Saleing on by
What a difference a year makes. Just 12 months ago Sale Sharks were scrapping at the bottom of the Premiership, key players were jumping ship and head coach Mike Brewer had just been given the boot. Despite last season's turmoil Sale currently occupy fifth position in the league and are within touching distance of the quarter finals of the Amlin Challenge Cup as we head into the New Year.
So what has changed? Well first of all Steve Diamond returned during January to help the club stave off the threat of relegation before recruiting a raft of new faces and dispensing with a number of under-performers both in the playing staff and in the back-room team. These signings included stars such as Andy Powell, Sam Tuitupou, Richie Vernon and Hendre Fourie who joined the team's current crop of internationals such as Mark Cueto, Andrew Sheridan and Dwayne Peel. Despite a total of ten of the Sharks players going to the World Cup this September, and with newly appointed captain Sam Tuitupou being rooted in New Zealand thanks to visa issues, the club began the season by winning three out of their first four games before claiming two bonus points in a pulsating final 20 minutes as they went down at league leaders Quins. Despite losing to Worcester in their opening game Sale made a positive start to the season beating Gloucester after the Quins match. What was to follow however would prove to be a reality check for the high-flying Sharks.
Losses in the LV Cup to Gloucester and Quins were brushed under the carpet and forgotten thanks to the teams scintillating Premiership form, unfortunately the following two league games shattered the illusion. A strong first half at Edgeley Park saw Sale come in 13-3 up at the interval only for a wounded Tigers side to score 31 unanswered points in the second half as their World Cup stars returned to form whilst Sales faded meagrely into the background. The next game against Exeter may have proved pivotal in the Sharks season. Sale ran in 20 points in the first 18 minutes and had The Chiefs on the back foot as they took in a 23-7 lead at the break. Once again the second half was to prove the teams undoing as they conceded 23 points without reply to throw away the points after a sloppy pass allowed Mieres to score a final 7 points and plant the nail firmly in Sale's coffin.
Sharks supremo Steve Diamond publically condemned his team after the defeat claiming members of the squad were under-performing and at risk of losing their place in the team. He asked each player to write a letter outlining their hopes and dreams for the season and took them back to the drawing board as he tried to re-invigorate his beleaguered side. The ploy seemed to work as the team snatched an away win at The Rec despite not registering a single point in the first-half. A dogged defensive effort in the final minutes showed a stark contrast to their capitulation in the previous league matches. Further positive results were on the horizon as the team won back-to-back victories over Agen to put them in a commanding position going into their final two group games in the Amlin Cup with a win against Brive all but guaranteeing them qualification for the quarter finals. To further boost the squad a dogged win on Boxing Day over a struggling Newcastle side was witnessed by the clubs biggest home attendance since Sebastien Chabal's farewell match in 2009.
Whilst the results continue to impress there is still a long way to go for this team as despite another commanding start to the game on Boxing Day there was once again an air of frustration as the team failed to capitalise on their early momentum and nearly succumbed to a spirited Newcastle fight-back. Had it not of been for the fortunate bounce of the ball that resulted in Mark Cueto's try, Sale could easily have been looking down the barrel of defeat once again. This is a continued problem that appears to frustrate fans as much as the team's brand of expansive rugby excites them. Far too often do the team give away cheap penalties or spill the ball when dominating. They must seek to eradicate this sloppy side to their game and look to function more as a single unit rather than rely on individual performances to register points on a consistent basis. The other concern for the team must be their set pieces. With line-outs often resulting in turn-over's and scrums going backwards more often than forwards. However, hopefully with the addition of one or two quality forwards (including Richie Gray) the club can once again push on next season.
Whilst these concerns are very real for the fans it must be remembered that just 9 months ago Sale went down 68 “ 17 to Gloucester at Kinsgholm in a limp, lifeless performance that marked the end of Charlie Hodgson's impressive career with the club. In contrast the club must now be considered genuine contenders for a Heineken Cup spot come the end of the season. These are exciting times for Sale Sharks and young players such as Henry Thomas, Tom Brady, Rob Miller and co develop into top class players whilst stalwart Mark Cueto hurtles towards ex-team-mate Steve Hanleys Premiership record of 75 tries (he is just 3 shy). With the announcement of Richie Gray's imminent arrival alongside others the club appear to be very much on an upward trajectorys.
However, as has been so clear already this season, victory can so easily be snatched away and so the club must continue to get the results to fulfil their lofty ambitions. What do you think of Sale's start to the season? Are they genuine contenders for a top 6 spot? Or maybe more?
