By Chris Gleadell
September 11 2003

Well here we go once again boys and girls, the rollercoaster of emotions that is a Saints season is upon us once again, kicking off at Sales new home, Edgeley Park, Stockport on Friday evening. With both teams tipped as contenders what better way to start a new campaign. Last season there wasn't a lot to choose between the sides all for nine long months. A late late Charlie Hodgson drop goal robbed Saints of a share of the spoils at Heywood Road in the opening game of the season last year but Saints came good toward the end of the campaign pipping Sale to third place, and a spot in the 'championship' playoffs, in the last day of the regular season.

This time round, on paper at least, it looks like more of the same. Both sides look to have recruited well and a Sale back division boasting the likes of Cueto, Hanley, Bond and the underrated Going is a match for anyone. Braam van Straaten in tandem with Basil Redpath, once he returns from World Cup duty could be the icing on the Sale cake.

In the forwards the addition of Andrew Sheridan is a srewd investment, a player who never really showed his full potential at Bristol but the new surroundings of Cheshire could be the spark to make him one of the packages of the season. Matt Cairns was also one that caught the eye last season in a mundanre Sarries side and with Sale now having that kind of strength in depth they are sure to be there or there abouts at season end.

Right thats lulled them into a false sense of security so enough of talking up the opposition lets look at Smudgers first team call of the season.

TEAM NEWS

Wayne Smith has made some suprising choices for the first up game but as the master tactician say this season will indeed be selection on a 'horses for courses' basis.

In the front row Renaud Pelliard, the summer signing from Perpignan make his competitive debut alongside Dan Richmond and Chris Budgen. This looks evenly blananced against the Sale trio of Sheridan, Titterall and the 'other' Scottish Stewart but Pell the Prop could be the edge being a bit of anunknown this side of the channel (to everyone but Phil Vickery of course).

At lock we see the return of probably Saints most important find of last season, Kiwi Matt Lord, who plays alomgside recent international retiree Steve Williams who has declared he is ready to give his all for the Saints this season. They have to contend with Sales livewire 2nd rower Chris Jones who last season built up more of a reputation for his work in the loose than the set piece.

In the back row with the loss of Budge Pountney, young Darren Fox, who really came of age towards the end of lat season, is called up to partner the experienced pairing of Mark 'Deso' Connors and Andy Blowers. Facing them are the trio of Alex Sanderson, Pinkerton and the highly rated Phil Davies. The experience of Blowers and Connors should shade it here and Foxy, if he can resist the urge to get involved in every onfield incident, has the chance to lay the foundations of a long Gardens career.

In the backs Jonny Howard, suprisingly in my eyes, gets the nod over All Black Mark Robinson at scrumhalf while summer signing Aussie Shane Drahm slips into Larry's well worn shoes at 10. Sale miss out on their first choice pairing of van Straaten and Redpath (although Redpath starts on the bench), club stalwart Jos Baxendall and youngster Richard Wigglesworth at fly and scrum half respectively deputise.I'd expect the ninth forward, Robinson, to play a part at some stage but Saints may have to rely of Bruce Reihana as cover at ten.

Brucie reverts to the wing position he took for most of last season after playing fullback last week while Jon Sleightholme gets the nod over Oriol Ripol on the other flank. They are up against the most prolific try scoring pairing in the division in Hanley and Cueto. Defence could play as an important part of the evening for Bruce & Sleights than attack.

At centre Smudger opts for youth over experience leaving John Leslie on the bench and starting with the young pairing of Chris Hyndman and Mark Tucker. Both showed flashes of brilliance towards the end of last season, especially Handyman, but it looks like they are going to have to mature and gell quickly as a unit if they are to contain Graham Bond and Dan Harris and Uncle John may be called in at some time.

At fullback the evergreen Nick Beal punts for the Saints while another from that famous rugby clan Vaughan Going is last man for Sale.

Saints:
15 NICK BEAL
14 JON SLEIGHTHOLME
13 Chris Hyndman
12 Mark Tucker
11 BRUCE REIHANA
10 Shane Drahm
9 John Howard
1 Renaud Peillard
2 Dan Richmond
3 Chris Budgen
4 Matt Lord
5 STEVE WILLIAMS
6 MARK CONNORS
7 Darren Fox
8 ANDREW BLOWERS

Replacements
16 Matt Miles
17 Brett Sturgess
18 Rob Hunter
19 Grant Seely
20 MARK ROBINSON
21 JOHN LESLIE

Sale:
15 Vaughan Going 14 Mark Cueto 13 Dan Harris 12 Graeme Bond 11 Steve Hanley 10 Jos Baxendell 9 Richard Wigglesworth 1 Andrew Sheridan 2 Andy Titterrell 3 Barry Stewart 4 Chris Jones, 5 Dean Schofield 6 Alex Sanderson capt 7 Stuart Pinkerton 8 Phil Davies.

REPLACEMENTS: 16 James Hoyle 17 Bryan Redpath 18 Kevin Yates 19 Matt Cairns 20 Stuart Turner 21 Iain Fullarton 22 Chris Day.


Prediction:
A close one to call and the cliche 'it has draw written all over it' almost seems apt but i'll stick my neck out and say either side by three. For Saints what a nice little dish of cold revenge that would be.

Come On You Saints!!!!