Sale v Tigers Match Preview
By ChrisC
October 24 2011
Great Expectations Until quite recently Charles Dickens always rather left me cold, maybe it was being force fed his works at school as if they were the genus of a literary foie gras with me being cast as a reluctant teenage goose.
The redeeming feature of English classes was that they were taught by the fragrant Mrs Vaughan-Evans who was the centrepiece of the pubescent fantasies of the male pupils in her charge, her womanly attributes the subject of much fevered discussion amongst us; her adoring acolytes.
Sadly as the years moved on Mrs Vaughan-Evans was replaced by a male teacher better equipped to deal with the increasingly truculent male student body which had taken to, what would now be described as, invading Mrs Vaughan-Evans personal space. She was thereafter destined to apply her considerable charms to just the first year pupils who were far smaller and easier to control than the hormonally driven teenage brutes we had become.
This change had the beneficial effect of the timetable being changed with double maths finding itself blinking in the sunlight of Wednesday afternoons which, happily, was the time designated for First XVs rugby training, of course we were supposed to catch up with the maths teaching missed by way of increased homework but that was a forlorn hope as we all had other dubious fish to fry after the school day concluded, so while the school rugby teams were universally successful they were also universally innumerate.
The ethos of my parents and those of my peers that “the World doesn’t owe you a living” was firmly and repeatedly reinforced by the teachers as they goaded us onward in our studies and we were taught not to have any expectations of what the future would hold, aspiration was endlessly encouraged and with it of course came anticipation but personal expectation was firmly locked in a metaphorical box and put in an equally metaphorical cupboard.
When, at the age of 15, I started work I swiftly found though that expectation was high from my employer that, having taken my stupendous wage of £5.00 per week, together with 2s 6d (about 12p) a day in Luncheon Vouchers, I would perform the tasks allocated to me with the utmost efficiency and despatch even if, initially at least, they revolved around making the tea and doing the washing up.
Slackness resulted in a slap across the back of the head and if the longhand calculation of the columns of figures of pounds, shillings, pence and their partners in crime; pounds, stones, quarters, hundredweights and tons in the day book was found to be in error a wooden ruler across the hand was the punishment meted out by my senior, who, having spent a long war in the Royal Navy protecting Atlantic convoys, was a tough cookie and not to be crossed. How, with my hand smarting, I wished I’d paid more attention to that uncompleted homework!
So as a callow 15 year old I had personal aspirations but no great expectations of what life had in store. I therefore continue to live in wonder of how well things turned out.
Similarly I had no great expectations for Tigers in the Premiership this season, blighted as it is by the World Cup, however rugby supporters paying to watch their teams, whether it’s buying a ticket or subscribing to SKY and/or ESPN, quite rightly had an expectation that the management, coaches and residual players would also fulfil their tasks with the utmost efficiency and despatch.
I can’t help but feel that my, already low, expectations haven’t been fulfilled this season with Tigers playing some slapdash and disorganised rugby in their first six Premiership matches.
Yes there have been absentees at the ill fated World Cup, where expectations weren’t met either.
Yes there have been injuries for Tigers but the pervasive defensive chaos can’t be blamed for that.
Yes I didn’t expect Tigers to be in the top four at the end of the World Cup period.
But I certainly didn’t expect a Tigers’ team to surrender 50 points at home to Saracens, especially as almost half of that team could well be selected even were the squad at full strength.
Further I didn’t expect Tigers to have already leaked 21 tries in the Premiership when they conceded only 29 in the whole of last season.
Finally I didn’t expect them to be languishing in eleventh place in the league either as, for all the outrageous fortune visited upon the club, there was still a decent team available for selection most of the time.
Sale supporters, on the other hand, must have seen their own expectations exceeded with the new management team of Executive Director of Sport; Steve Diamond (some title that eh?) and Tony Hanks, so shabbily treated by Wasps, guide their charges to third in the league.
Sale themselves had ten players on World Cup duty, second only to Tigers, and have been introducing them back into the fold since their return, wisely using both the LV= Cup matches as warm up fixtures while Richard Cockerill waited until last Friday’s match against Gloucester to fully begin the process, his squad selection seemingly hampered by a raft of previously unpublicised injuries.
Due to SKY/ESPN largely ignoring Sale’s efforts in the Premiership I haven’t had the opportunity to see enough of them but what from what I have seen there seems to be a new urgency and grit about them in the winning of close fought contests whereas in the past they may have been losses, so it’s no accident that they are holding a top three position in the league, although the Diamond/Hanks duo will be disappointed with the lack of progress in the LV= Cup, which sounds to have been a target for exploitation rather than the also ran that Cockerill’s premature prioritisation of the Heineken Cup and the distant heights of the league rendered it at Welford Road. Though there will be concern for Diamond as to how his team have faded in the last quarter of each of the last two matches.
