Diamond 'perturbed' despite quarter-final win
Sale Sharks director of rugby Steve Diamond was disappointed with his side’s second-half display in a 20-10 victory over Connacht which saw them reach the semi-finals of the Challenge Cup.
The Sharks were excellent in the first half, touching down twice via Byron McGuigan and Denny Solomona before going into the interval 20-3 ahead.
Although the Irish province improved – scoring late on through Kyle Godwin – Sale had done enough to make it through to the last four where they will face either La Rochelle or Bristol.
Diamond said: “In the first half we controlled all the play and didn’t make many mistakes but in the second half we came out and made a few errors early doors.
“Connacht got into their stride, which they didn’t manage to do in the first half, and then it became a highly-competitive contest after that.
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“Against a side like Connacht, it’s never going to be one-way traffic. We were fairly good in the first half and there were two equal teams in the second half.”
Connacht had plenty of pressure after the interval but Sale were resilient in defence and Diamond was pleased with their defensive effort.
What frustrated the Sharks boss, however, was the team’s inability to control territory because of needless errors.
“Our defence was pretty good all day – I thought they scored a good try – but I was more perturbed about us not finding field position like we did (in the) first half,” he added.
“We went away from keeping Rohan Janse Van Rensburg in the game, who made their number 10’s life misery in the first half. We seemed to lose that for some reason.”
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With the Sharks in contention for both the Premiership and Challenge Cup, Diamond says that they will not prioritise one competition over the other.
“For us, we’re going to have a crack at both,” he added. “If we can get to a final within two years of Ged (Mason) and Simon (Orange) owning the club, we would be delighted.
“If we can get into the Champions Cup next year, we would be even more delighted – so we’re going at it on all fronts.”
Meanwhile, Connacht boss Andy Friend was disappointed with the amount of mistakes the visitors made, despite a battling display in the second period.
“With it 20-3 at half-time, we knew we had a fight on our hands in the second half,” he said.
“I thought we did fight in the second half but in finals footy, you can’t make that many errors and expect to win.”
Friend also defended his team selection after making a number of changes and resting some first-choice individuals.
He added: “We’ve done that all year. We’ve picked on what we believe is form and we are trying to build a squad as well.
“Yes, it’s about today but it’s also a long game there where you’ve got to give players opportunities.
“You’ve got to challenge players and give them their chance. Some take it, some need a bit more time, so that’s something we will assess, but we are building a squad.”
PA
Comments on RugbyPass
GOTTA MAKE ‘THE GEORGE’ HAPPEN!!!! That’s a great idea! A trans Tasman midget battle on ANZAC Day. I don’t think the ABs Wallabies game should be a one off winner takes all though, just the first match with the other two later in the year with the RC. Reason being, no one will ever shut up about how aussies couldn’t win it when it was a 3 match series.
1 Go to comments@Ben smith. Thats knock out rugby. So honeslty who cares?
152 Go to commentsIt will interesting to know which Irish players said that…
1 Go to commentsNaaaww boys will be boys! Now run along ya wee scamp! Don’t let us catch you at again😏
1 Go to commentsGreat to have Ethan Blackadder back in the Crusaders in the last few weeks. One of the best all round loose forwards around. He played so well last week against the Rebels. Fantastic attitude Ethan has and his comments are spot on.
2 Go to commentsThe author is 100% right. The Springboks know that they don't have near the natural attraction, mana, skill and mystic the All Blacks have. So, Chasing the sun 1 & 2 was concocted to overblow the Boks image on the back of a corruptly obtained “win". It's marketing ploy to force the Boks delusion as the World's Best. I guess World Rugby is also not to be believed when it came out with an apology about how the final was officiated. And if the 2023 final such a superb game by the Boks, then the Boks crying about Referee Bryce Lawrence for decades is also deserves a laugh. Chase the sun and get burned like a moth. A very well written literary piece that tore the Boks and Chasing the sun farce to shreds. 🖤All Blacks🏉
152 Go to commentsI’d say France was far more hard done by in the 2011 final than the All Blacks in this game. Joubert simply refused to call a penalty against the All Blacks in the last quarter even directing an All Black to drop a ball he picked up in an offside position rather than penalizing him. This article also totally discounts the efforts of PSTD. Ask Jordie how well he played. Or the backup flank who played hooker for the entire game. Siya was also a brilliant tackle by Richie from scoring a blinder. Pollard was also fantastic. Look I don’t like the boks style but the only thing more questionable than the content of this article is the timing of it. Get over it already
152 Go to commentsDad Marty was also a handy rugby player for Linwood back in the day. Great bloke. Sensational softball career.
2 Go to commentsWhat ifs are always dangerous. If you look at the game before Sam cane got sent of SA was dominating. You could make the argument the going down to 14 men rallied the troops and made them have to play to win which is always dangerous.
152 Go to commentsOmg… you are bruised And battered Benny. Stop crying … the scoreboard speaks. What a pathetic lover you are.. 🤣🤣🤣
152 Go to commentsPacific Lions, cry me a river
152 Go to commentsThis is the single worst piece of journalism I have ever seen since your last one. As a neutral, who really states that there should be an asterisk next to a win? You are an utter embarrassment to real AB fans, journalism and that joke of a house which pays you for this nonsense. Get a life, Ben.
152 Go to commentsGuys. Cancel the World Cup champions after this analysis. It changes everything. Ben knows. We’ll have to unengrave the Bokke off the trophy and hand it to the ABs, now that I’ve been enlightened about this illegitimate win. This needs to be done. Now!
152 Go to commentsBen is right here though, Springboks were woefully poor with the advantage they had throughout this game. The France match was heroic because that was an even contest this match had it taken place in Rugby Championship would have been an easy win for NZ. If anything this match should tell the Bok coaches that a lot of this team should be changed. They beat this same NZ team by record margin with the same circumstances but with a different core. They bring back the tried and tested guys and they nearly botch this game.
152 Go to commentsI knew who wrote this article from the first few words in the headline…lol. The red card actually did the ABs a favour. It galvanized them, only then did they step up a gear. Before that there was zero momentum.
152 Go to commentsFirstly the foul on Bongi was a planned move just like the NZ master plan with Bryce Lawrence you kiwis are filthy fux perhaps try to play a cleaner game next time I doubt that’s possible tho but don’t worry world rugby is on yr side they trying to take away all the BOKS strengths to help all you weakling as Jeremy Clarkson would say LA OO ZA ERR..🤣
152 Go to commentsAbsolutely spot on Ben. I certainly wouldn't gloat over a win like that. Frustrating as it is it's done and dusted and history will forever show the result.
152 Go to commentsHo hum.
152 Go to commentsNo question they were the better team. But that is the beauty of sport isn’t it!
152 Go to commentsEveryone is into Hurling in Ireland according to Porter, but only 11 of Ireland's 32 counties enter a team into the national competition. Same old blarney.
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