Team's Up vs Sale

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Could Joe be carrying a bit of a knock or does Rob think HS is ready to genuinely challenge for the 10 shirt? Real boost to see big Dave and Hoggy back too.

Big Dave is back! To me, by far, our most important player.
Nice to see Hoggy back too. Not sure I'm sold on Capstick at 8, is Rus carrying a knock?
I thought he was one of the plus points to come out of the last two weeks, would have liked to see him carrying alongside Dave.

Has Kirsten got a knock now? Get one back lose one.

Sale Sharks

15 Denny Solomon’s
14 Tom Roebuck
13 Rohan Van Rensburg
12 Sam Hill
11 Marlon Yarde
10 Robert Du Preez
9 Will Cliff
1 Ross Harrison
2 Curtis Langdon
3 Nick Schonert
4 Cobus Wiese
5 JP Du Preez
6 Cameron Nield
7 Sam Dugdale
8 Jono Ross

16 Ewan Ashman
17 Bevan Rodd
18 Coenie Oosthuizen
19 Rouban Birch
20 Tommy Taylor
21 Gus Warr
22 Kieran Wilkinson
23 Luke James

Match Officials

Referee: Craig Maxwell-Keys
Assistant Referees: Wayne Falla and Phil Watters.
TMO: Andrew Jackson.
Citing Officer: John Byett

Weather

Light rain showers and a moderate breeze from the west south west

Temperature feels like 13 degrees

Low chance of rain

Television Coverage

Channel 408 BT Sport 1 SD
Channel 430 BT Sport 1 HD

Big call putting Skinner in, but we'll only know if he is ready by giving him that chance. Think that, like Slade previously, his long term future may be at centre. Particularly if we don't sign another creative player to cover Henry's absences with England.

Tough call at sale but in with a chance and do we need points now not half, good to see returning players and hope cordero steps up after recent game time.

Harvey will not let the team down I'm sure, he is a very confident young man and has proved so on the pitch.
Big Dave may secure more ball, but this is a big test lets hope we can get a bp.

I am very happy to see Harvey playing.
I have been impressed with him recently and we need him to have experience in these tough matches in case of injury to Joe.
The coaches obviously have a lot of confidence in him which should give him confidence.
Thankfully Big Dave is back. He should make a big difference to us.

Exciting looking backs but still concerned about the forwards, great to see big Dave back.

I think we know how Sale will play with the ball when they have Van Rensburg and Sam Hill in the centres. Harvey's defence is usually pretty good and it will need to be I am sure he will be targeted tomorrow.
Sale are missing quite a few first choice players so it may be a good time to play them?
No Akker, no Curry twins, no D du Preez, no Sam James, no Byron Mcguigan, no Aj Mc, no Faf, no Lood.
Still a good side but this is very winnable IF we find our form?

during the Bris v Bath game last night, BOD made several comments about using the chip over the top, be interesting to see if Harvey is given a bit more freedom to try such things. Hope so.

Sale are playing a fair few academy players and I think our bench will make an impact, that is some front row to bring on around the 50 minute mark. If we can stay in it till then!

I like the look of our line-out capability. Cappers is good there and plus Don we should prosper.

have we ever won a game when Will Witty has been needed to start?

Capstick will bring a bit more pace to the back row

I hope Hogg is motivated in his last year (?) with us, it is probably a good thing that is was not a total success under the lions management in the summer. Coming back to Devon thinking that it is the Chiefs management that was wrong for dropping him and not getting the best out of him. We have seen his kicking game for Scotland, spiral kicks etc, but has not improved Chiefs kicking game to new levels in the way I hoped. Has not taken us forward in the way Dean Mumm etc took the club to new heights (not helped that Flats never passes to him and not a great on field understanding between them).

10 - 10 at half time looks good after the dreadful start!

should wear them down as the game goes on, unload the bench gradually is the key, townsend to score.

Happily take a one point win today !

4 hopefully broken arrow we need it for the confidence moving on.

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mommentum
have we ever won a game when Will Witty has been needed to start?
.

I wondered if you might review that opinion of Witty following his fab 'try of the season'.......I think he has been growing into the side quite nicely.

How many seasons have players mainly forwards joined us to disappear not play so well and then prove their worth.
Our coaches have a good eye for talent, they know that a very high percentage of the new intake will settle and when ready take their place and be worthy of the that place.
It’s not blind faith in our team but I’ve seen it all before.

It’s all going to settle in a few rounds and I believe we will make headway.

Let’s be fair, Will has big boots to fill when he does get a start, Hill, Grey and Skinner, our usual starting locks, are all international standard. Has worked hard on his game and, judging by the reaction of his teammates following his score, is a popular member of the squad M

I’m no forwards expert, but for me, Witty and Lonsdale lack the dynamism of Hill, Gray and Skinner, they are slower to react and that can leave holes in our defence. I am sure that both will improve in time but my concern is that with the senior players returning and no A league games to play, how are these guys going to get enough game time to learn and improve ??

Hi Broken Arrow, They are of course not as good as the internationals and I doubt they will ever reach that standard but with the number of internationals - autumn and six nations, training with Eddie's gang and the ensuing injury rate they will get a lot of game time.

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Tiverton Brave

Quote:

mommentum
have we ever won a game when Will Witty has been needed to start?
.

I wondered if you might review that opinion of Witty following his fab 'try of the season'.......I think he has been growing into the side quite nicely.

very glad to be wrong. my main point with Will was in the past he worked hard but did not seem to make ground when carrying and did not stop people in the tackle the way a lock should.

I was of the same opinion as momentum, regarding Witty.
The scoring of one, remarkable , try in itself does not change everything. But, yesterday he had one of his best games. I don't think he lost a ball in contact, which has been one of his most disappointing habits for such a good physical guy.
So, maybe, with the more regular game time and the confidence, and limelight, he got from the Sale game he is getting there. Certainly going to be needed when the 3 International locks are away.