Sale suffered horrendously with departures. The power of the club has been stripped away. From Bruno and Faure in the front row to Jason White, the cultish Sebastien Chabal and the monumental Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe in the back row and the lumpy matter of Luke McAlister in the midfield...oh and Philippe Saint-Andre, the Director of Rugby in the bargain...
Kingsley Jones, the number two has become the number one and appointed a mate from the Valleys to coach the back line. Jason Robinson has come out of retirement to teach individuals how to back themselves and beat men, one on one. There are more than a few ifs and buts surrounding the Sharks.
I like the idea of Robinson encouraging players to back their selves; I hope he spends a few hours with Charlie Hodgson and reminds him how good he is when playing flat on the gain line. Hodgson definitely lost his way last season, he lost his grip on tactics and seems a player who relishes trust and responsibility.
If the pack produces the ball and Robinson whispers the right words in his ears Sale could do all right. David Bishop is another Celt Sale has signed, and a good one from the Ospreys. Uncomplicated and organised, he will do well, especially if the flashy Fijian No 8 Koyamaibole and Dave Seymour (from Saracens) can generate some strong carries from the eight. But the squad is thin and a series of injuries to match last season’s could leave the Sharks thrashing around in the deep end, prey for others.
Prediction: 9th