By lilyg
November 17 2010

It's a return to Aviva Premiership action this weekend as Northampton Saints travel to Sales Sharks for a Friday evening fixture. Regular COYSDC contributor lilyg looks ahead to the game...

SALE SHARKS VS. NORTHAMPTON SAINTS

Friday 19^th November 2010 – 7.45pm

EDGELEY PARK

MATCH PREVIEW

From nobody to upstart, from upstart to contender, from contender to winner, from winner to champion and from champion to dynasty.

Somewhere in that sentence, Northampton Saints lurk, prowling around with menacing intent and this Friday we meet the opponent who (until 2006, bar one very mighty exception in Feb 2004) had been sinking their teeth in to our Saintly backsides with regular alacrity.

Since winning the Parker Pen Shield in 2002 & 2005 and the Guinness Premiership in 2006, Sale Sharks fortunes haven’t been all they would have wished for, never really building on that mid-decade success culminating in a disappointing 2009/2010 season, finishing 11th and only securing safety from relegation on the penultimate weekend of the season.

But what of our head to head history? With two draws, the clubs have shared the honours with five wins a piece since first crossing swords seven years ago.

With Saints return to the Premiership in 2007, a number of Sharks employees decided that the Weedon Road chippy offered better fare than the pizza in Stockport; Ben Foden, Chris Mayor, Ignacio Fernandez Lobbe and Christian Day all joined former Sale stalwart Jim Mallinder who had, himself joined the Saints as the commander in chief.

But enough of the past, at the time of writing, Sale sit tenth in the table having won just three of the seven league matches. However, this really doesn’t reflect the fact they on a number of occasions they’ve been very close to beating those that nicked the points from under their noses, both home and away – their league position doesn’t flatter, but at the end of the day, it’s the points that count and that’s something they will be looking to fix on Friday.

Some may believe that this will be a straightforward win for the Saints, but trust me my friend, a free lunch is only found in mousetraps, and you know what happens to mice if they aren’t smart enough or quick enough to pilfer that tasty morsel.

With Wasps hosting London Irish on Sunday, Saints need a result in Stockport if they are to keep the pressure on top spot and to add extra Tabasco to the very tasty encounter with our mates from Reading on (another flipping) Friday 26^th at the Gardens.

As for the team – probably much as the same as it was for the visiting Dragons, may be with Roger Wilson on the bench. But what do I know; I’m just a desk jockey who pokes a keyboard all day, not a shrewd and cunning director of rugby looking to plot the downfall of his previous employer.

When I think about it, it's mostly about the Saints having control over their destiny, as opposed to being at the mercy of what's out there. No horse gets anywhere until he is harnessed. No steam or gas drives anything until it is confined. No Niagara is ever turned into light and power until it is channelled. No champion ever grows great until he is focused, dedicated, disciplined. Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going.

Champions aren't made in the gyms. Champions are made from something they have deep inside them -- a desire, a dream, a vision. We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit and on the back of a very successful start to the season, I can’t help but feel that may be in a year or two Joan Henrietta Collins won’t be the only dynasty we’re talking about.

News: AP: Sales Sharks vs Northampton Saints - Match Preview

Discussion started by ComeOnYouSaints.com , 17/11/2010 12:18

ComeOnYouSaints.com
17/11/2010 12:18

What do you think? You can have your say by posting below.
If you do not already have an account Click here to Register.

Reply Quote Report

Phil.
17/11/2010 13:21

Good read, Lily.

Thank you!

Reply Quote Report

Howlin
17/11/2010 14:01

With our internationals out I think we lose a bit of dynamism and cutting edge. Sale however have also lost a lot of spark with Sheridan, Hodgson and Cueto all missing.

I would therefore hope that our pack can dominate and Geraghty can provide the cutting edge. But as you say lily, a Friday night in manchester is not where you go to pick up easy points. Hard graft and composure needed to take us back to the top of the table !

Saint til I die

Reply Quote Report

Shaddo
17/11/2010 14:20

Nice write up, thanks.

Although they definitely deserve and England call-up on form, I'm very glad that we'll have Woods and Dowson on Friday night. It's a tough ask, but I think we've got the grit. This looks like a night for dogging out a win rather than running in the tries - especially with a fair bit of rain forecast over the next couple of days.

Reply Quote Report

eb13saint
17/11/2010 15:42

If the weather in Stockport has been anything like it has here (about 30 miles south), the pitch will be a bit soggy - we've had at least 10cm of rain since about 6am.

Reply Quote Report

OldPete
17/11/2010 16:03

Thanks for reminding us all about the really important game this weekend - and a nice take on it too.

With the weather forcast etc methinks its going to be won by discipline - the big boys + Smylers kicking boots.

Reply Quote Report

St Marlowe
17/11/2010 16:26

Great stuff Lilyg

Quote:

a free lunch is only found in mousetraps

How True!!


David L

What if there were no hypothetical questions?

- Live wrong and preposterously

Reply Quote Report

NotSoSaintly
17/11/2010 17:23

Apologies if i missed it somewhere but is Tom Woods available to us friday eve?

Again know this has probably been discussed elsewhere on the board but could someone enlighten me as to the fitness statuses of messers Reihana, Wilson and Dickson?

Reply Quote Report

tws
17/11/2010 17:47

[quote Howlin]With our internationals out I think we lose a bit of dynamism and cutting edge. Sale however have also lost a lot of spark with Sheridan, Hodgson and Cueto all missing.

They've also lost Williams (Samoa) and Lewaravu and Koyamaibole (Fiji).
Plus looks like Seymour, Roberts, Gaskell and Brady are all injured.
They are much harder hit than us , although their second team are unbeaten.

Reply Quote Report

hoddros
18/11/2010 01:46

Nice preview thanks Lily.

In only a few years Jim and Dorean have not only built a team that can win in styly, but also a squad that can dog things out when the time calls.

Saints by 10 I reckon.

Reply Quote Report

Wee Jim
18/11/2010 07:09

Good preview - like the mousetrap comment!

Reply Quote Report

ChrisG
18/11/2010 08:15

Great writing.

Reply Quote Report

Saint.Kenneth
18/11/2010 12:04

I liked your writing style Lilyg, that made it a very pleasant read indeed.

It's true our squad as so much more depth than it used to. You only have to look at the pack to see the strength there and it helps that both our first choice props aren't British.

I agree that the international call ups, and injuries, have had more of an affect on Sale, so this could be a good game for us.

Reply Quote Report

Howlin
18/11/2010 22:10

It wasn't meant as a roll call Tws . mearly an observation on teh "England effect" Saints too are effected elswhere e.g. Anbro, Murray and Dickson injured. Although it appears that Bruce and Wilson are sufficiently recovered. I maintain it will not be an easy ride , but I am of course still hoping that the saints pack will prevail.

Saint til I die

Reply Quote Report

Saint Dom in Hanoi
19/11/2010 19:49

Let's hope Saints play as well as you write... Good stuff!

Reply Quote Report

Goto: Forum List•Message List•Search• Log In

Sorry, only registered users may post in this forum.

We record all IP addresses on the Sportnetwork message boards which may be required by the authorities in case of defamatory or abusive comment. We seek to monitor the Message Boards at regular intervals. We do not associate Sportnetwork with any of the comments and do not take responsibility for any statements or opinions expressed on the Message Boards. If you have any cause for concern over any material posted here please let us know as soon as possible by e-mailing abuse@sportnetwork.net