| Let's
forget that fact that the Sharks needed a four-try bonus point from
this match to maintain hopes of going through to the knockout stages
of the Heineken Cup. Let us focus instead on the imbalance of power
on the pitch. Sure, Sale are England's Premiership champions, the
pride of the North, but they are also a team viciously pecked at by
injury, key losses both of games and of players. If Sale were most
businesses it would be filing for bankruptcy. Stade Francais, on the
other hand are the current pick of a juicy crop of French teams, top
of the table and pretty in pink.
This
Sharks team is a team with real grit. The strength in depth does
not manifest itself in wave after wave of second and third team
experience at the highest level. It manifests itself in determination
in the face of overwhelming adversity.
The
Sharks took to the pitch on Sunday possessed. Three of the best
tackles seen at Edgeley this year came from the on-form Chris Mayor
in the first half alone. One of these would put world class judo
moves to shame as he embraced his opponent around the chest and
hurled him backward in an arc landing squarely and heavily on the
Stockport dirt.
Chris
Bell too put in some great hits. Sebasiten Chabal seemed determined
to take the game by the scruff of the neck and played like the Seabass
of old - his leadership by example reminiscent of Martin Johnson.
Chris Jones played a great game at blindside flanker, and Magnus
Lund, of course, excellent on the open flank.
It
was a dirty, and undisciplined game too, at times more of a brawl
than a professional sporting match. There were more punches and
off the ball incidents than any other match this year. Though there
was only one yellow card in the match, there will surely be citings
(get Pink 4 OFF!).
So
the Sharks showed passion, and aggression, and power and fearlessness.
But where was the flair, the finesse … where were the tries?
Well, Lee Thomas played a fine game at fly half; probably fine enough
to take the jersey for the next game; he will take time to settle
into it though. Thomas also scored all of the Sharks points with
a good placke kicking effort. His kicking from hand was often exceptiona.
Ben Foden ran well, but frankly saw too little ball to score, and
Oriol Ripol on the opposite wing saw even less.
They
will be licking their wounds, nursing the most painful of bruisings,
but I think the Sharks can be mightily proud of this victory. And
there is still a chance of an away quarter final …
Report
by Ben Lomond for salesupporters.co.uk
|
