Sharks look to bounce back

Sale Sharks head to Vicarage Road this weekend off the back of a second half humiliation handed out by the dominant Leicester Tigers.  Sharks executive director of sport Steve Diamond admitted it was a "reality check," after his side conceded 31 unanswered points after leading 13-3 at half time.

Tom Brady scored his sides solitary try as the game ebbed towards half time, but in reality the Edgeley Park outfit could and possibly should have headed into the break with a bigger margin.  Mark Cueto broke down the left wing but was unable to break through, while on more than one occasion shoddy handling skills or ill discipline cost them.  A late tackle prevented Rob Miller from going over, while Brady was denied by the television match official after beating a dawdling Geordan Murphy.

The opening try however was a very well worked move, initiated by the quick thinking Dwayne Peel.  The Welsh Scrum Half took a quick penalty and released Miller, who in turn fed Brady for a deserved score.
Following this though it was all downhill.  A different Leicester emerged in the Second half, with a pack that dominated for a full 40 minutes.  Including two tries as a direct result of driving mauls.  Toby Flood added 16 of his 19 points in this period of the game, as a startled Sale side saw first hand the standard that has to be met to compete at the highest level in The Aviva Premiership.

Saracens are the focus this weekend, who sit one place and seven points over the Stockport based side.  A whole host of sides are now breathing down the neck of Sale hoping to knock them down the league, a scenario that is more than likely going to materialise sooner rather than later.  Atleast the Sale fan's can look forward to a season minus relegation scrap, something that has been all to familiar in recent season.

Speaking to the club's official website, Diamond said:  "It's a long time ago since I left Saracens. They have created a super franchise. They are now going away from home and winning at Gloucester, so we know that we are up against a top side on Sunday.
 
" In the end it's all about our performance this weekend. If we get it right in our set piece and defence then we stand a chance of getting something out of the game. They are one of the top super clubs in England right now and if you get anything from them away from home, then you are doing well."

Below is the Sale Sharks side in full for Sunday's clash


15.Rob Miller, 14.Will Addison, 13.Johnny Leota, 12.Sam Tuitupou (capt), 11.Mark Cueto, 10.Nick Macleod, 9.Will Cliff, 1.Alasdair Dickinson, 2.Tommy Taylor, 3.Henry Thomas, 4.Fraser McKenzie, 5.James Gaskell, 6.Richie Vernon. 7.David Seymour, 8.Andy Powell

Replacements 

16.Marc Jones, 17.Vadim Cobilas, 18.Tony Buckley, 19.Kearnan Myall, 20.Mark Easter, 21.Cillian Willis, 22.Tasesa Lavea, 23.Tom Brady

Have England turned a corner?

Away from all the aggro of the will they won't they situation enrolling in South Africa, a different set of home internationals has just done the unthinkable down under.

A 21-20 victory for Martin Johnson's Rugby Union side could've saved the ex Leicester Tiger from the axe, with a first win in Australia since the remarkable World Cup Triumph seven years ago providing a nation with fresh promise.

This first win over Tri-Nation opposition since the 2007 World Cup, highlighted a number of things that both pundits and fans alike have been calling for for a long time.

Ben Foden is a natural full back, and after barely featuring it is refreshing to now see him becoming something of a regular in the national set up.

His out put is integral to any potential future success, with his running game being the strong point for the Northampton Saint.

However it was his team mate Chris Ashton and Ben Youngs who were the stand out performers on Saturday.

There is one common element among these names, young fresh talent emerging that is finally being given a chance to shine.

Both Ashton and Youngs grabbed a try a piece, with the wily nous showed by Youngs showing that he could be a main player for years to come.

It is Ashton though that should get the appetite going.

Last seasons top try scorer by a long margin should have featured earlier for the national side, and should have been given more of a chance during the Six Nations.

It is good to know that in Johnson, we have a man who isn't prepared to change things if he's done it wrong the first time.

Maybe something a certain Mr. Capello should take note of.

