De Klerk keeps Sale in the hunt for a top six finish
SALE boosted their prospects of a top four finish with a hardfought victory in atrocious conditions that was far more convincing than the tight score-line suggests.
Inspired by their livewire South Africa scrum-half Faf de Klerk and with Josh Charnley producing arguably his best display since moving from Rugby League, Sharks dominated their hosts territorially, compounding Irish’s relegation worries following Worcester’s win.
De Klerk, who was at the heart of everything good about Sale and ably supported by half-back partner Sam James, believes his side can mount a play-off push.
He told TRP: “We’re just trying to remain in the top six but with a few more wins we can definitely aim for something higher. We’ve got a few things to work on because we could have had more tries today, but we controlled that game for 70 minutes which was pleasing.
“It’s going to be a massive test against Saracens next week but we’re at home and we’ll give it our all to try and put some more pressure on the teams above us.”
Charnley set a vigorous tone for Sale, ramming Piet van Zyl into his in-goal area to force a close-range scrum. Sharks spread the ball, Irish went offside and De Klerk slotted the penalty.
De Klerk then shelled an intercept chance on halfway before Joe Cokanasiga’s powerful run brought a sparse home crowd to life. Sale saw off the danger and Charnley and Ben Curry nearly broke clear before Teofilo Paulo’s turnover ended a period of intense Sharks pressure.
Sale came again and Irish did well to survive another five-metre scrum. They escaped when De Klerk fumbled with the line begging, but pressure eventually told and, after Josh Strauss had been held up, Strauss made no mistake second time around by smashing through Van Zyl.
Irish were on the ropes, having managed just 30 per cent possession, but they hit straight back and good driving play from Ben Franks earned a penalty that Tommy Bell converted. Exiles then repelled two further close-range scrums to restrict Sale’s half-time lead to 10-3.
With the strong wind in their favour, Irish came out with intent, only for a string of botched lineouts, poor kicks and dropped passes to hand the initiative back to Sale.
Charnley came within inches of touching down De Klerk’s searching kick – an escape Irish seized upon to go upfield and force a penalty, from which Bell reduced the deficit. However, a third fluffed Irish lineout led to a penalty chance for De Klerk to restore Sale’s lead.
With the game well into its final quarter Irish needed inspiration, but none was forthcoming and Charnley came close to settling the contest but was squeezed into touch.
Exiles were again fortunate when Josh Beaumont charged down James Marshall and Curry failed by a whisker to dot down. Irish made the most of their reprieve and, after Marc Jones saw yellow for killing the ball, Bell slotted his third penalty to set up a grandstand finish.