A tough test awaits Sale Sharks on Saturday as they travel to leaders Northampton where they have not won for over eight years.
That win in 2006 coincided with Premiership title glory for the Sharks and they have recent form too, beating Northampton the last time the pair clashed in March, former England man Mark Cueto on the score sheet that day.
Sale also got their second straight home win with a 25-14 defeat of Wasps last weekend, where the stalwart winger made his return from injury and Cueto is confident his side have the quality to beat the current champions at Franklin’s Gardens.
“We’ve got a brilliant group – a typical group but a brilliant group at the same time and the boys are confident,” the Premiership’s leading all-time premiership try scorer told MM.
“There are a few boys coming back from injury now that have struggled at the start of the season, so the group’s in good shape.”
Cueto, who was not named in Steve Diamond’s squad of 23 for the Saints clash, made it clear that they were not underestimating their opponents who have only lost once this campaign.
He said: “There’s no good time to play Northampton at home they’re one of those teams we always seem to struggle against but it’s good for us coming off the back of the win at the weekend.
“At Franklin’s Gardens when they get that 15,000 crowd behind them it gives them a huge lift and it’s almost like an extra man for them.”
Nonetheless Sale’s in-form winger Tom Arscott tops the Premiership try-scoring charts with teammate Tom Brady not far behind, while Danny Cipriani will be expected to pull the strings in the middle of the park and keep the scoreboard ticking over with his kicking.
Victory at Northampton would be good preparation for next weeks’ European clash against Munster as Sale begin their European campaign.
Main image courtesy of Sale Sharks via YouTube, with thanks.
