Mid Season Sale - Match Preview

By Worried of Whitton
November 18 2004

As the mid way point in the Zurich Premiership season approaches, NEC Harlequins meet Sale Sharks at Edgeley Park, Stockport, in their third consecutive Friday night match this month, kick off at 19.45 hrs.

The history of meetings between the teams in the Premiership does not make particularly good reading. Quins have not beaten Sale in their previous six meetings with the last win over Sale in the Premiership was 36-10 at the Stoop way back in March 2001, so we must be due for a win! Out of 14 games played, between the two clubs, Sale Sharks have won 10 matches; NEC Harlequins have won just 3, with the most recent match at Edgeley Park, resulting in a 27 all draw last December. Although Sale’s loss at Bath last weekend ended a four match winning run they have lost only one of their last ten home matches in October when London Irish squeezed a 16-17 win.

At the end of last season there was an exodus from Sale down the M6 and M1 to Saracens with coach and players alike. With Mallinder taking on the coaching of the England Academy, Saint Andre returned to the UK to take up tenure in the North. In replacing the departees he brought a number of French recruits with him notably Bruno, Chabal and Lobbe, and from his Gloucester days, Woodman and Todd. The other interesting signing was of our own Josh Taumalolo, who seemed to spend most of his days at the Stoop either injured or playing for the Second XV. He makes an appearance on the bench this week, but has yet to break through into the Sale First XV.

Quins showed what they are capable of producing away from home in last seasons match, and London Irish have proved that Sale are beatable at home. There probably will not be a better time to beat Sale on their home turf. The home side has a string of their international players on duty and will be without Robinson, Hodgson, Ceuto, Sheridan and Titteral. Saint Andre said last weekend after loosing to Bath that seven of his frontline players were playing for their countries with several more on the physio’s table. They are replaced by some talented and experienced players from the squad, and with Saint Andre coaching them it will not be easy. Phillipe Saint Andre has made three changes to last week’s starting line up for this match. Steve Hanley returns after missing the last five games with a broken thumb, Byron Hayward starts at fly half and Pierre Caillet replaces Chris Jones who picked up a hand injury at Bath. In addition I have just learnt that Mike Hercus has joined up with the USA team for the game against Ireland .Chris Rhys Jones returns to the bench, along with Bryan Redpath.. Whilst those named by Saint Andre may not be familiar to many Quins fans, Sebastian Chabal at No 8 will definitely have to be shall we say, “handled with care”! The Sale coach believed his team lacked the confidence to win last week against Bath “…the players started the game and did not believe they could win. We played some good rugby just before the break but we need to play well for eighty minutes this week against a Harlequins side who found form last week when they defeated Saracens” It is clear both sides have a mutual respect for each others abilities. Sale a, after all, currently second in the Premiership.
After last Fridays emphatic win over Saracens, Quins confidence will be very high, and they will be looking for a repeat performance, however neither the players nor the management are complacent to believe that this match will be a “walk in the park” but this is certainly a winnable game. As Evans has been reported as saying”Sale has an excellent record at Edgeley Park and we are expecting another tough game. If we continue to improve on our recent form then we can be confident of coming away with a positive result.”

It is no surprise that Mark Evans has stuck with the same line up as last week, and good news that there are no further injury worries after last weeks wonderful win. This certainly is a very strong line up, even without Greenwood who is with England again this weekend. The bench too is unchanged and just as formidable. Evans said when announcing the team, “As satisfying as the result and performance was against Saracens last week, it will count for nothing if we do not build on it. We are still at the wrong end of the Premiership table but victories in our next two games will give us a good chance of climbing the ladder further when the league campaign resumes at the end of December.” We have to thank London Irish again for their win over Northampton last week, which keeps them with the Premiership stragglers and well within reach.

Although not in the 22 players named Geo Cronje will be making the trip to Stockport. Cronje is almost recovered from a knee injury picked up in South Africa, and Quins are keen to get him integrated into the squad as soon as possible. It was also announced that Jim Evans will be traveling as water boy to keep the integrity of a tight squad. There we some absolutely brilliant performances last week. I m not sure the game plan was to hit Saracens from the kick off but it certainly had the desired effect Nick Easter rightly picked up man of the match, and Diprose and Vos were superb. The Deane - James partnership at centre has jelled very quickly and Deane will be looking to score a few points over his old club. Harder and Keogh are once again the inform pairing ahead of Monye. I’m sure Keogh will be out to make amends for his spillage last week. So’oailo and Staunton have had a few critics of late but again last Friday they showed their mettle.

Another tough match, they all are this season, and yet another end of week evening match which our friends in the North seem to prefer. However, Quins have a couple of good Friday nights under their belt, picking up six valuable points in the past two weeks, lets hope this will be another one!

For those travelling supporters have a safe journey and wrap up warm as the forecast is for freezing temperatures.

Come on you Quins!
You can win this one.

Players to Watch: Nick Easter, Simon Keogh

Prediction: Another close encounter, I fancy Quins to continue their form and sneak a win with a losing bonus point on offer Sale

NEC Harlequins:
15. Tom Williams, 14.George Harder,13. Daffyd James 12. Mel Deane 11. Simon Keogh, 10. Jeremy Staunton, 9. Steve So’oialo, 1. Mike Worsley, 2. Tani Fuga, 3. Ceri Jones, 4.Roy Winters, 5. Simon Miall, 6. Nick Easter, 7. Andre Vos (c), 8, Tony Diprose
Replacements:
16. James Hayter, 17. Jon Dawson, 18. Simon Maling, 19. Luke Sherriff, 20. Andy Dunne, 21. Ugo Monye, 22. Gavin Duffy

Sale : 15. Chris Mayor, 14.James Moore,13. Jos Baxendell,12. Robert Todd,11. Steve Hanley, 10.Byron Hayward,9. Sililo Martens, 1.Stuart Turner,2. Johnny Roddam,3. Barry Stewart, 4.Chris Day, 5.Dean Schofield, 6.Pierre Caillet, 7.Magnus Lund 8. Sebastien Chabal.
Replacements: 16 Martin Halsall, 17.Sebastien Bozzi,18. Peter Anglesea, 19.Josh Taumalolo, 20.Richard Wigglesworth, 21.Bryan Redpath,22. Chris Rhys Jones

Referee: Wayne Barnes
Touch judges: Steve Savage and, Don Helme
Assessor: Brian Leigh