NO-ONE has ever questioned Epi Taione's ability to carry a rugby
ball at a high velocity.
The giant Tongan flyer - just as comfortable at centre, wing or
flanker - has proved himself over the last five seasons as one of
the most destructive runners in the rugby union's
Premiership.
Taione's explosive talents have never been in doubt. But since he
burst on to the scene with Newcastle Falcons in 2000 there have
been questions over the 26-year-old's ability to last the full 80
minutes week-in and week-out.
But Taione, who moved south from the Falcons to Sale Sharks over
the summer, insists the move has given him a new desire to succeed
- as well as a completely fresh outlook on training.
"I've shed 10-15kgs in the last two months through a lot of running
and a lot of mileage," said Taione.
"I've been doing yoga and trying loads of different things, and I'm
really, really enjoying training here - which is important for me,
because I'm a poor trainer.
"Last season I was up near 130kgs at Newcastle and I would struggle
a lot to finish games. I never gave my full potential to the team,
which is a regret of mine. But I'm in tip-top condition now and I'm
really looking forward to the season."
A fit and motivated Taione could prove to be the missing piece of
the three-quarter line jigsaw for Sale's director of rugby Philippe
Saint-Andre.
Sale's backs played some breathtaking rugby last season, with
Charlie Hodgson providing the direction, and Mark Cueto, Jason
Robinson and Steve Hanley the cutting edge out wide. Taione's
addition to the side, in place of club stalwart Jos Baxendell,
gives the Sharks yet another strike runner.
Taione admits that the quality of the Sharks squad and coaching
set-up were major factors in his decision to move to Edgeley
Park.
"Since Philippe has been at Sale, the quality of rugby they have
played and the quality of the side made the club a massive
attraction," said Taione.
The Tongan, still recovering from a badly broken arm sustained
while playing for the Falcons at the end of last season, is
convinced that the Sharks have the firepower to better their
achievements of last season - when they finished third in the
Zurich Premiership and went on to win the European Challenge
Cup.
"Our aim is to win the league and I have no doubt we have the
quality to do that," Taione said. "Last season Sale dropped a lot
of points during the autumn international period, and, hopefully
that won't happen again this season. It would also be massive for
us to win the Heineken Cup, and our target is to reach the
quarter-finals at least ."
TREVOR Woodman, the prop who suffered an injury to his lower back
while training with Sale Sharks last September, has retired. The
29-year-old, who played for Gloucester before joining Sale, won 22
England caps - the highlight being England's 2003 World Cup final
victory over Australia.
PHIL Jones, the former England `A' and Wigan Warriors fly-half
will turn out for his new club Sedgley Park against Manchester at
Park Lane tonight (7.30).
He has been released by Leigh Centurions, having switched back to
Rugby League after a spell at Rotherham.
Jones shot to prominence as the lynchpin in an Orrell side that
almost secured promotion to what is now the Guinness Premiership,
and his signing is a major coup for Sedgley - now the top club
after Sale Sharks in the North West.
Sharks are also in action tonight against National One opposition
in Doncaster - the club formerly coached by Sharks head coach
Kingsley Jones - at Edgeley Park (8pm).
Manchester, coached by former Sale Shark Dave Baldwin, will rely on
last season's squad. But Sedgley have a host of new players and are
also able to call upon players like Johnny Appleton, now a Sale Jet
and a Young England centre, who has graduated from the powerful
junior section at Park Lane.
The squad has also been strengthened by the arrival of centre Shaun
Woof, the former Waterloo player who missed last season through
injury, ex- Llanelli lock Chris Rowe and Alistair Atkinson, who is
another second row, from Orrell.
Phil Gazola is a prop from the Italian club Viadana, and other
newcomers include: Kiwi Sam Anania, a hard-running No 8; Chris
Hall, a wing from Dewsbury RL; and Mike Peters, another wing who
has been playing at Wigan Warriors.
South African Tim Fourie is joined on the coaching panel by
ex-Northampton and North of England centre Andy Northey.