johnthegriff wrote: ↑Wed May 01, 2024 9:47 am
Currently we are 8th in the Premiership no chance of the playoffs but we need to secure a Champions Cup place for next season at the moment we are reliant on Gloucester NOT winning the Challenge Trophy, I don't think they will but they are a decent side coming into some sort of form and I would not get against them. We need to win our two remaining games or at least beat Exeter and do better than them in the preceding match. Of course if Gloucester lose to Benetton Treviso this weekend we can relax but I still want to see Tigers winning the next two games and it is achievable.
I think Gloucester will win, so we have to get points or we wont qualify..
Would we not be better off in the second tier European competition?
At present it's unrealistic to expect to compete with the budgets of the top French sides and Leinster. So why waste resources and risk injury with no potential silverware.
RagingBull wrote: ↑Sat May 04, 2024 10:22 am
With Brown banned do we start Kata on the wing or maybe give Kinder a try?
I didn't see yesterday's game but it Kinder impressed then why not. Sends a clear message to the youngsters, if you show good form there's a path to the first team. Kinder is an England age grade player and England age grade rarely struggles for decent wingers at that level. Making the step up can be tricky but give him a shot and see how it goes. Kata can bench and not much point giving Phil C game time as he's leaving.
I agree, give Kinder a game. Surround him with Steward and OHC in the back 3 and Scott, Kelly, Polly and JVP in the backs and see what he can do.
Yes I want to win these last 2 games, but at the same time, let’s reward the performances last night, give some of the younger guys a chance in amongst the experience and quality we have and let’s see how they perform.
A backrow of Carnduff, Reffell and Hanro for 1 game and Hanro, Ilione, Wiese for the other for example.
Give Wilkinson some minutes with JVP inside him and Kelly/Scott/Kata outside him.
Give Allan some minutes with Wiese/Hanro and Pollard and Kelly.
Honestly this is what I’d go with for Sale:
Steward
Kinder
Scott
Kelly
OHC
Pollard
JVP
Liebenberg
Reffell
Carnduff
Chessum
Martin
Heyes
Montoya
Whitcombe
FTT
van der Flier
Cole
Hatherell
Wiese
Allan
Wilkinson
Kata
Could also rotate the likes of Woodward, Myall, Gourlay, Ilione, Manz etc. as travelling reserves and integrate them into the 1st team routines
