Sale Sharks v. Leinster Lions preview

Meow!
By PoyntonShark
January 14 2004

The Lions are loose, heading for Stockport and they look hungry. Leinster Lions head to Edgeley Park on Sunday, surely still smarting from the narrow home defeat, inflicted by Sale Sharks last Friday.

Sale confidence is high and the supporters are looking forward to another 80 minutes (and not much more this time please) of top class entertainment.

Sale Sharks fans are hoping that last week's fantastic victory at Landsdowne Road will prove to be a turning point, both in terms of this season and the teams European fortunes. After last season's dismal showing in our first Heineken Cup, we now sit with 2 victories from 3 and our destiny would appear to be in our own hands, win the remaining 3 games and we qualify with Europe's elite, drop points anywhere and we could be looking for domestic silverware alone. There are no easy games in this group, and one of the toughest could be coming our way on Sunday. Many in Leinster believe that they lost that game in Dublin, rather than Sale winning it. Indeed, the pressure heaped on the Sale line in those last five and a half minutes, that actually lasted 8, would support that view. However, Sale could also claim that they missed opportunities to build an even greater lead and put the game out of reach. The result remains and Leinster will be all out for revenge in the return leg. All the old clichés about wounded Lions have been done before, but that doesn't make them any less apt in this instance. The Leinster program notes provided the motivation for the Sale forwards, this time around they won't underestimate us. In the last quarter of the first leg the Sale pack began to creak, this will surely be the focus of the Irishmen's attention for this weeks preparation, Sale will once again need to put in the performance of their lives to stop them becoming rampant. Not seen any team news from either camp at the time of writing, but would expect the Leinster pack to look pretty similar, Sale, of course, will be without the hugely influential Stu Pinkerton, after his return home to Oz, and with Pete Anglesea still unlikely to return, I am guessing that we will see Chris Jones switch to No. 8 with Fullarton returning to the starting line up. This scenario will help the Sale line-out, which was pretty destructive last week, Fullarton's inclusion should make it all but impregnable and a good source of turnover ball. Of course there is still the possibility that both packs will be forced into a change, dependant upon the disciplinary committee.

The back lines look set to be similar to those which competed for most of the first leg, this of course means the exclusion of Brian O'Driscoll after his hamstring injury. Whilst this undoubtedly provides an advantage to Sale, this contributor is disappointed that his unique talent will not be on display at Edgeley Park. Quinlan was hardly a slouch as his replacement and I assume he will start, and in Shane Horgan they possess another very dangerous line breaker, Graeme Bond will need to be at his imperious best and the ever improving Chris Mayor will need to continue his climb on a steep learning curve. Jos Baxendell played in the second team game on Monday night, so may be available to offer some variety in the centre.

I foresee several key battles; 10 as always will have a huge influence on the game, nerves clearly got the better of youngster Matt (?) Leek at home, surely a packed Edgeley Park can make him feel even more uncomfortable, assuming that injury problems persist with their first choice 10's. Charlie Hodgson will be hoping to continue his return to International form and, without wishing to sound disrespectful, should win the battle irrespective of his opposite number. First up defence, both from the back rows and in the centres will go along way to determining this result, both sides were impressive in this respect first time around and even without Pinkerton for Sale, I see no reason that this should not continue to be the case, though whoever Sale choose at 7 must prevent Keith Gleeson from becoming too big an influence. The forward battle could develop into Leinster's Scrum against Sale's line-out. In the early stages at Landsdowne, Sale held up the scrummaging challenge pretty well, but in the latter stages found it very difficult to control our own ball, nimble work by Alex and the Brush was required to avert disaster, if Chris Jones is to play at 8, then I believe he will need a more stable platform to execute pick ups. Leinster will be looking for huge improvement at the line-out, their coaching staff make no secret of the respect they have for Sale when competing against the throw. Last week saw Chris Jones take their throw almost at will, should Fullarton play then Shane Byrne will have even more to think about, with Charlie kicking to the corners, I think this could prove to be Sale's most potent weapon.

Sale must, as always, believe that if the forwards win ball, then we can win the game out wide, Leinster must believe that their forwards will not be taken unawares and can make gains in the tight and use the line breakers in the danger areas of the Sale 22.This humble scribe's prediction is a narrow victory for Sale in another hugely entertaining, though hopefully not quite so nail biting encounter. Sale 24 Leinster 18.

Finally, may I wish a warm welcome to the travelling support from Leinster, hope The Royal Oak proves to be a suitable pre match venue and that you find time to join us in the Pavilion Suite after the game. If you have half as good a time as those who made the trip last week you are in for a treat, though I must add the obvious rider that I hope there is one element of the trip which serves to dampen your spirits slightly (see prediction above).