News: AP: Sale Sharks vs Northampton Saints - Preview

By Grim Reaper
January 8 2015

Back in the mists of time, COYSDC dubbed this fixture the "Enya" game - "Sail away, sail away, sail away..." (Geddit? Oh, never mind). This term, one particular Aviva Premiership chief executive appeared to think that this name was a jolly wheeze that he had thought up all by himself and so merrily used the phrase to describe his side's jaunt up to the A J Bell Stadium, claiming it as his own. Undeterred, this COYSDC Ed (Phil) has decided that henceforth this shall be the "David Gray" game ("Sail Away" #26, 2001). Anyway enough of this nonsense, climbing the White Ladder into the preview box is Grim Reaper (Graham) and here are his thoughts on Satdee's game...

SALE SHARKS vs NORTHAMPTON SAINTS

Saturday, 10th January 2015 - 2pm (no TV)

AJ BELL STADIUM, ECCLES, SALFORD

MATCH PREVIEW

Getting there: Sale Sharks have released a travel plan for visiting supporters - http://www.salesharks.com/news/2913.php

Weather: Chance of heavy showers, high winds

The bleak days of January are upon us, where winter seems to stretch on interminably. The cold, grey skies offer no emotional respite from the damage caused by Christmas and New Year excesses, and we haven't even had our credit card bills yet. New Year Resolutions to lose weight and drink less lie discarded in our wake, like so many brown envelopes in Bruce Craig's Rolls Royce (*allegedly*).

Fortunately for us, some rays of light shine through the darkness. Northampton Saints sit proudly at the top of the table, having opened up a healthy 6 point lead at the top of the Aviva Premiership table after 12 rounds. Nearest challengers Bath were bullied into submission at the Magic Roundabout last weekend, although I suspect for many, choosing a preferred winner in that match was something akin to being offered a choice between contracting measles or mumps.

Sale, who entered the festive period in good spirits, have suffered two defeats, the second a sound thrashing at the hands of Covent Wasps at the Ricoh arena. They will be desperate to avoid three consecutive defeats, which has not occurred since December 2012. They have announced the signing of blindside TJ Ioane, who is available with immediate effect. Although he has trained with the Sale squad, he was last seen in action for Samoa against England in November, so perhaps an appearance off the bench is the most likely scenario. It's the time of year for revolving doors, and speculation abounds that mercurial fly-half Danny Cipriani may be sharing a dressing room with Samu Manoa and Salesi Ma'afu next season.

The availability of captain Dan Braid may be critical to the home side's prospects, the New Zealander having missed out on the trip to Wasps with a knee injury. With Braid in the team, Sale concede an average of 17.5 points per match; when he is absent, this rises to 30 points. He has also crossed the try line three times.

In comparison to Sale's shaky form, the Green Black & Gold juggernaut seems to roll inexorably onwards. A run of 5 straight league victories, including wins over Saracens, Leicester and Harlequins will be enough to justify circa 7 point favouritism with the bookmakers. However, a more forensic analysis should give optimists cause for concern. Whilst not to everybody's taste, Steve Diamond is a shrewd operator, and he will have noticed the relative ease with which Newcastle scored two tries from the back of rolling mauls. The sight of Christian Day limping off against the Falcons was indeed unwelcome, not least due to the ongoing absence of Courtney Lawes. With Saints' line-out being uncharacteristically profligate against Newcastle, we must hope that the optimistic noises being made about his return on Saturday do indeed ring true. The well wishes of everyone at the club will be with Samu Manoa, and let us hope that he is back and in the right frame of mind to put in a shift on Saturday.

Players who will certainly be missing for Saints are skipper Dylan Hartley (suspension), Jon Fisher, Kahn Fotuali'i and (I assume) James Craig (injury).

Looking at recent history, the last league meeting at the AJ Bell Stadium produced a 19-6 victory for the hosts, a match played in difficult conditions, and with Saints losing the services of Myler at late notice. Saints did record a comfortable 28-14 victory in the Amlin Cup Quarter-Final last year to redress the balance, and have since brushed off Sale at Franklin's Gardens in a 5 try rout.

I'd be intrigued to hear what others think, but I am finding this fixture difficult to call, and suspect it will not be settled by much more than a score either way. In betting terms, I shall await team news, but one bet which potentially interests me will be a forward to score the first try. The likely weather conditions suggest that kicking from range will be difficult, which may well lead to more attacking line outs.

Safe travels to all those attending - I am still undecided. Given that the afternoon will have as much blustering wind as a Richard Cockerill press conference, this might be one to avoid. (Who am I kidding, see you there…)

News: AP: Sale Sharks vs Northampton Saints - Preview

Posted by: ComeOnYouSaints.com (IP Logged)

Date: 08/01/2015 14:40

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