NPR

Posted: **Fri Oct 02, 2020 8:52 pm**

Game on Sunday going ahead according to Sale, despite a reported 16 positive Covid tests being returned

https://www.salesharks.com/2020/10/02/c ... -round-22/

We're in the dark as to the details, but if the reported 16 players have tested positive the powers that be would seem to be taking a chance that there's no significant risk of transmission involved. Expect the whole squad would have been retested, but it still feels risky/reckless to the layman.

Hope they have taken appropriate advice.

Posted: **Fri Oct 02, 2020 9:17 pm**

Think players are getting tested twice a week at the moment (basically after/before every game). So there's a chance that anyone who tested negative recently isn't likely contagious by sunday, and may not have been against Saints.

However, 16 seems oddly high for there not to be some spread in a game.

I wonder what sort of squad they'll put out?

Posted: **Sat Oct 03, 2020 10:34 am**

So Sale saying match going ahead but no confirmation from Worcester or Premiership Rugby as yet!!!

Posted: **Sat Oct 03, 2020 11:16 am**

Worcester should demand that the entire Sale squad, coaches and officials are tested on Sunday morning at the stadium.

Do the tests they're doing get immediately processed?

Posted: **Sat Oct 03, 2020 11:17 am**

Posted: **Sun Oct 04, 2020 4:51 pm**

They are getting tested on Tuesday, decision to be made dependant on results, with that many positive i suspect there will be more and the game called off

Posted: **Sun Oct 04, 2020 9:12 pm**

Hoping for a sale fail here. That way, they once again effectively finish 6th (ignoring sarries deduction).

Posted: **Tue Oct 06, 2020 11:09 am**

Colour me confused.

Sorry, but how the hell can Sale name players that were involved in the Saints match, yet Saints can't use those players???? Just because they tested negatively after that game, or even now, could just mean that it's not yet reached levels that are testable!

Posted: **Tue Oct 06, 2020 3:27 pm**

Is it right that one of the Sale management team sent a WhatsApp message to other club managers that he had just got in at 6.30am from a party the night in question? I keep seeing it alluded to.

Posted: **Wed Oct 07, 2020 6:49 am**

Mail have the game as being called off. Likely new positive results for Sale.

Posted: **Wed Oct 07, 2020 8:01 am**

Margin__Walker wrote: Wed Oct 07, 2020 6:49 am Mail have the game as being called off. Likely new positive results for Sale.

Good! Can't see how on earth it could be played with 19 Sale staff testing positive and Saints players having to self-isolate following their match against them

Posted: **Wed Oct 07, 2020 9:40 am**

SaintK wrote: Wed Oct 07, 2020 8:01 am
Margin__Walker wrote: Wed Oct 07, 2020 6:49 am Mail have the game as being called off. Likely new positive results for Sale.

Good! Can't see how on earth it could be played with 19 Sale staff testing positive and Saints players having to self-isolate following their match against them

Sale forfeit as of just now! Further positive tests

Posted: **Wed Oct 07, 2020 9:50 am**

SaintK wrote: Wed Oct 07, 2020 9:40 am
SaintK wrote: Wed Oct 07, 2020 8:01 am
Margin__Walker wrote: Wed Oct 07, 2020 6:49 am Mail have the game as being called off. Likely new positive results for Sale.

Good! Can't see how on earth it could be played with 19 Sale staff testing positive and Saints players having to self-isolate following their match against them
Sale forfeit as of just now! Further positive tests

Right outcome, wrong route. Should've been forfeited at the weekend, this was the only way it was going to end. After such a spike in a cases, the idea that they wouldn't have incurred more for this delayed fixture was fanciful.

Posted: **Wed Oct 07, 2020 9:57 am**

sockwithaticket wrote: Wed Oct 07, 2020 9:50 am
SaintK wrote: Wed Oct 07, 2020 9:40 am
SaintK wrote: Wed Oct 07, 2020 8:01 am

Good! Can't see how on earth it could be played with 19 Sale staff testing positive and Saints players having to self-isolate following their match against them
Sale forfeit as of just now! Further positive tests
Right outcome, wrong route. Should've been forfeited at the weekend, this was the only way it was going to end. After such a spike in a cases, the idea that they wouldn't have incurred more for this delayed fixture was fanciful.

Yep, PRL dithering!!!

Posted: **Wed Oct 07, 2020 10:02 am**

6 more players test positive.

