Sale v Tigers

[Bunchy]

So, we know Logo is banned, we know Mike Fitzgerald has a sore bum and is out. We know Mike Williams is out for the season.
We saw harry Thacker limp off - could be a doubt?

We had been told last week that JDV and BOC would be back - but who knows for sure? Nothing mentioned in todays presser so doubtful in my opinion. he only mentioned Slater being fit and Cole taking over from Logo.

So - my early guess at the XV is
(1) Ayerza
(2) Thacker
(3) Cole
(4) Kitch
(5) Barrow
(6) Slater
(7) McCaffrey
(8) Crane
(9) Youngs
(10) Burns
(11 Goneva
(12) Manu
(13) Betham
(14) Thompstone
(15) Tait

Some of the selection issues facing AM and RC (assuming they think like me - unlikely)
* would you put OW at 12 and Manu to 13?
* Would you put the sharp looking Veainu in the XV? At whose expense?
* If BOC and JDV are fit, do they come straight in?

[drc_007]

I'd have Croft in the starting 15.

[RagingBull]

Would go with
1) Ayerza
2) Thacker
3) Cole
4) Slater
5) Kitchener
6) Croft
7) McCaffrey
8) Crane
9) Youngs
10) Burns
11) Betham
12) Williams
13) Manu
14) Thompstone
15) Veainu

16) Bateman/VV
17) Genge
18) Balmain
19) Barrow
20) BOC (if Fit)/Fonua
21) Harrison
22) Bell
23) Goneva/Tait

[Soggypitch]

I would have Croft at 6, Slater at 8 and Williams at 12, Manu 13, Niki and Betham on the wings and Veainu at FB.

Nice to have options! JDV definitely not fit according to Cockers. Not sure about BOC but suspect one more week.

[strawclearer]

I'm much happier with Slater at 4; Betham on the wing rather than as a centre which imho he isn't; Williams at 12 and Veainu at 15. Tempted to start with Barrow rather than Kitch but marginal.

[Bunchy]

whoever he picks, its lovely to be discussing the options he has rather than the lack of them...

[mol2]

Assuming Pearce isn't fit then I would play Slater at 8 assuming he is fit.
If Pearce is fit then Slater in the second row with Barrow ahead of Kitchener.

[Will S]

I would look to play Manu at 12 with PB at 13. I would then have Manu running hard lines down Cips channel all day long. Would also like to see players like Fonua get some game time running this channel.

[Bunchy]

I thought both Fonua and Veainu made an impact on Sunday....

[maroontrunks]

I don't think rushing Cole in after a full 80 minutes with England is the best recipe for the welfare of our players, as much as we need him this weekend!

I would personally go for:

1)Ayerza 2)Thacker 3)Balmain
4)Barrow 5)Kitchener
6)Croft 7)McCaffrey 8)Slater
9)Youngs 10)Burns
12)Williams 13)Tuilagi
11)Goneva 14)Thompstone
15)Veianu
16)Bateman 17)Genge 18)Cole 19)O'Connor (if fit) 20)Fonua 21)Harrison 22)Bell 23)Betham (Needs a rest IMO)

[Will S]

Cole will be fine. You have to remember that the England boys have rest weekends so whilst they have big games they have had more downtime over the past few weeks than the boys who stayed with their clubs.

[Noddy555]

I think Tait is still injured so I agree with most selections but I'd have Bell as No.15 and A back bench of Harrison, Williams and Veainu.

[LE18]

Bit of a strange selection, Tait on wing, Pearce starting against his new club!

[richardssalex]

CONFIRMED STARTING XV
1) Ayerza
2) Thacker
3) Cole
4) Barrow
5) Kitchener
6) Pearce
7) Croft
8) Crane (C) - strange not to see YBY captain.

9) Ben Youngs
10) Burns
11) Gonevea
12) Owen W
13) Manu T
14) Tait
15) Bell

Seriously don't understand why Veainu has done to be demoted to the bench. The excuse of a rest is no longer appropriate. He gives us such a spark and the yard of pace Tait unfortunately no longer has. Really can't complain about the pack given M. Williams, Slates, Fitz, Mcaffrey and BOC deemed unfit. Extremely depleted back row options....

[wormus]

Bit of a strange selection, Tait on wing, Pearce starting against his new club!

Agreed, No Slater, Thompstone, Smith, O'Connor, JDV, Fitz, & McCaffrey.
Well Pearce + Crane + Fonua may well tire Beaumont up!
It's a must win again but we did it last week with absentees.