The ruthless grind of pre-season training is over and when Sale Sharks take to the field tomorrow to host Bath, their squad will be ready to test their teeth.
The Sharks will be hoping to build upon last season’s sixth-placed finish, considered by many to be something of an over-achievement having narrowly avoided relegation the year before.
Director of Rugby Steve Diamond acknowledged the challenge ahead of his team as they look to catch up with the powerhouses of Northampton Saints, Saracens and Leicester Tigers.
Hooker Marc Jones, who has been at Sale since 2005, is excited by the squad that Diamond has assembled.
“The boys coming in know they have their work cut out to get into the team to start with,” he told MM.
“That’s what we look for, healthy competition.”
A crop of young, English players have left the club, yet the squad remains impressive, bolstered by a fresh influx of experienced internationals, at least three of whom will make their debuts tomorrow.
Scottish pair Nathan Hines and Chris Cusiter have been named in the starting XV along with Italian fullback Luke McLean.
McLean’s countryman, prop Alberto Di Marchi is named on the bench, alongside returning prodigal son, Magnus Lund, back in Manchester after six years in the south of France with Biarritz.
Diamond said: “Pushing for a top-four place is going to be difficult but we’ve got an ambitious team with a good set of young lads coming through, so who knows where we’ll go.”
One of the biggest changes this season, for players and fans alike is the decision to switch home games from Friday nights to Saturday afternoons and it is a move that Diamond thinks will have benefits on and off the pitch.
“We’ve been a bit hamstrung on Friday nights, with commuter traffic. Getting to and from the ground has been disastrous on some occasions.
“We’ve got that loyal band of about 4,000 people and if we can get to 8,000 on a regular basis the business breaks even and makes money and that will be drilled back into the team.”
This weekend’s visitors Bath finished just one place above the Sharks last season, yet they too have serious aspirations of breaking into the top-four.
They bring a star studded squad to the A.J Bell Stadium, featuring England and former Sale Sharks prop Henry Thomas and Welsh pin up Gavin Henson.
One man that Sale will be relieved they don’t have to face, however, is Sam Burgess, the 6’5”, 18-stone bruiser and possibly the most famous cross code signing in rugby history, who will join up with his new team in October.
Sale Sharks: Luke McLean, Tom Brady, Will Addison, Mark Jennings, Mark Cueto, Danny Cipriani, Chris Cusiter, Eifion Lewis Roberts, Marc Jones, Vadim Cobilas, Nathan Hines, Michael Paterson, Dan Braid (C), David Seymour, Mark Easter
Replacements: Cameron Neild, Ross Harrison, Alberto di Marchi, Jonathan Mills, Magnus Lund, Will Cliff, Joe Ford, Tom Arscott
Bath Rugby: Luke Arscott, Semesa Rokoduguni, Jonathan Joseph, Kyle Eastmond, Anthony Watson, George Ford, Peter Stringer, Paul James, Rob Webber, David Wilson, Stuart Hooper (C), Dominic Day, Alafoti Fa’osiliva, Guy Mercer, Leroy Houston
Replacements: Tom Dunn, Nick Auterac, Henry Thomas, Dave Attwood, Carl Fearns, Chris Cook, Gavin Henson, Matt Banahan
Main image courtesy of Sale Sharks via YouTube, with thanks.
