Swimming with the Sharks - Sale Preview

By BrianC
September 13 2005

Two games under our belt. One good victory, one disappointing if narrow loss. We are fourth in the table. All things considered it has been a reasonable start to the season thus far.

Skippy’s storm troopers now head up the M6 to face what looks, on paper, to be our stiffest challenge of the season thus far as we take on Sale at Edgley park.

Sale started the season as third favourites, after Leicester and Wasps, for the title. They were somewhat fortunate to win their opening game against Newcastle. Jonny Wilkinson, of all people, missed a conversion in the dying seconds of the game which would have given victory to the Geordies. Last weekend, against Gloucester at Kingsholm, they were not so lucky. Having initially taken the lead they went down 21-18 in the West Country mud.

Our away game at Sale last October was one of the very few highlights of last season. The 16 –17 victory we registered took us to 4^th in the table and brought to an end a great start by the Sharks. They had started the 04/05 season with five straight wins and were top of the table when we took them on. The return fixture in February was highly frustrating. We went down 6 – 9 despite largely dominating the match. It was one of those rare days that Tofty did not have his kicking boots on.

So what are our chances for Friday night? The bookies will no doubt have Sale with Cueto, Robinson, Hodgson and all as favourites. Certainly the squad look to be as strong as anything in the GP. After their indifferent start to the season they will want a good victory over us. Make no mistake about it, the boys have their work cut out for them.

Had we won last week I would now be very excited. That said our first couple of games have been encouraging. Six tries and our position in the league table tells a part of but not all the story. The victory over Leeds at the London Double header was the best I can recall seeing our team play since the cup winning 01/02 season. Last week, at home to Worcester, the first half was good. Crucially there appears to be a totally different feeing within and around the team this season.

I can’t help but look at the quality of the Sale squad and find myself thinking that they will be too good for us. Likewise I think of the LI team we have seen thus far this season and believe that they are a class act. The London Irish team, vintage 05/06, are capable of beating anyone, anywhere. If we can manage a victory on Friday night this truly will be a great start to the season.