Following on from last week's look at Sale's optimum starting lineup from last season, this week The Shark Tank takes a prophetic look at the best all-round lineup the Sharks could field during the 2016-17 season. Prophetic, in this instance, is the optimum word considering it is impossible to a) accurately forecast which players will impress and which will disappoint with their form next season and b) precisely account for the inevitable spate of injuries that affect every team's lineup over the course of the nine-month season. That said, with the data available to us on ability, form, experience and the other determiners of a modern player's value to his team, we can make a reasonable precise estimate of who are the best twenty-three players Sale can field in the Premiership and the Champions Cup this coming season. N.B. This is an assessment of the best all-round twenty-three man selection Sale can make for any fixture next season. As such, certain tactical decisions have had to be made which has meant the fifteen players selected in the starting lineup do not necessarily reflect the fifteen best players currently at the club. Loosehead Prop - Ross Harrison It would appear to be sink or swim time for Ross Harrison. After I predicted 2015-16 to be the 23-year-old's breakout season, the Bolton-born prop appeared to struggle at the scrum against more technically astute tightheads and he was unable to entrench himself definitively as Sale's incumbent loosehead whilst Eifon Lewis-Roberts was out injured early in the season. Now with James Flynn pushing hard on Harrison's heels for the #1 jersey and Lewis-Roberts likely approaching retirement at season's end, it is now vital Harrison can make that final step up and establish himself as Sale's long-term future at loosehead. Hopefully the experience of featuring on the England Saxons' tour to South Africa will provide that last push. Hooker - Rob Webber Tighthead Prop - Brian Mujati Lock - Bryn Evans Lock - Andrei Ostrikov Despite Ostrikov having his most impressive season to date with Sale last year, this selection could still be dependent on who Sale recruit to replace the non-arrival of Juandre Kruger who was provisionally expected to take Ostrikov's starting place as one of the two Sharks locks next season. Should Sale be able to acquire someone of comparable skill (and salary) to Kruger, the expectation is that the replacement of Ostrikov could still go ahead, especially since Bryn Evans proved himself untouchable in the second row last season. Ostrikov will undoubtedly still feature prominently for Sale next season - particularly in Europe and during the winter months - but the decision to go out and acquire Kruger in the first place suggests Dimes is serious about strengthening the position of lock. Ultimately the calibre of talent brought in to replace Kruger will dictate whether Ostrikov seems more time in the starting lineup or on the replacements bench in 2016-17. Openside Flanker - Laurence Pearce Although I'd wager Cameron Neild is a slightly more versatile player than Pearce at this exact moment (especially due to the former's flexibility in switching between the front and back row) Pearce makes more sense in the Sharks' remodelled backrow. Pearce gives Sale the imposing physical presence at flanker - both in the loose as a ball-carrier and at the back of the pack at scrum-time - that they've missed since Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe and with Ioane handling jackaling duties (although Pearce is no slouch in that department) and Beaumont serving as the prominent ball-carrier, Pearce is able to roam around as something of a 'loose forward' - a role better suited for the eighteen-stone flanker than the smaller but quicker Neild. Blindside Flanker - TJ Ioane Number Eight - Josh Beaumont Scrum-half - Peter Stringer The difference in ability between Stringer and Mike Phillips is likely to be minimal at this stage of their respective careers so this is more a case of fit. Whilst Phillips is by far the more physical of the two, Stringer's fast-paced, efficient distribution game is likely to garner him more starts at either end of the season when pitches are firmer and play as a result is quicker and more offensively-orientated. Phillips' abrasive style will be particularly useful on softer pitches in winter and at the tail end of games against tiring defences, but Stringer is a more natural fit alongside fly-half AJ MacGinty who will desire to receive the ball perpetually at pace either to hit the line himself or to give the Irish-American more time to distribute the ball further along the line to his playmakers, akin to his role in Connacht's gameplan last season. Fly-half - AJ MacGinty Winger - Josh Charnley Whether Charnley can match the gaudy heights of his league career playing union is still up in the air - after all for every Chris Ashton there is a Joel Tomkins - but there's no doubting the potential for Charnley in the fifteen-man code is massive. If Chanrley's running, kicking and try-finishing abilities can make a seamless transition across codes, his physical attributes instantly make him at least the second best winger on the Sharks' roster (sorry Tom!) Inside Centre - Sam Tuitupou This might change should the long rumoured Kyle Eastmond deal come to fruition but as it stands, Sam Tuitupou offers the best all-round option for Sale at inside centre. As a powerful defender and ball-carrier with the soft hands to help MacGinty spread the ball wide, he fills multiple functions in the backline. Outside Centre - Sam James Winger - Will Addison Fullback - Mike Haley Replacements: Eifon Lewis-Roberts Cameron Neild Kieran Longbottom Jonathan Mills David Seymour Mike Phillips Dan Mugford Tom Arscott
