Yorkshire Carnegie
Leeds On A Roll?
Sale skipper for tonight
By Andy Brown
November 13 2009
After all the pundits' musings on the likelihood of Leeds being in the Premiership this time next year (collective thoughts, no chance), the last two games have been seen as something of a revelation. Disingenuous writers might have sought to belittle the achievement by suggesting Wasps were mugged, and that Leicester put out an academy side in what is, after all, a cup no-one particularly covets.
That they haven't said these things is perhaps testament to a) them having slightly more integrity and nous than we fans sometimes give them credit for, and b) the respect that is shown for our coaching team of Andy Key and Neil Back.
Week on week Kiwi and Backy have been saying after a match-day loss, "we are building, we are getting stronger", and those of us with a nervous constitution were beginning to worry that this was shaping up to be another 2006/7 season, and we would see the initial large crowds dwindle to a huddled bunch of stalwarts on the South Stand.
The last two weeks have therefore been very sweet indeeed. Firstly to beat Wasps at their own, ahem, ground - something we've never managed before - which hauled us back into the mix in the Premiership, and then to put in a masterful first half against Leicester at Headingley to effectively seal the game then was truly inspiring. Back and Key's tactics - to get the whole squad, including the academy - up and ready to play the kind of rugby that wins matches is beginning to come to fruition, and the confidence in the players' camp must be sky high right now.
Contrast this with that of Sale. I haven't followed their fortunes too closely this season, but a short trip to the Sale fans' messageboard indicates that all is not well in the state of Edgeley. A lack of their normal, expansive running game, with aimless kicking and poor positional play is the cry heard from over them thar hills. Even taking into account the relative worth of the LV= Cup amongst rugby cognescenti, last week's loss to Newport-Gwent Dragons (ably assisted by Leeds' own Adam Greendale) was a bit of a body-blow to the self respect of the Sale fans.
So, we come to tonight's match, with Leeds on a high, and Sale on a low. Having seen the two team selections, it's clear we are going to see another A-league battle, with Leeds bolstering their Academy-filled ranks with.... two more Academy lads. The team looks remarkably similar in shape to that fielded last week, and that is testament to how well they did as a unit - you don't want to break up that kind of winning and stylish rugby unless you have to. Joe Ford and Scott Mathie seemed to have struck an instant chemistry which has to be good news for the back line, and with the wise old head of Henry Paul on his shoulder, Ford will find everything he needs to be able to take control. Having faced up to his younger brother last week, he faces yet another Yorkshireman on the opposite side of the field this time, with Charlie Hodgeson captaining the Sale side from fly-half.
Also in the Sale line-up are some other familar names. Internationals Matthew Tait and Chris Jones step up to the mark, as well as our former favourite, former Scotland prop Gavin Kerr. Speedy spaniard Oriol Ripol is there too, while Richard Wigglesworth and Ben Cohen warm the bench. If the situation lends itself, we could see a lot of internationals against a lot of Leeds' academy. Sale will be smarting after their defeat to the Welsh boyos, and Kingsley Jones has already said that was an unacceptable performance and he'll be looking for a signifcant improvement in this game. Home field advantage will also help the cheshire boys, so despite the recent record, Sale have to be favourite for this game.
Whatever the outcome though, those people going to Edgely Park this evening are going to be very lucky. This match is as near to a friendly and you are ever likely to find between top-flight clubs these days, with precious little worth bothering about riding on the result. Both teams will have been given the message to go out, express themselves, play what's in front of them and try things. There will be dazzling displays of pace, power and skill, and whoever wins will have done so because they were the better team on the night. It'd be nice to think that Leeds can keep their winning ways on course, and take a three-match streak back into the Premiership again, where our opponents for that game will be somewhat familiar...
Digg
Delicious
Facebook
Reddit
Stumbleupon
13/11/2009 09:50
If you do not already have an account Click here to Register.
Should be interesting to see who copes with the weather conditions better, Charlie Hodgson or our own Joe Ford.
Come on Joe!!!
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2009:11:13:16:23:14 by Wildwillie.
