Club: Sale
Last season: 10th
Odds for the title: 7/1
Season opener: away v Newcastle, 16 September
Ins
Scott Lawson, Rudi Kiel, Rory Lamont (all Glasgow), Benoit Bourrest (Auch), Luke McAlister (North Harbour)
Odds
David Blair (Edinburgh), John Carter (released), Daniel Larrechea (Bayonne), Jason Robinson (retired), Barry Stewart (Northampton), Mark Taylor (Ospreys), Andy Titterrell (Gloucester)
The player preview
England flanker Magnus Lund can’t wait to get started this weekend, he tells rucked.com
How’s pre-season?
It’s been alright – but it feels like it’s gone on forever, we just want to get the season going now at Newcastle.
Have they tried to keep things lively in pre-season?
They’ve been inventive, our fitness coach Mike Johnson always tries new things to work on our strength – we’ve been having strongman contest, flipping tyres, all sorts…
Is the World Cup a tough reminder of what could’ve been?
Not really – it feels like a long time ago that I was cut from the England squad. And once you get back in with a team you’ve got all the banter and the boys don’t let you think about anything else. Like most people I’ve been able to view the World Cup as a fan and it’s just great seeing all the nations and their different styles of play.
Has there been much talk about the possibility of Charlie Hodgson heading for France?
Yeah there’s been a bit flying around – there always is plenty of banter and Charlie’s been on the receiving end this week. But I think the guys are more worried because they don’t want to see him go – it’s such a big bonus to have him back.
What are you looking to improve on this term?
I don’t think there’s one point you can work on, you have to work on every aspect – even those that you’re perceive as being good at. From the tackle area to support play, you need to be able do everything.
Last season must have been a bit of a let down as reigning champions?
Yeah it was a huge disappointment. When you’re playing week-in week-out you don’t think about the injuries you’ve got and you don’t use them as excuses because inside in the camp it’s really disappointing to lose. From the outside people may say that we’ve got loads of injuries so we can’t be expected to win, but we never looked at it like that. This year, we haven’t got that many new players, but having some of the guys back from long-term injuries is like having new recruits. We want to get a lot of competition among the squad again to help us to get back to where we were couple of years ago.
Expectations aren’t quite so high now…
People are writing us off but that’s not a bad thing, being the underdog has always worked for us. We’ll go about our business quietly and hopefully spring a few surprises. People don’t regard Sale as one of top sides anyway, they always just talk about Wasps, Leicester and Gloucester – hopefully we can muscle in on them though.
Luke McAlister isn’t a bad signing?
It’s a massive signing for us to get someone of his calibre – it’s quite extraordinary to get him at his age too, we’ve done well there. He’ll fit in brilliantly here and I know centre was an area we were looking to strengthen, but we can’t expect him to do everything. There’s a big onus on the boys who are here to make sure we start the season well, we don’t want the guys coming back from the World Cup only to find we’re bottom of the league.
And this year you get to face your brother Erik at Leeds?
I’m delighted for him. He’s been in National One for the last few years so I’m chuffed he’s got a chance. I just hope the bragging rights are on my side of the family, one of the targets for this season is to beat Leeds home and away!
Are you hoping to get a few hits in on him?
I don’t know if I’ll have time to run off and smash him unless he’s right in front of me with the ball but if there’s a ruck we’re both in, I’ll get a few sly digs in.
Supporters’ prediction: 4th. “With so many players back from injury, added to the experience gained by the young guys last year and the signing of McAlister, we’ll back where we belong this term.” Scott Tomlinson, Manchester
Rucked prediction: 3rd. With Hodgson pulling the strings during the World Cup and Lund rampaging around in the loose, they’ll be in fine fettle for the return of their World Cup stars.
