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Sale Sharks sting Wasps to make winning start to the new year

By PA
Rohan Janse van Rensburg /PA

Sale were triumphant in their first Gallagher Premiership game since November as they powered past Wasps 26-18 for a bonus-point success at the AJ Bell Stadium.

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Wasps had few answers to the Sharks’ attacking and defensive prowess on the day as the hosts sealed a well-deserved five-pointer.

Sale secured themselves a very welcome fourth win of the league campaign while Lee Blackett’s Wasps appear to be in a spot of bother as this was their seventh loss in their last eight games in all competitions.

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It was a glorious afternoon and a decent crowd were on hand to watch what proved to be a terrific start for the visitors.

With less than four minutes on the clock, and after a lineout in the 22, Wasps swiftly recycled the ball across the field and eventually Ali Crossdale fed Josh Bassett, who went over comfortably in the opposite corner.

Fly-half Jimmy Gopperth – in for the suspended Jacob Umaga – missed the extras.

The next 10 minutes belonged to Sale, who got to grips with good possession as their opponents were pegged back.

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Alex Sanderson’s men had been initially resisted by some gritty defence on the Wasps line but they caved in eventually when Jean-Luc du Preez dived over from close in and AJ MacGinty kicked the extras.

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

Gopperth’s routine penalty meant Wasps regained the lead at 8-7 but as the quarter-stage in the game approached, the Sharks struck again.

This time the lightning Marland Yarde darted over in the corner, though MacGinty’s conversion attempt was way off target.

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The Sharks were now primed to take advantage of more questionable handling from Wasps and they soon stretched their lead.

Sale Sharks v Wasps - Gallagher Premiership - AJ Bell Stadium

MacGinty’s kick made it 19-8 to the hosts after Rohan Janse van Rensburg dived over following more pressure on the line.

Sale bagged their bonus-point try inside five minutes of the second half – and what a disaster it was for Wasps.

Metres from their own line, Dan Frost’s throw-in from a lineout was pounced upon by Ben Curry, whose touchdown presented an easy conversion attempt for MacGinty.

A Gopperth penalty reduced Wasps’ deficit to 26-11 but earlier damage done appeared to be proving costly as the final 20 minutes approached.

Wasps plugged away and there were signs of a response with a couple of sweeping moves but the Sharks’ rearguard was proving a tough nut to crack, much as they had been in their previous game – the Champions Cup win at Ospreys.

Time and again the Sharks had all the answers as they got their 2022 off to the best possible start.

Byron McGuigan also shone on his 100th appearance for the hosts, although Wasps did at least enjoy the final word with Gopperth’s last-gasp self-converted try.

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J
JW 1 hour ago
'Passionate reunion of France and New Zealand shows Fabien Galthie is wrong to rest his stars'

Where? I remember saying "unders"? The LNR was formed by the FFR, if I said that in a way that meant the 'pro' side of the game didn't have an equal representation/say as the 'amateur' side (FFR remit) that was not my intent.


But also, as it is the governing body, it also has more responsibility. As long as WR looks at FFR as the running body for rugby in France, that 'power' will remain. If the LNR refuses to govern their clubs use of players to enable a request by FFR (from WR) to ensure it's players are able to compete in International rugby takes place they will simply remove their participation. If the players complain to the France's body, either of their health and safety concerns (through playing too many 'minutes' etc) or that they are not allowed to be part in matches of national interest, my understanding is action can be taken against the LNR like it could be any other body/business. I see where you're coming from now re EPCR and the shake up they gave it, yes, that wasn't meant to be a separate statement to say that FFR can threaten them with EPCR expulsion by itself, simply that it would be a strong repercussion for those teams to be removed (no one would want them after the above).


You keep bringing up these other things I cannot understand why. Again, do you think if the LNR were not acting responsibly they would be able to get away with whatever they want (the attitude of these posters saying "they pay the players")? You may deem what theyre doing currently as being irresponsible but most do not. Countries like New Zealand have not even complained about it because they've never had it different, never got things like windfall TV contracts from France, so they can't complain because theyre not missing out on anything. Sure, if the French kept doing things like withholding million dollar game payments, or causing millions of dollars of devaluation in rights, they these things I'm outlining would be taking place. That's not the case currently however, no one here really cares what the French do. It's upto them to sort themselves out if they're not happy. Now, that said, if they did make it obvious to World Rugby that they were never going to send the French side away (like they possibly did stating their intent to exclude 20 targeted players) in July, well then they would simply be given XV fixtures against tier 2 sides during that window and the FFR would need to do things like the 50/50 revenue split to get big teams visiting in Nov.

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