Premiership Rugby 19/20 - Rd 22

[Which Tyler]

SARACENS:
15. Elliot Daly
14. Alex Lewington
13. Dom Morris
12. Juan Pablo Socino
11. Sean Maitland
10. Manu Vunipola
9. Richard Wigglesworth

1. Richard Barringto
2. Jamie George (C)
3. Vincent Koch
4. Maro Itoje
5. Tim Swinson
6. Callum Hunter-Hill
7. Jackson Wray
8. Billy Vunipola

REPLACEMENTS
16. Tom Woolstencroft, 17. Sam Crean, 18. Alec Clarey, 19. Joel Kpoku, 20. Janco Venter
21. Aled Davies, 22. Harry Sloan, 23. Rotimi Segun




BATH
15. Anthony Watson
14. Semesa Rokoduguni
13. Jonathan Joseph
12. Josh Matavesi
11. Ruaridh McConnochie
10. Rhys Priestland
9. Ben Spencer

1. Beno Obano
2. Tom Dunn
3. Will Stuart
4. Josh McNally
5. Charlie Ewels (C)
6. Mike Williams
7. Sam Underhill
8. Taulupe Faletau

REPLACEMENTS

16. Jack Walker, 17. Lewis Boyce, 18. Christian Judge, 19. Will Spencer, 20. Miles Reid
21. Will Chudley, 22. Cameron Redpath, 23. Joe Cokanasiga

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Dock Saints, Sale, Gloucester and Worcester 10 points IMO.

 

[Which Tyler]

Dock Saints, Sale, Gloucester and Worcester 10 points IMO.

Sale might be if they've been found to breach Covid rules

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Can expect a lengthy lawsuit if that's the case, because we were told all tests came back negative, did a training session, then were told "No wait there were a few positives in there soz lol"

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

I wonder if Diamond conforms to the social distancing guidelines when he gets the players to wash his car?

hmmmmmmm

 

[ALJ]

No teams from Sale, Saints or Gloucester at 12 - word that the games might be postponed to mid week

Gloucester have name their side (on the website at least).

can't see how any team that cant play tomorrow will be able to play midweek. Would think they'll still be stuck in isolation.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Sounds like both games are off

I imagine the delay is working out whether it's walkovers or draws awarded - considering it was the testing companies **** up that caused it all

 

[Reiser99]

Posponed until Wednesday. It's interesting because despite 16 players testing positive and not being allowed to sign players for the match apparently Sale are 'in a position' to fulfill the match. Therefore they could play it, but it is being postponed until Wednesday as a precaution. Also interesting that Premiership Rugby saying this game is important to the result of the premiership and do should be played. Castres had to forfeit after 3 people testing positive, yet Sale can continue with a
16? I know it's a different competition body, but it's making an exception like this that annoys me because it's only happening due to the nature of the match and the teams involved. If it had been Leicester vs Sarries, where it wouldn't impact the table, for example I reckon the team who tested positive would have forfeited.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

I imagine lawyers are involved, because it's not a breach of the CovId protocols but a **** up from the testing company

I'd be amazed if it actually went ahead.
From what I've gathered it'd not 16 positive tests but 16 players self isolating.
Since lockdown training sessions are run on groups rather than a whole squad so it sounds like the club was training in two groups and one had some positive tests (36 man squad, minus the four long term injuries, half it, 16 players exposed)

We simply don't have the squad depth to lose half our squad and make up the numbers with academy players - especially in the front row (which is what got the saints game cancelled - not enough front rowers)

 

[Reiser99]

I imagine lawyers are involved, because it's not a breach of the CovId protocols but a **** up from the testing company

I'd be amazed if it actually went ahead.
From what I've gathered it'd not 16 positive tests but 16 players self isolating.
Since lockdown training sessions are run on groups rather than a whole squad so it sounds like the club was training in two groups and one had some positive tests (36 man squad, minus the four long term injuries, half it, 16 players exposed)

We simply don't have the squad depth to lose half our squad and make up the numbers with academy players - especially in the front row (which is what got the saints game cancelled - not enough front rowers)

I suppose if it is a **** from the testing company and Sale can prove they followed all guidance otherwise then yeah an exception could be made. I'll take it back if that's the case. I imagine for premiership rugby, Sale would sue if they were made forfeit for something that wasn't their fault. Sounds like it's all very complicated.

 

[Scotty]

Any idea who has covid at sale or has that been kept quiet?

 

[Which Tyler]

Any idea who has covid at sale or has that been kept quiet?

It's been kept as quiet as the team announcement that had to be made at lunchtime yesterday

 

[Reiser99]

So Sale vs Worcester postponed, but Gloucester vs Saints off. I'll accept I don't know all the facts and circumstances, especially as Saints were already low on fit props, but it does seem like two different sets of rules depending on where you are in the table, which as I've said, I really hate.

Anywho, looking forward to the games today, though lots it's edge a bit as we won't definitely know the top four until Wednesday.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

but it does seem like two different sets of rules

Saints and Gloucester were offered a Wednesday game but Saints turned it down because they don't have enough front rowers.

 

[Reiser99]

Saints and Gloucester were offered a Wednesday game but Saints turned it down because they don't have enough front rowers.

Ok I'll retract again. Seems like Premiership Rugby are more on the ball than most sports in that case and are trying to keep it fair.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Sale Sharks players went drinking after Premiership Cup victory as positive Covid fallout causes fury and chaos

Anger that Sale's crucial final-round fixture is moved and not cancelled, especially if they qualify for play-offs at another team's expense

www.telegraph.co.uk

 

[Every Time Ref]

Sale Sharks players went drinking after Premiership Cup victory as positive Covid fallout causes fury and chaos

Anger that Sale's crucial final-round fixture is moved and not cancelled, especially if they qualify for play-offs at another team's expense

www.telegraph.co.uk

Bit of a misleading headline, according to the article they didn't "go drinking", they drank among themselves within the stadium.

So no Sale player came into contact with anyone else apart from the people they had just played a rugby game with. Absolute mountain out of a molehill as far as I can see.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Yeh I feel if it did have legs then everyone else would've been writing about it.

 

[Jimbo]

Posponed until Wednesday. It's interesting because despite 16 players testing positive and not being allowed to sign players for the match apparently Sale are 'in a position' to fulfill the match. Therefore they could play it, but it is being postponed until Wednesday as a precaution. Also interesting that Premiership Rugby saying this game is important to the result of the premiership and do should be played. Castres had to forfeit after 3 people testing positive, yet Sale can continue with a
16? I know it's a different competition body, but it's making an exception like this that annoys me because it's only happening due to the nature of the match and the teams involved. If it had been Leicester vs Sarries, where it wouldn't impact the table, for example I reckon the team who tested positive would have forfeited.

Yeah but there is rarely any consistency between competitions, take Sarries situation for example they have a good chunk of the England Squad in theirs now labelled cheats etc, from where I'm sitting Leinster are not too different in terms of Irish internationals, but they don't have the same salary caps etc, nothing to see here etc.

 

[FLOBALOB]

So Sale vs Worcester postponed, but Gloucester vs Saints off. I'll accept I don't know all the facts and circumstances, especially as Saints were already low on fit props, but it does seem like two different sets of rules depending on where you are in the table, which as I've said, I really hate.

Anywho, looking forward to the games today, though lots it's edge a bit as we won't definitely know the top four until Wednesday.