Aviva Premiership preview: Sale v Newcastle
In recent years, Sale Sharks and Newcastle Falcons have played out several enthralling Premiership matches.
So, how better than to kick off the 2010/11 Aviva Premiership campaign with a mouth-watering Friday night clash between the two clubs.
Last season was a disappointing term for both sides. In fact, Sale could count themselves rather fortuitous for surviving the drop. Had it not been for Worcester’s abject season, then the Sharks could well have been playing Championship-level rugby this year.
As for Newcastle, they also found themselves cast adrift inside the bottom four, although they were relatively safe from the threat of relegation and always appeared too good to go down.
But in top-flight rugby union, no team should consider themselves too good to go down, and unless both Sale and Newcastle have dramatically improved campaigns this term then the threat of the dreaded drop will continue to linger.
For the winner of Friday evening’s match at Edgeley Park, unchartered territory beckons – temporarily, at least. Barring the two teams playing out a draw, one of these teams will top the rebranded Premiership table before the other 10 teams compete over the weekend.
Sale, managed by new coach Mike Brewer, are favourites to kick-start their season with a victory over the Falcons. The club have bolstered their squad in an attempt to avoid a similar showing as last year, and have taken the necessary steps to ensure they’re equipped to finish comfortably above the bottom spot.
But despite a host of new arrivals including prop Aston Croall, lock Nic Rouse and Samoan winger Mikaele Pesamino, the main man for the Sharks this season is likely to be, as it so often is, the Premiership’s all-time top points scorer Charlie Hodgson.
The 29-year-old was instrumental for Sale in their last Premiership match against Newcastle back in April, but will miss the opening month of the campaign after undergoing shoulder surgery. A huge blow to the Sharks, which could have a key bearing on Friday night’s fixture.
However, the Falcons’ own No. 10, Jimmy Gopperth, ended up having the last laugh when the two sides last met after scoring 27 of his side’s 32 points in their 32-30 away victory.
Gopperth was the leading points scorer in last season’s Premiership, but whether or not he can replicate that feat over the next nine months remains to be seen. And if the fly-half can’t produce the goods on a consistent basis, then Newcastle are in for a troubled season indeed. Doubts persist over the current team’s credentials and some have even tipped them for relegation.
Although Gopperth was the star man last time out it’s new signing Jeremy Manning, who recently signed for Munster, who’s set to start at fly-half for the Falcons. A big night for the 24-year-old from New Zealand.
At the start of last season the two sides played out a dramatic 16-16 draw at Kingston Park. Expect to see another tense but entertaining duel at Edgeley Park on Friday to commence another intriguing Premiership season.
Prediction: Sharks to edge past the Falcons.
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