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"Jason's done his bit and more, so no complaints there."

The Rugby Paper Blog: Fighting Talk Can Save Sale

Tuesday, February 23rd 2010

Sometimes you have to steal from other sports when circumstances demand... and circumstances seem to be demanding some special action at Sale right now.

Kingsley Jones is rightfully regarded as an inspirational leader, one who can stir the blood and strengthen the sinews.

But if he needs any help with a half-time pep talk what about these:

“We've got to be ice cold. Be like the Terminator. When he's after someone, he's relentless. That's what we've got to be like. There's no emotion in it. We're just gunning for them and we're going to get them.”

Or:

“As for you two muppets, what you doing? You're like Stadler and Waldorf off the balcony. ‘Huh, this shows rubbish’. Well this game's rubbish sort your life out. What have we spoken about all summer, about being the Romans.'They didn't conquer Europe by breaking their ranks, forgetting their jobs. Useless, sort it out, my missus could do better, so could my kids. So could my gran'.”

Those were the words of wisdom handed down by football manager Ian Holloway, once of Plymouth Argyle and Queens Park Rangers, now of Blackpool. Not quite Churchillian perhaps, certainly not in the Lawrence Dallaglio class – big Lol’s team-talks had grown men in tears and ready to die for the cause – but effective none the less.

And with Charlie Hodgson now tackling his heart out, what more can Sale do to fend off the dread spectre of relegation? Send out Jason Robinson, of course, judging by the way he left the Irish Legends trailing as he scored two sizzling tries for the England Legends at the Stoop recently.

But Jason has declined the invitation. He’s done his bit and more, so no complaints there.

In truth, Jason and Kingsley must look around their team and wonder where it’s gone wrong. Certainly, they are missing the power of big Andrew Sheridan and the departed Sebastien Chabal up front and the mercurial talents of Luke McAlister in the centre. But the strength of Eifion Roberts, Chris Jones and Dean Schofield in the boiler room, the commitment of Luke Abraham in the back row and then the power and speed Mark Cueto and Ben Cohen on the wings should surely be enough to keep the Sharks up, shouldn’t it.

Wasps at home and London Irish away are tough, agreed. So the crunch match comes at Edgeley Park against Worcester on April 2nd. It’s a must win, no doubt.

Perhaps Kingsley and Jason had better start preparing their half-time talk.


SAM EMERY

This article was written for Sale Sharks by The Rugby Paper.