Quantcast

Sale at Home Preview


By Quins4life
November 3 2015

So after two away games we are back at Fortress Stoop on Friday night under the lights against the Sale Sharks live on BT Sport. Firstly, what a fantastic win against Bath last weekend, a side that everyone has been raving about and been tipping to be the Champions. For me the game was won in the first half by our outstanding defence and ability to be clinical when we were in Bath territory. We did well to only concede the one try in the first half and it meant we could go into the second half with a chance, and boy did we take that chance by winning 38-28. In the end, the two late tries meant the result was closer than it should have been and it flattered Bath, but it should not take anything away from a fantastic performance from the Quins players. However, it is important we get back to business straight away and concentrate on the game against Sale. This league is not a forgiving one and if we aren’t at the races, we will slip up. Away wins are great, but every home game must be considered must-win. 

Sale, after a battering against Sarries on the opening day, have won their last two games, with the most recent victory coming against Northampton in a very impressive 20-13 result. At the start of the season, I do not think anyone could be blamed for thinking that Sale could struggle this season. They have not strengthened as much as other teams and they also have lost a number of very influential players, such as Mark Cueto (Retired) and Michael Patterson (to Northampton). However, despite this they have started the season reasonably well. They have a very effective pack, headed by Josh Beaumont, son of the former England captain Bill Beaumont. This guy is a very good player, and is a similar build and player to Clifford in my opinion, and Quins will need to watch him closely. In the backs, you cannot look past their number 10 in the form of Danny Cipriani. I am a huge fan of his, and I felt he was slightly unlucky to miss out on the World Cup squad. But the biggest compliment I can give is that I can’t think of many fly halves that I want more than him or who are better suited to replace Evans when he finally hangs up his boots. 

The away side won last season, the games played between Quins and Sale on the day. The game in Salford was one of the better performances by the Quins, but however the game at the Stoop was abysmal and it was one of the worst performances I have ever seen by a Quins side. In awful weather, Sale dogged out a 17-13 victory and this game should have been a warning to us Quins fans that we were in for a long, long season. Quins perhaps underestimated Sale that day and thought it would be an easy victory, and if they do so again the result will be the same. 

However, there are number of reasons why as Quins fans we should expect a different result this time and should be positive. Firstly, we owe Sale one for the defeat at the Stoop last season. Instead of this game being a forewarning to a bad season, lets hope it is this time a sign of good things to come. Also Sale are generally a different team when they are playing away from home. They were absolutely awful against Sarries at the Allianz Park, and last season they tended to struggle when they played away too. You do never know what side is going to turn up, and they are a different beast when they play away from home, but if it is the side that performs so well in Salford, it’ll be a tight game. 

Team Selections 

I don’t see any reason to make any changes to the Quins starting XV for this game. I believe with the players available, it is our best side and the only change that could be considered is Matthews coming in for Twomey. However Twomey deserves his spot due to his outstanding start to the season so I don’t think it should change. This is where perhaps our absence from top tier European rugby may help us this season as we can rest our bigger names during those games so all our England players can/should stay in for now. The only changes I would make, would be to the subs bench. I think Walker/Swiel should definitely come in for OLH and also we should consider having Luamanu on the bench as an impact player, especially as it is supposed to be wet on Friday. 

My Predicted Quins XV- Marler, Ward, Jones, Twomey, Horwill, Clifford, Wallace, Easter; Care(c), Evans, Visser, Sloan, Lowe, Yarde, Brown. 

Now on to Sale. They did not have many players in the World Cup and therefore I don’t expect them to make many changes either to the side that beat Northampton. I think they’ll start with Stringer in for Cusiter to add a bit of experience and control to their games. Mujati, ex Northampton prop, could be an option, and Sam James is likely to start after a fabulous try last weekend after coming in as a late replacement for injured Sam Tuitupou. There is a high possibility of David Seymour not being fit, but if he is fit I am sure he’ll return to the 1st XV due to his importance to the Sale side. 

My Predicted Sale XV- Harrison, Taylor, Cobilas, Evans, Mills, Braid, Ioane, Beaumont; Stringer Cipriani, Addison, Leota, James, Arscott, Haley 

So for Quins this is a must win and, to be honest, a must win well. After a better start than we could have hoped for, we need to now back it up with a good home performance. If we can get our pace and power game into full flow, I don’t think Sale will be able to compete with us for the full 80 minutes and we need to try and get those magic 4 tries to get the bonus point. Every point is crucial and if we have ambitions, these are the games we need try and get bonus points from. We cannot underestimate Sale, but we should be to good for them, especially as Sale are not the same side that play up in Salford. So I’m feeling confident and come on you Quins!! 

My Prediction; Quins 35(TBP) Sale 10 

Twickenham Stoop, 7.45pm - Live on BT Sport 
Referee: Tim Wigglesworth (98th Premiership game). 
Assistant Referees: Matthew Carly & Ashley Rowden. 
TMO: Sean Davey.

View a Printer Friendly version of this Story.

Bookmark or share this story with:

Sale at Home Preview
Discussion started by ComeAllWithin.co.uk , 03/11/2015 20:01
ComeAllWithin.co.uk
03/11/2015 20:01
What do you think? You can have your say by posting below.
If you do not already have an account Click here to Register.

Scaramouche
04/11/2015 09:43
Nice work thank you! I'm not up to speed so where's Roboshaw?

PickledPelican
04/11/2015 12:24
Robshaw in, Wallace on bench.
Sale like playing with two 7s, Braid and Seymour.. We should do the same to counter their turnover ability!

GT piece.

poorfour
04/11/2015 13:28
Quote:
PickledPelican
Robshaw in, Wallace on bench.
Sale like playing with two 7s, Braid and Seymour.. We should do the same to counter their turnover ability!

GT piece.

No, we need to counter and then dominate. With Robshaw, Wallace and Clifford we could have three 7s, or at least three 6.5s.

Good preview, too. Thanks.

Quins4life
04/11/2015 13:36
Oh.. completely forgot the existence of Robshaw. My bad! He'd be in for wallace if I had remembered him.

On Seymour point, he is likely to be injured for the game!

Almost quin
04/11/2015 18:25
Nice review but absolutely no chance Robshaw will be dropped. A little surprised after stating in review you don't expect any changes then you go and predict a huge one. I think you lost yourelf a bit there



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2015:11:04:18:30:14 by Almost quin.

Quins4life
04/11/2015 18:31
Quote:
Almost quin
Nice review but absolutely no chance Robsgaw will be dropped. A little surprised after stating in review you don't expect any changes then you go and predict a huge one. I think you lost yourelf a bit there

Look at my comment above yours. I forgot about him... I have no doubt he'd be starting. Apologies

NicoWilson
06/11/2015 13:17
Nice preview. Thank you.

Quins4life
06/11/2015 20:41
Well I'm looking stupid now... although wasn't expected the changes to the team and a turgid performance....

Sorry, only registered users may post in this forum.
We record all IP addresses on the Sportnetwork message boards which may be required by the authorities in case of defamatory or abusive comment. We seek to monitor the Message Boards at regular intervals. We do not associate Sportnetwork with any of the comments and do not take responsibility for any statements or opinions expressed on the Message Boards. If you have any cause for concern over any material posted here please let us know as soon as possible by e-mailing abuse@sportnetwork.net