Do I have to write this?
I’ve written before about Sale’s tendency to go to sleep for twenty minutes or so in the middle of a game, and let the opposition back into it. This was that, but taken to an extreme. We got to twenty points ahead and seemed to switch off: job done, might as well go home now…
I’ve spent the last few days struggling to think of something to say. I am genuinely at a loss for words.
Did we keep Fordy on too long after it was obvious that he was struggling?
Why bring Jibs on for Vermuelen, rather than move Ernie back and put Hyron in the row?
Why did we end with three unused subs? Corollary: Is Regan Grace going to be another Josh Charnley, never really given the chance to show what he can do?
Why did we continue with the box kicks when it became obvious – even to us dullards in the stands – that Exeter had clocked the tactic and were now using it to their advantage?
Yes, I know, no Bev or Ben, no Reedy, Buck or Carps, Asher going off after ten minutes.
But…
We were well ahead; they didn’t look like scoring, and we were looking quite fluid. So, for fifty minutes, we were coping well with the absence of so many key players.
Then the wheels came off. Why?
I’m going to go with “getting used to a new system”. It’s been quite apparent over these six games that we are trying to play differently, with more emphasis on attack, on getting those try bonus points. Defensively, losing Byron to England for a few weeks can’t have helped.
On reflection, I’m more sanguine than I was on Friday night, but I think that this will be the last season where I’ll accept “rebuilding” as an excuse.
Well, it’s Wednesday morning after the game, and I still can’t think of anything more to say about it, other than to acknowledge that Alex Wills had a decent game, and I’m still not quite sure how he finished off that try.
So, I’ll leave it there.
Having had the latest instalment of “let’s bring the Premiership back for one round then do something else”, we move on to the first foray into Europe this season and the visit of Glasgow.
I have no idea how this is likely to pan out. We tend not to have two brain farts in a row, but Glasgow are a pretty handy side that you’d be unwise to regularly bet against.
We should have BC, Reedy and WGJ back, but the injury to Asher (six weeks for a biceps tear) is concerning. Maybe we’ll see Grace or Wehr (assuming they’ve been registered). I expect Fordy to be rested for this one: why risk aggravating the injury when he’s got to be rested this week or next week, anyway?
Be prepared for lots more squeaky bum time…
an old grey dog 