Sale game - Teams up!!

[wormus]

Sale will also be without Chris Cusiter as he has been called up by Scotland

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/31584759

But they could well have the Greg. Garner the Referee on their side !!
He is not sympathetic to Tigers.

[Iain]

Garner reffing? Oh. Great.

[Downsouth]

It is an incredibly difficult side to predict, which is probably why everyone seems reluctant to guess, so I will have a go and am fully prepared to be told that half of them are injured, on international duty, etc:

1. Ayerza
2. Briggs
3. Logo
4. Thorn (hopefully)
5. Kitch
6. Gibson
7. Salvi
8. Crane
9. Harrison
10. Bai (assuming Burns is out due to the concussion)
11. Goneva
12. Roberts
13. Loamanu
14. Morris
15. Tait

subs: Rizzo, Thacker, Balmain, Parling, Pearce, Mele, Bell, Benjamin

[thebearisstilldeano]

Garner reffing? Oh. Great.

Yep - Garno the Clown will be blowing his whistle.

Last time we saw him at Welford Road he was totally abysmal. Not hopeful for Saturday now.

[rich1576]

Niki Goneva is certainly not having the season he had last time out.

Don't get me wrong I'm a big fan of his and I would have him in my side every week, as he is the sort of player like Manu that can make a couple of good line breaks that can inastantly turn a game.

I would just love to see him come off his wing more in attacking play and straighten the line, by coming from deep through the 10/12 or 12/13 channel.

[tigerburnie]

It is an incredibly difficult side to predict, which is probably why everyone seems reluctant to guess, so I will have a go and am fully prepared to be told that half of them are injured, on international duty, etc:

1. Ayerza
2. Briggs
3. Logo
4. Thorn (hopefully)
5. Kitch
6. Gibson
7. Salvi
8. Crane
9. Harrison
10. Bai (assuming Burns is out due to the concussion)
11. Goneva
12. Roberts
13. Loamanu
14. Morris
15. Tait

subs: Rizzo, Thacker, Balmain, Parling, Pearce, Mele, Bell, Benjamin

Not too far away, though I would expect Parling to start at the request of Slancaster.

[kpj tiger]

I would like to see

1. Ayerza
2. Briggs
3. Mulipola
4. Thorn(If fit)/De Chaves
5. Kitchener
6. Gibson
7. Salvi
8. Crane
9. Harrison
10. Bai
11. Goneva (although I would be tempted with Scully or Morris)
12. Roberts
13. Catchpole
14. Thompstone
15. Tait

16. Rizzo
17. Thacker
18. Balmain
19. Peterson
20. Pearce
21. Mele
22. Bell
23. Loamanu

[Will S]

I think Burns will be back. We badly need him!

I would go:

1. Ayerza
2. Briggs
3. Mulipola
4. Kitchener
5. Parling
6. Gibson
7. Salvi
8. Crane
9. Harrison
10. Burns
11. Goneva
12. Roberts
13. Catchpole
14. Thompstone
15. Tait

Could be tempted to put Bai in at 12 but I would like Roberts to have another shot. Also think Bai is better to have on the bench covering 10 and 12.

[LE18]

Do we know if Kitchener is fit, I think it was said last week that he came off with an injury.

No Benjamin in your team, he has been a big disappointment for me since his signing, how long has he left on his contract?

Hope we see Roberts again, and the weather is kinder come Saturday.

We can win this one, but can we score tbp?

[L Smith]

Would be nice to see Loamanu come off the bench with 25 minutes to go.
I can see the back line looking as follows
11: Thompstone/butterfingers(Benjamin)
12: Bai/Roberts
13: Catchpole/Loamanu
14: Morris
15: Tait / Bell

[Iain]

I see that Benjamin has become this generation's Leon Lloyd then.

Benjamin is one of the few players we have who gives us genuine pace and a step, as demonstrated by the try against Saints for instance. He appears though to lack confidence in his ability sometimes and overthinks things, resulting in some catastrophic knock ons from time to time.

However I wouldn't be starting with him at this moment in time as I'm not sure what we gain from having a tricky speedster on the bog-like pitches we have been playing on lately.

Labelling him 'Butterfingers' starts a slippy slope towards the crowd getting on his back at games. It is neither helpful nor particularly becoming.

[drc_007]

Is Scully fit?

Can't help but feel that it will be a game for hard working scrappers.

[KevinR]

Listening to Cockers tonight, I'd say the major doubt for Saturday is Salvi, whose calf is playing him up.

[h's dad]

I see that Benjamin has become this generation's Leon Lloyd then.

Benjamin is one of the few players we have who gives us genuine pace and a step, as demonstrated by the try against Saints for instance. He appears though to lack confidence in his ability sometimes and overthinks things, resulting in some catastrophic knock ons from time to time.

However I wouldn't be starting with him at this moment in time as I'm not sure what we gain from having a tricky speedster on the bog-like pitches we have been playing on lately.

Labelling him 'Butterfingers' starts a slippy slope towards the crowd getting on his back at games. It is neither helpful nor particularly becoming.

When the doom mongers are against you they can become a self-fulfilling prophecy. Games are won and lost in the top two inches.

[jgriffin]

That's what I told my Mrs when she complained.
Boom-boom.