Friday Night Revenge? Bath v Sale Sharks

  Sale Sharks visit the Rec this Friday evening scenting blood. With recent Premiership wins over Northampton and Saracens, they will fancy their chances against a Bath squad depleted by international duty & injury, which is also reeling from three straight Premiership defeats. That is an odd and untypical situation in a season mostly noted for some fine performances and high hopes. Sales optimism will be boosted by the knowledge that they frustrated Bath last season at the Rec, especially at the scrummage, and that Bath will be missing their first choice props through injury. The 6 Nations period was always going to be tough for the men in Blue, Black & White but with a run-in against the bottom 6 sides, surely Bath should heed Corporal Jones and not panic? Those whose glasses are half full will point to winning being a habit, which Bath have allowed to slip of late, to goal-kicking difficulties, thinning front row resources and a seeming lack of direction. The phrase “must win game” is over-used, but if Bath lose to Sale, even a Top 4 place could be at risk, never mind a home semi.  

Sale have built their success on a strong and cussed pack and a very strong defensive game. Their strike power out wide has been enhanced by the re-found form of Danny Cipriani, whose distribution and tactical kicking have allowed Cueto & Brady plenty of scoring opportunities. Cueto, in his farewell season, is not the only grizzled veteran as Sharks’ pack is built on the experience of old warriors Lewis-Roberts, Hines, Braid and Lund. They are joined by the highly promising Beaumont, already being tipped by some as a future international. Taller and rangier than dad Bill, he is the star of Steve Diamond’s quote of the season that he would be “some player if he grows a backside like his father”. Expect Sale to be competitive at the least, at scrummage, lineout and breakdown.

Balanced against their threats is the sobering fact for Sale that they have not fared well away this season. Of the 4 clubs from the top 6 they have visited so far they have taken no Premiership win and have also lost away at Gloucester. If Stuart Lancaster retains Danny Cipriani in camp this weekend they will be making a tough away Friday night trip without their principal playmaker.

So, do Bath have the firepower to harpoon the Sharks? The Friday evening kick-off will probably limit the number of travelling supporters and the Rec faithful must get behind their team in an hour of need. Mike Ford though will want to build a game plan on less chancy matters than those. Bath have attempted a lot of rugby early in the three recent defeats, with frustratingly little reward. Guarding against slow starts needs to be balanced against a return to basics, earning the right to play an expansive game and taking all opportunities on offer. He will probably target a more accurate and aggressive kick-chase game, revitalising the driving maul and better control at the base of the scrum as first priorities. Next he needs to settle the halfback conundrum. Hopefully Cook, now very much the first choice, will be fit to start at 9. There have been calls among this site’s faithful for Kyle Eastmond to start at 10 in place of Olly Devoto, but Ford may want to resist that call. Against Exeter Devoto actually ran strongly and made some useful dents close to the set piece. He deserves close support on his shoulder from the forwards –or perhaps from Sam Burgess. The use of Burgess is an area for fine tuning. If he is to make the break, or take the ball up on the crash he needs the team to bring him into the move with more space and momentum. When he is the decoy, those taking the gap must attack it with more conviction.

It seems unthinkable that Bath could lose 4 in a row at this stage in the season, but the prospect is real. Rather than panic, the boys need to use threat as a rallying cry. Whatever motivation is used, a last ditch mentality will be required. Last season Sale did the double on Bath, including that notorious and depressing March Friday night at the Rec. This Friday’s fixture is 6 months to the day from Bath snatching the win at the A J Bell. They will be seeking Friday night revenge.

Possible teams:

Bath:Auterac, Batty, Palma-Newport, Hooper, Day, Garvey, Louw, Houston. Cook Devoto. Woodburn, Eastmond, Burgess, Rokoduguni, Homer. Bench: Obano, Webber, Lahiff, Fearns, Fa’osiliva, Stringer, Jennings, Arscott.

Sale Sharks: Lewis-Roberts, Jones, Cobilas, Hines, Mills, Braid, Lund, Beaumont. Cusiter, McLeod, Cueto, Tuitupou, Leota, Brady, Arscott

Replacements: Taylor, Harrison, Cobilas, Easter, Seymour. Cliff, Ford, Haley