Posted: **Wed Oct 07, 2020 10:12 am**

Bath will be relieved!!

Hopefully none of the other playoff fixtures are similarly effected (if only so PRL can avoid looking so horrendously shambolic twice within the space of a week!).

Posted: **Wed Oct 07, 2020 11:06 am**

Clearly should have been called off before now and glad the posturing from Sale didn't get the game played on Sunday.

Really shows how a significant outbreak can rip through a squad though.

Posted: **Wed Oct 07, 2020 11:14 am**

I'll be interested to know if Sale threatened PRL with a legal challenge unless they agreed to postpone.

It feels like that's the sort of thing Sale would have done.

Posted: **Wed Oct 07, 2020 11:20 am**

Kawazaki wrote: Wed Oct 07, 2020 11:14 am I'll be interested to know if Sale threatened PRL with a legal challenge unless they agreed to postpone.

It feels like that's the sort of thing Sale would have done.

It wouldn't surprise me. Sure there has been all sorts going on behind the scenes.

Powers that be will be praying this season limps over the line without any more off field drama.

Posted: **Wed Oct 07, 2020 12:46 pm**

While it’s been a weird old season, I’ve actually quite enjoyed getting to see some of the bin juice players getting run-outs in the mid-week fixtures.

Not sure I’d be saying that if I were a Saints or Tigs fan, mind you...

Posted: **Wed Oct 07, 2020 1:25 pm**

Joost wrote: Wed Oct 07, 2020 12:46 pm While it’s been a weird old season, I’ve actually quite enjoyed getting to see some of the bin juice players getting run-outs in the mid-week fixtures.

Not sure I’d be saying that if I were a Saints or Tigs fan, mind you...

The Leicester first XV is full of current and former test players;

George Ford
Ben Youngs
Ellis Genge
Tomas Lavanini
Tom Youngs
Dan Cole
Jordan Taufua
Matt Scott
Nemani Nadolo

Plus players like

Luke Wallace
Zack Henry

and Joe Heyes whoever he is.

Posted: **Wed Oct 07, 2020 1:35 pm**

Taufua's not an international. Luke Wallace was signed from Coventry. Zack Henry came from ProD2. Joe Heyes is a promising kid.

Every squad has internationals in it; the point is that COVID has forced heavy rotation. So the first XV has rarely played together. Leicester's first XV is not strong at all.

Posted: **Wed Oct 07, 2020 1:40 pm**

Come on, Leicester's squad isnt as bad as it's been performing. Not sure why the test players get a free pass. Wasps are doing infinitely better with a comparable squad.

Posted: **Wed Oct 07, 2020 1:45 pm**

A lot of Leicester's team sheets have read like Borthwick is deliberately avoiding putting too many of his best players together and running the rule over the rest of the squad, so he can get a sense of what he's working with going forward. Makes sense, with relegation handled and nothing else to play for, Tigers didn't actually need to win any games. Not pleasant for fans, but Scab-Nose will be banking on what he's done now being enough to result in progress next season.

Posted: **Wed Oct 07, 2020 1:58 pm**

Kawazaki wrote: Wed Oct 07, 2020 1:40 pm Come on, Leicester's squad isnt as bad as it's been performing. Not sure why the test players get a free pass. Wasps are doing infinitely better with a comparable squad.

Wasps 1st XV vs Tigers 1st XV

Harris vs Genge - Tigers
Taylor vs Youngs - Wasps
Brookes vs Cole - Wasps
Launchbury vs Lavanini - Wasps
Rowlands vs Wells - evens?
Shields vs Taufua - evens, maybe Tigers
Young vs no idea who first choice is for Tigers and it doesn't matter - Wasps
J Willis vs Liebenberg - ahaahah
Robson vs Youngs - Wasps
Umaga vs Ford - Tigers
Gopperth vs Taute/Potter - Wasps
Fekitoa vs Scott - Wasps
Bassett vs Nadolo - Tigers
Kibirige vs van Wyk - Tigers
Minozzi vs Henry - Wasps

It's not close. Tigers' squad is proper shit-tier stuff.

