Sale Sharks head to Bridgend on Friday knowing that they need a bonus point win over the Ospreys to guarantee their progress to the next round of the LV Cup.
Sale currently sit top of a wide open Pool 2 where every side still has the possibility of qualifying for the knock-out rounds from this final group stage game.
With continued uncertainty over the state of Welsh rugby former Cardiff forward, and current Sharks’ player, Michael Paterson told MM how it is affecting those playing in Wales.
“It is not an ideal situation down there, I talk to some of the boys every now and then questioning what is going on and they don’t even know,” he said.
“The guys in the situation are probably getting a bit frustrated with the whole thing and with what is happening with the Heineken Cup so I am pretty happy to be playing in the Premiership at the current time.”
Ospreys have named a youthful line-up as they focus on making the play offs in the Pro 12 with Sale sticking largely to the same side that delivered victory over Worcester last time out.
Paterson, who joined the club in the summer, said that the knowledge that things weren’t settled in Wales was a factor in his move to Sale.
“ I think I had a feeling that things in Welsh rugby were going to get bad before they got better and that is probably an indication of them not having any representation in the(latter stages of) Heineken Cup or the Amlin for one reason or another,” he added.
In other club news following on from the confirmation that Henry Thomas, James Gaskell and Dwayne Peel are leaving Sale it is expected that fullback Rob Miller is to join London Wasps at the end of the season from the Sharks.
Miller, 24, believes his international ambitions will be better served elsewhere and, after making his debut for the England Saxons last week, he will be joined by Sharks’ teammate Tom Brady in the Saxons squad who has been added as injury cover.
With the Six Nations set to get underway this weekend Sharks’ prop Thomas has been named on the bench for England’s opening match against France in Paris on Saturday.
Image courtesy of Sale Sharks via YouTube, with thanks.
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