Sale Sharks can beat anyone in the Aviva Premiership but with just six rounds left they have to produce consistently to mount a serious challenge for a top four playoff berth, says winger Tom Arscott.
Before last week’s 28-8 thumping at Leicester Tigers Steve Diamond’s men had won three games on the spin, including victories over last year’s finalists Northampton Saints and Saracens.
Seventh-placed Sharks travel to Bath Rugby tonight and winger Tom Arscott knows that a win there could propel his side into prime position – with just five points separating seventh from second.
He said: “The league is tight this year so with one win you can jump up a few places. It was disappointing not to win (last week) but now we’ve just got to look at this weekend against Bath to try to put things right.
“We were on a bit of a roll and had a bit of momentum so it was just a disappointing performance.”
Arscott, who has eight tries this season, knows that although his team’s fate currently remains out of their hands they can still have a real impact on the race for the playoffs.
“We only need to worry about ourselves and hopefully results might go our way one weekend and we’ll be able to push ourselves up the table a little.
“We have to get our individual game right, game our performances down and play to our strengths as a team.
“If we can do that then we can push teams all the way, whether it’s home or away, whether it’s a top four side or not.”
There are three changes to the starting XV from the side that lost at Welford Road with Danny Cipriani, Tommy Taylor and David Seymour coming in.
Tom Arscott may face his brother Luke who is named among the Bath replacements.
Sale squad: Mike Haley, Tom Arscott, Johnny Leota, Sam Tuitupou, Mark Cueto, Danny Cipriani, Chris Cusiter, Eifion Lewis Roberts, Tommy Taylor, Vadim Cobilas, Jonathan Mills, Nathan Hines, Dan Braid (capt.), David Seymour, Magnus Lund
Replacements: Cameron Neild, James Flynn, Ross Harrison, Josh Beaumont, TJ Ioane, Will Cliff, Joe Ford, Tom Brady
Main image courtesy of ITV Sport via YouTube, with thanks.
