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'There is an outstanding record of guys who have lost their way finding their way again at Sale'
Sale captain Jono Ross believes the club’s uncanny ability to revive seemingly stalled international careers will enable the newly arrived trio of Rob, Jean-Luc and Dan du Preez to return to the Springbok colours.
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All three du Preez brothers are involved with Sale’s punishing pre-season training programme at a Premiership outfit that helped Faf de Klerk and James O’Connor earn Test recalls and put themselves in line for involvement at the World Cup in Japan.
Springbok scrum-half de Klerk and Wallaby centre O’Connor were, for various reasons, in the international wilderness when they arrived at Sale, but both are now pressing for World Cup action.
Previously, Sale worked their magic on England’s Danny Cipriani, although Eddie Jones has since halted his Test career by deeming him unworthy of a place in the 31-strong squad for the finals.
Besides the likely involvement of de Klerk and the now-departed O’Connor, Sale are set to be represented at the World Cup by Tom Curry (England), new recruit Lood de Jager (South Africa), AJ MacGinty (USA) and Byron McGuigan(Scotland).
With so many players away in the Far East, it offers the du Preez brothers the chance to enhance their reputations with Rob having impressed last season before having a rough time after returning to the Sharks for their Super Rugby campaign.
His father – also Rob – paid the price as head coach in Durban, prompting 24-year-old twins Jean-Luc and Dan to also make their loan moves to Sale permanent.
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The arrival of the du Preez brothers gives Sale a unique back row contingent as it also includes the Curry twins Ben and Tom, England flanker Mark Wilson (on loan from Newcastle), with Ross also battling to get a start in what will be an incredibly combative line-up of talent in the Premiership and Europe.
The squad is also able to call on the running power of England wing Marland Yarde, who was offloaded by Harlequins and has now recovered from what Ross describes as the worst knee injury he has seen.
Ross said: “There is an outstanding record of guys who have lost their way finding their way again at Sale. Steve Diamond has to take a lot of credit for helping players get back into Test rugby and is a better man-manager than people give him credit for.
“All three du Preez brothers are with us for the next three years, which is fantastic for the club. We all saw last year what Rob and JL were able to bring to the squad and Dan is a quality player.
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“The twins are very abrasive players who are still young and add ballast and quality to the squad. They are also identical, like Tom and Ben Curry, and there cannot be another professional rugby team in the world with two sets of identical twins. It’s quite crazy.
“If you look at Faf, he was out of the Springbok mix when he came over and got himself back in there, and I believe the du Preez brothers are closer to recalls than Faf was when he arrived. Hopefully, they can put in some good performances for us and off back of that get some international recognition again.
“James O’Connor has been through some really hard times and faced a lot of criticism. He would be the first to admit he made some mistakes but fair play to him, he turned things around and was fantastic for us before heading back to Australia.
“He seems to be the link player the Wallabies have been missing. AJ is a quality player and we saw that when he came back from injury last season and has been going really well. I believe the USA are a sleeping giant and he is at the forefront of it.”
Ross, who had an outstanding last season as Sale captain, expects an even stronger challenge for a top-four Premiership finish in 2019/20 and believes the domination of football in Manchester helps keep everyone focussed on the job in hand.
He explained: “When I arrived at Sale I recognised there is a great group of guys, mainly northerners, who are very welcoming and it is a great environment. You don’t really have anybody who is difficult and that means when guys come in who have had some problems, they fit in really well and flourish in the set-up.
I’m ready… Are you? Pre order your 2019/20Sale Sharks home kit today at https://t.co/93MyuyWoZL and make sure you are set for the new season!#SharksFamily |@ukfast
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— Jono Ross (@Jono__Ross) August 17, 2019
“Our intensity at training has been higher than last season and we have been working really hard and for a club like Sale to have the quality of players coming back and those who just missed out on international selection says a lot for where Steve Diamond and the board are taking the club.
“However, having good players does not necessarily make you a great team and we have been working on some team culture things. Because there is so much sport in Manchester, rugby, in comparison, is quite small.
“You quickly realise there isn’t any celebrity hype around anyone because of football, which is a good thing. We are trying to raise the profile of rugby and the club are doing a fantastic job.”
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Comments on RugbyPass
Oh wow… “But as La Rochelle proved in winning in Cape Town this season, a cross-continental away assignment need not spell the end of days.” La Rochelle actually proved quite the opposite. After traveling to Cape town and back they (back-to-back and current champs) got mercilessly thumped the next week. If travel is not the reason, why else would a full-strength powerhouse like La Rochelle get dumped on the @r$e$ one week later?
26 Go to commentsYou know he can land a winning conversion after the full time siren is up. (Even if it takes two attempts.)
5 Go to commentsA very insightful article from Jake. I would love to know how South African’s feel about their move to Europe. Do you prefer playing in Europe or want to go back to Super Rugby?
2 Go to commentspure fire
1 Go to commentsA very well thought out summary of all the relevant complications…agree with your ”refer the Cricket Test versus 20/20 comparison”. More also definitely doesn't necessarily mean better!
