2nd half of the season preview

By Strinesian Saleanian
December 23 2004

It's that time of year when, by law, papers have to publish articles about surviving the office party and to list every famous person who's popped off in the last 12 months. We're not a paper, though, so Strinesian gazes into his crystal Xmas pud and looks forward to the rest of the season.

SECOND HALF: PERSONAL PREVIEWS, PREDICTIONS & POSSIBILITIES

Zurich Premiership

Bath (Home, 27^th Dec) – Previous meeting: Lost 27-13

This time we play Bath with something approaching a full squad, unlike that which was ravaged by the Autumn Internationals last month. Bath are level on points with Sale, one place behind due to an inferior points difference. This is an ‘8-pointer’ (at least), setting the winners up for a real crack at a top 3 finish. The sell-out Christmas crowd will expect a return to the Sale style we marvelled at in September.

Newcastle (Away, 2^nd Jan) – Previous meeting: Won 39-25

This will be a relatively close, but high scoring, match, in which the home team will start as favourites. How do I know? Because that is always the case when Sale play the Falcons! The long-awaited Jonny-Charlie sub-contest will hopefully be a treat rather than a damp squib!

Northampton (Home, 29^th Jan) – Previous meeting: Won 23-6

On paper this is a ‘home banker’. In fact, all bets are now off. Saints will be tough, because they always are. I would expect their losing run to have ended by then, but if Sale have real ambition for this season they will have to win this one.

London Irish (Away, 5^th Feb) – Previous meeting: Lost 16-17

Irish, as we know, ended Sale’s winning start to this season with that last minute penalty. Revenge will therefore be in the air at the Madejski. If we rediscover our early-season discipline and cut down on the number of penalties we give away in our own half, we could bring back 4 points. The fly in the ointment, however, is the ‘Six Nations’, which begins this weekend. The Sale ‘A’ team left behind may well struggle.

Leeds (Home, 18^th Feb) – Previous meeting: Won 14-11

To lose to the Tykes is unthinkable – they’ve never beaten us in the Premiership - but it’s going to happen sooner or later! Even though Leeds are improving and impressing, their win should not arrive this weekend, however, especially as international players will be available for selection. Another ‘home banker’ if we have genuine top three aspirations.

Worcester (Away, 26^th Feb) – Previous meeting: Won 57-3

Six Nations duty will make this particular return match a much closer affair. Wuss have found their feet in the competition and will prove a tough prospect for any side travelling to Sixways for the rest of this season. Sale will still start as favourites, but the home team will have a point to prove and have already targeted the depleted Sharks as a stepping stone to ensure their own Premiership survival.

Saracens (Away, 12^th March) – Previous meeting: Won 25-15

Didn’t that win against ‘London Sale’ taste oh so sweet last September! Another 5 points would also be very welcome this time around. With Steve Diamond taking the reigns, however, there will be an urgency to the Sarries players to right their own perceived wrong. International call-ups will again hurt us more than them, and this will be a tough one. If things have gone well up to this match, it may provide the key to the final few weeks of the season – just take a look at the next three games!

Wasps (Home, 25^th March) – Previous meeting: Won 33-30

Our run-in could not really be much tougher, but it certainly looks mouth-watering! First up Wasps, who must start as favourites and will be another team seeking revenge. I’d take a draw!

Leicester (Away, 9^th April) – Previous meeting: Won 26-19

Ditto Wasps!!!! Still we won at Welford Road last year…twice.

Gloucester (Home, 15^th April) – Previous meeting: Lost 24-14

Hopefully we will have secured our place in the top three by now, because we’ll be in for another tough match, but a winnable one. With all players available, unlike our trip to Kingsholm at the end of November, we should just start as favourites. This could well be the last home game of the season (play-offs and cup semis not withstanding) so a sell-out crowd will be urging the team on for the 4 potentially crucial points available.

Harlequins (Away, 30^th April) – Previous meeting: Lost 13-19

Our turn for revenge. Who knows, Sale could hammer the final nail into Quins’ coffin and consign them to ND1 (but don’t hold your breath). Certainly we should end the regular season with a big win though…to secure a home draw for the playoffs perhaps?

Powergen Cup

Bath (Home, 21^st Jan)

The home draw is all important. It has been suggested that Bath may not be taking this competition seriously. PSA certainly will be, as no potential path to next season’s Heineken Cup will be ignored or under-played. Now that the Tigers and Pests have been eliminated by the same team, I would expect to see Gloucester, Irish and Saints waiting in the semis…all beatable…another home draw please.

European Challenge Cup

Agen (Home, 7^th January, and Away, 15^th January)

Hard to call. Sale will certainly be putting out a full strength team (for the reasons mentioned above), but it may well be that Agen will be looking over their shoulder at the possibility of a looming relegation battle at home. Looking ahead, but not counting any chickens, the semi-final could provide another trip to France (Grenoble in the middle of the skiing season!), and wouldn’t a final against London Sale be nice!