Harlequins v Sale

[fivepointer]

TV: Live on TNT Sports 1 and UHD, KO 3.05pm

Referee: Matthew Carley

Assistant referee: George Selwood

Assistant referee: Simon Harding

TMO: Stuart Terheege

TEAM NEWS

Harlequins: 15. Tyrone Green, 14. Nick David, 13. Oscar Beard, 12. Luke Northmore, 11. Cadan Murley, 10. Marcus Smith, 9. Danny Care; 1. Fin Baxter, 2. Jack Walker, 3. Titi Lamositele, 4. Irne Herbst, 5. Chandler Cunningham-South, 6. Jack Kenningham, 7. Will Evans, 8. Alex Dombrandt (C)

Replacements: 16. Nathan Jibulu, 17. Wyn Jones, 18. Simon Kerrod, 19. Joe Launchbury, 20. Tom Lawday, 21. Lewis Gjaltema, 22. Jamie Benson, 23. Ben Waghorn

Sale Sharks: 15. Joe Carpenter, 14. Tom Roebuck, 13. Rob du Preez ©, 12. Rekeiti Ma’asi-White, 11. Arron Reed, 10. George Ford, 9. Gus Warr; 1. Bevan Rodd, 2. Luke Cowan-Dickie, 3. Asher Opoku-Fordjour 4. Ben Bamber, 5. Jonny Hill, 6. Ernst van Rhyn, 7. Tom Curry, 8. JL du Preez.

Replacements: 16. Tadgh McElroy, 17. Si McIntyre, 18. WillGriff John, 19. Sam Dugdale, 20. Hyron Andrews, 21. Raffi Quirke, 22. Sam Bedlow, 23. Alex Wills.

[Mikey Brown]

Good to see Murley has finally recovered from that high ball.

[FKAS]

Quins getting on board with the CCS to lock train.

[Captainhaircut]

Quins getting on board with the CCS to lock train.

This is really brilliant work from Borthwick. Massively over resourced in back row and now we possibly have a 19 stone second row who carries like a beast and is athletic in line out.

Now we just need him to get Barbeary moved to hooker…

[Puja]

Good to see Ma'asi-White getting four games on the spin at 12 for Sale. He had that one season at age-grade where he looked like he'd really cracked this whole "playing with the ball" thing and got over being the biggest back in his age group, but then he went backwards the next season. Will be interested to see what Sale are making of him.

Puja

[TheNomad]

Agree with that. Good potential.

I had tickets to this but, as of five minutes ago, can’t go now. Super annoying

[Banquo]

massive forward pass and obstruction missed in try build up. What were the ref, assistants, and tmo seeing?

[Banquo]

maad game. like how sale structure theirback play and AOF is summat in the loose. Ben Curry going well mostly

[p/d]

Ben Curry going well mostly

??????? Have they listed the wrong brother

[TheNomad]

Cracking game, this.

[Banquo]

Ben Curry going well mostly

??????? Have they listed the wrong brother

or am I not paying proper attention!! tis Tom. Thought Ben had improved a lot

[Banquo]

quirke v rusty

[Captainhaircut]

Lot of chat about Smith and not a lot about Quins picking a pack with barely a carrier in it. Did Dombrant make a single metre? Not sure I’ve seen many number 8s his size be so powderpuff.

[FKAS]

Good to see Ma'asi-White getting four games on the spin at 12 for Sale. He had that one season at age-grade where he looked like he'd really cracked this whole "playing with the ball" thing and got over being the biggest back in his age group, but then he went backwards the next season. Will be interested to see what Sale are making of him.

Puja

Yeah, the transformation from year 1 to year 2 with the under 20s was incredible. I expected him to take time to adjust to senior rugby where his physical characteristics mixed with the ability to throw out a step weren't going to be as revelatory as at junior level. Him making the step up is a big plus for both club and country in the long run.

[FKAS]

Lot of chat about Smith and not a lot about Quins picking a pack with barely a carrier in it. Did Dombrant make a single metre? Not sure I’ve seen many number 8s his size be so powderpuff.

Didn't see the game, how was the Ford Vs Smith match up?