The mix between youth and experience in the side is perfect, and it is a situation that all players involved could learn from and prosper.

The domination of the pack continued from the first game, but after seeing that sheer physical power won't win games alone England mixed it up.

The Aussie threat was taken down a notch if not entirely stopped, with some of their running skill on show in the first game switching sides.

With that blend of power and pace they came back to level the series 1-1.

Let's all pray that it isn't another false dawn served up from an English national side.

Final day is upon us!

Leicester Tigers and Saracens fight it out later today for the right to be Guinness Premiership Champions.

And while Leicester are seasoned pro's, and have experienced this occasion for the last six consecutive seasons, Saracens are relatively new to this.

Following last years South African but out, plenty of people from that very same nation have found there over to Vicarage Road, including influential Director of Rugby Brendan Venter who is of course banned from attending today.

While Leicester who have to be considered favourites after there overwhelming first place finish in the regular season, you can't count out Sarries.

If they are to triumph though they have to recreate the game at Welford Road earlier this month, when against the odds again they beat today's opponents 32-23 on there remarkable home patch.

Glen Jackson, who's retiring after the game, has been kicking everything in recent week and he has to continue this form to force mistakes from the Tigers pack as they did three weeks ago.

Anther thing they have to do is fight from first to last.

They did that terribly well at Welford Road, but if you give this Tigers side any space they will punish you in the utmost fashion.

The Sarries pack dominated at 8 May, and if they can do that again the pendulum will no doubt swing in there favour.

Following that victory not so long ago, it could be argued that Sarries will be going into the match the more confident.

They cannot let that go to there heads, but if they follow that same blueprint for success there's no doubt they will walk away from Twickenham as Premiership Champions.

New faces for Baa-Baas test

So the sight we never thought we would see again has materialised, Charlie Hodgson is back for the Red Rose at fly-half.

In the absence of Toby Flood, the man who carries most of the hope at Edgeley Park returns to start for the first time since that doomed tour in 2008.

In a poor Sale side this season however he has been a standout performer, and there has been calls from the Northwest for well over a year for their man to be given another chance.

Now that chance has finally come, and he must prove himself along with half-back partner Danny Care.

He isn't the only one that is been given chance in this non cap outing though, with players from Leicester Tigers and the injured Jonny Wilkinson all missing out.

The Tigers of course will be gracing the Twickenham turf on Saturday in the Premiership final, so we will see many other new faces in the side.

Shontayne Hape, Jon Golding and Dave Attwood will make their first appearances for their country at centre, prop and lock.

One of these in particular though is very exciting, and that is Bath Rugby man Hape.

He was around the squad for the duration of this years Six Nations, and was perhaps unlucky not to be given a chance then.

Another exciting addition is Ben Foden continuing at full-back, where he performed so well when given chance in the Six Nations.

His running game is second to none, and he can no doubt be a very dangerous outlet for England.

More flair in the backs in provided by Saracens bound David Strettle, who is back for his country following a series of injury problems.

It is fantastic to see the Harlequins man competing at the top level again, and if he can reach his past level we could be set for an excting time.

One overwhelming theme throughout the startin 15 though is the mix of youth and experience throughout.

Only the backrow contains three fullly experienced individuals, in the shape of James Haskell, Steffon Armitage and Nick Easter.

Even without the Tigers plays this team on the outset seems relatively strong, so ahead of the summer tour Martin Johnson could certainly have a few headaches to deal with.

The team to play Barbarians in full:

Ben Foden, Mark Cueto, Mike Tindall, Shontayne Hape, David Strettle, Charlie Hodgson, Danny Care, Jon Golding, Steve Thompson, Paul Doran-Jones, Dave Attwood, Tom Palmer, James Haskell, Steffon Armitage, Nick Easter

Replacements:

Lee Mears, Tim Payne, Dan Ward-Smith, Joe Worsley, Joe Simpson, Olly Barkley, Matthew Tait.