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Solomona sinks leaders Wasps

Sale Sharks have agreed a sabbatical for the player

Denny Solomona continued his wonderful start to life at Sale by scoring a first-half hat-trick as the Sharks stunned Premiership leaders Wasps with a 34-28 victory at the AJ Bell Stadium.

Solomona, comfortably the leading try-scorer in Super League last year prior to his cross-code switch, had scored in each of his first four appearances for Sale and took his tally of touchdowns to eight in five games on Sunday.

Wasps fought back impressively after falling 22 points behind early in the second period, but the Sharks held on for a bonus-point win that lifts them 10 points clear of the bottom two.

Dai Young’s men are six clear at the summit, but will rue their failure to punish second-placed Saracens’ loss at Gloucester on Friday.

Solomona’s first score came after 18 minutes and he then crossed twice in quick succession late in the first half to put Sale in command.

A converted Mark Jennings try two minutes after the interval made it 31-9, but Wasps belatedly sprung to life thereafter.

Christian Wade and Kurtley Beale twice combined effectively to set up touchdowns for Josh Bassett and Ashley Johnson, while Beale went over himself after a slick exchange of passes with Willie le Roux – making his Wasps debut as a replacement.

It was not enough, however, as Sale held on to their advantage.

Saturday’s other Premiership fixture also included a hat-trick and points aplenty, Sonatane Takulua scoring three of Newcastle’s seven tries in a 46-31 come-from-behind victory over Northampton Saints.

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Bull Shark 2 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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