Sale Away, Sale Away, Sale Away
I've been talking drunken gibberishI've been punching at the bars
Trying to find some explanation here
For the way some people are
How did it ever come so far
Sale away with me honey
Bit of wisdom from David Grey, a huge Irish fan and fine deliverer of moody soul destroying lyrics, and he is going on Friday! With his fecking honey too.
After the delights of a win last weekend over Bath, all be it by a score line not reflective of the LI dominance, the Exiles will need to dig a lot deeper to come away with much need points at Stockport. Although the Sale lads have been in freefall as of late, they are still a determined and gifted freakin' unit.
They are also the current Champions and will be going do-freakin'-lally to ensure that the crown they worked so fecking hard for doesn’t just fall down like a fat bird on stilettos.
Phillippe Saint Andre, the smooth talking French geezer, has never made any excuses for the sides current failings, even against the back drop of the squad’s injuries. The volume of these injuries has not been seen since the Brixton riots of April 1981. A year when Dewi Morris was young and played for Sale.
Players of the calibre of Jason White, Andrew Sheridan and Charlie Hodgson would be penned names on any team sheet in the friggin' premiership. These class lads are game breakers and will ensure that any side wins more than loses.
The loss of Hodgson has been the real ball breaker, as this man controls and makes the Sharks tick in all areas of play. All comers to fill his slot, but not in a homo way, have failed to make the impact required to keep a dangerous back line moving forward. This has resulted in Edgeley Park witnessing the fewest tries in the premiership; a far cry from the defence ripping attack minded side of last season.
There is still an abundance of class players at the coach’s disposal, but the international call ups will probably deny them a chance come Friday. Sebastiens Bruno and Chabel will be awaiting a midnight kick off against Wales on Saturday in Paris. For England, Magnus Lund and skipper Jason ‘Billy Whizz’ Robinson will be hoping to inspire a ‘Bloody Saturday’ on the Irish at Croke Park (injury dependant of course!).
There is actually some good news emanating from North West of England though. Mark Cueto and Chris Jones have signed extended deals to stay, and these two feckers are awesome team and individual players and both available come the weekend.
This game is as big as a Whopper meal with the large option taken, for both sides, as the business end of the league campaign draws near. Heineken Cup qualification is a minimum, with top four still mathematically possible for them. Sale are a gnats foreskin ahead in the points, a mere three, but LI do have a crucial game in hand. The winner come Friday will be in the fecking driving seat as far as top six goes, so pressure is there to achieve.
Sale Sharks will still be confident of grabbing the win, even after all these feckers have been through. Any team containing the puma meat of Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe will compete to the death, like two cocks on the mean streets of Bangkok. Lobbe has gained many admirers over the season, some are even actually complimenting his rugby.
Another fighter and all round good egg, a freakin' snappy dresser is Richard Wigglesworth. This scrum half has to be the most underrated player outside of Stockport, as he has the lot. A real nugget, with vision and a turn of pace up there with a stray greyhound going through a Korean village. Exiles need to bring the shackles for this little fecker.
Chris Bell and Mark Taylor are two centres to keep an eye on, especially with the world class Cueto sniffing more than an American knicker collector for ball and space.
The pack will move around the paddock and compete in all set piece play. Eifion Roberts, Andy Titterrell and Stuart Turner will test any fat fecker power, especially with the likes of Dean Schofield and Christian Day eyeing their butt cheeks. The loss of Lund is a real killer for the game plan, but Chris Jones and Lobbe will provide an edge when needed and both love the contact.
So, it is now set for Friday, 7:45, and a right royal battle to ensue. London Irish must ensure that any chances offered are taken and the defensive alignment as tight as a Jock's purse strings. This is a real chance to turn the season around and head up the table. 100% commitment from Irish should reap its rewards. Anything short, and a dangerous, if not wounded Sharks side will fight for every yard.
--Master Scribe