Sale boss Steve Diamond says his boys are ready for England call
STEVE Diamond has backed Luke James and Sam James to become the latest set of brothers to play for England.
Both have played a key role in a season where Sale ended their 14-year wait for silverware, with victory in the Premiership Cup.
They are now on the verge of qualifying for the Premiership play-offs – providing this match with Worcester goes ahead on Wednesday after today’s scheduled game was forced to be delayed due to 16 positive Covid-19 tests at Sale.
Full-back Luke has kept Simon Hammersley out of the team for long periods, while Sam, 26, the older of the two by five years, has added guile to an otherwise route one midfield.
With Manu Tuilagi set for Achilles surgery and six months out, a spot has opened up in the centres for both club and country.
“I’ve already recommended them (to England), and more importantly, they’ve already recommended themselves by their performances,” Diamond said.
“They’re consistent performers and great lads as well. I didn’t pick Luke for the Cup final (against Quins) and he sat down with me in the office and said, ‘Dimes, I understand, we all share the load’. He wasn’t asking me why he wasn’t picked.
“Luke absolutely controlled the game himself on Tuesday night (in the win against Northampton) by just kicking behind. Time and time again, his skill set is high.
“Sam is Mr Consistent and Mr Flair, he needs a run with England, without a doubt, the pair of them do.
“They are the first names on the team sheet virtually every week,” he added. “If it’s not for rest or a little bit of rotation, they always get put in the squad because they are error-free, or as near to error-free as you can be.”
With Ben Curry set to return from an ankle injury before the end of the month and in contention to join identical twin, Tom, as a full-blown England international, history could be made if Eddie Jones heeds Diamond’s advice.
“There is no better time. When you’re just after a World Cup, you’ve got to have a look at these other players and now’s the time to have a look at them,” said Diamond.
“Two sets of brothers in an England team from Sale, that would be a first, wouldn’t it?”
The Vunipolas (Billy and Mako) and Youngs (Ben and Tom) were brothers on the field at some time or other during the 2013 England-Australia Test at Twickenham, though not quite all at the same time.
Previously, Delon and Steffan Armitage became the first set of brothers to play in the same England team since the Underwood siblings, Tony and Rory, when they took to the field together against Italy in 2009.
Victory at home to Worcester on Wednesday would guarantee the Sharks a top-four spot for the first time since they won their only league title in 2006.
“We’re hoping to take a leaf out of Wasps book, 15 years or so ago. They used to finish in the top four, just, and won it a few times by hitting form at the right time,” said Diamond.
Sale are confident the game will go ahead on Wednesday and say that despite the positive Covid tests all their players and staff are “currently well”.
“Sale Sharks have stringently followed PRL and RFU protocols throughout the pandemic,” a club statement said. “The club is therefore in a position to fulfil its Premiership fixture scheduled for Sunday at 3.00pm.
“However, after Worcester expressed concerns regarding the safety of the fixture, we sought advice from Public Health England and Premiership Rugby have decided to postpone the match until Wednesday to allow further testing.”