Diamond sees red over Sale’s blown chances

Steve Diamond was thoroughly hacked off by this defeat, Sale’s third in a disappointing season.

“Everything,” he replied when asked what needed improving for the trip to Leicester next Sunday. “From set-piece to our clinical finishing,” he added after stating he could well order some “old school” training tomorrow and Tuesday to reignite a flat Sale team following this defeat by four tries to one.

Sale’s biggest problem was a failure to take their chances, especially some 15 minutes from the end when Denny Solomona fluffed AJ MacGinty’s high pass with a clear run to the line. If Solomona had gathered the difficult pass, which flew into touch, a try and conversion would have put Sale within four points of Wasps, who led 24-13.

Instead it was Wasps who sealed victory through a try from No8 Nathan Hughes. He had endured an eventful afternoon himself, starting in the very first minute when sent to the sin-bin for blocking release at a ruck in the lead-up to Sale’s opening try by No8 Jono Ross.

MacGinty converted the try and added a penalty in the 10th minute to put Sale 10-3 ahead. But for the next 50 minutes it was Wasps who hit their best gear, including two tries just before half-time. It was classic Wasps and the try by Nizaam Carr, the flanker, was a marvellous team effort, Dan Robson and Willie le Roux providing the speed and support. That silky score was followed by Josh Bassett shooting down the left wing to give Wasps a 17-10 lead at the break.

A penalty from MacGinty cut the deficit by three before Wasps capitalised on the sending to the sin-bin of Ben Curry by working a try for prop Will Stuart. The introduction of Josh Strauss, once Curry had finished his 10-minute penalty, and a mazy run by Marland Yarde, brought Sale the impetus. They looked certain to score but for Hughes managing to hold up one Sale attack, and the pressure ended when MacGinty threw that pass too high for Solomona.

Wasps cleared their lines and spent the last 10 minutes on the attack, eventually collecting a bonus point for a fourth try when Hughes forced his way over. Lima Sopoaga kicked the conversion to complete a haul of 11 points.

Dai Young, Wasps’ director of rugby, said: “I’m really pleased to get a bonuspoint win. It’s a difficult place to come – too difficult at times.”