'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.
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).
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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.
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.
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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.
“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.
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“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
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