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Sale off to winning start as they withstand Northampton fightback

By PA
Sale Sharks v Northampton Saints – Gallagher Premiership – AJ Bell Stadium

Sale survived a Northampton fightback to get their Gallagher Premiership campaign off to a winning start.

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After a well-contested opening period in which the hosts scored the only try, the Saints were blown away by three quickfire Sale scores mid-way through the second half to trail 29-3.

Phil Dowson’s men hit back with three tries of their own late on, but it was not enough as they fell to a 29-22 defeat.

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There was a rather subdued atmosphere inside and outside the AJ Bell Stadium ahead of kick-off before the players lined up for an impeccably-observed minute’s silence in memory of the Queen, followed by an emotional rendition of the new national anthem.

Once the action started, a tackle off the ball handed Saints’ James Grayson an early chance to kick a routine penalty.

Just as the game was threatening to match the mood, Sale scored a cracking opening try to get the home supporters off their seats.

The dynamic Gus Warr dived over following a smart burst after he had played a neat one-two with Springbok Dan du Preez, and Rob du Preez added the extras to make it 7-3 to the hosts.

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Alex Sanderson’s men were beginning to stamp their authority on proceedings and Manu Tuilagi was becoming more and more influential in the middle after 16 weeks out of action.

But some gutsy Sale defending was also keeping Northampton at bay, despite the efforts of lively scrum-half Alex Mitchell.

Both sides sought to boss possession and it remained that way until three minutes before the break.

At that point Rob du Preez kicked another three-pointer after the hosts dominated another scrum to leave Sale with a 10-3 interval lead.

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The closely-contested theme continued in the early stages of the second period, although Sale were pressing hard on the Saints’ 22.

The visitors were under mounting pressure just in front of their own line and they finally succumbed in the 54th minute.

Luke James eventually cruised over the line on the right after a hard-fought scrum win on the opposite side of the pitch, with Rob du Preez again converting to stretch Sale’s lead to 17-3.

Within minutes Sam James was perfectly teed up by Tom Roebuck to go over and all of a sudden another precise Rob du Preez conversion had Sale 24-3 to the good.

When Tom O’Flaherty dived over for a debut try after James’ precise kick through Sale were 29-3 ahead and on the road to a big victory.

The Saints came roaring back, though, and two tries from Tom Collins and an Ollie Sleightholme score, two converted superbly by Grayson, brought the score back to 29-22 and earned a losing bonus point.

But the damage had already been done and Sale managed to cling on for the opening-round win.

Sale <a href=Sharks v Northampton Saints – Gallagher Premiership – AJ Bell Stadium” />

