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Tuilagi on scoresheet at Leicester as Sale strengthen play-off push

By PA
(Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)

Manu Tuilagi made a try-scoring return to Welford Road as Sale Sharks strengthened their Gallagher Premiership play-off push by beating Leicester 40-31. The England centre left Leicester in July after rejecting a 25 per cent pay cut, and he bit the Tigers with a first-half touch down to help Sale reclaim second place behind runaway league leaders Exeter.

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It was a trademark Tuilagi score, illustrating enviable power and strength as Leicester defenders were left scattered. The Tuilagi try highlighted a dominant first 50 minutes by Sale, with fly-half AJ MacGinty and captain Jono Ross also claiming tries, while MacGinty kicked three conversions and a penalty and Faf De Klerk dropped a goal.

Tuilagi was replaced midway through the second period just after a de Klerk penalty, and despite Leicester having their moments – Hanro Liebenberg, Jake Kerr and Freddie Steward scored tries and George Ford kicked 16 points – they were ultimately eclipsed by Sale.

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Winger Denny Solomona claimed a bonus-point try 17 minutes from time, with MacGinty’s conversion giving him a 19-point haul as the Sharks prevailed. The only downbeat note on a dominant afternoon for Sale was their England flanker Tom Curry going off on the stroke of half-time and not returning after failing a head injury assessment.

Leicester, 26 points below Sale in the league before kick-off, made a strong start and were almost ahead after four minutes when wing Nemani Nadolo caught Ford’s clever crosskick, but he lost possession with the line beckoning. The scare kick-started Sale, and they scored from their first attack when de Klerk landed a smart drop-goal from 30 metres. 

Although a Ford penalty briefly tied things up, Sale powered back in front via the direct approach of their forwards before enough space was worked for MacGinty to glide over and convert his own try. Leicester lock Tomas Lavanini was fortunate to escape a yellow card following a dangerous challenge on Sale hooker Akker van der Merwe after Ford kicked a second penalty, and Sale were starting to find impressive rhythm.

The Tigers lost flanker Luke Wallace, who went off when he was hurt attempting a tackle on Curry, and the Sharks immediately moved further ahead. De Klerk’s quick thinking from the base of a scrum saw him fire a pass to Tuilagi, who claimed a first try for his new club by powering through Ford’s challenge.

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MacGinty converted, then he exchanged penalties with Ford as Sale, who saw Curry go off in the 40th minute, took a 20-9 advantage into half-time. Sale’s third try arrived just six minutes after the restart, and it was a superb team effort with backs and forwards combining brilliantly through slick handling and support play.

Leicester could not cope in the face of wave after attacking wave, and Ross applied the finishing touch before MacGinty’s conversion opened up an 18-point lead. The Tigers recovered their poise, though, and they cut the deficit when Liebenberg charged down de Klerk’s clearance before Ford converted and then kicked his fourth penalty.

Sale’s lead had been reduced from 18 points to eight in just three minutes, but de Klerk calmed things down when he kicked a 48-metre penalty. The Sharks had done enough, although Kerr and Steward touched down following Solomona’s score as Tigers admirably chased a losing bonus point that was denied them by MacGinty’s late penalty.

 

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D
DarstedlyDan 58 minutes ago
New Zealanders may not understand, but in France Test rugby is the 'B movie'

Italy have a top 14 issue too, that’s true. I doubt SA are overly pleased by that, although it’s countered somewhat by the fact they would expect to thrash them anyway, so perhaps are not that bothered.


The BIL teams are (aside from Ireland) A/B teams - still with many A team players. I would rather the England team touring Argentina be playing the ABs than this French one.


France could have reduced the complaints and the grounds for such if they had still picked the best team from those eligible/available. But they haven’t even done that. This, plus the playing of silly b@ggers with team selection over the three tests is just a big middle finger to the ABs and the NZ rugby public.


One of the key reasons this is an issue is the revenue sharing one. Home teams keep the ticket revenues. If the July tours are devalued to development larks then the crowds will not show up (why go watch teams featuring names you’ve never heard of?). This costs the SH unions. The NH unions on the other hand get the advantage of bums on seats from full strength SH teams touring in November. If the NH doesn’t want to play ball by touring full strength, then pay up and share gate receipts. That would be fair, and would reduce the grounds for complaint from the south. This has been suggested, but the NH unions want their cake and eat it too. And now, apparently, we are not even allowed to complain about it?


Finally - no one is expecting France to do things the way NZ or SA do. We oddly don’t really mind that it probably makes them less successful at RWC than they would otherwise have been. But a bit of willingness to find a solution other than “lump it, we’re French” would go a looonnng way.

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LONG READ New Zealanders may not understand, but in France Test rugby is the 'B movie' New Zealanders may not understand, but in France Test rugby is the 'B movie'