Ripol ready for Gloucester test
4:28pm Wednesday 12th March 2008
SHARKS wing Oriol Ripol is backing his team to bounce back from recent disappointments to put themselves firmly back in the play-off picture.
The Spaniard scored a try in Sunday's trip to play-off rivals but couldn't prevent his side from losing 24-20.
It was Sale's second straight defeat but Ripol believes this is just a blip.
That theory will be put to the test when Sharks take on league leaders Gloucester at Edgeley Park on Friday night, but Ripol is confident they will be ready for the Cherry and Whites.
"We're really disappointed (about the defeat at Saracens) because in a sense we had it there and then went to sleep for 10 minutes in the first half and conceded two tries.
"This is sport, sometimes you win, sometimes you lose.
"At the end of the day, the Guinness Premiership is very competitive. If you look at the top six or seven, there is only a few points difference between them, so you can't go to sleep against any team.
"But it just keeps on going and we have another hard game on Friday. Gloucester are top, but we just have to do the right things and prepare our game and hopefully come out with the points."
Sharks have received a boost this week with the news that Charlie Hodgson will be available for selection.
Exclusion from the England 22 to face Ireland will come as a fresh blow to the fly half, who would have been hoping to capitalise on Jonny Wilkinson's abject recent form to regain his place in the national team.
But Hodgson will return to Sale with a point to prove, ready to resume his midfield partnership with Luke McAlister - a pairing Sale so desperately missed against last Sunday.
The Edgeley Park side will still be without Andrew Sheridan, Richard Wigglesworth, Scott Lawson and Jason White due to Six Nations call-ups though.
But Ripol believes their squad is strong enough to cope.
He said: "I think we have enough good players to get the results but when you're missing all the internationals it is difficult.
"We just have to deal with the situation and do our best until the boys come back."
Despite watching his teammates depart on international duty, Ripol is not pining for a piece of the action himself.
He said: "I have played for the Spanish team in the past but I'm too old now.
"It would have been nice if there was a Catalan team to play for but I'm just happy to stay here and help my club."