Manchester Stockport Sale Sharks Preview

By Henry Harman
September 17 2004

Saracens head into tonight’s game with Sale Sharks at Edgley Park on the back of two very different performances. A gutsy, determined effort in the victory over European Champions, London Wasps on the opening day of the season was followed by a stuttering victory over Premiership new boys Worcester.

Sale Sharks have also got two wins under their belt against the two pre-season favourites Leicester Tigers and Wasps. The first of these games demonstrated the strength that the Sharks possess up front, former Gloucester man Trevor Woodman, bruising hooker Sebastien Bruno and storming number 8 Sebastien Chabal all impressed on their debuts. Bryan Redpath was his superb self and the introduction of Charlie Hodgson half-way through the game tipped the odds further in the Sharks favour after a poor display with the boot from Mike Hercus kept the Tigers in the game. To beat Leicester 26-19 in their first game of the season was a massive achievement for new Director of Rugby Phillipe Saint-Andre given the turn-over of players during the off-season and upheaval of introducing a new coaching set-up in place of Mallinder and Diamond.

Last weeks away win at Adams Park in what can only be described as a stunning game was another enormous achievement. Two tries for winger Steve Hanley and one from powerful centre Robert Todd sent the visitors on their way to victory which was sealed in the dying moments as Hodgson struck a sweet drop-goal to take the spoils 30-33.

So to tonight’s’ game and the return of Iain Fullarton, Matt Cairns and Kevin Yates to the place that they called home last season. Sarries will be hoping that their new team and coaches can stop what has been a rather nasty habit of getting a thorough beating at the hands of the boys from Stockport. Edgley Park and before that Heywood Road have not been Sarries favourite ground to visit in recent years having been soundly beaten the last four visits.

It is difficult to see where the Men in Black will pick up their points tonight, Sale have the fire-power out wide in the frighteningly quick back three of Hanley, Cueto and ‘drop-goal king’ Billy-Whizz. They have a strong pack and probably the difference between the two sides will be the skills of Sharks’ fly half Hodgson. Sarries fly-half Mark Bartholomeusz has yet to prove himself as a distributor and the Sarries back-line is still very raw and has yet to really fire in attack.

The chance of the Sarries back-line really getting moving is stunted by the loss of Thomas Castaignede to a hamstring injury. His place in the centres is taken by Ben Johnston who must take this opportunity, if he doesn’t a place on the bench may beckon for the rest of the season. The only other changes to the team that beat Worcester are the return of the rejuvenated Kyran Bracken to scrum-half in place of Morgan Williams and Richard Haughton returns to the wing in place of Paul Bailey.


Saracens: 15 Robbie Kydd, 14 Richard Haughton, 13 Ben Johnston, 12 Kevin Sorrell, 11 Dan Scarbrough, 10 Mark Bartholomeusz, 9 Kyran Bracken, 8 Hugh Vyvyan (captain), 7 Richard Hill, 6 Taine Randell, 5 Iain Fullarton, 4 Simon Raiwalui, 3 Cobus Visagie, 2 Matt Cairns,1 Kevin Yates.

Replacements: 16 Raphael Ibanez, 17 Nick Lloyd, 18 Kris Chesney, 19 Dave Seymour, 20 Moses Rauluni / Paul Bailey, 21 Nicky Little, 22 Morgan Williams.

Sale Sharks: 15 Jason Robinson (captain), 14 Mark Cueto, 13 Chris Rhys Jones, 12 Robert Todd, 11 Steve Hanley, 10 Charlie Hodgson, 9 Sililo Martens, 8 Sebastian Chabal, 7 Magnus Lund, 6 Chris Jones, 5 Pierre Caillet, 4 Dean Schofield, 3 Barry Stewart, 2 Sebastien Bruno, 1 Trevor Woodman.

Replacements: (from) Andy Titterrell, Bryan Redpath, Stuart Turner, Andrew Sheridan, Peter Anglesea, Pierre Caillet, Chris Day, Mike Hercus, James Moore.