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Sale Sharks defeat troubled Saracens to reach Premiership Rugby Cup final

PA

Saracens’ troubled campaign took another big hit as they were comprehensively dumped out of the Premiership Rugby Cup at the semi-final stage following a 28-7 defeat to impressive Sale Sharks.

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Although they escaped Heineken Champions Cup expulsion and were only fined following the result of Friday night’s hearing into prop Titi Lamositele’s possible ineligibility to play in last month’s clash against Racing 92, Saracens’ domestic cup hopes were deservedly extinguished at the AJ Bell Stadium.

Steve Diamond’s side now go on to meet Harlequins in the Premiership Rugby Cup final in mid-March.

Fielding a side featuring nine changes from their defeat to Quins a fortnight earlier, Saracens were put to the sword by Sale in the early stages.

Sale <a href=Sharks v Saracens – Premiership Cup – Semi Final – AJ Bell Stadium” />

By the midway point of the first period, the Sharks had surged into a 21-0 lead with Denny Solomona, Will Cliff and Ben Curry all crossing for tries.

Solomona got them off the mark barely 90 seconds into the clash when he darted into the corner after taking a smart off-load from Simon Hammersley.

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Sale Sharks v Saracens - Premiership Cup - Semi Final - AJ Bell Stadium

The home faithful were off their seats again when Cliff dived in after meeting Marland Yarde’s precise pass, while Curry also breached a stunned-looking Sarries back-line after grabbing a quick lineout pass.

Rob Du Preez was impeccable with three clean conversions, including the first and third from the touchline.

The second quarter of the game saw the visitors at least restore some order, with utility back Alex Goode – back in the starting XV after four months out with a pectoral injury – spotting gaps and going close to making much-needed in-roads.

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Sale appeared content to simply defend resolutely in keeping Saracens at bay in the early stages of the second period, only for the away side to finally register when Rotimi Segun pounced on Goode’s hopeful kick before darting under the posts. Skipper Tom Whiteley added the extras.

Sale Sharks v Saracens - Premiership Cup - Semi Final - AJ Bell Stadium

However, Sale swiftly responded by adding another converted score, this time as Akker Van Der Merwe dived over from close range with Du Preez slotting the extras.

Late yellow cards for Goode and Alex Day completed a miserable night for Sarries as they failed to reach the final, having lost in the showpiece to Northampton Saints 12 months ago.

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J
JW 1 hour ago
'They smelt it': Scott Robertson says Italy sensed All Blacks' vulnerability

Even the 20/30 cappers did too I reckon.


IDK, I think Jordan has a limited life span in this side unless he can develop more to his game. Like you go on to mention, I think theyres more important things to worry about than the effectiveness of someone's extra strings, or secondary components to their game.


Bash backs are Fosters thing, and to a large part they've made it work. Theyre now one of the best teams in the world.


They boy's trucked it up a bit against Italy in the redzone, and against France, wasn't that effective without the right players probably.


Try and take a look at it this way. Dissapointed Havili and Blackadder were in the side? Havili despite clearly shown that he can't do what the team needs at 12 was kept on for the RWC. Back goes down and he brings in Blackadder who doesn't play. Refuses to drop Christie when he should and look who starts this season. Beauden Barret not playing well enough to keep his 10 jersey but we gotta keep him in the side. Weve only got one 8, we stuff developing another I'll just play Ardie every game.


This years team wasn't burdened overly with injuries but they were in every position Razor might have wanted to try and development, severely limiting options. I'm not defending Razor as there was also plenty of other opportunity to make up for it and he was a little gunshy, but I'm also not going to overly criticise him because he chose cohesion over a black slate.

How long are we going to keep blaming All Black failings on Ian Foster.

I think more and more people are on board with it being time to try alternatives, but then again, how would they have reacted to a loss against Italy? 😉

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