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The 2015/16 season is officially in the books and supporters' thoughts are already turning to the competitive aspirations of Sale for next year. But before we get too invested in arguing which side of the scrum Kieran Longbottom will see the most time at, let's take a retrospective look at the Sharks' top performers in each position from this year's campaign, one that culimated in a top-six finish for the third time in five seasons. N.B. The players listed below are not necessarily the best at their position at this current time, but the ones who impressed the most in their individual circumstances between September and May. Loosehead Prop - James Flynn We begin with arguably the most controversial selection on the list. Neither Ross Harrison nor Eifon Lewis-Roberts had as impactful a season as both have had previously, whilst Flynn, who admittedly saw less action than either, impressed early in the season with a number of powerful performances in both the loose and as a scrummager (as part of the Flynn-Briggs-Mujati bench combination). Now 22 and with Lewis-Roberts likely entering his last year of professional rugby, expect to see Flynn make another step up and enter direct competition with Ross Harrison for the incumbent loosehead jersey next season. Hooker - Tommy Taylor Probably Sale's player of the season. An easy choice. Tighthead Prop - Vadim Cobilas Despite not being asked to replicate the herculean effort of last season when Cobilas was the only trusted tighthead prop in the entire squad, Vadeeeeem still produced a masterclass in propping excellence this season, the arrival of Brian Mujati helping to ensure the Moldovan was able to retain maximum effectiveness as an industrious ball-carrier and a sturdy scrummager even as the season wore on. Will be a massive loss next season. Lock - Bryn Evans Probably Sale's other player of the season. Evans' doughty performances all season allowed the Sharks to survive the entire year with only three first team locks - an impressive, but precarious feat. Lock - Andrei Ostrikov The 'grunt' alongside Evans' athleticism in the Sharks' second row, Ostrikov, in his fifth season at Sale, finally managed to earn Steve Diamond's complete trust this year, having worked hard to dramatically reduce his exciting but erratic ball-carrying tendencies and the ill-discipline that in previous seasons had made the Russian something of a 'penalty machine'. Ostrikov and Evans's fruitful partnership will likely be restored in their second season together, especially now with the non-arrival of Juandre Kruger. Blindside Flanker - Cameron Neild One of two breakthrough academy graduates this season, Cameron Neild, whether his long-term future is at hooker or flanker was a wonderful addition to the Sale backrow this season. Perpetually atop the Sharks' tackling charts week-in, week-out, Neild impressed mightily with his tenacity not only as a diligent tackler, but also at the breakdown and in the loose (his ability to spin out of tackles is currently unparalleled in the Sale squad). Neild's emergence is a bright silver lining in the otherwise dark cloud that is losing Tommy Taylor to Wasps. Openside Flanker - TJ Ioane A 'fetcher', a first receiver, a roaming tackler T.J. Ioane did it all for Sale this season. oane's energy in defence, in taking the line on even with play moving backwards, and pressuring the ball-carrier at the breakdown has seen him rapidly ascend to the status of fan favourite. It's hard to leave David Seymour out of this side, but Ioane's unwavering dynamism and energy in all facets across the entire season makes it impossible to not select the Samoan international as Sale's best flanker this season. Ioane's lead-by-example approach could also see him become an outside shot for the vacant captaincy next season. Number Eight - Josh Beaumont Although a magnificent season which saw Beaumont earn his first full England international selection was disappointingly cut short by a dislocated shoulder suffered against Worcester in February, Beaumont's authoriative performances at Number 8 in the season' first half are enough to earn him a spot on the team of the year. It would not be surprisingly in the least if the 23-year-old becomes Sale's next captain such is his influence on the team. Scrum-half - Peter Stringer Continues to provide a steady and efficient influence even at 39. Won the starting scrum-half jersey from Chris Cusiter by mid-season as a result of some impressive early season form and having the perfect