Time To Sale Away Again

Sale Sharks vs Saracens.  Aviva Premiership Rugby.  AJ Bell Stadium.  Saturday 21 February 2015.   The aftermath of Sunday's fine result and performance against Bath, and I don't know where to look. Let me explain. Was the victory crucial in keeping the prospects of a home semi-final tie alive, or keeping the threatening quartet of Wasps, Sale, Exeter and Leicester, all of whom won at the weekend, at bay? If the first was true last weekend, than the second applies as Saracens make their second visit of the season to the AJ Bell Stadium in Barton upon Irwell hoping not to come unstuck there as Northampton Saints have in particular over the last two campaigns.

The last meetings between the sides were a pair of tight encounters in the European Rugby Champions Cup December double header, in which Sale remained winless in a misleading reflection of how competitive they were at times in it, not including the embarrassing 65-10 loss at Munster in a rare Thomond Park dead rubber. "Operation Enya" saw Magnus Lund's early try provided a 7-3 lead to the Sharks, but Sarries responded as some fine work from Charlie Hodgson set up Owen Farrell for a one point lead, and, as the sides exchanged penalties, it was 11-10 to the visitors at the break. Billy Vunipola gave the visitors some daylight for a 16-10 lead, but Andrei Ostrikov's solo try made it a one point game. Farrell's drop goal and some formidable defence set up a priceless 19-15 win. Back in NW4, Saracens enjoyed an ultimately more comfortable win, 28-15, although a bonus point was to elude them, as they couldn't add to scores from Alex Goode, Ben Ransom and Billy Vunipola, with Nathan Hines and Eifion Lewis-Roberts claiming the tries for the visitors.

Since those matches, Sale have maintained their place in the four way battle for a top four place, which has the intriguing sub-text of containing the likely challengers for the top six, as eighth placed Harlequins and the sides below arguably look to have too much to do to bridge the gap. The Sharks have continued to be competitive at home, boosted by the increased crowds attracted by a logical change of matches to Saturday afternoons, but have had several disappointing displays away from Greater Manchester. Immediately after meeting Sarries, they beat Exeter Chiefs 18-11 thanks to tries from Mark Cueto, who recently announced his retirement at the end of the campaign, and Danny Cipriani. 2014 closed in heartbreaking style, as a new ground record crowd of 11247 looked set to see a bonus point home win against Leicester Tigers, with scores from Hines, Chris Cusiter, Sam Tuitupou and Will Addison, only for the Midlands visitors to snatch it in the dying seconds, 32-30.

A miserable start to 2015 brought a 41-16 loss at Wasps, but the resilience of the side was clear as they recorded an impressive 20-7 home win over Northampton featuring tries from Lewis-Roberts and Dan Braid. European involvement ended with a 22-13 home loss to ASM Clermont Auvergne and the Limerick humiliation, whilst LV= Cup interest ended in the 39-19 loss at Newcastle Falcons, making the subsequent 38-3 home success against Scarlets academic. Back in the Aviva Premiership, Sale took full advantage of a trip to London Welsh, which was a match in stark contrast to two seasons ago when this was a tight relegation battle which the Sharks vitally edged, and won 52-12, racking up eight tries, including doubles for Tom Arscott, Addison and Tommy Taylor, and further contributions from Cueto and Mike Haley.

Much of pre-match has been about which players are staying at the club. Captain Dan Braid extended his deal with the North West club, and it is hoped that influential fly half Cipriani, who will feature in this match having being released by England, will follow suit. However, lock Michael Paterson, whose appearances have been limited by injuries, will move to Northampton next season. Looking at the possible teams, Sale will probably not make too many changes, having shown the attacking verve last week which has seen them make more passes than any other side in the Premiership this season. The win in Oxford saw academy graduate Haley at full back with Addison and Arscott on the wings, and a centre partnership of Johnny Leota and former All Black Tuitupou. Cipriani should combine with Scottish scrum half Cusiter in the half backs. In the forwards, the front row consisted of loosehead Lewis-Roberts, hooker Taylor (another player from the academy) and Moldovan tighthead Vadim Cobilas. In the second row, vastly experienced Scottish international Nathan Hines accompanied former London Welsh stalwart Jonathan Mills, whilst the back row consisted of Braid and former Sarrie David Seymour at flanker, and the highly rated Josh Beaumont at number 8, although he could feature at lock if Steve Diamond opts to swap around his side.

For Saracens, they will need to be aware of the twin dangers the Sharks can pose from quick ball, given their talented wingers, but also from a rolling maul second only in its power to that of Northampton's in the sides that Sarries will face. Consequently, they should make full use of the quartet of players made available from England duty, which would produce a line up of Alex Goode at full back, Chris Ashton and David Strettle on the wings, with a revised centre partnership of Brad Barritt and Chris Wyles, and a half back combination of Sale old-boys Hodgson and Richard Wigglesworth. Into the forwards, and Mako Vunipola should make up the front row with Jamie George and James Johnston, with the locks remaining as Maro Itoje and Alistair Hargreaves and a back row of Kelly Brown, Jacques Burger and Ernst Joubert, if I've called the rotation correctly.