SARRIES v SALE SHARKS: post match-related comments here
By The Saracens
September 30 2026
Sunday sees our first home game in the Gallagher Premiership and after last week’s unexpected win at Welford Road (we’d have lost that last year) I have to say I’m excited! Our opponents are Sale Sharks who didn’t have the best start to their campaign, losing at home to Bristol Bears. And after last years maulings (principally ta the hands of Noah Caluori) they can’t be relishing a trip to London.
The Sale squad underwent a lot of changes at the end of last season with the departure of 15 players including Raffi Quirke, Rob and Dan du Preez and the arrival of some key players including veteran Courtney Lawes, Nicky Smith, Joe Marchant, Xavier Roe, Tomas Francis and our own Alex Lozowski. But it takes time for a new team to gel with the established stars like the Curry brothers, Bevan Rudd, Luke Cown-Dickie and of course, gorgeous George Ford. Last weeks performance suggests that they have a way to go!
It’s hard to know what’s happened at sarries but largely the same squad of players who underperformed last season, showed us something much more encouraging at Welford Road, not least the ability to grind out a tight win (something they forgot how to do last year). I have to say I find it hard to meld the good Doctor’s assertion that he will pick players on form with reports that the squad know which games they will be playing in for the next 8 weeks! Make of that what you will.
I don’t see many (any?) unforced changes on Sunday. If Carre and Martin are fit I think they’ll probably be on the bench. I assume Isiekwe is on a period of extended leave. Logically, assuming Barbeary is fit, Earl comes in at 7 with Gonzalez moving to 6. If Barbeary isn’t fit then presumably Michelow comes in and Earl moves to 8. What happens at centre after the unlucky Ollie Hartley’s broken arm? I would love to see Tompkins at 12 and Va’enuku come in at 13 however I suspect Daly will move to centre with Max coming in at 15. Assuming Tobias Elliott is also out, it opens the door for Jack Bracken. But rumours suggest Noah could be fit and Sale must be quaking in their boots at the thought of coming up against him again!
The weather looks good so let’s hope for a decent crowd to come along and cheer the boys and their new Wine Consultant!
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Rekeiti Ma’asi-White unlikely to make the trip either.
Sale seemed less than the sum of their parts last weekend and I expect them to be much improved on Sunday.
If Martin is fit I would expect him to come straight in to the side. Brantingham was excellent off the bench so I hope he keeps one of the loose head spots if Carre is fit.
My guess for the midfield is Tompkins and Cinti. Personally I would prefer Sione and Tompkins for some added go forward, and Nick showed last season he is far better suited to the 13 shirt.
Surely it is just too tempting to start Noah (assuming fitness) after his exploits last season!?
Just looking forward to getting back to the StoneX. Currently set to be 22 and subnet which is bonkers for October but bodes for a great afternoon. Apparently it’s retro day so everyone encouraged to wear their oldest shirt.
Sione got a lot of time at 12 in preseason so hoping he gets the nod.
Quote:Sarrov
No Rodd for Sale as he has had an opearation on his hand. Only Nicky Smith to worry about!
Rekeiti Ma’asi-White unlikely to make the trip either.
Sale seemed less than the sum of their parts last weekend and I expect them to be much improved on Sunday.
If Martin is fit I would expect him to come straight in to the side. Brantingham was excellent off the bench so I hope he keeps one of the loose head spots if Carre is fit.
Mawi was also very good for the first 40, took 2 scrum pens off Heyes
I think Carre is still a few weeks off though
Quote:MarkCol7Quote:Sarrov
No Rodd for Sale as he has had an opearation on his hand. Only Nicky Smith to worry about!
Rekeiti Ma’asi-White unlikely to make the trip either.
Sale seemed less than the sum of their parts last weekend and I expect them to be much improved on Sunday.
If Martin is fit I would expect him to come straight in to the side. Brantingham was excellent off the bench so I hope he keeps one of the loose head spots if Carre is fit.
Mawi was also very good for the first 40, took 2 scrum pens off Heyes
I think Carre is still a few weeks off though
Very true. We have some great competition at loose head.
A friend who was at the fans forum tells me it was confirmed that Tobias took a knock, whilst already carrying an issue, which is why he was so out of sorts. Jack Bracken likely to come in for him on Sunday.
Sione to come in for Hartley as well apparently.
1. Phil B
2. Theo
3. Street
4. Maro
5. Tiz
6. Martin / JMG
7. Ben E
8. Barbs
9. Tomos
10. Ferg
11. Roti
12. Sione
13. Tompkins
14. Jack B
15. Daly
16. Hadfield / Clarke
17. Eroni
18. Clarey
19. Sodeke
20. JMG / Martin
21. Charlie B
22. Faz (If fit)
23. Noah
Quote:Sarrov
No Rodd for Sale as he has had an opearation on his hand. Only Nicky Smith to worry about!
Sale seemed less than the sum of their parts last weekend and I expect them to be much improved on Sunday.
We should definitely worry about Carpenter too if we're going to continue the plan of kicking down the attacks throat.
I thought that Sale looked ok. Possibly a bit better than their average performance last season.
What seemed to hurt them is they didn't really seem on the same page and given the work of their scrum they didn't seem to use their ball that well. Lineout seems an obvious area to target too.
A big issue for them is Ford. Like Farrell time has caught up with him fast and suddenly he's a bit more of an issue than he is a positive as a player. Bears targeted him relentlessly as we did last season for easy metres and he seemed to struggle to get much variety in Sales attack.
The huge work on for us has to be the maul. Watching back it struggled to get any momentum and its obvious that its going to be a massive weapon for teams this season. Bath beat a slightly improved Quins with little more than a handful of mauls and a moment of Carerras magic.
The good news was our maul defence looked quite handy although we'll obviously be missing Isiekwe who was one of our most effective there.
MarkCol7 agree about Mawi. Scrum penalties against one of the best TightHeads in the League and as soon as Brantingham came on we conceded. I think the pecking order is probably right there. Streets struggles on the TightHead a bit concerning. Is he playing not quite right or was it just one of those games.
It will be interesting to see if this is the first game of rotation or if we'll play 2 on 2 off or similar. Also I think the picks we make as replacements for Hartley and Elliott will tell us a bit about our appetite for development this season.
On the basis that Martin, George, Elliott, Caluori and ofc Hartley are unavailable something like:
Mawi, Dan, Street, Maro, Tizard, Sodeke, Earl, Barbeary, Williams, Segun, Tompkins, Cinti, J Bracken, Malins
Brantingham, Hadfield, Clarey, JMG, Michelow, Bracken, Sione, Hall.
I would like to see:
Mawi
Dan
Street
Maro
Tiz
JMG
Earl
Barbeary
Williams
Burke
J.Bracken
Sione
Tompkins
Roti
Malins
Clarke
Brantingham
Clarey
Sodeke
Michelow
C.Bracken
Daly
Noah
Assumes Carre and Martin still not fit
Quote:David@Sarries
I heard that Carre is out for the first tranche of Prem games with a hamstring injury.
That's a shame. Hopefully back for the European block
Quote:SarrovQuote:David@Sarries
I heard that Carre is out for the first tranche of Prem games with a hamstring injury.
That's a shame. Hopefully back for the European block
+1