By Kentish Shark
November 3 2004

After a comprehensive Italian job, it's back to the Zippee and the visit of the Geordie boys. Kentish Shark smirks some tabs and sups a bottle of broon before lurching up to the microphone to give us the benefit of his insight into this, sadly Jonny-less, match-up.

It's that time of year again, when internet mail order companies across Europe scratch their heads and wonder what the reason is for the sudden spike in demand for Albanian flags ordered from addresses in the North West of England.  Yes, the budgies are back in town and the first full house of the season is expected to watch the thrilling spectacle of the golden boy of English rugby ply his trade on the hallowed turf of Edgeley Park.  Sadly, injury has struck once more (thankfully unrelated to his previous career  threatening shoulder injury) which means that the only trade JW will be plying is handing out water bottles.  Again.  This is a bitter disappointment to Sale fans who were looking forward to a showdown between the two best fly-halves in England and hoping that Charlie could prove to the England management that they were making a mistake by not picking on form for the upcoming Autumn Internations.  Despite this loss, Sale vs Newcastle is always an intriguing fixture and there is much to look forward to.

Newcastle, like Sale, got off to a great start to the season with impressive victories against Worcester and Bath, both away from home.  Given this they were easily expected to see off struggling Quins at Kingston Park but instead only just managed to squeak home by a point - 22-21.  This presaged a series of thumpings from Gloucester at Kingsholme, Leicester at Kingstone Park and Wasps at the Causeway Stadium in which they leaked a worrying aggregate of 14 tries.  Following this they drew at home against Saracens, then recorded an important away victory against Newport Gwent Dragons and an excellent victory at home against Perpignan to get their Heineken Cup campaign off to a flying start.

Newcastle as a team are better known for their excellent home grown backs rather than their forwards.  That said they do have some quality up front with the likes of Colin Charvis, back from a season in France, playing at 6. Hugh Vyvian, a stalwart of the club, left last season to join London Sale, and Andrew Mower and Luke Gross are retired through injury and suspended respectively.  Given that last season there was little to choose between the Sale and Newcastle packs, both being somewhat lightweight, I would imagine that our new signings such as Chabal and Woodman will give us the edge up front.

In the backs Newcastle have young English talent to burn with Stephenson(wing), Noon(centre), May (wing) and youngster Tait (centre/wing). To add to this they have one of the best players in the world in Matt Burke at full back or centre, indeed it was an inspirational cover tackle in the dying minutes of the game last week from the ex-Wallaby that helped them to their win over Perpignan, and Epi Taioni.  At half back Walder is likely to start in place of Wilkinson at fly-half with Hall Charlton at scrum half.  Sale are  is spoilt for choice at half back, with Redpath/Martens and Hodgson/Hercus providing two Zurich Premiership teams' worth of half-back talent.  On the wing I would expect Cueto to once more be staking a claim for an England berth, and Robinson an ever-present at full-back.  The remaining centre/wing positions are a bit more problematic but with Baxendell having played against Catania he should provide a much needed creative influence at centre in combination with either Chris Rhys Jones or Robert Todd.  Hanley is still out injured so either Mayor or Jimmy Moores will fill in here.  The backs are quite evenly matched in terms of attacking ability but in defence Sale's record is much more impressive having leaked only 6 tries all season compared with Newcastle's 21 so I would again give Sale the edge here.

Newcastle's impressive victory last week suggests that they are a capable team, even without Wilkinson, but with a full house to play to, and the knowledge that Newcastle played in the Heineken Cup last weekend against Perpignan whilst we were entertaining Catania thanks to the Powergen Cup Final defeat in May, I see Sale being fired up for this one.  I predict them to win by more than seven and get the bonus point for putting 4+ tries past the suspect Budgie defense.