By Cherrybomb
April 26 2002

On Sunday Gloucester take on Sale in the Parker Pen Semi-Final. The match is of uppermost importance to Gloucester, who have beaten Sale in the last two times the clubs have met. No-one is underestimating the Sale team though, with the likes of Jason Robinson and Charlie Hodgson in the back line. Without a doubt the weakness of the Sale team is their defense and forwards. In the last two matches between the clubs the Gloucester pack has overturned them, winning the matches without really using the backs. Sale will hope it will be different this time though, they will be fielding a full strength side. There is no way the Cherry-And-Whites will underestimate the scoring power of Sale. All their recent games were high scoring ones and they lie fourth in the Premiership, on equal points with London Irish, who play Pontypridd in their semi-final on Saturday.

Gloucester will have to be ware of two of England most gifted players. Jason Robinson, favourite for the player's player of the season award, and Charlie Hodgson, favourite for the player's young player of the season award, are both deadly finishers. However, Nigel Melville feels that Gloucester shouldn't just concentrate on Robinson.
"If you get obsessed with trying to stop Jason Robinson you'll spend a lot of time on the training field because he's an exceptional player and he's got the respect of everybody, not just the club but throughout the league."

Sale coach Jim Mallinder will field a full strength side, where as the Gloucester coach has made a few changes. In the centres there is still no place for Henry Paul, as Robert Todd, back from a ban, and Terry Fanalua play. These two centres are not everybody's choice, as they are both runners of the ball, and I tend to feel that you need a mix of styles in that area, so I Would have preferred Simpson-Daniel or Joe Ewens to accompany probably Robert Todd. I don't believe Henry Paul should play, because if you ain't good enough, you ain't gonna play. I believe that is the right attitude to take, and if you disagree with me feel free to state your views on the messageboard!

In the backs Gloucester will have Chris "crazy legs" Catling at full back. On the wings are Daren O'Leary and replacing Tom Beim, Simpson-Daniel. Half backs are of course Ludo Mercier and Andy Gomarsall, who has just signed a new three year contract. The forwards line up like this: the front row will probably consist of captain Phil Vickery, who has and injury niggle, Oly Azam and Trevor Woodman or Pucciarello. Collazo could also start. Ed Pearce has been given the the nod by Nigel Melville ahead of Rob Fidler, and will want to make an impression in this big match.

Harlequins are the current holders of the Shield. The final match last year against Narbonne went into extra time before they wrapped it up. The final this year will be staged at Oxford's out of town Kassam Stadium, the stage for the other semi final between London Irish and Pontypool. The attendance for that day will be extended to 15,000, but I expect Gloucester could fill most of that themselves.

Nigel Melville said;
"When you're in the semifinal of a cup all you want to do is get to the final and win it. No-one remembers the anyone who's in the Semis, you've got to go forward and and try and win something so it's an opportunity, we play things to win so it would be great to do that.

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Expected score: Gloucester 27 - 13 Sale