Well, that was incredibly disappointing, and yet, somehow, utterly inevitable.
Strangely enough, I remember feeling more nervous at half-time than before the game started. Possibly because Leicester had seemed a bit too much off their game. There was a sense of “this is Leicester, they don’t fold like that”.
Also, I’ve been following Sale for long enough to know that a dominant first half is often followed by a weak second; usually because the opposition have changed their game plan and we haven’t.
I’m struggling to think of much to say about this game, and that, coupled with going away for a couple of days before putting myself through the emotional wringer of the upcoming Bristol game, means that this is probably going to be a quick read.
Look hard enough and you’ll find things to blame or bemoan.
If Roebuck had managed to control that ball in the corner, the impetus might well have stayed with Sale, and we might have gone on to second place and be in full control of our destiny.
Ditto, if Pollard had been penalised more harshly when he played the ball a metre from the line. The referee deemed it to be not cynical, but since when has intent been a factor in such cases? If someone slips on a greasy surface and pulls down a maul, the ref will probably still award the penalty try, despite it not being a cynical action.
That said, was taking the scrum the right choice? It hadn’t been particularly dominant up to that point, so a five-metre lineout (despite a couple of wobbles) might have brought a better result.
I’ve seen much more egregious offences than Carpenters’ rewarded, so that felt particularly harsh, especially as it gave them the initiative that led to the try denying us the losing bonus point (we’ve still got a big, fat zero in that column).
If, if, if…
Might, might, might…
It still comes down to one simple equation: fifteen penalties to five. You don’t win games with that sort of disparity.
Sod it, let’s talk positives.
We still look like a team that can take on anybody. Yes, barring a miracle (i.e. Newcastle beating Leicester at Natalie Woods Welford Road), the dream of a home semi-final has gone. But, if we can get third, I’d still fancy us to get our revenge down there in a couple of weeks.
There’s an increasing feeling of cohesion in the play that’s been building over the past five or six games. It no longer feels like two separate games within a game: the forwards do their thing and the backs do theirs. Now, there’s an interplay between the two sets, a meshing of purpose, and that, for me, is down to one man: George Ford. He’s been quietly (and not so quietly) making his mark since he first came here, and now all that work is coming to fruition.
It’s not quite there yet, but we’re seeing a lot more accuracy in the play – fewer dropped balls or passes not going to hand – and better support lines – just watch Rikki’s try again. As I said, it’s not quite there yet, but the intent is. A metre here, half a second there… Get it right and be able to keep it going for the full eighty and not suffer those twenty-minute switch-offs that we seem so fond of, and I can see everyone being genuinely worried about facing us.
So, we’re fourth, with Saracens uncomfortably close behind, after Quins did us a favour (I still have a soft spot for them) and Bath didn’t (add another reason to dislike them).
It’s still in our hands. Ten points over the last two games will guarantee third. Deny Bristol anything on Friday, and seven points will guarantee fourth.
But fifth is still an option, as is sixth or even seventh. Five points on Friday will eliminate Harlequins and seventh place, but we still need a good win at Exeter if we don’t want to be heading for the beach a couple of weeks early.
SAMP™ gives us a healthy advantage, with the five-year average being 29-16 (there is no usable ten-year average, because Bristol have only been in the Premiership for seven of the last fourteen years – I know, that doesn’t feel right, somehow).
That said, no complacency. They have everything to fight for, not to mention revenge for us nilling them at home. We have to remember that the only time we’ve lost at home this season (PRC excluded) is when we had to play with half the first XV missing – and, even then, we gave the top team in the league a good fight.
Let’s do this…
an old grey dog 