complimentary skillset to serve as facilitator in Paul Deacon's new-look attacking system. Fly-half - Danny Cipriani Even with the dodgy place kicking statistics, this one picks itself. Winger - Tom Arscott Continued his notable form of recent seasons with a number of exciting runouts at both wing and fullback this season. Although opportunities were limited this season by a combination of Nev Edwards' early season try-scoring form and a season-ending knee injury suffered against Northampton in March, Arscott's all-round game, especially that of his kicking and defence this year, has steadily improved to remove any weaknesses and he remains one of Sale's two most dependable wingers in any given situation. Inside Centre - Johnny Leota Johnny Leota and Sam Tuitupou both shared the 'platoon' at inside centre this season but Leota's try-scoring record (six in the Premiership, joint-top with Nev Edwards) narrowly shades this selection in the Samoan international's favour. Outside Centre - Sam James Received his first Premiership start against Saracens in the opening round of the 2015/16 season and never looked back. An incontestable figure for the outside centre shirt, James, be it his attacking creativity, powerful line-running, or improving drift defence, flourished in all areas during his first senior season. A deserved callup to the Saxons' tour to South Africa followed at the end of the season and it won't be long before James is a fully-capped international for the senior England side. Winger - Will Addison The most potent attacking force in the Sale squad bar none this season. Although his influence on creating attacking opportunities (especially from coming into the midfield off the wing) didn't necessarily translate to the try-scoring charts, make no mistake - Addison was the driving force behind many of the Sharks' most threatening attacks. A relatively injury-free season for the first time since breaking into the first team in 2012 finally allowed Addison to make good on his immense potential and he was criminally overlooked for international honours at the end of the season. Fullback - Mike Haley An easy decision considering the lack of competition, but that should not undermine Haley's accomplishments this season. A superb season (in both the maturation of his decision-making and his indefatigable form at 15) saw Haley enshrine himself as one of the very best fullbacks in the entire Premiership at only 21, and as with Sam James, full international recognition is imminent. Replacements: Eifon Lewis-Roberts Neil Briggs Brian Mujati Jonathan Mills David Seymour Chris Cusiter Joe Ford Neville Edwards Lewis Hughes really hopes you disagree with his selections. Follow The Shark Tank on Twitter for more news, analysis, and opinions on all things Sale Sharks. Sale Sharks were dealt a bitter blow to their pre-season preparations on Thursday with the announcement that South African lock Juandre Kruger will no longer be joining the club for the 2016-17 season. Kruger is instead expected to join Toulon. First and foremost this is a massive loss for Sale. Arguably their highest profile signing for a number of seasons, Kruger, capped seventeen times by South Africa, would have brought a wealth of experience, ballast and ball-playing ability to the Sharks scrum and was expected to slot in next to Bryn Evans as the first choice lock pairing. Sale will obviously now need to find another lock ahead of the new season. Despite the success enjoyed by the Sharks last with only three locks (Evans, Mills and Ostrikov) there is no doubting that it was an incredibly risky chance to take, one that would have left Sale incredibly vulnerable had any of the three gone down with a serious injury. Although George Nott and Josh Beaumont can both feasibly cover lock, Kruger's signing was indicative that the Sharks coaching brass see both of their long-term futures in the backrow rather than the second row. One name that immediately came to mind as a Kruger 'replacement' could be Matt Symons at London Irish. Symons came over last season from the Chiefs to much fanfare and despite a disappointing season in Reading is still highly rated in global rugby circles. A player of Symons quality is, quite frankly, too good to be plying his trade in the Championship next season, and rumours of a move to Wasps, despite having stalled, suggest he is interested in a move back to the Premiership. But one thing I do want to stress is that whilst, understandably, the immediate reaction to Kruger's sudden u-turn has been a combination of anger and disappointment we shouldn't be too quick to criticise Kruger. 