Diamond says Sale take no pride from Harlequins defeat
SALE Sharks director of rugby Steve Diamond claims his side will take nothing away from their 51-23 defeat at Harlequins, not even their pride.
Sale conceded six tries in a chastening opening day of the Gallagher Premiership, shipping three unanswered second-half scores at the Twickenham Stoop.
Tries from AJ MacGinty and Marland Yarde, on his return to Harlequins, helped the Sharks go in 24-20 at the break but a second-half blitz from Joe Marchant, Marcus Smith and Max Crumpton ensured the home side claimed a comfortable victory.
And after a disappointing opening start to the campaign, Diamond concedes he’s struggling to find any positives.
He said: “We created some good opportunities in the first half but in the second half we couldn’t receive kick-off and get ourselves out of there and then it went score, score, score.
“I wasn’t too fussed at half-time because we kept hold of the ball but in the second half we couldn’t do that. We made four defensive errors which is unlike us and they capitalised on it.
“I think individually most people weren’t on their game. We never had any control of the game, we just couldn’t get out. We’d score, keep our noses there or thereabouts but their try before half-time where there’s no clear out – they picked it up and score.
“I wouldn’t say we have a lot of soul searching but when we lose I look to get something out of the game and we didn’t get any pride out of the game so I’m pretty annoyed.”
Sale dominated much of the territory in the opening stages but it was the hosts who crossed first thanks to Ben Tapuai.
MacGinty responded three minutes later with Yarde then silencing the Quins boo boys with a fine score.
But Nathan Earle’s effort on 34 minutes and Tapuai’s second just before break put the hosts in the ascendancy before running riot in the second period.
Sale warmed up for the opening day of the season with victory in Castres but despite losing key players in France to injury and suspension, Diamond was making no excuses for their performance at the Stoop.
He said: “I think the pre-season went well so I’m not going to make excuses. We got beaten by a side playing for their new coach and had a little more about them in the second half than we did and that’s the way it goes.
“On the day I thought they were [28 points better than us], I think we’re a little embarrassed about ourselves, me included, we’ll see what they’re like on training on Monday.”
When we lose I look to get something out of the game and we didn’t get any pride out of the game Steve Diamond