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Eddie Jones watches on as Sale beat Wasps despite having four players sin-binned

Jean-Luc du Preez /PA

A late Josh Beaumont try ensured Sale Sharks tightened their grip on a play-off spot courtesy of a 20-19 victory against Wasps in a game littered with yellow cards for the visitors.

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Alex Sanderson’s side had four players sent to the sin-bin in the second half but never let their hosts get away from them and provided a sucker punch when Beaumont’s try was converted by Rob Du Preez with a minute remaining.

After a quiet opening 10 minutes, Sale struck first when Akker Van Der Merwe picked the ball up from the back of the maul five metres out and barrelled over Dan Robson to score, with Du Preez adding the extras.

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Wales lift the 2021 Guinness Six Nations trophy | Wayne Pivac interview

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Wales lift the 2021 Guinness Six Nations trophy | Wayne Pivac interview

It did not take long for the home side to get back into the game, Malakai Fekitoa finishing off after Jimmy Gopperth’s long pass to Josh Bassett, who offloaded to Fekitoa to race to the line.

Gopperth added the conversion before slotting over a penalty to give his side the lead for the first time, though Du Preez swiftly levelled matters off the tee.

Sale enjoyed a good spell of possession in Wasps territory but a knock-on by Van Der Merwe when they had the numerical advantage out wide saw an opportunity squandered – the same player saw another chance slip away with an errant throw at a line-out in the corner shortly afterwards.

Wasps v <a href=Sale Sharks – Gallagher Premiership – Ricoh Arena” />

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A Du Preez penalty on the stroke of half-time gave the visitors a narrow lead going into the break.

Early in the second half, Luke James became the first Sharks player sent to the sin-bin for a high tackle on Bassett and Gopperth’s penalty brought the sides level.

Sale then went down to 13 men after a high hit by Van Der Merwe and as soon as James was back on the field they were down to 13 again as Byron McGuigan was shown yellow for a deliberate knock-on.

Wasps v Sale Sharks - Gallagher Premiership - Ricoh Arena

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Gopperth restored the hosts’ lead from the resulting penalty but that was all the points they could muster, despite their extra players.

They would get another chance, though, as AJ MacGinty was also shown a yellow card for a deliberate knock-on, with Gopperth once again on the scoreboard to extend the lead to six going into the final 10 minutes.

But Sale spent the closing stages deep in Wasps territory and after Gabriel Oghre was sin-binned for collapsing a maul, Beaumont drove from the back of a rolling maul to score amongst a pile of bodies.

All that was left was for Du Preez to convert the extras and seal a dramatic victory which saw the Sharks become the first side to win a Premiership Rugby match despite having four players yellow-carded.

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O
Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
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TRENDING Everyone is saying the same thing after agonising England loss Everyone is saying the same thing after agonising England loss
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