'Family reasons' is a blanket term that doesn't reveal anything significant about the motivations behind Kruger's sudden change of heart, and with a move to Toulon apparently now imminent it's only natural to draw a conclusion - as many have been doing - that Kruger (and his family)'s minds have been turned by a late contract offer well in excess of what Sale could offer. But 'family reasons' could also mean that Kruger and his family have been unable to buy a suitable home in the Greater Manchester area or that he hasn't been able to find places in local schools for his children. Or it could be that when an offer from the south of France finally came in, Kruger had no qualms about reneging on his agreed deal with the Sharks. The fact of the matter is we simply don't know the exact reasons why Juandre Kruger is no longer joining Sale and as disappointing as this news is we should be careful not to criticise too harshly until the full story finally comes out. On a positive note, we can rest assured Dimes is already be on the lookout for a suitable replacement with the MEN reporting that early focus has switched to the Southern Hemisphere and Super Rugby. Follow The Shark Tank on Twitter for more news, analysis, and opinions on all things Sale Sharks. After a tumultuous, rumour-filled 24 hours sparked by a mystery press release promising a "major announcement", it was revealed Thursday morning that Sale Sharks had been sold by existing owner Brian Kennedy to CorpAcq. CorpAcq are a "Manchester-based Corporate Acquisitions and Investments Company" founded in 2006 by Simon Orange (brother of Take That's Jason) that currently own 14 different business with a combined annual turnover of £150 million. The financial problems that Sale have had especially since moving stadia to the AJ Bell in 2012 have been well-documented, Kennedy hesitant to invest the same level of funds as say, Saracens or Wasps, due to the club's lack of sustainability amplified by dwindling attendances. And with the salary cap rising to £6 million next season and £7.5 million in 2017/18 the writing was on the wall, so to speak, regarding Kennedy's sixteen-year tenure as owner; either it was time to move on and sell the club or pump the requisite money into the squad to compete in the new, wealthier Premiership. Kennedy, it now emerges, chose the former. A huge amount of credit must be sent the way of Kennedy and business associate Ian Blackhurst who not only brought the club into professional existence in 2000 but bankrolled a period which saw Sale twice win the European Challenge Cup and in 2005/06, the Premiership title. Despite the fledging success of the latter years, Kennedy continued to subsidise the club at great personal cost repeatedly writing off the club's debts and helping to ensure the survival of Premiership rugby in the North-West. The announcement that Kennedy had sold the club 'debt-free' is a testament to his onus on self-sustainability and the millions of pounds he continued to invest throughout his entire time as Sale owner. But what does the Sharks' acquisition by CorpAcq actually mean? At this very moment, nothing. The press conference (helpfully streamed live on the club's Facebook page) was extremely run of the mill, focusing on the existing relationship between Steve Diamond and Simon Orange, the negotiations that went on behind the purchase of the club, and the club's commitment to an organic growth over the next two to three seasons. But that isn't to say the CorpAcq acquisition is not noteworthy. As alluded to above the Premiership is changing in terms of how money is spent and squads built, and the ability to spend upwards of £5 million per year and attract international, marquee signings is rapidly becoming a necessity for teams serious about competing in this evolving competition. Tellingly, Orange did comment that future investment into the club would be in the millions rather than the thousands. And whilst it is unlikely that Sale will immediately move away from their tremendously successful 'academy first' model and adopt a 'Galacticos' approach, CorpAcq's backing should hopefully provide the additional investment Sale have been in dire need of in order to sustain, but more importantly build upon, the recent success the team has enjoyed (three top-six finishes in the last five seasons) despite having the lowest payroll in the league. What Steve Diamond has done with this current collection of Sale players has been nothing short of revolutionary but there always persisted an unshakeable feeling that Sale's improbable success was unsustainable considering the annual exodus of players. Now with CorpAcq's takeover, there exists a genuine belief Diamond will now have the funds to acquire, retain and build a squad capable of competing for domestic and European honours. Diamond, Deacon, Angelsea etc. have proved in recent years they have the coaching nous to build a competitive club on the field, now it would appear Sale have an ownership group who can be competitive off the field also. Now, did somebody say they saw Kyle Eastmond in Oldham yesterday? Follow The Shark Tank on Twitter for more news, analysis, and opinions on all things Sale Sharks.
Exams are finished, Sale's season is over, AJ MacGinty is a Pro 12 winner, and three (five if you count Tommy Taylor and Danny Cipriani) Sharks are currently on tour with England. There's your context, here's a bumper, end-of-season edition of the Feeding Time mailbag:
To prevent this becoming an ode to the 2005-06 title-winning side I will restrict the criteria to players who have left Sale in the last three seasons (not including this season's transfer period between January and present).
