Sale Sharks deliver reality check to Harlequins
Sale Sharks will go into the final weekend of the Gallagher Premiership season with a chance of claiming a home semi-final following a dominant 45-12 triumph over fellow title contenders Harlequins.
Alex Sanderson’s men produced an excellent display against the fourth-placed team to move up to second, level on points with Exeter.
Although the Chiefs could move back ahead of the Sharks when they play Northampton on Sunday, Exeter and Sale will clash at Sandy Park next week to decide who gets the all-important home game in the last four.
Sale extended their record Premiership run to eight successive wins, despite Martin Landajo giving the Londoners an ideal start.
Akker van der Merwe initially levelled matters before Marland Yarde, Byron McGuigan and Cameron Neild opened up a comfortable buffer at the interval.
It was not quite as free-flowing from the home side in the second period, but Rohan Janse van Rensburg marked his return from injury with the Sharks’ fifth try.
Bevan Rodd and Jean-Luc du Preez completed their scoring late on, while the visitors did manage a second score through Will Edwards.
After securing their qualification with a victory over Bath last weekend, Quins decided to rest several of their top players for this clash.
Joe Marler, Alex Dombrandt, Danny Care and Marcus Smith all sat out this encounter but a side that showed 11 changes in all started superbly.
They signalled their intent early on by catching the hosts napping when a quick line-out and a wonderful break from Ben Tapuai moved the visitors into the opposition 22.
Although the Sharks’ defence recovered and halted the move, they were powerless to prevent Landajo touching down moments later.
Tyrone Green, who has been hugely impressive this season, was the instigator, making the initial break down the right-hand side before finding Stephan Lewies. The lock then showed excellent skills to draw the final defender and send the Argentinian scrum-half scampering over the line.
It was a shock to Sale but they responded well and proceeded to put Quins under pressure. The Londoners did not help themselves, conceding a string of needless penalties, but the Salford-based outfit were clinical in the opposition half.
A run of 40 unanswered points started when a neat dummy and offload allowed Van der Merwe to cross the whitewash before excellent hands enabled Yarde to score against his former club.
Sale are renowned for their big runners but, although they did not make too many inroads through the middle in the opening half, it was still doing damage to Harlequins’ rearguard.
With Quins focused on the sheer power of the Sharks’ ball-carriers, the space opened out wide and Sanderson’s men soon had their third try.
The forwards did the hard work by narrowing the defence before Sam James floated a wonderful pass for McGuigan to collect and score.
All Sale needed for an almost perfect half of rugby was the bonus point and it came when Neild powered over. This time, it was the direct approach which paid dividends as Van der Merwe and Ben Curry both carried hard before the blindside flanker touched down.
Quins, despite their attacking prowess in 2021, have struggled defensively and they failed to find a way of stopping the hosts.
Landajo tried to spark them into life after the turnaround as he made two searing breaks and they were also helped by a yellow card for Faf de Klerk, who was sin-binned for a no arms tackle.
However, they did not breach the Sharks while De Klerk was off the field and instead it was the hosts that added to their lead when Janse van Rensburg touched down.
Rob du Preez took over kicking duties from AJ MacGinty, who had earlier scored three conversions, to add the extras and then took his side up to the 40-point mark after Rodd had touched down.
Harlequins kept going and were rewarded with an Edwards try but they will have to be content with an away game in the play-offs.
Fittingly, Sale that had the final word when Jean-Luc du Preez powered across the whitewash.
Comments on RugbyPass
Pretty good side. Scott Barrett should be the captain. Ethan Blackadder a great choice at blindside. He is going to go from strength to strength having made a couple of starts for the Crusaders. Scott Robertson rates him highly. Perenara could start a no 9.