Last Friday this week’s combatants had decidedly contrasting evenings, both were at home and both were bringing in more reinforcements after World Cup duty.
Tigers gave Gloucester, last week’s resounding victors over Sale at Kingsholm, a bit of a thumping by 40-14 and at last Tigers have won at Welford Road and emphatically so at that but I am left to ponder whether, had the Llanelli fixture been taken seriously the previous week, Tigers could have two wins under their belt and be well placed to progress to the semi-final if, in the meantime, things go awry in the Heineken Cup or League. LV= insurance, so to speak.
Meanwhile up at Edgeley Park Sale succumbed to the seemingly unbeatable and youthful Quins who won 37-25, scoring four tries in the process.
Sheridan is out until January nursing his latest injury, meanwhile young Lee Imolek has been handed an opportunity and grabbed it with both hands, although ex Gloucester and 24 time capped Scottish prop Alasdair Dickinson started in both the LV= matches with his recent visit back to Kingsholm not an entirely happy one, Sale conceding seven tries. I still anticipate seeing the Scot start though, maybe in company with Marc Jones, who has been impressive in the opening six rounds of the competition fighting off the challenge of ex Wasp Joe Ward.
Little has been seen of one of Sale’s highest profile signings; Ireland’s long backed Tony Buckley, so it will be interesting to see if the 25 time capped tighthead is preferred to the improving youngster; Henry Thomas in the match day squad. Thomas looks to be benefitting from Steve Diamond’s influence but my bet is that Vadim Cobilas, a new signing from Russian club VVA-Podmoskovye Monino, who’s played second fiddle to his young colleague in the opening rounds of the Premiership, will get the nod to oppose the powerful and compact Ayerza.
It is to be hoped that the long awaited return of Castrogiovanni will be revealed although given Cole’s performance on Friday the best the Italian behemoth should hope for is a spot on the bench.
Chuter will doubtless be restored to the starting line up but if so it will be a tough call on Tom Youngs who’s put in some bravura performances and would be my preference for the #2 shirt.
The battle of the front rows will be rather more competitive than it has been with Sale in the recent past so worth watching to judge the progress of one and the rehabilitation of the other.
At lock for Sale probably another new signing, this time from Glasgow; Fraser McKenzie, who has started all but the LV= match against Quins when he was on the bench. In the Premiership he’s been paired with another new boy; Kearnan Myall who’s fresh over the Pennines from relegated Leeds where he was one of the standout players, forming a formidable line out presence with Marcos Wentzl. I would guess that McKenzie’s mobility will get him a starting berth again alongside Myall.
Geoff Parling has improved with each match since he came back from his recent injury and I hope to see him partnered by Louis Deacon to give added grunt to proceedings. I think with Tom Croft restored Tigers could get the better of things at the lineout.
In the back row Steve Diamond has been able to select a stable trio so important in the breakaway forwards. The talented James Gaskell having started and played 80 minutes in every Premiership match this season but Diamond may be tempted to give fifteen time capped Scottish international Richie Vernon, also signed from Glasgow, the #6 shirt but in doing so he will need to weigh up Vernon’s all field play to that of Gaskell and the need to compete with Croft at the set piece. For what it’s worth I’d stick with Gaskell.
On the open side will be a contest no less compelling with two genuine #7s on parade. Dave Seymour has had a horrible time with injuries but with Hendre Fourie now on the injured list the ex Saracen has been working treble shifts at the coal face. I liked Seymour when he was at Watford and he now looks so grown up with his new haircut!
Julian Salvi, surely an example of it being an ill wind that blows nobody good, has been superb since arriving as injury cover for Craig Newby and the contest between the two open sides could be worth the ticket price alone.
Mark Easter, still shiny out of the box postmarked Northampton, is the third component of the Sale ever presents and, with Powell just back from New Zealand the golf buggy driving expert maybe on the bench, the brother of the England #8 will surely start with his triplet pals and be concentrating on containing Thomas Waldrom who’s been lightly used of late while spending a month sitting around in New Zealand. If the Anglo/Kiwi is on form Easter could have his hands full – too full maybe.
I rather think that Sale’s pack could struggle at the set piece against a rejuvenated and full strength Tigers’ eightsome.
Behind the pack Sale are blessed to have the Welsh Wizard Dwayne Peel, quite how that poseur Mike Phillips is preferred to Peel by Wales is a constant source of amazement to me as Peel reads the game with a professorial style that befits the rich heritage of his birthplace and when bringing all the experience of his 76 caps to the Sale cause the team looks a different proposition.
