Neil Back looks at Leed’s trip to Sale

Posted on Mar 24, 2011 in Latest Rugby News

Neil Back looks ahead to this Friday’s trip to Sale Sharks.

HOW HAVE PREPARATIONS GONE THIS WEEK?

We gave the players some time off at the back end of last week and they appear to have really benefitted from the rest. Everyone came back in at the start of the week with a spring in their step and we are looking forward to going to Sale this week.

We are pleased to have Steve Thompson and Hendre Fourie back with us on a full time basis after the Six Nations and we have got a few guys back from injury who missed our last game against Northampton.

HOW ARE YOU APPROACHING THIS GAME?

Last season we had a crucial win at Sale at a key time for us in the season and it really helped our momentum in the second half of the season and we will be looking for a similar performance on Friday night. We now have three massive games in the coming weeks to keep our destiny in our own hands and that is how we are approaching Friday’s game.

Sale are a very strong side with internationals across their team. I am sure, like ourselves, they are disappointed to find themselves at the wrong end of the table. However, we know that we can not focus on what has already happened this season, we need to look forward and that is what we have been doing.

HOW IS YOU SQUAD SHAPING UP?

We are in a fortunate position at this time of year to have a number of players coming back from injury to give us lots of competition for places. With Steve Thompson back at hooker, Scott Freer will start off the bench whilst Lee Blackett has overcome the injury he had recently which means we can move Henry Fa’afili back into the centres with Scott Barrow ruled out for a hernia operation.

With players returning from injury, we are able to get some consistency with our team selection and that is important at this time of year.

Five changes for Sharks trip

Leeds Carnegie Head Coach Neil Back has made five changes to his side for this Friday’s Aviva Premiership clash with Sales Sharks at Edgeley Park.

The majority of the changes come in the front row. Steve Thompson returns from his try-scoring appearance off the bench with England last weekend. Either side of Thompson are Mike MacDonald and Phil Swainston with Gareth Hardy and Juan Gomez this week starting on the bench.

There is only one change in the back line with Lee Blackett returning from injury to replace Scott Barrow, who has had a hernia operation this week. Henry Fa’afili reverts to centre to allow Blackett to return on the right wing.

The final change is the return of skipper Marco Wentzel from a hamstring injury suffered in the first half of the win over London Irish. He replaces Sean Hohneck.

The bench also sees back row Rhys Oakley return from injury, in place of James Craig, whilst Christian Lewis-Pratt could make his first appearance in the Aviva Premiership since the game at London Irish back in October.

The squad in full is:

15. Michael Stephenson
14. Lee Blackett
13. Henry Faafili
12. Luther Burrell
11. Peter Wackett
10. Adrian Jarvis
9. Scott Mathie
1. Mike MacDonald
2. Steve Thompson
3. Phil Swainston
4. Daniel Browne
5. Marco Wentzel (Captain)
6. Kearnan Myall
7. Hendre Fourie
8. Alfie Tooala
16. Scott Freer
17. Gareth Hardy
18. Juan Gomez
19. Rhys Oakley
20. Danny Paul
21. Warren Fury
22. Christian Lewis Pratt
23. Semi Tadulala

 

Sharks team news:

Sale Sharks have named their team for tomorrow’s Aviva Premiership home game against Leeds Carnegie (KO 7-45pm)

James Gaskell, Eifion Lewis Roberts and David Seymour all return after injury and Mark Cueto along with Dwayne Peel return after Six Nations Duties.

Team

Nick Macleod, Ben Cohen, Chris Bell, Andy Tuilagi, Mark Cueto, Charlie Hodgson, Dwayne Peel, Lee Imiolek, Neil Briggs, Henry Thomas, Chris Jones, Wame Lewaravu, James Gaskell, Neil Mcmillan, Sisa Koyamaibole

Replacements

Marc Jones, Eifion Lewis Roberts, Jack Forster, Sean Cox, David Seymour, Will Cliff, Paul Williams, Kyle Tonetti

Executive Director of Rugby Steve Diamond said, “ The players have been training hard since the defeat at Wasps preparing for this game. It’s a crucial game for both teams and we have been working on all areas of our game.”

Collins signs for Sale: Diamond promises more signings

Posted on Mar 23, 2011 in Latest Rugby News

Sale’s Steve Diamond has moved to lay down another important building block in his plans for next season by signing Worcester Warriors’ back row forward James Collins.

The 25-year-old broke through to the Warriors first team from their Academy ranks and since breaking through into the first team has impressed both at domestic level as well as in European combat prior to their relegation last season.

A back row operator of considerable athleticism and skill, those qualities also helped earn Collins a place in the England Sevens squad and he fits into Diamond’s template of hungry young players who are keen to develop.

"James has plenty of potential and will fit in well with the work ethic we are creating at the club," said Diamond.

Collins has become the latest of a host of signings made by Diamond since he took up his role as executive director of sport in February and the former Sale hooker revealed that a number more are in the pipeline.

