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Video: Ruthless Sale need just 32 minutes to secure four-try bonus point against Bristol
Fears that the meeting of the teams running second and third in the 2019/20 Gallagher Premiership table would be a mismatch in Manchester on Saturday were proven correct as Sale Sharks needed just 32 minutes to grab the four-try bonus point against an understrength Bristol Bears.
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Having thrown the majority of his first choices into last Tuesday’s home game versus leaders Exeter, a match dramatically lost in the closing minutes, Pat Lam opted to pull his team’s punches with his selection for the AJ Bell.
With only Piers O’Conor and Ed Holmes remaining from the midweek loss, Lam selected nine Bristolians in a matchday squad featuring ten academy graduates – including Jack Bates who at 19 years and 95 days became the second-youngest player to start a Premiership game for Bristol since leagues were introduced in 1987.
In contrast, Sale recalled World Cup finalists Faf de Klerk, Tom Curry and Manu Tuilagi after they missed Tuesday’s win at Wasps while also restoring another from the 2019 final in Yokohama, Lood de Jager, to the starting line-up after he was on the Ricoh Stadium bench.
What inevitably transpired was a ruthless first-half performance. Tries inside the opening ten minutes from Luke James and Denny Solomona got the show on the road for Sharks, who knew that a win would enable them to leapfrog Bristol on the table and move into second place.
3?? tries in just 18 minutes for @SaleSharksRugby ?
Faf de Klerk the latest to capitalise from a Bristol turnover… pic.twitter.com/b86vbqN3k7
— Rugby on TNT Sports (@rugbyontnt) August 29, 2020
Next came a score in the 17th minute from de Klerk and the try bonus point was then wrapped up eight minutes from the interval when Sam James got in. Bristol did strike back for a score before the break, Alapati Leiua snapping up an interception, but it was Sale who would have been far the happier side leading 26-7 at half-time. They went on to win 40-7, Luke James and Marland Yarde adding second-half tries.
"The soft pianist hands of Daniel du Preez…" ?
The South African's deft offload allows Luke James to score a simple opening try for @SaleSharksRugby pic.twitter.com/opr7tZjB5t
— Rugby on TNT Sports (@rugbyontnt) August 29, 2020
Comments on RugbyPass
The value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
3 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
45 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
10 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
45 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
3 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
45 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
51 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
45 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
45 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
45 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
45 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
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