Tigers meanwhile continue in some disarray in the scrum half department with Ben Youngs declared as “not fit to play rugby” by Richard Cockerill, it sounding as if Youngs could be the latest player ruined by England by being played when not recovered from injury, an England induced injury at that. Micky Young meanwhile has also been injured and even when fit his will o’ the wisp appearances were limited to some nice cameos from the bench, so it’s been down to the statuesque Grindal and rookie Sam Harrison to hold the fort. Unless Young is fit or the Tigers scrum dominates the Sale pack then I see a major advantage here to the home side even though Harrison is coming on apace, his work fast and accurate, coping with Peel is some challenge – “cometh the hour cometh the man” and all that.
There has been a Welsh half back duo at Sale lately with Peel’s compatriot; Nick Macleod benefitting from his experienced partner giving him good service. Cardiff born Macleod has filled Charlie Hodgson’s boots well bringing a largely reliable boot to proceedings and he also looks to stand flatter than his illustrious predecessor, he isn’t shy about tackling either.
Tasesa Lavea Levi, the Samoan international fly half, is on the horizon somewhere, so it may be that Macleod will soon be usurped but it’ll be a shame if the new signing from Clemont Auvergne just gets a free pass into the side after Macleod has done such sterling work and showing such improvement.
Tigers will have England fly half Toby Flood available, he was central to Tigers decisive victory on Friday last, although he also made a considerable contribution to Gloucester’s first try, his clearing kick being charged down. We know Flood will stand flat, we know he’ll kick his goals, we know he’ll tackle, what we don’t know is if he’ll get enough quality ball but if his pack’s performance against Gloucester is any barometer the Tigers’ half backs could have another lovely time, if not Peel will be like a Tetse Fly nipping at the Tigers’ back row and #9.
In the centres for Sale I anticipate seeing ex All Black and Worcester player Sam Tuitupou, who had a brief sojourn to Thomond Park, start instead of Luther Barrell who, if his Leeds’ form is any indicator, can break the gain line but gets lost afterwards casting around him like a startled Meercat, meantime his tackling, while robust, lacked effectiveness or technique but of course things may have changed since his arrival at Stockport.
Tuitupou is a tough and elusive and one of my favourite centres of the Fuimaono-Sapolu/ Mapusua mould and somebody who’ll cause a whole lot of trouble to opposition defences.
Tigers have been without lynchpin Tony Allen for a few weeks with a mysteriously recalcitrant injury. Although Twelvetrees made a fair fist of the role I am hoping against hope that Allen is fit to play at Edgeley Park as I much prefer Manu Tuilagi at 13 where he has more room to work and options to explore.
At outside centre for Sale Johnny Leota is my guess, twice capped by Samoa and newly signed from Manawatu, he’s another wrecking ball of a centre and it could be seismic if he is facing Manu Tuilagi, who was bristling with intent against Gloucester. If Allen is fit then I think his subtle play will see him find space around the Sale centre partnership if not then it could be a hard one to call.
Mark Cueto returned from England duty last Friday and sounds to have had an inaccurate evening against Quins although he did make Leota’s try following receipt of a nice pass from Macleod so I expect the services of Sale’s favourite son will be retained for next Friday.
On the other wing, with Argentinian signing Joaquin Tuculet injured, I guess either young Tom Brady, who has impressed in just his second Premiership season, or ex Quins’ and Falcons’ Charlie Amesbury will get the nod. Centre Will Addison started out wide in the LV= Cup against Quins but I rather think a specialist winger will be deployed against the likely pairing for Tigers of Alex Tuilagi and Horacio Agulla who scored on his return to the fray and showed deceptive acceleration akin to a Red Bull off the line.
With Geordan Murphy also back and, I would think, thoroughly enjoying actually playing some rugby, there is, with Flood, a chance at least of some innovation in Tigers’ back play, it has, for too long, been as predictable as David Cameron breaking his election promises over a referendum on our relationship with the EU, the better for him to strut and preen on the international stage.
Rob Miller, also late of Newcastle, seems to have been doing a good job and comes into the line at pace so I expect him to continue and feed off the ball provided by Tuitupou and Leota.
It was good to see that Tigers, in part at least, have divested themselves of the pervasive defensive gremlins that have been so in evidence just as Sale discover that the little blighters have been on the overnight bus to Stockport.
I think that Tigers could get a win at one of their least happy of hunting grounds next Friday and my goodness don’t they need it if they are to start the long hike up the league before hosting London Irish the following weekend.
If the Tigers’ pack gets up a head of steam, the defence continues to hold and there’s some sustained invention in attack then while I hesitate to have expectations I nevertheless wait in anticipation.
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2011:11:04:17:27:59 by Stephen Bath.
Great write up though, thanks !!
Your thanks always appreciated!
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2011:10:25:10:19:37 by ChrisC.
See some of you at Edgeley park then. I'll be taking my son to the flicks first. making a day of it for half term and avoiding the Friday traffic.