But he stressed that though owner Brian Kennedy has again pledge to spend up to the £4m Aviva Premiership salary cap ceiling, the Sharks will not be panicked into rash purchases or pay what they consider to be exorbitant wages.

"We are four or five signings off yet. There are a number yet to announce and there are four or five other positions we’ve identified and you don’t need to be a rocket scientist to work them out," Diamond added.

"But we are waiting for the right people to come along and if we’ve got to be a bit more patient so be it.

"We are in not going to rush in and waste money. We’ve got very capable players already here and who are arriving and we are planning for years here not for weeks or months.

"So we’ll keep our powder dry if needs be.

"The majority of the guys signed up so far have been young, ambitious players with a good track record in their respective leagues be it Magners, Premiership or France and they all fit in to what we are trying to achieve which is a hard working  no ego mentality.

"The players that have agreed to sign will do us proud and we are still on the look out for a big forward and we have got four or five to interview over the next few days.

"And we’re in the fortunate position of having the backing of Brian Kennedy so it’s not an issue of money. Contrary to popular belief it has never come down to not having enough money."

Sharks: Roberts, Seymour and Gaskell all approaching full fitness

Posted on Mar 18, 2011 in Latest Rugby News

Sale Sharks have been given a massive boost with the news that Eifion Roberts, David Seymour and James Gaskell are all approaching full fitness and will be in contention for selection for the game against Leeds next Friday. Sharks have had no time since the narrow defeat at Wasps and have been training every day.

Eifion who hobbled off the field last September against Harlequins, with a knee injury said, “ Its been a long haul with the rehab but I am finally back in full training and looking forward to playing next week if selected.

Dave Seymour who signed a new contract this week has been out of action with a shoulder injury sustained at London Irish last October said, “ I am delighted to have signed a new deal with the club and would like to thank the backroom staff for their help with my rehab.”

James Gaskell who left the field with an arm injury at Wasps said, “ The physios have sorted out the problem and I am just glad I have not missed any games whilst doing my rehab! We have had a good week training and we are all looking forward to next Friday’s game against Leeds.”

Warriors capture Jones from Sharks

Posted on Mar 18, 2011 in Latest Rugby News

Worcester Warriors have today bolstered the club’s second row resources with the major signing of former England international lock Chris Jones from Sale Sharks.

Highly-rated Jones, who has won 14 international caps for England, will join Warriors this summer on a three-year deal after over a decade of dedicated service at Sharks.

The athletic 30-year-old, who can play in the second row or back row, has played over 200 games for Sale with his outstanding line-out jumping making him a constant threat to other teams, while a series of long range tries has underlined his pace and skills.

Manchester-born Jones has played for England Sevens and was part of the England A team that beat France A, Scotland A and Italy A in the 2003 Six Nations and also went on the unbeaten England tour to North America and Japan that year.

Jones first played for England in the uncapped match against the Barbarians at Twickenham in May 2003 before being called up by Clive Woodward for the senior team ahead of the 2004 Six Nations. He came off the bench against Italy for his debut and marked his appearance with a try

He was selected for England’s 2004 summer tour, starting against the All Blacks in Dunedin in the first Test. Jones went on to collect more caps on the 2006 tour of Australia and 2007 tour of South Africa.

Head Coach Richard Hill said: “With Graham Kitchener leaving at the end of the season, it was critical that we recruited very strongly and signed someone who could play in that role. We believe in Chris Jones we have the ideal fit and someone who will be a major player for us for years to come.

“Chris has committed his long-term future to us and we are delighted as he is an outstanding professional who is used to playing at the very highest level for club and country.

“Chris is a very athletic player who gets around the field and wants to play the style of rugby we are looking to encourage. His attitude and skills are first rate, he is a strong ball carrier and he also brings us real flexibility as he can play in the back row.”

Cueto talks about 50th cap

Posted on Mar 17, 2011 in Latest Rugby News

Speaking ahead of his 50th cap against Ireland on Saturday, Sharks captain Mark Cueto looked back on how it all began.

He said, “I remember sitting in my hotel room at Pennyhill Park in 2004 wondering whether I had done enough to get selected and Sharks media manager Dave Swanton rang me and tipped me off that I had been picked! Swanny had been given the heads up and we laugh about it to this day that he knew before I did!”

Looking back over his 49 games Mark said, “The highlights have got to be my debut against Canada, scoring a hat trick against Italy, beating Australia in their own back yard and the World Cup Final in 2007.”

Was it a try in 2007?  Mark laughed and said, “Of course it was and I still get asked about it today. In fact the other week I was filling my car up with petrol in Sale and someone shouted across the forecourt that it was definitely a try……and that’s nearly four years on!”

On this weekend and the rest of the season Mark said, “ We have prepared well for the game in Ireland but it won’t be easy. Then next week I return to Sale Sharks and we have a big game against Leeds Carnegie at Edgeley Park. It will be great to see the lads again and we have four of our last six games at home including the big one at the Reebok on 16th April. The Reebok may not be our own ground but we will have a biggest ever ‘home crowd’ cheering us on.”