'Probably their season over with': Alex Sanderson's grim update on England duo

Sale director of rugby Alex Sanderson hailed the talents of George Ford as Sharks booked a place in the quarter-finals of the Investec Champions Cup with a 26-17 victory over Harlequins.

The England fly-half’s goal-kicking proved the difference as Ford compiled a match-tally of 16 points to help Sale build up a 26-5 lead before an ill-disciplined Quins rallied, although the deficit was insurmountable.

Luke Cowan-Dickie scored both of Sale’s tries, with Ford converting both and adding four penalties.

Alex Dombrandt crossed twice for Harlequins and Chandler Cunningham-South scored another, with Marcus Smith adding a conversion

Sanderson said: “George is the best in the world in building scoreboard pressure and keeping the scoreboard ticking over.

“Quins didn’t fire many shots in the first half as our set-piece was dominant, but in the second half they played with free abandon and are a really dangerous team.

“They kept scrapping and with 10 minutes to go, the game could have gone either way as we were under the cosh losing Bevan (Rodd) and Luke (Cowan-Dickie) with injures and two others to HIA’s.”

It was not good news for Sale on the injury front as both Rodd and Cowan-Dickie seemed to suffer serious injuries.

Sanderson said: “Luke is a tough boy and he believes he’s broken his wrist or forearm whilst Bevan dislocated his shoulder but had it put back in on the field, but I think that’s probably their season over with the summer tour for England also in jeopardy.”

Sale now face a probable trip to Leinster in next week’s quarter finals, which Sanderson accepted was a tough ask.

He said: “We have an underdog mentality, us against the world, which we will take into the match.

“With their attacking prowess, you’ll need to score at least 30 points to give yourself a chance.”

Quins head coach Jason Gilmore was annoyed by his side’s performance as they failed to build on last week’s impressive victory over Bristol in Cardiff.

Gilmore said: “It’s hugely frustrating to lose when we score three tries to two and lose to goal-kicking.

“We missed two clear try-scoring opportunities in the first half which would have made a difference and I’m pleased that we showed some fight in the second half.

“We couldn’t get any territory or possession and it was a very messy game, especially at the breakdown.

“Our discipline was a problem. Some penalty awards were clear but some were hard to fathom, but we need to be better than that.”