Sale vs Leicester - 21st February 2020

[CitizenSmiff]

It's currently freezing up here in t'north so if you're travelling bring your big coat! 40mph gusts and patches of rain forecast, we're in for another muddy arm wrestle.

[Chobbsy]

Both sets of supporters claiming they have a weakened team and not expecting much.

Chap on the Sale forum says they bookies have them as 13 point favourites, which seems a bit excessive given the two teams are likely to be a bit dysfunctional and the crappy weather. Not saying we'll win of course. Just thinking Sale are more like 7/8 point favourites and we have a squeak.

Ah but don't forget it's a Friday night under lights and it's Sale have we ever performed well there on a Friday night under lights?

[Old Hob]

Is Thompstone on the injured list or have I missed something?

[Noggs]

Good to see Tommy Reffell getting a start. I do rate him.

Bad weather; good pack; we're in with a shout

[wellstiger]

Always hard to get a "W" at the AJB.
We need to start better than we have and play for a full 80. Please play the weather conditions. No kick tennis or kicking to the opposition.
It will be a great marker as to where were in development.
Nice to see Mr Cole leading the team.

[JP14]

Sale's defence is very good but can exploited with kicks behind or cross-field kicks, if we kick smart (forbid!) then we're in with a shot.

[kk20gb30]

We have to play to the conditions and play with our heads.The make up of the Sale side offers us a great opportunity.I believe this is a winnable game.

[wellstiger]

Interested to see young Jack take his opportunity at Fly half. Big game for him hope he does himself proud and give team selection a real headache

[ourla]

Both sets of supporters claiming they have a weakened team and not expecting much.

Chap on the Sale forum says they bookies have them as 13 point favourites, which seems a bit excessive given the two teams are likely to be a bit dysfunctional and the crappy weather. Not saying we'll win of course. Just thinking Sale are more like 7/8 point favourites and we have a squeak.

Ah but don't forget it's a Friday night under lights and it's Sale have we ever performed well there on a Friday night under lights?

I'm no historian so I'm not sure but anyway I don't see what would be different. We play half our games away each season and I don't think Sale is particularly intimidating or the pitch/ground particularly unusual. And the players must be used to playing on all sorts of days and at all sorts of times now.

It's like the whole French don't like travelling thing, it's all in the head.

NB: There are grounds or circumstances that may be a bit different or a bit intimidating... just not seeing Sale as one. But happy to have it explained why it's so tricky

[JP14]

I would argue our last great away performance was Sale, May 2018. A repeat of that would be nice but it’s not the weather unfortunately and the Sale team although depleted is still stronger than what it was that season.

[Mark62]

Interested to see young Jack take his opportunity at Fly half. Big game for him hope he does himself proud and give team selection a real headache

Fly half ??

[Jimmy Skitz]

surprised JVP is starting over Simmons, wonder what the reasoning for that is?

[sam16111986]

surprised JVP is starting over Simmons, wonder what the reasoning for that is?

Simmons covers more positions off of the bench and has also had injury issues so might not be as match sharp as JVP who's been with England under 20s.

[Dr H Flashman MBE]

Mrs F is away for the weekend so it’s 5 games of rugby and dirty food for me all weekend...winner! I just snuck into the Flashman family betting account and we are clearly not favourites! Sale have really short odds to win.

[LE18]

Mrs F is away for the weekend so it’s 5 games of rugby and dirty food for me all weekend...winner! I just snuck into the Flashman family betting account and we are clearly not favourites! Sale have really short odds to win.

Think you may be right re the results, but here's hoping!