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Premiership Rugby 23/24 - Round 9

We're going to win...i can feel it! First win of the season. ;)
 
Will we reach the half-way point for the season, with the table-leader having a negative points difference?
With Sarries visiting, even @TRF_Olyy wouldn't bet against it!

Mind you, with Sale's form the last few weeks, you wouldn't bet on them still being top of the table by Sunday night
 
As expected:

Sale Sharks Starting XV:

15. Joe Carpenter , 14. Tom Roebuck, 13. Rob du Preez, 12. Manu Tuilagi, 11. Arron Reed, 10. George Ford, 9. Gus Warr 1. Ross Harrison, 2. Agustin Creevy, 3. Nick Schonert, 4. Cobus Wiese 5. Jonny Hill, 6. Ernst van Rhyn, 7. Ben Curry ©, 8. Jean-Luc du Preez.

Replacements:

16. Luke Cowan-Dickie, 17. Tumy Onasanya, 18. Asher Opoku-Fordjour, 19. Josh Beaumont, 20. Sam Dugdale, 21. Nye Thomas, 22. Sam James, 23. Sam Bedlow.
 
Newcastle Falcons team v Bristol Bears (Friday, 7.45pm, Kingston Park Stadium)

15 Tom Penny,
14 Adam Radwan,
13 Oliver Spencer,
12 Jordan Holgate,
11 Mateo Carreras,
10 Louie Johnson,
9 James Elliott;

1 Phil Brantingham,
2 Jamie Blamire,
3 Eduardo Bello,
4 John Hawkins,
5 Sebastian de Chaves,
6 Sam Cross,
7 Guy Pepper,
8 Callum Chick (captain).

Replacements: 16 Bryan Byrne, 17 Adam Brocklebank, 18 Murray McCallum, 19 Kiran McDonald, 20 Pedro Rubiolo, 21 Hugh O'Sullivan, 22 Rory Jennings, 23 George Wacokecoke.
 
Gloucester needs a win badly, but I doubt it will come this weekend. Although I would love to be wrong. 1703204686362.png
 
Newcastle Falcons team v Bristol Bears (Friday, 7.45pm, Kingston Park Stadium)

15 Tom Penny,
14 Adam Radwan,
13 Oliver Spencer,
12 Jordan Holgate,
11 Mateo Carreras,
10 Louie Johnson,
9 James Elliott;

1 Phil Brantingham,
2 Jamie Blamire,
3 Eduardo Bello,
4 John Hawkins,
5 Sebastian de Chaves,
6 Sam Cross,
7 Guy Pepper,
8 Callum Chick (captain).

Replacements: 16 Bryan Byrne, 17 Adam Brocklebank, 18 Murray McCallum, 19 Kiran McDonald, 20 Pedro Rubiolo, 21 Hugh O'Sullivan, 22 Rory Jennings, 23 George Wacokecoke.
That's a really good back 3.

In theory the Bristol half backs should be the difference but rugby isn't played on paper and all the narrative around Falcons has been winning this match at all costs plus the big name injuries won't help Bris.

15. Max Malins (23 apps), 14. Gabriel Ibitoye (29 apps), 13. Virimi Vakatawa (9 apps), 12. Benhard Janse van Rensburg (12 apps), 11. Rich Lane (27 apps), 10. Callum Sheedy (162 apps), 9. Harry Randall (113 apps); 1. Jake Woolmore (141 apps), 2. Harry Thacker (111 apps), 3. Kyle Sinckler (49 apps), 4. James Dun (24 apps), 5. Joe Batley (51 apps), 6. Steven Luatua (117 apps), 7. Fitz Harding (62 apps) (c), 8. Magnus Bradbury (31 apps).

System players: 16. Gabriel Oghre (6 apps), 17. Max Lahiff (74 apps), 18. George Kloska (39 apps) 19. Josh Caulfield (13 apps), 20. Dan Thomas (139 apps), 21. Kieran Marmion (12 apps), 22. James Williams (29 apps), 23. Noah Heward (11 apps).

Unavailable: Ellis Genge, Yann Thomas, Chris Vui, Santiago Grondona, Jake Heenan, AJ MacGinty, Kalaveti Ravouvou, Siva Naulago.
 
That's a really good back 3.

In theory the Bristol half backs should be the difference but rugby isn't played on paper and all the narrative around Falcons has been winning this match at all costs plus the big name injuries won't help Bris.

15. Max Malins (23 apps), 14. Gabriel Ibitoye (29 apps), 13. Virimi Vakatawa (9 apps), 12. Benhard Janse van Rensburg (12 apps), 11. Rich Lane (27 apps), 10. Callum Sheedy (162 apps), 9. Harry Randall (113 apps); 1. Jake Woolmore (141 apps), 2. Harry Thacker (111 apps), 3. Kyle Sinckler (49 apps), 4. James Dun (24 apps), 5. Joe Batley (51 apps), 6. Steven Luatua (117 apps), 7. Fitz Harding (62 apps) (c), 8. Magnus Bradbury (31 apps).