3 Go to commentsI question and with respect. Was enough done over the last few years to bring through new blood knowing the Whitelocks and co couldn’t last forever. There should have been more done to future proof the team. New squad new coach, he and they weren’t set up well. IMO
6 Go to commentsJacobsen will definitely be in the 23
3 Go to commentsLots of discussion points, Ben, but two glaring follies IMO: 1. Blackadder at 6. Has done nothing so far this season to justify his selection. Did you see him going backwards in contact at the weekend? Simply has not got the physical presence at 6: we need a Scott Barrett or a Finau (or wildcard Ah Kuoi), beasts who are big enough to play lock, like Frizzell. If Barret played at 6, Paddy could be joined at lock by Vai’i or one of the young giants we need to promote, like Darry or Lord (if he ever gets on the field). Blackadder best left to join the queue for 7. 2. Not even a mention for Christie? Ratima gets caught at crucial times at the back of the ruck when he hesitates on the pass. The only way he starts would be if Christie and TJ are injured.
3 Go to commentsWhat a dagg in more ways than one
6 Go to commentsRegroup come back next year but sack some of the coaching team and don't be like the ABs last minute sacking. If Crusaders don't do well ABs don't do well.
5 Go to commentsProctor Definitely inform again this year had a hell of a season last year and this year is looking even better. Still mixed feelings about Ioane tho.
4 Go to commentsDagg is still trying to get enough headlines to make himself relevant enough to get a job. The Crusaders went back to square one at all levels. Shelve this season and nail the next one.
6 Go to commentsHe was in such great form. Sad for him but only a short term injury and it will be great to see him back for the finals.
1 Go to commentsAfter their 5/0 start, I had the Crusaders to finish Top 4 only…they lost the plot in Perth but will reload and back themselves vs 4th placed Rebels…
5 Go to commentsBoth nations missed a great opportunity to book a game that would have had a lot of interest from around the world. I understand these games can’t be organised in 5 minutes but they should have found a way to make it happen. I don’t think Wales are ducking anyone but it’s a bad look haha.
3 Go to commentsIt will be fascinating to see the effect that Jo Yapp has. If they can compete with Canada and give BFs a run for their money that will be progress
1 Go to commentsFollowing his dream and putting in the work. Go well young fella!
3 Go to commentsPerhaps filling Twickenham is one of Mitchell’s KPIs. I doubt whether both September matches will be at Twickenham on consecutive weekends. I would take the BF one to a large provincial stadium so as not to give them the advantage and experience of playing at Twickenham before a large crowd prior to the RWC.
3 Go to commentsvery unfortunate for Kitshoff, but big opportunity potentially for Nché to prove he is genuinely the best loosehead in the world, rather than just a specialist finisher. Presuming that if Kitshoff is out, it will also give Steenekamp a chance to come into the 23? Or are others likely to be ahead of him?
1 Go to commentsA long held question in popular culture asks if art imitates life or does the latter influence the former? Over this 6 nations I can ask the same question of the media influencing the thoughts of its audience or vice versa. Nobody wants to see cricket scores in rugby, as a spectacle it is not sustainable. With so many articles about England’s procession and lack of competition it feeds the epicaricacy of many looking for an opportunity to pounce. England are not the first team to dominate nor does it happen only in rugby, think Federer, Nadal, Red Bull or Mercedes, Manchester Utd, Australia in tests and World Cups. Instead of celebrating the achievements why find reasons to falsify it pointing towards larger playing pool, professional for a longer period or mitigate with the lack of growth in other nations. Can we not enjoy it while it is here and know that it won’t last for ever, others coveting what England have will soon take the crown, ask the aforementioned?
6 Go to commentsShame he won’t turn out for the Netherlands now they’re improving. U20s are Euro champs and in the U20 Trophy this year. The senior sides gets better every year too.
3 Go to commentsWill rugbypass tv be showing these games?
1 Go to commentsWell where do you start, the fact that England have a professional domestic league and Ireland’s is fully amatuer, that they have fully seperated professional squads at Fifteens and Sevens (7’s thinly disguised as GB), and Ireland have fully pro Sevens squad who loan some players back to the Semi-Professional Fifteens squad (moved from amateur for only a year or so) for a few games at 6N & RWC’s. The Women’s games is a shambles, and is at risk of killing itself by pushing for professionalism when the market isn’t really there to support it outside one or two countnries..
6 Go to commentsWayne Smith's input didn't have as much impact on the last final as Davison's red card for Thompson. England were 14 points up and flying when that happened.
6 Go to comments