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PREM 25/26 - Round 6
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ShropshireAllBlack
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5 games across an entire weekend, and they have 2 on at the same time. Madness…
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Sale vs Chiefs, Sale will be favourites but hopfully we have all our internationals back.
I mean
Varney Skinner
Ikitau Slade
IFW Hodge PBB
Very dangerous as long as all are fit.
I mean
Varney Skinner
Ikitau Slade
IFW Hodge PBB
Very dangerous as long as all are fit.
Not sure what our side will look like
No Ford so RdP will have to go to 10, but he's the only 13 on our books.
Only player that has experience covering 13 is Luke James but with Carpenter out he's gonna be needed at 15 - maybe they shift RMW out one and start Louw or Bedlow at 12?
Rodd injured and AOF unavailable, so only one senior loosehead and one senior tighthead
Should be able to put out a decent side but we're so mentally frail ATM I don't anticipate us being able to pull a performance out of the bag with so much rotating
No Ford so RdP will have to go to 10, but he's the only 13 on our books.
Only player that has experience covering 13 is Luke James but with Carpenter out he's gonna be needed at 15 - maybe they shift RMW out one and start Louw or Bedlow at 12?
Rodd injured and AOF unavailable, so only one senior loosehead and one senior tighthead
Should be able to put out a decent side but we're so mentally frail ATM I don't anticipate us being able to pull a performance out of the bag with so much rotating
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Unavailable? Is it forced standdown? So we lose IFW?
As far as I'm aware, yes
It seems to change constantly but I was under the impression it's X weeks from the next Y that they must be stood down (as in 3 weeks by January or whatever) but the first week is mandatory, second however many the clubs decide when
Might be wrong, though - as above, it feels like it changes every international series
It's one of the next three weeks, but only for those who played 4 AI matches.
Of course, 2 of the next 3 are in Europe, so everyone will want full availability for those
Of course, 2 of the next 3 are in Europe, so everyone will want full availability for those
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Random question but let's say a player was named on the bench and didn't get onto the field then is that still classed as a rest?
Could we pick IFW at 23 and then only bring him on if the win is in balance and rest him if we can win without him? Or does been named on the bench mean it's not a rest week regardless of if he plays?
Could we pick IFW at 23 and then only bring him on if the win is in balance and rest him if we can win without him? Or does been named on the bench mean it's not a rest week regardless of if he plays?
Brown Bottle
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I'm not sure everyone will be bothered about Europe. Top 5 or 6?
West Country Wail
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Sounds like the best opportunity in a long time to try and pick up a win away to Sale. We got spanked sending the kids in the Cup so I hope we learned something from it as it appeared a fairly stacked Sale squad.
I hope we have Slade and IFW as I think we are going to focus on the league and not field a strong side for the Cheetahs Challenge Cup game, rest them then.
Ikitau looks knackered but he's cost us so much we need to flog him.
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I agree, if Ikitau signs and one season and he isnt even available to start then yes he needs to expect to be played when fit. But happy to bench him and hooper for an impact bench.
Same rules don't apply for other nations players as England players right? Soo IFW will have to rest but Slade(only played 1 game) Varney, Ikitau, Hooper and Jenkins all will be fair game?
West Country Wail
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Varney has a fractured rib which is a big loss for us
They do now
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In that case it's a tough one, leage vs Europe. We arnt winning the league but we likely won't win Europe either. I'd rather full strength vs Sale then give all our players a rest in Europe.
No one answered my question before. A player on the bench not used(say IFW at 23) is that classed as a rest given he didn't play or does being picked in the team count?
Based on social media posting I think we'll be resting our players later, if there's no date enforcement - presumably away to Clermont
Makes sense considering our poor start to the season, need to go full force if we want to give ourselves a chance of the playoffs
Makes sense considering our poor start to the season, need to go full force if we want to give ourselves a chance of the playoffs
I'd be very surprised if it didn't count, but I don't think the rules are written down for public consumption so that's just a guess
Feels like a pretty easy loophole to close
I don't think anyone knows - but I'd be amazed if the wording wasn't "selected" rather than "plays for"
Can we just skip this one... 
Starting XV:
15. Luke James, 14. Tom O'Flaherty, 13. Rob du Preez, 12. Rekeiti Ma'asi-White, 11. Alex Wills, 10. George Ford, 9. Gus Warr; 1. Si McIntyre (100), 2. Luke Cowan-Dickie, 3. Asher Opoku-Fordjour, 4. Ernst van Rhyn ©, 5. Ben Bamber, 6. Jacques Vermeulen, 7. Tom Curry, 8. Dan du Preez.
Replacements:
16. Nathan Jibulu, 17. Tumy Onasanya, 18. James Harper, 19, Tom Burrow, 20. Hyron Andrews, 21. Raffi Quirke, 22. Marius Louw, 23. Regan Grace.
Wasn't expecting us to be going so full bore - Regan Grace straight onto the bench as well, apparently Reed is also out injured
15. Luke James, 14. Tom O'Flaherty, 13. Rob du Preez, 12. Rekeiti Ma'asi-White, 11. Alex Wills, 10. George Ford, 9. Gus Warr; 1. Si McIntyre (100), 2. Luke Cowan-Dickie, 3. Asher Opoku-Fordjour, 4. Ernst van Rhyn ©, 5. Ben Bamber, 6. Jacques Vermeulen, 7. Tom Curry, 8. Dan du Preez.
Replacements:
16. Nathan Jibulu, 17. Tumy Onasanya, 18. James Harper, 19, Tom Burrow, 20. Hyron Andrews, 21. Raffi Quirke, 22. Marius Louw, 23. Regan Grace.
Wasn't expecting us to be going so full bore - Regan Grace straight onto the bench as well, apparently Reed is also out injured