Pleasantly surprising, considering the pool of talent that has left Manchester in recent years in order to pursue further international recognition, the list is actually quite small. Henry Thomas could be considered over Brian Mujati / Kieran Longbottom by virtue of his age (24), potential (which has admittedly waned at Bath) and the fact that good English tightheads are like gold dust in the modern game, however the idea that Thomas is a better prop than either at this exact moment is contentious at best. The impact made by the Bryn Evans - Andrei Ostrikov duo this season meanwhile has softened the blow of losing stalwart locks James Gaskell and Michael Paterson in consecutive seasons, but as much as I'd like to have either back, both would occupy the same 'athletic lock' role as Bryn Evans who was arguably Sale's player of the season this year. It is hard to say definitively then that either currently constitute a significant upgrade over the Kiwi with Paterson's dip in form at Saints and Gaskell's lighter stature in the engine room no longer fitting Sale's forward gameplan. Probably the only position where there would be a clear upgrade then is Inside Centre with Luther Burrell (currently touring with England in Australia) taking the place of either Sam Tuitupou or Johnny Leota. Granted I was never Burrell's biggest fan during his single seasons at Sale, but with both Tuitupou and Leota on the wrong side of 30 and neither having held down the no.12 shirt consistently this season, Burrell whose overall game has continued to evolve since joining Northampton and receiving England exposure, would be a tantalising prospect in Paul Deacon's new-look attacking system given his powerful running style and off-load game setting up opportunities for those outside him.
Although the 'targeting top-four' rhetoric from Dimes and the rest of the team every season is encouraging, as is the intriguing recruitment conducted in recent months to bolster a squad whose weakness in recent years has been a lack of viable squad depth, I still think Sale are a couple of pieces away from being able to mount a serious challenge on breaking into the play-off places. The problem for Sale, as always, is about being able to build onto the squad for next season. In 2015-16, Sale once again finished in the Premiership top-six, guaranteeing themselves participation in the European Champions Cup for the third time in five seasons. Yet despite such an accomplishment, the Sharks now find themselves attempting to replicate that feat without three of their most consistent - and frankly 'best' - players next season; Vadim Cobilas, Tommy Taylor, and Danny Cipriani. A drop-off in performances, whilst not inevitable, would be understandable. For me this is the crux of the problem. Had Sale been able to retain all their key squad members this season and procure the players they have for next season (Kruger, Pearce, Charnley et al.) I'd be very confident of Sale being able to mount a genuine push for play-off contention. However the realities of the modern game and Sale's checkbook have interfered once again and the Sharks are now dependent on Rob Webber and AJ MacGinty being able to replicate the Herculean efforts of Taylor, Cipriani etc. just to get back into top-six contention again. Sale's overall squad for 2016-17 is probably marginally better than this season's but until the Sharks can consistently retain the core of their starting XV and then add to it further with the acquisition of star, or at least international, players, I fear it's a vicious cycle of one step forward, one step back. A top-six finish in 2016-17 should be the realistic target, then if Beaumont, Haley, Addison are kept around and further investment in a few key areas transpires, then Sale can consider themselves top-four contenders going into 2017-18.
Not necessarily. The AJ Bell, as many Sale fans have made clear since the move in 2012, is not perfect. But for my perspective, in the three seasons Sale have resided there, there have been palatable improvements in both the stadium infrastructure and atmosphere. The location is a bit of a hassle regarding public transport links, and the new motorway slip road keeps falling down, but there is no denying the stadium itself is a massive improvement on Edgeley Park which, for all intents and purpouses, was haemorrhaging money and causing significant discord between the club and the Premiership's standards committee. Fixtures such as Leicester (11,247) and Munster (9,879) last season highlight that big crowds are attainable at the current stadium (even if the Sotic attendance numbers are extremely sporadic) and I would wager that the return of Champions Cup rugby next season will be an inevitable boon for the club and crowd numbers. Club figures have since admitted that the move to the AJ Bell in 2012 was probably rushed, but as those who attend week-in, week-out can attest, practically all of its teething problems have now been successfully ironed out. It's now just a case of shedding the negative image the AJ Bell has with absentee fans.
Mike Haley. One of the Premiership's most consistent performers this season having largely removed the decision-making and kicking errors from his game, Haley has not only already won himself a spot with the England Saxons' tour to South Africa, but he finds himself the beneficiary of England's relatively shallow fullback depth. Alex Goode has been one of Europe's premium players this season and Mike Brown is still immersed in the battle for the England 15 jersey but beyond that, aside from maybe Chris Pennell, nobody comes close to matching Haley's current ability and future potential. With Brown now 30 and Goode 28, Haley (21) is very much the long-term successor to England's fullback spot if his impressive form for Sale can continue and I wouldn't be surprised to see him in England's 2017 Six Nations squad.
