DANNY CIPRIANI WAS among the try-scorers as Sale bounced back from last week’s thrashing at Saracens to defeat Worcester 27-13 for their first Premiership win of the season, in a game that saw former Irish teammates Peter Stringer (who started on the bench for Sale) and Donncha O’Callaghan on opposing sides.
Dean Ryan’s promoted Worcester had claimed a last-gasp 13-12 win over Northampton seven days earlier, but they met their match in a determined Sale outfit at the AJ Bell Stadium.
Cipriani, overlooked by England for the World Cup, opened the scoring with a fine individual effort and a second try from openside flanker David Seymour sent the hosts in at the break with a 13-6 advantage.
Sale grabbed a third five minutes after the break through Josh Beaumont, but Worcester hit back with an effort from Jonny Arr before a last-gasp fourth home try from Johnny Leota sealed a bonus point win.
Meanwhile, Saracens moved to the top of the English Premiership table after Owen Farrell’s late penalty secured a 17-15 win against Gloucester on Friday.
With a draw looking the most likely result, Farrell struck four minutes from time to settle a hard-fought game at Kingsholm.
There was little to separate the teams, although Saracens did score the only try of the game through Mike Ellery.
Farrell kicked three penalties and Charlie Hodgson one.
Gloucester had the more creative runners in Charlie Sharples and Jonny May, but overdid the kicking so the hosts had to rely on five penalties from Billy Twelvetrees for their points.
Additional reporting by Paul Fennessy
I just don’t get this. All the South Africans were back playing for their clubs the week after playing for their country. Cian Prendergast, the Connacht captain mind, didn’t feature at all. Conor Murray the same in Munster. Just wondering if our Irish panel of 45 players are a bit precious ?
@Pat Cooney: Ireland played a 4 games. South Africa only had to play 3. So a lot of there players had all of last week off and they can also afford to do as they have a lot better strength in depth than us having used something like 52 players in total in the last couple of months. Where as Bealham and Hansen started in every game this Autumn Int.
@Harry O’ Callaghan: on the other hand though, South Africa were also coming off the Rugby Championship.
@teuO6nLS: No, they used a lot of new players throughout that tournament and it was spaced out. We haven’t used anywhere close to 52 players this year and last year. They have the luxury of resting their big game players like Etzebeth, Kolisi, Pollard, Kriel, Kolbe, Le Roux because they have tow or three players practically as good in that position. We don’t unfortunately. We rely on keeping momentum with a core player group of around 25. Prendergast should definitely play for Connacht as he’s only played 15th a of rugby in the last 4 weeks. Bealham, Aki and Hansen definitely deserve a rest especially Bealham as his mental fatigue was obviously showing when he knocked the ball on 3 times and gave away a penalty in the opening quarter against Australia.
@Pat Cooney: They weren’t released back to their clubs. At least they’ve got plenty of rugby under their belts. Izzy is about to turn 25, has the grand total of 11 starts for Ulster and was also sat on his hole.
Makes sense, i think the IRFU would probably want to rest other players like Doris, VDF and Porter
@Owen ODonoghue: it’ll be left up to the clubs. Play them now but rest them over Xmas or rest them now but play them over Xmas. It’s been like that the past two years that they have to get two consecutive weeks off