PRC - 24/25

[Geordie]

Another round with the only televised game being all prem

Sale Sharks: 15 Will Addison, 14 Obi Ene, 13 Luke James, 12 Sam Bedlow, 11 Alex Wills, 10 Tom Curtis (captain), 9 Raffi Quirke; 1 Bevan Rodd, 2 Tadgh McElroy, 3 Nick Schonert, 4 Ernst van Rhyn, 5 Ben Bamber, 6 JL du Preez, 7 Sam Dugdale, 8 Dan du Preez.

Replacements: 16 Harry Thompson, 17 Tumy Onasanya, 18 James Harper, 19 Rouban Birch, 20 Tom Burrow, 21 Tristan Woodman, 22 Nye Thomas, 23 Joe Bedlow.

Lots of injury returnees in there, which is good to see - still a good smattering of academy players but definitely feels like we're using it to try and get some form before the prem starts again

And we put out a full strength side lol. Its embarrassing. Although we'll probably get beat anyway

 

[Which Tyler]

BEDFORD:
15. Louis James
14. Alfie Garside
13. Lucas Titherington
12. Joel Matavesi
11. Dean Adamson
10. Will Maisey
09. Alex Day ©

1. Joey Conway
2. Tommy Herman
3. Beltus Nonleh
4. Rory Ward
5. George Smith
6. Fyn Brown
7. Joe Howard
8. Fred Tuilagi

16. Nathan Langdon, 17. Jamie Jack, 18. Oisin Heffernan, 19. Shay Kerry, 20. Luke Frost
21. Jac Arthur, 22. Jonny Weimann, 23. Matt Worley



BATH:
1 Arthur Cordwell
2 Jasper Spandler
3 Kieran Verden
4 Mackenzie Graham
5 Ewan Richards ©
6 Ethan Staddon
7 Thompson Cowan
8 Alfie Barbeary

09 Tom Carr-Smith
10 Orlando Bailey
11 Ruaridh McConnochie
12 Max Ojomoh
13 Louie Hennessey
14 Regan Grace
15 Austin Emens

16 Kepu Tuipulotu, 17 Archie Stanley, 18 Mikey Summerfield, 19 Arthur Green, 20 Jaco Coetzee
21 Neil Le Roux, 22 Ciaran Donoghue, 23 Will Parry


No problem with that Bath team - only Barbeary would be a first choice player; and he's been in pretty dire form this season, and playing all the PRC games - presumably hoping that he can play himself into some form (obviously, I'd still rather someone like Green starting with Treacy on the bench, but c'est la vie. OTherwise everyone is 2nd choice at best, with only really 3 contenders for the bench (2 of whom are getting their first rugby of the season)
Of course, I'd rather someone like Linegar at FH, but A] it's not like Bailey is getting game time for the firsts; B] Linegar is still at school, and C] Harris is injured, whilst these matches always raise the question (for me) for loaned players playing for their big boys club, or their borrowed one.

ETA: Hadn't spotted Coetzee on the bench, that's definitely unnecessary - getting plenty of game time, and in good form.

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

BEDFORD:
15. Louis James
14. Alfie Garside
13. Lucas Titherington
12. Joel Matavesi
11. Dean Adamson
10. Will Maisey
09. Alex Day ©

1. Joey Conway
2. Tommy Herman
3. Beltus Nonleh
4. Rory Ward
5. George Smith
6. Fyn Brown
7. Joe Howard
8. Fred Tuilagi

16. Nathan Langdon, 17. Jamie Jack, 18. Oisin Heffernan, 19. Shay Kerry, 20. Luke Frost
21. Jac Arthur, 22. Jonny Weimann, 23. Matt Worley



BATH:
1 Arthur Cordwell
2 Jasper Spandler
3 Kieran Verden
4 Mackenzie Graham
5 Ewan Richards ©
6 Ethan Staddon
7 Thompson Cowan
8 Alfie Barbeary

09 Tom Carr-Smith
10 Orlando Bailey
11 Ruaridh McConnochie
12 Max Ojomoh
13 Louie Hennessey
14 Regan Grace
15 Austin Emens

16 Kepu Tuipulotu, 17 Archie Stanley, 18 Mikey Summerfield, 19 Arthur Green, 20 Jaco Coetzee
21 Neil Le Roux, 22 Ciaran Donoghue, 23 Will Parry


No problem with that Bath team - only Barbeary would be a first choice player; and he's been in pretty dire form this season, and playing all the PRC games - presumably hoping that he can play himself into some form (obviously, I'd still rather someone like Green starting with Treacy on the bench, but c'est la vie. OTherwise everyone is 2nd choice at best, with only really 3 contenders for the bench (2 of whom are getting their first rugby of the season)
Of course, I'd rather someone like Linegar at FH, but A] it's not like Bailey is getting game time for the firsts; B] Linegar is still at school, and C] Harris is injured, whilst these matches always raise the question (for me) for loaned players playing for their big boys club, or their borrowed one.

ETA: Hadn't spotted Coetzee on the bench, that's definitely unnecessary - getting plenty of game time, and in good form.

The Bedford team has Nonleh, George Smith, Fyn Brown, Garside, N Langdon and Weimann all for the saints squad. Then there's quite a few ex saints in that team as well.

Would like to be able to watch this one to see how players like Smith and Nonleh are getting on.

 

[Scotty]

Good win for Chiefs , 31 - 0 at half time and won 31 - 7. Frustrating to not score any in the second half but kept up a solid defence throughout.

Class tries in the first half though from Hodge and Rigg.

Hope we can take some form into the prem. I'm aware it wasn't a full strength Gloucester but still.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Sounds like our gamble to bring back players from injury on a plastic pitch failed, with two leaving with leg joint injuries in < 30 mins

1pt loss, away from home in negative temps on a plastic pitch is whatever - hoping it's knocked some cobwebs loose but still expecting a battering vs Tigers next week

 

[Geordie]

Damn those plastic pitches

 

[davten]

Nowt to do with our pitch, Sale lost the game in the last 10 minutes due to our academy players coming off the bench and were more hungry for the win. They made a big difference and created openings.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Nowt to do with our pitch

Was more on about the injuries - plastic pitches are much worse for lower limb injuries, so bringing back someone like Schonert who has just come back from a serious ankle issue, and like 9 months out, to play on one was just silly


We always play poorly on a plastic pitch, though, it's nothing specific about Newcastle
Our pack, especially, always play like donkeys on them - think we're just not used to it, Sale don't even have one to train on, our bad weather training pitch is an indoor real grass pitch at Man City's training grounds
Pretty naive from the club, really, considering there are several clubs that have them now and they're very different to play on for set pieces

 

[West Country Wail]

They cause so many injuries. Kingston Park looks like a lower quality 'type' as well. No slight on Falcons but if you go to, say Kingsholm, the pitch looks completely different.

Glad to get a 'proper' win against a relatively loaded Gloucester side. Defence growing nicely under Haydn Thomas and we are finally jackaling!