Season Preview

By Whaley Shark
August 25 2010

Hmmm….. The weather’s taken a rather autumnal turn, the plants are fading a bit in the garden and competitive rugby is looming on the horizon again. The Whaley Shark blows the cobwebs off his crystal ball and tries to gaze through an unusually thick fog.

Well, one thing is absolutely certain; we are a very different Sale Sharks from the one that staggered to the end of last season, punch-drunk and clinging on to survival- new chief executive, new head coach, new players, and further reshaping of the squad apparently planned over the next couple of weeks. Many of the new signings are unproven at Premiership level, but the infusion of fresh faces, on the playing side many of them young, fearless and hungry, should reinvigorate the squad. No doubt, some of the new players will make it and some won’t and, from the way he talks, Mike Brewer won’t hesitate to make those judgements. As the squad is distilled down, we’ll start to see who, in his eyes, truly has the talent and commitment and who doesn’t. While it’s an unforgiving process, that’s essential if we are to rebuild from last season’s near-disaster.

The Whaley Shark’s mole in the camp is evangelical about Brewer as a coach, and rumours leak out about developing a “Super 14” style of play. Spirit is high and the squad’s mood is positive, so that’s all good. On the other hand, we are without Charlie and Eifion for the start of the season, some of the new signings have only just arrived or, indeed, haven’t actually quite made it to Stockport yet, and the internationals have had to be rested after their summer tours. So pre-season has probably been less than ideal.

And how will all this change translate on to the field? It’s far too early to tell. A rather under-strength side went down a couple of weeks ago against a strong Clermont Auvergne, just about to start their season, and last weekend’s outing in Glasgow gave us a narrow, hard-fought win in what sounded like a far-from-friendly match. Those of us who didn’t get to far-off places in France or Scotland will get our first sight of the new Sale at Edgeley Park on Friday, and then it’s straight on to the Premiership treadmill against Falcons.

I suspect our performances will be patchy and our results unpredictable for quite a while as the squad gels together, some of the fringe players make the grade or move on, and the programmed play of the last couple of seasons is gradually (hopefully!) erased. If the Brewer model goes wrong, especially against one of the strong sides, then I think it could go very wrong indeed, so I am prepared to accept some serious reverses in the first couple of months of the campaign. That’ll be worth it, in my view, if we genuinely end up playing heads-up rugby, because then we could well dish out a few wallopings too.

I think the first few games will shape our season. If we get a good start- a few wins, even the odd try bonus point (remember them?), I think that’ll give us enough confidence and momentum to carry us through the long winter slog, and top six is possible, along with perhaps a European pot. If we get off to a poor start, then leadership becomes critical to keep heads up and the squad unified. Mike Brewer certainly talks the talk and seems to ooze self-belief from every pore, but if things go badly early on, he’ll be severely tested. Of course, it’s not just him- the captain and senior players have a role too, but their effectiveness will depend on the spirit engendered by Brewer and the tone he has set. So, no pressure then, Mike!

Finally, what do I believe is actually going to happen? God only knows, but my glass is pretty full at the moment. Four tries on Friday night, a bonus point win against Falcons and kick on from there…….. COME ON SAAAAYYYYYYUUUUULLLLLL!!!!