Dombrandt is a real frustration, finding someone with his size but with pace and handling is really unusual. If only he'd up his aggression levels to make the most of his power, his work rate is up and down as well. His ceiling is higher yet but looks like he might not reach it.

[Captainhaircut]

Lot of chat about Smith and not a lot about Quins picking a pack with barely a carrier in it. Did Dombrant make a single metre? Not sure I’ve seen many number 8s his size be so powderpuff.

Didn't see the game, how was the Ford Vs Smith match up?

Dombrandt is a real frustration, finding someone with his size but with pace and handling is really unusual. If only he'd up his aggression levels to make the most of his power, his work rate is up and down as well. His ceiling is higher yet but looks like he might not reach it.

Probably as expected. Smith behind a beaten pack was fighting a losing battle but he does also look a bit short of confidence and spark. Ford behind a dominant pack is unmatched for me- just makes the right decision time and time again. He didn’t goalkick though which suggests still managing a problem.

If Fin goes with the lions, Ford should definitely be 10 for England based on today.

Dombrandt actually worked reasonably hard- carried a fair bit but just went nowhere at all. I can’t see how you get away with that back row unless you have real power carrying in your front row- which they don’t.

[p/d]

Shame they put their best carrier at lock. Great work from Borthwick.

[fivepointer]

Marcus did some eye catching things but George is so consistently good that he took the honours for me.

I forgot Dombrandt was playing. I think he has real strengths but he goes missing too much and doesnt make the impact in games he should.

LCD was really good along with the starting props and locks.

[twitchy]

Sale looked incredibly impressive all over the pitch AOF is a monster.

[Captainhaircut]

Shame they put their best carrier at lock. Great work from Borthwick.

Someone tell Meafou, Skelton, Etzebeth and Snyman they aren’t allowed to carry from lock…

Issue is that you need more than one good tight carrier in your side otherwise he finds himself double or treble marked like CCS did today.

[Puja]

Lot of chat about Smith and not a lot about Quins picking a pack with barely a carrier in it. Did Dombrant make a single metre? Not sure I’ve seen many number 8s his size be so powderpuff.

Didn't see the game, how was the Ford Vs Smith match up?

Dombrandt is a real frustration, finding someone with his size but with pace and handling is really unusual. If only he'd up his aggression levels to make the most of his power, his work rate is up and down as well. His ceiling is higher yet but looks like he might not reach it.

Ford was exquisite. His footwork and decision-making for the TCurry try was unreal. It's always easier when you're winning, but he looked every inch a Lions starter, despite him standing zero chance of touring. MSmith looked ragged - tried to make things happen on his own and it wasn't coming together. Not helped by the pack, but Quins had the ball most of the first 20 and he still looked low on confidence.

I don't think Dombrandt does have a higher ceiling - he so often goes missing in tighter, more physical games. Every time he plays against Sale he's a non-entity. Great player if the opposition are willing to play 7s with you, but he's not got the quality at the highest levels.

Puja

[twitchy]

[FKAS]

Lot of chat about Smith and not a lot about Quins picking a pack with barely a carrier in it. Did Dombrant make a single metre? Not sure I’ve seen many number 8s his size be so powderpuff.

Didn't see the game, how was the Ford Vs Smith match up?

Dombrandt is a real frustration, finding someone with his size but with pace and handling is really unusual. If only he'd up his aggression levels to make the most of his power, his work rate is up and down as well. His ceiling is higher yet but looks like he might not reach it.

Ford was exquisite. His footwork and decision-making for the TCurry try was unreal. It's always easier when you're winning, but he looked every inch a Lions starter, despite him standing zero chance of touring. MSmith looked ragged - tried to make things happen on his own and it wasn't coming together. Not helped by the pack, but Quins had the ball most of the first 20 and he still looked low on confidence.

I don't think Dombrandt does have a higher ceiling - he so often goes missing in tighter, more physical games. Every time he plays against Sale he's a non-entity. Great player if the opposition are willing to play 7s with you, but he's not got the quality at the highest levels.

Puja

Before Sexton joined the coaching team I was thinking Ford had an excellent chance of finally touring. Being a third/fourth choice player coach type role. Setting the tone for flyhalfs in training, setting standards and offering the younger guys a bit of a mentor.