Sale fans received the news they had all been fearing. Club talisman, and all time leading Premiership points scorer Charlie Hodgson was set todepart. Despite last minute pleas from owner Brian Kennedy, new head coach Pete Anglesea and captain Mark Cueto, Hodgson had finally had enough of Mike Brewer's ill-fated tenure at the club and agreed to join the recently crowned Premiership champions Saracens. But could Brewer actually have helped give Sale a push in the right direction.
That's not to say that Hodgson's departure is not a massive blow for Steve Diamond's new-look Sharks. 1,870 points in 11 years is an incredible accomplishment. Not only have they helped lead Sale to their first and only Premiership title in 2005/06, more recently they have also been the reason Sale have maintained their Premiership status. However, the consistency of Hodgson's right boot has often seen the team offer up some lackluster performances, as a result of knowing that they do not necessarily need to go over the try line in order to put points on the board.
This over-reliance on Hodgson's consistency has left Sale struggling when penalties have been hard to come by, or if Hodgson has not been at his very best. It is also important to remember that Hodgson is a brilliant attacking fly-half and offers much more than just an accurate kicking boot. A particularly memorable try at Edgeley Park this season came during the win at Gloucester when Hodgson had the foresight to take a quick tap-kick and crossed over the try-line himself before the Gloucester defence had realized what was happening. This is just one of many examples of Sale fans seeing Hodgson opening up holes in opposition defences with smart passes and clever runs. Unfortunately his all round brilliance has often been over-looked due to his impressive kicking form. Hodgson has unfortunately been a player of mis-fortune, not only has he been mis-taken by some as a one trick pony, he has also missed out on a number of caps. Had it not been for Jonny Wilkinson, and the recent emergence of Toby Flood, he would have claimed the England 10 jersey for a number of years.
However, his move to Saracens may just provide the kick that Sale have been in need of for a number of years. This next season promises a fresh start, as not only is the teams talisman leaving, a number of underachievers and perennial figures are set to leave the club, whilst more than 20 new players are set to join the Sale ranks. This comes at a time when Diamond is not only revolutionizing the playing squad, but also the training facilities and back room stuff. The mere fact that the squad has been in pre-season training for a number of weeks now shows the new direction of Sale. Diamond is aiming to create much more of a 'team' mentality with plenty of grit, this means no reliance on individual players, but big team efforts.
Obviously Hodgson would have been an invaluable member of this new-look Sale, but his departure allows for exciting new signings such as Richie Vernon, Andy Powell and Sam Tuitupou to shine. It is important to remember that in Hodgson's absence earlier this season Nick Macleod deputized aptly at fly-half, and the addition of Tasesa Lavea should prove to be a good move. Diamond has already stated that he intends to add another 3 backs to his team, who these will be could prove pivotal to the coming season. It is fair to say however, that the future does not look too bleak for Sale post-Charlie Hodgson, and in fact could help awaken the Sharks from a malaise that has gone on for too long.
All that is left to say is a big thank you to Charlie Hodgson for 11 fantastic years at the club. He has been a true professional and a great asset to the team throughout, and we wish him all the best at Saracens where he is sure to shine once again. Even with the emergence of Owen Farrell, it is clear that he is a fantastic acquisition for Sarries and will be a key element of their bid to retain their Premiership crown.
Do you think Sale can cope with the loss of Hodgson? Will he start at fly-half for Saracens with Farrell at centre or will Farrell retain the 10 shirt? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below ¦
