Well, I can definitely skip the glute exercises at the gym tomorrow.
I think I might be suffering from PSSD1 – I keep getting flashbacks to three weeks ago.
The thing to keep in mind – the thing to keep going back to when the palpitations start up again – is that we got the job done. We got the win that was needed to secure third place. Do not dwell on the fact that, had Exeter scored another try, we would now be sixth.
Positive vibes…
On paper, the side we sent out there was only a couple of bodies short of the best team we could have fielded. A team like that should, on paper, have no real difficulties dispatching a side that’s struggled the way Exeter have this season.
But it’s never that simple, is it? It’s precisely because they’ve had a wretched season that they were so dangerous in this game. Last game, at home, reinstated coach, players leaving, pride… All factors driving a team to perform above expectations.
As for Sale, away at a bogey ground and pressure to perform must have had an effect. Perversely, though, I wonder if only needing a win, with no need for a bonus point, might have subtly taken away a bit of the desire to go for broke. ‘Relax, the task isn’t as difficult as it might have been’, sort of thing.
Things started well, with a penalty within the first two minutes. This was a good choice: it was the win that was important, not tries, so take any points on offer.
But then, Exeter started throwing everything at us, and had the upper hand for a good twenty minutes, culminating in a try for Brown-Bampoe after a sweeping move left Sale’s defence short on the left. Slade missed the conversion, but this was a worrying development.
That seemed to wake Sale up, and Fordy restored the lead with a penalty a couple of minutes later.
Now, Sale started showing some of the fluidity of movement, passing, and offloading that has become more prominent over the last few games. A particularly nice move ended with Ricky strolling through a huge gap in the defence for his fourth try in as many games.
After a rocky start, Sale were now starting to look dominant in all areas. When Bev scored a try similar to Ricky’s, you could have been justified in thinking that we were going to run away with this. A yellow card for Ethan Roots just before half time should have been the signal to wrap the game up…
Remember Leicester?
What is it with Sale and an inability to capitalise on an opposition yellow card? I don’t have any statistics available, but it feels as if we are well below the expected seven-point advantage that should accrue.
And, while we’re at it, what is it with Sale and second halves? We have scored 219 of our 529 points in the second half: that’s about 40%, which feels like a significant drop-off.
This game certainly didn’t buck that trend. No score during the yellow card (although we did pick up one of our own, during which they scored twice 🤷♂️), ten points all half, compared to twenty in the first half.
We (thankfully) continued to take points when they were on offer, so only lost the yellow card battle 14-3, to leave us with a four-point lead and a bit over twenty minutes to go.
And let’s be honest: we were getting beaten up by Exeter. They had the possession and the territory, and they were bossing us at the breakdown (rucks won: 109 to 53).
With just less than fifteen minutes to go, we had a rare period of sustained attack in the Exeter red zone. This culminated in us, for once, failing to bugger up a five-metre lineout, allowing Dickie to get the, as it turned out, decisive try.
And a good thing he did, too, as Gus got binned five minutes later, wiping off what should have been a stunning bonus-point try, and letting them in for their bonus-point a couple of minutes later.
I have to say that I thought Gus’s binning was harsh. I’ve seen similar incidents dismissed because the initial contact was to the chest. Certainly, it looked to me as if it was chest-to-chest, and then the player’s head went forward onto Gus’s shoulder. I like Ridley as a ref, but we do seem fated to have at least one ‘Arrgh’ moment when he’s in charge.
But we managed to hold on to the four-point lead for the last five minutes and seal third place, albeit unconvincingly.
When I first saw the team sheet, I thought it was a couple of players short of the best we could put out. A couple of Toms short of a litter, maybe, but a powerful team: strong up front, with some decent chops in the back line.
I think we missed Buck’s strength and aerial threat. I still rate Flats, but his strength is getting in the face of the receiver, whereas Buck is more about retaining possession.
Possibly the biggest miss, though, was Tom Curry. The threat that the two brothers in tandem pose at the breakdown is a big part of the defence, and of turning that into attack.
They should both be back for the semi-final, though. We’re going to need them.
So, Leicester again, down at Natalie Woods. Tasty.
Time for revenge? Maybe, but I don’t think I’d dwell on it. In fact, I think we should ignore everything that hangs on this game and just go for broke. Enjoy it, play effusively and expansively. Thoughts of revenge or thoughts of finals can make you freeze, to second-guess yourself.
So, it may well be time to say, ‘Sod it’ and treat this as a nothing game: no reward, no penalty, just a game to be won.
I might see you at Twickenham. Here’s hoping…
- Post-Sharks Stress Disorder ↩︎
an old grey dog 