Sharks not quite Great Whites yet

Sale 30 Newport 10

The Sharks lacked that ruthless streak and edge, which was their forte before Christmas, in overcoming a game Dragons side at Edgeley Park yesterday.

Yesterday, many in the British media were talking up the possibility of taking their “home” quarter-final to either Old Trafford or the City of Manchester Stadium. That was before Sale director of rugby Philippe Saint-Andre walked into the media room looking more downbeat than joyful at becoming the first coach to lead the Sharks into the last eight of the Heineken Cup.

Saint-Andre wants a win in Thomond and was quick to point this out afterwards. Or was he just cleverly spinning words, keeping his players’ minds focused on the Thomond Park pool finale?

At times, Sale did look good, especially in the first 15 minutes when they denied Dragons possession, but occasionally they slipped into nonchalance and were sloppy with ball in hand. They are Sharks by name but they are not of the Great White variety just yet. They are at their best when Andrew Sheridan is forcing the issues up front and when Sebastien Chabal - a gliding mover and smooth passing number eight - is earning the hard yards. When the platform is set, they can pick off tries and, when Hodgson is giving an assured performance at out-half, their three-quarters can cut open any defence with real panache. After all, it’s the Saint-Andre way: his lethal cocktail of British power-based rugby and infectious Gallic three-quarter style play can be intoxicating. He admitted afterwards he was thrilled to see Mark Cueto run in for two tries, but not with the team’s overall performance. Then again, Sale did not have it easy against a side going well in recent weeks in the Celtic League. Yesterday, the Dragons were 13-0 down after 15 minutes, but, as with their visit to Limerick last month, the Welsh rolled up their sleeves and were rewarded with two tries. And the final score-line probably does not do their efforts justice - Cueto lucky to be rewarded with his second try when Hodgson’s final pass was forward.

Dragons coach Paul Turner said afterwards that a “30-20 scoreline would be a better reflection of my players’ efforts.”

Munster have nothing to fear, but will have to watch for their hard-nosed front row where Sheridan and Sebastien Bruno impressed, while Chabal, man of the match yesterday, was a monstrous figure. Defensively, Sale looked suspect, but that was offset by some inspired attacking play inside their 22.

“The target was to qualify for the quarter-finals of the Heineken Cup,” said Saint-Andre. “It’s one step. We want to finish top of our group. We’ll need to be much, much better away against Munster. Today, we just did enough. Not more, just enough. I think we weren’t patient enough and we got frustrated. Next week we have a huge game. I’m sure the attitude of the players will be totally different. I hope Munster watched us and weren’t too impressed,” he added with a smile. “We will be ready.” He added: “I know Thomond is a difficult place to go. One day their record there will end and I just hope we will end it. However, I have great respect for Munster and I know it will be very physical.”

If Munster have copyright on the perfectly choreographed rolling maul, then Sale can do a blinding imitation of it. And if they can fuse it with the pace they set in the first 15 minutes, then Fortress Thomond could fall.

Hodgson, an almost identical tactical out-half to Munster’s Ronan O’Gara, belted over a penalty in the sixth minute and, six minutes later, Chabal stole up the blind side for Sale’s first try. Gareth Baber and Ceri Sweeney did well to put Richard Fussell in the corner for the Dragons’ opening score but it was negatived by the speeding Mark Cueto as he dived in for his first try in three months.

Dragons were unlucky to be at the end of a poor refereeing decision for Cueto’s second try two minutes into the second half, but Sale’s build-up was a little bit special. Jason Robinson, so often a bystander, took the ball crossfield, fed Hodgson who then ran a lovely line to put Cueto through. The pass was forward but never mind. The Welsh responded to the injustice in fine style when Sione Tuituloto brushed off the challenge of a weak Hodgson tackle to dash over the line, this coming after seven minutes of concerted Dragons pressure.However, Sale’s fourth and quarter-final-clinching try came via the industry of the ubiquitous Chabal and a scorching break by his out-half who spotted a gap in the corner.

SALE SHARKS: D. Larrechea, M. Cueto, M. Taylor, E. Sevala’l, J. Robinson, C. Hodgson, R. Wigglesworth, A. Sheridan, S. Bruno, B. Coutts, C. Jones, D. Schofield, N. Bonner-Evans, M. Lund, S. Chabal. Replacements: B. Stewart for Coutts, C. Day for Jones both 59 mins, A. Titterrell for Bruno 62 mins, B. Foden for Wigglesworth 62 mins, C. Mayor for Hodgson 73.

NEWPORT GWENT DRAGONS: A. Thomas, R. Fussell, H. Luscombe, S. Tuipulotu, B. Breeze, C. Sweeney, G. Baber, D. Maddocks, S. Jones, G. Robinson, B. Griffiths, P. Sidoli, A. Hall, J. Ringer, M. Owen.

Replacements: A. Black for Maddocks, R. Thomas for Robinson, I. Goss for Griffiths all 51 mins. R. Oakley for Hall, J. Bryant for Luscombe both 65 mins.

Referee: R. Dickson (SRU).