- Sale launched their Premiership season with a gritty win over Harlequins
- The Sharks had the composed goal-kicking of George Ford to thank for the win
- Sale’s director of rugby knows his team need to be more entertaining
George Ford’s composed goal-kicking helped Sale launch their Premiership season by winning ugly, but even the relieved victors weren’t satisfied with the lack of style to go with the substance.
This was a dire spectacle. Conditions were awful, which meant both teams struggled to keep hold of the ball, so what unfolded was a disjointed mess.
The hosts celebrated at the end but wished that they could have done more to lay on a show for the crowd of 7,754 in Salford. At a time when the sport is desperate to appeal to a wider audience, this was the sort of turgid affair that would even deter oval-ball purists.
His team may have won, just, but Sale’s director of rugby, Alex Sanderson, recognised the bigger picture. ‘It does matter,’ he said, when asked about the entertainment — or lack of it. ‘It needs to be better than that. There were 8,000 people out there and that’s not how we’ve trained and prepared. We’ve got to be better than that and the sport has to be better than that.’
There is no doubt that the grim autumnal weather was a factor. Asked if he would advocate rugby union becoming a summer sport — as league is in this country, Sanderson added: ‘I’d be in favour of that. It would be good to have Christmas off! Maybe in hindsight we shouldn’t have stuck with the traditional format (winter season). I’d like to take wind and rain out of the equation.’
George Ford’s composed goal-kicking helped Sale secure a winning start to the Premiership
Ford and his teammates had to grind out an ugly win over Harlequins in Salford
New recruit Waisea Nayacalevu enjoyed a winning start to life with the Sharks
Harlequins head coach Danny Wilson had a more pragmatic take on concerns about the spectacle, saying: ‘That’s not my job. Harlequins can put a highlights package together from 90 per cent of our games and it would show an exciting brand of rugby.’ Fair point. Wilson also lamented the officials’ decision to rule out what he felt was a legitimate try by flanker Jack Kenningham in the second half.
Jack Walker touched down for Quins before the break from a lineout drive and Oscar Beard scorched clear in midfield 12 minutes from time to create another prime scoring chance, but the visitors could not capitalise. Despite the loss of captain Alex Dombrandt with a hand injury, a penalty by Leigh Halfpenny ensured Quins held a narrow lead until the 75th minute, when Ford struck for the fourth time from the tee.
Englnd flanker Tom Curry stayed off at half-time after suffering a blow to the head, but Sanderson said it was a precautionary measure.
