Heineken Cup P6: Montpellier vs Sale Sharks - 21/10/2012

[TRF_Olyy]

Stade Yves du Manoir, France - 21/10/2012 (16:00 Local Time)
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TV: FR2/Sky Sports​

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Fingers crossed that Montpellier aren't interested in the HEC this year....can't see that happening though, especially at home.

Will be interesting to see what team we put out, we're losing a number of players to injury so they could well rest a couple with an eye on the premiership. I hope not, though, and that we come out all guns blazing going for a win and some confidence/continuity in our play.
Don't think we've much/any chance of a win, but a hard fought loss would be better than a second string walkover...

Richie Gray is out for 3 weeks with ankle damage, and Ostrikov is still a few weeks away from fit, so I'd like to see:

1. Lewis-Roberts
2. Taylor
3. Buckley
4. Myall
5. McKenzie
6. Vernon
7. Seymour (c)
8. Powell
9. Willis
10. Cipriani
11. Brady
12. Leota
13. Addison
14. Jennings
15. Miller

16. Ward
17. Harrison
18. Cobilas
19. Gaskell
20. Easter
21. Fowles
22. MacLeod
23. Cueto

Think that team is fairly likely, though I think wings will be Cueto/Brady, and centres will be Tuitupou/Addison (one of Leota/Jennings on the bench, not sure which - probably Jennings) - Lee Imiolek has been recalled from Leeds so we could see him involved (got a sneaking suspicion that Fridge may be rested, as he's started 7/7 so far and Imiolek may start...)

 

[Tony Manx]

Fingers crossed that Montpellier aren't interested in the HEC this year....can't see that happening though, especially at home.

I would say they have made it abundantly clear that they are not interested in anything other than gaining at least 6th Place in the Top 14 (which tey should do), taking pot luck in the play-offs where anything can happen in one match, qualifying for next year's H Cup and behaving the same next year.......very sad for the H Cup, the team, their management and the spectators of theirs and their opposition but presume that is the pressures, financial and other, they are under!

It is good that it really is only them treating the H Cup as an training run for their academy....................!!

 

[gaston le gaff]

Team selection may surprise all this weekend, Montpellier will win and win well and then move on to Grenoble and Mont de Marsan. English journalists treating this as a jolly, we have a full house in the press stand on Sunday, i suppose 3/4 days in the S France is always interesting in Oct. if you live in Blighty.

 

[Tony Manx]

They would be getting very wet here as started raining last night and not expected to let up for three days....................maybe they will be reporting on the Zebre game from there as only on Canal+!!

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Sale Sharks side:

Sale Sharks: 15.Rob Miller, 14.Tom Brady, 13.Will Addison, 12.Mark Jennings, 11.Mark Cueto, 10.Danny Cipriani, 9.Cillian Willis, 1.Eifion Lewis-Roberts, 2.Joe Ward, 3.Tony Buckley, 4.Fraser McKenzie, 5.Kearnan Myall, 6.James Gaskell, 7.David Seymour (capt.), 8.Mark Easter

Replacements: 16.Tommy Taylor, 17.Ross Harrison, 18.Vadim Cobilas, 19.Richie Vernon, 20.Andy Powell, 21.Nathan Fowles, 22.Nick Macleod, 23.Johnny Leota


A little surprising. Will be good to see Jennings at 12, he played very well on the wing and 12 is his preferred position.
Don't like Gaskell at 6, don't know what Vernon has to do to get an extended run in the shirt. Every time he plays he plays out of his skin, then loses out the next round.
Don't like Powell being dropped to the bench either, but I suppose that's due to the Worcester game on the horizon. Pretty lightweight 4-8 though (with the expection of McKenzie).

 

[Tony Manx]

Montpellier

Figallo, Creevy, Bustos, Fakate, Privat, Oedroago, Grogodze, Beattie, Tomas, Trin-Duch,, Bustos, Hape, Nagusa, Berard, Amorasino

Van Vuuren, Watremez, De Marco, Bias, Paillague, Fernandez, Combezzu and Pelo

Full team but is it because they do not want to go without giving them a run out before Top 14 returns next week or they are interested in the H Cup..................certainly were they to lose this, I think they would revert to academy players!!

