“Steve Diamond’s squad is one that contains a lot of young and talented players, perhaps more than many of us realise and that makes their potential for growth extremely exciting.”
This was the statement I made at the end of the season about the Sale Sharks when looking back over the 2014/15 campaign and it rings true as we head into the start of the new season. Steve Diamond has added a couple of individuals but no more to his squad and instead the onus is on the current crop to press on from last season and deliver.
Over the summer Paul Deacon has arrived as their new attack/skills coach and at the Premiership Launch Dan Braid shared with me that the longer pre-season has been invaluable in terms of bedding in Paul’s approaches. The former Rugby League coach's key focus areas have been handling and running lines and I hope that we see quickly the fruits of his labour. At times last season the Sharks frustrated me when imprecision reigned and if they sure things up and add a few more layers in attack they'll be a much stronger outfit.
Back to their new signings the important individuals that are arriving are Bryn Evans, Peter Stringer and Brian Mujati. Bryn Evans has a wealth of experience and reminds me a lot of Joe Launchbury in the manner in which he performs. Bryan’s athleticism across the park should boost Sale’s ball carrying options and as a lineout operator he is always on point.
Peter Stringer’s talents are world-class, he is the ultimate professional and is still leading the way in the pre-season fitness charts at 37 years young! Peter and Chris Cusiter will divide the lions share of the duties at scrum half and 20 year old James Mitchell will learn a great amount of both.
Finally Brian Mujati's entrance is the one that I expect Sale fans to be most excited about for an extra prop has been on the shopping list for a long time. Scrummaging comes easy to Mujati and I believe that he will to add a lot to an already strong area of Sale Sharks’ game.
As always the backbone to the Sale Sharks will be the industrious example set by their captain Dan Braid and in the backs Danny Cipriani will continue to pull the strings and let Tom Brady, Tom Arscott and Mike Haley flourish. There are others that I expect to press on and deliver strongly including Tommy Taylor, Josh Beaumont and Ross Harrison. All three made our heads turn last year and if they continue to do so one or all could be heading for a summer tour to Australia with England should the management choose to take a younger group to face the Wallabies.
Sale’s squad isn’t the largest in the competition so management of bodies will be king for Steve Diamond as they cannot afford to suffer injuries to key individuals. The question lingers as to whether they have enough to last this unrelenting season... only time will tell. For sure the AJ Bell Stadium will feel a little different without the evergreen Mark Cueto on the field however I believe that it will continue to be a challenging place for all teams to travel to.
Players In - Neil Briggs from Leicester Tigers, Peter Stringer from Bath Rugby, Bryan Evans from Biarritz Olympiqu & Brian Mujati from Racing 92
Players Out - Marc Jones to Bristol Rugby, Mark Cueto (Retired), Michael Paterson to Northampton Saints, Will Cliff to Bristol Rugby, Nathan Fowles to Edinburgh Rugby, Nathan Hines (Retired), Andy Forsyth to Yorkshire Carnegie, Alberto De Marchi to Bennetton Treviso & Luke McLean to Bennetton Treviso
