Review of the season 2003-2004

By pitprop
June 10 2004

This season was disappointing for Sale. We had 4 chances to clinch a Heineken Cup place and blew the lot. We reached the PG Cup final, with just Squeaky’s lot to beat, and were turned over. A number of our most influential players sustained injuries, and the team’s performance suffered as a result.

That’s not a criticism of those that stepped up, as there have been some courageous performances too. Perhaps the highlight of the season was the first away win in the Heineken Cup – that famous trip to Dublin and the result that blew out Leinster’s chances in the competition.

So how have we reached this position? The season of 2001/02 ended in triumph as the boys scooped the Parker Pen from under the noses of the Ponty machine (remember when they were a force in the land?) at the Kassam Stadium. Heineken Cup rugby to follow the next season, and the summer’s major capture was antipodean. Despite the belated Wallaby attempt to retain him, Graeme Bond saw his future in the northwest and we’ve been glad to have him.

Our first season in the European Cup was hardly inspiring. Bourgouin beat us twice, with Sebastien Chabal man of the match against us out in France. Having trailed up to Scotland a poor Glasgow side took the spoils, while seasoned campaigners Llanelli won home and away. Our only win came at home, where we thrashed the Scots in what was a dead rubber.

Our early exit from Europe benefitted us in other areas, as we rose in the ZP table to finish fourth and qualify for the HC. Recruiting in 2003’s off-season brought in beef to the pack, Andrew Sheriden and Jason White. Braam van Straaten arrived, but his previous season for the Tykes indicated that perhaps his best days were some time behind him.

And thus we came to the season so recently completed (not for all our players – Charlie Hodgson, Chris (Emu) Jones and new boy Trevor Woodman are preparing to meet the All-Blacks, Jason White is with Scotland and Mike Hercus with the USA Eagles as this is written). The main talking points coming in were the price of season tickets, and the new (to us) stadium at Edgeley Park. The team took its time in settling into their new home (as did the fans!), not winning at EP until November 8th. We were to win only 8 games at home, with the only notable scalps being Cardiff in Europe and Gloucester. Most of the big boys in the ZP came to Edgeley Park to pick up the points in the fight for the top three places, not a good sign.

The Heineken Cup proved hard going for the team once more. First up were Cardiff, a team whose mental attitude never seems quite hard enough. We won, but only by two points, a reminder of just how tough the competition is. Biarritz next, and Stansted was littered with blue scarves and shirts as the faithful trekked off. Disrupted preparation and injuries for the team meant that BO kept a firm grip on the result. Then the Leinster games. Steely determination following a gentle reminder from Brian Kennedy saw Sale to a famous one-point victory. Our first away victory in the HC, and sadly the influential Stuart Pinkerton’s last appearance. But what a way to go!

Injuries, Andy Titterell’s suspension and the absence of Pinks, plus Leinster’s hunger, saw them gain revenge at EP the following week. And so to Biarritz. Aware that nothing less than a win would do, Biarritz’s determination as they strode onto the field was something to behold (as was their superb band!). Their resolve won them the game, and in the process nilled their hosts. A lesson in the commitment necessary to progress in this competition. In the final fixture at Cardiff the team was beset with injuries, and our stand-in players were not up to the task.

We spent a good part of the season within touching distance of the number 5 spot in the ZP. Early season reliance on newfound forward power, and uncharacteristic hesitance in the backs saw a series of narrow home defeats, but this session was marked by the away win at Welford Road, copied 6 weeks later in the Powergen Cup. Not too many teams win twice in a season at the Tigers’ lair!

Early in the New Year, Mike Hercus arrived at Sale after Charlie’s second major injury of the season. A seasoned international, Mike’s first inclination is to attack, and his passing was consequently good enough to re-ignite the attack. Although his first game on the Stockport rice paddy (the 3-3 rain-soaked draw with Leicester) must have been a shock to the system after arriving from California! A couple of losing away games followed, and then Mike sparked the quarter and semi wins in the cup before orchestrating the shredding of Gloucester on our own paddock. Very satisfying.

And yet. We didn’t make it into the top three, or even fourth place. We lost the final (again!) at Twickenham to a team we could (and should) have beaten. Lost in the Wildcard semi (mind you, moment of the season was the disbelief on O’Gara-batterer McRae’s face following our third try in seven minutes!!!!). And finally, in a game no-one wanted, Leicester asserted their place as perennial Wild Card winners. We finished seventh in the league, beaten cup-finalists, beaten Wild Card finalists, Parker Pen next season, and the lack of Heineken Cup rugby to offer new recruits, or to bring in extra money. Not our best season – certainly not our worst, but our expectations have grown in line with Brian Kennedy’s – we all want our club to be winning trophies.

Personnel have been a big factor over the past two seasons. We seem to have recruited a couple of top-notch players, who fill the fans with confidence, but lack the strength in depth to prosper at the top level. I’ve always liked Jim Mallinder’s approach of recruiting players who blend into the team. But results have proved that those players need a high level of talent and commitment to go with that if we are to reach BK’s goal.

Injuries have been a major factor this season, and have served only to accentuate the lack of 3 or 4 international class bench-warmers. Charlie Hodgson (twice), Brian Redpath (at a crucial stage of the season), Sheriden (twice – knew that Desperate Dan jaw line was going to get him into trouble), Dan Harris (out nearly all season and possibly career-ending) and Pete Anglesea (club captain) all spent significant amounts of time in the treatment room. Stuart Pinkerton, a player who rarely dropped below extremely high standards, and a steadying authority at the back of the pack, retired in mid-season, and his exit was a huge loss.

