IRRESPECTIVE of an infinitely sterner test of their European credentials against Munster in the intimidating atmosphere of Thomond Park on Saturday, Sale Sharks yesterday qualified for the Heineken Cup quarter-finals for the first time. They are in uncharted waters admittedly, but the Sharks are developing a reputation as big fish and Munster’s famous unbeaten home record in the competition will definitely not faze them.
In cruising through five pool games and amassing three try bonus points, the surprise is that they have not yet guaranteed themselves a home quarter-final. They can afford for Munster to score four tries and win by a margin of up to 13 points, and still achieve their target of finishing top of pool one, although any team taking the trip to Co. Limerick for granted, as Gloucester infamously did in being shot down 33-6 in 2003, can expect their comeuppance.
Unlike Gloucester that year, Sale at least know that they are through to the last eight, but with Philippe Saint-Andre, their director of rugby, insistent that only a home quarter-final will suffice and that records are there to be broken, even one as proud as Munster’s formidable one in their backyard, there is unlikely to be any slacking from his side after what was a scratchy win against the badly under-strength Newport Gwent Dragons.
Having admired Munster’s romp past Castres last Friday, Saint-Andre said that the Irish club’s officials would have left Edgeley Park with a far less favourable impression of a Sale side who fulfilled their minimum objective of a bonus point but were not utterly convincing in so doing.
The litany of botched tries, turnovers and defending that will simply invite trouble next weekend left Saint-Andre to reflect that “we did just enough, no more”.
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Saint-Andre was far happier looking back on the cumulative achievements of his 18 months at the helm, with Sale’s new-found consistency demonstrated by their position at the top of the Guinness Premiership and a place in the last eight in Europe, even if some of that has come at the expense of a team who used to be a joy to watch, albeit infuriating on occasions.
Sale’s pack is now a mean proposition, with such redoubtable figures as Sébastien Chabal and Andrew Sheridan, but the backs rarely frolic and Mark Cueto’s brace of tries in ending his seven-match drought since England’s win against Australia in November was an unusual effort for him this season.
Cueto’s second was a beauty out of the old Sale school, Jason Robinson weaving his way through the Newport forwards, Charlie Hodgson sweeping down the right and the wing on hand with an impeccable finish.
Although they were destroyed at the set-piece, Newport were unfailingly gallant in running the little ball they saw and reaping the reward of tries in either half by Richard Fussell and Sione Tuipulotu. However, missing ten of their regular first team, the white flag had been hoisted and Paul Turner, their coach and the former Sale player-coach in their Heywood Road days, could at least extract some consolation from a nostalgic visit.
“Ten years ago, a will existed to move the club on,” Turner said. “It was always difficult in an area dominated by soccer and rugby league, but fair play to them and Brian Kennedy [the Sale chairman], they’ve established themselves as a big player in the North West. A lot depends on who they get in the quarter-finals but I can see them doing well.”
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Chabal was always eye-catching, whether driving down the blind side for the opening try, volleying a kick or colourfully attending to a bloody nose, but Sébastien Bruno, his France team-mate and hooker, was the real inspiration up front. His heel against the head led to Cueto’s first try. Hodgson was handed off for Tuipulotu’s try but took his revenge in stepping past the centre for Sale’s all-important fourth touchdown. More clinical and they would have won at a canter.
SCORERS: Sale Sharks: Tries: Chabal (11min), Cueto 2 (27, 41), Hodgson (57). Conversions: Hodgson 2. Penalty goals: Hodgson 2 (5, 15). Newport Gwent Dragons: Tries: Fussell (20), Tuipulotu (54).
SCORING SEQUENCE (Sale first): 3-0, 10-0, 13-0, 13-5, 18-5 (half-time), 25-5, 25-10, 30-10.
SALE SHARKS: D Larrechea; M Cueto, M Taylor, E Seveal’i (rep: O Ripol, 75min), J Robinson; C Hodgson (rep: C Mayor, 73), R Wigglesworth (rep: B Foden, 62); A Sheridan, S Bruno (rep: A Titterrell, 62), B Coutts (rep: B Stewart, 59), C Jones (rep: C Day, 59), D Schofield, N Bonner Evans, M Lund, S Chabal.
NEWPORT GWENT DRAGONS: A Thomas; R Fussell, H Luscombe (rep: J Bryant, 64), S Tuipulotu B Breeze; C Sweeney, G Baber; D Maddocks (rep: A Black, 51), S Jones, G Robinson (rep: R Thomas, 51), B Griffiths (rep: I Gough, 51), P Sidoli, A Hall, J Ringer, M Owen.
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Referee: R Dickson (Scotland).
Attendance: 8,481.