost to Scarlets.

If you can slow them down and stop the wide attacks (which Sale are traditionally fantastic at) it's yours, even with a depleted side. Keep it tight and gritty.

I'm really looking forward to a bunch of fixtures this weekend.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Looks like Tigers resting our Internationals

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Sale Sharks Starting XV:
15. Arron Reed, 14. Tom O’Flaherty, 13. Rekeiti Ma’asi-White, 12. Marius Louw, 11. Alex Wills, 10. Rob du Preez, 9. Raffi Quirke; 1. Si McIntyre, 2. Nathan Jibulu, 3. WillGriff John, 4. Tom Burrow, 5. Ben Bamber, 6. Jacques Vermeulen, 7. Ernst van Rhyn ©, 8. Tom Curry.

Replacements:
16. Ethan Caine, 17. Tumy Onasanya, 18. James Harper, 19. Hyron Andrews, 20. Ben Curry, 21. Gus Warr, 22. Ollie Davies, 23. Gurshwin Wehr.


Edit:
15 Josh McKay, 14 Kyle Steyn, 13 Stafford McDowall, 12 Sione Tuipulotu, 11 Ollie Smith, 10 Adam Hastings, 9 George Horne, 8 Jack Dempsey, 7 Rory Darge, 6 Matt Fagerson, 5 Scott Cummings, 4 Max Williamson, 3 Zander Fagerson, 2 Gregor Hiddleston, 1 Nathan McBeth
Replacements: 16 Seb Stephen, 17 Rory Sutherland, 18 Sam Talakai, 19 Alex Samuel, 20 Gregor Brown, 21 Ally Miller, 22 Jamie Dobie, 23 Dan Lancaster



Yeah this is gonna be a bloodbath

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

I personally would have started Byrne and not picked Iaone up from the airport.

No word re Porter, well deserved rest!

 

[big ginger 8]

View attachment 25154

I personally would have started Byrne and not picked Iaone up from the airport.

No word re Porter, well deserved rest!

Like the frontrow rotation. Bit disappointed Soroka isn't in but hard to disagree with Deegan. Similarly would have liked Tector to get a chance as a more physical option at 12 but it's Frawley's best position.

Edit:
Ulster
1. Sam Crean (7)

2. Rob Herring (259)

3. Tom O'Toole (128)

4. Harry Sheridan (46)

5. Charlie Irvine (2)

6. David McCann (73)

7. * Nick Timoney (171)

8. Juarno Augustus (4)

9. Nathan Doak (94)

10. Jack Murphy (18)

11. Zac Ward (13)

12. Jude Postlethwaite (34)

13. James Hume (104)

14. Rob Baloucoune (74)

15. Jacob Stockdale (137)

Replacements:

16. Tom Stewart (60)

17. Angus Bell (0)

18. Scott Wilson (40)

19. Joe Hopes (3)

20. Bryn Ward (2)

21. Conor McKee (5)

22. Jake Flannery (24)

23. Stewart Moore (84)