There's a couple. Josh Charnley is a fascinating case - as are all rugby league converts - since the potential is there for him to turn into a legitimate game-changing presence in the Sale backline with his blend of pace, strength, and finishing prowess. Junadre Kruger meanwhile has all the attributes of a top-tier lock, including an impressive ball-carrying and off-loading game. Watching how he meshes in the Sale engine room will be very exciting to watch for the impact he will have on both the Sharks's scrum and in the loose. Finally, AJ MacGinty, despite his Pro 12 winning turn as Connacht's fly-half this season, still remains a relatively unknown quantity. MacGinty's flat, efficient passing, enthusiasm to take the ball to the line, and decision-making have all impressed me watching the Pro 12 in recent weeks but it remains to be seen just how effective he can be in the Premiership. If he can replicate his Pro 12 form and offer a more consistent kicking option than Cipriani did, he'll be a fan favourite in no time.
Addison's omission from any manner of England duty this summer was an unfortunate consequence of Eddie Jones' slightly perplexing decision to take Marland Yarde on tour to Australia. Yarde, who has been outplayed by all of Addison, Ashton, Wade, Rokoduguni, and Lewington this season meant all of the above were pushed down a slot in the England pecking order leaving Addison out in the cold. Realistically, if Addison can continue his dominant form for Sale next season, England recognition will not be far behind, but perhaps reigning in the monstrous, jumping-out-of-the-line hits, that, whilst exciting, can often be exploited by waiting defences, might be one way to demonstrate a more astute decision-making process in defence on Addison's part. There is a place for that type of aggressive defence for a certainty, but considering Christian Wade is still unable to crack the England lineup solely due to concerns over his defence, Addison could easily surpass him and others on the England depth chart next season by showing a more cerebral approach to wing defence.
Having not seen either play in the flesh, I feel this is quite a difficult question to tackle. I am sure after a couple of Premiership rounds it'll emerge just how suitable Mugford and/or Morton are for active Premiership duty but until that point it is still a major question mark in the Sharks' squad. Mugford strikes me as a player in the vein of Joe Ford when he signed for Sale in 2013 - good Championship player with some experience of a Premiership club atmosphere but now it's sink-or-swim time regarding his status as a top-tier-calibre player. Not having a dependable veteran like Nick MacLeod around as a 'safety net' however is a big risk especially if Mugford fails to make the grade. Morton meanwhile is still probably at least a year away from being a Premiership player although hopefully he'll be handed the reigns during the LV Cup to amass some top-flight experience to show what he's capable of. Overall I would characterise carrying Mugford and Morton as the two fly-halves behind MacGinty as an extremely high-risk, high-reward situation.
With David Seymour and Magnus Lund turning 32 and 33 around the start of the 2016-17 season, it is a logical step to assume Sale might have to start looking for a long-term replacement at the openside position. Luckily Sale have two already on the books. Twin brothers Ben and Tom Curry are only 18 but have already been touted as future England internationals by the RFU's age group staff. Although both are most comfortable at openside, either can switch to blindside in a pinch with Tom also having spent time at No.8 Both signed deals with the Sale academy last month and could feasibly debut for the Sharks' first team as early as 2017-18. There is obviously still an incredibly long way to go for Ben and Tom in making it as professional rugby players but with talented individuals making an impact on the game at increasingly younger ages (see: Maro Itoje, Henry Mallinder et al.) I would not be surprised to see the Curry brothers fast-tracked by the Sharks coaching staff into top-flight competition sooner rather than later.
I'll admit I did consider at one point last season George Ford to be England's premier fly-half, however the contrasting fortunes of Ford and Bath compared to Owen Farrell and Saracens this season have caused me significantly revise my opinion. Whilst Ford's form has plunged off a cliff amongst a number of other Bath-related disappointments this season and there now existing rumours he might be unhappy at his club side due to his father's (not undeserving) firing, Farrell has guided Saracens to both a domestic and European championship - becoming the first side to win the double championship since Wasps in 2003-04. Farrell's influence was also particularly notable during the Six Nations where he played a prominent role at Inside Centre alongside Ford; it quickly became clear that despite Ford's incumbent status, Farrell was still highly esteemed in Eddie Jones' mind, especially given the latter's controlled performances in a role he has not been asked to play since his England U20 days. With Ford's dire 1-from-7 performance as England fly-half against Wales last weekend especially alarming in comparison to Farrell's 5-from-6 effort in leading Saracens to a second consecutive Premiership title, it is clear that momentum is fully in Farrell's corner in the battle for the starting fly-half jersey against Australia. Finally, my estimate of the England backline for the first test against Australia:
Phew. Follow The Shark Tank on Twitter for more news, analysis, and opinions on all things Sale Sharks. |
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