Match report from the Telegraph is
here
Result aside, I think we got a lot of what we would have wanted from this game. Ultimately this competition is not a priority for us and it’s more important for us to use it as a rehab and development opportunity.
Ramping up Evans’ and David’s participation, giving more game time to the likes of Hammond, Jurevicius and Beard, finally giving CSW a run out and a great debut for Cleaves.
I’m not really too bothered if Gray, Chisholm and Stafford were among our weaker players. We’re talking about squad players who are 3rd or 4th choice and won’t trouble our 23 unless we have a major injury crisis.
Match report from the Telegraph is here
Can anybody do the necessary so that we can read this?
Jurevicius - I'll keep this short and sweet. He's now pushing Lawday and Chis for the 6 shirt. What a quality young player he already is.
Taulani - probably the highlight for me. FINALLY he's using his physique, picking lines, CRASHING through weak shoulders. Controlled well at the base of the scrum too this time. Worked hard in defence. Didn't do anything stupid. I think we all knew he had promise but this half of rugby was what I was worried I might never see. Now I've seen it, I'm a very happy boy. Guy's a monster. When Dommers is back, Taulani needs to be given the 20 shirt whenever fit - off the bench in the last 20/30, playing like that, he'll do damage. And when Dommers is away, I now trust him to look after the 8 shirt.
Stafford - haven't seen the mare yet (aside from the intercept pass he threw in their 22). Had a very solid first half - moved us around really well. Box kicking a bit hit and miss. I think the issue I have with him is he doesn't fill me with excitement. I'm not sitting there wondering what he might do next to inject some pace, but he definitely didn't slow us down. Gjaltema is ahead of him for me though.
Anyanwu - another highlight, another unsurprising classy display from a youngster who seems ready to fulfil his potential. Looks like he provides what we need from our centres: hard lines, stays on his feet, offloads out of the tackle, gets us going forward. Puts his considerable weight into tackles and it really feels like he's got an old head on his shoulders already. He's got more of a challenge getting onto the team sheet for Prem and Champs Cup, but feels like he's only an injury to a front-line centre away from being in the mix. I will debate anyone who wants to argue that we don't have the best stable of centres in the league.
My take on their performances.
Jurevicius and Anyanwu - unlike a lot of the other players, these 2 have been getting a lot of game time in the Championship this season and have shown some form. I think that the regular game time shows.
Stafford - he seems to have a weak pass when he passes to the left. The ball gets flighted. I suspect that this could be a weakness that could be targeted by other teams.
Taulani - he had a few good moves and scored a nice try (after an assist by Anyanwu I think??). But, he appeared to take the ball static and was often easy to defend against. Maybe this will improve with gametime.
And lastly, David - he was guilty of being out of position and letting the ball bounce. I think he will improve with game time at FB.
Going back to the yellows before half time, I know what they were for, it was the fact that they went off a couple of minutes apart and with only about 5 mins to go but they both came back on at the start of the second half. It didn’t seem like they got 10 mins each.
For what it's worth I thought CSW was ok. He did that thing that Olly Kohn used to do a lot which was to soak up a lot of bodies and create space for back rowers (Taulani was the main beneficiary of this last night). Not the fastest bloke on the pitch by any means, but very useful none the less.
On the backs, Cleeves and Hyde both looked good, but I'd be interested to see how they go against a cannier and more experienced opposition back 3. I suspect that someone like Jack Nowell or Charlie Piatau would just be able to marshall Cleeves out of the game, but I may be wrong.
Ross did have a shocker, no question, but I think people forget what a good player he was when he was younger and playing at 14/15 . Nine or ten years ago before his first big injury he was gunshot rapid and had a real eye for a finish. He's at the end of his career now for sure, but none of us know what he might be bringing to the team behind the scenes. A lot of people on here used to give Charlie Mulcrone grief as a player, but he was important enough to the club to want to employ him as a coach. Perhaps it's the same with Ross?
On the backs, Cleeves and Hyde both looked good, but I'd be interested to see how they go against a cannier and more experienced opposition back 3. I suspect that someone like Jack Nowell or Charlie Piatau would just be able to marshall Cleeves out of the game, but I may be wrong.
Tuesday’s back line was shredded by a relatively ordinary Sale set! I thought Anyanwu with ball was excellent but, on reflection overnight, him Beard and the wingers were consistently unconnected in defence. It seemed mainly a centres issue with 12 pushing up too much and 13 holding off and drifting too much. They weren’t on the same page.
Completely agree your analysis of Ross. So sad to see him leave the pitch that way as one suspects that might be his last. I was appalled by Dan Coles’ tackle that day, it looked deliberately ‘clumsy’, much like that incident yesterday.
For me, sir and his assistant sirs, allowed a typically bullish Sale team to do some ugly stuff that wouldn’t get a clean bill in the Prem with TV analysis etc. Our injury list was long and there were several ‘punch ups’ with, one one example, their 4 holding onto the ball and raising his hands to the face of Stafford following a Quins pen. He should have walked for that and they would have been down to 12.
Ross did have a shocker, no question, but I think people forget what a good player he was when he was younger and playing at 14/15 . Nine or ten years ago before his first big injury he was gunshot rapid and had a real eye for a finish. He's at the end of his career now for sure, but none of us know what he might be bringing to the team behind the scenes.
I was up at Leicester watching Quins some years back where I think Ross had a major injury. I'm sure it was him. IMO he never got back to where he had been after that.
Yes, a (legal but brutal) clear out from Dan Cole that buckled his knee. He had another bad injury on the other knee, too. It's remarkable that he got back to the level he has, but sad that we didn't get to see what he might have been.
I was at Cobham RFC at the weekend and their clubhouse is basically a memorial to players whose potential was never fully realised - Corbisiero, Lowe and Clifford all have shirts on the wall along with many others.
Yes, a (legal but brutal) clear out from Dan Cole that buckled his knee. He had another bad injury on the other knee, too. It's remarkable that he got back to the level he has, but sad that we didn't get to see what he might have been.
I was at Cobham RFC at the weekend and their clubhouse is basically a memorial to players whose potential was never fully realised - Corbisiero, Lowe and Clifford all have shirts on the wall along with many others.
At the time I was sure it wasn't legel. Cole seemed to fly into the ruck, no arms, stright into the side of Ross's knee. Just my memory of it.
Just seen the higlights. Will watch the whole game later.
Observations are that Cleaves lives up to the hype. Serious pace, and hopefully his defence is good. Could be a real star for years to come. CSW is a big unit. Has all of the attributes to make a difference in the power of our pack. Matas... doesn't look the biggest lock/back row, but really puts himself about, and seems to be freakishly athletic.
Overall, Quins have some incredible talent coming through, and look to be planning well for the future with a production line thatbodes well for us.
At the time I was sure it wasn't legel. Cole seemed to fly into the ruck, no arms, stright into the side of Ross's knee. Just my memory of it.
It wasn't into the side of Ross's knee. Ross was over the ball trying to protect the ruck and Cole exoceted into his body, they were essentially facing each other. Ross's knee couldn't take the strain.
At the time it was the sort of clearout you saw a lot of, and happily they've since moved to stamp it out.
I have just watched the replay of the David injury.
I am a little surprised that sir didn't have another look.
It looked as though the Sale #7 tackled a little too upright and gave him a Glasgow kiss.
I am a little surprised that sir didn't have another look.
There wasn't a TMO he couldn't have another look.
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