What's going on at Sale Sharks?

It's hard to believe that Sale had the opportunity to move top of the Guinness Premiership on Friday after watching how their early season has taken shape.

It's hard to believe that Sale had the opportunity to move top of the Guinness Premiership on Friday after watching how their early season game has taken shape.

The table illustrates that sixteen points have been picked up by Philippe Saint-Andre's side over the first six fixtures – a fairly decent return you might say, with a current placing of fourth.

However, there seems to be a much deeper subplot simmering under Stockport's waters.

Despite admirably strong defensive efforts and the goal-kicking of Luke McAlister and Charlie Hodgson helping them to four straight opening league victories, the Sharks' have recently suffered two losses against London Irish and most recently Worcester that have raised several questions.

Of course, I realise that the number on the far right of the table is essentially the one that counts come play-off time, but it's what precedes '16' that leaves the usually attack-minded Sharks supporters scratching their heads.

The north-westerners have amazingly only managed to cross the whitewash on just three occasions thus far in their campaign – the least in the league with bottom side Bristol next up the scale on six. Add to that the fact they have also uncharacteristically scored the second-least overall team points, 79, and there's definite cause for concern, isn't there?

Watching several contests at Edgeley Park set this piece in motion but the game against Worcester was the final straw and significant proof that the league's most frequent kicking team showed very little clinical edge and a general lack of ideas en route to their third successive home defeat by Mike Ruddock's men.

The result was also the hosts' sixth loss in their last seven matches as the Warriors' differing intent and belief was something that the Sharks seem to have misplaced of late.

I want to clarify that this is not a witch-hunt or Monday gripe as when on song and full of confidence, the 2005/06 champions are a real pleasure to watch in possession.

However, rewinding a couple of days before Friday's game, I found myself watching an interview with fly-half Hodgson that could quite possibly have uninspired the inspired. The pivot's general demeanour and language of 'hopefully we can' or 'if we do this' was not the most stirring of pep talks to give to a back-line that has not even come close to claiming a winning bonus-point.

There's no blame being attached to players from the top though, as the club's Director of Rugby gave his assessment on the worrying times he's involved in at present.

“I take a lot of responsibility for this and I'm very, very concerned,” Saint-Andre said over the weekend.

“It's the first time in my coaching career of eleven years that I've lost four home games in succession.

“We're missing a lot of players through injury and international call-ups and we've got to try and get ready for Wasps next weekend. We have eight days to improve.”

Well, at least they're now playing a side in arguably an even worse predicament than themselves!

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By Adam Kyriacou