Sale Sharks v Northampton Saints - Gallagher Premiership - AJ Bell Stadium

Sale Sharks v Northampton Saints - Gallagher Premiership - AJ Bell Stadium

Sale Sharks v Northampton Saints - Gallagher Premiership - AJ Bell Stadium

Sale Sharks v Northampton Saints - Gallagher Premiership - AJ Bell Stadium

Sale Sharks v Northampton Saints - Gallagher Premiership - AJ Bell Stadium

Sale Sharks v Northampton Saints - Gallagher Premiership - AJ Bell Stadium

Sale Sharks v Northampton Saints - Gallagher Premiership - AJ Bell Stadium

Sale Sharks v Northampton Saints - Gallagher Premiership - AJ Bell Stadium

Sale Sharks v Northampton Saints - Gallagher Premiership - AJ Bell Stadium

Sale Sharks v Northampton Saints - Gallagher Premiership - AJ Bell Stadium

Sale Sharks v Northampton Saints - Gallagher Premiership - AJ Bell Stadium

Sale Sharks v Northampton Saints - Gallagher Premiership - AJ Bell Stadium

Sale Sharks v Northampton Saints - Gallagher Premiership - AJ Bell Stadium

Sale Sharks v Northampton Saints - Gallagher Premiership - AJ Bell Stadium

Sale Sharks v Northampton Saints - Gallagher Premiership - AJ Bell Stadium

Sale Sharks v Northampton Saints - Gallagher Premiership - AJ Bell Stadium

Sale Sharks v Northampton Saints - Gallagher Premiership - AJ Bell Stadium

Sale Sharks v Northampton Saints - Gallagher Premiership - AJ Bell Stadium

Sale Sharks v Northampton Saints - Gallagher Premiership - AJ Bell Stadium

Sale Sharks v Northampton Saints - Gallagher Premiership - AJ Bell Stadium

Sale Sharks v Northampton Saints - Gallagher Premiership - AJ Bell Stadium

Sale Sharks v Northampton Saints - Gallagher Premiership - AJ Bell Stadium

Sale Sharks v Northampton Saints - Gallagher Premiership - AJ Bell Stadium

Sale Sharks v Northampton Saints - Gallagher Premiership - AJ Bell Stadium

Sale Sharks v Northampton Saints - Gallagher Premiership - AJ Bell Stadium

Sale Sharks v Northampton Saints - Gallagher Premiership - AJ Bell Stadium

Sale Sharks v Northampton Saints - Gallagher Premiership - AJ Bell Stadium

Sale Sharks v Northampton Saints - Gallagher Premiership - AJ Bell Stadium

Sale Sharks v Northampton Saints - Gallagher Premiership - AJ Bell Stadium

Sale Sharks v Northampton Saints - Gallagher Premiership - AJ Bell Stadium

Sale Sharks v Northampton Saints - Gallagher Premiership - AJ Bell Stadium

Sale Sharks v Northampton Saints - Gallagher Premiership - AJ Bell Stadium

Sale Sharks v Northampton Saints - Gallagher Premiership - AJ Bell Stadium

Sale Sharks v Northampton Saints - Gallagher Premiership - AJ Bell Stadium

Sale Sharks v Northampton Saints - Gallagher Premiership - AJ Bell Stadium

Sale Sharks v Northampton Saints - Gallagher Premiership - AJ Bell Stadium

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R
RedWarrior 1 hour ago
Three-way race to be number one in World Rugby men's rankings

IF SA and NZ win then its 1,2,3 SA/NZ/IRL Otherwise as you were. This is largely irrelevant beyond bragging rights.


As I have pointed out elsewhere the practical use of the Rankings is to determine the seedings bands for the RWC draw. The draw takes place early 2026 and hopefully the rankings will be taken from then.


Important to be in the top 6, the top 12. (and likely the top 4).

This is because there are now 6 groups in the RWC 2027.

If you are in top 6 you are in Seeding Band 1. That means none of the other top 6 will be in your group.

Seeding Band 2 are teams from 7-12, who will have a top 6 team but no other 7-12 team.

After England's defeat by NZ there is clear water between NZ in 3rd, France in 4th and England in 5th. England are desperate for top4, ill come back and explain why later.

Lets look at Seeding Band 1 and 6th place. If you make 6th, no top 6 team is in your group, you are top dog. If you win your group, you won't be facing a top 6 team in your 1/8th final, you will be facing a weaker team. If you fail to make 6th place you WILL have a top 6 team in your group and if you don't win your group you WILL (probably) meet a top 6 in the 1/8 final. That's massive.


Its Argentina holding 6th now. Assuming England hold 5th, then its a 4 horse race for 6th. Argentina, Scotland, Italy and ...Australia. (ranked 6,7,8,9)

Australia play the Lions in NH summer 2025 they are running out of time to get up to 6th for their own RWC. They MUST make a move now. They must beat Wales and they really must beat Scotland to gain points and take points off them. Could they surprise England or Ireland? England may be the better bet but Schmidt knows Ireland so well having masterminded their downfall in France.

Another one to watch is Italy V Argentina. Italy are ambitious and they will want to start pushing the likes of Argentina. If they win this they are still in the hunt. Well worth a watch either way.


Top4: I think the top 6 will be seeded, all the way through from the draw. If thats the case then the top 4 will be seeded to avoid each other until the semi. Good for more certainty around ticket sales etc. That's a possible reason why England want in there. You're not in there you are hitting a top 4 team in a QF. That's an extra 50:50 match you can do without and avoid by being top 4.


Lets look at what Seeding bands might look like with todays rankings:


Seeding Band 1

IRE/SA/NZ/FRA/ENG/ARG

Seeding Band 2

SCO/ITA/AUS/FIJ/WAL/GEO


Sample Aussie strongest pool opponent and 1/8th final opponent if in top 6

Strongest pool opponent: FIJI

1/8 final opponent GEORGIA

Prognosis: advance to 1/4 and potentially beyond


Sample Aussie strongest pool opponent and 1/8th final opponent if NOT in top 6

Strongest pool opponent: SOUTH AFRICA

1/8 final opponent NEW ZEALAND

Prognosis: You know the prognosis


I am pretty sure this is not lost on Joe Schmidt?


Keep in mind when enjoying the matches.

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