Posted: **Wed Oct 07, 2020 2:04 pm**

JM2K6 wrote: Wed Oct 07, 2020 1:58 pm
Kawazaki wrote: Wed Oct 07, 2020 1:40 pm Come on, Leicester's squad isnt as bad as it's been performing. Not sure why the test players get a free pass. Wasps are doing infinitely better with a comparable squad.
Wasps 1st XV vs Tigers 1st XV

Harris vs Genge - Tigers
Taylor vs Youngs - Wasps
Brookes vs Cole - Wasps
Launchbury vs Lavanini - Wasps
Rowlands vs Wells - evens?
Shields vs Taufua - evens, maybe Tigers
Young vs no idea who first choice is for Tigers and it doesn't matter - Wasps
J Willis vs Liebenberg - ahaahah
Robson vs Youngs - Wasps
Umaga vs Ford - Tigers
Gopperth vs Taute/Potter - Wasps
Fekitoa vs Scott - Wasps
Bassett vs Nadolo - Tigers
Kibirige vs van Wyk - Tigers
Minozzi vs Henry - Wasps

It's not close. Tigers' squad is proper shit-tier stuff.

Zach Henry has probably been Leicester best player. Launch and Lava are evens too.

And how can you dismiss the current England scrumhalf with 99 caps?

That makes it about even maybe even favouring Leicester. Point is they've massively underperformed regardless of rotation which every other club has had to do as well anyway.

Posted: **Wed Oct 07, 2020 2:07 pm**

Kawazaki wrote: Wed Oct 07, 2020 2:04 pm
JM2K6 wrote: Wed Oct 07, 2020 1:58 pm
Kawazaki wrote: Wed Oct 07, 2020 1:40 pm Come on, Leicester's squad isnt as bad as it's been performing. Not sure why the test players get a free pass. Wasps are doing infinitely better with a comparable squad.
Wasps 1st XV vs Tigers 1st XV

Harris vs Genge - Tigers
Taylor vs Youngs - Wasps
Brookes vs Cole - Wasps
Launchbury vs Lavanini - Wasps
Rowlands vs Wells - evens?
Shields vs Taufua - evens, maybe Tigers
Young vs no idea who first choice is for Tigers and it doesn't matter - Wasps
J Willis vs Liebenberg - ahaahah
Robson vs Youngs - Wasps
Umaga vs Ford - Tigers
Gopperth vs Taute/Potter - Wasps
Fekitoa vs Scott - Wasps
Bassett vs Nadolo - Tigers
Kibirige vs van Wyk - Tigers
Minozzi vs Henry - Wasps

It's not close. Tigers' squad is proper shit-tier stuff.
Zach Henry has probably been Leicester best player. Launch and Lava are evens too.

And how can you dismiss the current England scrumhalf with 99 caps. Because he is utterly shit maybe?

That makes it about even maybe even Gaborone Leicester. Point is they've massively underperformed regardless of rotation which every other club has had to do as well anyway.

Posted: **Wed Oct 07, 2020 2:09 pm**

Kawazaki wrote: Wed Oct 07, 2020 2:04 pm
JM2K6 wrote: Wed Oct 07, 2020 1:58 pm
Kawazaki wrote: Wed Oct 07, 2020 1:40 pm Come on, Leicester's squad isnt as bad as it's been performing. Not sure why the test players get a free pass. Wasps are doing infinitely better with a comparable squad.
Wasps 1st XV vs Tigers 1st XV

Harris vs Genge - Tigers
Taylor vs Youngs - Wasps
Brookes vs Cole - Wasps
Launchbury vs Lavanini - Wasps
Rowlands vs Wells - evens?
Shields vs Taufua - evens, maybe Tigers
Young vs no idea who first choice is for Tigers and it doesn't matter - Wasps
J Willis vs Liebenberg - ahaahah
Robson vs Youngs - Wasps
Umaga vs Ford - Tigers
Gopperth vs Taute/Potter - Wasps
Fekitoa vs Scott - Wasps
Bassett vs Nadolo - Tigers
Kibirige vs van Wyk - Tigers
Minozzi vs Henry - Wasps

It's not close. Tigers' squad is proper shit-tier stuff.
Zach Henry has probably been Leicester best player. Launch and Lava are evens too.

And how can you dismiss the current England scrumhalf with 99 caps?

That makes it about even maybe even favouring Leicester. Point is they've massively underperformed regardless of rotation which every other club has had to do as well anyway.

I like Zach Henry but he's been inconsistent and there's no way on this planet he's better than actually-good-international Minozzi. Lavanini is almost as talented as Launchbury but is an absolute liability with his ill-discipline, so Wasps get the nod. V amusing on Youngs. The gap in quality between some of the Wasps players and their Tigers counterparts is embarrassing in some cases, and the same is not true in reverse where Tigers have the better player.