 

[gaston le gaff]

As i said in previous reply Montpellier field more or less a full strength side......
All the players who have played this season are members of the pro squad and not Academy, the reason there is a full team is because the H Cup is taken seriously at Montpellier, and a slightly weakened side at Toulon was only because players needed to be rested or were injured plus we did not have our 5 International Argentians, hope this clears any doubts or confusion that may have been stated in previous threads. AND ITS STILL NOT RAINING HERE YET !!!!!!
With the problems at BO I'm not surprised the weather is bad!!!! sort out your own backyard and the sun will shine !!!!

 

[Tony Manx]

.......... and a slightly weakened side at Toulon.... ....sort out your own backyard and the sun will shine !!!!

"A slightly weakened side".....methinks you can be serious not!! As to how serious you will be taking the H Cup, I will reserve my judgement until January!!

With BO, the trouble is that the powers that be officially closed their ears to any kind of criticism, constructive or otherwise, last year but, unofficially, many years ago and they do not see much of a problem.........

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Early try for Sale/Cueto!

Break from Brady then a great kick through from Cipriani.

 

[Tony Manx]

It would appear that the crowd have the ame view of the H Cup as the management at Montpellier......has anyone turned up? Looks very sparse....

Edit...although it is only 9:5 I fear for Sale as they seem to have little to offer against this team!

Much later Edit - Gaston, good run out for next week then......!!

 

[TRF_Olyy]

33 - 18 fulltime.

While I'm not happy with the scoreline, I'm happy with the commitment shown from the side.
Can't go to France and win without a scrum, though. A Montpellier knockon just resulted in them getting the ball back from either a turnover or a penalty.

If we can take this form in to the Premiership, though, I'm optimistic of our chances.

 

[gaston le gaff]

It would appear that the crowd have the same view of the H Cup as the management at Montpellier......has anyone turned up? Looks very sparse....

A sparse 10,414 which on a Sun afternoon is not bad as it was pouring down and also televised on A2 which is non paying and 3000+ more than at B O who were up against a crack Italien side. So Montpellier get their first H Cup win of the season,and they win well, good to see an excellent following from the Sale boys they made plenty of noise but the 2nd half proved to be decisive for Montpellier, next two weeks games against Grenoble and Mont de Marsan we could get ourselves a very good position in the TOP 14 before the Autumn International break

 

[Tony Manx]

It would appear that the crowd have the same view of the H Cup as the management at Montpellier......has anyone turned up? Looks very sparse....

A sparse 10,414 which on a Sun afternoon is not bad as it was pouring down and also televised on A2 which is non paying and 3000+ more than at B O who were up against a crack Italien side. So Montpellier get their first H Cup win of the season,and they win well, good to see an excellent following from the Sale boys they made plenty of noise but the 2nd half proved to be decisive for Montpellier, next two weeks games against Grenoble and Mont de Marsan we could get ourselves a very good position in the TOP 14 before the Autumn International break

Easy games for you for the next fortnight especially now that you have given your team a run out against the poorest side in the UK!!!

I was amazed to see the size of the crowd that Biarritz (on 5 game losing streak) attracted against a "crack" Italian side in the swimming pool that was Aguillera at the evening kick off on Saturday - even I was in two minds as to whether to make the effort......Ngwenya's try was only scored because the ball was kicked into their 22 and stopped dead in a pool through wihich their defender, who was easily favourite to get the ball, slid some 15 feet passed where he thought the ball was actually going to roll to and the road home was closed due to the weight of water such that I had to take a diversion.......compared to "our" rain, my boy, you had merely a slight shower!!!

It is good to see that my favourite French coach is bringing you guys back to the top.....you know I am happy for you really!

 

[gaston le gaff]

good to see you still have your humour if nothing else.