Sale’s Hodgson targeting Blues as England prospects reopen

FORGOTTEN England fly-half Charlie Hodgson has reappeared on Martin Johnson’s selection radar – and Cardiff Blues could find out why today.

Hodgson has had more than 18 months to reflect on his last Test match appearance.

It proved a painful evening for him in Auckland when New Zealand midfield battering ram Ma’a Nonu inflicted all kinds of defensive troubles on the Sale Sharks playmaker.

And 29-year-old Hodgson paid the price, not being involved in any of England’s subsequent games despite amassing more than 250 points in 31 appearances – a tally only bettered by Jonny Wilkinson, Paul Grayson, Rob Andrew and Jonathan Webb.

Johnson though, this week rewarded consistently impressive club form by naming Hodgson alongside the likes of Danny Cipriani in an England Saxons squad that will prepare to face Ireland A on January 31 and Italy A seven days later.

Hodgson admitted: “It was a surprise to be selected.

“I had not had any contact from England for a while and I wasn’t really expecting anything to come of it, so I was delighted to hear the news.

“At the end of the day, your form can change, but overall I’ve been pleased with how things have been going. I am happy and just enjoying my rugby, and probably that has been the big factor for me.

“If you are happy in yourself, then you are a bit more relaxed and as a result you tend to play a bit better.”

Sale head to Wales tucked in one point behind Heineken Cup Pool Five leaders Toulouse after completing a quickfire European double over Harlequins before Christmas.

And a win in the Welsh capital would leave a quarter-final place as the prize when Toulouse arrive at Edgeley Park in nine days’ time.

If the Sharks lose though, in a game of no bonus points, then Toulouse can wrap up the group by claiming a five-point maximum against Quins on Sunday.

Hodgson added: “We know full well we can beat Cardiff because we have beaten them before, but going away from home is another matter.

“They are going to be tough opposition.”

Blues boss David Young accepts a home defeat would effectively end his team’s hopes – and any realistic chance of making the Amlin Challenge Cup knockout stages as a Heineken group runner-up.

“Being realistic, if we lose to Sale we are pretty much out of both the top tier and the second-tier competitions in Europe,” said Young.

“If we don’t qualify for either competition it will be a huge blow for us after having had such a good run in Europe last season.

“The 2008/09 campaign was great, but some people said we over-achieved, and perhaps we did.

“But we certainly should be doing better than we are this year. We have put ourselves under pressure and must get ourselves out of it.”

Blues’ fellow Welsh challengers the Ospreys are currently four points clear in Pool Three – but that advantage could disappear by this evening.

They face French Championship leaders Clermont Auvergne at Stade Marcel Michelin today, with a losing bonus point effectively the minimum requirement to set up next week’s clash against current Guinness Premiership top-dogs Leicester.

The Tigers, meanwhile, should encounter few problems when hapless Italian outfit Viadana arrive at Welford Road today. Viadana’s average Heineken scoreline this season is 47-14 against them.

Wales stars Shane Williams and James Hook begin their comebacks from injury on the Ospreys bench, but an all-international starting XV features Test players from five different countries.

“It’s what this competition is all about,” said Ospreys head coach Sean Holley.

“You want to be testing yourself against the best, and there is no doubt in my mind that description fits our opponents on the weekend.

“It doesn’t get any bigger, or more difficult, than the challenge we face over the next two weeks – against the form team in France, and then the form team in England at the Liberty Stadium next weekend.”

But Bath, even if they become the first side to topple their Paris hosts Stade Francais in a Heineken group game at Stade Jean Bouin today, have little chance of progressing from Pool Four.

And the same goes for Pool Two strugglers Gloucester, who meet runaway group leaders Biarritz at Kingsholm.