Sa banned for 2 games, Hendo Henderson out for 3, Salford absolutely flying at the moment. This might be tricky

This is a different Salford than previous seasons where we were coached a percentage up the middle Rugby. Confidence is high and I'd expect it to be fairly close. I think home advantage plus the fact that you have a better depth of squad than us should see you through. If you don't turn-up and expect an easy run out, however, you'll lose.

Should be a cracking game all in all.

Without Hendo, I worry about dummy-half and Trento's predilection for playing either Mounis or Baile there, neither of whom are any good in the role. Doing that will allow Salford to get on top in the forwards and that way madness lies.

Squad news. Winger Damien Cardace and prop Julien Bousquet get dayboo call-ups and Mickaël Simon is in for the first time this season. No Clint, Hendo, Sa, Menzies, Mr Anderson.

Blanch, Pryce, Bosc, Dureau, Ferriol, Casty, Mounis, Raguin, Baile, Gossard, Millard, Simon, Bousquet, Fakir, Paea, Baitieri, Duport, Fisher, Cardace

No Wingers in our squad, missing Williams, Broughton and Gibson. As well as Gledhill and Godwin. Not so confident now. Probably means Gleeson and Nero on the wings with Moon and Wild in the centres. lacking a lot of pace and finishing ability outwide!!!

Two patched-up sides then. I don't think the game will be won and lost in the wide areas though, more in terms of dictating the tempo.

I'm just hoping for a much closer game than the mauling you gave us at the Willows at the end of last season.

See you all the Gilbert Brutus

Bonne Chance

Wish I was going to be there! Henderson being out gives us a boost as our hookers - Howarth and Owen - have been going well. We're lucky to that Sa is missing given the gaps in our 3/4 line. I think John D is right that it will be about who controls the ruck and gives their forwards the best opportunity to create space for the half backs to work their magic. That's where I think Catalans will have a clear edge - their pack is stronger and Dureau is class. Hopefully it will be a good close game

To be honest, I wasn't exactly going out on a limb. That's how the vast majority of games are won.

Why do all opposition fans seem to think Sa is a good or important player? Hopefully their clubs' management feel the same way and he can be sold for a transfer fee.

Yep. He's a big lump.

Agreed.

Je suis d'accord..

I seem to remember us being torn apart by him in one of the games against us in the last couple of seasons, just couldn't stop him.

Be great to see Bosquet get a run.

Funny about Sa though. I'm guessing you guys don't watch defensive sets then?

I'm just thinking of all his class games at stand off

Not really a Stand off for me but IMO he's done a solid job in the Centre, at 6 and in the back row.

I watch the defensive sets where he repeatedly gives away stupid, needless penalties at the worst possible times and inevitably puts the team under enourmous pressure.

Back on topic, I thought I read that Cardace was out for the season? Or was that someone else?

Just those ones eh?

Seems very selective of you.

You are so utterly clueless mate its not funny.

No, it's Vaccari, Cardace is a young player, start in the SL for him this afternoon.

It's funny because the likelihood is that I know far, far more about RL and have far more experience in a professional environment than you do. Considering I rarely make player evaluations, I'm guessing you are basing your judgment on the fact that my location implies that I am Welsh.

I think I was getting him mixed up with Joseph Negre.

You would again be wrong.

My judgement is based on pretty much everything you post being arrogant drivel that's usually wide of the mark.

You could PM me your CV if that's so important on the fans MB.

It's not important at all, I just think it's funny when people form opinions based on anonymous posts on a message board. If you have any arguments against anything I post other than the fact that you don't like what I'm saying, then feel free to share them and I will debate them with you. Simply posting 'you are clueless' doesn't really help anyone.

FT 40-18

Why bother to bring it up then?



I did. You then posted one of the stupidest things I had heard on here for a while.



You never answered this, do you somehow only watch these sets or do you watch all of them?

I've watched Catalan 3 times this year each time Sa has played. IMO he's always involved In defence and I haven't got numbers to hand (or time) but I would be surprised if he wasn't up there as one of the teams top tacklers.

He has given a few pens away this year(he is banned after all), a cursory glance on the Superleague website shows he Catalans top offender, but only one less than Scott Dureau, incidentally.

I don't need to be too well qualified in the game to suggest that for the players who take all the plaudits,like Dureau, we need players like Sa to do the dirty stuff and he is, and scoring a try or two into the bargain.