Now look at the rest of the squads. Wasps can still call on some fine players. Tigers are proper no-marks.

Posted: **Wed Oct 07, 2020 2:12 pm**

Kawazaki wrote: Wed Oct 07, 2020 2:04 pm
JM2K6 wrote: Wed Oct 07, 2020 1:58 pm
Kawazaki wrote: Wed Oct 07, 2020 1:40 pm Come on, Leicester's squad isnt as bad as it's been performing. Not sure why the test players get a free pass. Wasps are doing infinitely better with a comparable squad.
Wasps 1st XV vs Tigers 1st XV

Harris vs Genge - Tigers
Taylor vs Youngs - Wasps
Brookes vs Cole - Wasps
Launchbury vs Lavanini - Wasps
Rowlands vs Wells - evens?
Shields vs Taufua - evens, maybe Tigers
Young vs no idea who first choice is for Tigers and it doesn't matter - Wasps
J Willis vs Liebenberg - ahaahah
Robson vs Youngs - Wasps
Umaga vs Ford - Tigers
Gopperth vs Taute/Potter - Wasps
Fekitoa vs Scott - Wasps
Bassett vs Nadolo - Tigers
Kibirige vs van Wyk - Tigers
Minozzi vs Henry - Wasps

It's not close. Tigers' squad is proper shit-tier stuff.
Zach Henry has probably been Leicester best player. Launch and Lava are evens too.

And how can you dismiss the current England scrumhalf with 99 caps.

That makes it about even maybe even Gaborone Leicester. Point is they've massively underperformed regardless of rotation which every other club has had to do as well anyway.

Oh is that what the point was? Good to know, because Joost said maybe Saints and Tigers fans wouldn't have enjoyed seeing their bin juice and you started going on about the strength of their starting XV, which kind of has nothing to do with the players he was talking about.

Like fuck is Lavanini on a par with Launchbury. If nothing else his being a penalty magnet takes him down.

Youngs' 99 caps don't mean he's currently a better player than Robson (or better over the last few years).

Henry's a nobody performing above non-existent expectations, but he's definitely not playing better than Minozzi. Isn't calling him Tigers' best player pretty much the definition of damning with faint praise?

Posted: **Wed Oct 07, 2020 2:31 pm**

Just noticed this, please tell me you were being sarcastic

Bassett vs Nadolo - Tigers

Nadolo is probably the biggest lump of lard, lazy cunt waste of a contract i think i have seen for a long time. He is a talent Vacuum, in a team of talent Vacuum's and that is saying something.

Posted: **Wed Oct 07, 2020 2:33 pm**

Are you confusing him with Naiyavoro? Nadolo isn't what he used to be but he's still ridiculously effective and a pretty talented rugby player.

Posted: **Wed Oct 07, 2020 2:40 pm**

JM2K6 wrote: Wed Oct 07, 2020 2:33 pm Are you confusing him with Naiyavoro? Nadolo isn't what he used to be but he's still ridiculously effective and a pretty talented rugby player.

Yeah, as much as I like Bassett, I'd take Nadolo.

Though I'd say Rowlands is better than Wells.

Posted: **Wed Oct 07, 2020 2:42 pm**

JM2K6 wrote: Wed Oct 07, 2020 2:33 pm Are you confusing him with Naiyavoro? Nadolo isn't what he used to be but he's still ridiculously effective and a pretty talented rugby player.

Naiyavoro is even worse, i think, one of the worst players in the Prem

Posted: **Wed Oct 07, 2020 2:44 pm**

OK well, having watched Nadolo rampage for >150m and 4 clean breaks at the weekend, and seen him be very effective as both a winger and a midfield battering ram for Tigers, and knowing how good he is at offloading, how good his boot is, and just how fucking massive he is... I'm happy to say he's a great option in club rugby, even if he does have some flaws.

Posted: **Wed Oct 07, 2020 5:15 pm**

sockwithaticket wrote: Wed Oct 07, 2020 1:45 pm A lot of Leicester's team sheets have read like Borthwick is deliberately avoiding putting too many of his best players together and running the rule over the rest of the squad, so he can get a sense of what he's working with going forward. Makes sense, with relegation handled and nothing else to play for, Tigers didn't actually need to win any games. Not pleasant for fans, but Scab-Nose will be banking on what he's done now being enough to result in progress next season.

As a serial Tigers sufferer I have to agree with that.

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