By RK
January 9 2005

Unusually for January, wind and rain dominated the days leading up to this match. They were also to have an effect on the game itself. RK braved the conditions and drips all over the floor in an effort to bring us this report on a game that had plenty of incident.

I sat in front of the computer determined not to. But it proved impossible – there was no other way to describe what had unfolded in front of my eyes.

So sorry to all you cliché haters out there, but this was quite simply ‘a game of two halves’.

At half-time Sale trailed 15-6 to an Agen side who used a strong backing wind to their advantage with a clever kicking game that pinned Sharks back and left line-outs a lottery on occasion.

They had a little assistance from referee Carlo Damasco as he sent Sebastien Chabal to the bin for what appeared to be nothing more than a huge, perfectly executed hit but few could argue they deserved their lead against an off-colour Sharks side.

It later emerged that Damasco’s judgement was that Seabass “did not execute the tackle properly” but few in the crowd were willing to back him – and plenty wondered why at least one of the four Agen men who jumped into the dispute hadn’t followed.

The penalty that followed Chabal’s ‘offence’ edged Agen in front for the first time after Charlie Hodgson had given Sale a flying start with two penalties inside the first eight minutes, the second after Jerome Miquel had departed to the sin bin.

Whether it be the weather or a lack of incisive play (and both arguments have some merit), Sale were simply unable to capitalise on their man advantage, indeed it was Agen who scored the first try of the game in Miquel’s absence.

Prop Ariel Castellina was the man to go over as Agen produced a perfect trademark rolling maul after winning good line-out ball and swept over the Sale line. Centre Luc Lafforgue – kicking in place of Miquel – failed to convert, but Agen were inspired and when Chabal got his marching orders, a second try followed.

This one went to Lafforgue as after an impressive multi-phase move from the visitors he cleverly kicked ahead and outpaced Richard Wigglesworth to the line.

A relatively simple conversion from Miquel sent Agen in 15-6 up at the break and a Sale side shorn of virus-hit hooker Sebastien Bruno, but perhaps more importantly injured centre Robert Todd, looked short of ideas.

They must put something a little bit special in the half-time ‘oranges’ at Edgeley Park, though. Well, at least in the home dressing room.

PSA insisted after the match he had merely told his players “not to panic” at the interval but they came out as if rockets had been strapped to their backsides.

A penalty by Charlie six minutes into the second half pegged the lead back to six points and two minutes later the first Sale try of the game followed.

After a Steve Hanley kick was fumbled over the touchline by Pepito Elhorga, Andy Titterell found his line-out man and Seabass was unleashed on the Agen defence. His huge burst took Sale to just a couple of metres out and when the ball was recycled Charlie delayed his final pass superbly and Magnus Lund powered over. Charlie’s conversion re-established the Sharks’ lead as the Cheadle End found their voice.

What followed was more like ‘our’ Sale.

A converted try by Mark Cueto five minutes after Lund’s effort – another that owed much to a magnificent pass from Charlie – pushed the lead up to nine before a penalty gave Agen their first, and as it transpired only, score of the second half.

Charlie cancelled out that penalty with one of his own just inside the last 20 minutes before repeating the trick two minutes later during the now familiar rash of replacements from both sides around the three-quarter mark.

Rupeni Caucaunibuca – the fastest man in world rugby ™ – was among those brought on in the unfamiliar surroundings of the centres…but having touched the ball just twice, something tells me he is keeping something in the tank for the return leg.

Indeed he spent much of his time on the field on the back foot as Sale came forward in wave after wave of attack.

As it was they scored just five points in the final 10 minutes against 14 men – with Jean-Baptiste Rue despatched to the bin on 70 minutes – and only time will tell whether that profligacy will return to haunt them next week.

Steve Hanley was the first to go close for no cigar as he stumbled over the line but just couldn’t reach the ball before it skipped out of play, then poor distribution from ‘Griff’ Rhys Jones cost us a certain try out wide.

But Hanley did manage to get himself on the scoresheet a minute from the end of normal time as he backed himself with two men to beat and Jason Robinson on the overlap and delivered by sliding gleefully over the tryline.

So Sale will take a 16-point advantage to France for the return leg this weekend.

PSA said after the game: “I am pleased we won after last week (losing at Newcastle) but I do not think 16 points is enough – we were looking for 20. We scored three tries and had opportunities to score more. They got close twice and scored.”

An excellent summary, Monsieur. If you're ever short of work, I know a man who needs report writers...