Robert du Preez is in the running for Sale as they secure a play-off spot with victory over Saracens. Photo: Tom Sandberg/Shutterstock < p>Imagine you are promoted to marketing manager for a sales team. Taking a brief look at the sporting situation in your area, you notice with some trepidation, if not alarm, that the following competing sporting venues are located about an hour's drive from your club.
Premier League football giants: Manchester United, Manchester City, Liverpool and Everton. The lower professional leagues include Wigan Athletic, Burnley, Bolton Wanderers, Bury, Blackburn Rovers and Preston North End, some of which were recently Premier League clubs. Rugby Super League clubs Warrington, Wigan, St Helens, Salford and Leigh are also competing for sponsorship and spectators. To round out the list, you have a significant Lancashire Cricket Club presence and Test match venue at Old Trafford.
Good luck mate.
I've compiled this list to contextualize Sale's achievements in reaching the Gallagher Premiership semi-final, where they could yet appear in a second consecutive Premiership final. It is against this backdrop that you have to look at Sale's track record as it clearly shows what an exceptionally challenging environment they have to operate under. This background also provides a counterpoint to some criticism from some supporters of other clubs.
Sale's play-off place was achieved in the final round of the regular season against Saracens at the StoneX Stadium, where they have been winless in 11 of their last 12 visits. The surprise that greeted Sale's victory was widespread but misplaced given their recent form. What was lost in such shock was the fact that Sale came into the match with the highest number of outright wins in this year's Premier League – they had won 11 games, tied with Northampton. It was the relative lack of bonus points that was responsible for their position in the table ahead of the match.
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Those who bet against Sale might have been less likely to do so had they placed more faith in the club's developing reputation for resilience in the face of great challenges. They became a club willing to fight for every little detail and make defeating them a feat that could only be achieved by matching their brutality. It was a typically strong and draining victory over Sarries, in which Sale's back line made life particularly uncomfortable for their opponents. It was not an exciting game of free rugby but, as is often the case, Sale managed to get the job done.
This fact ended the play-off hopes of Harlequins and Bristol, who were involved in an insane display of attacking rugby. A total of 11 tries scored pleased the crowd, although both sets were ultimately disappointing. The juxtaposition of the style of the two games has led some fans to lament the fact that clubs committed to attacking aspirations will miss out on the semi-finals while Sale's nasty style prevails.
Envy certainly explains some of this criticism, but it also misses the fact that there are many ways to play rugby, and while you may prefer one over the other, they all require experience. Dominating the striker requires enormous physical ability and technical skill, as well as brilliant play from the back. Fans are sometimes guilty of not appreciating the tactical skill and practical challenges of playing in Sale's style.
Look, say, at the contribution of their assistant George Ford. It is fair to say that his instinctive creativity is not evident enough when he plays for his club. What you don't want to do is overlook the control and tactical savvy he displays as he continually pushes Sale forward. His intelligent use of his kicking skills allows Sale to play in areas of the pitch that benefit most from the attacking options at his disposal.
George Ford's intelligent kicking allows Sale to play in areas of the field where they can do the most damage. Photo: Tom Sandberg/Shutterstock
The same can be said for the contributions of Tom Curry, Bevan Rodd and Jean-Luc du Preez, the latter of whom would have played many more caps had he not been South African, and ” The Springboks have a surplus of world class rowers.
I readily admit that I am in the entertainment camp when it comes to the style clash debate. Like everyone else, I have a right to this opinion, but equally everyone associated with Sale has the right to ignore my preferences and not pay attention to those who have an opposing point of view. Additionally, in weighing these views, due consideration must be given to the fact that Sale must operate in an environment where their sport is the third, and possibly fourth, most popular team sport. For them, winning and competing at the highest level of rugby union is disproportionately important compared to clubs operating in more rugby-friendly regions. It is also important that they remain the “local” club for players from the North, who still contribute on average seven of the fifteen players who will eventually play for England.
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