We have nothing to lose roars Cliff
SALE Sharks will let the ‘shackles off’ when they take on La Rochelle in the Heineken Champions Cup tonight, insists scrum-half Will Cliff.
Steve Diamond’s side travel to France placed third in Pool 2 knowing only a win will do if Sale are to keep their already faint European hopes alive.
But despite being on the cusp of an early exit, Cliff believes Sale’s predicament will allow the players to play with a freedom which will earn them a positive result.
“The shackles are off and we can go fans, 150 of us – from players to coaches and staff – will all be travelling together to La Rochelle.
A number of our key club partners will also be coming, receiving exclusive behind-the-scenes access for the entire trip. In total, 30 of them, including people from supporters like UK Fast, Together, and Gateley, are all travelling with the team and will stay with us at the club hotel to over there and not really have anything to lose,” he said.
“We have a team that wants to play good rugby and we will go out there and throw everything we have got at a big, physical La Rochelle side.
“They have very passionate fans, as we saw in the semi-final last year. Hopefully we can put on a show and come away with a good result.”
Sale go into the game in high spirits truly be part of our European trip. It’s our way of saying thanks to the businesses that have helped us grow significantly over the past few years.
Over the past three seasons, we have built on our final league position year-on-year, and from a lot of hard work on and off the pitch, we’re confident we can continue rising up the table to challenge for honours come the end of this season. after a dominant display in the league against Harlequins which saw them run in six tries on their way to a commanding bonus-point victory, although the director of rugby has made 15 changes for tonight’s match. Ross Harrison is one of only six players to keep his place in the starting line-up with the longserving loose-head making up an experienced front row alongside Rob Webber and Jake Cooper-Woolley. Academy prospect Matt Postlethwaite pairs up with James Phillips in the lock and will make
Tonight will be a big occasion, and although there is little riding on the game in terms of our pool standings, we’re not going there to make up the numbers. La Rochelle, like all French sides, will be a tough challenge at home in front of around 15,000 fans.
Getting a result at Stade MarcelDeflandre would be a massive statement, which is why we’re going there looking for a big win. his second start in the competition.
Jean-Luc du Preez moves into the back row after dominating from the lock last weekend, teaming up with Ben Curry and twin brother Daniel.
And Cliff, who will marshall the team from scrum-half with AJ McGinty at stand-off, believes the showing against Quins has inspired a confident mood in the Sale camp.
He said: “I think the boys know we have not been far away in the last few weeks. The games we have lost have been tight. For it to click against Harlequins and we don’t just beat a team, but we bash them up as well, everyone was buzzing.”