System players: 16. Gabriel Oghre (6 apps), 17. Max Lahiff (74 apps), 18. George Kloska (39 apps) 19. Josh Caulfield (13 apps), 20. Dan Thomas (139 apps), 21. Kieran Marmion (12 apps), 22. James Williams (29 apps), 23. Noah Heward (11 apps).

Unavailable: Ellis Genge, Yann Thomas, Chris Vui, Santiago Grondona, Jake Heenan, AJ MacGinty, Kalaveti Ravouvou, Siva Naulago.
Its a great back 3....the problem is the other 12 on the pitch.... ;)
 
Bath Rugby XV: 1 Beno Obano, 2 Niall Annett, 3 Thomas du Toit, 4 Elliott Stooke, 5 Charlie Ewels, 6 GJ van Velze, 7 Miles Reid, 8 Alfie Barbeary, 9 Ben Spencer (c), 10 Finn Russell, 11 Will Muir, 12 Max Ojomoh, 13 Ollie Lawrence, 14 Joe Cokanasiga, 15 Matt Gallagher

Replacements: 16 Tom Dunn, 17 Juan Schoeman, 18 Will Stuart, 19 Quinn Roux, 20 Jaco Coetzee, 21 Louis Schreuder, 22 Orlando Bailey, 23 Cameron Redpath

Harlequins XV: 1 Joe Marler, 2 Jack Walker, 3 Will Collier, 4 Joe Launchbury, 5 Stephan Lewies, 6 Chandler Cunningham-South, 7 James Chisholm, 8 Alex Dombrandt (c), 9 Danny Care, 10 Marcus Smith, 11 Louis Lynagh, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 13 Will Joseph, 14 Nic David, 15 Tyrone Green

Replacements: 16 Sam Riley, 17 Fin Baxter, 18 Dillon Lewis, 19 Irne Herbst, 20 George Hammond, 21 Will Evans, 22 Will Porter, 23 Oscar Beard
 
I know I've said it before, but it's worth repeating - I'm loving that JvG is actually rotating our squad, not just talking about it, but only making injury enforced changes.
This week, Dunn, Stuart and Redpath sit on the bench, whilst Underhill gets a 2nd week off.
You could say that McNally and Cloete have been given a week off, but I'd rather think they've been dropped for being frankly bad this season.
 
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Exeter Chiefs:
15 Tommy Wyatt
14 Rory O'Loughlin
13 Henry Slade
12 Ollie Devoto
11 Ben Hammersley
10 Harvey Skinner
9 Tom Cairns

1 Scott Sio
2 Jack Yeandle
3 Ehren Painter
4 Dafydd Jenkins (c)
5 Lewis Pearson
6 Ethan Roots
7 Jacques Vermeulen
8 Greg Fisilau

Replacements:
16 Dan Frost
17 Nika Abuladze
18 Josh Iosefa-Scott
19 Rusi Tuima
20 Ross Vintcent
21 Stu Townsend
22 Joe Hawkins
23 Zack Wimbush
 
Bath Rugby XV: 1 Beno Obano, 2 Niall Annett, 3 Thomas du Toit, 4 Elliott Stooke, 5 Charlie Ewels, 6 GJ van Velze, 7 Miles Reid, 8 Alfie Barbeary, 9 Ben Spencer (c), 10 Finn Russell, 11 Will Muir, 12 Max Ojomoh, 13 Ollie Lawrence, 14 Joe Cokanasiga, 15 Matt Gallagher

Replacements: 16 Tom Dunn, 17 Juan Schoeman, 18 Will Stuart, 19 Quinn Roux, 20 Jaco Coetzee, 21 Louis Schreuder, 22 Orlando Bailey, 23 Cameron Redpath

Harlequins XV: 1 Joe Marler, 2 Jack Walker, 3 Will Collier, 4 Joe Launchbury, 5 Stephan Lewies, 6 Chandler Cunningham-South, 7 James Chisholm, 8 Alex Dombrandt (c), 9 Danny Care, 10 Marcus Smith, 11 Louis Lynagh, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 13 Will Joseph, 14 Nic David, 15 Tyrone Green

Replacements: 16 Sam Riley, 17 Fin Baxter, 18 Dillon Lewis, 19 Irne Herbst, 20 George Hammond, 21 Will Evans, 22 Will Porter, 23 Oscar Beard
Interesting lineup for Quins. That's about the heaviest back row we can field and I'm not sure I'm a fan.

6:2 isn't a regular thing for us either and Herbst and Hammond only add to the 'heavy' theme.

Thankfully Bath have done us a bit of a favour by resting their quicker back row forwards.
 
Sale ******* up every lineout in Sarries half

....I've seen this one before
 
John Hawkins is quality, I can vouch for that so make it 11? ;)

Seriously though, I think that's a fairly decent 15 but I don't know much about the bench if I'm honest. I can see why Byrne would be out as Blamire is a beast but hardly a drop off in quality at hooker and I'm surprised Brocklebank is on the bench instead of starting as he's quality but outside of that I'm not too familiar with Falcons this season as where I normally watch every domestic match I can, I've had a lot on personally so barely keeping up.

Also did Sheedy's penalty kick go over?
 
How many stupid things does Hill average a game? On two already.

Also surprised the high tackle wasn't looked at. Looked like a swinging arm to me.
 
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