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Late Lyon comeback sinks Sale

20 Oct 2017

Theo Belan scores for Lyon against Sale

Lyon scored 17 unanswered points in the final 15 minutes to come from behind and defeat Sale Sharks 27-24 in Friday’s scintillating Challenge Cup clash.

It was the second nail-biting encounter in as many outings for Sale in this competition, following their 20-20 draw with Toulouse last week, although this time they were left with just a losing bonus point to console themselves.

Sale led 24-10 with a quarter of an hour remaining but the hosts ran in two tries, Frederic Michalak converting both before slotting the decisive penalty as Lyon responded smartly from their loss to Cardiff Blues on matchday one.

Lyon dominated the first period but trailed 14-10 at the break despite Sale spending just seven seconds in their opponents’ 22 thanks to Denny Solomona’s interception try and Sam James’ breakaway score.

The home side hit back before half-time through Delon Armitage, but another interception saw James cross for his second in the 56th minute.

Liam Gill went over under the posts to bring the Top 14 leaders back to within seven, Theo Belan’s try levelling matters in controversial fashion with Sale claiming Lyon jumped into a tackle in the build-up, before Michalak kept his cool from the tee as Sale were pinged for offside.

La haie d'honneur des anglais de @SaleSharksRugby ! Fair-Play @ChallengeCup_FR #TeamLOU pic.twitter.com/ADNOl4svj3
— LOU Rugby (@LeLOURugby) October 20, 2017

The other match in Pool 2 saw Cardiff edge another tight clash, prevailing 17-15 at Toulouse thanks to Macauley Cook’s try early in the second period.

Cardiff top the table with nine points from two matches, with Lyon on four and Toulouse and Sale locked on three apiece.

In Pool 5, Brive romped to a 38-13 win over fellow Top 14 strugglers Oyonnax, Gaetan Germain scoring one of his side’s five tries to finish up with 16 points.

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BK 25 minutes ago

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Yes, but even a good defence genius needs the right players. The Bok players are so instinctive - you have Kolbe, Steh, Kolisi, Kwagga - each of these just to mention a few are defensive monsters … The Irish both at Test and Leinster just lack the mentality to win when it really matters …

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Don’t hate the player hate the game. The hierarchy can always say ‘thank you but we’re good’

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CN 1 hour ago

Five new faces named in Black Ferns' Pacific Four Series squad

This was always the risk, as soon as players make themselves available from 7s to try and get a piece of the action then how do you make room for them? As soon as it was announced I had doubts they would have to compete for their places, just get a few 15s games under their belt. If I was being cynical I would say there is no place for loyalty over sentiment. Some of those now not selected provided stability and added experience after the last RWC while the squad was transitioning

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rs 1 hour ago

'Most complacent selection decision you will ever see': Barrett benching slammed as Leinster knocked out

As a Saffa supporting Leinster I do feel NH played well and possibly deserved the win. However, had Leinster kicked for poles — either of the two opportunities they were given, the result could have been different. Don't think Barret would have made such a huge difference. Have my doubts about Prendergast —— he still has a long way to go. Remarked to my wife it felt quite quite strange sitting on the edge of our seats hoping Leinster would pull it off. Possibly ‘cos the Sullivan's origins are from Limerick. Hopefully Irish rugby will continue to flourish.

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HU 2 hours ago

Leo Cullen defends his position after Leinster's Champions Cup exit

Leinster are (now) clearly the best side in Ireland …. and (on paper at least) they are together with Toulouse one of the two best club sides in the world (as a Saffer I would love the Stormers, Bulls and Sharks contesting that, but we are not quite there yet) … and yes, they have been cruising through the URC and the Champions Cup this season, looking at times unbeatable ….

but when it gets down to real business, they seem to underperform or “be out of luck” (which is not really “luck” but lacking winner mentality) - just like the Irish with their QF-curse

so I guess, the question arises, whether Leo Cullen is the right (head) coach radiating winner mentality

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HU 2 hours ago

Leo Cullen defends his position after Leinster's Champions Cup exit

“But also explain why it is Leinster year in year out left to represent the URC in the champions league.”

that itself is hardly a proof of supremacy, as there are 8 sides per competition qualifying … the Champions League is a great competition from say quarter-final onwards, not so much in the pool stages

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fl 2 hours ago

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Prendergast is great.

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RedWarriors 2 hours ago

Leo Cullen defends his position after Leinster's Champions Cup exit

Barrett creates room for Prendergast in the way that Henshaw can’t. That’s a fact. They targetted Prendergast and Barrett there would have made a significant difference to him not counting his other contributions (Barretts).

You don’t go from conceding no tries in two rounds to 5 tries and 37 points. High reward high risk doesn’t explain that alone. Leinster’s issue is that the many weaknesses we saw yesterday were not exposed over the season. They had a hard match against Rochelle and that was it: all year. That is not enough.

It is extremely hard for URC teams to win that tournament. Look at the two hardened and rounded French teams today. Hopefully the URC gets a few teams up to standard during the league stage next year.

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Mark 2 hours ago

Leo Cullen defends his position after Leinster's Champions Cup exit

Bordeaux-begles were my dark horse tip from the beginning of the tournament. Toulouse had significant injury issues going into this game. Leinster had a full squad to choose from, and simply made the wrong calls. Nobody is demonising the Ireland players or indeed leinster, simply stating a fact. Leinster had home advantage and effectively bottled it.

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RedWarriors 2 hours ago

Leo Cullen defends his position after Leinster's Champions Cup exit

That was an Irish blog. Cullen has been rotating the centres. The two centres playing were the starting centres for Ireland (with Aki). It is perfectly in Cullen’s gift to believe that bringing on Barrett in the second half might eb a decisive move. It nearly was. Nobody could have predicted that NH would score 4 first half tries. Thats not complacency. People seem to be determined to demonize Ireland and Irish players and supporters. There is no basis for it.

Will you now start condemning Toulouse for complacency, arrogance just because they lost when expected to win? Didnt think so.

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Tom 3 hours ago

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“Is Sam Prendergast the most overhyped player in any sport ever?” this is a ridiculous statement. Prendergast isn't over hyped. His limitations have been publicly very exposed in the last few months. He's a talented young player with some slick passing but I don't hear anyone hyping him whatsoever, in fact if anything, he's probably under hyped, everyone is saying he's sh*t lol! Fin Smith has established himself as the better player and is the clear favourite to start the first test in Australia.

So happy that England finally have an established 10 with a triple threat, I didn't enjoy much of the Farrell era, he's a great rugby player but over reliant on attacking kicks. Fin has a great tactical kicking game but is far more instinctive, excited to see where he can go, just hope he's trusted to run the attack and play what's in front of him.

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Tom 3 hours ago

Tommy Freeman shines as Northampton Saints shock Leinster out of Europe

Absolutely, I'm sure a lot of them will be on England contracts which should help. I don't see any of their young stars leaving Northampton for the next 5+ years, they seem to have a happy, healthy environment with some really good coaches.

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Mark 3 hours ago

Leo Cullen defends his position after Leinster's Champions Cup exit

The decision to bench Barrett was described by several pundits as...and I quote..."The most complacent and disrespectful decision ever". As I originally stated, Saints were worthy winners. But there was beyond doubt, a level of complacency in the Leinster camp.

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rs 3 hours ago

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Say what you like. New Zealand rugby in trouble. Agreed, they'll never be poor, to the point that Ben Smith will become nothing else but a bad memory, unfortunately though, but at the same time they will have to accept that other teams have caught up and in quite a few cases moved beyond. Even the “one trick pony” team will soon have evolved a few other tricks.