Browse Sections

• Stockport County FC
• Sale Sharks
• Local football
• Local cricket

Deja vu for Sharks

Jenny Dixon
17/10/2007

ON November 22, 2003 England lifted the Rugby World Cup for the first time.

The same day Sharks played Saracens at Edgeley Park, and won 33-3.

Four years on some Sharks may get a sense of deja vu...

Sale’s coaching staff and squad has changed since then but, in a strange quirk of fate, England are back in the World Cup final and Sharks will again face Saracens in Stockport on the same weekend.

However, neither superstition or statistics win rugby games.

"I ignore statistics," explained Philippe Saint-Andre. "Saracens have a good team who are very well drilled and very strong.

"But we have played some good rugby, we beat Wasps and Bristol and we need to do it again.

"At home it is a big game, big pressure but we are focused. We have used a lot of the same players for six games consecutively but it’s a big game for us.

"We want to stay not too far from the top four and for this reason it is a must-win for us."

While Sale’s home form has so far resulted in two wins - London Wasps were unable to score a single point against Sharks on their visit - on the road the side have not won in the league since last October.

Saint-Andre added: "I am not worried. We will win a few games away this season of that I am sure.

"We must not panic, just improve. We still have seven players to come back [from the World Cup]."

Scotland skipper Jason White will not be available for the match against Saracens, despite having returned from the World Cup.

White sustained a knee injury after coming on as a substitute in last weekend’s match against Gloucester.

Despite missing out on a place in the World Cup final Sharks players representing France and Argentina will not be back for the club.

The Fernandez Lobbe brother will vie for third place with club-mate Sebastien Chabal.