By Ben Sheard
Sale Sharks take on Glasgow
Warriors in the Investec Champions Cup first group stage fixture.
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Sale have found a new identity in
attack this campaign, playing a more expansive style of rugby.
With Joe Ford
being the attack coach, his brother George praises “his vision and philosophy”
as well as having a professional relationship with his brother too.
Ford this season has combined
incredibly well with new recruit Alex Lozowski. With the new import, Ford has
felt like there is less pressure on him when it comes to the Sharks’ attacking
style.
“I think it can be really helpful at times, but it can also be pretty
helpful to have a different profile outside you like Rekeiti Ma’asi-White.”
The
new combination at fly half and inside centre of Ford and Lozowski is
reminiscent of the Ford/Farrell axis from the late 2010s of English rugby.
Ford
has nothing but praise for Lozowski, “first and foremost he’s a great lad with
this calming presence about him.”
Sale are bolstered with what
could arguably be their strongest side they could put out with the return of
Rekeiti Ma’asi-White and Tom Roebuck up for selection.
Sale and Glasgow met in Salford last season in dreadful conditions in December, with Glasgow
clinching a thrilling 26-21 win.
Sale’s Director of Rugby Alex Sanderson used
his learning from last year “we got a lot right with a squad that isn’t
necessarily our strongest.”
This season, Sale are two wins
from their opening three fixtures in the PREM suffering a home defeat to
Bristol in round one, before bouncing back for a shock away win at Saracens and spluttering to beat Harlequins at home over the weekend. This is a performance that Sanderson wasn’t proud of by any means.
“We weren’t there, we weren’t at the
races from an emotional point of view but the fight is in them and the fact we
came up with the solutions is really rewarding.”
Glasgow, however, have won two
and drawn one this season, having started their URC campaign with a huge win on the road in
Limerick against Munster,before a draw at home to Ulster. They backed this up with a win
at Scotstoun against Connacht.
“They have been impressive this season and are
extremely well-coached and highly accurate,” said Sanderson. The Sale coach is aware that
his side are going to have to attack and defend more with the visitors having
the highest ball in play time in the URC.
Sale's resident flying Scotsmen Arron Reed and Gus War in
particular are looking forward to playing against their compatriots, and are
buzzing around camp according to Sanderson.
Playing a team like Glasgow
littered with international quality across the board, Sale and England flyhalf
George Ford thinks “when you play in Europe, it’s another step closer to
playing test quality. Everything becomes a little bit more contested”
Also, Roebuck has signed
a new deal with the club until 2029, a player who has cost Sanderson a couple
hundred pounds in trainers.
Sam Dugdale made a first feature
of the season at the weekends win over Harlequins coming in last minute for an
ill Tom Curry.
On Dugdale, Sanderson couldn’t praise the back rower high
enough, “Every squad need people who are as robust and as dependable and as
consistently good as he is.”
Catch Sale Sharks against Glasgow
Warriors on Saturday, 1pm kick off on Premier Sport.
