'It was a needless yellow for Kyle... he got a couple of things wrong'

Harlequins boss Paul Gustard has called on Kyle Sinckler to learn from his latest bout of indiscipline, the yellow card he received in his club’s 17-28 defeat at Sale on Friday night.

The England tighthead has often walked a tightrope during his career, and his petulance cost Quins as he was sin-binned for an unnecessary slap on the chest of Sale scrum-half Faf de Klerk.

“It was a needless yellow card for Kyle,” Gustard said about the prop whose on-pitch behaviour was recently a hot topic when England were beaten in the Six Nations by Wales. “There’s nothing I can do today and during the game. Kyle’s a British Lion, he’s an exceptional player and he’s a key player for us.

“Unfortunately, he gave away a couple of penalties but he’ll grow and get better for that. I’ve no issues with Kyle’s discipline but today he got a couple of things wrong. 

“That’s what happens in rugby, people get things wrong and it’s unfortunate, and it’s cost us a bit today, but not specifically from Kyle’s incident.”

This is bizarre ?

AJ MacGinty sends a penalty over the bar to extend Sale's lead over Harlequins…

Or does he? ?

Kyle Sinckler certainly wanted the TMO to have a look, that is a really close call! pic.twitter.com/IS0TaRPPIQ

— Rugby on TNT Sports (@rugbyontnt) April 5, 2019

Sinckler wasn’t the only Quins player in the dock after the defeat as the Londoners conceded 14 penalties to Sale’s four and also had a second player, Matt Symons, yellow carded. Seven of the penalties they conceded were kickable, which allowed AJ MacGinty take Sale to a vital victory and deny Quins a losing bonus-point.

“For me – and the team feel the same – we were the better team as Sale didn’t really cause us too many problems. We just conspired to lose that game. We gave away daft penalties, had needless offsides and gave them a lot of kickable penalties. I generally walk away from this game thinking we were the better side. We had more line breaks, created more in attack and were defensively solid.”

Sale boss Steve Diamond didn’t agree with Gustard, but he feels that his team aren’t play-off contenders despite the win over the higher-flying Quins. “Contrary to them thinking they were the better team, I thought we deserved the win and to deny them the bonus point,” Diamond said.

"I don't think we're good enough to get top four this year."

"Heineken Champions Cup is what we want."

Not getting carried away, straight to the point.

Classic Steve Diamond ? pic.twitter.com/DrY7mFq10V

— Rugby on TNT Sports (@rugbyontnt) April 5, 2019

“But I don’t think we’re good enough to hit the top-four. Our two hardest games are coming up – Worcester and Bristol away – who are fighting for their lives.”

Diamond, meanwhile, also issued a rallying cry to the people of Manchester after a battle between two top-six teams only drew a crowd of 5,400 at the AJ Bell Stadium. He added: “We need more support. We’re in the semi-final of a cup, we’re in fifth place in the league and we get what some teams’ reserve sides get.

“I was really disappointed with the crowd size. A lot of work’s gone in from the club with the stadium and infrastructure. We know Manchester’s a football city but come and watch the rugby as well please.”

– Press Association