Tom’s walking on Air after hat-trick
TOM ROEBUCK has not won an England cap yet, but after spending the whole Six Nations with the national squad, he won himself some expensive new trainers yesterday with a hat-trick to reignite Sale’s Premiership play-off hopes.
The 23-year-old wing found himself in the shadow of Immanuel Feyi-Waboso over the last two months, but the roles were reversed in Salford. Roebuck claimed a memorable treble and FeyiWaboso’s lightning strike at the other end was a minor consolation for the overwhelmed Chiefs.
The reward for the uncapped Roebuck is not quite on a par with being picked to play for his country, but he will have a choice addition to his footwear.
‘I owe him a brand new pair of Nike Air Max,’ said Alex Sanderson, Sale’s director of rugby, who was euphoric after his side claimed a first league win since before Christmas. ‘I told him that’s what I would buy him if he scored a hat-trick. It’ll cost me £200, but that’s a price worth paying.’
Roebuck set the wheels in motion for this procession, which went a long way to avenging Exeter’s 43-0 win in the reverse fixture in October. After a slick line- out routine gave Sale front-foot ball, Manu Tuilagi and George Ford combined to send the home No 14 hurtling over.
It was part one of his personal trilogy. Part two came just after half-time, as Roebuck won an aerial contest and twisted clear of two defenders before storming down the right wing to score again.
The hat-trick should have come in the 58th minute, only for a fumble over the line. But Roebuck took his next chance seconds later, slicing through a gap from a pass by Rob du Preez. ‘I was buzzing to score three, but I could have had four,’ he admitted.
Despite spending weeks in camp without being selected for England, Roebuck has returned to Sale in good spirits and he has hit the ground running, with four tries in two games. ‘It’s made me a better player by a mile,’ he said of his Six Nations experience.
‘It was a bit disappointing that I didn’t get to play a game, but that’s not in my control. I need to play as well as I can and wait for the opportunities to come.’
Sanderson can see improvement in Roebuck from his time with England, adding: ‘He’s always been ace in the air, that’s what got him into the England squad. What they’ve been working on is his turn of pace and ability to finish. We saw that today. He’s showing more sides to his game.’
Sale showed plenty of sides to their collective game against the Chiefs with the other tries scored by Luke Cowan-Dickie, Gus Warr and Raffi Quirke. England flanker Ben Curry was superb on his comeback, George Ford controlled proceedings and Manu Tuilagi made dents in midfield. Bevan Rodd and Josh Beaumont also stood out in a dominant home pack.
‘It was s*** or bust time,’ said Sanderson — after Sale joined six other clubs on eight wins and six defeats in the Premiership.