By Chris Chaplin
April 3 2003

After the extended Six Nations tournament Tigers at last return to Welford Road for their first home match since they comprehensively dismantled Bristol on 8 February, almost two months ago.

The visitors to Welford Road, Sale Sharks, have enjoyed recent success in beating Leeds at Haywood Road during that rather strange and disconnected one off Premiership weekend in the midst of the Six Nations, while during the same international hiatus Tigers suffered a reverse at Kingston Park. So this weekend it’s another key match for both teams.

Sale are currently second with 58 points to show for their efforts from 17 games, some 7 points adrift of Gloucester and with Wasps just behind them on 53, the Londoners having played a game more. With the leaders visiting Sale next and then Sale going to Northampton prior to a visit to Haywood Road by Wasps and the last match of the season away at Sarries, Sale have a very tough run in and will be desperate to get a win at Welford Road to keep their play-off ambitions on a track, from which the train could still very easily get derailed.

At least Sale have the points whereas Tigers, down in fourth, are struggling to get into the play-offs and are effectively waiting for a slip by Wasps, any more losses from Tigers and even the Adams family won’t be able to help.

So will Sale do something famous and beat Tigers at Welford Road? I watched Sale play Leeds on a day ideal for the Sale game-plan but not for Leeds, who found that their limited strategy wasn’t enough and they continued their slide down the table.

I suppose that I remain surprised at just how well Sale have done again this season with a team of good players for sure but not many "stars" - whatever that means! Without doubt they struggled in the forwards against the big Leeds pack. The rehabilitated, Canadian born, Kevin Yates having been taken in by Sale after his exile to New Zealand, is still a decent prop, though understandably a bit less truculent than during younger days at Bath, which ended in such an unsavoury way.

Hooker Titterell, having played at all senior levels for England short of a full cap, although at 22 he still has time of course. Very lively in loose play he didn’t look as comfortable in the set pieces and it may be that the more experienced Bok Charl Marais will start against the Tigers all International front three and link up with Stewart who has been capped for Scotland on several occasions in the past and thereby gives a bit more grunt and experience.

In the second row is of course Mancunian Chris Jones, still just 22 but becoming a well known figure in the Premiership, especially for his galloping play in the loose, where he canters around like a Giraffe on Speed. Austin Healey will vividly recall, I’m sure, how Jones plucked one of Oz’s less judicious kicks out of the night sky at Haywood Road back in September and promptly shot off down field to score.

I don’t think he’s enough of a force in the set piece to yet be approaching the finished article as a top class lock and he probably first needs a bit more weight and upper body strength to achieve that ambition. But Tigers will need to be wary of him when he pops up in midfield giving Sale a fourth back-row. Against Leeds Jones was partnered by another young Mancunian, Dean Schofield and it has to be said that the Sale line-out looked anything but secure that day, so it could be that the more experienced Scottish International Fullaton will partner Jones against the best pairing of locks around at the moment in an attempt to shore up this element of the visitors’ game.

In line with their free running credentials the Sale back-row is the strength of the pack with the very experienced, although uncapped at senior level, Aussie, Stuart Pinkerton. He is a very useful player in this era of good back-rows being fast to the ball and is ably partnered by the more mature and sometimes over fiery Pete Anglesea with the immensely talented Alex Sanderson completing the Sale trio. Sanderson, although capped just twice for England is, in my view, a coming man and at just 23 he too has time on his side and will be out to prove a point on Saturday.

It’s behind the pack that the Sale bandwagon can really rock ‘n roll. With the vastly experienced Bryan Redpath at scrum-half they have a man who is used to crafting silk purse service from sow’s ear ball behind a pack that is so often under pressure. Rarely has a nickname been more appropriate, with Angry Ant summing up his perpetual motion, unpredictability and sheer grit and it is upon him so much of Sale’s success is built and upon whom they will again rely this weekend.

Of course Sale have a major problem at #10 with poor Charlie Hodgeson long term injured after a miserable time with England during the Six Nations. Baxendell played well against Leeds but charged with the kicking duties failed miserably. Unless he’s spent a successful few weeks with the kicking tee it could be that Nick Walshe will be preferred at fly-half. I don’t think he’s got Baxendell’s vision, which is born out of the latter’s experience, but his all round game may be better as he can kick.

Jason Robinson got MOTM against Leeds but it should have been Graeme Bond. The five times capped Wallaby was simply sensational and I’ll say no more - just sensational. Outside of him then was Dan Harris who took his try well enough and with Irishman Mel Deane now away on loan at Quins until the end of the season Harris will presumably retain his place unless Cueto moves in to open up the Tigers defence perhaps with Billy the Whizz on the wing - we‘ll see .

