Sale miss big chance to hit weakened French giants
THIS Challenge Cup pool was never going to be a stroll for the Sharks and, despite a creditable draw against European giants Toulouse on Friday night, they ultimately stumbled at the first hurdle.
With the four-time Heineken Cup champions, as well as the current French league leaders Lyon, in their group, Steve Diamond’s men will do well to repeat their feat from 2016 and qualify for the quarterfinals.
Top 14 sides have often been accused of not taking Europe’s secondtier competition seriously but no such claims could be made here.
While the visitors were understrength – a short turnaround no doubt playing its part in Ugo Mola’s decision to rest key individuals – Les Rouge et Noir were physical and abrasive, dominating the collisions early on.
Sale grew into the contest, controlling the second period via the burgeoning Faf de Klerk-James O’Connor half-back axis, but they eventually had to settle for a share of the spoils.
“We didn’t play particularly well in the first half but I thought we adapted at half-time and they didn’t look like scoring in the second,” said Sale’s director of rugby Diamond. “It was probably a missed opportunity but que sera, sera. The challenge is to go to Lyon and put in another performance like that.”
Despite being short of the financial clout of the French teams, something the Sale’s boss was keen to point out, the home side dominated their illustrious opponents in the second period.
The first half, however, was not nearly as impressive. They lost the physical battle and were let down by two moments of defensive indecision, which allowed Mola’s team to build a 14-3 advantage via Sebastien Bezy and the excellent Semi Kunatani.
De Klerk’s penalty was sandwiched in between those scores but the Sharks were left with plenty to do in the final 45 minutes.
Denny Solomona started the comeback, latching onto his scrumhalf ’s inch-perfect kick before Bryn Evans completed the turnaround by touching down. Bezy levelled matters from the tee.
Although de Klerk restored Sale’s advantage, Bezy made sure the hosts would end up frustrated.