SUNDAY LUNCH SALE

Sale have inhabited upper mid table for a few seasons now - lacking the consistency and away form to make a more sustained push for the top four, but able to hold off the challenges of sides such as Harlequins or Gloucester to take their place in the European top flight competition. It's a stark contrast to 2012/3 when Sale looked favourites to be relegated, only to secure a priceless win against London Welsh in Oxford late in the campaign. Having delivered that crucial survival, Steve Diamond has proved shrewd in the evolution of his squad, not only in his transfer dealings which have brought players of the calibre of scrum half duo Peter Stringer and Mike Phillips, hooker Rob Webber and Rugby League convert centre Josh Charnley to Barton, but he played a pivotal role in the reinvention of Danny Cipriani, as well as in the development of home grown players which sees back row Josh Beaumont in the England squad, and rave reviews for fly half Sam James as part of an exciting backline. David Seymour, unlucky to be discarded by Saracens in 2009, has been a part of the North West's side back row ever since, and is closing in on 200 appearances for the Sharks this season. 

 

Close season activity, alongside the arrival of Charnley from Wigan RL, Phillips from Racing 92 and Webber from Bath saw back row Laurence Pearce and winger Paolo Odogwu move from Leicester Tigers and prop Kieran Longbottom arrive from Saracens, after two seasons of very sparse first team appearances. Tongan international tighthead Halani Aulika was also added to the squad following over 80 appearances for London Irish whilst Cardiff Blues' Lou Reed provided an extra option in the second row. Dan Mugford of Nottingham and AJ MacGinty from Connacht arrived to fill two of the vacant fly half berths left by Cipriani, Joe Ford and MacLeod, whilst versatile centre or wing Byron McGuigan made the move north from Exeter Chiefs. However, as well as the departure of Cipriani, hooker Tommy Taylor was another departure for Wasps, whilst winger Tom Brady signed for Leicester, Nick MacLeod left for Newport Gwent Dragons, prop Vadim Cobilas opted for Bordeaux-Begles, whilst fly half Joe Ford (yes, son of / brother of) returned to former club Leeds / Yorkshire Carnegie and centre Phil MacKenzie switched to San Diego. Scrum half Chris Cusiter and back row Mark Easter both retired 

 

This campaign has continued the theme, largely, of being strong at home and variable away, as the Sharks sit in the familiar position of fifth, with three wins, a draw and three losses from the seven Premiership matches so far, whilst in Europe, they were unlucky to be defeated at home by an uninspiring Rugby Club Toulonnais side after being well beaten at an improving Scarlets outfit. 2016/7 got off to a disappointing start in a 19-17 loss at Newcastle Falcons, despite the visitors scoring two tries, through Johnny Leota and Byron McGuigan, to the hosts one, but Dan Mugford missed a last gasp penalty kick to win the match, although they were let down by their discipline and an average tackle success rate on the night. They bounced back with an important 19-10 home win over Harlequins, and a better day for Mugford, who claimed four penalties and converted Seymour's try, as the home side made more than double the ground their opponents did, and had a perfect display in the scrum and lineout. However, this was followed by a surprise 26-13 home loss to Gloucester, who were the only side to win here in the Premiership last season, as the visitors took their chances in a fairly even game. With shades of the thrilling 36-all draw with Saracens in this fixture last season, Sale collected a 34-34 draw at Worcester Warriors, showing great resilience to rescue three points after trailing 31-17 at one stage. They claimed 34 points in their next game, but this time it was enough for a bonus point win as Leicester were defeated 34-30 at the AJ Bell through a blend of incisive movement and forward power. The 30-3 loss at Bath was something of an anti-climax, then, as they failed to make any impact.

 

Into Europe, and Sale were defeated 28-11 by Scarlets in Llanelli, constituting a twelfth straight defeat in Europe, despite having a majority of posession and some promising runs from full back Mike Haley. In contrast, given their territory, and even allowing for a poor start, the Sharks should have avoided defeat 13 at home to Toulon, but were edged out 15-5 by the Top 14 side, who opted for a change of coach to Mike Ford in the aftermath. Back in the Premiership, a first away win was claimed, albeit at Bristol, where a bonus point 31-13 success was taken and could have yielded more than the five tries managed by Sale, as they made in excess of 500 metres; Haley making 158 of those and collecting a try. Switching to the Anglo Welsh Cup, an impressive 17-13 win was claimed over Wasps at Barton with a modified but still strong looking side, but some of the good work was undone as a 26-11 reverse was suffered at Bristol in the second match of the competition.

 

Looking at a possible Sale line up, Haley was involved in the England training camp but may be able to return at full back, with Charnley potentially on the right wing, and a centre partnership of Sam Tuitupou and Leota with Odogwu on the left wing. James at fly half could combine with scrum half Stringer. Forwards-wise, a potential front row features Ross Harrison, Webber and Aulika, with a lock combination of Bryn Evans and Andrei Ostrikov. The back row should feature Cameron Nield, Seymour and Beaumont . The team conundrum gets ever more intriguing for Saracens. Against a side with an excellent running game, clever kicking options (even in the aftermath of Cipriani) and a reliable rolling maul, although with an off-day against Toulon, this game cannot be taken lightly. Some of the Anglo Welsh side will feature out of necessity, as the ground showed theior resilience by following the Gloucester disappointment to persevere and secure the bonus point win against the Falcons. Chris Wyles could come in at full back, with Mike Ellery on the right wing and Nathan Earle on the left outside a centre partnership of Nick Tompkins and Brad Barritt. The half back slots should be filled by Alex Lozowski and Richard Wigglesworth. Into the pack, and Richard Barrington should form the front row with Schalk Brits and Petrus du Plessis, with Jim Hamilton and Michael Rhodes in the second row and a back row of Kelly Brown, Jackson Wray and Samu Vunisa