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Sharks' sorry show

Richard Wigglesworth
A CONTRITE Richard Wigglesworth admits he and his misfiring colleagues owe Sale Sharks and their fans big-time after being part of what he terms the "disgrace" of last Friday's 17-9 setback against Worcester.

The abject display, which was Sale's fourth consecutive defeat on home soil and their sixth loss in the last seven matches, was greeted with derision by the Edgeley Park fans.

Not only did it destroy the Sharks' hopes of claiming top-spot in the Guinness Premiership table, it also raised serious question-marks over whether the club have the necessary strength in depth to sustain a challenge for honours. And it provided further ammunition for those critics who have accused Sale of a lack of attacking ambition, pointing to their dearth of tries in the top flight.

In their six league games to date, the stuttering Sharks have scored a total of three tries, easily the lowest in the division and a damning statistic for a side which, on paper, boasts one of the most exciting back-lines around.

And with a visit to champions Wasps next on the agenda, followed by a home clash with high-flying Leicester, life isn't likely to get easier any easier in the short-term for a star- studded squad which has been hard hit by international call-ups and injuries.

None of those arguments held much sway with England international Wigglesworth, however, who said he was "ashamed" of last Friday's display.

"The Worcester defeat was probably the worst game I've every played in and certainly the most disappointing," admitted Wiggy.

"What we produced out there was a disgrace and all the players were pretty ashamed of how we performed.

"We started well and we had a chance early on but after that we didn't get any quality ball and in the end I think we were lucky to only get beaten by eight points.

"Now, we have to pick ourselves up because we've got to play two of the best teams in the league over the next fortnight.

"We had an almighty rollicking that we thoroughly deserved on Monday and every one of us who is in the 22 is going to have to raise their game massively if we are going to get anything out of those two games.

"We're going to have to find something, be it confidence, desire or whatever you want to call it. The bottom line is we've got to massively lift our performance."

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I couldn't disagree with any of the comments in the article but trying harder isn't the answer. None of the fans belive the team isn't trying but the relaity is that opposition teams invariably score points when in the Sale half yet Sale's possession to points conversion rate is woeful. Jason Robinson has never been replaced whic

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Sorry about the above - it was submitted before completion. Now where was I? Ah yes - we have never replaced Jason Robinson which is understandable but we haven't appeared to have replaced Ben Foden which is less easy to understand. Cueto and Hodgson are shadows of the players they were 3 years ago and Tait hasn't turned up yet. McAlister is carrying the back row by himself (with occasional support from Lamont) but his talent is putting the mediocrity of others into sharp relief. I don't know what the answer is but our backs are ponderous and short of ideas.

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