Challenge Cup 15/16 - Round 1

[TRF_Olyy]

Sale Team: 15. Tim Jeffers, 14. Tom Brady, 13. Mark Jennings, 12. Sam Bedlow, 11. Charlie Ingall, 10. Nick Macleod, 9. James Mitchell, 1. James Flynn, 2. Neil Briggs, 3. Brian Mujati, 4. Jonathan Mills (c), 5. Andrei Ostrikov, 6. Magnus Lund, 7. Andrew Hughes, 8. Viliami Fihaki

Replacements: 16. Cameron Neild, 17. Jake Pope, 18. Ross Harrison, 19. George Nott, 20. Josh Beaumont, 21. Joe Ford, 22. John O'Donnell, 23. Nev Edwards




It's..erm...interesting!
No 9 replacement and Harrison having to cover tighthead is a worry!

Excited to see how some of the youngsters go - there's a buzz around Jeffers, Flynn, Hughes, Nott and Bedlow. Hopefully they can step up to the plate like others have in the past couple of seasons.
Ingall and Fihaki have impressed in the limited time they've had so looking forward to seeing them get a start.

I did expect more first teamers, though. Considering how much they've said we're going to make a real go of it this looks more like an LV= cup side.

 

[Irish boy]

Ensei are playing Connacht now in -18c

Anyway today were playing Agen today with quite a strong side I see there bottom of the top 14 but are they any good French fans we need a win

 

[Groundhog]

Connacht ran that one out 31-14. Bonus point win in the most unpleasant conditions imaginable with a partially second string side is a good result.

 

[ratsapprentice]

Ver interested to see how Thrush goes.

 

[McTallshort]

Ver interested to see how Thrush goes.

Natural yogurt helps thrush go apparently

 

[ratsapprentice]

Do I work it in or just leave it on?

I think Billy will be better than Fraddie - much more well rounded.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

I think Billy will be better than Fraddie - much more well rounded.

He's certainly flaky enough to follow Freddies footsteps.
Was ****ing terrible last week

 

[ratsapprentice]

Lindsay's been plaing well - hooking (!) and throwing well.

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

Lindsay's been plaing well - hooking (!) and throwing well.

I don't believe you.

 

[ratsapprentice]

I don't believe you.

Believe it - cleanly hooked every ball and threw very well.

 

[Irish boy]

We murdered Agen we really needed that Maitland scored and Lewington got 2

 

[Tony Manx]

Strange choice of word today?

 

[Duck a l'Orange]

Strange choice of word today?

Totally innocuous. Let's not get hypersensitive.

Can I take it that Lewington's form has continued then?

 

[Irish boy]

Oh dear I'm sorry just a bit over excited that we won and forgot the moment. Also Agen sang the national anthem in the minutes silence so huge respect to them.

On Lewington he's played pretty well but having Maitland at 15 at fullback will make him even better

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

Believe it - cleanly hooked every ball and threw very well.

To be fair...I don't rate him but what he really needs is to be given a bit of trust to be a preferred choice so he can string some gamestogether. If he's getting that now then much the better.

 

[JJFlash]

I'm disappointed with Toulouse's defeat. I had expected at least a losing bp.
I didn't see the match so can't comment on how well (or badly) they played.
The return leg in January now becomes even more important.
Next week we are at home to Oyonnax who are struggling in the Top14 so a winning bp is imperative.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

The only game that matters this weekend is starting now

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

The only game that matters this weekend is starting now

Oh lord, who let your lot into a competitive tournament. Will they never learn?

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Christ, that "tackle" from Mitchell was embarrassing.

 

[Tony Manx]

Having looked at the team selected to play for Sale and then the result, can I take it, Olyy, that Sale are taking this competition as seriously as most of the French teams usually do?