SALE SHARKS vs NORTHAMPTON SAINTS

GP: Sunday, 7^th March 2010 – 2.30pm

EDGELEY PARK, STOCKPORT

MATCH PREVIEW

The supporters have barely recovered from the second placed super Saints stunning smash of the toothless Tigers but the marathon continues with a tricky away trip to slippery Sale.

I feel this is a tough ask as players now move from the tension derby atmosphere to a trip that many will expect them to win. However Jim Mallinder’s motivational skills will surely be tested if his current club are to prevail at the Sharks, where he made his name as both player and coach.

In fact this writer also needs a bit of help. Previews in previous weeks have been a preposterously easy, as big match after big match rolls over the horizon. Well for the Saints (no disrespect to the Sharks intended,) this isn’t a big match; it’s the match before a big match. Winning these ‘inbetweeners,’ is probably what separates a good season from a championship season. For Sale though it has been suggested that they will treat this like a ‘cup final.’ They’re already talking this up as a huge match, a chance to get back on track and climb away from the drop zone. The risk here is we have a repeat of the Quins situation where a determined team catches the Saints with their minds on bigger games to come.

Sale appear to be a club in freefall. The 2006 champions are currently joint bottom of the Guinness Premiership with just 4 wins from 14 matches. Owner Brian Kennedy, Sale’s own Uncle Keith, cut his skiing holiday short this week to return and meet with the players and management. Kennedy appears to have given Kingsley Jones, his director of rugby, the dreaded vote of confidence. However, only a foolish man would waltz up to Stockport expectant of five points without raising a sweat. They are still stacked full of quality and like any team in this league very capable of getting a result.

It’s not just the players though. The pitch at Stockport has a very stodgy topping. Trapper John and Hawkeye Pierce would be at home at Edgeley Park. That’s not totally their fault though. Even Piggy’s Patch at Franklin’s Gardens is starting to show the strain in this unusually harsh winter. Most of the playing surfaces in England could do with a month of sunny days, let alone the Sale swamp. This could of course be a great leveller on Sunday. Did I mention that it won’t be easy?

That said I firmly believe the Saints should travel in confidence. Big Jim’s mantra of playing with intensity and making the right decisions rings true. They are 2^nd in the league on merit, with a very impressive 11 wins out of 15. The tries may not be flowing as freely right now but the ‘never say die,’ attitude and team spirit is highly visible.

To the teams and these really are just guesses based on the best information at the time.

Possible Saints

15 Reihana

14 Diggin

13 Clarke

12 Downey

11 Ashton

10 Myler

9 Dickson

1 Tonga’uiha

2 Sharman

3 Mujati

4 Lobbe

5 Kruger

6 Lawes

7 Best

8 Dowson

I think we all know that we’re happy with that Saints team. It will be great to get Hartley, Murray and Foden back from the Six Nations and also nice to see Clarke and Wilson back from injury but for now that’s a very tasty side.

Possible Sharks (with thanks to the kind contributors of the SaleRugby.co.uk forum)

1. Roberts
2. Briggs
3. Forster
4. Schofield(c)

5. Jones

6. Fearns

7. Seymour
8. Koyamaibole

9. Peel
10. Hodgson

11. Kingsthorpe’s Finest

12. Thomas
13. James
14. Ripol

15. Macleod

Although I must say I very much liked the alternative version posted by Phil. In my cheeky lazy research thread:

http://www.rugbynetwork.net/boards/read/s101.htm?104,11346813

That’s probably not the scariest Sharks line up I’ve ever seen but there are still a few good players. For years now Charlie Hodgson has orchestrated beatings on a regular basis to Northampton teams. Dwayne Peel his possible half back partner may not be reaching his previously very high standards but I’m sure he’ll be more than a handful. The rest of the backs are also no mugs, especially the Welsh contingent and that number 11 still has a very large point to prove.

In the forwards the Sale scrum has taken some criticism. I look down that list and see players with unrealised potential such as David Seymour or Chris Jones or big Eifion at prop. They’re really missing the likes of injured Andrew Sheridan and undoubtedly still feel the effect of Chabal et al leaving the club.

I anticipate that Sale will fight for every inch on the day. If their forwards can get some parity then Charlie and his colleagues’ can do some damage. So an upset may be on the cards. However I also think if Saints play like they did against the Tigers then they’ll win comfortably. I honestly can’t see this as being much different to the LV cup match.

My prediction: Saints by 12 but you might end up watching from behind the sofa!

And finally I shall be in Stoke at a multi-disability football tournament on Sunday, so if any kind soul can text me updates I would be very very grateful!

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