While the young players who have stepped up this season have done all that could be expected from them, having to use three or four of them in any one important game is not the best way for them to gain the necessary experience, nor for the club to keep winning. Mayor, Wigglesworth and Lund have made the transition to full squad status, while Hoyle, Day and Halsall are ear-marked for better things. Three or four more youngsters appeared on the fringes of the twenty-two, but their chances are likely to be more limited next season.

It was no doubt our poor showing in Europe that started Brian Kennedy’s own review of the club’s progress. This in turn led to our mid-season crisis – a seeming lack of confidence in the management, with no renewal of contract in view, and a dozen or more players running out of contract and not being asked to renew either. The uncertainty told. Steve Diamond’s nerve, perhaps on reputation uncharacteristically, broke first. He signed as Saracens forwards coach and rapidly proved that the loyalty of the amateur game had vanished completely as he recruited six Sale players plus a couple of Sale recruitment targets. And in doing so perhaps underlined why he was let go – our recruitment now is being done in larger arenas, while Mr Diamond has recreated Sale in London. Alex Sanderson is perhaps our most important loss, his aggression and tackling will be missed. Cairns, though a talented player, never established himself as No 1 hooker, nor it seems dropped roots here. Fullerton, though playing in excess of 20 games for the club this season, never re-established his previous influence following his serious injury. Yates had fallen to No 2 choice at loosehead following the enormous contribution in the loose of Andrew Sheriden. And Bedford and Kyriacou had yet to establish themselves in the squad.

Jim Mallinder weathered the storm, and remains at the coaching helm of his beloved Sale. His last two signings were important – Mike Hercus has finally solved the problem of “What do we do if Charlie’s injured or away with England?”. As discussed before, his skills bear similarities to Hodgson’s, and therefore much less disruption will be caused when the fly halves change, and Sale’s backs will retain their significant threat when Charlie’s not playing. And Hugh Perrett – it is inconceivable that Stu Pinkerton’s endorsement was not involved, and that says a great deal for this young man. Specialist openside is a position that has been lacking at Sale (despite Pinkerton’s industry and skill there), and Magnus Lund has not yet matured fully into the role. Perrett looks the part and has the important truffle-hound skills of the dedicated openside. As these two grow into the role, expect a fierce contest between them.

For our forward’s coach, we separated Kingsley Jones from his Doncaster job. Appearing recently in the Neil Jenkins testimonial, his playing days have just ended. Senior Welsh coaching qualifications underline his credentials, and his former Gloucester connection with PSA can only have helped his selection. His aptitude for the job will undertake a severe examination as he seeks to knit together our newly polyglot forwards, and the evidence for or against will be manifest early in the season as we take on Leicester, Wasps and Saracens first up.

And so to our new Director of Rugby, Philippe St Andre, French rugby legend, scorer of THAT try against England (still not sure why he was in the middle of the field – wasn’t he a winger??!!). Formerly player and then coach at Gloucester, from whom he parted with spilt tears. Then to Bourgouin, where he fell out with the owner. And now, by his own admission, a wiser man, to Sale. Brought in over Mallinder’s head, he takes the administrative and recruitment load off Jim. He settled to business very quickly, identifying and then re-signing eleven players. And won the battle to re-sign Chris Day, who rumour had it was on the point of entering the Diamond snare. He looked next to his own close contacts, signing Bourgouin’s Sebastien Chabal of Heineken Cup fame, and Robert Todd, discarded by Gloucester. His international connections brought in hooker Sebastien Bruno and lock/No.8 Ignacio Fernandez Lobbe, with 40+ Argentinian caps. John Payne, Tongan centre with Waratah connections followed, proving that the Australian connection remains (thankfully) in good working order. And RWC-winner Trevor Woodman, a statement of intent if ever there was one.

We know that PSA is still hunting forwards, with Gethin Jenkins and Robert Sidoli recently invited to EP during the Celtic Warriors meltdown. So a prop and a lock are on the shopping list. And as we almost certainly bid Vaughan Going farewell, a fullback is a must, preferably a kicking one. Our DoR’s recent nuptials (our best wishes to the happy couple!) could well have been timed to see him back at EP for the end of the French season, with his dulcet French tones encouraging more of his countrymen to don the blue (just say it's for Les Bleus, Philippe, but don’t say which ones!)

And next season? Bearing in mind that optimism is my natural state, I am hopeful. There are still recruits to come, but those that have signed seem designed to fit the team ethos. You could place Woodman and Chabal in the star class, but the others are more in the lesser-known mould, and therefore more likely to fit the Sale culture. PSA has enlarged the squad, and Jim can next season select several internationals for bench duty alone, from greatly improved strength in depth. Areas of improvements include the injury-prone positions in the team, with some 8 back-rowers and six centres on the books. I doubt whether our squad will be the finished article, but is an indicator of our direction. Our biggest problem will probably be assimilation, as non-English-as-first-language players have been a rarity until now. And the pack has to gel early and well under untried coach Jones. Still with an international back row of White, Chabal and Chris Jones we should be competitive.

The lack of HC football next season is a blow, but the lower profile of the Parker Pen will allow us to concentrate on consolidation and HC qualification. Both fans and team have settled into our Stockport home, as evidenced by the sell-outs this season, though there are still longings for Heywood Road, the Birtles and Saturday games (and better pies and cheaper diet coke!). The advent of PSA seems to have increased the playing budget for the club, but a fairly small rise in season ticket prices is a relief to the supporters’ pockets. The prospects for next season are good, and now the crisis is over, the leadership seems in place. Coaches and players need to sort things out on the training paddock, and hit the ground running (is there another way to play??) come 3rd September. And I hope that the result in our third game of the season is as important to the squad as it is crucial to me. Sale to finish third, but to qualify by winning the Parker Pen again!!