- Sale started their Premiership season with a hearty win over Harlequins
- The Sharks owed their victory to the controlled goal kicking of George Ford
- Sale’s director of rugby knows his team needs more entertainment
George Ford’s controlled goals helped Sale to an ugly Premier League victory, but even the relieved winners were unhappy with the lack of style in substance.
This was a horrific spectacle. The conditions were terrible, meaning both teams struggled to keep hold of the ball, so what unfolded was a disjointed mess.
The hosts celebrated the end but wished they could have done more to put on a show for the 7,754-strong Salford crowd. At a time when the sport is desperately trying to appeal to a wider audience, this was the kind of bombastic affair that would put off even the oval-ball purists.
His team may have won, but only just, but Sale’s director of rugby, Alex Sanderson, saw the bigger picture. “It does matter,” he said, when asked about the entertainment — or lack thereof.
“It has to be better than that. There were 8,000 people and that’s not how we trained and prepared. We have to be better than that and the sport has to be better than that.”
George Ford’s controlled goal kicks helped Sale to a winning start in the Premier League
Ford and his teammates had to fight out an ugly victory over Harlequins in Salford
New signing Waisea Nayacalevu has had a winning start for the Sharks
There is no doubt that the gloomy autumn weather was a factor. Asked whether he would advocate rugby union as a summer sport — like league in this country — Sanderson added: ‘I would be in favour of that. It would be good to have Christmas off! In hindsight, maybe we shouldn’t have stuck with the traditional format (winter season). I would take the wind and rain out of the equation.’
Harlequins head coach Danny Wilson took a more pragmatic view of concerns about spectacle, saying: “That’s not my job. Harlequins can put together a highlights package from 90 per cent of our games and that would show an exciting brand of rugby.”
Fair point. Wilson also lamented the officials’ decision to disallow what he believed was a legitimate try from flanker Jack Kenningham in the second half.
Jack Kenningham looked to have scored for Quins but his attempt was disallowed
Welshman Leigh Halfpenny ensured Quins held on to their lead until the 75th minute, when Sale came back
Jack Walker came on for Quins before half-time after a lineout drive and Oscar Beard fired clear through midfield to create another excellent scoring opportunity 12 minutes from time, but the visitors were unable to capitalise. Despite losing captain Alex Dombrandt to a hand injury, a Leigh Halfpenny penalty ensured Quins held on to a narrow lead until the 75th minute, when Ford scored a fourth time off the tee.
England winger Tom Curry remained off the pitch at half-time after receiving a blow to the head. Sanderson said it was a precautionary measure.