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Sale’s New challenge

Jenny Dixon
11/ 1/2006

DRAGONS will invade Edgeley Park on Sunday set on destroying Sale Sharks' progress in the Heineken Cup.

Sharks are on track for their first Heineken Cup quarter final place ever, having managed four wins from four, but that immaculate record could be wiped out if Newport Gwent Dragons have their way on Sunday.

Sale captain Jason Robinson said: "We have done well in this season's Heineken Cup but we have not yet achieved our first target of qualifying for the knock-out stages.

"The Dragons may well be out of contention for qualification but they gave Munster an almighty fright the other week at Thomond Park and were leading at one stage.

"We are taking nothing for granted and know we will have to be at our best to beat them.

"We played well at Rodney Parade back in October, when we won 38-11, and the players know we will need more of the same on Sunday.

"We also have the bonus of knowing how Munster will have fared at Castres on Friday evening - although that will be shut out of our minds at kick-off time."

Munster, who Sale face the following week, are Sharks main threat in the pool.

The Irish side have twice gone within touching distance of lifting the Heineken Cup in 2000 and 2002.

They travel to Castres Olympique for their crucial Friday night Pool One contest with their hopes of a phenomenal eighth place in the last eight buoyed by their Celtic League win in Edinburgh.

"It was hugely opportune in the context of the Heineken Cup," explained coach Declan Kidney.

"Confidence levels might have been a little down going into the Edinburgh game but that will have helped restore it."

He added: "It's going to be a massive challenge. Castres have an impressive squad and we have huge respect for them."