Premiership Rugby statement

[DGP Wasp]

Can't fathom why this game is being treated any differently to any other. Child's says "... this match has such a critical bearing on deciding the Gallagher Premiership Rugby champions.", but in reality the 5 potential points in the final round are no less significant than points gained in rounds 1-21.

[coddy]

I presume Sale never named a squad for today for the simple reason in that they were unable to field 23 players who were not only covid free but not required to isolate for being in contact to the 16 players/staff that were tested positive.

This being the case how is giving them 3 days extra before playing going to change anything?

I think Sale's end game is convincing everyone they have a match day squad but relying on Worcester who have nothing to play for say "nah" we forfeit as it's just not worth the risk of our players being infected handing Sale the 20-0 win.

[NellyWellyWaspy]

I think Sale's end game is convincing everyone they have a match day squad but relying on Worcester who have nothing to play for say "nah" we forfeit as it's just not worth the risk of our players being infected handing Sale the 20-0 win.

This is PRECISELY what Sale are up to. And Worcester should call their bluff.

[Raggs]

https://twitter.com/btsportrugby/status/1312750174511529984

Pat Lam saying it's 19 at sale that tested positive, 16 are players, 3 are backroom staff. He's very diplomatic, but clearly doesn't feel sorry for them at all, and seems rather peeved.

[Neils]

I think Sale's end game is convincing everyone they have a match day squad but relying on Worcester who have nothing to play for say "nah" we forfeit as it's just not worth the risk of our players being infected handing Sale the 20-0 win.

This is PRECISELY what Sale are up to. And Worcester should call their bluff.

I can't believe PRL/ Worcester didn't demand that their possible team be listed.

[Bloke in North Dorset]

Rob Baxter said it cost £30k/month for testing. Financially unsustainable.

[Raggs]

Rob Baxter said it cost £30k/month for testing. Financially unsustainable.

Less sustainable that not playing at all, and receiving no TV monies?

[MarleyWasp]

The potential knock on effect is that the semi final sale could potentially play in will have to be on a Sunday. As things stand that looks like 1 v 4 or Exeter v Bristol or Sale.

Given Sale are due to play on Wednesday, it'll have to be a Sunday game, which means Bristol have a Sunday to Friday turn around ahead of the Challenge Cup final and will lose a day traveling to France. You can understand why Pat Lam is fuming. I would be too.

[Brandnewtorugby]

Rob Baxter said it cost £30k/month for testing. Financially unsustainable.

Less sustainable that not playing at all, and receiving no TV monies?

Pooled testing would be a way to reduce testing costs.

[Raggs]

Rob Baxter said it cost £30k/month for testing. Financially unsustainable.

Less sustainable that not playing at all, and receiving no TV monies?

Pooled testing would be a way to reduce testing costs.

What do you mean? How would it be pooled?

[Bloke in North Dorset]

Rob Baxter said it cost £30k/month for testing. Financially unsustainable.

Less sustainable that not playing at all, and receiving no TV monies?

Pooled testing would be a way to reduce testing costs.

What do you mean? How would it be pooled?

Mixing samples so you need to do fewer lab analysis. Explained quite nicely by the More or Less team.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p08rwy4n

[Raggs]

Rob Baxter said it cost £30k/month for testing. Financially unsustainable.

Less sustainable that not playing at all, and receiving no TV monies?

Pooled testing would be a way to reduce testing costs.

What do you mean? How would it be pooled?

Mixing samples so you need to do fewer lab analysis. Explained quite nicely by the More or Less team.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p08rwy4n

Ah,OK. So testing a whole team at once (in a single batch, or maybe 3/4 groupsetc), then if you get positive, you go to individual testing. Could work well, yeah.

[coddy]

Ok so things have moved on. Unless I'm mistaken if Sale do manipulate their way to a bonus point win over Wuss then they play us next Sunday.

I guess from our point of view playing a virus stricken Sale over a confident Brizzle would be a advantage.

[NellyWellyWaspy]

I guess from our point of view playing a virus stricken Sale over a confident Brizzle would be a advantage.

With the risk (highly probable) that whatever 23 Sale would bring to that match would also contain a high number of players with Covid but who tested negative. That would not be a good outcome for Wasps.

[Bloke in North Dorset]

Rob Baxter said it cost £30k/month for testing. Financially unsustainable.

Less sustainable that not playing at all, and receiving no TV monies?

Pooled testing would be a way to reduce testing costs.

What do you mean? How would it be pooled?

Mixing samples so you need to do fewer lab analysis. Explained quite nicely by the More or Less team.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p08rwy4n

Ah,OK. So testing a whole team at once (in a single batch, or maybe 3/4 groupsetc), then if you get positive, you go to individual testing. Could work well, yeah.

Yep, that's the nub of it but there's ways of mixing the samples such that you can pinpoint individuals when testing large organisations.