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Sale Sharks end losing streak with win over Saints

By Online Editors
Jono Ross air pumps after Sale cross for a try.

Sale Sharks produced an impressive display to end a three-game losing run following a comfortable 22-10 triumph over Northampton Saints at the AJ Bell Stadium.

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The Sharks were excellent in the opening quarter and deservedly went 10-0 in front through Chris Ashton’s try and Rob du Preez’s penalty, but the Saints hit back.

Dan Biggar kicked a three-pointer before Lewis Ludlam powered over to level the scores at the interval.

Northampton were the better side going into half-time but Sale controlled matters brilliantly in the second period and touched down twice via Rohan Janse van Rensburg and Akker van der Merwe.

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They also went in search of the bonus point but the hosts failed to take a number of opportunities that presented themselves.

Steve Diamond’s men have struggled to find their rhythm this season, despite going into the round six action in fifth position, but they were much improved.

The Sharks played with far more intensity, with powerhouse hooker Van der Merwe to the fore, and fly-half Du Preez rewarded their dominance with a penalty.

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Sale built on that opening attack and continued to build pressure on the visitors. Northampton were not helping themselves, however, and mistakes allowed the hosts to dominate possession and territory.

One such error, from the usually reliable Cobus Reinach, then resulted in the Sharks opening up a 10-point buffer as the scrum-half’s pass was intercepted and finished by Ashton.

Northampton were under pressure but, to their credit, they responded excellently and reduced the arrears via the accurate kicking of Biggar.

It was the spark the visitors needed and a superb Rory Hutchinson break moved the away side to within inches of the line. An infringement from the Sharks halted the move but, from the resultant lineout, Ludlam touched down to level matters at the break.

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The Saints had finished the first half the brighter, creating a number of opportunities, but half-time came at the wrong moment and enabled Diamond’s team to regroup.

Sale began the second period on the front foot with their power runners causing problems for the visiting rearguard. Janse van Rensburg had already shown his quality by barrelling through would-be tacklers and a few minutes later the centre did the same to score and give the Sharks a 17-10 advantage.

Chris Boyd’s men were back under duress and they conceded soon after as a dominant driving maul from the hosts resulted in the prolific Van der Merwe touching down.

That left Northampton outfit with plenty to do and they struggled to get through a sturdier opposition defence. As a result, Sale dictated proceedings and should have crossed the whitewash for the fourth time, but they were unable to secure the bonus point.

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Bull Shark 3 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

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