I suppose the two Sale wingers must count themselves unfortunate to be around at a time when so many top class wingers are forming a queue for England honours. Steve Hanley made his first and last appearance for the national side against Wales in the "Scott Gibbs Try" loss at Wembley, when a Grand Slam went begging and together with the other debutante on the day, Barrie Jon Mather, has not appeared since, which is to undervalue the worth of this big talented Sale winger. Perhaps not in the same class as Ben Cohen and his time for international honours may have unfairly passed but he’s still a great finisher and is strong enough and fast enough to run in scores from anywhere although for me he’s at his best when running from deep and able to get up a good head of steam. There’s another chap in their side who’s more effective inside the opposition’s 22, but I’m coming to him.

On the other wing will probably be Mark Cueto, another local lad made good, and there was a time when I thought he’d also get due recognition. He’s another strong running winger and a bit more elusive than his partner, able to pick up a great line coming off Bond hence my comment earlier for the potential of his moving to 13.

Finally Robinson! Nothing to say that hasn’t already been said. I just hope that the Sale coaches don’t take a leaf out of England’s book and play him on the wing. He was MOTM against Leeds and did touch down twice, although one was not grounded and the other releasing pass could have been a smidgeon forward but as a neutral it was worth it just to see him go.

Sale then - the pack has improved and the forwards are terrific in broken play but struggle in the set pieces and mauls however if the back division gets any decent ball they’ll make the most of it - especially if it’s a dry day and firm underfoot and not as it was when they visited Welford Road last, just after Christmas in 2001, when it sleeted and the pitch was a morass.

Another weekend in the last chance saloon for Tigers. Leeds and Saints are just one and two points behind respectively and with Leeds at home to Quins they should get at least four points. Saints of course have an appointment elsewhere! A loss by Tigers will see us down in fifth place and dead in the water as far as the play-offs are concerned with only a third HEC cup or success in the Wildcard competition remaining as routes into Europe next season.

Assuming that Rowntree, West and Garforth start I don’t see the Sale front row competing in the tight stuff although they’ll be dangerous if play breaks up, when Msr Franck could be needed. It’s a moot point whether Johnno and BK will start or be kept in reserve, for my money that would be to take too big a risk of Sale getting line-out ball and getting some points through their backs. If the England duo do start it’s hard to see even the rested Sale locks overcoming the England pairing.

In the back-row I expect that Josh will start at open-side with Corry and Balding joining him. These three are all fresh, playing well and should have the beating of their opposite numbers on the ground and be able to protect Oz, while putting Walshe (or Baxendell) under pressure for good measure.

Oz is back! After a good and victorious outing against a strong Wanderers side a week ago I wonder where Mr Healey will play. I know he wants to play at #9 and I want him too as well, the question is where is the greater need at present? At #9 or #10? At the moment I’d personally rather see him at 10 as we’re desperate for a play-maker with Tierney at 9, Oz perhaps swopping to scrum-half later with Vesty or McMullen coming on, although Oz may be a better foil for Redpath. A tough one for the coaches! In any event it should be possible to contain the Sale #10 and hopefully restrict ball to Bond who will prove a real handful for Kafer both in attack and defence, both ex-Brumbies they should know a bit about each other’s rugby psyche. If Ollie is still injured I hope Gelderbloom starts, he’s just so much more reliable than Leon these days, especially if Lloyd has his "not bothered" head on.

Wings? Well I suppose it’s too much to hope to see Geordan out at 14. He was spectacularly good in the first half against England and it’s a crime to have him back at 15 where he is not the surest defender in the World. But it would be nice to see him at 14 and with Fred also back our very own Exocet can give Messrs Cueto and Robinson some attention in defence and run at them in attack - they’ll enjoy that!!!

At full-back and with the Six Nations over I hope that Stimmo will finally be restored to his proper place. I’d guess that under pressure the Sale pack will give away penalties and we need Stimmo to kick them, as well as his bulk to stop Cueto and in particular Hanley, for Geordan, as we saw against Tindall in the Irish game, is not strong enough to hold up big players like Hanley.

Finally a word on Robinson - don’t kick the ball to him or generally let him have sight of it, particularly in our 22!

The outcome? Well Tigers have got to win. They’re at Welford Road. They should dominate in the pack and if they play the game as England did against Ireland, pragmatically and to their strengths, they‘ll win. If they start with a below strength pack or go for "Champagne Rugby" before they‘ve built a minimum of a two score lead, especially given the form or lack of it of our back division, there could be a problem and an irretrievable one at that.