2 Go to commentsMust be something when you are only 19 y.o and both NZ and France want you. Btw he wasn’t the only new caledonian in french U20 as Robin Couly also lived in Noumea until 17. Hope he’s successful wherever he chooses to play.
7 Go to comments“Several key players in the Stade Rochelais squad are in their thirties” South Africans are going to hate the implications of that comment!
5 Go to commentsI know Leinster did a job on La Roche but shortly after HT Leinster were 30-13 ahead of them and at a similar time Toulouse were trailing Exeter. At 60 mins Leinster were 27 ahead but after 67 mins Toulouse were only 19 ahead before Exeter collapsed. That’s heavier scoring by Leinster against the Champions. I think people are looking at Toulouses total a little too much. I also think Northhampton are in with a real chance, albeit I’d put Leinster as favourites. If Leinster make the final I expect them to win by more than ten and with control.
5 Go to commentsHey Nick, your match analysis is decent but the top and tail not so much, a bit more random. For a start there’s a seismic difference in regenerating any club side over a test team. EJ pretty much had to urinate with the appendage he’d been given at test level whereas club success is impacted hugely by the budget. Look no further than Boudjellal’s Toulon project for a perfect example. The set ups at La Rochelle and Leinster are like chalk and cheese and you are correct that Leinster are ahead. Leinster are not just slightly ahead though, they are light years ahead on their plans, with the next gen champions cup team already blooded, seasoned and developing at speed from their time manning the fort in the URC while the cream play CC and tests. They have engineered a strong talent conveyor belt into their system, supported by private money funnelled into a couple of Leinster private schools. The really smart move from Leinster and the IRFU however is maximising the Irish Revenue tax breaks (tax relief on the best 10 years earnings refunded at retirement) to help keep all of their stars in Ireland and happy, while simultaneously funding marquee players consistently. And of course Barrett is the latest example. But in no way is he a “replacement for Henshaw”, he’s only there for one season!!! As for Rob Baxter, the best advice you can give him is to start lobbying Parliament and HMRC for a similar state subsidy, but don’t hold your breath… One thing Cullen has been very smart with is his coaching team. Very quickly he realised his need to supplement his skills, there was talk of him exiting after his first couple of years but he was extremely shrewd bringing in Lancaster and now Nienaber. That has worked superbly and added a layer that really has made a tangible difference. Apart from that you were bang on the money… 😉😂
5 Go to commentsNot sure exactly what went wrong for him at Glasgow but it’s pretty clear he ain’t Franco’s cup of tea. Suspect he would have been better served heading out of Scotland around the same time as Finn, Hoggy and Jonny!
1 Go to commentsBulls disrespected the Northampton supporters and the competition. Decide quickly, fully in or out.
26 Go to commentsI wonder if Parling was ever on England’s radar as a coach? Obviously Borthwick is a great lineout coach, but I do worry he might be taking on too much as both head coach and forwards coach.
1 Go to commentsJason Jenkins has one cap. When Etzebeth was his age he had over 80 caps. Experience matters. He will never amount to what Etzebeth has because he hasn’t been developed as an international player.
2 Go to commentsSays much about the player picking this gig over the easier and bigger rewards offered to him in Japan. Also says a lot about the state sanctioned tax benefits the Irish Revenue offers pro rugby players, with their ten highest earning years subject to an additional 40% tax relief and paid as a lump sum, in cash, at retirement. Certainly helps Leinster line up the financial ducks in a row to fund marquee signings like this!!! No other union anywhere in world rugby benefits from this kind of lucrative financial sponsorship from their government…
5 Go to commentsTrue Jordie could earn a lot more in Japan. But by choosing Leinster he’ll be playing with 1 of the best clubs in the world and can win a champions cup and URC…..
6 Go to commentsThanks for that Marshy, noticed you didn't say who is gonna win it. We know who ain't gonna win it - your Crusaders outfit. They've gone from having arguably the best Super Rugby first five ever, to having a clutch of rookies. Hurricanes all the way!
1 Go to commentsGeez you really have to question the NRLs ability to produce players of quality. Its pathetic. Dont the 25mil in Aus produce enough quality womens players. Sad.
1 Go to commentsBulls fan here, and agree 100% with the conclusion (and little else) of this article. SA sides should absolutely f-off from the champs cup until we get fair scheduling, equal support for travel arrangements and home semis. You know, like all the european teams get.
26 Go to commentsI’m yet to see why Grace would be an ABs contender. He’s pedestrian and lacks the dominance required of a top flight 8.
11 Go to commentsGee my Highlanders were terrible. They have gone backwards since the start of the season. The trouble began when we left Millar behind to prep as the 10 against the Brumbies and he was disconnected from the team that came back from Aussie. We rested Patchell for that game and we blew an avalanche of ball in good attacking positions in the 1st half. Against the Rebels we seem to of gone into a pod system with forwards hanging off from the breakdown leaving Fakatava to secure our ball!
80 Go to comments