Sale disrupted the chances of securing their place in the Premier League playoffs with a hard-fought victory over Saracens, ensuring that Owen Farrell’s last home game for his youth club ended on a miserable Note. The result is that Saracens have been denied a home semi-final and, after being ignored by the sale, they must finish fourth and must now travel to Northampton in the top flight in the playoffs.
Sale will travel to Bath with considerable momentum after five consecutive wins, but may do so without Manu Tuilagi, who left the field with a hamstring health issue that could spell the end of his England career. However, they found a way to avenge the last defeat of last Season by raining on Farrell’s parade.
According to the own admission of half the fly, it should not be so. Saracens had high hopes of getting a semi-final at home, but after being 20-3 at one point, they had too much to do. Saracens have an impressive away record this season, but lost to the saints home and away and now have everything to do.
Sale were a worthy winner – their first league win at the StoneX Stadium – with tries from Tom Roebuck and Rob du Preez ensuring they finished in third place after finishing eighth at the end of March. With that, they made the results at Welford Road and Stoop irrelevant in the race for the top four and warned their playoff rivals. “From where we went after the Six Nations to the playoffs, it’s a herculean task from the guys,” said Alex Sanderson, director of Sale Rugby.
Tuilagi must be considered doubtful for the trip to the Rec on June 1, and since he comes to Bayonne this summer, it could be a pathetic farewell to English Rugby. This is no way for Tuilagi – who celebrated his 33rd birthday – to say goodbye, although he said it would be something terribly appropriate given his health issue toll.
“He’s definitely torn his Achilles tendon, we just don’t know how badly,” Sanderson added. “He is a quick healer and we have two weeks to replenish Humpty Dumpty. We will give it as long as possible.”
Sanderson had predicted the intensity of test matches, and after a slow start after George Ford’s false start, that was exactly the matter. Every inch was contested, every yard contested – it was an arm wrestle and, for the most part, it suited Sale, especially his excellent Openside Sam Dugdale. In addition to him, Ben Curry has also excelled, and although Sanderson believes Tom Curry will be fit for his first appearance of the season against Bath, he still has a long way to GO to get into this team.
Roebuck scored the first goal – perhaps he could have done it earlier after Tuilagi’s Burst led to his retirement after 18 minutes-by sliding to the right, then cutting inwards under the post. Farrell put Saracens on the board with a penalty, but Ford reacted in his team’s favour after a third scrum penalty – a match-selling area dominated in front of England Assistant Tom Harrison.